As the Danube recedes amid intense heat, the river is exposing a remarkable relic of Europe’s wartime history. This month, exceptionally low water levels have uncovered at least 20 German military vessels near Prahovo in eastern Serbia. Corroded hulls and shattered masts now rise from the river, marking the remains of a Nazi Black Sea fleet intentionally sunk during World War Two. Some wrecks have appeared during earlier droughts, but this summer’s severe heat and lack of rain have brought

Sportswear retailer JD has lowered its profit outlook as rising living costs, intensified by the US conflict with Iran, reduced demand for trainers. JD Sports, which stocks major athletic labels such as Nike and Adidas, said broad-based inflation had squeezed household finances. This contributed to weaker sales in key regions, including the US, where the retailer found it difficult to clear trainers and other footwear quickly. Executives also warned that subdued consumer spending was likely to

The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the nation’s history, with government figures reporting at least 2,325 deaths, exceeding the number recorded during the 2018-20 outbreak. The DRC’s national public health institute said the number of confirmed infections had climbed to 4,945, including 101 cases identified within the previous 24 hours. The World Health Organization has warned that the epidemic could overtake west Africa’s 2014-16 Ebola crisis

Visionary architects have always used colour to enrich the built environment. From an exuberant historic temple to a lively public library, these eight buildings place colour at the heart of their design. Human beings have used colour to inspire pleasure for hundreds of thousands of years. Neanderthals applied natural earth pigments to cave walls, beginning a tradition later continued in the painted temples of ancient Egypt and Greece and the richly patterned marble architecture of Rome. Across

A Russian court on Monday found a leading opposition politician guilty of publicly criticizing the war in Ukraine and sentenced him to 11 years and one month in prison, as authorities intensified pressure ahead of next month’s parliamentary election. The conviction of Lev Shlosberg, a senior figure in the Yabloko party, represented another Kremlin effort to suppress dissent following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Yabloko is the only officially registered political party that

• Ukraine may be ready to strike targets inside Russia with domestically produced ballistic missiles within three to six months, according to former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Kyiv has largely depended on long-range drones and cruise missiles for attacks deep inside Russia, but ballistic weapons would be considerably more difficult for Russian defences to intercept. Speaking to CBS News, Fedorov said: “We must overcome Russia in every technological cycle.” While Ukraine is

Water companies may be permitted to increase customer bills during droughts under proposals being examined by the regulator for England and Wales. Ofwat’s plans would allow suppliers to reflect “water scarcity” in their charges as part of measures intended to curb consumption. The idea has been compared with surge pricing, where taxi and private-hire operators increase fares when demand is high. The proposals emerged only days after senior political figures expressed anger at water companies

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Adam Driver is set to make his long-awaited debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as supervillain Mister Sinister, while “Obsession” breakout Inde Navarrette will portray Rogue in Disney’s upcoming “X-Men” reboot. Driver and Navarrette were among several additions revealed Friday night at Disney’s D23 convention by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. The announcement also named Driver’s former “Girls” co-star Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier and Maya Boyd

Malaysian authorities are introducing stricter requirements for hikers after a rise in search and rescue missions associated with social media-driven trends. The measures include compulsory guides at 189 high-risk sites nationwide, along with screening procedures before hikers begin their climbs, state media agency Bernama reported Wednesday. Hiking is becoming increasingly popular in Malaysia, even though tropical forest covers roughly half of the country’s land. These environments are often

Fans of natural coffee know that instant varieties cannot match the flavor of a freshly brewed drink. Yet traditional preparation usually requires a coffee maker or at least a cezve, so many people avoid it because they assume the process is complicated. In reality, there is an easy way to brew ground coffee directly in a cup and enjoy its rich aroma without unnecessary effort. Can You Simply Pour Hot Water Over Ground Coffee? Ground coffee is usually prepared in a cezve or coffee machine, but

An American missionary abducted in Niger in October has been freed, according to the organisation he served with. Serving in Mission International said Kevin Rideout “is in good health in the care of US officials” and is expected to be reunited with his extended family soon. Donald Trump, who said he had assisted in securing Rideout’s freedom, announced on Friday that the missionary was “back in United States Custody”. The 50-year-old missionary pilot was seized by three armed people in Niger’s

A newly opened luxury resort in Mexico, charging several thousand dollars per night, has faced a difficult debut after a reviewer with a confirmed reservation said he was denied entry at the property’s gates. Ryan Walker, a luxury hotel reviewer on YouTube with more than 140,000 subscribers, published a video during the first week of August documenting an encounter outside Aman Resorts’ new Amanvari Mexico. The resort, which advertised August 6 stays for more than $6,000 per night, is situated

Fragments from a damaged engine shattered a window on a Ryanair aircraft, leaving a passenger partially pulled outside the cabin during a flight in July, according to US investigators. A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said an engine fan blade separated shortly after the 10 July service departed Greece for Germany. Serbian businessman Ljubisa Karović, who was seated beside the window in 11F, had his head and right arm drawn through the broken opening

A gravely ill patriarch gathers his family for a momentous revelation. It is hardly cinema’s freshest premise, but & Sons gives it an unusual turn – one best left undisclosed, though it gently pushes the story towards science fiction. The father is a celebrated novelist, as withdrawn as JD Salinger and as bearded and bedraggled as Catweazle. Having produced nothing for decades, the fictional AN Dyer first appears stretched across a sofa, refusing to answer the telephone. “I don’t do phone

On Sunday evening, Gustavo Monasterios went to bed as a citizen of Venezuela. By Monday morning, he had learned that he was also Italian. Monasterios, 47, found himself at the center of a legal upheaval that shook Italy last week. After almost two years of mounting limits on citizenship by descent, during which government decisions closed the route to an Italian passport for large parts of the diaspora, Italy’s highest court struck down one major restriction following a lawsuit filed by

Many people dream of owning a home, but soaring property prices and expensive mortgages often force them to abandon that goal. However, an entire small village in Germany has been listed for €390,000 (£333,150), making it cheaper than the average apartment in London. For only a fraction of the cost of a flat in the British capital, a buyer could acquire a 24,000-square-metre complex in Thuringia. The site contains 15 buildings. The unusual property appeared on a German classifieds platform

Repeated and disruptive heatwaves this summer are expected to have cost the UK economy more than £4bn in lost output by the end of July, according to new analysis. Environmental thinktank Verdant previously estimated that June’s unusually hot conditions caused £2.36bn in economic damage. After expanding its assessment to cover July’s high temperatures, it now puts the total loss at £4.4bn. With temperatures climbing again this week, Verdant director James Meadway said: “The economic

Many famous destinations are struggling under the pressure of excessive visitor numbers. No matter how appealing these places may be, there are times when travelers should consider postponing a trip. Overtourism damages destinations and affects local communities by disrupting everyday life and putting additional strain on limited resources. At the same time, visitors often cannot fully appreciate overcrowded attractions where prices have risen sharply. There are also other reasons why certain

Overnight Russian strikes killed six people in southeastern Ukraine and damaged a children’s hospital in the capital, Kyiv, local authorities said. Officials said the early Tuesday assault involved long-range missiles and formed part of a broader Russian effort to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defences while Kyiv struggles with a shortage of Patriot interceptors. Ivan Fedorov, head of the military administration in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, described the attack as “massive”, saying Russia

Officials say at least 13 people have died following a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s republic of Tatarstan. Among those killed was a child, and authorities reported that a further 75 people were wounded, making it one of the deadliest individual attacks on Russian territory since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv has not yet issued a statement regarding the assault on Nizhnekamsk, a city located more than 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) from Ukraine’s border. Ukraine’s