EUROPE

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A shooting linked to drug trafficking in the western French city of Poitiers erupted into a brawl on Thursday night, possibly involving as many as 600 individuals, according to French authorities.

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Germany, known for its preference for cash payments, has become a prime target for a surge in violent ATM bombings. Organized crime networks, primarily based in the Netherlands, have exploited this trend, conducting highly coordinated heists that are wreaking havoc across the country. German ATMs—over 55,000 in total, more than any other European nation—attract criminals who have found these machines to be lucrative, with payouts reaching up to 100,000 euros per heist. This preference for cash, paired with Germany’s dense ATM network, has made it a hotspot for these attacks, which involve sophisticated tactics, like using heavy-duty explosives derived from fireworks.

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The Valencia region of Spain experienced a catastrophic meteorological event that transformed tranquil landscapes into scenes of unprecedented destruction. Meteorologists reported an extraordinary rainfall of a year's worth condensed into just eight hours, unleashing a torrent that would claim at least 95 lives and reshape entire communities.

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In a continued effort to tackle overcrowding, Venice has announced plans to increase the number of days on which it charges an entry fee for tourists. Starting in 2025, tourists visiting on specific days between April and July will be required to pay €5 ($5.41) if booked in advance or €10 for last-minute bookings. The city's mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, emphasized that this fee aims to discourage excessive visits on particular days and ensure that Venice receives the respect it deserves.

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The United Kingdom has announced a sweeping £40 billion ($52 billion) tax increase targeting high earners, wealthy foreigners, and large businesses. This bold move, aimed at stabilizing the country’s finances and addressing economic inequality, is part of the Labour Party’s first budget since it swept to power in a historic July election.

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Fethullah Gulen, the influential Turkish cleric who Turkey accused of orchestrating the 2016 failed coup attempt, died Sunday evening in a Pennsylvania hospital, according to Herkul, the website that published his sermons. He was 83.

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Libya and Italy have signed several agreements on Tuesday covering sectors including development, investments and infrastructure, aiming to boost cooperation between the two Mediterranean states. The accords were signed by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah and his Italian counterpart, Georgia Meloni, during the Italian-Libyan Business Forum, being held in the capital Tripoli after a decade's hiatus.

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Thousands of Stellantis workers went on strike Friday and protested in Rome over temporary layoffs and production stoppages by the maker of Fiat and Jeep in Italy.