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Eight people, including two children, were killed in an overnight attack on holiday camps in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to Russian-installed authorities. The strike also injured 14 people in the resort area of Kyrylivka, located on the Azov Sea coast near Melitopol.

Russian-appointed governor Yevgeny Balitsky accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilians, claiming the attack was aimed at a holiday resort. Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment on the allegations.

Both Russia and Ukraine continue to deny intentionally targeting civilians during the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The latest incident adds to ongoing civilian casualties as fighting continues across the region.

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Wildfires in southwestern France advanced closer to Bordeaux on Saturday, forcing thousands of people to evacuate from the city’s suburbs. Strong winds fueled the flames, leading authorities to close Bordeaux Airport, deploy armed forces to support firefighters, and warn people to avoid travel in the affected areas.

In neighboring Spain, firefighters continued battling three major wildfires, two of which merged near Madrid. The country declared its first national wildfire emergency and received firefighting aircraft from several European nations, with additional water-dumping planes arriving from Italy and Greece as part of the European Union’s emergency response.

More than 197,000 people have been evacuated in France, while over 63,000 people in Spain have either been evacuated or told to remain indoors. Officials warned that prolonged heatwaves, dry conditions, and strong winds have intensified the fires, with residents advised to avoid outdoor activities due to heavy smoke and poor air quality.

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Irish police have intercepted a car carrying a significant explosive device near the border with Northern Ireland, preventing what officials said could have caused extensive damage. The vehicle was stopped near Carrickmacross in County Monaghan, around 10 kilometres from the border, and the army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team safely examined the device.

A woman in her 20s has been charged in connection with the investigation, while a man in his 40s remains in custody for questioning. Police believe the plot was linked to dissident republican militants who oppose the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and continue to pose a security threat.

Although the peace agreement largely ended decades of conflict in Northern Ireland, sporadic attacks by splinter militant groups continue. Authorities say the latest interception highlights ongoing efforts to prevent extremist violence and maintain security along the Irish border.

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Romania said it shot down a second drone that entered its airspace in two days near the border with Ukraine. The drone was detected by radar on Saturday morning over a sparsely populated area in the Danube Delta, prompting the Romanian military to scramble two F-16 fighter jets before it was brought down.

The incident follows Friday’s interception of another drone, which Romanian prosecutors identified as Russian. It marked the first time Romania, a NATO member, had actively shot down a drone after experiencing dozens of airspace breaches since Russia intensified attacks on Ukrainian ports along the Danube River in 2022.

Romanian officials say drone incursions have become more frequent as Russian strikes around Ukraine’s Odesa region increase ahead of the harvest season. The growing attacks are raising concerns over security, energy supplies, and key trade routes in the Black Sea region.

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The European Central Bank (ECB) expects inflation in the eurozone to return to its 2% target within the next year, according to ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane. Speaking after the central bank kept interest rates unchanged, Lane described the current inflationary pressures as a “medium-sized” shock that requires a measured policy response rather than aggressive action.

Lane said the ECB will continue monitoring inflation closely, particularly the impact of rising energy prices on wages and broader consumer prices. While the central bank has not yet seen significant second-round effects, it warned that prolonged high energy costs could increase the risk of persistent inflation.

Although the ECB did not announce any immediate rate hikes, it signalled that further monetary tightening may be needed if inflation remains elevated. Financial markets are currently expecting at least two additional interest rate increases over the coming months as the ECB works to keep inflation under control.

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Spain has declared a national emergency as massive wildfires continue to spread across several regions, forcing the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents from Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Pelayos de la Presa, and Aldea del Fresno. The move places the response under the direct authority of the country’s Interior Ministry.

Under Spain’s National Civil Protection System, the Interior Minister will coordinate firefighting and emergency operations. Authorities said this is the first time a national emergency has been declared specifically due to a wildfire. More than 270 emergency personnel, 40 ground units, and Military Emergency Unit (UME) teams have been deployed to battle the fires.

The wildfires have already burned over 100,000 hectares across Spain this year, matching the country’s average annual burned area over the past decade. Officials said 13 people have lost their lives, making 2026 one of Spain’s deadliest wildfire seasons in recent decades.

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Russia said it will wait for new proposals from U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, while continuing its military campaign. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow believes the Trump administration is sincere in seeking a peaceful settlement, but added that Russia will pursue its objectives on the battlefield until a viable agreement is reached.

Peskov claimed that previous U.S. peace proposals were accepted by Russia but rejected by Ukraine, accusing European allies of encouraging Kyiv to continue the conflict. He said the Kremlin remains interested in diplomacy and hopes U.S.-led mediation efforts will resume after disruptions caused by the Middle East crisis.

Although Russia welcomed Washington’s willingness to negotiate, Peskov noted that the United States continues supplying weapons to Ukraine, calling its position contradictory. He said Moscow would continue engaging with any peace initiatives that align with its interests while awaiting fresh diplomatic proposals from the U.S.

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The European Commission has accused TikTok of breaching the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), alleging that the platform’s design does not provide sufficient protection for children online. Regulators said some account settings could expose minors to cyberbullying, unwanted contact, and online predators, potentially leaving the company facing a fine of up to 6% of its global annual revenue.

According to the Commission, TikTok allows children to create public accounts and makes it possible for users to discover minors through followers and following lists, even when accounts are private. EU officials said stronger privacy protections for children should be enabled by default rather than requiring users to change settings manually.

TikTok said it would review the findings and continue cooperating with regulators. The company stated that accounts belonging to users under 18 are private by default and include more than 50 built-in safety and privacy features, including restrictions on direct messaging for younger teens. TikTok will now have the opportunity to respond before the EU reaches a final decision.

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Volkswagen has announced plans to deepen cost-cutting measures as Chinese automakers continue expanding into the European market. CEO Oliver Blume said the company faces growing competitive pressure from more than 150 Chinese brands, alongside challenges from tariffs and weakening demand in China. The automaker is seeking major restructuring to remain competitive.

The company has proposed increasing planned job cuts to 100,000 and warned that up to four German plants could face closure after 2030. While Volkswagen’s second-quarter operating profit fell 9.5% to €3.5 billion, analysts noted signs of business stabilisation, supported by stronger-than-expected revenue and healthy cash flow. However, negotiations with labor unions over the restructuring remain unresolved.

Volkswagen has retained its full-year profit margin forecast but has dropped expectations for revenue growth, now projecting sales could decline by up to 3% in 2026. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and Geely are strengthening their European presence by establishing local production facilities, intensifying competition in the region’s electric vehicle market.

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Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) are voting on whether to dismiss Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following allegations of sexual misconduct. Khan has strongly denied the accusations, with his legal team arguing that the dismissal process is unfair and unsupported by evidence. The outcome of the secret ballot is expected later on Friday.

The vote comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of the ICC, with the United States renewing criticism of the court, particularly after Khan sought arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Several member states, including France and the Netherlands, have announced their support for Khan’s removal.

If enough member states vote to dismiss Khan, the ICC will begin the process of selecting a new chief prosecutor. However, any existing arrest warrants issued by the court will remain valid, as only ICC judges have the authority to withdraw them. The decision is expected to have significant implications for the court’s leadership and global standing.

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