Category: Breaking News

TL;DR — Spain has issued a two-day ultimatum to Italy, demanding it scrap the border checks Rome introduced on 1 August for travellers arriving from Spain. Madrid calls the move “unjust” and “discriminatory,” says it breaches the Schengen Borders Code, and warns of unspecified “proportionate measures” if the controls are not lifted by Sunday. Italy imposed the checks after tens of thousands of migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco.

What exactly did Spain demand from Italy?

The Spanish government has given Rome until Sunday to lift the border controls imposed on travellers coming from Spain, according to Euronews. In a statement released on Friday, Madrid described Italy’s decision of 1 August as “unjust, contrary to the interests of the European Union and discriminatory towards the Spanish population,” and said it “is based on spurious arguments incompatible with the Schengen Borders Code and with the facts.”

If the measures remain in place, the administration of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned it will adopt “proportionate measures” to defend the interests of Spanish citizens, Euronews reported, though it gave no detail on what those measures might be.

Why did Italy bring in the checks?

Italy justified the temporary reintroduction of checks after the mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta, Euronews reported. Because Italy and Spain do not share a land border, the inspections mainly affect air and sea traffic between the two countries. According to Al Jazeera, Rome announced the controls in late July after more than 60,000 people crossed into the enclave from Morocco; the measure targets non-EU travellers, while EU citizens are not affected.

How serious was the Ceuta migrant surge?

The crossing was deadly. At least 72 people died, according to Al Jazeera, which cited Ceuta’s president Juan Jesús Vivas saying that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remained in the enclave while the vast majority had already returned to Morocco. Spain stresses that none of those who entered Ceuta irregularly were allowed to move freely within the Schengen area, as the autonomous city has a special status.

What is Spain’s core argument?

Madrid says the crisis poses no risk to other EU member states. Spain also noted that, according to Frontex data, Italy has in recent years recorded the highest number of irregular crossings of the EU’s external borders — in some periods double Spain’s figures — and accused Rome of breaching the Dublin Regulation since 2022, Euronews reported. Spain recalled that it never responded with border controls and pointed to its own solidarity, including taking in migrants who arrived in Lampedusa in 2023.

Is this a crisis for Schengen?

Analysts are sceptical of the practical logic. “There is no realistic possibility for anybody from Ceuta to arrive in Italy,” Davide Colombi of the Centre for European Policy Studies told Al Jazeera. Rights group PICUM called the reintroduction “nothing more than political theatre.” Spain, for its part, accused the Italian government of stoking “divisions and pointless conflicts driven by domestic electoral motives,” per Euronews.

FAQ

When is Spain’s deadline?

Sunday. Madrid gave Rome until then to lift the controls before considering “proportionate measures,” according to Euronews.

Who is affected by Italy’s checks?

Mainly air and sea travellers between Spain and Italy. Al Jazeera reports the checks target non-EU travellers; EU citizens are not affected.

When did Italy introduce the measure?

Rome’s decision was taken on 1 August 2026, according to Euronews (Al Jazeera dates the announcement to late July).

Did the Ceuta migrants enter the Schengen area freely?

No. Spain says none were allowed to move freely within Schengen because Ceuta has a special status, and that most have returned to Morocco.

What could Spain’s “proportionate measures” be?

Unknown. The Sánchez government has not specified what they would involve, Euronews reported.

By Patrick Lancier

Sources

• Euronews — Spain gives Italy two days to lift border checks on Spanish travellers after Ceuta migrant rush
• Al Jazeera — Italy suspends free movement with Spain: Is Schengen in crisis after Ceuta?

The Terminator’s T-800 was science fiction. What is happening in Chinese arenas right now is not: real humanoid robots are stepping into the ring, throwing hooks and side kicks in front of live audiences and television cameras.

TL;DR

• On 25 May 2025, Hangzhou hosted what organizers billed as the world’s first humanoid robot kickboxing tournament, using Unitree G1 robots piloted remotely by human operators.
• In August 2025, Beijing’s first World Humanoid Robot Games put boxing on the program alongside 26 events, with 500+ robots from 16 countries.
• A 2026 CMG combat competition is now recruiting teams — Unitree’s founder says he will fight with his own 1.82 m H2 robot.

Did China really hold a robot boxing match?

Yes. On 25 May 2025, in Hangzhou, China Media Group (CMG) staged the “Mecha Fighting Series,” headlined by an event promoted as “Unitree Iron Fist King: Awakening!” According to Live Science and the South China Morning Post, four Unitree G1 humanoids fought a tournament-style bracket of kickboxing bouts. Each robot was controlled in real time by a human operator, so this was as much a test of piloting skill as of hardware. The event was broadcast on Chinese television, according to Fox News.

How do the robots and the rules work?

The G1 stands about 1.3 metres tall and weighs roughly 35 kg, with 23 degrees of freedom that let it throw hooks, side kicks and knee strikes — and get back up after a fall, per Live Science. Bouts ran three two-minute rounds. Scoring rewarded aggression: reporting from Live Science and TechNode describes one point for a hand strike and three points for a leg strike, with penalties for a knockdown or failure to recover within eight seconds. In the opening bout, a robot nicknamed “AI Strategist” scored a third-round knockout, according to coverage of the event.

Was this a one-off, or a trend?

It is becoming a trend. In August 2025, Beijing hosted the first World Humanoid Robot Games, described by Smithsonian Magazine and Global News as a kind of “robot Olympics.” More than 500 humanoid robots across 280 teams from 16 countries — including the U.S., Germany and Japan — competed in 26 events, from soccer and sprinting to boxing. The Unitree G1 units boxed in gloves and helmets, exchanged hooks and, memorably, spent a lot of time falling over and getting back up. It was clumsy, but it was real.

What is planned for 2026?

According to eWeek and TechNode, CMG and Unitree are teasing a 2026 humanoid robot combat competition, currently recruiting teams and operators worldwide. Unitree founder Wang Xingxing has said he intends to compete personally with the company’s larger 1.82 m H2 humanoid. A firm date has not yet been confirmed, and a second edition of the World Humanoid Robot Games is expected in August 2026.

Why does a robot punch-up matter?

Beyond spectacle, combat is a brutal stress test. Balance, fall recovery, joint torque and low-latency remote control are exactly the capabilities that matter for warehouse, disaster-response and service robots. A ring is a cheap, legible way to benchmark them in public. It is worth being clear-eyed, though: these machines are still tele-operated, not autonomous fighters, and the “MMA” framing is marketing as much as engineering.

The robots, and the bigger picture

The star of these fights is the Unitree G1. According to the manufacturer’s spec sheet and the ROBOTS/IEEE database, it stands about 1.20 m tall, weighs ~35 kg, has 23 to 43 degrees of freedom depending on configuration, walks at up to 2 m/s, and carries a 3D LiDAR and a depth camera. Pricing starts around US$13,500 and climbs to roughly $73,900 for top configurations, per Unitree’s published prices.

Its bigger sibling, the Unitree H1, is 1.80 m tall and 47 kg, runs at 3.3 m/s — a Guinness World Record for a full-size humanoid — with 19 degrees of freedom, and sells for around US$90,000 and up, according to Unitree and Humanoid Index. It is a robot in this larger class (the H2) that Unitree’s founder says he wants to fight with in 2026.

Sport spectacle, or “robot soldiers”?

It is worth separating the show from military use. The kickboxing is tele-operated entertainment. Separately, Chinese defence interest in humanoids is real and documented: in November 2025, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) showed a combat robot that mirrors a human operator’s movements via motion sensors and AI, according to Interesting Engineering and The Defense Post. Reporting also indicates Unitree’s Go2 robot dog has appeared in military exercises, although Unitree says it does not sell its products to China’s military. In May 2025, a U.S. congressional committee flagged Unitree’s ties to PLA-affiliated institutions under “military-civil fusion.”

A note of caution on the hype, though: a viral clip of rifle-carrying humanoids, billed as Chinese “robot soldiers,” was found to be AI-generated rather than a real test, several outlets reported. China’s robotics rise is striking — but not everything circulating online is authentic.

FAQ

Are the robots fighting autonomously?

No. In the 2025 tournaments, each Unitree G1 was controlled in real time by a human operator, according to Live Science and SCMP.

Which robot is used?

The Unitree G1, a roughly 1.3 m, 35 kg humanoid. For 2026, Unitree’s founder has said he will field the larger 1.82 m H2, per eWeek.

Is the “T-800” a real fighting robot?

No. The T-800 is the fictional Terminator android. The real machines in these events are Unitree’s G1 and H2 humanoids.

Where can I watch?

The May 2025 Hangzhou event was broadcast on Chinese television and widely clipped online; the World Humanoid Robot Games were livestreamed from Beijing in August 2025.

Is anyone at risk in the ring?

The robots fight each other, not people. Operators sit ringside with controllers; organizers use rounds, counts and penalties similar to human combat sports.

By Patrick Lancier

Bitcoin is trading around $64,300 to $64,400 this Friday, slipping roughly 0.3% to 0.7% over the past 24 hours, even as U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs pull in their strongest weekly inflows since April — about $754 million. The market is caught in a tug-of-war: institutional money and whales are quietly accumulating below $65,000, while a delayed U.S. crypto bill and a shaky macro backdrop keep sellers active at resistance. Here is what the data says at the U.S. market open.

Market snapshot: a market holding its breath

Bitcoin sits near $64,380, with 24-hour trading volume around $18.2 billion and a market capitalization of roughly $1.29 trillion. The total crypto market cap stands near $2.28 trillion, down about 0.5% on the day. Ethereum opened Thursday near $1,907 after a 2.1% gain but has turned slightly negative alongside Bitcoin. XRP is the notable laggard, down more than 2% to around $1.02 after the U.S. Senate confirmed it will not vote on the CLARITY Act before its August recess, pushing the decision to September.

Sentiment is improving from a low base: the Fear & Greed Index has climbed from 25 (“Extreme Fear”) to 29 (“Fear”), suggesting panic is easing even though prices have not broken out.

Macro context: a September rate cut looms

The macro picture is doing much of the heavy lifting. Markets now price roughly a 90% probability of a 25-basis-point Fed rate cut in September, after U.S. job growth slowed sharply — just 22,000 positions added against a forecast of 75,000 — and unemployment climbed to 4.3%, the highest since October 2021. This week’s ADP report also missed expectations. At the same time, inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, keeping stagflation concerns alive, and energy prices remain a pressure point despite de-escalation around the Strait of Hormuz. In short: weaker growth argues for easier money (typically supportive for Bitcoin), but sticky inflation limits how aggressive the Fed can be.

On the regulatory front, the CLARITY Act’s slip to September removes a near-term catalyst. Prediction markets now put the odds of the bill becoming law in 2026 at roughly 27–35%, down from above 80% earlier this year — a repricing that has weighed most heavily on XRP and Solana.

Charting: the levels that matter

Technically, Bitcoin remains locked in a well-defined range. Resistance: $65,000 — sellers have capped the price here several times, and some chart watchers note a possible double-top formation at this level, with a broader resistance band extending to roughly $65,150–$66,000. Support: $63,000–$63,400 as the first floor, with stronger support at $62,300 and the deeper zone around $60,000–$61,400. Momentum: neutral — RSI(14) sits near 52, and short-term composite indicators lean mildly bullish without conviction. Expect continued range trading between roughly $63,900 and $65,000 until one side breaks.

Under the surface, accumulation is notable: whales holding 10 to 10,000 BTC have added more than 20,000 BTC (about $1.2 billion) since July 29, and spot Bitcoin ETFs have logged zero net-outflow days in August, including $244 million on Wednesday alone — with BlackRock’s IBIT taking $479 million of a recent three-day, $626 million streak.

Scenarios: what analysts are watching

Some analysts suggest that a decisive daily close above $65,000 would validate the ETF and whale accumulation story and open the road toward the $66,000+ area. Others caution that repeated rejections at $65,000, combined with the CLARITY Act delay, could see Bitcoin retest $63,000 — and, if that fails, the $62,300 or even $60,000–$61,400 support zones. A third camp argues the market is simply waiting for September, when both the Fed decision and the Senate vote could resolve the deadlock in either direction. None of these scenarios is a certainty; they are frameworks for reading the tape, not predictions.

Methodology

This analysis is the result of a collaboration between a human editor and a council of three artificial intelligences. Figures were cross-checked against multiple independent sources at the time of writing and reflect the most recent data available; crypto prices move fast and may differ by the time you read this.

Sources

CoinDesk — Bitcoin stuck near $64,000 as Clarity Act vote slips to September
CoinDesk — Bitcoin whales load up on $1.2 billion in BTC as ETFs attract $750 million
Fortune — Current price of Bitcoin for Aug. 7, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile; always do your own research before making any decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and nothing in this article constitutes investment advice.

— Patrick Lancier

Israel has rolled out a public campaign celebrating the lives of its Christian citizens, portraying a small but deeply rooted community it describes as one of the most educated in the country. Published on the State of Israel’s official account, the “Christians in Israel” series profiles ordinary believers and stresses their centuries-long presence in the land.

“Christians are one of the most educated groups in Israel and a prominent part of Israel’s economy,” the official @Israel account wrote, adding that “vibrant Christian communities” have “been part of this land for centuries and continue to thrive today.” The campaign says it aims to “go beyond the headlines” and introduce “the many faces of Christianity in Israel.”

Among the featured stories is that of Maroun, a 19-year-old Israeli Maronite Christian. In the campaign’s telling, he is “proud to call Israel home,” praying “in the land where Christianity began” and, in his free time, riding horses — a portrait the account frames as “one of faith, identity and a healthy dose of confidence.”

Israel’s Christian population numbers roughly 180,000, the large majority of them Arab Christians. Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics has, in successive annual reports, noted that Arab Christians rank among the highest in educational attainment in the country, with particularly strong matriculation and higher-education rates.

The series is part of Israel’s official public diplomacy and, as with any government campaign, presents an intentionally positive portrait. The condition of Christian communities across the wider Middle East remains a subject of broader debate. Less contested is the ancient footprint of Christianity in the Holy Land, where the faith’s founding sites remain living places of worship.

For readers, the campaign is a window into the diversity of Israeli society and into a community whose story is often overshadowed by the region’s conflicts.

Did you know these facts about Christians in Israel? ✝️🇮🇱

Christians are the one of the most educated group in Israel and are a prominent part of Israel’s economy!

Israel is home to vibrant Christian communities that have been part of this land for centuries and continue to… pic.twitter.com/J4N4GViBhb

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) July 16, 2026

What does it mean to be a Maronite Christian in Israel? ✨

Meet Maroun, a 19 year old Israeli Maronite Christian who's proud to call Israel home. 🇮🇱

From praying in the land where Christianity began to spending his free time riding horses, Maroun's story is one of faith,… pic.twitter.com/yAJFksDJGe

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) July 16, 2026

For Maroun, an Israeli Maronite Christian, Israel is home. It's also the place where Christianity began, making his faith part of everyday life.
Catch his full story on our platforms as we continue to go beyond the headlines. 🇮🇱✨ pic.twitter.com/xdkisXyWes

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) July 16, 2026

Sources: State of Israel official account (@Israel), “Christians in Israel” series (16 July 2026); Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.

Between January and April 2026, an INTERPOL-coordinated operation across 97 countries targeted social-engineering scam and money-laundering networks. The results, announced on 9 July, are striking: 5,811 arrests, more than 142,000 identified victims and nearly $293 million in illicit assets intercepted.

According to INTERPOL, Operation “First Light 2026” ran from 15 January to 30 April 2026 and mobilised police services in 97 countries and territories. The organisation reports 5,811 arrests and the interception of $293 million in criminal assets. In total, 15,606 suspects were identified, 31,014 bank accounts blocked and 23,715 cases solved out of nearly 152,808 cases analysed.

The operation targeted so-called “social engineering” scams, which psychologically manipulate victims into handing over money or data. According to INTERPOL, they include business email compromise (BEC), sextortion, romance scams, impersonation and fake investment schemes. More than 142,000 victims were recorded worldwide, a figure that illustrates, according to the organisation, how transnational this type of crime has become.

Several notable busts were reported. In Eswatini, authorities say they dismantled a network combining illegal online gambling, laundering and impersonation: 82 people arrested and 240 electronic devices seized. In Thailand, investigators say they uncovered a laundering network fuelled by romance scams, using cryptocurrencies and cross-chain token swaps to hide the flows.

The operation was coordinated by INTERPOL, with funding from China’s Ministry of Public Security and support from the regional bodies ASEANAPOL, GCCPOL and Europol. It relies notably on the organisation’s “stop-payment” mechanism, designed to quickly freeze diverted funds.

At this stage, those arrested remain presumed innocent: an arrest is neither a charge nor a conviction.

Beyond the figures, the case is a reminder of how vulnerable the general public is to increasingly professional scams. A few reflexes limit the risks: never transfer money urgently at a stranger’s request, verify your contact’s identity through an independent channel, and be wary of any investment promising “guaranteed” returns.

Sources: INTERPOL (official release, 9 July 2026); Help Net Security; BleepingComputer.

Investigation · Markets · Investor protection

Marketed as a safe investment under Europe’s UCITS directive, the Luxembourg fund Exane Intégrale was suspended in March 2020 and placed into liquidation. Five years on, its investors have not been repaid. A criminal complaint has been filed, and the Paris Court of Appeal has validated a seizure of documents. The facts, on the record.

On paper, it was one of the most tightly regulated products available: a fund compliant with Europe’s UCITS directive, offering daily liquidity — the promise of getting your money back on any business day. The Exane Intégrale fund, managed by Exane Asset Management with BNP Paribas Securities Services as custodian, was aimed at professional and institutional investors known for their caution.

On 23 March 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 market turmoil, that promise collapsed: the net asset value was suspended, and the fund was placed into liquidation. Five years later, according to the public documents available, that liquidation is still not complete and holders have not been paid out.

A fund sold as “liquid every day” is, five years on, still closed — and savers are still waiting for their money.

What the documents say

According to a shareholder notice from Exane Funds 1 dated 1 April 2020, followed by a liquidation progress report dated 8 November 2020, the management company confirmed the freeze of the sub-fund. The specialist press documented the episode from the outset: Les Échos reported, on 25 March 2020, that “the French manager Exane AM” had frozen one of its funds.

According to Exane AM, as quoted in the press, several over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives held in the portfolio saw their valuation diverge “significantly from their theoretical value” during the March 2020 crisis. It is around this point — and the early termination of certain derivative contracts by counterparties — that today’s questions crystallise.

An open judicial chapter

The affair has turned litigious. As reported by L’Agefi and Les Échos on 17 October 2022, and by Citywire, an institutional investor trapped in the fund filed a complaint against unknown parties (“contre X”) before the Paris judicial court. According to those same sources, the complaint cites the criminal characterisations of breach of trust, forgery and use of forgery, dissemination of false or misleading information and fraudulent introduction of data into an automated processing system.

The complainant is also said to question the early termination of OTC derivative contracts by certain counterparties in March 2020 and possible conflicts of interest among entities of the BNP Paribas group.

To be precise: a complaint against unknown parties is neither a charge nor a conviction. It opens an investigation. At this stage, no court has established criminal liability against anyone, and the entities named benefit from the presumption of innocence.

The Court of Appeal validates a seizure of documents

Procedurally, a step was taken in 2025. According to L’Agefi (3 April 2025), the Paris Court of Appeal validated the seizure of documents carried out at Exane AM, following a ruling of its Pôle 1 – Chamber 8 (docket 24/06346, judgment of 21 March 2025). In practice, this decision allows documents to be preserved and used as part of the investigation — a foothold for the inquiry, without prejudging its outcome.

The auditors’ qualified opinion

Exane Funds’ annual reports offer further light. According to the audit reports signed by PwC, a qualified opinion was issued regarding the Exane Intégrale sub-fund (2022 financial year), and the 2024 annual report notes, on page 22, that the liquidation is “still ongoing.” A qualified opinion signals that the auditor could not obtain all the evidence needed to give an unqualified opinion on the accounts — a warning sign for any investor.

Why this matters for savers

Beyond the specific case, the Exane Intégrale affair raises a fundamental question: what is the “daily liquidity” promise of a UCITS fund actually worth when a crisis hits? The UCITS label is often presented as a guarantee of safety and ease of exit. This episode shows that a regulated fund can, in practice, stay closed for years, locking up its holders’ savings.

For investors — institutional and retail alike — three reflexes stand out: read the audit reports (and spot any qualified opinion), understand the share of OTC derivatives and the role of counterparties in a supposedly “liquid” fund, and follow shareholder notices in the event of a suspension.

Official sources and references

• 25/03/2020 — Les Échos, “Coronavirus: French manager Exane AM freezes one of its funds.” Document
• 01/04/2020 — Exane Funds 1, shareholder notice on Exane Intégrale. Document
• 08/11/2020 — Exane Funds 1, liquidation progress report. Document
• 17/10/2022 — L’Agefi, “Exane AM’s troubles take a judicial turn.” Document
• 17/10/2022 — Les Échos, complaint for breach of trust and forgery. Document
• 2022 — Exane Funds annual report (PwC), qualified opinion on Exane Intégrale. Document
• 2024 — Exane Funds annual report (PwC), liquidation still ongoing (p. 22). Document
• 21/03/2025 — Paris Court of Appeal, Pôle 1 – Chamber 8, docket 24/06346. Judgment
• 03/04/2025 — L’Agefi, “Exane Intégrale fund: the Court of Appeal validates the seizure of documents at Exane AM.” Document
• Official liquidation publication — Swiss Fund Data (ref. a13-15200). Document
• Le Temps, “The intriguing implosion of a Luxembourg fund.” Article

Frequently asked questions

What is the Exane Intégrale fund?

A Luxembourg investment fund compliant with the UCITS directive, offering daily liquidity, managed by Exane Asset Management, with BNP Paribas Securities Services as custodian.

Why is the fund frozen?

Its net asset value was suspended on 23 March 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 crisis, and the fund was placed into liquidation. According to Exane AM, OTC derivatives had diverged sharply from their theoretical value.

Have investors been repaid?

According to the available annual reports, the liquidation was still ongoing in 2024 and holders had not been paid out five years after the suspension.

Where does the legal case stand?

An institutional investor filed a complaint against unknown parties in Paris. In 2025, the Paris Court of Appeal validated a seizure of documents at Exane AM. No criminal liability has been established at this stage and the presumption of innocence applies.

Disclaimer. This article reports facts documented by public sources (shareholder notices, audit reports, court decisions, financial press). The criminal characterisations mentioned stem from a complaint and in no way prejudge the guilt of the persons or entities named, who benefit from the presumption of innocence. This article is not investment advice. Any concerned party with additional information or a right of reply may contact us.