A boat carrying migrants toward Italy capsized near Tunisia’s coast, leaving at least 13 Tunisians missing, according to the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights. The vessel had departed at dawn on Thursday, and the information was reported on Saturday by the observatory’s head, Mostafa Abdelkabir.

Two people were rescued from the boat. One survivor told rescuers that those aboard had been stranded in the sea for several hours after the vessel overturned. The source did not provide further details on the condition of the missing people or the circumstances that caused the boat to capsize.

Tunisia was once one of the main departure routes for migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. However, migrant departures from the country have decreased significantly over the past two years, the report said. The incident occurred during an attempted journey toward Italy.

A Polish-registered bus overturned on a motorway in Hungary, killing 12 people and seriously injuring at least 10 others, according to Prime Minister Peter Magyar and police. AFP reported the accident on August 16, 2026.

Police said the crash occurred at about 1 a.m. Saturday Greenwich Mean Time near Mezőkeresztes, east of the capital Budapest. The bus overturned on the M-3 motorway, a police statement said.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known. The report did not provide the identities of those killed or injured, the total number of people on the bus, or further details about actions taken after the crash.

Hungary’s only nuclear power plant, Paks, is set to shut down fully as persistent drought and intense heat across Europe have driven the Danube River’s water level to a record low. Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced the decision on Sunday, saying the plant south of Budapest would cease operations completely for the first time in 44 years.

Paks normally supplies about one-third of Hungary’s total electricity demand. Its cooling system depends on water pumped from the Danube, but a lack of rainfall since May and successive heatwaves have reduced the river to its lowest recorded level. Magyar wrote on X that one of the final two generating units would be shut at 1:30 a.m.

He said the move would reduce the plant’s output to 240 megawatts before a complete closure the following day. The operator said on Friday that a full shutdown could be necessary by the middle of the following week if water levels continued to fall. National weather agency HungaroMet forecast temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in coming days, with 42 degrees possible on Thursday.

The European Union has called an emergency meeting for next Tuesday to address a migration crisis in Spain’s Ceuta enclave and tensions among member states, according to a BBC report published Sunday. The move follows the recent simultaneous entry of about 60,000 migrants into Ceuta from Morocco. EU leaders are seeking to secure the bloc’s external borders and coordinate a response.

A joint letter signed by 22 EU leaders warned that any perception that illegal entry is possible could create security risks across Europe, encourage further migration and undermine confidence in common policies. The letter was addressed to EU President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin. Ireland currently holds the presidency of the EU Council, and leaders from the Netherlands, Finland and Belgium were among the signatories.

At least 67 people have died in the sudden border crossing, though officials said nearly all those who reached Ceuta on July 30 had already returned. Italy temporarily suspended the Schengen agreement with Spain for one month, a move backed by Finland and Denmark. Spain condemned the decision, while its interior minister said Ceuta was nearly back to normal and barriers were being built to prevent waterborne entries.

Public discontent is intensifying in Tunisia five years after President Kais Saied’s power takeover, driven by political repression, a worsening economy, deteriorating public services and prolonged electricity and water shortages. Thousands recently protested in the capital, Tunis, against what they described as Saied’s growing authoritarian rule and declining living conditions. Saied supporters held a counter-rally, calling opponents traitors and demanding their imprisonment.

Human Rights Watch Tunisia director Salsabil Chellali said criticism of the government has become effectively intolerable, alleging that opposition parties, civil society and media have been targeted and political rights curtailed. Many leading government opponents are either imprisoned or in exile. Most senior leaders of Ennahda are detained, including its 85-year-old leader Rached Ghannouchi, whose condition has not been disclosed since he reportedly fainted in prison last month.

A heatwave and wildfires have burned about 4,400 hectares, while rolling blackouts have left some areas without electricity for up to 12 hours. Researcher Hamza Meddeb said censorship makes people fearful of openly blaming the president. Analysts cited continued support for Saied’s government from the European Union, Algeria and Libya, while saying hopes for reforms have diminished.

The European Union has issued a binding directive requiring Google to provide equal access for rival artificial intelligence (AI) applications on its Android operating system. The order also mandates Google to share certain search-related data with competing search engines and qualified AI chatbots in anonymized form. According to the EU, Google’s own AI assistant, Gemini, currently enjoys privileged access to key Android features, limiting fair competition in the digital market.

Under the new rules, Android users will be able to choose their preferred AI assistant, similar to selecting a web browser. Google must ensure that chosen AI apps can be activated via voice commands and integrated with smart features. The company is required to start sharing search data by January 2027 and open Android functionalities to competitors by July of the same year. Data protection measures will be independently evaluated by a third party.

Google has opposed the decision, arguing it could endanger user privacy and device security. Apple has expressed similar concerns, warning that such obligations may increase risks to personal data protection. The EU maintains that the directive aims to foster fair competition, innovation, and user choice in the digital market.

A new study has found that maintaining good health depends not only on what people eat but also on how and when they eat. The research shows that eating slowly, chewing food thoroughly, and following regular meal times significantly influence digestion, metabolism, and weight management. Researchers observed that slow eating helps the body process food more effectively, leading to a quicker sense of fullness and reducing the tendency to overeat.

The study challenges the long-held belief that weight control is solely about balancing calorie intake and expenditure. While calories remain important, the researchers emphasize that the body’s processing of food plays an equally vital role. Regular and timely eating habits were found to help the body use nutrients more efficiently, maintain energy balance, and improve overall health.

Experts conclude that achieving long-term wellness requires more than just choosing nutritious foods. Combining healthy eating habits with regular meal timing, mindful chewing, physical activity, and balanced living is essential for sustaining good health.

The European Union has announced plans to introduce new age-based restrictions on children's use of social media across its 27 member states. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement in Brussels on Monday, describing it as potentially the EU’s most significant step yet to protect children from online risks. The proposal, prepared by two experts, recommends a gradual approach to social media access based on age.

According to the proposal, children under 13 would be allowed limited social media use only under the supervision of parents, guardians, or teachers. Restrictions would gradually ease as users grow older. Von der Leyen emphasized the need for age-appropriate rules and said the Commission would present a formal proposal after the summer, possibly detailing it in her upcoming “State of the Union” address in September.

The initiative follows similar actions or considerations in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, China, India, and the United States. Technology companies have stated that they already have measures and age limits in place to protect younger users.

The European Union has directed Meta to change the ‘addictive design’ of Facebook and Instagram, warning that failure to comply could result in substantial fines. The preliminary assessment, released on Friday from Brussels, accuses Meta of failing to reduce risks for children and vulnerable adults by maintaining features that keep users engaged for long periods, such as infinite scroll, personalized feeds, and autoplay videos.

EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen stated that protecting Europeans’ physical and mental health should be a priority for social media platforms. The European Commission said Meta must modify its design to disable autoplay and infinite scroll by default, introduce effective screen time breaks, and make recommendation algorithms less engagement-driven. Meta disagreed with the findings but said it would work constructively with the EU.

If the preliminary decision becomes final, the EU could fine Meta up to six percent of its global annual revenue. The move follows growing EU pressure on major tech firms to strengthen online safety for minors, similar to earlier warnings issued to TikTok.

The European Union’s top court has upheld a €4.1 billion antitrust fine against Google, rejecting the company’s appeal in a long-running legal battle. The ruling, delivered on Thursday, confirmed that Google and its parent company Alphabet misused their dominant position in the Android operating system to promote Google Search unfairly. The decision marks a significant setback for the U.S. technology giant after years of litigation.

The case originated in 2018 when the European Commission accused Google of anti-competitive behavior by requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and Chrome through licensing and pre-installation agreements. The Commission initially imposed a €4.34 billion fine, later reduced by a lower court to €4.125 billion while maintaining the core finding of abuse of dominance.

In its final judgment, the EU Court of Justice stated that the lower court had not misinterpreted the law. It found that Google’s pre-installation and anti-fragmentation agreements restricted competition and hindered new market entrants. The court also dismissed Google’s argument that its market position resulted solely from user preference or product quality.

The European Parliament is scheduled to give final approval on Wednesday to a stricter migration law that will expand authorities’ powers to detain and deport irregular migrants. The legislation also allows the establishment of deportation centers outside the European Union. The vote in Strasbourg marks one of the final steps in a lengthy legislative process aimed at tightening migration control amid rising political pressure across member states.

EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner said the law clarifies that the EU, not smugglers, will decide who can stay or must leave. The law has faced criticism from human rights groups for provisions enabling the creation of ‘return hubs’ outside the EU, where people without legal residence rights could be sent. Several countries, including Denmark, Austria, Greece, Germany, and the Netherlands, have shown interest in hosting such centers, while France and Spain have opposed the plan.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that the first agreements for these centers are expected by 2026, with operations starting in 2027. The EU’s focus has shifted toward improving repatriation systems, as only about 30 percent of those ordered to leave have returned home.

The European Parliament is preparing to give final approval to a tariff agreement with the United States, marking a potential end to a turbulent phase in transatlantic trade relations. The vote, expected on Tuesday, follows last year’s July accord that set a 15 percent tariff on most EU goods while eliminating tariffs on U.S. exports to the bloc.

Implementation of the deal had been delayed due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s dissatisfaction, tensions over Greenland, and a Supreme Court ruling that canceled several tariffs. All EU member states have already endorsed the agreement, leaving parliamentary approval as the final political step. The deal’s supporters include the European People’s Party and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Once approved, only administrative steps will remain before publication in the EU’s official gazette. The agreement includes safeguards limiting its duration to the end of 2029 and allowing suspension if the U.S. fails to meet commitments or disrupts trade and investment.

Tunisia’s Football Association (FTF) has dismissed head coach Sabri Lamouchi following the team’s 5-1 loss to Sweden in their opening match of the World Cup. The decision was made in an emergency meeting the day after the defeat, marking the first coaching dismissal of the current tournament. Tunisia had entered the World Cup with a strong defensive record, having qualified without conceding a goal, but their backline faltered dramatically on the main stage.

Before the Sweden match, Tunisia had suffered a 5-0 defeat to Belgium in a friendly, bringing their total to ten goals conceded in just two games. Lamouchi, who replaced Sami Trabelsi after the team’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations, oversaw only five matches in charge. His tenure began with a 1-0 win over Haiti, followed by a goalless draw with Canada, and three consecutive losses to Austria, Belgium, and Sweden.

Ahead of their second group-stage match against Japan on Saturday, the FTF has appointed a new coach to boost player morale. The upcoming match will determine Tunisia’s World Cup fate under new leadership.

The European Union’s new Asylum and Migration Pact officially took effect across all member states on June 12, 2026, following prolonged discussions and debates. The reform aims to manage irregular migrant inflows like those seen in 2015, strengthen control at the EU’s external borders, and establish a fair solidarity mechanism for sharing responsibilities among member countries.

Under the new system, anyone arriving at EU borders without a valid visa or residence permit will not be allowed direct entry. Their identity, security, and health will be screened within seven days. Applicants will then be divided into two tracks: a fast-track border process for those with low chances of asylum or security risks, and a regular asylum process for those with stronger claims, which can take up to 20 months. The concept of “safe third countries” has been expanded, allowing transfers even without prior links.

The pact also extends biometric data collection to children aged six and above and enforces stricter rules to prevent secondary movement between EU states. A return order issued by one member state will now apply across the entire EU.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reportedly compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to South Africa’s former apartheid regime during a private discussion, according to a report by Euractiv cited by Middle East Eye. The remarks were said to have been made between May 20 and 22 during her visit to Mexico as part of a high-level EU delegation. The report noted that her private comments contrasted with her public stance on the issue.

Officials and diplomats present at the meeting said Kallas referred to her previous visit to South Africa and her experience at the Apartheid Museum. She drew parallels between Israel’s control over Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and the racial segregation system that existed in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s.

The report added that such comparisons are not new, as the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and several human rights organizations, researchers, and legal experts have previously described Israel’s dominance over Palestinians as a form of apartheid. Ireland and Spain have also made similar statements in the past regarding Israel’s actions in the occupied territories.