The idyllic Mediterranean setting of Llançà, Catalonia, with a population of about 5,000, has experienced a severe wildfire on Friday, July 16. Over 400 hectares have been scorched in this tourist area of Catalonia. At the time of writing, the flames are still out of control, fueled by the tramontana wind, and have devastated a large part of the Cape Creus Natural Park, a region popular with tourists, especially from France and Belgium. There are five minor injuries reported among emergency response team members, and approximately 350 people have been evacuated, with the Spanish Red Cross providing assistance.

Charities operating the Aquarius 2, the last search and rescue ship in the central Mediterranean, appealed to France for help after Panama revoked the vessel's registration. The ship's owner, Christoph Hempel of Jasmund Shipping, is seeking a German flag but faces unusual delays. Maritime law expert Juan Luis Pulido explains the importance of a flag for legal operation in international waters and the political challenges in obtaining one. The Aquarius 2's migrants will be transferred to Malta and then to other EU states.

The European Union's quota system for relocating immigrants to member countries has failed, leaving many refugees, particularly Afghans, stranded in Greece. The Katsikas refugee camp, near the city of Ioannina, has seen improvements in living conditions, but psychological needs remain unmet. AMAL, a training center, and Habibi Works, a project by the German NGO Soup & Socks, provide refugees with courses, workshops, and activities to stay occupied, build community, and foster hope and knowledge for the future.

The UN Security Council's official visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh aims to prevent human rights violations and address the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya by the Myanmar military. Ambassadors will assess the impact on the ground and call for a resolution to the humanitarian crisis caused by the mass exodus of this stateless Muslim minority. Meetings with Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are scheduled, as Bangladesh has received about 700,000 Rohingya refugees from Rakhine State.

Europol has dismantled media outlets affiliated with Daesh and seized digital evidence used by the terrorists. A joint operation between five European countries, the United States, and Canada has managed to destabilize the propaganda apparatus of the group, especially the Amaq news agency, which provides terrorist information in nine different languages. The authorities involved in the operation stated that the data obtained will help identify the administrators of the propaganda media of the self-proclaimed Islamic State.

Around 650 people from Libya were rescued in the Mediterranean over the weekend by two non-governmental rescue ships, 'Aquarius' and 'Proactiva Open Arms', as well as by the Libyan Coast Guard. The Libyan Coast Guard intercepted three boats carrying about 335 immigrants, who were transferred to a naval base in Tripoli. 'Aquarius' rescued 110 people, and 'Proactiva Open Arms' confirmed to Euronews the rescue of 202 individuals by the Spanish ship. Traffickers took advantage of the good weather conditions to send several boats towards Italy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed concerns about Russian citizens' interference in the 2016 US presidential campaign, stating they were not connected to the Kremlin and did not represent Russian state interests. In an interview with NBC, he insisted there was no evidence that the alleged interference violated Russian law. Putin also mentioned he would not alter the Constitution to remain in power beyond 2024, the end of his potential fourth term.

A 35-year-old woman with alleged mental health issues was arrested by the United States Secret Service after crashing a van near the White House. The incident occurred following a meeting between President Donald Trump and the Australian Prime Minister. The van did not breach the security perimeter, and no weapons were used by the Secret Service. There were no injuries reported.

Hundreds of Kurds gathered around the Castel Sant'Angelo near the Vatican to denounce the Turkish military's offensive in northwest Syria. Turkey launched an operation 17 days ago against the Kurdish-Syrian militias in the Afrin region, which the Turkish government considers terrorists. The conflict has resulted in at least 68 civilian deaths. The protest ended with clashes between demonstrators and police, resulting in two arrests.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Cecilia Skingsley, the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Sweden, discussed the potential issuance of electronic cash and highlighted the risks associated with cryptocurrencies. She differentiated between digital currencies and those issued by a central bank, emphasizing the volatility of Bitcoin, which soared to $20,000 last year but has since plummeted by 50%.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has officially announced his candidacy for the presidential elections through the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), to be held before April 30. The opposition has criticized the early election call, with opposition leader Andres Velásquez labeling it 'illegitimate'. A segment of the Venezuelan population is skeptical about the hasty organization of the elections.

International criticism has quickly followed Donald Trump's latest racist remarks. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, leading a country with tense relations with the United States, stated that contemptuous words are followed by threats and then actions. The Haitian government, one of the countries mentioned by Trump, officially expressed its shock and indignation at the comments, deeming them racist and reprehensible. El Salvador's government also rejected Trump's words, reminding the U.S. that Salvadoran compatriots worked on the reconstruction of the Pentagon after the tragic terrorist attacks of 2001.

The Prague Castle is preparing to welcome the new president of the Czech Republic as 8 million Czechs are called to vote this Friday and Saturday to elect their new head of state. Incumbent president Miloš Zeman is the favorite, followed by scientist Jiří Drahoš, who advocates for a more active role of the country in the European Union. Political analyst Josef Mlejnek from Charles University notes that other candidates aim to attract votes from different sectors, such as liberals, with Mirek Topolánek seeking votes from the conservative Civic Democratic Party.

The disappearance of the Argentine submarine ARA San Juan on November 15 in the South Atlantic, which resulted in the loss of 44 crew members, has been a significant tragedy in 2017. The Argentine Navy's detection of a signal turned out to be a false hope, as it was from an old submerged vessel. The search for the submarine continues.