Author: staff

Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond in this Euronews news bulletin. In just a few minutes, our newsroom brings you the latest news and breaking news across world affairs, business, politics, culture, entertainment and travel, with the context you need to make sense of a fast-moving day. Reported with the independence and the European perspective that define Euronews, this regular round-up gives you a clear and reliable overview of the stories shaping our world right now, wherever you are watching from.

The battle between UniCredit and Commerzbank is entering a decisive phase. After almost two years of confrontation, the German wall appears to be showing its first cracks: according to Bloomberg, some senior figures in the Berlin government are ready to discuss the sale to UniCredit of the 12.7% stake still held by the German state, provided an agreement is reached on the strategy and future of the Frankfurt-based bank. It is not yet an official government decision, but the signal is significant. If the deal goes through, UniCredit’s stake would rise from the current roughly 47.6% to over 60% of…

Published on 18/08/2026 – 14:42 GMT+2•Updated 15:08 The Leoncin commune, east-central Poland on 14 August reported an unusual visitor in the garden of one of the houses. According to the account, the property owners alerted the authorities to a porcupine that first “sampled the garden plants”, and as the owner was reporting its presence, “managed to get into the house”. The latest incident follows that of 11 August in Łomianki, where the first porcupine was caught and another was found in the Mazovian region. Both animals were placed under the care of a vet, who confirmed that they were healthy.…

Thousands of people gathered in Sora, Italy, on 14 August for the traditional ‘Macchina dell’Assunta’ procession. Footage shows the 16-metre-high illuminated structure, topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, being carried through the town’s streets as crowds watch and join the celebrations. The annual procession takes place on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption. Dozens of ‘Portatori’ carry the structure on their shoulders, while residents, visitors and religious groups follow the route through the town centre. The tradition began in 2005 and was inspired by the ‘Macchina di Santa Rosa’ in nearby Viterbo. The procession honours the…

Planning on walking the Camino de Santiago during 2027’s Holy Year? We have good news, as those finishing up their pilgrimage will soon have a more affordable way home with the launch of a new budget airline. Fly2Galicia is set to launch flights from Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport to eight destinations in Europe, with the first departures set for 1 December, 2026. Domestically, the carrier will fly from Alicante, Grenada and Zaragoza, while international connections include Brussels, Prague, Munich, Venice and Milan. Tickets went on sale today, with prices from Milan to Santiago from €41; from Brussels, Prague or Venice…

Published on 18/08/2026 – 17:36 GMT+2•Updated 17:53 Drugs, mobile phones, alcohol… In France, drones are increasingly being used to smuggle banned products into prisons. Cases have multiplied in recent months, pointing to the growing professionalisation of these airborne deliveries. In Villefranche-sur-Saône, more than 1,800 drops in two months The remand prison in Villefranche-sur-Saône, in the Rhône department, regularly has to deal with the problem. At the beginning of August, the authorities uncovered a trafficking operation on an unprecedented scale involving the use of drones to supply inmates with drugs. Initially, investigators logged 880 drone deliveries in just 25 days and…

Aerial shots show grape pickers moving through vineyards in Tours-sur-Marne as crews harvest under soaring temperatures. Heatwave forces early start and smaller crews Driven by recent heatwaves, this year’s Champagne grape harvest is kicking off earlier than ever. In Tours-sur-Marne, near Épernay, winegrower Ophélie Lapie-Lamiable is starting five days ahead of schedule. She is tackling the work with just half her usual crew as seasonal workers cut summer holidays short. Ripening accelerates across the region The accelerated ripening has disrupted schedules for growers and seasonal workers alike. Teams move faster to bring in fruit before quality drops under the heat.

Summer crowds will soon be fading, but the autumn travel bargain isn’t quite as guaranteed as it once was. New data from Expedia shows that hotel prices are rising in some destinations this autumn but, in better news, other parts of Europe get noticeably less expensive once peak season ends. From the Algarve and Greek islands to emerging hotspots in the Balkans, here are the European destinations where travellers can still find an autumn deal, plus the places seeing the biggest surge in interest. Across much of the UK, Expedia data reveals that hotel prices are actually higher in the…

Der Raketenterror gegen Kiew und andere Teile der Ukraine bringt Wladimir Putin militärisch keine Geländegewinne, zielt aber auf die Zermürbung der Zivilbevölkerung. Rixa Fürsen bespricht mit dem Sicherheits- und Verteidigungsexperten Nico Lange die Lage nach der russischen Frühjahrsoffensive 2026. Lange kritisiert die zögerliche europäische Militärhilfe und das Fehlen strategischer Luftverteidigung scharf. Um Angriffe nachhaltig zu stoppen, müsse die Ukraine russische Rüstungsfabriken und Lieferketten mit Waffen wie dem Taurus gezielt ausschalten können. Auch bei Rufen nach Diplomatie warnt er vor Naivität: Erfolgreiche Verhandlungen seien nur durch harten wirtschaftlichen und militärischen Druck möglich. Wirksame Hebel wären etwa ein umfassender Stopp für Schengen-Visa…

Published on 18/08/2026 – 17:39 GMT+2 The European Commission confirmed on Tuesday that all people illegally remaining in Ceuta would be returned following the massive migrant influx that took place in late July. “The priority is now for the Spanish and for the Moroccan authorities to maintain control of the situation and to ensure a swift return of all those who illegally remain in Ceuta”, European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert said Tuesday at a press briefing. Lammert stressed that returns are covered by EU law, adding that they are regulated under “the return directive” and soon the “EU return regulation”.…