Netoli Kolefero, maždaug už 40 km į pietryčius nuo Romos esančio miestelio, esančioje šaudmenų gamykloje ketvirtadienį nugriaudėjo sprogimas, pranešė Italijos karabinieriai.

Rytų Anglijoje ketvirtadienį vyksta balsavimas papildomuose rinkimuose, kuriuose susirungė kraštutinių dešiniųjų lyderis Nigelas Farage'as (Naidželas Faradžas), dažnai vadinamas galimu būsimu Jungtinės Karalystės (JK) ministru pirmininku, ir satyrinis kandidatas, pasivadinęs Grafu Šiukšliadėžiagalviu.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC’s Steve Rosenberg, Dmitry Muratov says the Kremlin leader can only "destroy Ukraine, not conquer it", with the war now in its fifth year.

Grain exports from both Russia and Ukraine are falling as both countries attack each other's shipping facilities and ports.

Ofwat has given provisional approval for 13 water companies to charge customers more to pay for investments.

The department store made famous by sitcom Absolutely Fabulous had warned it would cease trading.

PARIS — French firefighting unions are calling for a nationwide protest next month after accusing the government of failing to adequately support them during a summer of unprecedented heat. “We are asking for the necessary resources to protect French citizens,” said Xavier Boy, a spokesperson representing several firefighters’ unions. The strike will take place Sept. 29. Firefighters are allowed to walk out on the job but must maintain minimum staffing levels to respond to emergencies. Boy said the unions’ most pressing demands include legislation to “modernize” France’s civil security framework, “massive” recruitment of professional firefighters and increased funding to protect firefighters’ health and safety. He also called for “investments to match the risks France faces today and will face tomorrow” given Europe is the planet’s fastest-warming continent. Boy and other firefighting representatives on Thursday — when they held a smaller-scale strike — met with French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to discuss their concerns. They said they left unsatisfied and disappointed, accusing the minister of equivocating and spewing “political blah blah.” Nuñez told reporters later Thursday that a bill to improve civil security would be presented to the unions on Sept. 8. The minister said the resources granted to firefighters would “evolve” in next year’s budget, but he refused to commit to a specific increase. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has also tasked seven parliamentarians with producing a report on how to improve firefighting in France and asked them to submit policy proposals by Sept. 21. France’s current firefighting system relies heavily on volunteers. As of 2024, just under 80 percent of the country’s firefighters were volunteers, while fewer than 20 percent, mostly in urban areas, were professionals. Most full-time firefighters work in major urban areas like Paris, but this summer they have faced ferocious conflagrations fueled by climate change-driven heat and drought, which are expected to cost taxpayers billions of euros. Boy said firefighters battling the wildfire near Bordeaux, one of the worst in recent French history, were insufficiently equipped. “Everything lacked — personnel, equipment and forest firefighting resources … especially anticipation,” he said.

A German district court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for far-right Alternative for Germany lawmaker Maximilian Krah over unpaid legal fees stemming from a dispute with comedian Jan Böhmermann, according to various German media outlets. In 2024, Böhmermann read out a listener’s letter on his podcast alleging that Krah, a former member of the European Parliament, had ordered 200 bottles of Champagne for an entire tent at Munich’s Oktoberfest. Krah denied the claims and called the story “complete nonsense.” Böhmermann later said that his research indicated the number of bottles was likely only 50. Krah, who had already been dubbed “Schampus-Max” (Champagne Max) in some German media outlets, filed an injunction against Böhmermann over the claims for violation of his “personality rights,” according to Germany’s Der Spiegel, but the case was dismissed in December 2024. Krah was then ordered to cover litigation costs — which he is alleged to have failed to pay in full. The outstanding amount is less than €300, reported Der Spiegel. A court bailiff applied for an arrest warrant in mid-July when the lawmaker did not appear for an asset disclosure appointment, according to the outlet. Krah has since said he was neither aware of the appointment nor the outstanding costs. The Bundestag would have to lift Krah’s parliamentary immunity in order for him to be detained. Böhmermann had previously made headlines for triggering a diplomatic crisis after he insulted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a poem in 2016. Böhmermann’s lawyer and Krah’s office did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication. A spokesperson for the court did not confirm the arrest warrant, citing privacy concerns.

Analysts say Saudi Arabia is strengthening its position with regional allies as the Houthis increase their attacks.

In a quarter-century, the party has strengthened democracy, driven development and elevated Turkiye’s global standing.

Business columnist Pilita Clark and climate correspondent Attracta Mooney replied to reader questions

Japan’s prime minister rebukes Russian president’s first-ever trip to Kuril Islands

Amid the rubble and debris of Gaza's bombed-out landscape, beekeepers are rebuilding their livelihoods, handling swarms and collecting what little honey they can from the colonies that survived the war. Ibrahim al-Dabbeh, head of the Cooperative Association of Beekeepers in the Gaza Strip says "the war destroyed more than 95% of the bee sector". Rebuilding these hives means trying to revive an industry pushed to the brink of extinction. 

From the Loire to the Danube, via the Rhine and the Po, European rivers are facing exceptionally low water levels. After a start to the summer marked by record temperatures, the drought is threatening river transport, energy production, ecosystems and water supplies.

Jérémy Doku has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City, keeping the Belgium winger at the Etihad until 2031. The 24-year-old has become a key part of the squad since joining from Rennes in 2023.

The Netherlands is investigating an explosion at the port of Rotterdam that killed one person and injured several others on Thursday, 13 August. The blast happened at about 11:30 a.m. at an oil facility in the Europoort industrial section of Europe’s largest port.