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As Europe swelters under a record-breaking heatwave, the European Union has declined to take a stance on air conditioning, saying it is not for the bloc to micromanage how people cool their homes. The debate has become highly political in France, where far-right leader Marine Le Pen calls for a mass subsidised roll-out, while hard-left rival Jean-Luc Mélenchon labels it a false solution.
The Dutch government has pledged continued military aid to Ukraine through 2029, with annual funding of €3 billion, while Dutch officials urge Ukraine to respect international humanitarian law. Russian officials criticize the aid as prolonging the conflict.
Rescue teams in Venezuela are in a race against time to find survivors after twin earthquakes killed at least 1,450 people, with hopes fading as the 72-hour rescue window passes. International aid pledges from the EU and China arrive as the government faces criticism over its response.
India and the US have made significant progress toward a trade deal, but key issues remain unresolved, including tariff advantages and agricultural market access. Domestic protests in India and legal setbacks in the US add further complexity.
The European Union has imposed new visa restrictions on Somali nationals, citing insufficient cooperation from Somalia on the readmission of irregular migrants. The measures, which include the suspension of multiple-entry visas and extended processing times, have drawn a response from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who insists his government will accept genuine Somali citizens but calls for better verification of returnees' identities.
An Israeli search and rescue delegation has arrived in Venezuela to assist in recovery efforts after multiple deadly earthquakes. The delegation, comprising 16 rescue personnel and other professionals, is working alongside local forces. Meanwhile, Venezuela's Jewish community has launched an emergency fundraiser, and the death toll has risen above 1,400.
The United States has imposed sanctions on eight individuals and entities accused of fueling Sudan's civil war, including an Indian national and his explosives company. Separate measures, including a Senate bill to oppose loans to Sudan, aim to curb external support for the conflict.
Alexander von Bismarck, descendant of the first German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, told TASS that Europe and Russia will not go to war, but warned that threats directed at Moscow could increase the danger of nuclear war. He also criticized EU policy as top-down and called for dialogue between Russians and Germans outside the political elite.
President Vladimir Putin has publicly acknowledged that Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure are causing fuel shortages, as queues at petrol stations and rationing spread across the country. Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted refineries and other oil facilities, prompting Moscow to impose export bans and seek fuel imports. The crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in Russia's energy sector and brought the war's consequences home for ordinary Russians.
Thousands of protesters gathered in Serbia's Kraljevo, skeptical of President Aleksandar Vucic's pledge to resign and hold early elections. Reports also detail a separate anti-government rally in Novi Sad, with organizers and police giving differing crowd estimates. The protests trace back to the deadly collapse of a railway station canopy in 2024.
Ukraine has carried out drone strikes on two Russian oil refineries, including one in the Krasnodar region where a fire killed at least two people, according to Russian authorities. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes are part of a campaign to reduce Russia's war resources, while President Vladimir Putin acknowledged his country faces a 'difficult period.'
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced he will resign within weeks, paving the way for early elections, following months of student-led protests sparked by the Novi Sad rail disaster. While Vucic frames the move as a step toward elections, protesters and analysts doubt he will relinquish power, expecting a possible switch to the prime minister's office.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized Western military aid to Ukraine, warning that advanced weapons operated by foreign soldiers could provoke a Russian retaliatory strike. He also confirmed Slovakia will not participate in military loans and reiterated the country's commitment to humanitarian aid and peaceful dialogue.
A Russian unmanned aircraft expert told TASS that NATO member states cooperated in assembling drones used in attacks on the Moscow Region, identifying a Turkish-made navigation system. The expert also said European countries are increasingly involved in producing strike UAVs for Ukraine.
President Donald Trump warned on Friday that any country imposing a digital services tax on US companies would face a 100% tariff on all goods exported to the United States. The threat, posted on Truth Social, specifically targets European nations discussing such taxes, and has drawn a swift response from the European Commission.
The European Commission has proposed denying temporary protection to newly arriving Ukrainian men of military age, aligning with a request from Kyiv. The initiative, which would extend protections for others until 2028, has drawn opposition from Hungary and other EU states.
The Bank of Russia has set the official dollar rate at 77.0611 rubles for June 27-29, 2026, up 1 ruble and 42.64 kopecks from the previous figure. The euro and yuan also rose against the ruble.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar has announced a sweeping reform package, dubbed ‘Operation Purgatory,’ aimed at dismantling the legacy of his predecessor Viktor Orban. The measures include constitutional changes, anti-corruption reforms, and the dissolution of state-linked foundations, with the EU expected to release billions in frozen funds.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has described the Chinese yuan as undervalued by 30 percent and criticized Beijing’s subsidies and export practices, citing pressure on European manufacturers. The remarks come as G7 leaders stopped short of a public joint plan on China-related economic issues, according to reporting from the South China Morning Post. Trade figures show a large Chinese surplus and rising shipments to Germany.
A Paris court ruled that TotalEnergies must account for greenhouse gas emissions from its clients' use of its products, applying France's corporate duty of vigilance law to climate change for the first time. The company has six months to amend its vigilance plan, though the court stopped short of imposing production cuts or halting new fossil fuel projects.