Jul 28, 2026, 09:30 PM UTC

The United States Department of Defense has initiated a formal review of its 80,000 troops deployed across Europe, aiming to shift greater security responsibilities onto European NATO members under President Donald Trump's administration.

Meanwhile, long-range aerial attacks continue between Russia and Ukraine. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that air defense systems intercepted more than 390 Ukrainian drones overnight. However, Ukrainian media reported a strike on a steel plant near the Russian capital. The attack follows Ukrainian strikes on logistics hubs belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, which analysts estimate caused up to $1.3 billion in damages.

Concurrently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia intends to recruit 30,000 North Korean personnel to deploy in the Voronezh region, accompanied by new ballistic missile launch systems provided by Pyongyang.

Sources: DW, FAZ, Hartpunkt, ORF, Sweden Herald.

US President Donald Trump stated that Washington is engaged in detailed discussions with Tehran, warning that "a large-scale military operation" could resume if negotiations fail. The temporary pause in strikes, following nearly two weeks of combat, contributed to a drop in global crude oil prices.

Simultaneously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington seeking to push for continued military strikes against Iran, underscoring strategic friction between the allies. Meanwhile, intelligence assessments from Pakistan suggest the US military could still execute a limited coastal ground operation, despite cautions from domestic military leadership.

Debate also continues over US military readiness. While Trump asserted that "we have more ammunition than anyone else and far beyond our needs," media reports indicate sustained operations have heavily depleted American weapon stockpiles.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Der Standard, La Stampa, ORF

German law enforcement officers have shot and killed 21-year-old suspect Abdul Ballout in Berlin's Spandau district following a fatal vehicle attack at the city's Christopher Street Day parade. Authorities launched a citywide search after a white van drove into a crowd near Tiergarten park late Saturday, leaving one woman dead and 16 others injured.

According to police, officers opened fire when Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese descent, charged at them with a knife during a confrontation. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that initial evidence indicates an "Islamist attack," though federal and local law enforcement agencies continue to investigate potential extremist ties and motives surrounding the incident.

Sources: BBC News, Die Zeit, Koha, Tagesschau.

Firefighters in France and Spain are attempting to contain sprawling wildfires that have forced mass evacuations and prompted emergency responses from national leaders. Strong winds and elevated temperatures have pushed flames toward the outskirts of Bordeaux, leading authorities to suspend regional rail services. In Gironde, more than 42,000 hectares have been destroyed, while French officials launched arson inquiries following three suspect ignitions in the Var region. Two firefighter fatalities have been confirmed.

Displaced population estimates vary among reports, ranging from 220,000 to over 325,000 people forced from their homes across both countries. Weather conditions have been compounded by a pyrocumulonimbus cloud generating localized wind and lightning. French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting as fire officials warned that the situation remains uncontained.

Sources: BBC News, Der Standard, France24, Helsingin Sanomat, Le Figaro.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is confronting growing internal discontent within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) following a swift cabinet reshuffle triggered by Jens Spahn's resignation. Party members expressed frustration over the dismissal of officials, including former Parliamentary State Secretary Tino Sorge, whose complaints were rejected by government officials as standard ministerial prerogative.

Despite internal friction, the reorganization introduced Steffen Bilger as transport minister and Philipp Amthor as federal-state coordinator. State leaders welcomed Amthor's appointment, hoping it will resolve persistent communication breakdowns with the Chancellery. Simultaneously, the Bavarian CSU signaled unity during a retreat at Kloster Banz, backing Merz and framing itself as a stabilizing force amid the political turbulence in Berlin.

Sources: FAZ, Tagesschau, Der Spiegel