Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured a historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections on September 6, 2026, gaining 44.4% of the vote. This result marks the first time since World War II that the AfD is poised to attain an absolute majority at the state level. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc lagged behind with just 18.3%, while the Social Democrats and Greens barely crossed the threshold to enter parliament. AfD’s lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund campaigned on a platform emphasizing stringent immigration policies, abandonment of the euro, and renewed ties with Russia.

Meanwhile, efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine showed little progress after envoys sent by former President Donald Trump visited Moscow and Kyiv. Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff held meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin but failed to secure a breakthrough. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that discussions on territorial issues needed to be conducted at the leader-to-leader level, signaling continued stalemate and complexity in peace negotiations.

Tragic incidents in air travel added to the week’s turmoil as a Boeing cargo plane operated by Amazon overshot the runway at Miami International Airport, killing five people and critically injuring others. The crash caused widespread disruption including over 160 flight cancellations and 325 delays. In Southeast Asia, an eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in Indonesia resulted in airport closures and flight disruptions as ash clouds spread across the region, affecting schedules over the weekend.

U.S. markets were closed on Labor Day following a strong August jobs report that raised the prospect of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. President Trump intensified pressure on the Fed, threatening to halt trade with key international partners unless rates were cut. Meanwhile, Asian stocks started Monday’s session positively, buoyed by technology shares. In a notable aerospace achievement, Germany’s Isar Aerospace successfully launched the first commercial rocket into orbit from Europe, carrying multiple satellites and marking a milestone for regional spaceflight.