Latest News
- Three British men arrested following shooting of Lithuanian man in Estepona
- Munich implements crowd control measures ahead of Oktoberfest weekend
- German and Russian foreign ministers meet for first talks since 2022 invasion
- Four killed in helicopter crash in field near Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville
- Trump and Xi establish AI safety channel amid ongoing military and trade talks
- Mother and daughter die from cancer within 10 hours of each other in Brazil
- Leo begins pilgrimage at Lourdes with prayer at Grotto of Apparitions.
- Pope Leo XIV draws 700,000 attendees at Mass in Paris
Europe
As Oktoberfest reaches its halfway point this weekend, organisers are implementing enhanced crowd management measures to prevent overcrowding, following last year’s severe incidents. The “Italian weekend” sees a significant influx of visitors, prompting the use of AI and surveillance technology to ensure safety at the event.
Pope Leo began his pilgrimage in Lourdes, offering a prayer at the Grotto of the Apparitions, a significant site where Catholics believe the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. This location remains one of the most-visited shrines in the Catholic faith.
Six people have died after a building collapsed in Athens due to an explosion on Friday morning. The victims include four US tourists and a British man, aged 78, living on the second floor. Search operations involved around 30 firefighters and specialised equipment, while authorities investigate the cause.
A man was reported missing while hiking in the isolated Rocca Capra area of Mount Etna, situated in the Valle del Bove at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres. Rescue teams are currently conducting search operations in the challenging terrain.
A private helicopter crash on the Greek island of Sifnos has resulted in three fatalities, including a Greek pilot and a British newlywed couple. The aircraft crashed near homes in the Tholos region, igniting a fire. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence announced that Kyiv’s forces targeted Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, striking its largest warehouse in Podolsk. This attack, part of a broader offensive since July, follows the destruction of seven logistics hubs, expanding Ukraine’s ability to disrupt Russian supply chains amid ongoing military conflict.
Ukraine launched hundreds of drones targeting military and energy facilities across Russia, resulting in at least six fatalities. This marks one of Kyiv’s largest aerial assaults since early 2022. President Zelenskyy called for European missile interceptors to aid Ukraine against Russian strikes.
A 55-metre statue of the Virgin Mary has been erected in the Polish village of Konotopie, becoming the tallest Marian monument in Europe. Funded by billionaire Roman Karkosik at an estimated cost of 100 million zlotys, the statue will be blessed on 15 August, despite the site remaining unfinished.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced strikes on key Russian military sites, including the Progress Rocket and Space Centre in Samara, using FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles. The operation aimed to reduce Russian military capabilities and was part of Ukraine’s strategy to pressure Moscow amid ongoing hostilities.
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