Fires engulf Spain and Portugal, evacuations and thousands of emergency forces on the ground
Massive wildfires sweeping across Spain and Portugal have forced authorities to evacuate residents and deploy thousands of emergency services as a heatwave continues to hit the Iberian Peninsula.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the areas affected by the fires in Ourense and León, where he met with the heads of the emergency and coordination teams. He was accompanied by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
In a press conference, Sánchez declared that "the coming hours and days are critical" and that the government would provide the necessary assistance to extinguish the flames, including the deployment of 500 additional soldiers.
He stressed that the current intervention of emergency forces is "probably" the largest mobilization of civil protection in European history. Sánchez also announced that the Spanish government will propose a national pact to adapt the country to climate change.
Europeans call for unity with Ukraine ahead of historic Washington summit
Ahead of a key meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" to be held in Washington on Monday, European leaders reiterated the need for a united front with Ukraine to achieve a lasting peace.
European leaders participated in a virtual conversation on Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump.
Discussions focused on key issues such as stopping the fighting in Ukraine, maintaining full pressure on Russia through sanctions, the principle that it is Ukraine that decides about its territory, and the need for strong security guarantees to protect the security interests of Ukraine and Europe.
Viral video shows moldy humanitarian aid in Gaza
A video that is rapidly spreading online shows a young Palestinian opening an aid bag that was allegedly airdropped into the Gaza Strip.
Inside the bag are packages of food covered in mold.
The young man in the video says that the bags were parachuted into the Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah areas, and that they are being sold "on the market" for around $100 (approximately 85 euros).
“Look! There’s mold,” he says, pointing to packages covered in a dark substance. “Here’s help coming, with mold.”
The packaging bears the logo of the company JOMIPSA, based in Alicante, Spain, which supplies food and humanitarian aid to European governments and NATO.
Arrests and protests in Israel over Gaza hostage release
Israeli police arrested 38 people on Sunday during nationwide protests, where demonstrators demanded the government reach a deal for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Protesters gathered at dozens of locations across Israel, including in front of politicians' homes, army headquarters and on major highways. Police used water cannons to disperse them, while some restaurants and theaters closed their doors in a show of solidarity.
The protests came after Israel announced an expanded offensive in Gaza, a move that protesters see as a threat to the lives of the remaining hostages.
