NOW - Robert Habeck, Green party member and Vice Chancellor of Germany's collapsed government coalition: "The regulation of algorithms, of X or TikTok, through the application of European legal norms is a central task. We cannot place ‘democratic discourse’ in the hands of Elon Musk and Chinese software."

NEW - Germany's highest election officer suddenly has "serious doubts" about the "feasibility of an early election" because the country has allegedly run out of paper, BILD reports.



UPDATE - The German paper industry contradicts the election director: "We have paper. The German paper industry is very efficient."

JUST IN - The U.S. Department of Justice is evaluating how to wind down the two federal "criminal cases" against Donald Trump before he takes office.

The move comes in order to comply with longstanding department policy that a sitting president can not be prosecuted, NBC reports citing sources.

JUST IN - The left-green-liberal government coalition in Germany is on the verge of a potential collapse. A large majority would be in favor, BILD reports.

UPDATE - German FM Lindner has called on Chancellor Scholz to pave the way for fresh elections, according to local media. The parties of the left-green-liberal coalition government are currently engaged in crisis talks at the chancellery.

UPDATE - Scholz (SPD) has sacked Finance Minister Lindner (FDP).

NEW - Harris Campaign advisor: "We are optimistic that we are literally about to turn the page on Donald Trump and install Vice President Harris as the next President of the United States."

NEW - EU Commission is calling on its citizens to stock up on supplies as most bloc countries are "not in a position to ensure the survival of their citizens for at least three days."

NEW - WHO's Tedros: "It's time to be more aggressive in pushing back on anti-vaxxers. They used Covid as an opportunity and all the havoc they are creating."

NEW - Doug Emhoff, possibly the future Jewish first gentlemen, wants to post a Mezuzah above the White House front-door: "when Kamala walks through the door at the end of the day, that door has a Mezuzah on it."

JUST IN - WHO warns a "new strain" of bird flu "has jumped" to humans with "potential for high public health impact" - as man in Mexico, 59, tests positive before dying from it.

NEW - UN chief: "In the case of climate, we are not the dinosaurs. We are the meteor. We are not only in danger. We are the danger."

NEW - WHO's Tedros: "I think it's time to be more aggressive in pushing back on anti-vaxxers. I think they use Covid as an opportunity and you know all the havoc they're creating..."

NOW - Brutal knife attack on Islam critic Michael Stürzenberger in Mannheim, Germany. Several people injured, suspect shot.

UPDATE - Stürzenberger undergoes emergency surgery, and a stabbed police officer suffered life-threatening injuries.

NEW - DJ association outraged by ban on Gigi D'Agostino's song at German folk festivals just because some people sing "Germany to the Germans, foreigners out" to the tune.

NEW - Pope Francis uses "vulgar homophobic term" in a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops.

He said seminaries, or priesthood colleges, are already too full of "frociaggine," an Italian term that translates loosely as "faggots."

NEW - Song "L'Amour toujours" by Gigi D'Agostino is banned from the upcoming Oktoberfest in Bavaria because some Germans could sing "Germany for the Germans, foreigners out" to it.

The German state security service is investigating several cases in which young people have sung "Germany for the Germans, foreigners out" to Gigi D'Agostino's tune at various locations.

The song advanced to #1 on the German iTunes charts meanwhile.

NEW - Number of Chinese nationals illegally crossing the U.S. southern border is up by 7,000% — and that's just for half the year.

NOW - Russia's NATO military exhibition showcasing destroyed Western tanks and battlefield-recovered equipment opens. A U.S. Abrams tank is prominently displayed alongside a German Leopard tank in Moscow.