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Spain Locks Down All Poultry Amid Rising Bird Flu Threat

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Spain’s Agriculture Ministry has ordered an immediate nationwide lockdown of all poultry to curb the growing risk of bird flu, expanding measures first introduced last week for high-risk areas.

The move comes after a surge in avian influenza cases across Europe — 139 outbreaks since July, including 14 in Spain, with half detected in the Castille and Leon region. The ministry said the decision follows a heightened risk of the virus entering the country in recent days.

Under the new rules, all poultry farms — including organic and small-scale operations — must keep birds indoors to avoid contact with migratory species that could carry the virus. The order also prohibits mixing ducks and geese with other poultry, using untreated surface water, and holding bird fairs or exhibitions.

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Croatia’s White Truffle Hunters Chase a Vanishing Luxury

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In Croatia’s Istria region, truffle hunter Ivana Karlic Ban and her dogs scour the autumn forests for white truffles — one of the world’s most expensive delicacies, fetching up to €7,000 per kilogram. These rare fungi, which grow underground from September to December in harmony with certain trees, are found only in Croatia and Italy and cannot be cultivated like their black counterparts.

Karlic Ban, a third-generation truffle hunter, continues her family’s long-standing tradition in the village of Paladini near Buzet. Together with her brother, she runs a shop offering unique truffle-based creations, including truffle-infused chocolate and even dog treats. Their business celebrates Istria’s rich culinary heritage while adapting to modern gourmet tastes.

However, the white truffle’s future is under threat. Climate change and deforestation have diminished its natural habitat, leading to lower yields. “Severe droughts stop the fungus from forming, while heavy rains make it rot,” Karlic Ban explains. With fewer truffles being found each season, prices continue to climb — turning the hunt into a race against time and nature.

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France Remembers Bataclan Attacks as Jihadist Threat Persists a Decade Later

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As France marks ten years since the deadly Bataclan attacks, the nation faces renewed reminders of the enduring jihadist threat. Authorities have arrested Maëva B, a 27-year-old French convert linked to Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving attacker from November 2015, on suspicion of plotting a violent act. The arrest underscores the persistence of home-grown extremism, even as large-scale terror plots have diminished following the fall of the Islamic State.

The coordinated Paris attacks on 13 November 2015 killed 130 people and wounded hundreds more, becoming a defining moment in France’s modern history. Since then, intelligence agencies have strengthened counter-terror capabilities, yet experts warn of “ambient jihadism” — a decentralized, ideology-driven threat fueled by social networks, political polarization, and global conflicts like the Israel-Gaza war.

Thursday’s national commemorations include tributes at attack sites, the opening of a memorial garden, and the illumination of the Eiffel Tower in France’s tricolour. Survivors continue to share how their lives were forever altered, while Abdeslam’s offer to participate in “restorative justice” has drawn outrage from victims’ families, who insist terrorism cannot be treated as an ordinary crime.

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Cardiff to Host Euro 2028 Opener, Wembley to Stage Semis and Final

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Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will host the opening match of Euro 2028, while London’s Wembley Stadium will stage the semi-finals and final, UEFA confirmed at the tournament’s official launch in London. The 24-team championship will be played across nine venues in four nations — England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland — after Belfast’s Casement Park was dropped due to funding issues.

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney called it a “historic moment” for Welsh football, marking the first time Wales will host a major international tournament. He said the event would unite communities, inspire young players, and showcase Welsh culture on a global stage.

The quarter-finals will be shared among Cardiff, Dublin, Glasgow, and Wembley, while other English venues include Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, and St James’ Park. The qualifying draw will take place in Belfast in December 2026, with organizers pledging to deliver the “best-ever” European Championship.

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Algeria Pardons Jailed Novelist Boualem Sansal Amid Diplomatic Efforts

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Almost a year after his arrest at Algiers airport, French-Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal, 81, has been pardoned by the Algerian presidency and allowed to leave the country. Sansal, who has been at the center of a tense diplomatic row between Paris and Algiers, departed for Germany on a military plane to receive medical treatment for prostate cancer.

The release came after German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier directly appealed to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, leveraging his trusted relationship with the Algerian leader. French President Emmanuel Macron thanked Tebboune for the “act of humanity,” highlighting France’s respectful and calm approach in securing Sansal’s freedom.

Sansal had been sentenced to five years in prison in July for remarks deemed to undermine national unity, having long been critical of the Algerian government. His pardon was granted on humanitarian grounds due to his advanced age and fragile health, overriding earlier unsuccessful appeals from France.

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Italy Launches Probe into Alleged ‘Sniper Safaris’ Targeting Civilians in Bosnian War

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Italian prosecutors in Milan have launched an investigation into shocking allegations that wealthy tourists from Italy and other countries paid to shoot at civilians during the Bosnian war in the early 1990s. The so-called “sniper safaris” allegedly took place in the besieged city of Sarajevo, where participants reportedly paid varying amounts to target men, women, and even children from Serb-controlled positions overlooking the city.

The complaint was filed by Italian journalist and novelist Ezio Gavazzeni, who uncovered testimonies from Bosnian intelligence officers claiming that these “human hunts” were discovered in late 1993 and stopped months later after Italy’s military intelligence service, Sismi, was informed. Gavazzeni’s findings, supported by accounts from Sarajevo’s former mayor and evidence seen in the 2022 documentary Sarajevo Safari, suggest that individuals from several countries — including Italy, the US, and Russia — were involved.

Authorities in Milan, led by counter-terrorism prosecutor Alessandro Gobbis, are now examining the evidence under charges of murder. The investigation seeks to confirm whether Italian nationals participated in these paid killing sprees that took place during the brutal four-year siege of Sarajevo, which claimed over 11,000 civilian lives. Gavazzeni condemned the alleged acts as the “indifference of evil,” underscoring the moral depravity of those who treated a war zone as a hunting ground.

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M&S Overhauls Supply Chain to Double Online Fashion Sales

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Marks & Spencer (M&S) is overhauling its fashion supply chain from “factory to floor” as part of a major strategy to double its annual online fashion, home, and beauty sales to nearly £3 billion ($4 billion). John Lyttle, who took charge as Managing Director for Fashion, Home, and Beauty in March, said the revamp aims to make M&S a fully omnichannel retailer by modernizing how products are sourced, stored, and delivered to customers. The move follows a strong recovery after an April cyberattack that disrupted online operations and caused around £300 million in losses.

The 141-year-old retailer is investing £120 million in automation to improve efficiency and resilience across its operations. Lyttle emphasized that simplifying logistics and strengthening supply chain partnerships—particularly with factories in Asia and Europe—will help reduce costs and ensure smoother product flow. He noted that M&S has already improved its reputation for value, quality, and style, with fashion, home, and beauty sales rising 9% over the past three years and its market share climbing to 10.5%.

M&S plans to deepen long-term supplier relationships to secure consistent product availability amid global trade challenges. The company also aims to increase online’s share of total non-food sales from 34% to 50% in the coming years. Investors see the shift as a major growth opportunity, with experts saying the modernized supply chain could enhance margins and cement M&S’s position as a leading online and in-store fashion retailer in the UK.

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Google to Invest $6.4 Billion in Germany’s Cloud Infrastructure Expansion

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Alphabet’s Google has announced plans to invest €5.5 billion ($6.4 billion) in Germany between 2026 and 2029 to strengthen its cloud infrastructure and data centre capacity. The investment includes building a new data centre in Dietzenbach near Frankfurt and expanding its existing facility in Hanau, both located in the state of Hesse.

The initiative is expected to secure around 9,000 indirect jobs, marking a significant boost for Germany’s digital economy. Google Cloud’s Northern Europe vice president Marianne Janik said the investment will directly involve about 100 workers at each site. The move follows a series of major tech partnerships in Germany, including a $1.2 billion AI deal between Deutsche Telekom and Nvidia.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil hailed the announcement as a major signal for Germany’s economic future, noting that no state funds are involved. The government continues to promote the country as a prime business destination amid efforts to modernize infrastructure and revive economic growth.

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Turkish Military Plane Crashes in Georgia, At Least 20 On Board

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A Turkish C-130 military cargo plane carrying at least 20 personnel crashed in Georgia on Tuesday after taking off from Azerbaijan. Footage from the scene near the Azerbaijan border showed debris scattered across a grassy hillside, with parts of the aircraft still burning. The cause of the crash and the exact number of casualties have not yet been confirmed.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences for “our martyrs” during a speech in Ankara, while Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev also expressed sorrow over the loss of servicemen. The plane reportedly included both Turkish and Azeri personnel, though Turkey’s Defence Ministry only confirmed 20 Turkish personnel on board. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in Sighnaghi municipality, Kakheti, near the crash site.

Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the C-130 Hercules, expressed condolences and pledged support to Turkey’s Air Force during the investigation. The versatile aircraft, widely used for cargo, troop transport, and various military operations, is considered a mainstay tactical airlifter for many armed forces worldwide.

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Russian Teen Musician Jailed Again for Anti-Kremlin Songs

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Russian teenager Diana Loginova, an 18-year-old street musician performing under the stage name Naoko with her band Stoptime, has been handed another 13-day jail sentence in St. Petersburg for a new public order offence. Loginova and her fiancé, the band’s guitarist Alexander Orlov, have already served multiple short jail terms and fines after performing songs critical of the Kremlin, drawing attention on social media and prompting young fans to join their street concerts.

Loginova’s performances included cover versions of tracks by exiled Russian artists such as Noize MC and Monetochka, whose songs carry anti-war and anti-Putin messages. Authorities have labeled some of these artists as “foreign agents,” and critics of the government in Russia face intense scrutiny, especially since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Loginova has also been fined for “discrediting the army” and previously jailed for “petty hooliganism,” highlighting the strict enforcement of wartime censorship.

Rights groups like Amnesty International have condemned the repeated arrests, describing them as “carousel arrests” used to prolong detention without formal criminal charges. Loginova still faces additional charges that could result in further fines. Her mother expressed confusion over the authorities’ attention, insisting her daughter and the band had done nothing wrong.

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