About 300 people protested in Venice on Friday against US Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta, who arrived in the city aboard his superyacht, Boardwalk. Demonstrators criticized both the ambassador and the policies of President Donald Trump, whom he represents.

The protesters carried banners denouncing billionaires and the use of Venice as a venue for high-profile events, while also expressing support for Palestinians in the occupied territories and accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

They also criticized the heightened security measures introduced by Italian authorities ahead of the weekend's Festa del Redentore celebrations. Police prevented demonstrators from approaching the yacht's mooring site, and minor scuffles broke out.

Organizers said Fertitta had become a symbol of Trump's foreign policy, which they said were fueling conflicts, supporting Israel's military campaign in Gaza and increasing global economic instability and prices.

Venice has long faced criticism over mass tourism and its role as a venue for lavish events attended by the global elite.

(Reuters, mja)

Jens Spahn, chairman of the German CDU/CSU parliamentary group, is facing calls from within his party to resign after it emerged that he and his husband had become parents to a child born through surrogacy in the United States.

The revelation has drawn criticism primarily because Spahn's party has long opposed legalizing surrogacy and, as recently as February, reaffirmed its support for maintaining Germany's ban. While the practice is prohibited in Germany, raising a child born to a surrogate abroad is not illegal.

Spahn acknowledged that the decision had not been easy and said he had struggled with the question of surrogacy for a long time. He added, however, that he intended to discuss his position with members of his parliamentary group. Critics within the CDU argue that his personal decision is at odds with the party's position.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the matter as sensitive from legal, ethical and social perspectives, but said he saw no reason to change the current legislation.

(Reuters, mja)

The Ukrainian government has appointed Yevhenii Khmara to lead the Ministry of Defense and Andriy Sybiha to head the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until new ministers are appointed. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said on Telegram that the changes are intended to ensure continuity in defense and foreign policy.

The cabinet also approved a reorganization of several ministries, including the restoration of the Ministry of Agriculture and the creation of a separate Ministry for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons.

The reshuffle follows President Volodymyr Zelensky's public acknowledgment of problems within the Ministry of Defense, strained relations between outgoing Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, and continuing difficulties with mobilization.

Zelensky also said he would nominate Khmara to Parliament as the new defense minister. Meanwhile, protests by Fedorov's supporters have continued in Kyiv and other cities, with demonstrators calling for his return to the government.

(mja)

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Mexican state of Chiapas near the city of Puerto Madero on Friday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. The quake struck at a depth of about 15 km.

The US Tsunami Warning System issued an alert for potentially hazardous waves along the coast within about 300 km of the epicenter.

The tremor was also felt in neighboring Guatemala and El Salvador, prompting precautionary evacuations. Authorities in Guatemala City activated emergency protocols and evacuated several government buildings.

Salomon Jara, governor of the Mexican state of Oaxaca, said the earthquake was also felt in the state capital, but there were no immediate reports of serious damage.

Authorities have not reported any casualties or significant property damage.

(Reuters, MJA)

France and Germany will discuss deepening cooperation on nuclear deterrence, air and missile defense, long-range strike capabilities and space technologies at a joint ministerial meeting.

Berlin will also consider French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to extend France's nuclear deterrent to European allies. German troops are also expected to take part in a French nuclear exercise for the first time this autumn.

Following the cancellation of the joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet program, Paris and Berlin plan to continue work on some of its elements, including the combat cloud, which would connect combat aircraft and facilitate data sharing.

France and Germany are also expected to reaffirm their support for IRIS², the European Union’s planned secure satellite communications constellation.

The talks are aimed at strengthening Europe's defense sovereignty while reducing dependence on US weapons technology.

(Reuters, mja)

Russian attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports are beginning to seriously disrupt grain exports from Ukraine and are also affecting the global market. Moscow has intensified its attacks on ports in Odesa and on merchant ships in recent days, apparently in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov, the Financial Times reported.

The security situation is deterring shipping companies. Several traders have suspended grain purchases and shipping insurance premiums have risen sharply. Some insurers have even stopped covering war risks for voyages to Ukrainian ports.

The attacks have also damaged storage facilities in Odesa and have claimed 11 lives over the past two weeks, according to Ukrainian authorities.

The export disruptions are also affecting commodity prices, with wheat reaching multi-year highs on exchanges in both Chicago and Paris. Analysts warn that long-term restrictions on exports from both Russia and Ukraine could worsen the global grain supply situation.

(mja)

Private jets belonging to several Russian billionaires and high-ranking officials repeatedly flew to Bodrum, Turkey, and nearby Dalaman during the first half of July, according to flight data reported by Novaya Gazeta.

During the same period, the yacht Victoria, which investigators link to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was also located off the southwestern coast of Turkey. Aircraft linked to Arkady Rotenberg, Alexander Tkachev, Igor Shuvalov, Denis Manturov, Rustam Minnikhanov, Andrey Kostin and Andrey Bokarev flew to the region, according to media reports.

Several of the aircraft turned off their radar transponders during their flights, making it difficult to track their movements. Media outlets had previously reported that superyachts belonging to several Russian oligarchs, including Roman Abramovich, Oleg Deripaska and Vagit Alekperov, are also anchored in the same region.

The reason for their concentration around Bodrum is unknown. Turkey has not joined the sanctions against Russia and is therefore not required to seize the assets of sanctioned individuals.

(mja)

Russia's Ministry of Justice has added two organizations and two individuals to its registry of so-called foreign agents. The Libertarian Party of Russia, the Fourth Sector project, journalist Alexander Polivanov and writer Dmitry Petrov were added to the list, Interfax reported.

The ministry accuses them of spreading what Russian authorities deem false information about state policy, creating or disseminating content from entities designated as foreign agents and, in some cases, collaborating with organizations that Moscow considers undesirable.

The Libertarian Party is further accused of criticizing the electoral system, opposing the war in Ukraine and allegedly calling for the disruption of Russia's territorial integrity.

The Fourth Sector project, the ministry said, was intended to disseminate content from undesirable organizations and criticize the Russian education system. Polivanov and Petrov, meanwhile, are accused of publicly speaking out against the war and maintaining contacts with entities designated as foreign agents.

(mja)

Russia is facing a deepening fuel crisis that is forcing gas station owners across the country to sell their businesses, according to Russian media. Over the past month, more than 150 gas stations have been listed for sale, with prices ranging from 1m to 150m rubles ($12,800 to $1.91m), The Moscow Times reported.

The problems have particularly affected independent chains, which are struggling with shortages of gasoline and diesel as well as high wholesale prices.

According to industry sources, these chains are receiving fuel from major oil companies only in limited quantities, which has led to station closures in some regions.

The situation has been worsened by Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries, which have significantly reduced oil processing. According to Reuters, gasoline production has fallen by approximately 35%, while domestic demand remains high.

The fuel shortage is already disrupting supplies to healthcare facilities, municipal services and emergency response teams.

(mja)