Aug 11, 2026, 03:30 PM UTC

Southern and central European countries face severe conditions as a fourth summer heatwave extends across the continent. Italian health authorities issued red warnings for 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria, as temperatures approaching 40°C persist and health officials report at least four heat-related deaths. Citizens have been advised to stay indoors during peak daylight hours.

Concurrently, Austria recorded a preliminary national record temperature of 40.8°C in northern Vienna, topping the previous high set in 2013. Rising heat levels continue to affect France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, where emergency services are preparing for heightened wildfire risks and worsening drought conditions following unusually warm weather across the region.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG (Verdens Gang)

The Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has surpassed 2,000 deaths, reaching 2,011 fatalities among 4,381 confirmed cases, according to health authorities. It stands as the largest outbreak in the country's history and the second-largest globally.

Health officials report that transmission is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. Containment efforts in the heavily impacted Ituri province face severe disruptions from ongoing militia attacks and population displacements. Furthermore, health agencies highlight that this epidemic is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccines or targeted treatments currently exist. Over 700 patients remain hospitalized or isolated as international health organizations urge immediate intervention.

Sources: Canarias7, Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, La Vanguardia, RTP.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent press conference in Belgrade, where he reiterated Kyiv’s policy of not recognizing Kosovo’s independence, has sparked strong backlash in Pristina. In response, a massive Ukrainian banner displayed on Pristina's Grand Hotel since the start of Russia’s 2022 invasion was removed.

Despite Kosovo's consistent support for Ukraine, including adopting Western sanctions against Moscow, Zelenskyy affirmed during his Serbia visit that Ukraine's official diplomatic position on Kosovo remains unchanged. Kosovar officials and regional politicians expressed deep disappointment over the remarks. Pristina's mayor stated on social media that while empathy for nations facing war remains intact, Kosovar statehood and sacrifice must be respected. Criticism also emerged from Albania, highlighting the diplomatic tension caused by Kyiv's ongoing effort to balance relations with Serbia.

Sources: Beta, Klix, Rzeczpospolita, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда

Dutch wholesale electricity prices have nearly doubled to between €150 and €200 per megawatt-hour, driven by drought-induced cooling water shortages at power plants in Eastern Europe. The price increase primarily impacts consumers on dynamic tariffs.

Concurrently, the United Nations World Food Programme warned that climate disruptions caused by El Niño, including severe heatwaves, floods, and droughts, could leave an additional 50 million people facing acute food insecurity by late 2027.

Meanwhile, scrutiny has mounted over Dutch environmental regulations targeting fast fashion. Critics report that manufacturers are fulfilling extended producer responsibility mandates by paying minimal administrative fees per garment rather than investing in meaningful circular recycling initiatives.

Sources: NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting), NRC, NU

Water levels along major Western European waterways continue to drop amid persistent drought, reaching historic lows at several measuring stations along the Rhine. Hydrological authorities reported record-low levels in Cologne and at Kaub, where water reached its lowest point since 1880.

Forecasters from the Baden-Württemberg Low Water Information Center expect no immediate relief, warning that levels across critical gauge stations—including Düsseldorf, Duisburg-Ruhrort, and Emmerich—will fall further in the coming days.

The severe dry spell poses a growing threat to commercial navigation. The Federal Association of German Inland Navigation warned that bottlenecks along the middle section of the Rhine could soon prevent continuous shipping, effectively dividing Germany's main inland waterway into two separate routes.

Sources: DW, FAZ, Der Spiegel, Der Standard, Tagesschau