Essex: council applies for injunction to stop asylum seekers being housed in hotel
Epping Forest District Council has applied for an interim High Court injunction to stop asylum seekers being housed at the Bell Hotel. In recent months hundreds of people have demonstrated outside the hotel, protesting against its current use. The council says there is a clear risk of further escalating community tensions. Council leader Chris Whitbread expressed frustration over having to take legal action, while a spokesperson noted that the hotel's location, near schools and a care home, adds to residents’ anxiety. The protests intensified after a hotel resident was arrested and charged with multiple offences, though he denies the allegations. Refugee charity Care4Calais has said that some asylum seekers are now scared to go outside. The Home Office says it has reduced the number of asylum hotels from 400 in summer 2023 down to 210. Meanwhile, the leader of Dudley council has said that housing asylum seekers is a drain on the local economy: see
England: fourth heatwave increases water crisis
England is facing a deepening water crisis, with five regions officially in drought and six more experiencing prolonged dry conditions - the worst since 1976. Despite brief storms in July, river flows and reservoir levels continue to decline, exacerbated by the fourth heatwave of the summer which began on 12 August. An amber heat health alert now covers key regions, including London and the south-east, as temperatures threaten to break this year’s record of 35.8°C. The UK Health Security Agency warns the heat could further strain public water supplies and navigation channels. The National Drought Group, composed of government bodies and industry stakeholders, has called for urgent, coordinated action. While the public has made efforts to reduce water use, concerns persist over damaged crops, reduced farm yields, and long-term food security. Farmers, in particular, face devastating losses. They are calling for improved water infrastructure and a more effective planning system to tackle both drought and flood threats in future climate extremes. Meanwhile, the Met Office has warned that extreme weather is becoming the new normal in the UK: see See also the Europe article on wildfires.
Trump warns of ‘severe consequences’ if Putin refuses to agree to a ceasefire
Donald Trump has warned of ‘very severe consequences’ if Vladimir Putin refuses to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine during their meeting in Alaska on 15 August. While not detailing the measures, Trump has previously suggested economic sanctions and hinted at a follow-up meeting that could include Volodymyr Zelensky. Concerns persist among European leaders and Kyiv that any peace proposal might involve Ukraine surrendering territory - particularly the Donbas region - in exchange for halting further Russian advances. In a high-level virtual call hosted by Germany, Zelensky, Trump, and key European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty and continued pressure on Moscow. Zelensky dismissed Putin’s threats as bluffs, insisting that sanctions and united international resolve remain crucial. The Alaska summit is seen as both a diplomatic opportunity and a high-stakes gamble, with Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the broader stability of Europe hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, on 12 August Russian troops tried to make a big advance, possibly to put extra pressure on Kyiv to cede territory: see
Greece: wildfires threaten large city, European heatwave
Fast-moving wildfires have reached the outskirts of Patras, Greece’s third-largest city, forcing mass evacuations, including a children’s hospital, and destroying thousands of hectares in the surrounding region. Entire villages have been emptied, homes and businesses lost, and hundreds of vehicles incinerated. Strong winds and soaring temperatures, reaching 38°C, have worsened the crisis, while smoke has caused respiratory problems for many residents. Across Greece, over 4,800 firefighters are battling more than 20 blazes, with EU water bombers requested for support. The crisis is part of a broader southern Europe heatwave, with deadly fires in Spain, large outbreaks in Portugal, Albania, and Italy, and record-high temperatures threatening lives and infrastructure. Meteorologists say such extremes are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-induced climate change. See also UK article ‘fourth heatwave’.
