Author: Press Room
Published on 29/07/2026 – 22:16 GMT+2 Hundreds of migrants are swimming from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, overwhelming border security, local authorities said on Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “In the last few days, more than 1,500 migrants, including adults and minors, have reached Ceuta by sea,” the leader of Ceuta’s government, Juan Jesús Vivas, told journalists. “The reception centers are collapsed and saturated.” Vivas said migrants previously died in the attempt, with 60 bodies being spotted at sea in the last year. Spain’s Civil Guard, Maritime Rescue Service and the Red Cross have been using boats to rescue migrants…
By Konstantinos Tsellos & Euronews with ΑΠΕ ΜΠΕ Published on 29/07/2026 – 21:58 GMT+2 Three firefighters died while battling wildfires in Greece on Wednesday as gale-force winds fuelled several new blazes across the country. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT According to a statement from the fire service, “they fell heroically in the line of duty, safeguarding the lives and property of citizens as well as the natural environment,” while the leadership of the Fire Service “expresses its profound sorrow and sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased.” A total of 156 firefighters are involved in efforts to extinguish the blaze, which broke out near…
With Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reshaping the continent’s security landscape, MEPs Riho Terras (EPP) and Martin Schirdewan (The Left) go head-to-head over whether Europe should continue increasing military investment, and who should ultimately pay the bill. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The discussion continues with another heated exchange between Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl (EPP) and Belgian MEP Marc Botenga (The Left), who offer sharply contrasting visions of Europe’s defence priorities, military capabilities, and long-term security strategy. Spanish Socialist MEP Hana Jalloul and Austrian EPP MEP Reinhold Lopatka debate the role the European Union should play in an increasingly volatile Middle East. Meanwhile,…
Published on 29/07/2026 – 18:28 GMT+2 UEFA and FIFA have escalated their conflict after the European football’s governing body issued a new scathing condemnation on Wednesday of plans to sell a stake in the World Cup tournament, one of the world’s biggest sporting events. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends,” UEFA said, accusing FIFA President Gianni Infantino of pressuring national football associations into backing the proposal by setting a deadline for their support. FIFA announced on Tuesday that it plans to create a $20 billion subsidiary to manage the World Cup…
Italy has still not decided how much it will draw from its low-interest defence loans, as domestic factors hold up the decision. Brussels and other capitals are growing impatient, with the clock ticking to reallocate any unspent money elsewhere. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Security Action for Europe (SAFE) is the EU’s defence financing programme, offering European governments low-interest loans to fill critical gaps in military capacity, including support for Ukraine’s war effort. Italy requested €14.9bn in loans under SAFE, swiftly approved by the Commission and the Council. But Rome has yet to sign the loan agreement, unable to decide whether to confirm…
A proposal that could reshape the commercial future of the World Cup has sparked fierce opposition from football’s governing bodies. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT FIFA president Gianni Infantino unveiled plans on Tuesday to create a $20 billion (€17.5 billion) company to run the World Cup with private investors. The proposed commercial subsidiary, called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), would oversee competitions including the World Cup and Club World Cup, according to The Times of London. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter voiced concern over the close ties between Infantino and US President Donald Trump, as one of the potential private investors is reportedly the…
Published on 29/07/2026 – 13:15 GMT+2 The European Union has joined the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in criticising FIFA’s controversial plan to launch a new commercial company with external investment to sell a stake in the World Cup. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “The relentless commercialisation of football has become corrosive,” EU Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef wrote on X on Wednesday. He added that a possible alignment of FIFA’s regulatory powers with the financial interests of private entities is a concern for the European Commission. FIFA announced on Tuesday it plans to create a $20 billion (around €17.6 billion) subsidiary…
Thousands of residents who were forced to evacuate from the region of Madrid returned home on Wednesday as the wildfires had been stabilised. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT A day prior, Spanish authorities had lifted over a dozen evacuation orders for municipalities west of the capital of Madrid, where the fire had burned most fiercely. “24,000 evacuated individuals have been able to return to their homes, and another 20,000 have been released from confinement in the Community of Madrid,” central government delegate to the region Francisco Martin Aguirre said on X late on Tuesday. Regional authorities said weather conditions improved overnight, which helped…
A large wildfire on Paros is raging for a second day, with firefighting crews battling multiple fronts on the southern and southeastern side of one of Greece’s most popular holiday islands. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The operation was significantly reinforced at first light on Wednesday, after the fire flared up again overnight and authorities issued successive evacuation orders for residents and visitors in a total of ten areas. The authorities remain chiefly concerned about the strong northerly winds, which hamper access for ground crews and carry embers over long distances, sparking new outbreaks. Rekindling after sunset The fire broke out at midday…
By Alessio Dell’Anna & video by Léo Arnoux Published on 29/07/2026 – 7:30 GMT+2 Spain is the EU country that’s been worst hit by this year’s wildfires, recording the highest share of burned land in Europe relative to its size in 2026. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT That’s more than 200,000 hectares, or around 0.4% of the country’s territory, according to the EU’s Earth observation programme Copernicus. On Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that difficult hours lay ahead, after more than 90,000 people were forced to evacuate areas around Madrid and Ávila. Neighbouring Portugal is also facing a severe fire season, recording the EU’s second-highest…