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International news, diplomacy, Geneva-based organisations.

World

Ceuta migration crisis: Italy suspends Schengen rules for travelers from Spain

Italy has suspended Schengen rules for non-European nationals arriving from Spain. The measure, announced on July 31, 2026 by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, takes effect on August 1, 2026 for one month. It follows the arrival of 60,000 migrants at Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. Only maritime and air entry points are affected; Spanish and EU citizens are not targeted. France has meanwhile quintupled its police presence at the Franco-Spanish border, deploying 334 officers. Spain rejects criticism, noting that over 48,000 migrants have already returned to Morocco.

31 July 2026 at 21:31

World

Gironde megafire 'contained': 42,000 hectares burned, Var fires reignite

The Gironde megafire, which started in Saumos on July 22, 2026, was declared 'contained' on the evening of July 31 after nine days of fighting and 42,000 hectares devastated — France's worst fire since 1949. About 198,000 of the evacuated people, or 90%, were able to return home, but four municipalities remain completely evacuated. Two firefighters died, 267 were injured, and 240 homes were destroyed. Meanwhile, a fire declared under control in the Gros Bessillon massif (Var) reignited in mistral winds, burning 1,000 additional hectares in six hours.

31 July 2026 at 21:24

World

Mehdi Black Wind Released in Morocco After Three Weeks in Detention

Mehdi Black Wind, real name El Mahdi Lyoubi, is a Moroccan rapper and filmmaker known for his activism against social inequality. He was released in Morocco on July 31, 2026, according to Le Monde. The artist had been arrested on July 10, marking three weeks in detention. His arrest sparked widespread mobilisation and international support. Following his release, Black Wind expressed his intention to return to Marseille, which he considers his second home and cultural anchor. The case reflects ongoing tensions between Moroccan authorities and artists or creators engaged in challenging social inequalities.

31 July 2026 at 21:04

World

Ceuta Closes Shops to Push Thousands of Migrants Back to Morocco

The Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa closed its shops on July 31, 2026, following a massive influx of migrants from Morocco, aiming to incentivize thousands of people to return. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, which sent a reporter to the scene, the strategy appears to be working. Spanish soldiers also blocked the beach providing access to the enclave on the same day.

31 July 2026 at 21:01

World

India's Education Minister Resigns Amid Student Protests

India's Education Minister resigned on July 25, 2026, during nationwide student demonstrations. Rather than turning to violence, young protesters embraced peaceful, festive forms of action—laughter, dance, and singing. In an opinion piece published on July 31, 2026, French political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot analyzes these mobilizations as revealing a profound social crisis in India, with political outcomes still uncertain.

31 July 2026 at 20:55

World

Drinking water depollution: report estimates annual cost of €1.3–5.7 billion

A report published on 31 July 2026 by an interministerial inspection mission mandated by several French government ministries presents four scenarios for removing pesticide residues and PFAS from drinking water. PFAS—synthetic organofluorine compounds known as "eternal pollutants" because they persist indefinitely in the environment—number somewhere between 6 and 7 million distinct types. According to Le Monde, these four scenarios represent annual cost overruns of between €1.3 billion and €5.7 billion, depending on the chosen ambition level. The detailed breakdown of each scenario and funding arrangements remain undisclosed.

31 July 2026 at 19:48

World

Gavin Newsom Releases Tax Returns Showing $1.7–2 Million Annual Income

California Governor Gavin Newsom disclosed more than 700 pages of tax returns on July 31, 2026, spanning four years. According to The Guardian, he and his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom earned between $1.7 and $2 million annually from 2022 to 2024, paying approximately $500,000 in taxes per year. This marks his first tax disclosure since 2022. The release comes as Newsom prepares to leave office and considers a 2028 presidential run, amid federal Justice Department investigations he characterizes as politically motivated.

31 July 2026 at 19:46

World

Regionalkrimi: A Zurich expert decodes the appeal of German-language regional crime fiction

Christine Lötscher, literature professor at the University of Zurich and specialist in Regionalkrimi—German-language regional crime fiction—analyzes the genre in an article published on July 31, 2026. According to her, its success lies in detectives with strong social intelligence—the opposite of the solitary genius investigator—and the tension between the reassuring appearance of small communities and the secrets they conceal. The collision between local and global scales also plays a central role in the genre's appeal.

31 July 2026 at 19:41

World

Historic market chart says to sell assets in 2026, but lacks an economic basis

A financial chart circulating since the 1870s identifies 2026 as a year for investors to sell assets. Amateur analysts claim it anticipated the 1929 crash, the dot-com collapse and the coronavirus-related crash in 2020, while some financial bloggers put its accuracy at 90%. Andreas Hackethal, a professor at Frankfurt’s Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE, says the chart is based on planetary configurations and astrology rather than economics. He attributes its apparent successes to chance and selection bias, with failed predictions forgotten while successful matches are highlighted.

31 July 2026 at 18:33

World

Leopold Aschenbrenner’s fund falls to about $10 billion in assets

Assets at Leopold Aschenbrenner’s Situational Awareness hedge fund fell to about $10 billion on July 31, 2026, according to Bloomberg. Citadel, led by Ken Griffin, stepped in to buy most of the fund’s publicly traded stock positions. The available information does not specify the fund’s previous asset value, the exact size of the decline or which positions were involved.

31 July 2026 at 18:30

World

Universal Music Group shares hit record low since listing

Universal Music Group shares fell to their lowest level since the company’s listing after subscription revenue growth missed expectations. Revenue rose 16.6% at constant exchange rates, including an acquisition, compared with the 19.2% expected by analysts. Roblox and Reddit shares also declined following their respective financial updates. Roblox disappointed on several key metrics and its outlook, while Reddit fell despite forecasting current-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates and announcing no new data-licensing agreement.

31 July 2026 at 18:29

World

Funeral director Robert Bush jailed for 20 years after keeping 31 bodies

Robert Bush, a 48-year-old funeral director in north-east England, was jailed for 20 years on Friday. He had admitted keeping bodies instead of cremating them, giving families ashes belonging to strangers and diverting charitable donations over 12 years. A police search in March 2024 uncovered 31 bodies in a cold room and urns containing the ashes of about 100 people. More than 200 bereaved relatives gave evidence over five days at Hull Crown Court before Judge Nicholas Hilliard sentenced Bush.

31 July 2026 at 16:12

World

Germany caps furnished-home rent surcharges at 10% in tight housing markets

Germany’s cabinet has adopted a rental-law reform first presented by Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) in February 2026. In tight housing markets, surcharges for furnished homes will be capped at 10% of the net rent excluding service charges. That means a maximum of €60 a month on a reference rent of €600, compared with surcharges of up to €180 previously collected. Landlords must disclose the surcharge before a lease is accepted or receive only the permitted unfurnished rent. The reform affects about 5.5 million private landlords, but its exact commencement date remains unspecified.

31 July 2026 at 15:55

World

Süddeutsche Zeitung publishes satirical gloss spoofing Chancellor Merz's diary

The Süddeutsche Zeitung published on July 31, 2026, in its "Streiflicht" column, a satirical gloss entirely parodying the diary of German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). According to the newspaper, the content of this satirical piece is wholly invented for humorous purposes and does not constitute factual reporting about the Chancellor or his government. The "Streiflicht" is a regular feature of the publication, widely recognized for its satirical and biting commentary on current events and public figures. The detailed content of the gloss has not been widely reported in other media. Friedrich Merz (CDU) serves as Germany's Federal Chancellor as of July 31, 2026.

31 July 2026 at 15:27

World

Ceuta Migrants: 50,000-60,000 Arrive on July 30, Spanish Military Deployed

An unprecedented migration crisis struck Ceuta, a Spanish enclave of approximately 84,000 inhabitants bordered by Morocco and the Mediterranean, on July 30, 2026. Between 50,000 and 60,000 migrants arrived irregularly, according to divergent official Spanish sources. In response, the Spanish government deployed the military to reinforce border security—an unprecedented measure since May 2021. Exact figures remain disputed: Spain's Interior Ministry cites approximately 50,000 arrivals, while Ceuta's regional president Juan Jesús Vivas reports approximately 60,000.

31 July 2026 at 14:38

World

Madonna Confirmed as "Special Guest" at World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam

WorldPride organizers confirmed on July 31, 2026, that Madonna, 67, will perform at the World Pride Music Festival in Amsterdam as a "Special Guest." The performance will take place at AFAS Live, a concert venue that can accommodate up to 5,500 people. The singer will be accompanied by British producer Stuart Price and Honey Dijon, an American DJ specializing in electronic music. This confirmation ends several days of speculation about the icon's participation in the event.

31 July 2026 at 14:19

World

Chevron CEO Eimear Bonner expects high fuel refining margins to persist

Chevron Corp. CEO Eimear Bonner expects fuel refining margins to remain high for as long as energy markets stay under strain, according to Bloomberg. Diesel, jet fuel and petrol prices remain elevated even though international crude oil prices have fallen by nearly 30% over the past three months. Disruptions to production and maritime transport in two unspecified theatres of war have prevented lower input costs from being passed on fully to consumers. The available information does not indicate how long these market pressures may last.

31 July 2026 at 12:29

World

Archaeologists discover hundreds of ancient geoglyphs in the Amazon

Archaeologists have discovered hundreds of ancient geoglyphs in the Amazon, according to The New York Times. Researchers describe them as geometric earthworks made up of embankments and ditches cut into the ground. Some are more than 2,500 years old. The available information does not specify the exact location of the discoveries or the precise number of geoglyphs recorded.

31 July 2026 at 12:03

World

Gaza: Palestinians sceptical of latest peace plan

Palestinians in Gaza have expressed scepticism about the latest peace plan and doubt that it can deliver lasting change, according to Al Jazeera. The information available does not provide details about the plan’s contents or the specific reasons behind their doubts.

31 July 2026 at 11:47

World

Ceuta crossings trigger political offensive against Sánchez over Spain’s regularisation plan

Approximately 60,000 people crossed the Spanish-Moroccan border at Ceuta on Thursday, prompting European politicians to attack Pedro Sánchez's government and link the arrivals to Spain's regularisation process. Sánchez, present at the scene, characterized the influx as an « attack » on Spanish territorial integrity, which the enclave deems impossible to absorb given its population. Madrid rejects that connection, noting that recent arrivals cannot qualify because applicants must have lived in Spain before January 1, 2026, and show five months of continuous presence. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has called for the Schengen area to be closed with Spain. The European People's Party group wants the crisis placed on the European Parliament's agenda in September 2026.

31 July 2026 at 11:14

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