Thousands of students marched in Prague on Wednesday in protest against the Czech government’s plan to overhaul public media funding, which would eliminate access fees and make state funding the sole source. Critics warn this could jeopardise media independence and lead to significant budget cuts and layoffs.

A second French soldier, Corporal Anicet Girardin, has died from wounds sustained during a Hezbollah ambush on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, President Emmanuel Macron confirmed. This follows the death of Staff Sergeant Florian Montorio in the same attack, marking a significant escalation for French forces in the region.

Moldovan oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for his involvement in the disappearance of $1 billion from the country’s banking system in 2014. The court also ordered the seizure of approximately $60 million from his accounts. Plahotniuc denies the charges and plans to appeal.

NATO intercepted Russian strategic bombers and fighter jets over the Baltic Sea on Monday, deploying French Rafale fighters from Lithuania as part of ongoing air-policing efforts. This coordinated response involved aircraft from several nations, ensuring vigilance against Russian incursions in the region.

Statistics from a recent study indicate that current police investigations do not provide a complete picture of crime, as they exclude unreported cases and lack details on convictions or the total number of offenders. This limitation calls into question the overall crime assessment.

Rescue efforts for a humpback whale stranded on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast encountered setbacks when the animal swam away but then became stuck again. As volunteers prepare to retry, the whale has gained public attention, dubbed “Timmy,” sparking hopes for its survival.