Jul 31, 2026, 06:00 AM UTC

Spain's Ministry of Interior has deployed 60 military personnel to bolster police forces in Ceuta following a mass arrival of thousands of migrants swimming from Morocco into the North African enclave. Local authorities in Ceuta had urged Madrid to declare a state of emergency to manage the situation along Tarajal beach. According to reporting by FENA, at least nine people died during the crossing attempts.

The influx has triggered diplomatic reactions within the European Union. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani advocated suspending Spain from the free-movement zone, stating that he supports "closing the Schengen border with Spain" following the border breach. The deployed Spanish troops will assist local law enforcement in maintaining public safety and securing the territory.

Sources: Danas, FENA, N1, Tanjug

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced on July 31 that it will continue consultations regarding a proposal to allow private investors to hold stakes in a entity managing the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. The decision comes despite strong opposition and boycott threats from European football's governing body, UEFA.

Under the proposed initiative, private equity would gain commercial involvement in FIFA's flagship international tournaments. FIFA maintains that exploring external investment is crucial for funding the growth of global football infrastructure, while European football leadership has raised concerns over the potential commercialization and disruption of the international match calendar. Stakeholder discussions are scheduled to move forward despite the ongoing dispute.

Sources: FENA

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is taking Pope Leo’s papal encyclical on artificial intelligence as reading material for his summer vacation, according to a report in the conservative newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

The encyclical, titled Magnifica humanitas, addresses the ethical and societal ramifications of emerging technologies. Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has encountered a series of political hurdles during his 14 months in office. His vacation reading selection signals an interest in ethical frameworks surrounding artificial intelligence as he seeks a reprieve from domestic political pressures.

Sources: Vijesti.

A trade union representing staff at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has voiced criticism over the decision to downgrade a ministerial post assigned to Scottish Labour MP Kirsty McNeill.

The move has drawn backlash from civil service representatives following changes to McNeill's portfolio. Prior to her election to parliament, McNeill served as a minister in the Scotland Office and previously held a senior role as executive director at the charity Save the Children. The union has joined other organisations in expressing concern over the decision to restructure her ministerial responsibilities within government.

Sources: The Herald.

Budget airline easyJet has expanded its presence at Glasgow Airport by basing a seventh aircraft at the hub. The introduction of the 186-seat Airbus A320 aircraft is expected to support the creation of up to 400 direct and indirect jobs while significantly increasing flight capacity.

The expansion will allow the carrier to offer additional routes and increase frequencies on existing flights operating out of Glasgow. Company representatives characterized the decision as a major vote of confidence in the Scottish airport's ongoing growth and future commercial prospects.

Sources: The Herald