NATO Posture: NATO says fighter-jet scrambles along its eastern flank jumped more than 250% in late July after Russia flew near NATO airspace without flight plans or transponders, with Poland citing “provocations.” Heat & Power: A continent-wide heatwave is now hitting refineries, hydropower and river cooling, while forecasts warn August rains won’t fix critically low flows. Danube Crisis: Record-low Danube levels are forcing emergency steps across Central Europe, including Hungary’s Paks nuclear plant running at reduced output and facing full shutdown risk, with shipping and tourism disrupted. Central Europe Records: Slovakia and Austria logged new all-time temperature highs (over 41°C), adding strain to already drought-hit energy and daily life. EU Energy Security: The EU is moving to help Hungary and Slovakia cut final ties to Russian oil amid rising delivery risks. Tech & Industry: Hungary’s Edortech pitches a tin-alloy battery anode platform for global scale-up, while iDenfy adds Czech Bank iD for smoother identity checks. Public Safety: Germany seized an explosive drone near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig Airport. Health & Science: Europe has approved a retinal implant therapy for geographic atrophy. Local Life: Two experienced divers died after an emergency ascent on Lake Constance. Culture & Heritage: Herzl’s grandparents were reburied in Jerusalem, fulfilling the Zionist leader’s final wish.