The briefing for Saturday, July 4.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday the country is preparing for various scenarios and that the coming months could be 'critical' concerning threats from Russia. His comments came in response to reports citing U.S. intelligence that Moscow is planning an armed provocation in Poland to test NATO's resolve. Polish news outlet Onet reported that sources close to President Karol Nawrocki said the U.S. had issued several warnings to Warsaw about a plot to attack the country.

Under the purported plans, also published by the Telegraph, Polish infrastructure could be targeted by missiles or drones, or soldiers could be sent into the NATO state. The reports suggest the aim would be to pressure Ukraine's western allies to suspend aid as the country continues fighting Russia's full-scale invasion launched in 2022. The White House and U.S. State Department did not respond to requests for comment on the intelligence reports.

Tusk told reporters that concerns are particularly acute in the Baltic states, adding that Poland is aware of threats 'thanks to information from our allies.' Latvia reported in June that its intelligence services had warned Moscow was planning military provocations in the region or Poland. Lithuania's ambassador to NATO said Thursday that Russia is more likely to resort to hybrid warfare—such as missile or drone incursions—than conventional military attack. NATO's Article 5 states that an armed attack against one member will be considered an attack against all.

NATO's top commander told the Associated Press on Friday that European allies have filled most of the holes created by a U.S. decision to cut back military contributions in times of crisis. U.S. Gen. Alex Grynkewich said that in a matter of weeks, European allies have largely filled the gaps left by U.S. reductions to the NATO Force Model, which sets out military assets commanders can call on during conflict.

The comments come days before President Donald Trump and allied leaders gather for a July 7-8 summit in Turkey, where force planning will be high on the agenda. On June 3, the Pentagon informed NATO allies it would no longer provide an aircraft carrier and support ships, aerial refueling planes, and dozens of fighter jets, among other assets, as it focuses on potential threats from China in the Indo-Pacific region. Britain has put a second aircraft carrier and F-35 fighter jets on higher readiness for emergencies.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has played down the impact of the administration's decision, believing the United States would shift more resources to Europe should conflict arise. 'This is not about where forces and assets are currently located,' Rutte said last month. 'It's about who would do what if our defense plans were activated.' European allies and Canada scoured their inventories to see what could be offered should one of them come under attack.

France recorded 2,025 excess deaths during the peak of the recent heatwave between June 22-28, nearly 30% more than usual, according to Public Health France. The French health ministry said the figure is likely an underestimate and mortality will be higher than initial figures. Deaths rose by 62% in the Paris region alone, while drowning deaths soared to 72 since June 18, according to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

Belgium recorded 1,222 excess deaths during the heatwave—39% more than usual—with almost half being people aged 85 and over. The country's health ministry called the number of deaths during a heatwave 'unprecedented.' The Netherlands reported about 480 excess deaths last week, most aged 80 and older, with temperatures reaching almost 40C in parts of the country. Most deaths were reported in the south and east where temperatures were highest.

Europe is now bracing for more extreme weather this weekend. Temperatures are forecast to reach 40C in southern France, with peaks of 36C to 37C expected around Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Agen. Météo-France issued red alerts for forest fires, warning the risk of outbreak is 'very high.' Nearly 7,000 fires have broken out since the start of summer, burning about 8,700 hectares. Climate change is driving temperatures up across Europe, which is heating twice as fast as the global average according to the Copernicus climate service.

The Louisiana Supreme Court halted the criminal case against state Attorney General Liz Murrill on Friday, one day after she was indicted on accusations that she threatened the jobs of New Orleans officials. The state's top court said the local court and special prosecutor did not follow proper procedures surrounding the indictment, including reports that a journalist was handcuffed and locked out while attempting to report on the grand jury action.

The court cited deep flaws with the charges, saying 'this indictment appears to turn the law on its head and flows from what appear to be extraordinary procedural defects and improprieties.' Justice Jay McCallum's filing noted likely conflicts of interest involving special prosecutor Laurie White, a former state judge who is being defended by the attorney general's office against a sexual harassment lawsuit. The court also noted that White previously represented Calvin Duncan, whose case is central to the political dispute.

The case stems from a major political battle in Louisiana. The state abolished the job of the New Orleans criminal court clerk and merged it with another position, months after Duncan—who spent decades in prison before his murder conviction was vacated—was elected to the office. Murrill sent a letter to New Orleans city council members and the mayor warning they could lose their offices for violating state laws forbidding support for an unauthorized officeholder. After the indictment, Governor Jeff Landry said he would pardon Murrill and ordered state police to investigate alleged improprieties of the grand jury.

A spacecraft rocketed into orbit Friday to rescue a NASA telescope in danger of crashing back to Earth. Northrop Grumman launched Katalyst Space Technologies' Link spacecraft from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific aboard a Pegasus rocket that blasted off from the belly of a modified airplane. The mission will attempt to reach and capture NASA's Swift Observatory in about a month.

Launched in 2004, Swift is sinking faster than ever because of recent solar storms that have increased atmospheric drag. The 1.6-ton telescope currently circles 224 miles above Earth. NASA is paying $30 million for Katalyst to capture the telescope and boost its orbit by 150 miles so it can continue tracking gamma ray bursts and exploding stars. Observations are currently on hold to preserve the telescope's orbit as long as possible.

If all goes well, Swift could be back scanning the cosmos by September. Link's thrusters will fire to boost Swift slowly to avoid heavy jostling. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope could be a candidate for a similar salvage operation in a few years, as it's also slipping in altitude because of increased atmospheric drag caused by the sun's outbursts.