Europe

French secondary schools brace for widespread closures on Monday as unrest continues with protests against unsafe conditions and insufficient resources. The Ministry of Education anticipates partial or full closures affecting 400 to 500 schools, following clashes between demonstrators and police over the past week.

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire led a march through the capital, underscoring the ongoing threats to the LGBTQ+ community. He stated that LGBTQIA+ venues continue to face attacks, discrimination, and violence, highlighting the urgent need for increased protection and awareness of these pressing issues.

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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