Background: A severe heatwave has been gripping Europe, with Italy expanding red alerts to nearly all major cities and wildfires raging across Greece, France, Portugal, and Spain. New development: The heatwave has intensified, placing all 27 Italian cities on red alert for the first time this year. Austria and Slovakia set new national temperature records (41.2°C and 42.2°C respectively). Low water levels in the Danube and Vistula rivers forced shutdowns or output reductions at hydroelectric and coal-fired plants in Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland, removing over 1.3GW of capacity. Hungary's Paks nuclear plant cut output to 10%, prompting emergency conservation measures. Germany reported an estimated 11,900 heat-related deaths this summer, and wildfires have burned about 500,000 hectares in the EU. The extreme conditions are straining infrastructure and public health across the continent. Latest: The heatwave has now placed all 27 monitored Italian cities on red alert, the first time this year the entire network is under the highest warning. Austria recorded an all-time high of 41.2°C in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, and Slovakia set a new national record of 42.2°C in Dolne Plachtince. Slovakia's Gabčíkovo hydroelectric plant shut down seven of eight turbines due to low Danube water levels, cutting output 15% year-on-year. Hungary reduced output at its Paks nuclear plant to about 10% and introduced emergency conservation measures, including banning freight trains during peak hours and switching off decorative lighting. Poland shut down two coal-fired plants (Kozienice and Połaniec) due to low Vistula water levels, removing 1.3GW. Germany reported an estimated 11,900 heat-related deaths this summer, and low Rhine water levels are raising freight costs. Wildfires have burned about 500,000 hectares in the EU and 292,000 hectares in Ukraine. Romania prepared to sink barges into the Danube to divert water to its reactor, and Piedmont declared a drought emergency.

Background: Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) had previously reported nearly 9,800 heat-related deaths up to July 19, 2026, with most occurring during the late-June heatwave. Today: The RKI has revised its estimate for the late-June heatwave (June 22-28) upward to 9,600 deaths, up from over 5,000, bringing the season total through July 26 to 11,900—exceeding any full year since 2016. The majority of victims were aged 85 and older, with over 6,000 deaths in that age group, nearly 3,000 among those 75-84, and about 1,800 among those 65-74. The revision follows updated data and highlights the unprecedented intensity of the heatwave, with average weekly temperatures reaching 26.4°C, far above the 20°C threshold for heat-related mortality. June 2026 was the second warmest on record, and the night of June 27-28 was the warmest ever recorded. Health organizations, including the German Medical Association and over 80 European health groups, are intensifying calls for stronger heat protection measures, and the government is considering a national heat action plan.

Background: A suspected Russian influence operation, linked to the 'Matryoshka' campaign, has been boosting the far-right AfD ahead of regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and expanded to target Berlin's state election candidates with fake videos. Today's development: New reports reveal that the Kremlin-linked Social Design Agency (SDA) is targeting candidates in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Berlin ahead of September local elections, using fake videos that falsely accuse politicians of sexual offences, sparing only the AfD and BSW. Leaked SDA documents, assessed as authentic by Berlin authorities, outline objectives to deepen internal rifts in NATO countries, stimulate protests, and destabilize electorates, with Germany as the primary target due to its support for Ukraine. The SDA also plans a Wikipedia clone and a think tank for 2026 to promote Russian narratives, and has developed detailed KPIs, counting any media coverage as success. Additionally, the SDA plans to monitor French opposition figures and launch a French-language 'AI News' project.

Background: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has faced low approval ratings and internal party criticism, including a botched cabinet reshuffle and a lack of support from his home state association, the NRW CDU, with NRW premier Hendrik Wüst remaining quiet. Today's development: Ahead of September regional elections in eastern Germany, where the far-right AfD could take power for the first time, there is increasingly open discussion within the CDU of a 'Kanzlertausch' (chancellor swap) to replace Merz. NRW premier Hendrik Wüst has emerged as the most likely successor, and the scenario has been widely covered in German media, including a Der Spiegel cover story. Conservative politicians confirmed the internal debate, citing declining trust in Merz's statesmanship and fears he cannot keep the party together if the AfD wins. Polls show the AfD could win an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6 and perform well in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin on Sept. 20. Some CDU politicians in the east might support an AfD-led state government, breaking Merz's pledge. A swap would be rare in postwar Germany, with only three precedents, and could trigger a snap election. CSU leader Markus Söder publicly backed Merz, warning that a swap would throw conservatives into disarray and could bring radicals to power. Merz's approval rating stands at 13%, the lowest for a sitting chancellor in nearly 30 years, while the AfD leads national polls with 28% support.

On August 6, 2026, the Munich Higher Regional Court sentenced Farhad N., a 25-year-old Afghan national, to life imprisonment with a finding of particular gravity of guilt for the February 2025 car-ramming attack on a Verdi trade union demonstration in Munich. The attack killed a 37-year-old mother and her two-year-old child, injured over 40 people, and resulted in convictions for two counts of murder, 23 counts of attempted murder, and additional counts of bodily harm. The court determined the attack was religiously motivated, with the perpetrator seeking to avenge situations in Islamic countries and prove himself as a good Muslim. The sentence matched the federal prosecutor's demand; the defense had sought 15 years and psychiatric placement.

German defense company Rheinmetall lowered its 2026 sales outlook to €13.7-14.2 billion from €14.0-14.5 billion after the German government canceled a delayed frigate program the company was expected to win. The cancellation caused a €300 million hit to its naval division. Rheinmetall also cut its order book guidance to over €100 billion from roughly €135 billion and lowered capital expenditure targets to 8%-9% of sales from 16%. Despite the downgrade, the company reported nearly 70% growth in second-quarter sales to about €3.3 billion and remains on track for record growth, with CEO Armin Papperger reaffirming naval ambitions including the Luerssen acquisition and potential German Naval Yards Kiel purchase. Shares fell as much as 4% before paring losses to trade 1.2% down.

Siemens reported its highest-ever quarterly industrial profit of 3.52 billion euros, up 25% year-over-year, driven by strong demand for AI data centers, industrial AI products, and automation from electronics and semiconductor makers. The company raised its full-year profit guidance and noted triple-digit order growth from data center providers, working with nine of the top ten largest providers. Despite the results, shares fell 5.2% after a strong run-up. The company also agreed with German tax authorities on tax-free treatment for the planned Siemens Healthineers spin-off distribution.

German intelligence agency BND failed to respond for four months to a request from Berlin prosecutors for information about the IS contacts of Abdul B., who later carried out an attack near the CSD parade. The delay prevented a potential escalation to a terrorism trial under the federal prosecutor, raising concerns about intelligence-sharing and the handling of the case.