Central Europe

Central Europe is experiencing extreme temperatures, with Slovakia and Austria recording their highest temperatures ever. Both countries have set new record highs.

Retired US judges Michael P Donnelly and Robert F Orr joined a bus tour with legal professionals to advocate for the rule of law. They were inspired by colleagues who visited Warsaw and reported on challenges faced by Central European judges and lawyers, including surveillance, prosecution, and imprisonment for resisting political interference in courts.

The Danube River has reached record-low water levels due to a prolonged drought and heat wave in Central Europe, disrupting tourism and industry. In Budapest, the river's level dropped to 23 cm, forcing cruise ships to dock farther upriver and halting cargo operations. A Viking cruise ship ran aground near Bulgaria’s Vidin, stranding 186 tourists, though the company denied reports of food or water shortages.

Europe is preparing for an increased risk of wildfires, with Greece, Italy, and parts of central Europe identified as the most vulnerable regions in the coming weeks by officials.

The extreme heat affecting Western Europe is easing, while Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland and the Czech Republic, are preparing for continued dangerous heat conditions.

German highways are buckling due to extreme heat as a heat wave moving from western Europe affects central and eastern parts of the continent.

Scientists confirm that the current European heat wave is the worst on record and could not have occurred without human-driven climate change. The event is 500 times more likely now than in 1976, with temperatures in Western and Central Europe reaching near or above 40°C. Analysis shows climate change intensified daytime and nighttime heat, making extreme conditions 10-100 times more likely than in 2003.

President Trump announced the U.S. will send 5,000 additional troops to Poland, reversing a Pentagon decision to cancel a planned 4,000-troop deployment. The move comes after GOP lawmakers expressed frustration over the administration's handling of the Central European military rotation.

The first gathering of Sudeten Germans in Czechia since World War II is scheduled to take place this weekend in Brno, despite significant political opposition. The event has sparked controversy and exposed ongoing tensions related to Central Europe's complex historical legacy from the war period.

Scientists have uncovered new details about Bronze Age life in Central Europe by studying rare burials. The research reveals communities experimenting with new foods and cultural connections. These findings provide insight into life 3,000 years ago.