Europe

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated a possible government reshuffle following the resignation of CDU parliamentary leader Jens Spahn. Merz aims to announce Spahn’s successor by month-end, amid growing pressure from key state elections. Chancellery Minister Thorsten Frei is a leading candidate for the role.

Two significant wildfires are currently active in Spain, notably in Guadalajara and Zaragoza provinces, with emergency services combating a blaze near La Mierla that has scorched nearly 9,900 hectares. Evacuations have affected 16 villages as authorities report extreme conditions exacerbated by strong winds.

Britain and France unveiled a pilot “one in, one out” scheme under which migrants arriving via small boats to the UK will be detained, returned to France and, in exchange, an equivalent number of asylum seekers with UK family ties will be admitted each week, potentially limited to around 50 people.

Ursula von der Leyen has defied her critics by comfortably surviving a no-confidence vote, with an overwhelming number of European Union legislators rejecting a censure motion against her.

A new bilateral deal announced at the end of French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit pledges a pilot “one in, one out” returns scheme: the UK will return around 2,600 irregular Channel migrants per year to France, matched by accepting an equal number of asylum seekers with strong UK ties.

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