Latest news with #continentalEurope


The Independent
05-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Holidaymakers urged to be ‘vigilant' as European police crack down on speeding
UK motorists driving in continental Europe this week are being warned to be 'extra vigilant' as police are cracking down on speeding vehicles. The AA issued the advice as forces are carrying out more speed checks this week. The initiative, co-ordinated by traffic police network Roadpol, coincides with the main UK school holiday, which is one of the busiest periods of the year for families driving on the continent. Some forces are focusing their extra speed checks at accident blackspots and in high-risk areas such as near schools and hospitals. Roadpol has not revealed which countries are taking part in the crackdown, but more than 20 European countries participated in a similar operation in April. Edmund King, AA president, said: 'UK drivers taking their cars to Europe this summer need to be extra vigilant and stick to the speed limits. 'Getting caught speeding abroad can be costly and in more extreme cases can mean suspension of your driving licence. 'Some drivers get into holiday mode as soon as they cross the Channel. They relax and sometimes this means not following the speed limits. 'We advise drivers to always stick to the limits but note that European police will be out in force this week targeting speeding drivers.'


The Guardian
17-07-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
How this summer's heatwaves are affecting breeding birds
To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, while one heatwave looks like chance, two – in one month – suggests something more serious is going on. This summer's heatwaves across southern Britain and much of continental Europe have had a mixed effect on breeding birds. Warm, sunny days allow them plenty of time to feed and reduce the risk of their chicks dying in the nest because of spells of cold, wet and windy weather. Yet long periods of very hot and dry weather can be equally harmful: baby birds can overheat, and some insect food can be scarce or hard to reach, especially when the ground bakes hard and dry. In the longer term, if summer droughts become the norm, then some species will suffer, while others will benefit by shifting their ranges further north. A seminal 2021 report from the BTO, Climate Change and the UK's Birds, noted that certain groups of birds – notably seabirds and upland specialists – are already being affected negatively by the climate crisis. And while roughly half of our breeding species don't appear to be affected, we need to continue regular surveys of their populations so ensure that we can try to mitigate any harm. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion In the short term, the RSPB has reminded us to regularly refill our bird baths with clean water, as birds need to drink and bathe during hot weather to keep themselves healthy.