EUROPE

META ORDERED TO COMPENSATE SPANISH MEDIA FOR ‘UNFAIR COMPETITION’

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In a significant ruling on Thursday, a Spanish court found Facebook owner Meta liable for "unfair competition" and ordered it to pay local media outlets 479 million euros ($552 million) in compensation, along with 60 million euros in interest. The judgment sided with Spain's main media association (AMI), which filed a 2023 lawsuit accusing the US tech giant (also owner of Instagram and WhatsApp) of "systematically" violating EU regulations—which oblige companies to obtain users' consent for personalized advertising data—between May 2018 and July 2023.

NICOLAS SARKOZY RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER 3 WEEKS

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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been freed from prison, despite having been sentenced to five years for his role in a criminal conspiracy involving illegal funding from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi for his 2007 election campaign. Released after only three weeks, Sarkozy will now be subject to stringent judicial supervision, including a ban on leaving France, as he awaits his appeal trial scheduled for next year.

UKRAINE SECURES DEAL FOR UP TO 100 FRENCH-MADE RAFALE FIGHTER JETS AMID INTENSIFYING RUSSIAN ATTACKS

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Ukraine is set to receive up to 100 French-made Rafale F4 fighter jets under a sweeping new defence agreement signed in Paris, marking one of Kyiv's most significant commitments yet to strengthening its long-term air power. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the move "historic" after signing a letter of intent with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Villacoublay air base, where the two leaders stood in front of a Rafale jet and pledged deeper military cooperation.

BBC CHIEFS TIM DAVIE AND DEBORAH TURNESS RESIGN AMID PANORAMA TRUMP DOCUMENTARY CONTROVERSY

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The BBC has been thrown into turmoil following the shock resignations of Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness after a Panorama documentary came under fire for misleading editing of a Donald Trump speech. The dual resignation — unprecedented in the broadcaster’s history — marks a seismic moment for the corporation, already grappling with growing scrutiny over impartiality and editorial standards.

UKRAINIAN DRONE STRIKE FORCES RUSSIA TO HALT GLOBAL OIL EXPORTS

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Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, one of the country's most critical export hubs, was forced to suspend oil shipments on Friday after what local authorities described as a major Ukrainian drone attack, an incident that temporarily froze the movement of 2.2 million barrels per day, roughly 2% of the world's oil supply, according to industry sources.

FORMER FRANCE LEADER SARKOZY SAYS 'PRISON LIFE IS VERY HARD' - REQUESTS EARLY RELEASE

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Former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy's request to be released from jail pending appeal was heard by a Paris court on Monday, less than three weeks after the ex-head of state began serving a five-year prison sentence. The sentence was handed down after his conviction for conspiring to raise campaign funds from former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

KING CHARLES MARKS BIRTHDAY WITH WALES VISIT

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King Charles' seventy seventh birthday unfolded in wet and blustery conditions as he journeyed to south Wales for a series of engagements that reaffirmed his commitment to public duty despite ongoing medical treatments. Accompanied by Queen Camilla, he visited Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr Tydfil, a site rich in cultural heritage where he met notable local figures, including celebrated actor and writer Ruth Jones. The castle reception featured a birthday cake modeled after the centuries-old landmark, reinforcing the spirit of celebration despite the heavy rainfall brought by Storm Claudia.

VINCENT VAN GOGH'S FRIENDSHIP WITH A POSTMAN CHANGED ART FOREVER

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Behind the tortured genius of Vincent van Gogh lies an unexpected friendship that reshaped his final years and left a lasting mark on art history. That friendship was with Joseph Roulin, a humble postman in the southern French town of Arles. Their deep bond, forged during Van Gogh's most turbulent period, is now the centerpiece of a new exhibition, Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits, opening at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston before moving to Amsterdam.