El Debate

A New York Times opinion piece warns that the current strong El Niño, a warming of the tropical Pacific that shifts global weather patterns, is set to drive severe conditions including heatwaves, droughts, floods and storms across many regions. The author urges governments and the public to prepare now for the disruption, arguing that early planning could limit the damage as the phenomenon reaches full strength in the coming months.

Voting for the Ballon d'Or closed today, with fans and media debating who will win football's top individual award. Spanish outlet El Confidencial ran through the leading candidates and confirmed the date of the awards gala. Attention now turns to the ceremony, where the winner will be revealed, with supporters arguing over the merits of the main contenders.

El Salvador's Minister for Foreign Affairs took the floor at the United Nations in New York, delivering an address to the 81st Session of the General Assembly's general debate. The speech forms part of the annual gathering where member states outline their foreign policy priorities and positions on international issues. Further details of the minister's remarks were not immediately available.

EL PAÍS examines the argument, prominent among some AI researchers, that there is roughly a one-in-ten chance advanced artificial intelligence could pose an existential threat to humanity. The piece weighs expert warnings about uncontrolled AI development against sceptics who consider such extinction estimates exaggerated, reflecting an ongoing debate as AI capabilities and investment continue to grow rapidly.

El Nacional publishes an analysis titled 'Radiografía de una crisis: ¿qué pasa con el Manchester City?', examining the English club's current slump and what lies behind its poor run of form. The piece frames City's troubles as a full-blown crisis and breaks down the sporting problems at the Etihad, drawing attention from football fans discussing the club's decline.

Spain's government has moved to prohibit vulture funds from purchasing housing at less than 70% of its value, a measure aimed at curbing speculative bulk buying of homes. The announcement, reported by El País and tied to debate in Congress, is drawing attention amid Spain's ongoing housing affordability crisis and pressure on lawmakers to act.

Debate is growing in Mexico over the so-called 'Anti-Meme Law', with legal experts addressing questions about whether people can be detained for sharing memes and what it means for freedom of expression. The discussion comes amid a busy Mexican news cycle, including President Sheinbaum's clash with The New York Times over US investigations into Andy López Beltrán and talks with Britain's Carney on trade.

Barcelona's former mayor Ada Colau says she has moved out of the flat she rented for 15 years, telling El Periódico that a single salary was no longer enough to cover the rent. Her comments come amid ongoing debate over housing costs in Barcelona, an issue she made central to her political career with housing activism and as mayor.

A powerful El Niño event, dubbed 'Godzilla', is forecast to reach the Arctic, raising fears of accelerated warming and sea ice loss in the region. Scientists and commentators are debating how severe the impacts could be, as El Niño events typically push global temperatures higher and disrupt weather patterns worldwide.

The US Supreme Court has temporarily reactivated the deportation of migrants to third countries, a ruling reported by Spanish outlet El Confidencial. The decision allows removals to countries other than the migrants' origin while litigation continues, drawing attention in Spain and reigniting debate over the legality and human impact of third-country deportations.

Discussion in Mexico centres on Santiago Giménez and the attacking options available to Rafa Márquez for the national team. Coverage is weighing which strikers should lead the line for El Tri in upcoming matches, with Giménez among the main candidates being debated by fans and pundits.

Mexico is preparing to face Colombia, with attention on coach Jaime Márquez's efforts to adapt his tactical style to El Tri and improve the team's play. Mexican fans and sports outlets are debating the lineup and approach ahead of the international match.

Colombia and Mexico met in a friendly that delivered talking points on both sides: two Mexico debuts, a record-setting goal, and a new number 10 for El Tri. ESPN Mexico highlighted a challenging night for the team, while Raul Rangel and Erik Lira spoke afterwards about the ambition to 'play like Barcelona' under the current project. Mexican fans are debating the performance and what it means ahead of upcoming fixtures.

Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso will sit for an interview with journalist Iker Jiménez this Thursday on the set of his programme Horizonte, according to El Debate. The sit-down is drawing attention as a notable media appearance for one of Spain's most prominent conservative politicians, with viewers expecting questions on current regional and national affairs.

South Korea's National Human Rights Commission is facing a personnel standoff, with unfilled vacancies becoming the focus of a political dispute. Discussions over appointments to the commission have exposed a divide between political sides over who should fill the posts and how the human rights body should be led. The deadlock has raised concerns about the commission's ability to function while key positions remain empty.

Nippon Professional Baseball has surpassed Major League Baseball in average attendance per game for the sixth time in its history, according to the latest figures for the 2026 season. NPB games are averaging 31,719 fans per game, ahead of MLB's 29,540, and Spanish-language baseball outlets are breaking down how Japan's league once again outdraws its American counterpart.

Climate observers are arguing that the current El Niño event may be the most deviant climate event ever witnessed, with a magnitude that even climate scientists likely could not have foreseen a year ago despite rapidly warming conditions. One commentator has suggested it may qualify as a 'Grey Swan' event — a rare, impactful occurrence that is foreseeable in principle but largely underestimated.

El País examines why surrogacy, in the spotlight after Lady Gaga and Lena Dunham spoke about it, has not triggered a major scandal in the United States the way it has elsewhere. The piece contrasts American acceptance of commercial surrogacy with bans and controversy in other countries, questioning whether the practice receives enough scrutiny in the US.

The Sindicat de Llogateres, the Barcelona tenants' union, is drawing renewed attention in Spain. The group campaigns for affordable housing, organises rent strikes and pushes back against large landlords amid the city's housing crisis. Spanish media, including El Mundo, are examining its tactics and influence on the debate over rising rents.

El Salvador is reportedly moving toward stablecoins for everyday payments as actual bitcoin use among consumers and merchants declines. The country, which made bitcoin legal tender in 2021, is seeing lower-than-hoped transaction volumes in bitcoin, and dollar-pegged stablecoins are emerging as the more practical digital payment option, prompting fresh debate about the future of the country's crypto policy.

El Salvador has set February 2027 for its presidential election, with President Nayib Bukele expected to run for a third term. Bukele, whose crackdown on gangs remains broadly popular, saw the country's top court allow consecutive re-election in 2021. Critics say another bid would further erode democratic checks, while supporters back his security record.

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to withhold federal funding from El Paso County, according to the El Paso Times. The ruling means the county will continue receiving federal money that the administration had sought to freeze. The decision is likely to fuel ongoing debate over federal funding conditions and local government rights.

Economic geographer Brett Christophers argues in an interview with El País that contemporary capitalism does not recognise a right to housing. He contends that housing is treated primarily as an asset and investment vehicle rather than a guaranteed need, a framing likely to fuel debate over rent, ownership and housing policy amid affordability crises in many countries.

Spanish television presenter Joaquín Prat apologised to activist Paca Blanco after leaving the set of Telecinco's 'El Tiempo Justo'. The apology reportedly related to remarks made during a discussion involving Blanco's son Aldo Comas, touching on eviction and housing issues. Viewers are debating the exchange and Prat's decision to say sorry off-air afterwards.

A powerful 'super' El Niño event is under way, and meteorologists warn it could significantly alter weather patterns worldwide. Coverage is focused on how the warming of Pacific Ocean surface waters may bring heavier rainfall to parts of the Americas, drought to regions such as Australia and Southeast Asia, and warmer global temperatures overall. Commentators are debating how extreme the impacts could be in the months ahead.