Jul 29, 2026, 08:30 AM UTC

Italy’s ruling coalition is experiencing renewed friction following Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani’s announcement that Rome will request €14.9 billion from the European Union’s Safe defense credit line by year-end. Coalition partners Lega and Brothers of Italy quickly resisted the proposal, emphasizing that any rearmament plan requires parliamentary approval.

The political disagreement unfolds against a backdrop of wider economic pressures. The government is facing scrutiny over its differential fuel subsidy scheme, designed to buffer drivers against price hikes triggered by the Strait of Hormuz closure. Meanwhile, Gulf nations are attempting mediation through Oman, offering Iran financial contributions to restore transit through the waterway. Domestically, newly published Istat figures confirm Italy's birth rate dropped to a record low of 355,000 in 2025, with economic hardship cited as the main deterrent.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Stampa.

US President Donald Trump hosted separate White House meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while both foreign leaders were in Washington to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham.

The White House described the engagements as "positive and productive." Discussions between Trump and Netanyahu focused heavily on Middle Eastern security following recent tit-for-tat strikes with Tehran. While Washington is seeking to avoid renewed bombing and lay groundwork for diplomacy, Netanyahu pressed the administration to guarantee Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.

Reporting highlights ongoing strategic ambiguity between Washington and Jerusalem, as the US attempts to de-escalate regional tensions despite Israeli pressure to maintain firm military deterrence against Iranian nuclear ambitions.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, Il Messaggero

Firefighters in southwestern France and Spain continue to battle spreading wildfires that threaten the metropolitan area of Bordeaux. Severe weather conditions, exacerbated by a massive pyrocumulonimbus cloud generating erratic winds and lightning, have severely disrupted containment efforts. Media estimates regarding displacements vary, with reports citing between 220,000 and more than 325,000 people evacuated across both nations.

At least two firefighters have died during the operations. In France's Var department, authorities opened arson investigations following three nearly simultaneous ignitions. Rail transport between Bordeaux and Biarritz remains suspended due to advancing flames. French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency crisis meeting to address the situation, while Spain declared a national state of emergency as wildfires continue to consume tens of thousands of hectares.

Sources: BBC News, Der Standard, France24, Helsingin Sanomat, Le Figaro.

Former chief of staff Keith Schembri testified on day 24 of the trial of Yorgen Fenech, who is accused of involvement in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Appearing as a prosecution witness, Schembri claimed that defence lawyers offered to bribe a witness in the ongoing case. The court session also featured testimony from former scene-of-crime officers detailing police operations.

In a separate development, 74-year-old John Agius is scheduled to appear in court on Sunday morning following a Friday shooting in Ta' Giorni that injured two police officers. One officer remains in hospital in stable condition as charges are finalized.

Sources: The Malta Independent

Search and rescue operations are continuing in southwestern Japan following a powerful earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu island. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that at least 13 people have died, though officials warn the final figure could reach into the dozens as emergency crews reach remote areas.

Dozens of injuries and extensive infrastructure damage, including collapsed bridges and severe road fractures, have been reported. In Kashima, rescue workers are attempting to reach people trapped inside a damaged shopping center where a floor collapsed and an explosion occurred. Initial tsunami warnings issued shortly after the tremor were subsequently lifted.

Discrepancies remain regarding the seismic intensity, with BBC News reporting a magnitude of 6.8, whereas Der Standard, ORF, and TV 2 Nyheter cited a magnitude of 7.1.

Sources: BBC News, Der Standard, ORF, TV 2 Nyheter.