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EU Agrees on 2026 Fishing Quotas, Sidesteps Tougher Mediterranean Limits

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European Union fisheries ministers reached an agreement on fishing quotas for 2026, avoiding stricter limits previously proposed for the Mediterranean region. The deal was finalised after two days of negotiations in Brussels and was welcomed by Spain, which had strongly opposed a European Commission plan to reduce trawler fishing days in Mediterranean waters.

Under the agreement, Spain will be permitted 143 fishing days in 2026, broadly in line with current levels, instead of facing sharp cuts. While the European Commission had argued that reductions were necessary to ensure long-term sustainability, the final compromise balances conservation goals with the economic concerns of fishing communities. The quotas cover major fishing areas including the Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean and Black Sea, with some measures extending through 2028.

The deal includes mixed changes across regions and species, such as a more than 50% increase in catch limits for Norway lobster in the Bay of Biscay, alongside reduced quotas for common sole in the Baltic Sea to protect vulnerable stocks. Fishing vessels may also earn additional days at sea by adopting more sustainable practices. Denmark’s fisheries minister Jacob Jensen said the agreement reflects a balance between scientific advice and safeguarding fish populations, with the new rules taking effect from January 1.

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Turkish Car Ferry Hit by Air Strike at Ukraine’s Odesa Port

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A Turkish car ferry, Cenk T, was damaged in an air strike at the Ukrainian port city of Odesa on Friday, triggering a major fire onboard. The vessel was anchored at Chornomorsk port when it was hit around 4:00 pm local time, according to operator Cenk Denizcilik. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia for the attack, though Moscow has not commented on the incident.

The ferry was reportedly carrying essential food supplies when the strike occurred. Emergency response teams, including the ship’s crew, port firefighters and tugboats, were deployed to control the blaze, which broke out in the forward section of the vessel. The company confirmed there were no casualties or injuries among the crew. Video footage shared by Ukrainian authorities showed intense flames and efforts to douse the fire.

The attack came amid renewed diplomatic calls for a limited ceasefire covering ports and energy infrastructure, proposed earlier by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Turkey’s foreign ministry urged steps to ensure the safety of shipping in the Black Sea and prevent further escalation. Later the same day, additional Russian strikes damaged port infrastructure in Odesa, knocking out power to thousands of homes and highlighting the continued risks to civilian and commercial facilities in the region.

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Germany Accuses Russia of Cyber-Attack on Air Traffic Control and Election Interference

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Germany has accused Russia of carrying out a cyber-attack on its air traffic control systems and attempting to interfere in the country’s federal elections, prompting Berlin to summon the Russian ambassador. A German foreign ministry spokesman said Russian military intelligence was responsible for hacking office communications at Germany’s air navigation service provider in August 2024, while also running a disinformation campaign aimed at destabilising domestic politics ahead of the February elections.

According to German authorities, the attack has been linked to the Russian hacker group Fancy Bear, which is believed to operate under the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence service. Officials said intelligence findings confirmed GRU responsibility and accused Moscow of spreading fake videos alleging ballot manipulation, targeting senior political figures including Green Party leader Robert Habeck and CDU leader Friedrich Merz, now Germany’s chancellor. While the cyber-attack did not disrupt flights, Berlin said it was part of a broader effort to undermine democratic processes.

Russia has firmly denied the allegations, calling them baseless and “absurd”. However, Germany said it would coordinate with European partners to impose counter-measures and make Russia “pay a price” for what it described as hybrid warfare. The accusations come amid growing concern across Europe over suspected Russian cyber and disinformation campaigns since the invasion of Ukraine, which has significantly worsened relations between Berlin and Moscow.

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Google Faces $129 Million Asset Freeze in France After Russian Court Rulings

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Alphabet-owned Google is facing a temporary freeze on around €110 million ($129 million) of its assets in France after orders obtained by the administrator of its defunct Russian business. According to documents seen by Reuters, the move follows rulings issued by Russian arbitration courts between 2024 and 2025 and marks an unusual attempt by Russian authorities to pursue Western corporate assets overseas through legal channels.

The freeze targets shares linked to Google International and was requested by the judicial administrator of Google Russia. The action was executed by a French bailiff, though neither Google, its Russian administrator, nor the French government commented on the matter. A lawyer representing the Russian liquidator said a Moscow tribunal had found Google guilty of making an illegal dividend payment in 2021 worth roughly 10 billion roubles, forming the basis of the claim.

Under French law, the asset freeze is temporary and requires formal court recognition within a month to remain in effect. The Paris Judicial Court will decide whether to enforce the Russian rulings, a process that could take more than a year. Google retains the right to challenge the freeze, and if enforcement is approved, the funds could ultimately be seized to satisfy the Russian court judgments.

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Budapest Mayor Faces Possible Charges Over Banned Pride March Turned Protest

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Hungarian police have recommended that prosecutors file charges against Budapest’s liberal mayor, Gergely Karacsony, for his role in organising an LGBTQ+ rights march in June that evolved into a large anti-government demonstration. The June 28 march, originally planned as a Pride event despite a government ban, drew tens of thousands of people and became one of the biggest displays of opposition to Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s nationalist government. The Budapest Chief Prosecution Office confirmed it has received the police investigation documents but did not comment on whether charges will follow.

Karacsony, responding in a video message, said he was proud to defend the freedom of Budapest and was ready to face any legal consequences. He framed the event as an act of political courage aimed at safeguarding democratic rights in the capital. His attempt to classify the march as a municipal event—arguing it did not require a permit—was intended to bypass a new law passed in March that allowed the government to ban Pride marches under the banner of child protection.

Human rights advocates and opposition figures have criticised the Pride ban as part of a broader erosion of civil liberties under Orban, who faces a challenging election next year. Although police initially banned the event, citing the child protection law, the march proceeded peacefully and highlighted growing public resistance to government policies affecting the LGBTQ+ community and democratic freedoms.

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Eurovision Winner Nemo Returns Trophy Over Israel Participation

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Swiss singer Nemo, the first non-binary performer to win Eurovision in 2024, has announced they are returning their trophy in protest against Israel’s continued participation in the contest. Nemo cited a “clear conflict” between Israel’s involvement and Eurovision’s stated values of “unity, inclusion and dignity,” referencing a UN report on the situation in Gaza. The 26-year-old shared a video placing the trophy in a box to be sent back to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) headquarters in Geneva.

The announcement follows growing tensions over Israel’s participation, which led five countries—Iceland, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands—to declare they will boycott next year’s event. Eurovision organizers expressed sadness over Nemo’s decision but emphasized respect for their stance. The singer clarified that their protest is aimed at the political use of Eurovision rather than individual artists.

Nemo’s decision highlights the ongoing controversies surrounding the competition, including voting disputes and allegations of political influence. While Israel has welcomed its continued inclusion as a symbol of solidarity, the boycotts and protests mark the biggest crisis in Eurovision’s history, with next year’s 70th anniversary edition planned in Vienna amid heightened scrutiny.

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7,000-Year-Old Undersea Wall Discovered off French Coast

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French marine archaeologists have uncovered a massive 120-metre-long undersea wall off Brittany’s Ile de Sein, dating back to around 5,000 BC. Believed to be the largest underwater structure ever found in France, the wall now lies nine metres below the surface but would once have stood on the shoreline, built by a highly organised Stone Age community. Researchers suggest it may have served as a fish trap or a protective barrier against rising sea levels.

The wall, measuring 20 metres wide and two metres high, includes rows of granite monoliths that were originally placed on bedrock before the rest of the structure was built around them. These monoliths may have supported wooden nets to catch fish during receding tides. With an estimated mass of 3,300 tonnes, the construction points to a settled society with sophisticated engineering knowledge, possibly bridging the skills of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and later Neolithic settlers.

The discovery was first made after a geologist noticed an unusual formation on modern undersea charts, prompting diving expeditions in 2022 and detailed mapping the following winter. Archaeologists propose that such submerged structures could be connected to Breton legends of sunken cities, such as the mythical city of Ys. They believe rapid sea-level rise and the subsequent abandonment of coastal settlements may have left a deep imprint on cultural memory.

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Germany Faces Sharp Population Decline and Rapid Ageing, Says Statistics Office

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Germany’s population is projected to shrink significantly over the coming decades, with the national statistics office warning that the country could lose nearly 10 million people by 2070. As the large baby boomer generation ages, Germany is expected to have one in four citizens over the age of 67 within the next decade. By 2038, around 21 million residents—27% of the population—will be of pension age.

This rapid demographic shift is worsening labour shortages across Europe’s largest economy, with businesses increasingly struggling to find workers. The trend is also fuelling political tensions, as debates over immigration intensify and support grows for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has surged in many opinion polls amid concerns about social and economic pressures.

Germany’s welfare system is expected to come under mounting strain, with the ratio of pensioners to workers projected to rise sharply. Currently, there are 33 retirees for every 100 working-age individuals, but in the worst-case scenario that figure could climb to 61 by 2070—leaving fewer than two workers contributing for each pension recipient. Only two out of 27 scenarios envision population growth, and both rely on higher immigration and increased birth rates.

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ECB Pushes for Simpler Bank Rules While Keeping Capital Demands Intact

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The European Central Bank has proposed major reforms to simplify the EU’s banking rulebook, aiming to streamline supervisory requirements without reducing overall capital burdens. The ECB argues that reducing complexity should not weaken financial resilience, despite industry pressure for lighter regulations as seen in the U.S. and UK. The plan centres on merging several capital buffers into two core layers—releasable and non-releasable—while keeping guidance requirements separate.

Banking groups broadly welcomed the effort but warned that the proposals fall short of delivering the regulatory relief needed to boost competitiveness. German banking associations said the changes do not go far enough, particularly for small lenders, and urged the European Commission to move more decisively. European bank stocks nonetheless gained over 1% following the ECB’s announcement, outpacing wider market performance.

Beyond capital buffers, the ECB also called for reforms to AT1 convertible bonds, questioning whether these instruments truly absorb losses, and recommended an overhaul of EU-wide bank stress testing to make the process more effective. The proposals, backed by the ECB’s Governing Council, must now be reviewed by the European Commission, meaning any concrete changes could take months or even years to implement.

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Marseille Gripped by Fear as Drug Wars Pull Children Into Brutal Violence

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Marseille is facing an intense wave of drug-related violence, with children increasingly pulled into the city’s escalating gang wars. The recent murder of 15-year-old Adel—shot, burned, and left on a beach—has shocked residents and fuelled a growing sense of psychose, or collective panic. Local authorities say teenagers are being recruited, coerced, and sometimes enslaved by traffickers who now rely on younger, more expendable “little soldiers” to run the expanding €7bn drug industry.

Police have responded with aggressive crackdowns known as “security bombardments” to dismantle trafficking hotspots, but officers, prosecutors, and community leaders warn that the violence is spreading faster than it can be contained. Videos circulating on social media glamorise drug dealing and openly advertise job offers for lookouts and couriers, luring vulnerable youth with false promises of quick profits. Many, however, end up trapped, abused, or killed in clashes between rival networks such as the dominant DZ Mafia.

The crisis has sparked political battles, with far-right leaders blaming immigration and demanding a state of emergency, while critics argue that decades of poverty, neglect, and failing public services are the real drivers of the violence. Activists like Amine Kessaci, whose two brothers were murdered, say the city is enduring unprecedented brutality as the victims and perpetrators grow younger each year. Despite the fear gripping Marseille, some urge residents not to surrender to panic but to confront both the violence and the deeper social fractures fuelling it.

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