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Copenhagen’s world-renowned Noma restaurant will reopen on August 5 under new leadership, marking a fresh chapter after closing earlier this year. Founder and celebrated chef Rene Redzepi has stepped away from daily kitchen operations following past criticism over staff treatment, while executive head chef Pablo Soto now leads the restaurant alongside CEO Annika de Las Heras and the research team.

The revamped Noma will introduce an innovative dining concept built around 12 “micro seasons,” with menus changing continuously to reflect the freshest ingredients available throughout the year. Dishes will highlight locally sourced produce, with the restaurant continuing its focus on creativity and experimental Nordic cuisine.

Noma said it has also made significant changes to improve staff wellbeing, including shorter working hours and a stronger focus on workplace culture. While Redzepi will remain involved in creative research projects, daily operations will be handled by the new leadership team. The restaurant’s signature tasting menu, including wine pairing, will cost around 6,500 Danish crowns (about $990) per guest.

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Inflation increased across four major German states in July, according to preliminary figures, signalling that the country’s national inflation rate is also likely to rise. Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Lower Saxony all reported higher inflation compared with June, reflecting continued price pressures.

The German government expects inflation to average 2.7% this year and 2.8% in 2027, citing higher energy and raw material costs linked to the conflict involving Iran. Economists surveyed by Reuters also expect Germany’s harmonised national inflation rate to climb to 2.8% in July, up from 2.4% the previous month.

The latest figures come ahead of the euro zone’s inflation data, which is also expected to show a slight increase. The European Central Bank recently kept interest rates unchanged but indicated that further monetary tightening remains possible if inflationary pressures, particularly from rising energy prices, continue.

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France has issued a deportation order for Russian media personality Xenia Fedorova, the country’s Interior Ministry confirmed. Fedorova, the former head of RT France, has remained in the country since the Russian state-backed broadcaster was banned across the European Union in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

French officials have accused Fedorova of spreading Russian misinformation, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot among those criticising her public role. In recent years, she has become a regular figure on French media outlets CNews, Europe 1 and JDNews, all of which are owned by the CANAL+ and Lagardere groups.

The media companies said they were shocked by the deportation decision and pledged full support to Fedorova. According to reports, her lawyer plans to appeal the order. The case comes amid continued scrutiny of Russian-linked media activities in Europe and ongoing efforts by EU nations to counter disinformation.

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Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta is facing a humanitarian and security emergency after around 1,500 migrants reached the territory by swimming from Morocco over the past week. Local leader Juan Jesus Vivas said the sudden influx has overwhelmed reception facilities, with hundreds of migrants forced to sleep outdoors and shelters for unaccompanied minors operating far beyond capacity.

Vivas described the situation as a national emergency and called for an immediate, coordinated response from the Spanish government. In response, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is set to visit Ceuta to meet local authorities as the government works to strengthen border controls and expand humanitarian assistance. Moroccan security forces are also helping to reduce further arrivals.

Officials said migrant arrivals are averaging about 300 people per day, raising concerns of a repeat of the 2021 migration crisis, when nearly 10,000 people entered Ceuta within days. Vivas also highlighted the human cost of the dangerous sea crossings, noting that dozens of bodies have been recovered in recent months, and urged reforms to Spain’s immigration laws following a recent Supreme Court ruling on migrant returns.

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Thousands of residents across Spain have been allowed to return home after authorities lifted evacuation orders in parts of Madrid, Toledo, Ávila and Castellón following recent wildfires. More than 24,000 people in the Madrid region alone have returned, while restrictions affecting another 20,000 residents have also been removed. Despite the progress, emergency services remain on high alert as another intense heatwave approaches.

The massive wildfire near Burgohondo in Ávila, now considered the largest recorded wildfire in Spanish history, has burned more than 43,000 hectares and displaced around 40,000 people. Firefighters have managed to contain its spread, but officials warn that soaring temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds could quickly reignite the flames. Another wildfire near Vall d’Uixó, north-west of Valencia, remains out of control.

The wildfire threat extends beyond Spain, with France, Portugal and Greece also battling active blazes amid extreme summer temperatures. Authorities across southern Europe have increased emergency measures as climate change continues to fuel longer heatwaves, drier landscapes and more destructive wildfires, raising concerns over further damage in the coming days.

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Thousands of Audi employees gathered in Neckarsulm, Germany, to protest against the possible closure of the automaker’s manufacturing plant as parent company Volkswagen continues a major restructuring programme. According to the works council, around 6,000 workers took part in the demonstration, expressing concerns over job security and the future of the facility.

Volkswagen has warned that the Neckarsulm plant could face closure after 2030 if no long-term solution is found. The site employs around 15,000 people and manufactures several Audi models, including the A5, A6, A8 and the all-electric e-tron GT. Company officials are exploring alternatives, including new production opportunities, but no final decision has been made.

The protest comes as Germany’s automotive industry faces mounting pressure from rising production costs, growing competition from Chinese manufacturers and U.S. tariffs. Local leaders warned that shutting the Neckarsulm plant would have serious economic consequences for the region, while upcoming negotiations between Volkswagen management and labour representatives are expected to play a key role in determining the factory’s future.

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Oscar-winning Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, best known for co-writing and performing the Academy Award-winning song “Falling Slowly” from the 2007 film Once, has died at the age of 56 following a motorcycle crash in Dublin. His management confirmed he passed away early Wednesday after a single-vehicle road accident.

Hansard began his musical journey as a teenage busker on the streets of Dublin before founding the acclaimed rock band The Frames in 1990. He later achieved international recognition through Once, starring alongside Markéta Irglová, with whom he formed the folk duo The Swell Season. Their music helped turn the low-budget film into a global success and inspired an award-winning Broadway musical.

Tributes poured in from fans and public figures across Ireland, including Prime Minister Micheál Martin, who praised Hansard’s lasting contribution to Irish music and culture. Police said the musician died after a single-vehicle motorcycle collision in west Dublin during the early hours of Wednesday.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing growing political pressure after a cabinet reshuffle triggered internal divisions within his conservative CDU/CSU alliance. Lawmakers are set to vote on his nomination of Thorsten Frei as parliamentary faction leader, with the outcome expected to be closely watched as a measure of support for Merz’s leadership.

The reshuffle follows the resignation of senior party figure Jens Spahn and comes as Merz’s government struggles with declining public approval. Recent opinion polls show the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leading national support, while Merz’s personal approval ratings have fallen sharply. The AfD has also overtaken the conservatives on voters’ perceptions of competence, increasing pressure ahead of key state elections in September.

Further criticism emerged after changes to the cabinet angered members of Merz’s own party, including regional leaders and ministers who said they were not properly consulted. Despite the backlash, Merz has expressed confidence that tensions will ease before parliament reconvenes in September, as his government focuses on advancing economic reforms and countering the AfD’s growing influence.

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UEFA Opposes FIFA Investment Plan

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UEFA and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham have strongly criticised FIFA’s proposal to allow private investors to take a minority stake in a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). FIFA says the move aims to expand global football development funding to more than $10 billion, while retaining full control over governance, competitions, and regulations. The proposal will require approval from FIFA’s 211 member associations.

FIFA expects an investor group led by American venture capital firm Thrive Eternal to support the initiative, with member associations potentially receiving up to $20 million each for football development. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the plan would help ensure football’s commercial success benefits every nation and supports the sport’s long-term global growth.

However, UEFA warned the proposal “crosses a line,” arguing that football’s governance should never become a commercial asset. Critics also fear private investment could increase pressure to expand the World Cup or hold it more frequently to boost revenues, placing greater strain on the international football calendar. The proposal is expected to be discussed later this year before a possible vote at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March.

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Germany’s economy likely recorded modest growth in the second quarter of 2026 despite challenges from the Middle East conflict, according to the Bundesbank. The central bank said strong industrial activity, steady exports, and resilient consumer spending helped offset the impact of higher energy and commodity prices.

The Bundesbank noted that Germany’s industrial sector benefited from robust foreign demand, while consumers continued spending despite rising energy costs and reduced purchasing power. Temporary factors, including supply shortages affecting some Asian competitors and early purchasing by customers anticipating future disruptions, also supported economic activity.

Looking ahead, the Bundesbank said economic pressures could ease if the conflict in the Middle East does not escalate further, though it warned that the war will likely continue to weigh on growth and inflation. The bank currently forecasts Germany’s economy to expand by 0.5% in 2026, with growth expected to improve to 0.8% next year.

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