Phones, sirens and public screens will sound nationwide as authorities assess whether emergency alerts can reach everyone

Millions of people across Germany are due to receive an emergency alert on Thursday as the country conducts a nationwide exercise of the systems intended to protect residents during floods, fires, infrastructure failures and other major crises. The operation will examine not only whether the technology works, but whether warnings can reach people quickly, clearly and without excluding those who depend on older devices, analogue channels or accessible communication.

The exercise, Germany’s sixth nationwide Warning Day, is scheduled to begin at 11:00 local time on 10 September. The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, known as the BBK, will send a central alert through Germany’s Modular Warning System, or MoWaS.

The message should then be distributed through Cell Broadcast, warning applications including NINA and KATWARN, radio and television stations, digital information boards and other connected services. Participating municipalities will also activate local equipment such as sirens and loudspeaker vehicles.

An all-clear is expected at approximately 11:45. Authorities have stressed that the alerts are part of an exercise and do not indicate an actual emergency.

A warning must travel more than one route

Germany’s model is deliberately based on overlapping communication channels. Cell Broadcast can send an alert directly to compatible mobile phones within a specified area without requiring residents to install an application or subscribe to a service. Warning apps can provide more detailed information, while broadcasters and public displays extend the message beyond personal devices.

Sirens retain a distinct role. They can attract attention outdoors, wake people who are sleeping and reach residents whose phones are switched off, incompatible or unavailable. Their weakness is that a sound alone cannot explain the nature of a danger or tell people what action to take. The alert therefore needs to be followed through another channel.

This combination matters because no single technology reaches everyone. Older mobile phones may not receive Cell Broadcast messages. Devices in flight mode or outside network coverage will remain silent. Applications may depend on notification settings and connectivity. Siren coverage, meanwhile, is determined locally and is not uniform across Germany.

The practical question is therefore not whether one system performs perfectly, but whether the different channels compensate for one another when a real emergency disrupts electricity, mobile networks, transport or normal routines.

Strong figures still require scrutiny

The BBK’s preliminary results from the 2025 exercise found that 97 per cent of roughly 93,560 survey participants had received a warning through at least one channel. Cell Broadcast alone reached 75 per cent of respondents.

Those figures suggest substantial progress since the first post-reunification Warning Day in 2020, when technical delays exposed serious weaknesses in the national system. Cell Broadcast entered regular operation in Germany in February 2023 and has since become one of the country’s most important warning tools.

However, an online survey of volunteers should not be treated as proof that 97 per cent of the entire population was reached. People who notice an alert and are comfortable completing an online questionnaire may be more likely to participate. The data are valuable for identifying patterns and faults, but they must be considered alongside technical reports, municipal feedback and the experiences of groups who may be underrepresented.

Reaching people at the margins

An effective warning is not simply one that arrives. It must also be understandable and usable.

Authorities need to consider people with hearing or visual impairments, those with limited German, tourists and recent arrivals, residents of care facilities, people experiencing homelessness and communities with unreliable mobile coverage. A message that depends on sound alone may exclude deaf residents; one that appears only as text may not be sufficient for people with limited literacy or some visual impairments.

Clear language, accessible formats and consistent signals are consequently matters of public safety rather than optional additions. Local institutions, including schools, hospitals, transport operators and care providers, also need procedures for interpreting alerts and helping people who cannot respond independently.

Public confidence is another part of the infrastructure. Repeated exercises can familiarise residents with warning sounds and messages, reducing confusion during an actual crisis. Yet confidence also depends on authorities being candid about missed alerts and correcting identified weaknesses.

Civil protection returns to Europe’s agenda

Germany’s exercise comes as European governments reassess preparedness for increasingly severe weather, cyberattacks, infrastructure disruption and the wider consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine. As The European Times has reported on eastern-flank security, civil protection now sits alongside military readiness in debates about Europe’s resilience.

That broader security setting should not obscure the everyday value of warning systems. The same infrastructure used during a hostile incident may be needed for flash floods, wildfires, chemical accidents or prolonged power failures. Its legitimacy rests on protecting all residents without discrimination and on giving people information they can act upon.

Thursday’s exercise cannot reproduce the fear, damaged networks or incomplete information of a real disaster. It can nevertheless reveal whether an alert moves cleanly from federal authorities through telecommunications providers, broadcasters and municipalities to the public.

The most meaningful result will not be the volume of the sirens or the number of phones that sound at precisely 11:00. It will be what authorities learn from the devices that remain silent and the people the system still struggles to reach.

Record heat, dry soils and low river flows sharpen pressure for fair adaptation

Western Europe has recorded its hottest summer, while August 2026 became the warmest August measured globally, according to new EU climate data. The findings connect exceptional temperatures with record-warm seas, persistent drought and severely depleted rivers, strengthening the case for climate adaptation that protects those most exposed to heat.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service said on Thursday that the global average surface air temperature reached 16.96°C in August. That was 0.85°C above the 1991–2020 average and higher than any previous August in its ERA5 dataset, which extends back to 1940.

Within the precision of the data, August effectively tied July 2023 as the warmest month recorded across the calendar. It was also unusually warmer than July of the same year, reversing the seasonal pattern normally seen in global temperature averages.

A western European record

The regional findings are more complex than the global headline. Europe as a whole experienced its third-warmest summer, behind 2024 and 2022. Western Europe, however, exceeded every previous summer in the record, including the long-standing benchmark set during the deadly heat of 2003.

The average summer temperature across the western European region reached 21.69°C, or 2.54°C above the 1991–2020 norm. France and north-eastern Spain recorded some of the largest seasonal anomalies, while England and other western areas also experienced persistent warmth.

August temperatures across European land averaged 20.26°C, making it the continent’s fourth-warmest August. Large parts of France, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider Balkans were generally between 3°C and 5°C warmer than average. Northern Europe experienced more moderate or slightly cooler conditions, demonstrating that a continental average can conceal sharp regional differences.

Heat combined with water stress

The temperature record arrived alongside evidence of sustained hydrological pressure. Copernicus found exceptionally low soil moisture across many dry areas, even where late-August rainfall offered limited relief.

River flows were below average across much of the continent. Large sections of the Seine, Rhône, Loire and Glomma recorded their lowest summer flows since the hydrological dataset began in 1992. Record-low seasonal conditions also extended along the Danube, Rhine and Vistula.

These conditions carry consequences beyond agriculture. Low rivers can constrain freight transport, electricity generation, industrial cooling and access to water. Dry vegetation and soils also increase the conditions in which wildfires can spread, although the causes and severity of individual fires require separate assessment.

What the 1.5°C figure means

August stood 1.65°C above the estimated average for 1850–1900, the first month above 1.5°C since November 2025. That does not mean the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature limit has been formally breached. The agreement concerns sustained global warming over a much longer period, rather than the result for one month.

The monthly figure nevertheless matters. The average for the 12 months ending in August was 1.48°C above the pre-industrial estimate, showing how little distance remains between recent climate conditions and the level governments pledged to pursue efforts to avoid.

Natural variability also influenced the record. A strong El Niño is developing in the tropical Pacific and can temporarily raise global temperatures. But it is acting on top of a warmer baseline created principally by accumulated greenhouse gas emissions. El Niño can help determine when a record occurs; it does not explain the long-term rise in global temperature.

Oceans offer another warning

Sea surface temperatures outside the polar regions averaged 21.07°C in August, the highest recorded for that month and equal to the warmest monthly ocean average in the dataset. Record August temperatures appeared along Europe’s Atlantic coast and in the western Mediterranean, where marine heatwaves placed additional pressure on ecosystems.

Warmer seas can affect fisheries, marine biodiversity and coastal economies. They also allow the ocean to release more heat into the atmosphere and can increase atmospheric moisture, contributing to the conditions in which intense rainfall develops. The effect on any particular weather event still depends on local atmospheric conditions.

Protection remains unequal

Extreme heat is not experienced equally. The European Climate and Health Observatory identifies older people, children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, people with chronic illnesses and residents of deprived urban areas among those facing elevated risks.

Income can determine whether a household has adequate insulation, ventilation or affordable cooling. Employment conditions shape whether a worker can avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours. Neighbourhood design affects access to shade, vegetation, water and cooler public buildings.

This makes adaptation a question of public health and social rights, not merely infrastructure. Measures already being explored through European urban resilience projects include climate shelters, shaded streets, reflective surfaces, green roofs, restored waterways and public warning systems.

Such projects will remain limited unless they are incorporated into housing policy, workplace protection, health planning and municipal budgets. Authorities also need timely mortality and illness data to judge whether heat plans are reaching the people they are meant to protect.

From records to responsibility

Adaptation cannot replace rapid emissions reductions. More cooling equipment may protect people in an emergency, but poorly designed systems can increase electricity demand and emissions. Cities therefore need a combination of passive building design, trees and shade, efficient cooling, accessible public spaces and cleaner energy.

The latest records do not describe a distant scenario. They document the conditions under which Europeans are already living. The political measure of this summer will be whether governments treat those conditions as an exceptional episode, or as evidence requiring sustained investment in protection, fairness and a faster reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Independent competition at the Scientology Community Centre welcomes dancers from Ireland, England and Germany, bringing traditional and modern Irish dance onto the same stage

KINGNEWSWIRE // PRESS RELEASE // DUBLIN, Ireland, 10 September 2026 — Dancers from Ireland, England and Germany gathered at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin for the inaugural RINCE All Irelands, an independent competition bringing together different organisations, generations and approaches to Irish dance.

Competitors ranged from four years old to over 50 and represented four different Irish dance organisations. The format allowed dancers who might not ordinarily meet within the same competitive structure to share a common floor, while recognising achievement from beginner level through to open championship.

RINCE grew from an initiative created to keep the Irish dance community connected during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“We started as a magazine about Irish dance but were forced to take a break during lockdown,” said Erin Coyle, founder of RINCE. “Instead, we decided to host an online competition to raise money for various food banks. Following its success, we were asked to continue and help keep dancers’ spirits up. From there, our competitions grew in popularity and have since developed into regular events, both online and in person.”

That experience eventually led to RINCE All Irelands, conceived as an independent competition where dancers from different organisational backgrounds could perform together while maintaining the standards and identity of Irish dance.

One of the main features of the Dublin event was the Set Belt competition, which asked championship dancers to demonstrate their command of both modern and traditional forms.

Competitors first performed a modern set, allowing greater freedom in their choice of movements, followed by a traditional set performed according to established standards.

“For me, hosting the Set Belt was one of the most meaningful parts of the event,” Coyle said. “It was amazing to see dancers perform both styles to such a high standard and show how Irish dance can preserve its traditions while continuing to develop and innovate.”

The format reflected a balance familiar to many living cultural traditions: maintaining skills and standards passed down through generations while giving new performers room to develop their own abilities and expression.

Irish dance also places considerable demands on competence. Progress comes through instruction, observation, repeated practice, physical discipline and attention to detail — qualities evident among competitors across the different ages and levels represented in Dublin.

For the Scientology Community Centre, that emphasis on developing ability and recognising accomplishment also reflects principles found in The Way to Happiness, the nonreligious common-sense guide to better living written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Among its 21 precepts is “Be Competent”, which emphasises learning, practice and the development of skill. Other precepts encourage people to set a good example, respect others and contribute constructively to the society around them.

Ivan Arjona, representative of the Church of Scientology to the European Union, OSCE, Council of Europe and United Nations, said the event illustrated how cultural heritage, personal development and respect for diversity can reinforce one another.

“Culture remains alive because people learn it, practise it well and pass it on,” Arjona said. “The precept ‘Be Competent’ from The Way to Happiness is especially relevant to what these dancers are doing: behind every performance are learning, discipline and persistence. And when people from different organisations, generations and countries come together through a shared tradition, they show that cultural identity and respect for diversity can comfortably go hand in hand — something of particular value in today’s Europe.”

The competition also featured a Parade of Champions, recognising winners at every level from Beginner through to Open Championship.

Organisers said the opportunity to acknowledge dancers across the full competitive spectrum was particularly well received, giving younger and developing competitors a visible place alongside experienced championship performers.

The event was organised with the support of volunteers Grace Noblet, Sarah Angus, Colette McCann and Jamie Dunne, who contributed to its preparation and delivery.

Coyle also highlighted the practical support provided by the Scientology Community Centre, where she had previously organised another event.

“This was my second event at the Scientology Community Centre, and both times the planning and the event itself have gone extremely smoothly,” she said. “In the weeks beforehand, the team worked through everything we needed, from lighting and tables to the presentation of the results. When I walked into the venue on the day, everything was ready to go, which took away so much of the stress involved in running an event.”

The Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin opened in 2017 as a place for Scientology religious services and as a venue for cultural, educational, charitable and community activities.

Its facilities have provided a meeting place for organisations and initiatives from across Dublin, reflecting Hubbard’s view that Scientology churches should contribute positively to the communities in which they operate and provide space for constructive cooperation.

Asia Kuzma, Public Relations Officer at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin, said RINCE represented the kind of activity the Centre was pleased to accommodate.

“RINCE brought together children, adults, families and dancers from different organisations around something that requires dedication and creates genuine connections between people,” Kuzma said. “Irish dance shows how cultural heritage can remain strong without becoming static. Each generation develops its abilities, learns from what came before and then carries that tradition forward.”

At RINCE All Irelands, the emphasis remained on culture, accomplishment and participation.

From four-year-old beginners taking some of their earliest competitive steps to experienced dancers performing at championship level, the event presented Irish dance as a living tradition sustained not simply by preserving what came before, but by continuing to learn, practise, compete and pass those skills to others.

By bringing dancers together across organisational and national boundaries, the inaugural RINCE All Irelands also demonstrated how a shared cultural tradition can provide common ground while allowing participants to retain the identities and traditions they bring with them.

About the Church of Scientology in Europe

The Church of Scientology, its churches, missions, groups and members are present throughout the European continent. Founded by L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology supports educational and humanitarian initiatives in areas including human rights education, drug prevention, moral education, volunteer assistance and community betterment. These include The Way to Happiness, human rights education programmes, the Truth About Drugs initiative and the work of Scientology Volunteer Ministers.

Recognition of Scientology as a religion and, in a number of jurisdictions, within charitable, religious or public-benefit frameworks has continued to grow under Europe’s differing national legal systems, alongside an established network of churches, missions and groups committed to education, prevention and community betterment.

Brussels wants simpler tenders, stronger quality standards and greater preference for European suppliers

The European Commission has proposed a sweeping rewrite of the rules governing public contracts across the European Union. The Public Procurement Act would consolidate the existing framework, create a connected digital marketplace and give greater weight to quality, labour standards and supply resilience. Yet its success will depend on whether simplification increases competition without weakening transparency or national social protections.

Presented on Wednesday, 9 September, the reform concerns the public money spent on services and infrastructure ranging from hospitals and schools to transport, energy systems and urban development. According to the Commission, public procurement represents approximately 15% of EU gross domestic product.

The legislation remains a proposal. It must be negotiated and approved by the European Parliament and the Council before it can enter into force.

One regulation in place of three directives

At the centre of the Public Procurement Act proposal is a plan to repeal the three principal directives adopted in 2014 and gather procurement rules currently scattered across numerous sector-specific laws into one directly applicable regulation.

The Commission argues that this would make the system more consistent across the single market. Directives require national governments to transpose EU requirements into domestic law, which can produce significant differences in interpretation and implementation. A regulation would apply more uniformly, although national authorities would continue to organise and manage their own purchasing.

The proposal would reduce the number of principal procurement procedures from five to three. It would also give public buyers more scope to consult markets and negotiate with potential suppliers, bringing some procedures closer to purchasing practices in the private sector.

A dedicated innovation procedure would allow authorities to develop and acquire solutions that are not yet commercially available. This could be especially relevant for healthcare, clean transport, energy efficiency and digital public services, where authorities may need technology that existing catalogues cannot provide.

A connected digital marketplace

Brussels also wants national electronic procurement systems to become interoperable parts of a European digital marketplace. A company registered on one connected platform should eventually be able to find opportunities and submit bids across the EU without repeatedly supplying the same documents.

The Commission says automatic checks and a common framework for procurement data could reduce administrative costs by an estimated €650 million annually. It expects approximately €80 million of those savings to benefit public buyers and €570 million to benefit businesses.

That promise matters particularly for smaller companies. Complex documentation and differing national systems can make bidding for public work disproportionately expensive for small and medium-sized enterprises, even when they are capable of delivering the contract.

Digitalisation, however, will not remove every obstacle. Smaller suppliers will still need accessible procedures, proportionate financial requirements and contracts divided into manageable lots. Authorities will also need adequate staffing and technical skills to use the new system effectively.

Moving beyond the cheapest offer

The proposal would make the best price-quality ratio the default method for awarding contracts. Quality criteria would normally account for at least 30% of an evaluation, rising to 50% for labour-intensive contracts.

Those criteria could cover environmental performance, innovation, security, resilience and social considerations. Contracting authorities could depart from the proposed weighting under an “apply or explain” mechanism if they demonstrate that quality is protected through other requirements.

This change addresses a persistent concern that public authorities interpret procurement rules as requiring them to choose the lowest initial price. Cheap contracts can prove costly when they produce poor construction, unreliable services, repeated delays or employment conditions that make it difficult to retain skilled workers.

The European Trade Union Confederation welcomed the proposal’s recognition of collective bargaining but called for stronger mandatory social conditions. It also warned that replacing directives with a regulation must not prevent countries or local authorities from maintaining protections that exceed EU minimum standards.

That concern will be central during negotiations. Simplification can reduce unnecessary paperwork, but broadly worded flexibility can also weaken oversight if authorities are not required to document decisions, disclose conflicts of interest and monitor subcontracting chains.

European preference with legal limits

The Act would establish a horizontal framework allowing public buyers to consider a European preference. It would clarify which suppliers and products are protected by the EU’s international procurement commitments and allow restrictions in defined circumstances.

The Commission could intervene where a third country has not provided European companies with fair access to its procurement market, or where dependence on a narrow group of foreign suppliers creates risks to supply security or the EU’s economic interests.

This is not an automatic requirement for authorities to buy only European goods. Any preference would have to respect international commitments and the specific rules ultimately approved by Parliament and the Council. The distinction matters as the EU debates how to support domestic production without replacing open competition with protected markets.

The proposal nevertheless marks a significant change in industrial policy. It gives public purchasing a more prominent role in the wider discussion about European industry and competition from China, particularly in sectors where subsidised production or unequal market access can place EU suppliers at a disadvantage.

Competition remains the harder problem

Simpler rules alone do not guarantee more bidders. A European Court of Auditors investigation found that competition for public contracts declined between 2011 and 2021. The share of procedures attracting only one bidder rose from 23.5% to 41.8%, while the average number of bidders fell from 5.7 to 3.2.

The auditors identified bureaucracy, restrictive criteria, specifications tailored too narrowly and market concentration among the causes. They also found that the 2014 reforms had not produced a measurable improvement in SME participation.

The new Act therefore carries several objectives that may pull in different directions. Authorities are expected to simplify procedures, increase competition, favour quality, strengthen European supply chains and advance environmental and social policy. Each objective can be justified, but combining them will require clear guidance and careful oversight.

The eventual measure of the reform will not be the number of pages removed from the rulebook. It will be whether more responsible businesses can compete, whether workers’ rights and environmental standards are protected, and whether citizens receive better public services for the money spent in their name.