Germany Politics: Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU is reeling after a historic election drubbing in two German states, with the CDU failing the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and suffering major losses in Berlin as AfD and Die Linke surge. Italy Integration & Rights: Giorgia Meloni says Italy will move to ban burqas and niqabs in schools, cap foreign pupils per classroom, and require some parents to learn Italian—fueling a fresh debate over integration and religious freedom. France Wildfires & Debt: France issues its highest red wildfire alert in southern departments as fires have already scorched over 119,000 hectares this year; separately, public debt is projected to hit 119.3% of GDP in 2026, the highest since 1978. EU Sanctions Deadlock: EU ambassadors are again wrestling over renewing Russia sanctions, with France pushing hard on the treatment of Alisher Usmanov. Arctic Security: Denmark says NATO will share Arctic security responsibility under the Greenland deal tied to expanded US involvement. France-Iran Culture Row: Paris vows retaliation after Iran shuts a French language centre in Tehran. Energy & Industry: European Energy wins support for 89.6 MW of German wind projects; Spain reports foreign direct investment up 31.2% to €12.446bn in H1 2026.