Ashifa Kassam

A total solar eclipse drew millions of viewers across Europe, with the best views in Spain, Iceland, Greenland and a small part of Portugal. Iceland hosted tens of thousands of visitors aboard cruise ships and an eclipse-themed festival organized by Björk, while NASA conducted airborne and balloon-based research on the eclipse’s atmospheric effects. Spain received more than 450,000 tourists and expected up to 6 million people along the eclipse path, creating traffic jams and overwhelming rural towns. Across Europe, the event brought communities together as observers experienced sudden darkness, cooler temperatures and changes in animal behavior.

Millions of visitors are travelling to Spain for the country’s first total solar eclipse in more than a century, with officials estimating that up to 6 million people could enter the eclipse path and about 460,000 arriving from abroad. Spain is expected to offer some of mainland Europe’s clearest viewing conditions, prompting extensive travel, public-safety preparations, and the deployment of more than 24,000 police officers amid heat and wildfire warnings. Eclipse chasers, families and astronomers are monitoring cloud cover and preparing to travel through rural areas for the brief period of totality, while businesses and cultural institutions across Spain are joining the public excitement.

Italy and Spain have imposed reciprocal temporary checks on travellers after Rome responded to the arrival of about 72,000 people in Ceuta by restricting travel from Spain. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended the measure as necessary to protect Italy from potential security risks, while Spain’s José Manuel Albares called it an attack on Spanish dignity and European unity. The dispute is also tied to disagreements over Spain’s migrant regularisation programme, despite the EU rejecting a direct connection between regularisation and the Ceuta influx. The controls have disrupted a route used by more than 8 million people annually, prompted criticism of Giorgia Meloni’s government in Italy and raised concerns about wider damage to Schengen cooperation. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said both countries described the controls as temporary and suggested they could soon be lifted.

Hundreds of relatives gathered in Fnideq, Morocco, searching for loved ones missing after roughly 72,000 people crossed into Spain’s Ceuta. At least 88 people died in Ceuta and 11 in Morocco, while Spain said about 2,000 people remained in the territory, including at least 862 unaccompanied children. Spain returned around 70,000 arrivals, prompting concerns from NGOs that some asylum seekers were expelled before they could seek protection. The crisis has also fueled accusations that Morocco allowed or encouraged the crossing; Rabat blamed social-media misinformation, while Spanish officials disputed claims that they had been warned about the scale of the influx. Families continued waiting for news as authorities established a missing-persons office in Ceuta.

Research by Iago Mora has recovered the history of Barcelona’s Colectivo de Travestis y Transexuales, Spain’s first known transgender political organisation, founded in 1978 during the transition from Francisco Franco’s dictatorship to democracy. About 20 members campaigned publicly against anti-homosexual laws, police raids, discrimination, labour-market exclusion and the lack of legal gender recognition, despite risking arrest under lingering Franco-era legislation. The collective helped establish a specifically trans political consciousness and participated in unauthorised demonstrations, though it appears to have dissolved after roughly two years as wider social movements demobilised and homosexuality was decriminalised. Trans people continued to face police harassment, judicial persecution and social exclusion through the 1980s, while legal gender recognition did not arrive until 2007. Its history challenges the idea that Spain’s progress on LGBTQ+ rights was sudden, highlighting the role of sustained activism under repression.

Pride organisers in Oradea plan to march despite local authorities rejecting more than 100 proposed routes, marking the fourth consecutive year the event has been blocked. Activists argue the denials mask discrimination and undermine democratic rights, drawing international concern from over 150 organisations and diplomatic supporters. Comparisons were made to efforts in Hungary to restrict Pride, highlighting fears of democratic backsliding. Organisers intend to proceed without permission, as they did last year, emphasising the broader implications for freedom of assembly across Europe.

A Swedish MEP, Abir Al‑Sahlani, filed a police complaint accusing Danish MEP Kristoffer Storm of racist hate speech after she faced online attacks for condemning far‑right chants of “send them back” in the European Parliament. The confrontation reflects widening ideological divisions as far‑right representation reaches record levels. Al‑Sahlani received both support and threats, while Renew Europe urged disciplinary action against Storm and Finnish MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen. European Parliament president Roberta Metsola condemned the behaviour and promised enforcement measures. The dispute unfolded alongside criticism of new EU deportation legislation, which human rights groups describe as discriminatory.

Build-up to the France v Morocco World Cup quarter-final included updates on injuries, disciplinary actions and team preparations. Jarell Quansah received a two-match ban for a foul against Mexico, while Christian Pulisic was ruled out for weeks due to a leg microfracture. Erling Haaland described the significance of Norway’s match against England, stressing the pressure on their opponents. Political tensions surfaced as Andrew Giuliani criticised UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s involvement in match scheduling. Coverage highlighted France’s confidence ahead of the match, Morocco’s momentum from their last-16 victory and key players expected to shape the quarter-finals.

Experts and organisations report a sharp rise in racist abuse targeting players during the World Cup, linking it to growing political hostility and inadequate action from social media firms and football authorities. Player unions and advocacy groups warn that both online and in‑stadium incidents reflect a broader pattern of discrimination, with cases spanning multiple countries. Critics argue that the political climate in the US and FIFA’s alignment with the Trump administration contribute to the escalation, while calls intensify for stronger regulation and enforcement to protect players and curb racism.

French prosecutors opened an investigation after the French Football Federation filed a complaint regarding racist abuse directed at Kylian Mbappé by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla following France’s World Cup win over Paraguay. Amarilla’s social media posts mocked Mbappé with racist insults, prompting strong responses from the player, French officials, and the Paraguayan government, which distanced itself from her remarks. Amarilla later issued a partial apology while accusing Mbappé of gender‑based disrespect and threatening legal action. French authorities are assessing potential charges, and political and football figures have publicly denounced the attack.

Extreme heat across Europe has highlighted deep inequalities, with poorer residents facing dangerous living conditions and limited access to cooling or healthcare while wealthier areas rely on air conditioning, pools and travel options to cope. Researchers and advocates warn that the combination of rising temperatures and social disparity may cause more than 100,000 deaths annually. Recent heatwaves resulted in hundreds of excess deaths in France and Spain, underscoring widespread lack of preparedness and the disproportionate burden on vulnerable communities.

Australia’s under‑16 social media ban has triggered a wave of similar measures worldwide, with governments in the UK, Indonesia, Malaysia and several European nations considering or implementing restrictions. Regulators cite rising concerns about addiction, mental health harms and lawsuits against major platforms, while evidence on the effectiveness of bans remains mixed. Critics, including Amnesty International, argue that bans are easily circumvented and advocate instead for stronger regulation and platform design changes. Countries are pursuing widely varied approaches, from Canada’s conditional exemptions to China’s time‑limited usage model, reflecting divergent political motivations but a shared belief that children face significant risks online.

Hungary prepares for its first Budapest Pride march since Viktor Orbán’s defeat, with organisers describing a mix of hope and caution as the LGBTQ+ community continues to feel the effects of years of stigmatizing policies. Although new prime minister Péter Magyar has signaled a more inclusive stance, his government has yet to reverse Orbán-era laws restricting Pride events and LGBTQ+ rights. Civil society groups are urging legislative change as fear and social stigma remain widespread. Budapest Pride’s resurgence highlights the community’s resilience and the broader struggle against far-right efforts to weaponise LGBTQ+ rights across Europe.

Extreme heat across Europe has caused four toddler deaths and more than 55 drownings in France as temperatures break records and strain emergency services. The UK faces unprecedented heat alerts, school closures and transport disruption, while hospitals in Paris report saturation and rising fatalities. Major events across France, Belgium and the Netherlands have been cancelled, and parts of central and eastern Europe brace for intensifying heat. Meteorologists attribute the severity and scale of the heatwave to climate change, noting Europe has warmed significantly over the past five decades.

Record-breaking June temperatures in the UK and Switzerland intensified a Europe-wide heatwave, triggering health emergencies, infrastructure strain and multiple deaths, including three children in France. France faced widespread alerts, rising hospitalizations and power infrastructure challenges, while Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany also reported severe impacts. Scientists linked the extreme temperatures to climate change, warning that heat-related risks will escalate without significant cuts to carbon emissions. UK authorities extended red heat alerts as public services faced mounting pressure, and London introduced its first heat plan to mitigate rising dangers posed by increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves.

Record-breaking temperatures spread across Europe, with the UK logging its hottest June day and France registering its hottest day ever as a heatwave affects more than 90 million people. Weather agencies issued red alerts, and authorities across France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK imposed emergency measures including school closures, travel restrictions and altered public services. Health officials warned of increased risks from heat stress as hospitals, care homes and infrastructure struggled to cope. WHO leaders urged stronger climate action and investment in resilient health systems amid rising temperatures driven by climate change.

France experienced its hottest recorded day as temperatures exceeded 44C and widespread drownings were reported during unsupervised swimming. Authorities placed more than half the country under red heat alerts, shortened opening hours at major attractions and advised residents to limit travel. Heat-related disruptions included a nuclear reactor shutdown and school closures. Similar extreme temperatures affected Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK, prompting health alerts, transport strain and increased emergency incidents, while global officials linked the intensifying heatwaves to fossil fuel-driven climate change.

EU officials faced strong backlash for hosting a Taliban delegation in Brussels, with rights groups, MEPs and humanitarian organisations warning that the move risked normalising a regime responsible for severe repression of women and accused of crimes against humanity. The meeting, tied to EU efforts to resume deportations of Afghans deemed security risks, sparked sharp criticism from lawmakers who condemned the contradiction with previous European Parliament resolutions against the Taliban. Humanitarian leaders and experts warned that deportations to Afghanistan could expose returnees to arrest, torture or death, violating international law. They argued that cooperation with the Taliban could expand deportations beyond convicted criminals and strengthen the regime by returning vulnerable individuals to conditions of poverty and dependency. Critics urged the EU to prioritise protecting Afghans and holding the Taliban accountable rather than legitimising the group through engagement.

L’Équipe apologised after presenter France Pierron criticised Jérémy Doku for planning to leave the World Cup to attend the birth of his first child, prompting widespread backlash from athletes, commentators and parenting advocates. Doku returned to London in time for the birth and will rejoin Belgium’s squad in Seattle. Supporters argued that attending childbirth is a meaningful, irreplaceable moment, while critics suggested his World Cup participation should take priority. L’Équipe distanced itself from Pierron’s remarks, who later issued her own apology and stepped back from broadcasting for the remainder of the season. Commentators highlighted Doku’s stance as a positive example of balancing family and professional obligations.

Rightwing MEPs chanting “send them back” after the approval of EU measures to increase deportations triggered condemnation from centre-left and left lawmakers, rights groups and UN experts who warn the rules could violate international human rights. Critics describe the episode as a symbol of rising far‑right influence in the European parliament and a dangerous shift in migration politics. Supporters, including Austrian far-right leader Herbert Kickl, hailed the moment as a sign of growing rightwing pressure shaping EU policy.

G7 leaders met in France to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanking participants for support and proposals aimed at pressuring Russia into peace negotiations. Donald Trump suggested Russia should make a deal and indicated possible future tightening of oil-related sanctions. European leaders encouraged Trump to host potential talks between Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, while Germany’s foreign minister said conditions may allow negotiations to begin before summer. Zelenskyy pushed for increased missile support, domestic production licences, and stronger EU integration for Ukraine. Additional developments included Sweden advancing immigration restrictions, Spain benefiting from renewable energy expansion, and the killing of a Russian artist critical of the Kremlin in Poland.

Sweden’s parliament approved laws enabling residency permits to be revoked under broad behavioural criteria and obliging many public sector workers to report suspected undocumented migrants. Rights groups and researchers warn that the measures are arbitrary, risk racial profiling, undermine the rule of law, and could push migrants away from essential services. Exemptions for teachers, doctors, and social workers remain limited, as information can still circulate between agencies. Supporters argue the laws are needed to enforce deportations, while critics liken the measures to hostile environment policies seen elsewhere in Europe and the UK. The reporting mandate passed narrowly, intensifying political debate ahead of Sweden’s September elections.

Residents of Langrune-sur-Mer opposed a planned D-day ceremony appearance by US defense secretary Pete Hegseth, arguing his views contradicted democratic and anti‑racist principles tied to the commemoration. Their statement gained global attention after Hegseth delivered a speech condemning immigration, prompting criticism from historians, French officials and US lawmakers. The villagers’ protest became a symbol of resistance to rhetoric they described as racist and bellicose, reinforcing their belief that speaking out encouraged others to do the same.

Pope Leo XIV used the final day of his visit to Spain to call for greater compassion and integration for migrants, describing all people as migrants on a shared journey. Speaking in Tenerife, he condemned the deadly Atlantic migration route and urged leaders to improve conditions for arrivals who often face isolation and exploitation. His remarks coincided with the EU’s new migration overhaul, criticised by rights groups as excessively harsh. He warned people smugglers of divine judgment and highlighted the inconsistency between Christian values and anti‑migrant political rhetoric. A Nigerian migrant, Bousso Diouf, shared testimony about the dangers and hardships faced by those seeking safety and dignity.

Pope Leo condemned migrant deaths during a visit to Gran Canaria’s Arguineguín dock, urging European leaders to adopt humane migration policies and create legal pathways for immigration. He criticized indifference toward migrants, highlighted the dangers of Atlantic crossings, and warned that Europe cannot claim to defend human dignity while its seas become unmarked graveyards. His remarks come amid increasingly strict EU migration measures, contrasting with Spain’s comparatively more welcoming approach. The visit included testimonies from migrants and first responders, and concluded with a memorial gesture honoring those who died seeking safety.

More than a million people gathered in Madrid for an open‑air mass led by Pope Leo, who urged worshippers to show their faith through action by supporting the poor, migrants and those who suffer. His visit, centred on migration and social issues, underscored growing tension between his human‑rights‑focused stance and far‑right politics, particularly in contrast with Donald Trump’s policies. Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, appeared more aligned with the pontiff’s positions, especially on immigration. Personal stories from migrants highlighted the support they received from organisations such as Caritas. The pope’s Spanish tour included meetings, vigils and upcoming visits to Barcelona and the Canary Islands to honour migrants who died attempting to reach Europe.