The lines of trucks at the border between Ukraine and the European Union grew by nearly 48% over the past 24 hours, exceeding 7,300 vehicles; however, Ukrainian authorities say there is no sign of a transportation collapse yet.
Diageo, the world’s largest producer of spirits, has for the first time abandoned its target of a 5–7% annual increase in sales. Instead, the company is preparing for a prolonged period of weak demand and is launching a $1 billion cost-cutting program.
The United States has announced new measures aimed at restricting the right to citizenship by birth and stepping up the fight against so-called “birth tourism.” President Donald Trump has already signed the relevant executive orders.
Russians sharply increased the amount of cash in circulation in July. According to the Bank of Russia, the figure rose by ₽643.4 billion (approximately €7.2 billion), which is nearly one and a half times the increase seen in June. Since the beginning of the year, the amount of cash has increased by ₽2.1 trillion (about €23.5 billion).
Water levels on the Rhine—one of Europe’s major transportation corridors—have dropped to a record low.
The Ukrainian marketplace Rozetka reported its largest financial losses in the company’s history following damage to its warehouse infrastructure near Kyiv.
The extreme heat in Europe is already having a direct impact on the economy. The main losses stem from several factors: lower crop yields, increased strain on power grids, and higher logistics costs.
The largest distribution center of the Ukrainian marketplace Rozetka, located in Brovary in the Kyiv region, was destroyed following a nighttime attack. The company’s founder, Irina Cecetkina, stated that the warehouse was completely burned down and cannot be restored.
The Bank of Russia has revised downward its forecast for the Russian economy in 2026: inflation may turn out to be higher, and GDP growth weaker, than previously expected.
Olga Stefanishina, Ukraine’s former ambassador to the United States, has been charged with a new offense. This was reported by Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Center. The court is set to determine the next pretrial measure, but the details of the charge have not yet been disclosed.
The heat is changing travel preferences in Spain: the north of the country is becoming the top destination for summer vacations. According to data from the Rentalia platform, by August, tourists had booked nearly 90% of short-term rental properties along the Spanish coast.
The U.S. State Department is exploring the possibility of requiring some immigration visa applicants to post a cash bond of up to $100,000, according to The Wall Street Journal. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott also confirmed that this option is indeed being considered.
Former prisons in various countries are being converted into hotels, museums, and cultural centers. Instead of being demolished, these historic buildings are preserved and repurposed for new functions, allowing these former places of confinement to become part of the tourism and cultural infrastructure.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup set a record not only for soccer but also for the short-term rental market. Over the 39 days of the tournament, owners of apartments and homes in the 16 host cities earned $1.33 billion in revenue—$276.7 million, or 26%, more than during the same period last year. This is according to data from the analytics company AirDNA.
The “Vacation Vouchers” program has officially launched in Moldova, allowing employers to provide their employees with discounted vouchers for vacations at tourist destinations throughout the country. The maximum value of a voucher in 2026 is 8,700 lei—up to 50% of the national average monthly wage.
The Romanian government has reached an agreement with major industrial consumers to voluntarily reduce energy consumption during evening hours amid an energy crisis caused by a severe drought and a sharp drop in water levels in the Danube.
The Romanian Navy carried out a controlled blast of a rock formation on the Danube to increase the water flow to the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant. Due to a severe drought, the river’s water level had dropped significantly, posing a threat to the operation of one of the reactors.
Aneta Gonca has been elected the new chair of the Television and Radio Council (TRC). Six members of the regulatory body supported her candidacy; one ballot was deemed invalid. The decision was made at today’s Council meeting, when former chair Liliana Vitsu announced her resignation.
Romanian authorities are beginning consultations with major industrial enterprises to reduce the strain on the power grid amid the declared energy alert. On August 3, the Ministry of Energy will hold an online meeting with the largest electricity consumers, during which it will ask them to voluntarily shift some of their energy-intensive production to hours of lower demand.
Demand for short-term rentals in Albania is growing faster than supply, which has driven up prices. According to the analytics platform AirDNA, the market posted some of its strongest results in recent years this summer.
