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The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Europe's heatwave moves east as row erupts in France over air conditioning
The European heatwave moved east threatening record temperatures in Germany, as a political row broke out in France over air conditioning. The French far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, seized a canvassing opportunity before the 2027 presidential election, announcing she would launch a 'grand plan for air conditioning' for the nation if she won power. In parliament, Le Pen, an MP for the Pas-de-Calais in northern France, said 'air conditioning saves lives'. She said there was a problem in France if public services 'are unable to function because of a lack of air conditioning, unlike dozens of countries across the world'. Éric Ciotti, a Le Pen ally, put down a bill in parliament this week calling for 'obligatory air conditioning' for key public spaces. France has a comparatively low number of public spaces and private homes with air conditioning, compared with neighbouring countries such as Italy. In 2020, 25% of French homes had air conditioning, compared with 14% in 2016, according to the national environment agency, Ademe. The government attacked the far-right as ignorant and 'incompetent' for suggesting air conditioning was a solution to the climate crisis. The environment minister, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, said air-conditioned spaces in care homes for elderly people had been obligatory in France for 20 years. She said that, although vulnerable people should be protected from the heat, air conditioning 'must not be installed everywhere' because it generated a rise in temperatures outside and was 'the wrong answer'. The Green leader, Marine Tondelier, attacked Le Pen for an environmental policy limited to 'buying air-conditioning units'. Tondelier said there had to be progress made on green spaces in cities and proper insulation of buildings. Meanwhile, Europe continued to grapple with a deadly heatwave that has resulted in record temperatures and several deaths. In Spain, officers from Catalonia's regional police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, were investigating the deaths of two farm workers whose bodies were found on Tuesday by firefighters tackling a wildfire blaze near the town of Coscó in Lleida province. The wildfire burned through 6,500 hectares (16,000 acres) of land in the north-eastern Spanish region and authorities ordered 18,000 people in the area to remain at home. The regional president, Salvador Illa, urged people to take extra care, warning them not to underestimate the speed and ferocity of wildfires. 'These fires aren't like the ones we used to have,' he said on Wednesday. 'When you find out how they evolve, you get goose bumps. There are really dangerous fires.' The two men died on the same day that a young boy died, apparently from heatstroke, after being left in a car in the Catalan province of Tarragona on Tuesday. France's energy minister reported two deaths with a direct link to the heatwave, with 300 people taken to hospital this week. A 70-year-old lorry driver was found dead inside his vehicle in northern Italy, in what may be the country's first fatality linked to the heatwave. The man was discovered shortly after 6.30am on Wednesday, parked at a motorway rest area between Sirmione and Peschiera del Garda, in the province of Brescia. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion Elsewhere in Italy, traffic lights stopped working, people got stuck in lifts and shops closed early after power cuts in parts of the country on Tuesday afternoon, partly due to a surge in the non-stop use of air conditioning and fans putting a strain on electricity grids. The blackouts in Italy were also caused by underground electrical cables overheating, according to the energy provider Enel. In Florence, the power cut affected the city's historic centre, with the La Rinascente department store evacuated as a precautionary measure. A sign reading 'Black out, see you tomorrow morning at 10am' appeared on a shop window opposite Florence Cathedral. Homes were without electricity for hours in several neighbourhoods in Rome, Milan, Genoa and Bergamo. Italy's health ministry issued a maximum red alert for heat in 18 cities on Wednesday, meaning the heat is so intense that it poses a risk for young and healthy people too. The extreme temperatures are forecast to last at least until the weekend. The heat is also beginning to take a serious toll on the country's agriculture, scorching fruit and vegetables, straining livestock, and deepening a growing drought crisis in the south. According to Coldiretti, Italy's largest farmers' association, early signs of damage are already being reported from north to south: from blistered melons in Tuscany to milk shortages in Lombardy and water rationing in Sicily. As the heatwave rolled eastwards on Wednesday, Germany was expected to record some of its hottest temperatures of the year so far. Temperatures were expected to surge close to 40C across much of the country on Wednesday, and could break the all-time record for Germany of 41.2C, set in July 2019. Drought-like conditions led more than 40 German districts to restrict water use, including for farmers and gardeners, in addition to dozens of municipalities calling on citizens to conserve water. In Brandenburg state surrounding Berlin, two forest fires broke out on Tuesday, with high temperatures and munitions in the soil complicating the work of firefighters, who by the evening had the situation under control.
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
European Defense Buildup May Cause Supply Chain Delays And Shortages
French Air Force Rafale jet fighters patrol the airspace over Poland as part of NATO's response to ... More Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Photo by NICOLAS TUCATBy Sebastian Janssen and Ben Martin Reznik The surge in European defense spending that began in earnest two years ago may begin to disrupt industrial supply chains in aerospace and other sectors as military contracts compete for parts and materials with civilian industries. Europe's military expenditures are set to rise as much as 80% between 2024 and 2030, reaching between €650 billion and €750 billion. The increased spending is driven by countries like Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, but European Union member nations in general are increasing their defense budgets as part of the EU's 'Rearm Europe' plan. The 2024 spending was around €417 billion, while 2023's defense budgets were about €354 billion. Increases in European military spending began with the 2014 seizure of Crimea by Russia and rose significantly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While only about one-third of the total EU defense allocation will go for equipment, this rapid aerospace and defense expansion will still pose challenges for an already squeezed European industrial supply chain, which will likely struggle to keep pace with this new growth. Evidence of a squeeze on parts and material has already been seen in aerospace production shortfalls over the past several years. By the end of 2024, aerospace manufacturers rolled out fewer than 1,300 commercial airliners — 30% below its 2018 peak, based on Oliver Wyman's Global Fleet and MRO Market Forecast 2025-2035. Making matters worse, suppliers may be inclined to prioritize defense contracts over those from other industries as pressure from governments to rapidly ramp-up may prompt defense contractors to pay higher prices for the large quantities of parts and materials they seek. Government contracts like this are particularly attractive as they tend to be longer term programs. Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, European nations have been beefing up their air forces ... More and militaries. The sectors that will feel the squeeze most Our analysis, based on publicly available data of more than 600 secondary suppliers predominantly focused on the European market, reveals critical vulnerabilities. Overall, we see significant overlaps between the supplier networks for defense contractors and various adjacent industrial sectors, especially involving electrical components, electronics, and mechanical parts. Some more complex components, such as pneumatic and hydraulic systems, may become scarce depending on the industry. In the industrial machinery sector, bearings, sensors, mechatronics, hydraulics, and simple system components emerge as having a high overlap with aerospace and defense manufacturers. These essential components, vital for the operation of machinery, could become increasingly scarce as suppliers begin to service, and potentially prioritize, defense applications. The rail industry faces a similar fate, with printed circuit boards and housing assemblies, semiconductors, microelectronics, and control units among the most vulnerable subsegments. In the automotive sector, the stakes are even higher. A potential shift in supplier priorities toward defense contracts — or even the simple addition of more demand from defense — could severely impact an already strained supply chain. Among the vital automotive components that may become scarce are simple electrical components, such as harnesses and cables and connectors, as well as sensors and hydraulic systems. The energy sector is also not immune. Key components such as wire harnesses, cables and connectors, and bearings are at risk of becoming harder to source[BR1] . Strategies to mitigate supply chain risks These findings underscore a pressing need for manufacturers like automakers, as well as machinery and rail manufacturers to proactively address these vulnerabilities. It remains uncertain how quickly parts and raw material suppliers can scale up production in response to the escalating demand from air, land, and naval defense contractors and governments. Understanding and mitigating the risks will be crucial for maintaining operational continuity and competitiveness in an increasingly volatile landscape. In recent years, supply chain departments have already faced numerous disruptions. These included the semiconductor crisis from 2020 to 2023, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the COVID pandemic, and the recent threat of global trade wars and tariffs. Despite this decade of challenges, most supply chain departments still engage in reactive problem-solving rather than proactive planning. It is crucial for organizations to anticipate and mitigate supply chain risks, given already tight conditions for many parts and materials and the explosive outlook for demand. Among the tactics manufacturers can use: identify and qualify alternative suppliers to diversify the supply base, increase transparency with suppliers so end users can provide hands-on crisis management if necessary, and establish an internal, cross-functional task force that monitors the real-time marketplace, similar to a tactic used during the semiconductor shortage. Supply chain disruptions have become increasingly frequent and are now considered the new normal. Factors such as geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and fluctuating trade policies contribute to an unpredictable environment, challenging the resilience of various sectors. To thrive in this landscape, companies must develop capabilities that allow them to proactively address and manage these disruptions. This includes investing in advanced data analytics for real-time visibility, establishing agile and flexible supply chain strategies, and fostering robust partnerships with suppliers to ensure continuity and adaptability. By enhancing their resilience, end users can not only mitigate risks but also seize opportunities for growth and innovation in an ever-changing world. Sebastian Janssen is a partner and the head of Oliver Wyman's global supply chain team, while Ben Martin Reznik is a principal in the firm's Transportation and Advanced Industrials practice. Nick Schlomka, an associate with TAI, contributed research and insights to this article.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bayern Munich submit improved offer for Nico Williams
L'Équipe reports that Bayern Munich are not prepared to give up in their pursuit of Nico Williams. The defending Bundesliga champions – having already been rejected by the Spanish superstar – have now submitted a vastly improved offer. The French source claims Bayern are offering the 22-year-old a €10m annual salary. The stipend can easily rise to €12m via performance-related bonuses. Bayern board-member-for-sport Max Eberl has officially left the Club World Cup and returned to Germany in order to focus on shoring up his club's summer transfers. The FCB's chief personnel officer apparently wishes to prioritize Williams above other targets. Whether or not the offer will shake the 28-times-capped Spanish international's preference to move to FC Barcelona remains to be seen. Advertisement Williams maintains an estimated market value of €70m and remains available through a reasonable €58m exit clause. Barça may require more time to scrape together the cash for both the transfer fee and Williams' salary structure. It's thus no surprise that Eberl at least attempts to force the issue before the La Liga champions can finalize the terms. GGFN | Peter Weis
NHK
07-05-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Macron, new German Chancellor Merz pledge stronger Franco-German ties
French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, have agreed to strengthen cooperation to play a leadership role in helping Europe deal with threats from Russia and other challenges. Merz, who took office on Tuesday, visited France on his first trip abroad as the new German leader the following day. Following their talks, Merz told reporters that Europe has enormous challenges and will only be able to meet them if France and Germany stand even more closely together than in the past. Macron said European security is their most important mission. He pointed to the need to boost defense cooperation and investment, including expanding weapons development. He also disclosed plans to set up a joint defense and security council to meet regularly. Germany attaches utmost importance to its ties with its neighbor, France. The two superpowers in Europe have been viewed as playing a pivotal role in shaping the policies, among other matters, of the European Union. But no such alliance seemed apparent between Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, and Macron. Merz will visit Poland later on Wednesday to further pursue active diplomacy in what appears to be an attempt to show how Germany is reshaping itself following political stagnation in the country.
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Macron Announces Joint French-German Defense Council
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday the creation of a "French-German defense and security council" as Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Paris. "We will set up a French-German defense and security council to meet regularly to bring operational responses to our common strategic challenges," Macron said at a joint press conference, as Europe seeks to boost its defenses amid Russia's war against Ukraine and doubts over US security commitments to Europe. Macron said that he doubted Vladimir Putin would respect a three-day truce in Ukraine and wondered if the Russian leader was "serious" about a durable peace. "Beyond the three days promised, which will undoubtedly not be respected, like the previous ones, is the Russian president finally serious?" Macron said at the news conference. "Will he finally decide to keep his word, especially the promises he made in his discussions with the US administration? That is what matters to us." Merz said for his part he was hopeful that a permanent ceasefire could be agreed soon for Ukraine but held back on making any commitments for Ukraine's security. "We will be there to accompany this 30-day cease fire and build a lasting and solid peace. And we (France and Germany) are in close contact," Macron added.
