Drought Uncovers War History: As Central Europe’s rivers run dangerously low, the Danube has revealed a Nazi-era sunken fleet, Nazi soldiers’ remains and WWII shells resurfacing in places like Budapest and along the Danube/Drava—while officials warn low water is also disrupting shipping and power supplies. Heat, Wildfires, and Water Stress: Copernicus data points to record June-July heat across western Europe, with drought and low river levels feeding wildfire conditions and intensifying pressure on agriculture, energy and public safety. Food Security Divide: Farmers across Europe are shifting from relief to resilience as yields fall and irrigation needs rise, with drought concerns spreading from Central Europe to the UK. Oxygen Stress in Rivers: A new study links warmer temperatures and organic matter to severe oxygen drops in rivers, highlighting Central Europe’s vulnerability alongside tropical regions. Energy and Transport Deals: Croatia’s HŽ Cargo and Slovakia’s Railtrans International plan a joint venture to move intermodal freight from Adriatic ports into Central Europe. Austria Hydropower Overhaul: Bilfinger won a contract to refurbish generators at Garsten-St. Ulrich, aiming for completion by 2028. Geopolitics via Energy: A Ukrainian drone crash in Bulgaria near a key gas pipeline sparked an investigation and raised surveillance concerns. Poland-China Friction: China added Polish entities to an export control list, signaling security-first retaliation without changing Warsaw’s broader China approach. Public Transport Electrifies in Czechia: Ostrava ordered up to 70 electric buses from Solaris, scaling a shift away from route chargers. Renewables Expansion: Greece’s PPC agreed to buy ABO Energy’s Polish and Hungarian subsidiaries, boosting a renewables portfolio above 2 GW.