Fire, storms and political fractures defined 11 July: wildfires burned across five European countries as Typhoon Bavi struck Taiwan, while Berlin, London and Washington each nursed their own institutional crisis.

Wildfires and storms

  • Andalusia's wildfire death toll holds at 12, with more than twenty still missing, in one of Spain's deadliest fire episodes on record — more.
  • Survivors describe losing friends to the flames as hundreds of firefighters and aircraft still struggle to contain the blaze; fires also burn in France, Portugal, Croatia and Albania — more.
  • Typhoon Bavi made landfall in Taiwan, forcing thousands into shelters and lashing southern Japan, while Beijing enacted a new ethnic unity law criminalizing expressions of support for Taiwanese independence — more.

European Union

  • The European Commission has three options to restrict imports from Israeli settlements — licensing, tariffs or a ban — but the unanimity route it favors could be vetoed by Hungary and the Czech Republic; no decision expected before October — more.
  • Moldova's President Maia Sandu nominated businessman Vasile Tofan as prime minister-designate to replace Alexandru Munteanu, who resigned amid scandal; parliamentary approval is still required — more.

Germany and the UK

  • Berlin mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) withdrew as his party's lead candidate after admitting he mishandled a blackout response; Finance Senator Christian Evers takes over, with the episode seen as a warning sign for Chancellor Merz's coalition — more.
  • British police released without charge the man arrested over the murder of former minister Ann Widdecombe, leaving the case without a suspect, as UK media coverage was overtaken by a row over sexist remarks made about her on air — more.

United States and Iran

  • The DOJ subpoenaed four New York Times reporters over their Air Force One security story, with agents serving some subpoenas at reporters' homes, alarming press-freedom advocates — more.
  • Iran says new US Treasury sanctions on figures tied to the Supreme Leader's office breach the June 17 ceasefire memorandum, even as actual fighting in the Strait of Hormuz has calmed — more.

Analysis

  • Washington authorized Ukraine to build its own Patriot interceptors and allies pledged €70 billion, even as the US pulls 5,000 troops from Germany and reviews its European troop presence — a sign Trump's Ukraine posture is now NATO's swing factor — more.