Author: Press Room

Europe must spend more upfront to protect itself from increasingly severe climate disasters, European Union Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra told Euronews, arguing that paying for fires, floods and other damage after they strike will ultimately cost far more. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “All evidence shows that making the upfront investments is way cheaper than just being hit by fire, being hit by floods and then paying for the damage. That’s just way more costly,” Hoekstra said. Describing the summer as “dramatic”, the Dutch Commissioner said the EU was better prepared than last year, with more firefighters, planes and helicopters deployed, but…

Published on 30/08/2026 – 21:14 GMT+2 US defence contractor Covenant plans to start producing medium-range missiles near Leipzig from 2027, according to sources, with up to 1,000 missiles a year thought to be possible. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The plans could bring a previously little-known cruise missile into greater focus in Germany. But what is actually known about the new weapon? A reported range of more than 1,500 kilometres The missiles are expected to have a range of more than 1,500 kilometres, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. So far, however, few other technical details are known. According to sources,…

Although he is not yet officially a candidate in France’s 2027 presidential election, Dominique de Villepin is getting very close. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Speaking to BFM TV Sunday, the conservative politician — who formerly served as prime minister under Jacques Chirac and heads the La France Humaniste party — said he would confirm his candidacy “once the election campaign has begun”. He added that he was ruling out taking part in a primary, arguing that “it is not the right way of doing things” but rather “the latest gimmick for the desperate”. Meanwhile, Olivier Faure, the first secretary of the Socialist…

Earthquakes occur in Germany again and again, but many never notice them. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT That’s because these tremors occur deep below the ground and often have low frequencies. But far beneath the surface, something could be stirring. That is the suspicion of researchers who have been monitoring Lake Laach in the Eifel region in western Germany over the last few years. Between September 2022 and August 2023, they used several monitoring stations to record more than 500 micro-earthquakes beneath the lake – which formed in the crater of a volcano that last erupted around 13,000 years ago. Germany’s most powerful…

Published on 30/08/2026 – 17:49 GMT+2•Updated 18:10 A mix of relief and dejection spread across Iceland on Sunday after the country narrowly voted “No” to resuming talks with the European Union on potential membership. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Many Icelanders had gathered in the capital Reykjavík to follow the results as they came in overnight, with both supporters and opponents of accession negotiations celebrating as the count progressed. In Saturday’s vote, 52.8% rejected resuming EU entry talks, while 47.2% voted “Yes,” according to public broadcaster RÚV. Speaking from Reykjavík after the result was called, Skuli Olafsson Skuli, a pastor, said he was…

Published on 30/08/2026 – 17:21 GMT+2•Updated 17:24 The European Commission has issued a muted reaction after Iceland rejected the reopening of accession negotiations with the bloc in a hotly contested referendum, a decision that risks dampening the momentum on enlargement. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The vote came down to the wire: 52.8% chose “no” and 47.2% chose “yes”. “The European Commission takes note of the outcome of Iceland’s referendum,” a Commission spokesperson said in a brief statement. “The Commission respects the choice of the Icelandic people. Iceland remains a close partner of the European Union.” Meanwhile, European Council President António Costa exchanged…

Published on 30/08/2026 – 8:55 GMT+2•Updated 15:54 One person was killed after shots were fired at an event attended by around 3,500 people in the Swiss town of Aarau in the early hours of Sunday, Aargau cantonal police said in a post on X. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Police said the person killed was a 22-year-old woman who died at the scene. Another woman and four men, aged between 24 and 27, suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious. All of the victims were from Switzerland, according to police. The incident occurred at around 3 am during a rave in Aarau, a…

Published on 30/08/2026 – 14:45 GMT+2 Spain’s government plans to allocate €165 million to Ceuta’s recovery, an emergency package of measures that will be approved this Tuesday by the Council of Ministers, one month after the mass arrival of migrants in the autonomous city. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The sum will be added to the medium-term recovery plan worth €180 million, according to local media, in a move previously announced by First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo. The new package aims to revive the local economy and strengthen public services after a crisis that has disrupted activity in the…

Iceland has said no to reopening negotiations on joining the European Union, and the blow is a painful one. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT By a narrow margin of 52.8% to 47.2%, Icelandic voters rejected the idea of restarting the accession process that was put on hold in 2013. While the referendum was not a direct vote on EU membership itself, Icelanders have essentially closed the door, at least for the foreseeable future, depriving the bloc of a promising potential new member with a relatively easy path to joining. And even though Iceland is already deeply integrated with the EU through the European…

Iceland says “Nei”. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In a closely watched referendum that came down to the wire, the Nordic country rejected the reopening of accession negotiations with the European Union. A “yes” would have restarted the process that was abandoned in 2015. Back then, Reykjavík managed to close 11 chapters of the long-winded process. The wealthy nation was all but guaranteed to become a frontrunner in the race. But Icelanders instead chose to maintain what they have: a closely aligned partnership with the 27-strong bloc that is one step short of full-fledged membership. Here are the four takeaways. Fish trumps it…