Poland

Extreme heat continues to impact daily life – and sporting events – across Europe. Plus, a tornado in RussiaTemperatures are forecast to rise dramatically in parts of central and northern Europe this weekend as the intense heatwave continues. In Germany and Poland, highs of up to or exceeding 40C (104F) are expected on both Saturday and Sunday, days after swathes of France experienced similar extreme temperatures. The Austrian Grand Prix, taking place this weekend in Spielberg, has declared a heat hazard, the first race to do so this season. Temperatures are expected to rise into the low 30s celsius during the race almost 10C warmer than usual for the venue.Across Europe, the intense heat has led to severe thunderstorms. In the Sverdlovsk region of central Russia, a strong tornado was reported on the evening of 22 June. Rated a 3 out of 5 on the international fujita scale, the twister injured 16 people and destroyed or damaged about 100 homes and businesses in the town of Kushva. Emergency services have been working on restoring power to the town. Tornadoes are not unheard of in Russia but are certainly rare, although forecasters warn that they may become more common in future as the climate breaks down. Storm warnings remain in effect in the southern part of the country on Friday. Continue reading...

Kremlin may attempt to test Nato cohesion as Russia comes under growing pressure from Ukraine, according to sources from two countriesTwo countries on Nato’s eastern flank have warned that Russia is preparing a possible “provocation” in the Baltic states or Poland in an effort to test the cohesion of the western military alliance.Western sources also fear there could be danger on the horizon because the Kremlin is coming under pressure from Ukraine’s campaign of long-range attacks on targets near Moscow and St Petersburg. Continue reading...

• This week's international news highlights a series of diplomatic and military developments, including US-Iran talks aimed at ending their conflict and a sudden diplomatic dispute between Ukraine and Poland. • Ukraine has intensified its military operations by increasing strikes on Russian-occupied Crimea to destabilize Russian control in the region. • In political shifts, the report notes the resignation of Keir Starmer in the UK, alongside updates on the progress of the Fifa World Cup in the US.

Ukraine’s president will not attend after sparking Polish ‘outrage’ over naming of military unitEurope live – latest updatesVolodymyr Zelenskyy will skip a high-level conference on the postwar reconstruction of Ukraine amid a deepening rift with Poland over his naming of a military unit for one that killed tens of thousands of Poles during the second world war.Ukraine’s president had been expected to co-host the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which begins in the Polish coastal city of Gdańsk on Thursday, but the Ukrainian delegation will instead be led by the prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko. Continue reading...

Spain’s leading festival of photography showcases the work of more than 300 visual artists in nearly 100 exhibitions across the countryPhotoEspaña, Spain’s leading festival of photography, held its official opening in Madrid this month and by September nearly 100 exhibitions will have showcased the work of more than 300 visual artists in the capital and across the country. Loosely corralled under the theme of reimagining, the exhibitions feature work by major figures in Spanish and international photography and less well-known emerging artists.From the series Invisible Line. Photograph: Alejandro Cartagena Continue reading...

Two Belarusians ⁠detained over attack on Robert ⁠Kuzovkov, who is also known as Semyon SkrepetskyA Russian artist critical of Vladimir Putin was shot and killed in ⁠the eastern Polish town of Biała Podlaska, a Polish prosecutor has said.Five shots were fired at the ⁠victim, including one ⁠to the head, in the attack on Monday, ​said Marcin Kozak, a spokesperson for the district prosecutor in Lublin. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the United States will deploy an additional 5,000 troops to Poland. • The decision marks a sudden reversal of recent administration efforts aimed at reducing the overall number of U.S. military personnel stationed in Europe. • This move has created significant confusion regarding the U.S. government's strategic military goals and deployment patterns across the continent.