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Berlin Housing Shortage and Rising Rents Take Centre Stage in City Election

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Berlin’s housing shortage and soaring rents have emerged as the biggest concerns ahead of the city election on September 20. Around 85% of households in the German capital are renters, while advertised rents have nearly doubled since 2014. Berlin is expected to need around 211,000 additional homes by 2040, intensifying pressure on the city government.

A major point of debate is the future of Tempelhofer Feld, the former airport that is now a vast public park. Supporters of limited development argue that building homes on part of the site could help ease the shortage, while opponents want to preserve the open space. Political parties have offered different proposals, including affordable housing construction, rent restrictions and greater protection for existing homes.

Berlin’s economic growth and expanding population have increased demand for housing, pushing up rents and land prices. Thousands of residents recently protested against high housing costs, with some saying they face rents of €1,500 or more for small apartments. The election is also being closely watched as another test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s national government.

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Spanish Police Launch Operation to Clear Migrants From Ceuta Beaches

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Spanish riot police and military personnel began an operation on Friday to move thousands of migrants from beaches in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. Authorities estimate around 10,000 migrants remain in the territory after more than 72,000 people crossed from Morocco during an unprecedented border rush in late July.

The operation began early Friday morning, with migrants being escorted from beaches to temporary accommodation at the port. Tensions emerged as people competed for limited shelter spaces, and Reuters footage showed police firing rubber bullets into the air and using batons before the situation calmed and the relocation continued. A new temporary facility has space for around 1,700 adult men, while minors are being housed separately.

Humanitarian organisations say thousands of migrants remain without adequate shelter and are sleeping on beaches and pavements. One NGO estimated that around 4,000 people were still outdoors in Ceuta. NGO leaders also said authorities had been slow to provide sufficient accommodation under European migration rules, while officials may expect many migrants to return voluntarily to Morocco.

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Europe Sea Migrant Crossings Fall, but Journeys Become More Deadly: IOM

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Sea arrivals of migrants and refugees to Europe have fallen by more than a third so far this year, but the journeys have become deadlier, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Around 60,000 people have crossed by sea so far in 2026, compared with about 98,000 during the same period last year, marking a 39% decline.

Despite the drop in arrivals, at least 2,292 people have died or gone missing while attempting the journey this year, up from 1,999 during the same period last year. The IOM said many deaths may not have been recorded. Migrants often make the dangerous journey from Libya aboard overcrowded and unseaworthy boats.

The figures come as European countries continue to debate tougher migration policies. The European Union agreed in June on new rules allowing deportations outside the bloc, while pressure from right-wing political parties to tighten border controls has increased. The IOM has called for greater access to legal routes into Europe and measures to reduce risks along migration routes.

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Frankfurt Reports Third Malaria Death in Airport-Linked Outbreak

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A third person has died from malaria in the Frankfurt area in an extremely rare outbreak believed to be linked to air traffic, according to local German officials. The latest victim was one of two infected residents of the Schwanheim district near Frankfurt Airport.

The infected residents had contracted Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for a severe form of malaria, despite having no recent travel history to malaria-endemic regions and no employment at the airport. Earlier in August, officials reported that two airport workers had died from malaria, while four others had recovered.

Authorities are investigating how the infections occurred. Mosquitoes collected from traps at Frankfurt Airport in July and August have been sent to a laboratory in Antwerp for testing, with results still pending. Officials have also indicated that airlines could be ordered to disinfect aircraft if necessary.

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EU Plans Social Media Restrictions for Under-15s

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The European Commission has proposed the EU KIDS Act, which would introduce EU-wide restrictions on children’s access to social media. Under the proposal, children under 13 would not be allowed to access social media platforms, while those aged 13 to 14 could use supervised “mini accounts” with limited features and time restrictions.

The proposal would also set 15 as the minimum age for creating an independent social media account. The rules would extend beyond social media to video-sharing platforms, online games and AI chatbots, while platforms would have to demonstrate that their services are safe by design.

If approved, companies could face fines of up to 6% of their global annual turnover for violations. The proposal still needs approval from EU member states and the European Parliament before becoming law.

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Large Crowd Protests in Malta Over Journalist’s Murder Case

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A large crowd marched through Malta’s capital, Valletta, demanding justice for investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed in a 2017 car bombing. The protest followed the recent acquittal of businessman Yorgen Fenech, who had been accused of complicity in her murder.

Civil society groups and rights activists criticised the verdict, with protesters calling for accountability, stronger anti-mafia laws and greater protection for journalists. Three men who planted the bomb and two others involved in making it are serving prison sentences, while Fenech was acquitted after a two-month trial.

Malta’s attorney general is expected to appeal the acquittal, although any appeal would be limited to points of law. The government has urged caution in public statements while the legal process is considered.

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French Fishermen Block Ports Over Rising Fuel Costs

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French fishermen blocked access to several ports in southern France on September 17, protesting soaring fuel prices and worsening working conditions. Demonstrations along the Mediterranean coast have entered their third day, adding to a wider wave of protests across the country.

Facing pressure from the fishing and other sectors, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu extended emergency fuel subsidies for agriculture, fishing and construction through the end of the year. The protests come as energy costs continue to put pressure on households and businesses.

The fuel-price crisis is also complicating France’s efforts to finalise its 2027 budget, which is expected to be presented later this month. The government is seeking spending cuts to reduce the deficit while navigating a deeply divided parliament and rising borrowing costs.

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Thales Calls for Global Framework to Govern AI Development

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France-based defence technology company Thales has called for an international framework to govern the development of artificial intelligence. CEO Patrice Caine said AI can be kept under control through technical safeguards backed by government oversight.

The comments come amid a wider debate over how quickly AI should develop and what regulatory guardrails should be introduced. Caine said the issue requires government-level action alongside technical protections.

AI is also becoming increasingly important in defence, including the analysis of drone footage and satellite imagery. Thales is developing its own AI-enabled Hexaforce system, as European defence companies seek greater technological autonomy following NATO’s selection of Palantir’s Maven Smart System for command operations.

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French Former Minister Rachida Dati Goes on Trial Over Alleged Renault-Nissan Lobbying

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French former culture and justice minister Rachida Dati has gone on trial in Paris over allegations that she accepted €900,000 from Renault-Nissan in exchange for political influence. Dati, who served as a European Parliament member between 2009 and 2019, says the payments were for legal services and denies wrongdoing.

Prosecutors allege that the contract was used to disguise lobbying activities on behalf of Renault-Nissan and that former CEO Carlos Ghosn recruited Dati to lobby in the European Parliament and help establish contacts with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Ghosn is also on trial but will not appear in court, as he has been living in Lebanon since 2019.

If convicted, Dati could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine and a five-year ban from public office. The case could also affect her position as mayor of Paris’s 7th district, a role she has held since 2008. Anti-corruption groups involved in the case are calling for stricter rules on political lobbying in France.

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Putin Links Parliamentary Election to Support for Ukraine War

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged citizens to participate in the country’s upcoming parliamentary election, presenting voter participation as a measure of national support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The three-day election begins on Friday and will determine the 450 seats in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament.

The election is the first parliamentary vote since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It comes as polls indicate growing anxiety among some Russians over the impact of the war, while the economy faces pressure. Many anti-war candidates have also been excluded from the ballot, according to Reuters.

In a televised address, Putin said voting would demonstrate unity and support for Russian soldiers while presenting the election as a response to what he described as external efforts to weaken Russia. The ruling United Russia party, which is backed by Putin, is widely expected to maintain its dominance in the State Duma.

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