Italy
In the southeastern province of Şırnak, Turkey, a new temperature record for continental Europe was recorded — 50. 5 °C, surpassing the previous maximum of 48.8 °C set in Sicily in 2021. Extreme heat has gripped 31 provinces of Turkey, where temperatures significantly exceed seasonal norms.
On July 26, Italian airports will be paralyzed due to mass strikes, affecting Ryanair, EasyJet, Volotea, and Wizz Air. Strikes will also take place in Spain and Portugal, intensifying chaos for travelers.
Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak held meetings with representatives of the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and France. Issues of security, reforms, the peace process, military cooperation, and the exchange of 1200 prisoners of war from each side were discussed.
Chinese automaker Zeekr, part of the Geely group, plans to expand its operations in the EU despite the imposed tariffs. The company is preparing to enter the markets of Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Spain within the next 12-24 months.
The European Commission has sent warning letters to 18 EU member states for failing to notify the full implementation of the Directive on criminalizing the violation of EU restrictive measures. Countries have two months to respond and complete implementation.
The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association called for additional incentives for electric vehicles after the largest drop in new car sales in 10 months in June. New EV registrations fell by 5.1% to 1.24 million, indicating a slowdown in demand growth.
In the Shostka district of Sumy region, 30-year-old senior sapper-operator Oleh Petrenko died during humanitarian demining. An enemy FPV drone detonated, causing fatal injuries to the sapper, who is survived by his wife and two-year-old son.
In the province of Brescia, Italy, a small plane crashed onto a highway, causing an explosion. A 75-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman, who were on board, died.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko will hold a meeting with G7 ambassadors in August to discuss the Special Tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The Verkhovna Rada must adopt changes regarding in absentia proceedings and war crimes to harmonize legislation with the EU.
The 2025 Venice Film Festival will take place from August 27 to September 9, presenting new works by famous directors and actors. Among the premieres are Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein", Yorgos Lanthimos' "Bugonia" and Paolo Sorrentino's "Grace", as well as Netflix films.
A number of countries issued a joint statement, calling on Israel to cease hostilities in the Gaza Strip due to the suffering of the civilian population. The Israeli Prime Minister's advisor called this statement a "delusion" that sends Hamas a "wrong and dangerous signal" because it does not pressure the group.
The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine welcomes the decision of the Italian palace Reggia di Caserta to cancel the concert of Russian conductor Valery Gergiev. The decision was supported by the Minister of Culture of Italy, Alessandro Giuli, calling it logical and moral.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine plans to open over 10 new consular offices by the end of the year, including in Romania, Iraq, Italy, Germany, Slovakia, France, and Poland. Consulates in Antalya and Gdansk will receive general consulate status.
The body of former Ukrainian Interior Ministry official Ihor Hrushevskyi was found in Barcelona. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, death occurred as a result of drowning.
July 20 marks International Moon Day in honor of the Apollo 11 landing in 1969, and Metallurgist's Day, a professional holiday for workers in the metallurgical and mining industries. Also on this day, International Cake Day, World Jump Day, International Chess Day, and St. Elijah the Prophet's Day are celebrated.
Taisiia Onofriichuk won a bronze medal in the individual all-around at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup stage in Milan. She also qualified for all four finals, which will take place on July 20.
A large-scale anti-corruption investigation is underway in Milan, involving over 70 individuals, including Mayor Giuseppe Sala and leading developers. Suspicions of non-transparent schemes could shake investor confidence in the Milan real estate market.
A selection of TV series about magic, sorcerers, and mysterious worlds, perfect for weekend viewing. Discover stories about witches, wizard farmers, and secret orders.
The average duration of working life in the EU in 2024 is 37. 2 years, with notable differences between countries. The Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark lead with indicators of over 42 years, while Romania, Italy, and Croatia have the lowest indicators.
Austrian extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner died on July 17 in Italy during a paragliding flight. The 56-year-old athlete lost control and crashed into a hotel complex's swimming pool, which led to cardiac arrest.
Law enforcement agencies from over ten European countries, Canada, and the USA conducted a joint operation "Eastwood" against the NoName057(16) network. As a result, over a hundred computer systems were destroyed and seven arrest warrants were issued, including for six Russian citizens.
The Ukrainian national volleyball team defeated the Netherlands with a score of 3:2, securing its place in the Nations League for the next season. This victory also allowed the team to continue fighting for a spot in the playoffs.
US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with NATO on arming Ukraine. Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, the Baltic states, the Netherlands, Canada, and Great Britain supported the initiative, while the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia refused.
Yulia Navalnaya called on the Italian authorities to cancel the concert of conductor Valery Gergiev, scheduled for July 2025 in Reggia di Caserta, due to his support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Gergiev, who supported the annexation of Crimea and the full-scale war, is under sanctions from Ukraine, Canada, and some EU countries.
The end of the duty-free trade agreement with the EU will cost Ukraine about 1 billion euros in losses. Denys Marchuk noted that the statements of some EU countries about the harm of Ukrainian agricultural products are often based on myths.
US President Donald Trump threatens to impose 30% tariffs on European goods from August 1, which, according to the EU's chief negotiator with the US, Maroš Šefčovič, will "practically ban" transatlantic trade. The EU has postponed the introduction of retaliatory tariffs on American goods until August 1 and is discussing further countermeasures.
The Ukrainian government concluded 200 agreements worth over 13 billion euros at the Recovery Conference in Rome. The funds will be directed towards strengthening air defense, restoring infrastructure, housing, medicine, and supporting IDPs.
This summer, a health and psychological camp for children from Ukraine took place in an Italian resort town. The "Save Childhood" camp became a safe space for psychological rehabilitation, emotional recovery, and full-fledged recreation.
As of early 2025, the EU population exceeded 450 million, an increase of 1. 07 million over the year. The growth is driven by migration after the COVID-19 pandemic, although the overall growth rate is slowing down.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced agreements on strengthening air defense and additional investments in weapons production following the Ukraine Recovery Conference. The event also became a platform for strengthening the Defense Forces and developing weapons production.