Extreme heat now poses a greater threat to human life than floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes combined, according to Reinsurance News, citing a recently published report by global reinsurance company Swiss Re (Zurich, Switzerland) SONAR for 2025. In its annual report, which tracks new risks affecting insurers and global systems, extreme heat is considered a major problem not only because of its impact on health, but also on various industries and infrastructure.
According to Swiss Re, up to half a million people die each year as a result of extreme heat, which exceeds the combined death toll from other major natural disasters.
“Extreme heat used to be considered an ‘invisible danger’ because its effects are not as obvious as those of other natural disasters. Given the clear trend toward longer and hotter heat waves, it is important that we highlight the true cost to human life, our economy, infrastructure, agriculture, and healthcare systems,” said Swiss Re Group Chief Economist Jérôme Egeli, quoted in the report.
The data confirms this shift. In July 2024, for example, the three hottest days in recorded global history were observed. In the United States, heat waves have tripled in frequency since the 1960s, with each wave now lasting a whole day longer and reaching temperatures almost one degree Celsius higher.
The impact on public health is increasingly evident: approximately 480,000 deaths are recorded each year due to extreme heat. In addition, it can lead to exhaustion, heatstroke, and organ failure, as well as exacerbate chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The most vulnerable groups are the elderly and pregnant women.
Swiss Re points out that the consequences go far beyond health. In particular, heat waves combined with strong winds dramatically increase the likelihood of forest fires. For example, over the past decade, insurance losses related to forest fires worldwide have reached nearly $78.5 billion.
The report also identifies critical points of impact in key industries. For example, the telecommunications sector is vulnerable to disruptions as rising temperatures threaten the functioning of data centers and physical networks, including underground cables.
Ukraine’s negative foreign trade balance in goods in January-April 2025 increased by 48.5% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching $11.512 billion from $7.755 billion, according to the State Statistics Service (Gosstat).
According to its data, exports of goods from Ukraine during the specified period compared to January-April 2024 decreased by 6.9% to $13.312 billion, while imports increased by 12.6% to $24.824 billion.
The statistics agency specified that in April 2025, compared to March 2025, seasonally adjusted exports decreased by 4.4% to $3.369 billion, and imports decreased by 2.3% to $6.529 billion.
The seasonally adjusted foreign trade balance in April 2025 was negative at $3.161 billion, as it was in the previous month at $3.163 billion.
The export-to-import coverage ratio in January-February 2025 was 0.54 (in January-April 2024, it was 0.65).
The State Statistics Service reported that foreign trade operations were conducted with partners from 217 countries around the world.
Earlier, the Experts Club information and analytical center released a video analysis of the Ukrainian and global economies, more details here –
https://youtu.be/LT0sE3ymMnQ?si=0Cstf1AY9xZ4Dxxx
One of Ukraine’s largest grain market operators, Nibulon, has signed a contract with the seaport of Chornomorsk for the transshipment of up to 1 million tons of agricultural products in preparation for the new marketing year, the grain trader’s press service reported on Facebook.
The agricultural holding noted that the signing of this contract was a decisive step in the formation of a flexible logistics model that will allow Nibulon to maintain continuity of exports even without access to its own terminal. In addition, despite the surplus of transshipment capacity on the market, the company managed to achieve a balance of interests. Furthermore, optimized regional logistics will help create added value for Ukrainian farmers.
“Our volume and stability are tools that protect farmers. We work with over 3,000 small and medium-sized agricultural producers who, thanks to efficient logistics, receive competitive purchase prices, allowing them to plan and develop even in difficult conditions,” emphasized Sergey Kalkutin, Nibulon’s logistics director.
The company also emphasized that negotiations with other port operators are currently ongoing.
Before the war, Nibulon cultivated 82,000 hectares of land in 12 regions of Ukraine and exported agricultural products to more than 70 countries around the world. In 2021, the grain trader exported a record 5.64 million tons of agricultural products and delivered record volumes to foreign markets in August (0.7 million tons), in the fourth quarter (1.88 million tons), and in the second half of the year (3.71 million tons).
It is currently operating at 32% of its capacity, has created a special unit for demining agricultural land, and has been forced to move its central office from Mykolaiv to Kyiv.
Israel is closing its diplomatic missions worldwide and consular services will not be provided, the Israeli Embassy in Ukraine said.
“In light of recent events, Israeli missions around the world will be closed and consular services will not be provided,” a statement on the embassy’s website said on Friday.
It is noted that Israelis abroad can use an online form to report their location and current status.
Source: https://new.embassies.gov.il/ukraine/en/announcements/rising-lion-israel-iran-june-2025
The Council of the European Union will take a political decision to extend the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainian refugees in EU countries for another year, until March 2027.
This was announced on Friday in Luxembourg by European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner upon his arrival at the EU Council meeting on home affairs. “Today, we are continuing temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens, but we are also discussing the way forward, a roadmap, because Ukrainians desperately need their people to return to rebuild their country, and that is what we are working on,” he said.
The European Commissioner also noted that Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov will take part in the meeting at the invitation of the European side. “I am very pleased that he accepted my invitation to come here today, because it is always important not just to talk about Ukraine, but to talk to Ukraine and talk with them, that is important,” Brunner stressed.
Upon arriving at the EU Council meeting, Ukrainian Minister for National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov called his participation “unique” and said that the ministers would discuss “the cooperation and support that the European Union is providing to Ukraine right now.” “We have been informed about the extension of temporary protection status for Ukrainian refugees for another year, until March 2027. It is very important to provide these people with clarity regarding their life plans and their safety. And we are very grateful to the European Union for this very important and timely decision,” he stressed.
Chernyshov said that due to Russian terror and deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, ”the situation remains very dramatic.” “Today, we have the full support of the interior ministers of European countries,” the Ukrainian minister said.
He also noted the importance of working with Ukrainians in Europe. ”We currently have about 5 million Ukrainians under temporary protection who left Ukraine after the start of the full-scale invasion. And this number is growing. Sixty percent of them are in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Germany is the country that has taken in the most Ukrainians, more than 1.2 million people. It is important that we are prepared to voluntarily return some or most of the Ukrainians after the war ends and stable peace is established. We are preparing special centers in the capitals of European Union countries — “unity hubs” — which will provide professional services both to Ukrainians who are considering returning home voluntarily after peace is achieved and to those who decide to integrate into European Union countries,” Chernyshov said.
As previously reported, the European Commission had put forward a proposal to extend the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians who were forced to leave the country due to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The European Commission has confirmed the disbursement of the fifth tranche of emergency macro-financial assistance (MFA) to Ukraine in the amount of €1 billion under the ERA, which will be repaid from frozen Russian state assets.
“This further strengthens the EU’s role as Ukraine’s largest donor since the start of Russia’s aggressive war, with total support approaching €150 billion,” the European Commission said on Friday.
It is specified that the total MFA amounts to EUR 18.1 billion and is the EU’s contribution to the G7 Emergency Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative, which aims to provide Ukraine with financial support of approximately EUR 45 billion.
“These loans are to be repaid from the proceeds of Russian state assets frozen in the EU. With this latest payment, the total amount of Commission loans to Ukraine under this MFA will reach EUR 7 billion from the beginning of 2025,” the EC said.
The press release also recalls that “as agreed by European leaders at the Special European Council in early March and confirmed by President Ursula von der Leyen, the Commission stands ready to allocate the EU’s contribution to the ERA loan initiative if necessary.”
“It is in close contact with the Ukrainian authorities on the next disbursements. If Ukraine submits a request, the Commission is ready to respond quickly. This will allow the EU to support any significant increase in military spending in the coming weeks and months, helping to ensure that Ukraine is in a strong position ahead of any potential peace talks,” the press release emphasizes.
