London's parks and green spaces turn brown as a heat wave and drought wither flowers across the UK capital, Anadolu reports

Italy places 27 cities on red alert as blistering heatwave grips Europe, disrupting energy and transport systems in several countries

Italy's health ministry placed 27 cities, from Trieste in the northeast to Palermo in Sicily, on red alert ahead of the weekend as a heatwave across much of Europe disrupted energy and transportation systems in several countries.

Vistula River falls to lowest level in over 70 years at Poland's Annopol station, measuring 160 cm amid drought and heat wave, IMGW reports

Poland's Vistula River has fallen to its lowest level in over 70 years at the Annopol monitoring station in southeastern Poland, measuring 160 centimeters (5.25 feet) amid a drought and heat wave gripping the country, according to the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW).

Sri Lanka launches national waste management program for 2026-2029, allocating 30 billion rupees (~$100M) across three phases to expand recycling, segregation and composting.

Sri Lanka will implement a national waste management program from 2026 to 2029 in three phases, with 30 billion Sri Lankan rupees (about 100 million U.S. dollars) allocated for the initiative, officials said Thursday. A discussion at the Presidential Secretariat reviewed district-level waste data and proposed solutions, with the program aimed at establishing a long-term national system for waste collection, segregation, disposal and recycling.

Europe heat wave death toll nears 20,000: UK records driest July on record, Germany reports 9,800 heat deaths, and France suspends 3 nuclear reactors. Wildfires scorch 117,000 hectares as the Rhine hits record low.

Heat waves and drought grip Europe as deaths near 20,000. The UK records its driest July on record, Germany reports 9,800 heat-related deaths, and Greece, Italy, Romania, Croatia and parts of Austria remain under red alerts as wildfires spread. France suspends 3 nuclear reactors, wildfires burn 117,000 hectares, and the Rhine River drops to its lowest level on record.