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Spain Faces Growing Climate Change Challenges

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Spain is facing mounting climate-related pressures, with severe wildfires, rising temperatures, droughts and floods affecting communities and the economy. Around 300,000 hectares of land have been burned in Spain this year, while farmers in affected regions have suffered major losses to livestock, crops and pasture.

Rising temperatures are also affecting Spain’s tourism sector. The country experienced 61 days of heatwaves this year, with cities such as Toledo recording temperatures above 40°C on several occasions. Tourism workers are adapting by changing tour schedules, providing more water and shade, while some visitors are increasingly choosing cooler destinations and travelling during spring and autumn.

Drought and extreme rainfall are adding further challenges. Catalonia introduced water-use restrictions after years of low rainfall, while devastating floods in Valencia in 2024 caused 237 deaths and an estimated €4.5 billion in direct damage. Economists say climate change could weigh on economic activity, although investment in a greener economy could also create new jobs and opportunities.

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British Man Missing After Rescue Attempt in Lake Como

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Italian authorities are searching for a British man in his late 30s who disappeared after entering Lake Como to help rescue a 16-year-old boy and his father. The man was on a boating trip with the family near the lake’s western shore when he noticed the pair struggling in the water and jumped in to help.

The father and son were rescued by a passing boat and treated for hypothermia. The man, who was a friend of the family, was last seen sinking beneath the water. Italy’s coastguard, fire department and police have deployed boats, divers and a helicopter in the search.

Because parts of the lake in the search area are more than 250 metres deep, authorities are preparing to use two underwater robots to scan the lake bed. The UK Foreign Office said it is supporting the missing man’s family and remains in contact with Italian authorities.

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Privacy Concerns Challenge AI Wearables

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Tech companies are betting on smart glasses, AI pins and other wearable devices as potential successors to smartphones, but growing privacy concerns could slow their adoption. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses have faced particular scrutiny over the possibility of people being recorded without their knowledge, with some UK venues restricting their use.

Companies are exploring different approaches to address these concerns. Samsung plans to enter the smart-glasses market through partnerships with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, while some startups are developing camera-free glasses and devices that require users to deliberately activate recording. Businesses are also showing interest in AI wearables for workplace applications.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has argued that future always-on AI devices should process more information locally rather than continuously sending data to cloud servers. Experts say the challenge is balancing usefulness with privacy, since AI devices become more capable as they collect more information about users and their surroundings.

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Venice Considers Raising Tourist Entry Fee to $34

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Venice is considering extending its tourist entry fee and increasing the daily charge to as much as €30 ($34) from 2027, according to city government official Michele Zuin. The current fee ranges from €5 to €10 and applies only to day-trippers on selected days.

Zuin said the existing charge may no longer be enough to discourage overcrowding, while noting that the proposed 2027 rate would need to be discussed and approved with the Italian government. He also said officials had discussed a possible €50 fee but could settle on a maximum of €30.

Venice introduced the entry fee in 2024 as a measure to manage overtourism. In 2026, it operated on selected days between April and July and generated more than €5.2 million from nearly 680,000 tickets. The scheme is designed to encourage visitors to avoid the city’s busiest periods.

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Pope Leo Heads to France as Church Faces Fallout From Abuse Crisis

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Pope Leo will travel to France on Friday for a four-day, three-city visit, marking the first formal papal visit to the country in nearly 20 years. The trip comes five years after a major French report on child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, which found that about 330,000 children had been abused by clergy and lay Church officials over seven decades.

During his visit, Leo is expected to meet seven survivors of abuse in Lourdes and address the Church’s response to the scandal. He will also celebrate an outdoor Mass near Paris, where around 600,000 people have registered, and visit the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The first US-born pope is also expected to discuss artificial intelligence, Europe’s future and peace. His itinerary includes meetings with French leaders, an address at UNESCO and a speech in Metz focused on Europe’s roots, peace and unity. The visit to Lourdes will also draw attention to allegations surrounding priest and artist Marko Rupnik, whose mosaics at the sanctuary have been ordered covered during the pope’s visit.

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Salvini Calls League Congress as Party Faces Internal Tensions

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Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini has called for an extraordinary party congress in October, as he faces internal criticism and declining support. Salvini announced the move at the League’s annual rally in Pontida, saying the party needed to remain united.

The League has faced pressure from figures advocating a renewed focus on its traditional northern roots. Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana said on Monday that internal members would continue to present their views at the congress. The party has yet to clarify whether Salvini’s leadership itself will be put to a vote or whether members will only decide on the party’s political direction.

Italy is scheduled to hold national elections in the second half of 2027. Reuters reported that analysts see the decision to hold an early congress as an effort to strengthen Salvini’s position ahead of the election, while also noting that it has prompted speculation about whether the country could face an earlier vote.

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Southport Killer Charged Over Alleged Prison Attack

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Axel Rudakubana, who was jailed for the 2024 murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport, appeared in a London court on Monday over allegations that he attacked prison staff.

Prosecutors allege that Rudakubana threw boiling water mixed with sugar at a prison officer at Belmarsh prison in May 2025. He also faces charges relating to two alleged assaults on emergency workers and possession of an offensive weapon after stone fragments were reportedly found in his prison cell.

Rudakubana, now 20, appeared by video link from Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital and was not asked to enter a plea. He was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison after admitting the Southport killings and will next appear at London’s Old Bailey on October 19.

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Italy Plans School Veil Ban and Cap on Foreign Students

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Italy is preparing measures that would ban face coverings such as burqas and niqabs in schools and introduce a limit on the number of foreign students in each class, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on September 20. She said the proposals would be presented to the Cabinet.

Meloni also said parents of foreign students facing serious difficulties integrating into the Italian school system would be required to learn Italian. She argued that schools need to support language learning and integration, while saying students should attend school with their faces uncovered. The government has not yet specified the proposed maximum number of foreign students per class.

According to Fondazione ISMU, students with non-Italian citizenship accounted for an estimated 11.6% of Italy’s school population in 2023/24, or about 930,000 students. The proposed measures would still need to go through the Italian legislative process before becoming law.

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Man, 82, Dies After Beach Fight Over Sunlounger in Greece

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An 82-year-old man has died after a fight with a 76-year-old man over a sunlounger at Vouliagmeni beach near Athens, Greece. Local media reported that a disagreement over the use of the loungers escalated into a violent altercation involving several people.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with shouting reportedly heard across the beach. The 76-year-old man was arrested, while a 21-year-old woman who was with him was detained and later released. Witnesses said she had injuries to her face.

The 82-year-old man collapsed during the fight and received CPR, with a defibrillator reportedly used before an ambulance arrived. He was taken to hospital but later died. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the confrontation and the cause of his death.

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Brigitte Bardot’s Belongings Head to Auction

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Nearly 300 personal belongings of late French actress Brigitte Bardot are being auctioned in Paris, with proceeds benefiting her animal charity. The sale includes items from her homes in Saint-Tropez and Paris, offering fans a glimpse into the private life of the iconic actress, who died in December at the age of 91.

Among the highlights are two pairs of Repetto ballet flats, diamond jewellery, her Peugeot bicycle, classical guitars and the Olivetti typewriter she used to write her correspondence and autobiography. Everyday possessions including kitchenware, Le Creuset pans, perfume, cigarette lighters and religious statues are also part of the nearly 300 lots.

Bardot, who rose to fame as an actress and model in the 1950s, became a major symbol of modern femininity before dedicating much of her later life to animal rights. The auction also features portraits of the star and belongings connected to her love of animals, including dog collars and cuddly toys. Most lots have starting prices below €100, though the auction house expects strong interest from collectors and fans.

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