Latest news bulletin | September 3rd, 2026 – Morning

Spain's police chief has denied the existence of an alleged report linking Moroccan security forces to the mass influx of migrants into Ceuta in July. Ukraine has formally informed the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russia's airspace is unsafe for civilian traffic. Ursula von der Leyen says Europe must prepare for a new era of European security after Russia was blamed for a drone sabotage incident last month in Germany. Spain's police chief has denied the existence of an alleged report linking Moroccan security forces to the mass influx of migrants into Ceuta in July. These comments come a few hours after the Minister of the Interior had asked explanations about the content of a document allegedly published by Spain's National Centre for Immigration and Borders. Online newspaper El Espanol reported the document said the incident was guided by Moroccan security forces with an objective other than migration. On Monday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had said that Morocco was not responsible for the Ceuta crisis. Instead, Sánchez and his government accused Israel, Russia and the far right of spreading disinformation. Meanwhile, Russia denied on Tuesday any involvement in the Ceuta migration crisis. Ukraine has formally informed the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russia's airspace is unsafe for civilian traffic, Foreign Minister Andriy Sebiha said on Wednesday. He said Russia had been deliberately ignoring the existing threats created by its all-out war against Ukraine, arguing that the risks had already resulted in several aviation incidents in recent years. The formal notification came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned airlines, insurers and businesses using Russian main airports that the country's airspace is now becoming increasingly dangerous as Kiev expands its long-range drone operations. Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation, Zelensky insisted, while warning that the growing scale of Ukrainian drone operations inside Russia meant the risks could no longer be ignored. He said Russian airspace would effectively be closing as the consequences of Moscow's war increasingly returned to Russian territory. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that incidents such as last month's Russian drone sabotage in Germany had become the new normal, marking a further escalation of Russian activity to European Union soil. Speaking alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutter, von der Leyen said Europe must prepare for a new era of European security and urged Europeans to realize that everyday infrastructure have become targets, while Rutter vowed NATO will continue its support for Ukraine. Europeans are faced with the hard truth that this is the new normal. We have to step up and that means being ready to respond to Russia's recklessness faster and better. We must treat our everyday infrastructure as frontline targets and protect them accordingly and we will support any member state Russia targets. If Russia thinks we will be divided by the threat or if they think we will be deterred from supporting Ukraine, they are mistaken. Our unity is unshaken. Our support to Ukraine is clear. On Tuesday, Germany accused Russia of being responsible for the drone attack targeting Leipzig airport last month. EU foreign ministers are expected later this week to announce a, quote, clear response to Russia, including additional sanctions. The EU's diplomatic service presented on Wednesday additional listings targeting 27 Russian individuals and entities involved in the forced deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children. It is not the first time Brussels has targeted those responsible for Russia's illegal mass abduction, deportation and re-education of minors from Ukraine's occupied territories. Several individual listings have already featured in previous sanctions packages. Ukraine has verified the deportation of more than 20,500 children to Russia to date. Yale's humanitarian research lab estimates the number may be closer to 35,000, while Moscow has openly suggested it could be as high as 700,000. Euronews reported earlier that Russia installed occupation authorities in Ukraine's regions, created an online catalogue of Ukrainian children, offering them for coerced adoption through the education department. The minors are reportedly sorted and categorized so users can filter them by age, gender and physical characteristics, such as eye and hair color. It can take years to return one child from Russia after abduction from the beginning of the identification until the return takes place. EU trade chief Marosevkovic has warned that China must deliver concrete results on trade by October or face what he calls harsher measures as Brussels seeks to curb its trade deficit with Beijing. The next two weeks are said to be crucial, with a video call between the EU's trade chief and Chinese counterpart planned for mid-September. If dialogue does not deliver results, the EU could resort to defensive instruments. Marosevkovic will travel to China in October ahead of an EU leaders' summit in Brussels, where the issue is expected to be high on the agenda. The record low water level of Hungary's third largest lake, Lake Valence, has virtually wiped out lakeside tourism here this year. This video was taken in early July, even then the water didn't reach the beachside steps along the shore. By now the situation has gotten even worse. According to data published by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office on Wednesday, guest traffic at local lodging facilities dropped by 20 percent in the first two months of the summer compared to last year. But this doesn't tell the whole story. Previous summers, many used to visit Lake Valence just for a day at the beach, for example from nearby Budapest. This year, very few of them showed up, as our news crew only ran into people walking their dogs in the lakebed, no swimmers. During Euronews' visit, only one restaurant was open at the Gardony beach. The owner did not want to appear on camera, but he said his summer business was practically non-existent. While a few years ago he was constantly making beach food all day long, this year he was lucky to sell a dozen or two pieces a day. Several bars didn't open at all this summer, and their owners can only hope that there will be more water in the lake next year. George Clooney took center stage as the Venice Film Festival opened for its 83rd edition. The 65-year-old director and producer was due to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday evening, but focused his press conference on issues beyond his career. Clooney discussed artificial intelligence, climate change, Hollywood power and the state of journalism. He said the film industry would have to find ways to survive the rise of AI. Jury president Maggie Glyn Hall, for her part, addressed sexism and politics, highlighting the lack of female directors in this year's competition. Stars including Robert Pattinson and Oasis' Nolan Lyam-Gallagher are expected on the red carpet. The festival's lineup also includes films about Gaza, the war in Ukraine and Elon Musk. It opened with Danny Boyle's Inc. about Robert Murdoch's acquisition of the Sun. The festival runs until 12 September.