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Thousands Rally in Kyiv Demanding Return of Former Defence Minister

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Thousands of people marched through central Kyiv, calling on President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to reinstate former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was removed during a government reshuffle in mid-July. Protesters questioned the government’s decision and expressed concern over the impact of his dismissal on Ukraine’s wartime military reforms.

Fedorov, widely credited with driving military innovation, has refused to accept another government role, while Zelenskiy has appointed an acting defence minister and shown no sign of reversing the decision. The protests come as Ukraine continues its war with Russia and intensifies military operations on the frontline.

Demonstrators said the rallies reflect Ukraine’s democratic values even during wartime, with many vowing to continue protesting until their demands are addressed. Analysts noted that the public demonstrations highlight growing concern over transparency, defence reforms and confidence in the country’s leadership.

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Thousands of Audi Workers Protest Over Possible Neckarsulm Plant Closure

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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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Protests Erupt in Bologna After Arrest Death

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Violent clashes broke out in Bologna, Italy, after the death of Abderrahim Fakir, a Moroccan-born entrepreneur, during an attempted police arrest. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets after video footage of the incident circulated online, with some demonstrators confronting riot police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.

The footage showed Fakir lying face down while being restrained by officers, repeatedly calling for help before becoming unresponsive. According to media reports, police had been called to the scene after receiving reports of a man behaving aggressively and damaging a vehicle. Officers allegedly used pepper spray and attempted to handcuff him before emergency services were called.

Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident, while authorities said body camera footage from the officers involved would be handed over to investigators. The case has sparked political debate, with opposition leaders demanding accountability and government officials urging the public to await the outcome of the official inquiry.

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Greek Ruling Party Calls for Nationwide Protests After Firebomb Attack Kills Candidate’s Mother

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Greece’s governing New Democracy party has called on its supporters to stage protests after a firebomb attack in the northern city of Thessaloniki claimed the life of the 72-year-old mother of parliamentary candidate Afroditi Nestora. The victim died from severe burns sustained during coordinated attacks on three homes linked to members of the ruling party. Nestora was also injured in the incident, while three others were wounded.

The attacks took place before dawn when assailants placed flaming gas canisters outside the targeted homes, triggering explosions and fires. Authorities said no group has claimed responsibility so far, but the country’s anti-terrorism unit has taken over the investigation. Police believe the attacks were coordinated and are reviewing surveillance footage to identify those involved.

Government officials condemned the incident as an act of terrorism and vowed that political violence would not intimidate the country. The New Democracy party and its youth wing have called for a public rally to honour the victim and demonstrate unity against terrorism. The attack marks the first fatal assault targeting Greek politicians in more than a decade, reviving concerns over political violence in the country.

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Austrian Residents Block Critical Alps Motorway to Protest Excess Traffic

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Around 3,000 local residents successfully shut down Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday, blocking a vital Alpine transport corridor that connects Germany and Italy. Led by Karl Muehlsteiger, the mayor of Gries am Brenner, the symbolic eight-hour demonstration protested the persistent traffic congestion and pollution caused by heavy trucks and tourists passing through the narrow Wipp Valley. Police cordoned off both ends of the highway starting at 11 a.m., forcing approaching vehicles to turn around, while provincial side roads were restricted strictly to local traffic.

Despite occurring during a German school holiday, the major traffic chaos many anticipated was largely avoided as drivers heeded early warnings to avoid the area, leading to a surge in passenger numbers on local train routes instead. The protest highlights decades of political tension between Austria and Germany over transit management in the state of Tyrol, where local authorities have long attempted to curb cross-border traffic flows despite pushback from their German neighbors.

Meanwhile, a parallel disruption unfolded across the border in Italy, where a suspected overnight arson attack on electrical control units near Verona crippled rail traffic along the Verona-Brenner line. Italian investigators are currently looking into whether the railway sabotage is linked to radical environmentalist or anarcho-insurrectionist groups.

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Elderly Gunman in Athens Shooting Acted Out of “Protest and Despair”

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An 89-year-old man arrested after injuring five people in two separate shooting incidents in Athens reportedly acted out of “protest and despair,” according to his lawyer. The attacker first opened fire at a social security office, wounding an employee, before heading to a court building where he fired additional shots, injuring four staff members.

Authorities later tracked and arrested him at a hotel in Patras, around 200 km from Athens. His lawyer stated that the man, a former engineer who had worked in Chicago for decades, had been struggling with issues related to public services, including the rejection of his supplementary pension application. He also had a history of psychiatric treatment.

Prosecutors have charged him with attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm. The incident has raised concerns over security at public institutions, with officials acknowledging gaps in protection. Meanwhile, workers at the social security agency staged a protest, citing frustration over understaffing and safety risks.

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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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Protest Disrupts Israel Philharmonic Concert in Paris

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A concert by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Paris was disrupted multiple times on Thursday night when protesters set off flares in the auditorium. Four people were detained after clashes broke out in the Pierre Boulez hall, forcing the performance led by conductor Lahav Shani and pianist Sir Andras Schiff to be temporarily halted due to smoke and commotion.

The event had already faced criticism from a French performing arts union and calls for a boycott by pro-Palestinian activists. While French ministers condemned the disturbances and defended artistic freedom, some political voices argued the protest was justified due to their opposition to the Israeli state.

Despite the chaos, the venue confirmed the troublemakers were removed and legal action will follow. The concert eventually resumed and concluded peacefully, with authorities stressing that violence and threats to public safety have no place in cultural spaces.

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Macron condemns antisemitism after Jewish girl is raped

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French President Emmanuel Macron has raised serious concerns about the growing threat of antisemitism in schools after a 12-year-old Jewish girl was raped in what police have classified as a hate crime. According to French media, the girl reported being in a park in Courbevoie, north-west of Paris, with a friend last Saturday when three boys, two aged 13 and one aged 12, approached her. She knew at least one of them. The boys dragged her to an isolated location, where they hurled antisemitic abuse at her and raped her.

The boys were arrested on Monday, and two of them were charged with gang rape, antisemitic insults and violence, and issuing death threats. One of the attackers reportedly threatened to kill the girl if she went to the police. In response to the attack, people took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against antisemitism, carrying banners with messages such as “It could have been your sister.”

Macron addressed the attack during a Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday. He asked the Minister of Education, Nicole Belloubet, to ensure that schools hold discussions on racism and antisemitism in the coming days to prevent “hateful speech with serious consequences” from “infiltrating” classrooms. Belloubet later condemned the crime on social media, stating that “every part of this crime is revolting.” Prime Minister Gabriel Attal called the attack “absolutely despicable, unbearable, and unspeakable,” noting that antisemitism has been on the rise in France since October 7.

Chief Rabbi of France Haim Korsia expressed horror at the incident and called for the perpetrators to be firmly punished. He emphasized that no one can be excused from the current surge in antisemitism. A January 2024 report by the Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) highlighted a 284% increase in antisemitic acts between 2022 and 2023, with nearly 13% occurring in schools. The report noted a significant spike in such incidents following the October 7 Hamas attacks against communities in Israel.

The attack and the rise in antisemitism come amid a heated election campaign in France, after President Macron called a snap parliamentary election two weeks ago. Politicians from various parties quickly condemned the incident and vowed to combat antisemitism.

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Leonid Volkov: Navalny ally blames Putin henchmen for attack in Lithuania

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Leonid Volkov, a close ally of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was attacked outside his residence in Lithuania, sustaining injuries including a broken arm and multiple blows to his leg with a hammer. Lithuanian authorities suspect Russian involvement in organizing and executing the attack, a notion Volkov concurs with, attributing it to Putin’s regime. The incident occurred as Volkov arrived home in Vilnius.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda condemned the attack, expressing defiance against Putin, asserting that no one fears him in Lithuania. Another Navalny team member, Ivan Zhdanov, shared images of Volkov’s injuries on social media, affirming the attack’s political nature.

Volkov’s wife, Anna Biryukova, vowed to intensify their activism despite the assault. Volkov, who has been living outside Russia for safety reasons, has been a key figure in Navalny’s movement, facing politically motivated charges in Russia. Lithuanian authorities and the VSD state security department are investigating the attack, viewing it as an attempt to impede opposition efforts during Russia’s upcoming presidential elections, which lack genuine opposition candidates.

In a video statement, Volkov denounced the attack, emphasizing his determination to continue political activism. He called for peaceful protests during the election period and urged Russians to participate in a coordinated action against Putin’s regime.

Despite challenges, Volkov has ensured the continuity of Navalny’s activism from abroad, facilitating anti-corruption investigations and supporting protests in Russia. The Navalny organization has faced severe crackdowns, with many members imprisoned and the group labeled extremist in Russia. Ahead of the upcoming election, Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, echoes Volkov’s call for opposition unity, aligning with Navalny’s vision before his demise.

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