BERLIN (AP) — For the second time in just over two years, Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport has narrowly avoided a potential disaster, exposing the vulnerability of Europe’s critical infrastructure.

A drone carrying explosives was found late Tuesday at the airport and later defused. The country’s top security official said the incident was a “new threat quality” and indicated it was “professionally” prepared.

Separately, “an object” collided with a plane Tuesday night, police said. The plane suffered only minor damage.

On Thursday night, federal prosecutors, who handle significant national security cases, took over the case from state prosecutors. They said the incident “constitutes a serious attack on the transportation and logistics infrastructure in Germany” which is “capable of undermining the external and internal security” of the country.

Russia is losing about 6,000 more troops in Ukraine each month than it can recruit, western officials have said.

While Russia is still acquiring new battlefield recruits at speed, with an estimated rate of 1,000 a day, in the last two months even this has not been sufficient to replace those killed or injured.

[ The Netherlands] "Europe must take much stricter action against China to stay afloat economically. That is one of the most important advice in a new report from the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR).

Europe should not be afraid that China will strike back and damage the European economy. Doing nothing is more risky in the longer term, says WRR scientist Haroon Sheikh. "And the alternative is for our industry to disappear."

Note; Translation via Vivaldi of NOS article in Dutch. See comments for the rest of the translation of 'Dringend advies: 'EU moet China harder aanpakken, ook als dat economisch pijn doet"

Government borrowing costs in several advanced economies hit their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, or even earlier, on Monday as investors feared the Middle East crisis would keep inflation persistently high.

Concerns over rising prices and government spending pushed up the cost of debt issued by Paris, Berlin, Washington DC, Tokyo and London as investors fretted that rising prices would push up interest rates.

The yield, or interest rate, on 30-year French bonds rose to its highest level since September 2008 at 4.8558%, up one basis point (0.01 percentage point), LSEG data showed.

European nations have unanimously agreed to boycott all Fifa competitions until football’s global governing body drops plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup.

In an emergency meeting on Thursday, Uefa member associations voted 55-0 to boycott.

Microsoft and French startup Mistral said Tuesday they had signed a "multibillion-dollar" deal for the US tech giant to use the AI developer's computing infrastructure in Europe.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is going ahead with new double-digit tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners just as the clock runs out Friday on stopgap levies he imposed after a stinging defeat at the Supreme Court.

The United States will slap taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, charging that they have inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labor.

[ India] Tens of thousands of protesters have defied police orders and descended on Delhi to demand the resignation of India’s education minister in one of the largest anti-government demonstrations in years.

A huge crowd, largely made up of students and gen Z-ers, filled the streets in the heart of India’s capital from early Monday morning shouting anti-government slogans. Hundreds had already camped out overnight.

Delhi police, which are under the control of the central government, had denied permission for the march to take place. A ban was imposed on all public gatherings, roads across the city were barricaded and the internet was shut down in the centre. Attempts by protesters to move towards the parliament building were met with police brutality including the use of batons and teargas.

Ukraine’s commander in chief Oleksandr Syrskyi is widely expected to lose his job amid signs that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has bowed to pressure from protesters and will reshuffle the army’s top leadership.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s president signed a constitutional amendment into law on Saturday that ends his term in office, bringing to a close a dispute between him and the country’s new government that was seeking to oust him as part of a purge of officials appointed during the reign of Viktor Orbán.

Musk on Wednesday called Le Pen "France's last hope" on his social media platform X, in a post declaring his support for her presidential bid – which she confirmed earlier this month, even after her conviction for embezzlement was upheld on appeal(..)

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged Musk to reconsider his position, writing, also on X: "Like we say in French: only fools don't change their minds."

Formerly known as Twitter, X has been the target of a French criminal investigation following two complaints alleging that its algorithm had been used for foreign interference.

French MP Antoine Léaument, of the hard-left France Unbowed, described Musk's post as "foreign interference, which has begun for the presidential election".

NEW DELHI, July 15 (Reuters) - India and Britain's trade pact took effect on Wednesday, cutting tariffs on thousands ‌of goods and expanding market access for services firms and professionals in both countries. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement gives Indian exporters duty-free access to most British tariff lines, benefiting sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, and processed foods.

• India-UK trade pact takes effect on Wednesday
• Deal cuts tariffs, expands services and mobility access
• Indian textiles, marine goods, leather and jewellery to gain
• UK sees openings in autos, services and procurement