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Global headlines today span sport, space, travel and local civic action: the 48-team line-up for the expanded 2026 World Cup is now complete, setting the stage for an unprecedented 104-match tournament and sparking debate about the new XXL format's balance of spectacle and competitiveness. In space exploration, NASA’s Artemis 2 crew have passed the midpoint of their journey to the Moon and are steadily closing in on a historic lunar flyby — the first crewed mission to approach the Moon since 1972. Travelers received a reprieve ahead of the holiday peak as ports confirmed that new EU biometric entry checks will not be imposed on Eurotunnel and Eurostar passengers in the coming weeks, easing concerns about disrupted Channel crossings. Closer to home, the council of Riccione has bought the former summer villa of Benito Mussolini to return the property to public hands and prevent divisive private ownership, a move framed by local officials as protecting community heritage. Together these stories reflect sporting ambition, scientific progress, practical travel solutions and local decision-making aimed at preserving shared places.