Southern Hydrogen Corridor: Germany’s economic ministry state secretary Frank Wetzel said the Southern Hydrogen Corridor will pull partner countries closer together, underlining Berlin’s push to link energy projects to regional cooperation. Georgia Foundations Clampdown: Germany’s Friedrich Naumann Foundation and Konrad Adenauer Foundation closed their Tbilisi offices after Georgia rejected grant applications under a new law, with parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili arguing foreign foundations have “no political mission” in the country. Berlin’s Political Fragmentation: A Berlin report finds voters increasingly frustrated with the center after far-left and far-right gains, warning that coalition instability and eroding trust echo darker history. Russia-Linked Sabotage Claims: The Telegraph named a suspected organizer of the Leipzig/Halle airport drone attack and linked him to Russia’s military intelligence, while Germany’s chancellor said Berlin is preparing for further hybrid attacks. Fuel Crisis Diplomacy: Under US pressure, G7 leaders agreed to release 100 million barrels of emergency diesel and crude via the IEA, aiming to cool prices and avoid export bans. EU Migration Hardening: EU ministers approved tougher return rules, including broader penalties and “return hubs” outside the bloc, with several states planning deportations to third countries. Nord Stream Court Ruling: A Hamburg court denied Nord Stream operators extra prosecutor status in the pipeline sabotage case, limiting their claims and pointing to later political decisions.