Oct 7, 2026, 04:30 AM UTC

Extreme heat continues across Europe as Italy enters its fourth summer heatwave, prompting health authorities to issue red weather alerts for all 27 major cities. Temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius are expected to persist for another week, with four recent heat-related deaths reported in Italy.

Meanwhile, Austria registered its highest temperature on record at 40.8 degrees Celsius near Vienna. In France, health officials reported over 7,300 excess deaths between May and July following 52 days of heatwave conditions across three distinct periods. The United Kingdom and France are preparing for further extreme heat alongside severe drought and wildfire risks.

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

A vote recount in Berlin's Spandau district following a data transmission error has transferred a direct parliamentary seat from Christian Democratic Union candidate Bettina Meißner to Tommy Tabor of the Alternative for Germany (AfD). The corrected tally eliminated balancing mandates, reducing the overall size of the Abgeordnetenhaus by five seats.

The election results highlight broader political realignments across Berlin. Recent polling by Forsa placed Die Linke in the lead with 22 percent of the vote, driven significantly by strong support among younger demographics. Meanwhile, voter participation among residents with a migration background remains noticeably lower, particularly in districts such as Neukölln. Despite lower overall turnout, some young voters of Turkish origin expressed support for the AfD, citing concerns over public safety, economic stability, and dissatisfaction with centrist parties.

Sources: Correctiv, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau, Die Zeit

Hungarian Transport Minister Dávid Vitézy announced that a private equity fund associated with businessman Lőrinc Mészáros has reimbursed 2.27 billion forints (€5.7 million) to the state. The reimbursement follows a review of a 64.5 billion forint transaction concluded under former minister János Lázár concerning three electronic toll management companies.

Following the financial recovery, government investigators expanded their probe into historic toll infrastructure deals, turning their focus toward IT entrepreneur Gábor Emőri. Emőri’s companies developed and operated key components of the national electronic toll system over a 12-year period. State auditors are currently evaluating past procurement agreements to determine whether additional public funds can be reclaimed from previous contracts.

Sources: 444, HVG, Telex.

Forensic experts in Kosovo have initiated DNA testing to identify the remains of at least 23 individuals exhumed from three locations in the northern municipality of Zubin Potok. The field excavations, conducted by Kosovo's Governmental Commission on Missing Persons alongside international authorities, officially concluded on August 21.

Following the exhumations, the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) is leading the multi-stage laboratory analysis. Western Balkans ICMP head Samira Krehiq emphasized that locating the site is merely the initial phase of a complex procedure. Laboratory technicians will extract genetic profiles from the recovered bone samples and cross-reference them with DNA database entries provided by families of individuals missing from the 1998–1999 Kosovo conflict.

Sources: Gazeta Tema, Koha.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced during a cabinet meeting that the nation's 2027 budget will be passed on schedule, promising a realistic framework to guarantee economic stability as Bulgaria returns to a "normal political cycle." Radev urged parliament to focus on upcoming administrative and judicial reforms.

Concurrently, Radev's ruling Progressive Bulgaria party submitted its nominations for the Supreme Judicial Council's parliamentary quota, asserting that its candidates fulfill recently updated legal standards and possess high academic and practical judicial qualifications.

However, scrutiny over Progressive Bulgaria's internal structure continues. Four months after its election victory, media reports indicate that while a small group of experienced representatives manages public relations, most of the party's 131 lawmakers remain virtually unknown to the public, acting primarily as passive voters under Radev's central leadership.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV.