Chancellor Merz escalated his confrontation with German courts, declaring he would continue rejecting asylum seekers at borders despite a Berlin court ruling the practice illegal. Interior Minister Dobrindt joined the defiance, with the Union deliberately escalating the judicial conflict as political strategy.
Geert Wilders withdrew from the Dutch coalition government over failed asylum restrictions, forcing Prime Minister Schoof to resign and announce new elections. German outlets examined whether CSU's Dobrindt influenced Wilders' hardline migration stance.
Ukraine conducted another major attack on the Crimean bridge using 1,100 kilograms of explosives, marking the third assault on Putin's strategic connection since the war began. Ukrainian intelligence claimed the structure was left "factually endangered."
The Madeleine McCann case saw renewed activity with a new search operation beginning in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while the main suspect may be released in September.