Europe

The French government has activated the “Orsec extreme heat plan” for nine departments due to a persistent heatwave, with red alerts extended to 24 areas, including Ile-de-France. This unprecedented measure is aimed at protecting vulnerable populations amid increasing wildfires, which have already burned twice as much land as last year.

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Jamie Shea, former NATO security adviser, articulates a shift towards NATO 3.0, emphasising it will predominantly be “a European show” rather than an American-led initiative. He notes the US is expected to play a reduced role in collective defence, diverging from its historical influence during the Cold War.

A court in Mali has sentenced a French embassy official to 20 years in prison on charges of espionage and undermining state security. The official, detained since August 2025, faces a €5,400 fine and a ban on entering Mali, escalating tensions between the military-led government and France.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy extended an invitation for a direct meeting with Vladimir Putin, proposing a “full ceasefire” in an open letter. This marks a rare direct appeal since Russia’s invasion in 2022, aiming to resolve the conflict through personal engagement.

Austrian protesters blocked the Brenner Pass on Saturday to demand action against rising traffic noise and pollution. Authorities closed the vital highway from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, although traffic disruptions were less severe than anticipated, according to early reports. Local leaders seek urgent infrastructure reform.

Football fans clashed in Budapest ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final, with local police reporting fights involving supporters of Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal. The Budapest Police have launched a criminal investigation for violent disorder and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify further individuals involved in the altercations.

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