France
Record heat in the EU will result in losses of €180 billion, equivalent to 1% of GDP. Labour productivity and agriculture will be hit hardest.
In France, Ukrainian rescuers extinguished a forest fire covering 1 hectare that threatened a populated area. Six tanker trucks and 3 French aircraft were involved in extinguishing the fire.
June and July were the hottest in Western Europe since records began, with an average temperature of 21. 62 degrees. The world's oceans also warmed to record levels, while heat and drought are intensifying each other.
French police detained 420 people, 166 of them minors, on suspicion of setting forest fires. Most of the fires are considered accidental, caused by sparks from construction work or cigarette butts.
The four countries condemned Russia's military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, calling it a threat to stability. They warned of a response in the event of a full-scale annexation of the region.
The Financial Times reports that Ukraine is a "complex dilemma" for the EU: its army is valuable, but corruption and other issues raise concerns. Brussels is considering reforming the accession process, proposing phased integration.
Bugatti has created the exclusive Destrier hypercar as a one-off. The car features a 1,578-hp W16 engine and a design that harkens back to the legendary Type 57SC Atlantic.
Italy has declared the highest level of danger due to the heat in all 27 monitored cities for the first time this year. The heat has caused records in Austria, fires in France, and energy problems in Hungary.
Ukrainian rescuers are working in French villages affected by large-scale forest fires. They compare the destroyed houses to the aftermath of Russian shelling in Ukraine.
At Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport, a drone with an explosive device was found near an aircraft operated by a Ukrainian airline that was transporting military ammunition. Authorities are investigating the incident as possible sabotage, not ruling out the involvement of foreign forces.
A law that completely bans unsolicited marketing calls without consumers’ prior consent will come into force in France next week. This is a response to years of complaints, as around three-quarters of the population receive such calls every week.
The partial solar eclipse on August 12 will lead to a reduction in solar power generation in the EU by nearly 9,700 MW. No disruptions to electricity supplies are expected, as the eclipse will occur after the production peak.
Ukrainian emergency responders rescued a roe deer while extinguishing a forest fire in France. The animal was given water, calmed down, and taken to volunteers.
French authorities have uncovered the Storm-1516 network, linked to the GRU, which created a fake website to discredit Raphaël Glucksmann. The network is accused of 205 disinformation operations in Europe.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze accused NATO of deceiving Ukraine and Georgia with promises about membership. Deputy Committee Chairman Tornike Pagava suggested a shift to a multi-vector policy in case the Alliance refuses.
In the village of Le Porge in southern France, a forest fire revealed a cache of 400 old shells and ammunition from World War II. Local authorities closed some areas to visitors.
In July, Belgium imported 0. 4 million tons of LNG from Russia, becoming completely dependent on it. This complicates the EU's energy policy, which plans a full ban on Russian gas next year.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Victoria Lialina-Boiko as the permanent representative of Ukraine to UNESCO. Vadym Omelchenko was dismissed from this position concurrently.
French rivers are experiencing the most critical drought in the entire observation period. 1,373 watercourses have been affected due to cessation of flow or complete drying up.
President Zelenskyy, at a meeting of diplomats on July 3, emphasized the need to strengthen international support through media. He also called on diplomats to better know the languages and culture of the host countries.
Forest fires in Europe caused damages of 3. 1 billion euros for just five eurozone countries. The real losses could be significantly higher due to property damage and tourism disruptions.
The Telegraph reports that the departure of Keir Starmer and the inability of Emmanuel Macron to run in the next elections create a leadership vacuum in the "coalition of the willing. " This could lead to a change in Europe's support for Ukraine, especially given the possible rise in influence of pro-Russian candidates.
A combined unit of the State Emergency Service arrived in the Gironde department to eliminate a large-scale forest fire. Ukrainian specialists will work in the most difficult areas, representing the largest international team.
In Greece, two helicopters collided while extinguishing fires, killing two people. One deceased had Greek citizenship, the other — Romanian.
President Zelensky stated that Ukrainian pilots are training in Sweden, and soon "Gripens" will appear in the sky. Work with France on the supply of "Rafale" fighters is ongoing.
The Château Miraval winery in southeastern France has been threatened by massive forest fires. The estate was owned by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who are in litigation over its sale.
Italy has suspended the Schengen Agreement with Spain for a month due to the massive influx of migrants to Ceuta. France is also tightening control on the border with Spain, mobilizing police and drones.
SBU and GUR took fourth place in the ranking of European intelligence services by L'Express, scoring 77 points. Experts noted the ingenuity of Ukrainian intelligence services and their complex operations.
At least 57 people died trying to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, after about 50,000 migrants entered this territory from Morocco.
António Costa approved Spain's decisive actions to return migrants in Ceuta. The escalation of the migration crisis led to the death of at least 57 people.