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Berlin Housing Shortage and Rising Rents Take Centre Stage in City Election

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Berlin’s housing shortage and soaring rents have emerged as the biggest concerns ahead of the city election on September 20. Around 85% of households in the German capital are renters, while advertised rents have nearly doubled since 2014. Berlin is expected to need around 211,000 additional homes by 2040, intensifying pressure on the city government.

A major point of debate is the future of Tempelhofer Feld, the former airport that is now a vast public park. Supporters of limited development argue that building homes on part of the site could help ease the shortage, while opponents want to preserve the open space. Political parties have offered different proposals, including affordable housing construction, rent restrictions and greater protection for existing homes.

Berlin’s economic growth and expanding population have increased demand for housing, pushing up rents and land prices. Thousands of residents recently protested against high housing costs, with some saying they face rents of €1,500 or more for small apartments. The election is also being closely watched as another test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s national government.

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Europe Sea Migrant Crossings Fall, but Journeys Become More Deadly: IOM

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Sea arrivals of migrants and refugees to Europe have fallen by more than a third so far this year, but the journeys have become deadlier, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Around 60,000 people have crossed by sea so far in 2026, compared with about 98,000 during the same period last year, marking a 39% decline.

Despite the drop in arrivals, at least 2,292 people have died or gone missing while attempting the journey this year, up from 1,999 during the same period last year. The IOM said many deaths may not have been recorded. Migrants often make the dangerous journey from Libya aboard overcrowded and unseaworthy boats.

The figures come as European countries continue to debate tougher migration policies. The European Union agreed in June on new rules allowing deportations outside the bloc, while pressure from right-wing political parties to tighten border controls has increased. The IOM has called for greater access to legal routes into Europe and measures to reduce risks along migration routes.

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Frankfurt Reports Third Malaria Death in Airport-Linked Outbreak

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A third person has died from malaria in the Frankfurt area in an extremely rare outbreak believed to be linked to air traffic, according to local German officials. The latest victim was one of two infected residents of the Schwanheim district near Frankfurt Airport.

The infected residents had contracted Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for a severe form of malaria, despite having no recent travel history to malaria-endemic regions and no employment at the airport. Earlier in August, officials reported that two airport workers had died from malaria, while four others had recovered.

Authorities are investigating how the infections occurred. Mosquitoes collected from traps at Frankfurt Airport in July and August have been sent to a laboratory in Antwerp for testing, with results still pending. Officials have also indicated that airlines could be ordered to disinfect aircraft if necessary.

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Tens of Thousands Rally in Zagreb Demanding Urgent Waste Cleanup

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Tens of thousands of people gathered in Zagreb’s central square on Saturday to protest delays in cleaning up more than 30,000 tons of waste stored in Croatia’s Lika region. The demonstration, one of the country’s biggest in recent years, was organised under the name “Walk for Lika,” with protesters warning that the waste could threaten drinking water and public health.

Authorities discovered between 34,000 and 37,000 tons of waste near Gospić last year, much of it reportedly imported from Italy in 2023 and 2024. Environmental groups say the waste includes medical and industrial material and is contaminating the air, soil and water in the region. They have accused the government of failing to act quickly enough.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said this week that a contractor had been selected for the first stage of the cleanup, which involves removing the waste from the site. Protesters, however, demanded faster action and accountability. Croatian actor Rade Šerbedžija also joined the rally, calling the situation a disgrace and saying those responsible should be held accountable.

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Norway Seizes Russian Ship Over $4.2 Billion Naftogaz Claim

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Norway has seized the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov in the Arctic to enforce a $4.22 billion compensation claim awarded to Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz over assets Russia seized following its 2014 annexation of Crimea. The ship was detained off Svalbard and will remain in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago.

The Svalbard governor’s office confirmed that the vessel would be held in Svalbard and said arrangements would be made for its crew and passengers. Russia has demanded the ship’s immediate release and said it would pursue the matter through legal channels. The vessel had arrived in the Russian-operated settlement of Barentsburg carrying Russian scientists.

Naftogaz has been pursuing Russian assets in several countries to enforce a 2023 Hague tribunal ruling that awarded it $4.22 billion plus interest and legal costs. The Ukrainian company said it would continue seeking Russian assets worldwide until the compensation is paid, while Russia continues to challenge the enforcement efforts.

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Fire at Russian Oil Refinery Extinguished After Drone Attack

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A fire at Russia’s Ilsky oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region was extinguished on Saturday after debris from a Ukrainian drone caused a blaze at the facility, local authorities said.

Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces had targeted both the Ilsky and Syzran oil refineries overnight, reporting fires at both sites. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences had destroyed 397 Ukrainian drones across several regions, while officials in the Samara region confirmed that drones had targeted an industrial facility without identifying it.

The attacks are part of Ukraine’s ongoing strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, which Kyiv says are aimed at disrupting resources used to finance Russia’s war effort. The Ilsky refinery has an annual processing capacity of more than 6 million tonnes of crude oil, while the Syzran refinery can process around 8.5 million tonnes. Reuters said it could not independently verify the claims from either side.

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Gary Glitter Appears in Court Over Historic Sex Offence Charges

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Former British pop star Gary Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, appeared before a London court on Wednesday facing new historic sex offence charges involving a young girl. Prosecutors allege the offences took place between 1978 and 1981 at his London home, when the alleged victim was between eight and eleven years old. She reported the allegations to police in 2025.

The 82-year-old denies the accusations and is charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14. Appearing via video link from prison, Gadd confirmed his identity and told the court he was “extremely deaf.” He has been remanded in custody until his next hearing at London’s Old Bailey on September 2.

Gadd is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence imposed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980. He has also served previous prison terms in the UK and Vietnam for offences involving minors, making the latest case another chapter in his long history of criminal convictions.

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Moscow Court Orders Arrest of Boris Nemtsov’s Daughter

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A Moscow court has ordered the arrest in absentia of Zhanna Nemtsova, the daughter of slain Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, over her involvement with an organisation that Russia has designated as “undesirable.” Nemtsova, who has lived outside Russia since 2015, co-founded the Germany-based Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom, which was banned in Russia in 2024.

Responding to the ruling, Nemtsova dismissed the court’s decision in a social media post, noting that the foundation operates legally from Germany. Under Russian law, participation in or support for organisations labelled “undesirable” can result in prison sentences.

Boris Nemtsov, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, was assassinated near the Kremlin in 2015. Although five men were convicted for carrying out the killing in 2017, his supporters have long argued that those who planned and ordered the murder have never been brought to justice.

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Italy’s Beach Access Debate Intensifies as Free Beach Campaigners Clash with Lido Operators

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Italy’s coastline has become the centre of a growing debate as campaigners demand greater public access to beaches, while private lido operators defend the paid services they provide. Popular seaside destinations such as Santa Severa feature stretches of privately managed beaches where visitors pay for amenities including umbrellas, sun loungers, restaurants, lifeguards and family-friendly facilities. Operators argue these services ensure safety, cleanliness and a better beach experience for visitors.

Campaigners, however, say free public beaches are often limited to less desirable locations, including rocky shorelines or areas near drainage outlets, making access unequal for those unable or unwilling to pay. They argue that public beaches should receive better maintenance and essential facilities such as showers, rubbish bins and lifeguard services from local authorities rather than relying on private operators. The issue has become increasingly visible during the busy summer tourism season as demand for affordable beach access grows.

The dispute also has legal and political dimensions. The European Union has long urged Italy to adopt a more transparent system for awarding lucrative beach concessions, but reforms have progressed slowly. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government extended existing beach licences until September 2027, with a possible extension to March 2028. Meanwhile, concession allocations in several coastal towns are under review by Italy’s highest administrative court, as campaigners continue to push for beaches they believe should remain accessible to everyone.

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Five Bosnian Climbers Die on Mount Elbrus

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Five climbers from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been confirmed dead after being caught in a severe storm on Russia’s Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe. Rescue teams managed to evacuate two survivors, who were taken for medical treatment, while recovery efforts continue under difficult weather conditions.

Russian emergency authorities recovered the bodies of two climbers from an altitude of around 5,350 metres. The bodies of three more victims have been located, but poor weather and strong winds have delayed their evacuation from the mountain.

According to Bosnian media, the seven-member climbing expedition was from the town of Zenica and included a married couple and a female doctor. Mount Elbrus, standing at 5,642 metres near the Georgia border, is known for its rapidly changing weather, making rescue operations particularly challenging.

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