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Europe
Munich’s Oktoberfest officially commenced today with the traditional keg tapping by Mayor Dominik Krause at noon. The event is expected to attract millions, following last year’s attendance of 6.5 million, as beer tents and fairground rides opened, welcoming revelers to the famed Theresienwiese.
Russia has intensified its military operations, launching attacks across Ukraine including a strike in Balakliia that resulted in two fatalities. Additionally, Kyiv now faces ballistic missile strikes, prompting officials to advise civilians to seek shelter as air defence systems engage.
The trial of Rachida Dati commenced at the Paris criminal court, where the former justice minister faces charges including passive corruption linked to €900,000 received from Renault-Nissan’s Dutch subsidiary between 2009 and 2013. Carlos Ghosn, the company’s former head, is being tried in absentia.
A civil court in Nantes has ruled the French government partially liable for the 2016 death of jogger Jean-Rene Auffray, attributing 60% of the responsibility to state negligence related to agricultural pollution.
The EU is set to revisit its €68 billion Association Agreement with Israel after its External Action Service found indications that Israel breached core human rights obligations, particularly through Gaza-related measures, including humanitarian blockades, strikes on hospitals, and forced displacement.
In Brussels, the European Union and Canada sealed their first-ever security and defence partnership with a non‑American nation.
Greenpeace and anti-tourism activists protested Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding, highlighting billionaire tax inequalities and environmental concerns with banners in St Mark’s Square.
The EU has been focused on NATO’s defence spending, with members agreeing to up spending to 5% of GDP (except Spain). European leaders are preparing to deal with Donald Trump again at the NATO summit, after several EU members called for retaliatory tariffs on the USA.
The war in the Middle East and Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine have also made up a lot of this week’s European headlines. Kyiv has suffered another heavy bombing, and there have been reports that the EU is considering suspending its partnership with Israel over its genocide in Gaza.
The EU and Canada have strengthened their ties with a new partnership and talks of digital trade and deeper cooperation on AI. The EU-Canada summit comes just before NATO.
The continent (including the UK) has experienced a lovely heatwave last week, and whilst it may have ended for the UK, much of the rest of Europe is still basking in the sun – get out and see our incredible continent and all it has to offer, as the summer break begins for some – and is creeping close for the rest of us!
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