El calor asfixiante que golpea el oeste de Europa se intensificó este lunes, especialmente en Francia, donde dos niños fueron hallados muertos dentro de un auto.

Se trata de la segunda ola de calor para millones de europeos en menos de un mes. Según el consenso científico, el cambio climático provocado por la actividad humana hace más intensos los fenómenos meteorológicos extremos.

El nuevo episodio, más extenso que el de mayo y que podría prolongarse hasta el fin de semana, recuerda la ola de calor de agosto de 2003 en Europa. Ese fenómeno provocó más de 70.000 muertos durante sus dos semanas de duración.

Niños y mayores fallecidos

Francia fue el epicentro este lunes, con temperaturas previstas entre 36 y 43ºC.

El servicio meteorológico Météo France decretó la alerta roja, la máxima posible, en la mitad del país, donde viven más de 35 millones de habitantes. El mercurio no debería bajar antes de finales de semana.

Dos hermanos de 2 y 4 años fueron hallados muertos este lunes dentro del auto de su familia en Carpentras, en el sureste de Francia, y la principal hipótesis del fallecimiento es “la ola de calor”, indicó la fiscal, Hélène Mourges.

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El domingo, tres personas mayores fallecieron en sus domicilios en el suroeste de Francia debido a las altas temperaturas, según las autoridades. Y otras trece se ahogaron durante el fin de semana en distintas partes del país.

La ministra de Sanidad, Stéphanie Rist, alertó sobre el enorme aumento de llamadas a los servicios de emergencia, aunque el sistema sanitario no estaría “particularmente bajo tensión” por el momento.

Aulas sofocantes

Más de 1300 de las 60.000 escuelas del país permanecieron cerradas este lunes, mientras que otros 4000 ajustaron su horario lectivo o sus instalaciones, según el ministerio de Educación.

Desde la semana pasada, otros centros educativos sugirieron a los padres que mantengan a sus hijos en casa o que los recojan a la hora del almuerzo para sacarlos de unas sofocantes aulas.

“Son las 10:00 y hace 38°C dentro del aula, así que los niños están fuera, no pueden quedarse”, dijo Sylvain Gigon, director de una escuela primaria en Tours, ciudad del centro de Francia, que batió su récord local de noche más calurosa con 24,8ºC de temperatura mínima.

Trenes anulados

La región de París anuló un tren de cada diez de manera preventiva. La víspera, la compañía SNCF recomendó a las personas “vulnerables” evitar tomar el tren.

En la estación de trenes Saint Charles de Marsella, en el sureste de Francia, las autoridades repartieron botellas de agua, abanicos y sombreros a los pasajeros antes de acceder al tren.

Más al norte, en Bélgica, esta semana podría ser “la más calurosa jamás registrada”, con una temperatura media superior a 27°C, según David Dehenauw, del instituto meteorológico IRM.

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Algunos trenes en horas punta fueron cancelados el lunes y el martes en el país, donde este tipo de transporte es muy utilizado, indicó la SNCB, la compañía nacional de ferrocarriles.

Retransmisión del Mundial cancelada

La ola de calor también golpea al resto de Europa occidental.

España enfrentó su segunda jornada de ola de calor con valores de “entre 5 y 10 grados superiores a los propios de esta época en general”, según Rubén del Campo, portavoz de la agencia española de meteorología Aemet.

Las altas temperaturas ya obligaron a cancelar el domingo eventos como la transmisión en pantalla gigante del partido de fútbol España-Arabia Saudita en el centro de Madrid.

En Portugal, se decretó la alerta naranja el martes en zonas del interior, mientras que Países Bajos se encuentra en “código amarillo” con temperaturas de hasta 37ºC de aquí a finales de semana.

Reino Unido decretó la muy poco común alerta roja por “calor extremo” miércoles y jueves en el sur del país.

(Con información de AFP)

Latvian intelligence is warning that Russia is preparing possible military provocations against the Baltic states or Poland, including drones, missiles or other hybrid attacks, in an effort to pressure NATO countries to stop supporting Ukraine. 

«We see indications that Russia is preparing military provocations against the Baltic countries or Poland — not a conventional war, because Russia is not capable of that right now, but hybrid attacks, such as missiles, drones or other actions designed to send a signal: stop supporting Ukraine, or you will have your own problems,» Latvian intelligence told Fox News Digital.

The most immediate concern, according to Latvian intelligence, is not that Moscow is ready for a full-scale war with NATO, but that Russian President Vladimir Putin could miscalculate because the surrounding institutions are feeding him the version of reality he wants to hear.

The Baltic states and Poland are NATO allies, meaning a Russian provocation there could quickly test America’s treaty commitments and risk a broader confrontation. It also comes as Washington and its allies weigh how far to go in supporting Ukraine and tightening sanctions on Moscow. 

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Latvian intelligence argues that Putin is not only looking for ways to pressure NATO countries to back off Ukraine, but may also be receiving distorted assessments from inside his own system — raising the risk that Russia could misjudge Western resolve.

«The biggest concern is miscalculation. Russian institutions are telling Putin what he wants to hear, and that creates a dangerous cycle that can lead to foolish and senseless decisions,» Latvian intelligence said.

«We see more and more signs that Putin wants to receive only positive news. He is isolated, and that makes decision-making even more problematic as decisions are not based on the real situation,» Latvian intelligence added.

The Latvian warning tracks with concerns raised by Polish officials during Fox News Digital reporting in June in Poland, where officials described Russia’s hybrid war against NATO’s eastern flank as already underway. Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki pointed to assassinations, drone activity, cyberattacks and attacks on critical infrastructure on NATO territory, including what he described as a Russian-instigated cyberattack on Polish energy infrastructure intended «to black out part of Poland.» 

Amb. Krzysztof Olendzki also described the Belarus border as part of a Russian and Belarusian campaign to weaponize illegal migration against NATO countries.

Latvian intelligence also assessed that Western sanctions are having a real impact inside Russia, despite Moscow’s public claims that it has absorbed the pressure.

«Russia says publicly that sanctions do not matter, but its own internal assessments show that sanctions are biting,» Latvian intelligence told Fox News Digital. «They may not change Putin’s mindset, but they limit Russia’s financial resources and thus opportunities and force to make difficult choices regarding recruitment, military spending, and pressure on businesses. Its war economy is a crumbling ‘house of cards.’»

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Latvian intelligence also assessed that Western sanctions are having a real impact inside Russia, despite Moscow’s public claims that it has absorbed the pressure.  (Sasha Mordovets/Getty)

The assessment comes as Latvia’s Constitution Protection Bureau, known as SAB, released a public report detailing how Russia is intensifying «lawfare» against the West — using courts, legal claims and international institutions to pressure Western governments, weaken support for Ukraine and create possible justification for more aggressive actions.

The report outlines Russian efforts to study Iran’s experience challenging Western sanctions through international legal mechanisms. 

Russian experts have analyzed Iran’s 2016 case against the United States at the International Court of Justice and are looking for ways to adapt similar tactics against Western countries, according to the Constitution Protection Bureau. 

«If you want to push Russia toward a peace deal that is acceptable to Ukraine and the West, sanctions are the right mechanism,» Latvian intelligence said. «We need more international pressure on Russia through sanctions.»

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The assessment comes as Latvia’s Constitution Protection Bureau, known as SAB, released a public report detailing how Russia is intensifying «lawfare» against the West.  (Capt. H. Howey/U.S. Army)

The Constitution Protection Bureau also warns that Russia has prepared a complaint against the Baltic States at the U.N.’s International Court of Justice, formally accusing them of discrimination against Russians and Russian speakers. Latvian intelligence believes the legal campaign is not only about the courtroom, but about building a narrative Moscow could later use as a pretext for action.

«Russia believes the Baltic States are governed by pro-American elites who are disconnected from their own people. They made a similar mistake about Ukraine before the invasion, which is why this perception worries us,» Latvian intelligence said.

The Constitution Protection Bureau report argues that Russia is trying to turn propaganda into legal and political action. It describes Moscow’s planned complaint as relying on a «highly manipulative approach» to international law, including selective interpretations of international norms and what the report calls «imagined evidence» of alleged discrimination.

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«Currently, there are no military threats to Latvia,» its intelligence said.  (Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The concern is that Russia could use those claims to justify pressure, intimidation or hybrid operations — the same broad logic Moscow used when it claimed it was acting to protect Donbas residents before invading Ukraine.

«Currently, there are no military threats to Latvia,» its intelligence said. «We are not concerned about a full-scale invasion right now. Russia would need three to five years, even if the war in Ukraine ended today, to rebuild sufficient capabilities. What worries us now are provocations — drones, missiles and other hybrid attacks.»

The Russian government did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Records show former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who was charged in the weekend vandalism of the Reflecting Pool, has ties to a major left-wing fundraising network as protesters descended on the National Mall and racked up multiple criminal charges.

Hearn, 67, donated to Democratic fundraising apparatus ActBlue 10 times while also contributing to Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns five times, an administration official told Fox News Digital.

Hearn was charged with a misdemeanor for destruction of government property Saturday after he reached into the water and allegedly grabbed a hose being used by a National Park Service worker, Fox News previously reported. The Reflecting Pool was drained and painted under President Donald Trump’s direction, sparking scrutiny over peeling paint and algae growth.

ActBlue has funneled billions of dollars to Democratic candidates such as New York democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The group has also drawn scrutiny for its overseas donations that prompted federal probes into donor fraud.

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The three-time summer Olympian and registered Democrat told The Associated Press he is a «curious citizen» and «reached down to see what it felt like.» He said it felt «very rubbery.»

Hearn was previously arrested by U.S. Park Police in 1996 after he ignored an emergency closure of the Potomac River during a severe rainstorm and launched a canoe onto the river despite the restrictions. He was charged with failing to obey a lawful order, but the judge later cleared him of the charges.

The $14.8 million restoration project has sparked outrage from Democratic lawmakers and Washington residents who have descended on the National Mall to inspect the pool. Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell said her constituents are «outraged» by the algae during an appearance on CNN.

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Paint peels from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. (REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon)

An administration official told Fox News Digital that five people have been arrested on vandalism charges, while federal citations were issued to five additional individuals.

There have been 14 police reports filed for vandalism, the official added.

Among the reports was one involving a suspect accused of using a blade to slash nearly 300 feet of the pool’s liner, an incident President Donald Trump highlighted in a Truth Social post on Saturday.

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National Park Service employees and contractors use vacuums to remove green algae from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

«They took some form of knife or blade, and put a 250-foot-long gash into the beautiful facade of what took so much work, competence, and money to build and complete. They also poured corrosive and destructive chemicals into the Pool,» wrote Trump. «The Reflecting Pool was never so beautiful as it was just one week ago, even going back to 1922 when it opened.»

Trump said Friday that he believes vandals are damaging the grounds surrounding the Reflecting Pool and that chemicals were used to damage the pool’s newly installed surface, he wrote on Truth Social.

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Fox News Digital reached out to NPS for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Jackson Thompson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.