Aug 13, 2026, 09:30 PM UTC

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius continues to face criticism over the federal government's military procurement strategy. Moritz Schularick, president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), argued that directing defense budgets through 2030 primarily toward traditional hardware, including tanks and naval frigates, risks underfunding cutting-edge military technologies.

The modernization debate unfolds amid shifting domestic political dynamics. The latest Deutschlandtrend survey showed the Alternative for Germany (AfD) expanding its lead over the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, alongside increased voter openness to selective legislative cooperation. Simultaneously, media reviews have examined long-standing compliance challenges within Germany's defense industry, highlighting historical controversies surrounding arms export channels and regulatory oversight.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau

Europe is bracing for another wave of extreme heat, with forecasts predicting temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius for roughly 340 million people across the continent. In the United Kingdom, meteorological authorities issued warnings as temperatures were projected to reach up to 38 degrees Celsius across parts of England.

The heatwave follows months of severe weather that have intensified droughts, lowered critical river levels, and fueled destructive wildfires across multiple regions. According to data from the European climate agency Copernicus, average sea surface temperatures across ice-free oceans reached record highs for July, coinciding with a record-warm June-July period across Europe. Scientists note that the rising frequency and intensity of these heat events remain consistent with broader global warming trends.

Sources: The Guardian, The Local Sweden, Sweden Herald, France24, STV News.

Extreme heat continues to sweep across Southern and Central Europe as multiple nations confront record-breaking temperatures and heightened health risks. In Italy, authorities expanded red weather warnings to cover all 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria, as the country faces its fourth heatwave of the year with temperatures forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius. Health officials confirmed at least four heat-related deaths and advised the public to stay indoors during peak hours.

Meanwhile, meteorological service GeoSphere reported a preliminary all-time temperature record of 40.8 degrees Celsius in northern Vienna, Austria, potentially exceeding the previous benchmark set in 2013. Across Western Europe, nations including France and the United Kingdom are preparing for further high temperatures, compounding ongoing drought conditions and elevated wildfire risks.

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

The Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to grapple with its fastest-spreading Ebola epidemic on record, as official figures confirm that fatalities have exceeded 2,000 and total infections surpass 4,300 cases.

Public health workers report an average of approximately 50 deaths and dozens of new infections daily. The crisis remains heavily concentrated in the northeastern province of Ituri, where persistent militia violence and civilian displacement severely hinder containment and medical response initiatives. Unlike previous outbreaks, the current surge is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccines or targeted therapies exist. More than 700 individuals remain isolated or receiving care in medical facilities as the World Health Organization calls for urgent international mobilization to halt transmission.

Sources: Canarias7, Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, La Vanguardia, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal).

Czechia is facing severe hydrological drought following months of high temperatures and precipitation levels roughly 34 percent below average, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. The prolonged dry spell has depleted surface streams and groundwater reserves across the country.

Basin authority Povodí Vltavy announced that if water levels at the Orlík reservoir drop by another 3.5 metres, emergency water reserves will be drawn from the Slapy reservoir to sustain river flow along the Vltava—an intervention expected only once every 50 years. In several regions, volunteers have mobilised to rescue fish and endangered aquatic species from dried-up riverbeds. Environmental specialists warn that landscape water retention must take priority to stave off desertification threats in vulnerable lowlands, amid mounting public debate over nationwide climate adaptation measures.

Sources: Český rozhlas Plus, Deník N, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Seznam Zprávy.