Germany and Paraguay are level in their 2026 World Cup knockout match. Julian Nagelsmann's side topped their group after opening with two wins but suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat against Ecuador in their previous outing.

Ukraine denies involvement in the case which may have serious implications for its relationship with Germany.

By Susanne Neumayer-Remter ERFURT, Germany, July 4 (Reuters) - Thousands of opponents of Germany's far-right AfD took to the streets of Erfurt on Saturday and blocked roads to the party's annual conference ahead of regional elections that could see it take power at state level for the first time.

The measures are a political gamble for a government that has seen its ratings plummet in the past year.

German federal prosecutors have charged a former Ukrainian army officer ⁠with ⁠being the co-perpetrator of a war crime ⁠over the 2022 Nord Stream gas pipeline blasts, accusing him of acting on behalf of Ukrainian state ​entities.

Germany has unveiled a sweeping 34-point reform package featuring tax cuts, pension and labour reforms, and measures to reduce bureaucracy as Chancellor Friedrich Merz seeks to revive the country's sluggish economy and boost competitiveness.

German workers will have to report to a doctor in person to get a sick note on the first day they are ill, under strict proposals from Friedrich Merz.

Temperatures hit record highs from Switzerland to the Czech Republic and Denmark on Saturday, as a heat wave that baked western European countries this week moves to central and eastern parts of the continent.