Extreme Weather: Northern Italy swung from weeks of heat to exceptional rainfall and flooding, hitting Liguria, Lombardy and northern Tuscany, with tens of thousands of lightning strikes reported in Liguria and major disruption to trains and coastal areas. Climate Outlook: The UK Met Office warns an “unprecedented” El Niño could bring wetter, stormier conditions this autumn and winter, with 2027 forecast among the warmest on record. Nord Stream Case: A Ukrainian diver suspected in the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage was arrested in Croatia while reportedly working on a Hollywood film about the blasts, as Germany pursues the wider investigation. Shadow Fleet Legal Fight: Germany’s court battle continues over whether a stateless shadow-fleet tanker and its crude cargo can be seized and sold, with the case tied to sanctions and the ship’s claimed intentions. Crime & Security: Slovakia detained people linked to a clandestine cigarette factory aimed at Western Europe, while Portugal arrested a former Serbian footballer over more than 1.5 tonnes of cocaine worth over €70m. Energy & Water: Bulgaria’s Kozloduy nuclear plant cut output at Unit 5 due to critically low Danube levels, with officials saying the situation is under control. Politics: A Turkish crackdown targets the Süleymancı religious network, accusing it of financial crimes and raising questions about Erdoğan’s political strategy.