Jul 31, 2026, 01:30 AM UTC

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated Rome is prepared to temporarily suspend Schengen open-border arrangements with Spain following a migration surge in Ceuta, where thousands of migrants swam to the enclave.

Domestically, coalition friction continues to stall key legislation. The Chamber of Deputies delayed a vote on a recovery plan decree, placing between €1 billion and €3 billion in rail funding at risk due to disagreements over passenger train tender rules. Simultaneously, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced plans to request €14.9 billion from the European Union's Safe fund for defense acquisitions, though coalition partner Lega insisted parliament must approve the decision.

Additionally, lawmakers postponed a vote on public facial recognition software after EU officials warned that such technology violates the block's AI Act.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Sole 24 Ore.

US President Donald Trump announced that the Board of Peace achieved an accord securing the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other Gaza factions, promising an Israeli military withdrawal upon implementation. Following the claim, anonymous Hamas sources reportedly confirmed to AFP that an agreement was finalized without detailing its contents. However, public comments from official representatives remain absent, and reports indicate uncertainty over whether both combatants formally endorsed the proposal.

Simultaneously, Egyptian-mediated talks registered minor headway, though an Israeli official dismissed current terms as inadequate, emphasizing that disarmament remains the principal sticking point. Amid the diplomacy, Israeli strikes killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza, including two children. The Israeli military stated the operation targeted Hamas infrastructure under the existing ceasefire.

Sources: Sweden Herald, TV 2 Nyheter, BBC News, NU

Firefighting efforts across Southern Europe are entering a recovery phase in some regions, even as emergency teams maintain high alert. In southwestern France, authorities permitted roughly 84,000 evacuated residents to return to their communities following severe blazes that destroyed hundreds of homes. However, more than 2,000 firefighters and 20 aircraft remain deployed in the region to prevent rekindling.

The developments follow widespread evacuations across Southern Europe, including 8,000 people cleared from Agia Galini on Crete, alongside massive displacements in Spain.

Meanwhile in Norway, local authorities in Drammen disclosed that emergency responders encountered operational issues at six water supply points during the initial stages of fighting a major fire in Krokstadelva.

Sources: TV 2 Nyheter.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Moscow following reports of a suspected Russian missile landing on Polish territory. Merz denounced what he described as "Russia's irresponsponsibility and its desire for escalation" as tensions heightened along NATO's eastern flank.

In response to the incident, NATO's European command announced on Thursday that military officials are in close contact with Polish authorities to evaluate the situation and coordinate next steps.

Sources: Le Monde

Major airlines are successfully mitigating the financial impact of a five-month jet fuel crisis by exercising their pricing power to raise passenger ticket fares. Elevated fuel prices typically threaten industry profitability by significantly increasing operational expenses. However, carriers with strong market positioning have managed to pass these sudden costs directly onto consumers without suffering a sharp decline in travel demand. Industry managers compare this pricing strategy to methods used in the luxury and automotive sectors during periods of economic instability. While high fuel costs remain a challenge, the ability to adjust fares quickly has enabled select airlines to maintain financial resilience amid turbulent market conditions.

Sources: Le Monde