REHN said the ECB must remain vigilant on the inf outlook.

Parts of England have been declared in severe drought for the first time since 1995 after record summer heat and months of below-average rainfall, leaving reservoir levels well below seasonal norms. The government raised drought status to the highest level in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex and instructed the Environment Agency to prioritise public water supply over environmental needs where necessary, allowing water companies to retain more reservoir volume. Extreme heat has sparked wildfires and crop damage; rising demand, together with existing network leaks and supply interruptions, has increased pressure on water systems. Household supply has not been cut, but some areas face hosepipe bans; ministers have ordered daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels and stepped-up checks on water abstraction.

Oct. 16 — China's Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Chen Xi said Beijing will take firm resolve and strong action to curb any acts that disturb the South China Sea, reiterating Beijing's claim of indisputable sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal and Spratly features including Zhongye Island, Xianbin Reef and Ren'ai Reef. Chen's remarks responded to Philippine media and military claims that Manila has repeatedly faced provocations around those features and that Philippine forces detected more than 100 Chinese warships and coast guard vessels in September; China accused the Philippines of colluding with outside forces, spreading false narratives and acting as a destabilising factor, and said it would act to safeguard regional peace and stability.