Author: Press Room

Published on 10/08/2026 – 18:57 GMT+2 Some 71.3% of England is in drought, the UK government said on Monday, after the nation experienced its driest July on record, with a fifth heatwave and scant rain forecast for the week ahead. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Parks and fields that are usually green at this point in the year were parched and yellow, according to AFP news agency photos, as river levels dwindled and farmers battling low crop yields warned of possible food shortages. “Almost three-quarters of England is now in drought as conditions worsen following a dry start to August,” the environment department…

The leader of Ceuta demanded on Monday the detention and expulsion of the thousands of migrants wandering the Spanish north African territory’s streets after last month’s mass influx from Morocco. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Some 72,000 migrants breached the border in an unprecedented and deadly rush between 30-31 July, with 70,000 having since returned to Morocco, according to Spanish government figures. But the thousands who remain, including hundreds of unaccompanied children who cannot be summarily deported, struggle to access food, water, shelter and sanitation while the tiny enclave’s resources are overwhelmed. Their future has sparked a political battle between Spain’s leftist central…

Published on 10/08/2026 – 21:55 GMT+2 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Russia was preparing to station more North Korean troops on its territory and had received more ballistic missiles from Pyongyang. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned of deepening military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, often while appealing for more Western air-defence supplies. “This is the first time they cannot wage war without supplements from North Korea,” he said in his nightly address, referring to Russian forces. “They are now preparing to deploy an additional contingent of Koreans on their territory. They have received, just imagine, additional…

Published on 10/08/2026 – 22:29 GMT+2 Germany will beef up its anti-drone police unit, the government said on Monday, days after an explosives-laden unmanned aerial vehicle was flown into a strategically important airport. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Berlin was shocked by the incident last week when the UAV was defused after it was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig-Halle airport, a key military equipment transport hub. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who labelled the incident a “hybrid attack scenario” potentially involving a “foreign power,” now plans to double personnel in the federal police anti-drone unit to 300. The number of operational…

Europe continues to grapple with major wildfires as the threat of further heatwaves continues to hang over the continent. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In Greece, a new fire broke out on Monday in the village of Kouvaras, 60 kilometers southeast of Athens, prompting the mobilisaiton of almost 200 firefighters. Greek fire services announced that the blaze has since been brought under control. Large parts of central and southern Greece, including the greater Athens area and most of the Aegean Islands, face a high risk of wildfires on Tuesday, according to civil protection forecasts. Five people, four firefighters and the pilot of a…

Nearly 70% of France is subject to water-use restrictions as drought conditions worsen amid successive heatwaves, the government said on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT A series of heatwaves over the past three months, compounded by drought, have broken temperature records, caused thousands of excess deaths, and fuelled massive wildfires. “As France is experiencing a particularly severe drought, the effects of climate change continue to increase pressure on water resources,” the ministry for ecological transition said, adding that “nearly 70% of French territory is subject to restrictions on water use.” As of 9 August, the vast majority of mainland France, including Paris,…

Firefighters struggled on Monday to control three large wildfires in southern Spain that has forced the evacuation of around 800 people due to shifting winds and difficult terrain, officials said. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT More than 600 firefighters backed by 26 water-dropping aircraft were battling the blaze which broke out last week in the Andalusian province of Huelva, said the region’s minister for emergencies, Antonio Sanz. “We are facing an extremely difficult, complex and dangerous wildfire, with the weather conditions continuing to offer us no respite. It is a long-distance race full of obstacles,” he said. “We have to be realistic: there…

Published on 10/08/2026 – 16:52 GMT+2 The Swedish Security Service (Säpo) said on Monday it had thwarted a Russian intelligence operation aimed at discrediting Sweden and which involved an “agent” working in a foreign diplomatic mission in Sweden. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The counter-espionage agency said in a statement it had “gathered information on, and taken measures against, a Russian intelligence operation aiming at influencing Swedish decision-making and discrediting Sweden, NATO and the EU.” According to Säpo, the “intelligence operation has been planned and directed by the Russian foreign intelligence service SVR for some time.” It did not identify the diplomatic mission…

The European Union has condemned Belarus’ decision to designate Euronews as an “extremist” media organisation, saying it forms part of a “broader pattern of repression targeting independent media.” ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “It is an ongoing effort to restrict freedom of the press,” said Anitta Hipper, the EU’s spokesperson for foreign affairs and security. “The EU shares its solidarity with Euronews.” The comments follow a wave of support for Euronews following last week’s listing from Minsk, including from Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya who described the move as a “shameful” attempt to curb press freedom. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola posted on…

Water levels on rivers across the Balkans have fallen to record lows, disrupting navigation and exposing large areas of riverbed in Croatia. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT On the Danube near Batina, in northeastern Croatia close to the Serbian border, large sandbanks have emerged as water levels have dropped. Some can now be crossed on foot. At a nearby measuring station, the Danube was at -158 centimetres on Sunday. The low water levels are also affecting river traffic. Near Šarengrad, several cargo ships have been unable to navigate the Danube. On the Drava River near Osijek, the receding water has exposed parts of…