Jul 28, 2026, 05:00 PM UTC

The Tyumen oil refinery in Russia has suspended production following a drone strike on July 25, according to industry sources cited by Reuters. The attack caused fires at critical facility units, including those responsible for diesel hydrotreating and high-octane gasoline manufacturing. It remains unclear when the plant will be capable of resuming normal operations. The strike occurred on Saturday morning, damaging infrastructure and disrupting facility activities. As of now, the full extent of the operational downtime remains unconfirmed as assessments continue.

Sources: The Insider

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended plans to construct new gas-fired power plants, asserting that the initiative will not derail the country's transition toward clean energy. Speaking on Germany's energy strategy, Merz clarified that relying on natural gas does not signal a retreat from renewable expansion or a permanent return to fossil fuels. Instead, the temporary integration of gas generation is essential to maintain grid stability and guarantee an uninterrupted electricity supply while green infrastructure develops.

Last year, renewable sources accounted for 58.6 percent of Germany's total power production, forming the largest single share in the nation's energy mix. Merz maintained that flexible conventional capacity remains necessary at present to bridge generation gaps associated with variable weather conditions.

Sources: Rzeczpospolita.

The Hungarian parliament has passed legislation establishing a new National Asset Recovery Agency tasked with tracking down and retrieving public funds misappropriated over the past 16 years. According to reports, the independent body has been granted broad investigative powers to locate state property allegedly siphoned off during the long-standing administration of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The initiative marks a significant structural attempt to address systemic corruption concerns and restore public assets. The newly formed agency will possess specialized authority to pursue financial restitution across both domestic and international jurisdictions.

Sources: The Insider

Russia and Afghanistan's Taliban-led government signed a military-technical cooperation agreement on May 27 aimed at servicing Soviet-era weapons in the Afghan military arsenal. The deal represents a further consolidation of bilateral ties between Moscow and the Taliban following the withdrawal of United States armed forces from the region.

Russia currently stands as the sole nation to have formally recognized the Taliban administration as Afghanistan's legitimate government. While the strategic alignment strengthens Moscow's geopolitical presence in Central Asia, analysts note that the partnership yields limited direct material or economic advantages for Russia. Nevertheless, the agreement underscores Moscow's commitment to expanding security collaboration with the Taliban regime while maintaining oversight of military equipment remaining in the country.

Sources: The Insider

Water levels on the Danube River at the Romanian border are projected to decline sharply in early August, falling to nearly three times below the multi-year average. According to the National Administration "Apele Române" (ANAR), the discharge rate dropped to 1,650 cubic meters per second on Tuesday and is expected to reach approximately 1,600 cubic meters per second by the start of August.

Forecasts indicate a further decrease to 1,500 cubic meters per second by August 4. This trajectory approaches the record low recorded in 1985, when the entry flow into Romania dropped to 1,400 cubic meters per second. Water management authorities continue to monitor the downward trend across the river basin.

Sources: Digi24