Ahead of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s scheduled visit to Italy’s Lampedusa island on Sunday, FRANCE 24’s Seema Gupta, Natalia Mendoza and Wassim Daly spoke with some of the migrants there to learn about their living conditions and the treacherous journeys they have made. Some local residents express frustration with the surge in arrivals, while a local church has become a place where donations are collected.

In response to the most severe drought Mayotte has experienced in decades, the French government and local authorities in the overseas territory are taking drastic measures to ensure inhabitants get basic access to water. The unprecedented shortage is pushing locals into desperation and mounting tensions at a time when Mayotte is also seeing rampant crime.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have banned vehicles with Russian license plates from entering their territory, a joint move in line with a recent interpretation of the European Union’s sanctions against Moscow over its war on Ukraine.

There have been deadly storms in almost as many days in September so far, as climate scientists warn that “nowhere is immune”.

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced an anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles on Wednesday, presenting herself as a champion of European business as she defended her track record ahead of elections next year.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that his country offers its “full and unconditional support” for Russia’s “sacred fight” to defend its security interests, in an apparent reference to the war in Ukraine, and said Pyongyang will always stand with Moscow on the “anti-imperialist” front.