People flee wildfire in Eifel; NATO downs drone over Latvia, Sweden lowers criminal age

A significant wildfire in Germany's Hürtgenwald has forced the evacuation of around 1,800 residents from their homes in the Eifel region. The fire, which broke out Thursday afternoon under unexplained circumstances, advanced to within 200 meters of the Gey district by Friday afternoon, prompting the emergency evacuation decision early Friday morning.

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Around 1,800 people had to leave their homes in the Eifel because of a forest fire.

Firefighting operations are facing considerable challenges. The densely forested area is known to be contaminated with unexploded ordnance from World War II, adding a dangerous layer of risk for emergency crews. Compounding the situation are rising temperatures, with forecasts predicting up to 38 degrees Celsius, which could further fuel the blaze. It remains uncertain if additional districts will require evacuation.

Residents in nearby Düren are experiencing ashfall, and authorities are advising them to stay indoors. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, NATO fighter jets intercepted and shot down a drone over Latvia, a country bordering Russia. Latvian authorities had previously warned citizens near the Russian border about a threat in their airspace.

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The firefighting efforts are difficult because the burning terrain is contaminated with ammunition from the Second World War.

In other news, Sweden is taking steps to address a rise in youth crime, particularly gang-related violence. The Swedish parliament has passed legislation to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 14 years old. This measure aims to combat the recruitment of minors for criminal activities, including violent offenses, as they were previously unable to be incarcerated.

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NATO fighter jets shot down a drone over Latvia.