Jul 29, 2026, 02:30 AM UTC

German authorities are investigating a suspected Islamist vehicle attack at Berlin's Christopher Street Day parade on Saturday night, which left one woman dead and 16 others injured. A white van drove into a crowd near Tiergarten park at approximately 22:00 local time.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that "everything we are seeing here shows that we are dealing with an Islamist attack." Police identified the primary suspect as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese descent. Following an intensive citywide manhunt involving local and federal officers, police shot and killed Ballout in the Spandau district after he reportedly confronted officers with a knife. Federal and state law enforcement agencies continue to examine potential extremist motives and connections surrounding the incident.

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

Wildfires across south-west France and Spain have forced mass evacuations as flames advance towards Bordeaux, prompting authorities to close the Bordeaux–Biarritz railway and adjust Tour de France routes. Firefighters continue struggling against the blazes, which officials warn "are far from having the fire under control." Weather conditions remain severe, with a rare pyrocumulonimbus cloud generating unpredictable winds and lightning strikes.

French authorities reported that over 42,000 hectares have burned in the Gironde department, contributing to 115,000 hectares scorched nationwide this year. Two firefighter fatalities have been confirmed, and arson investigations are underway following three suspicious ignitions in the Var region. Estimates of total displaced residents vary across reports, ranging from 220,000 to over 325,000 across both countries. French President Emmanuel Macron convened a crisis meeting to address the emergency.

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

US President Donald Trump held separate discussions at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The diplomatic encounters took place alongside heightened military actions in the Middle East. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched several ballistic missiles toward a US military base in Jordan. According to US Central Command, American forces successfully intercepted all incoming projectiles.

In his meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy focused on obtaining additional air defense capabilities and exploring pathways for peace talks. Although the US administration previously paused direct military hardware shipments to Kyiv, Trump expressed praise for Ukraine's rapid advancements in drone technology.

Sources: NRK, TV 2 Nyheter.

Japanese authorities have confirmed multiple fatalities following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu island on Tuesday, which was followed by a magnitude 3 aftershock.

Emergency personnel are searching for survivors at a Kashima shopping center where a second-floor collapse, triggered by a suspected explosion, trapped numerous people inside. Search operations also remain underway at a local paper factory where several workers went missing after a chimney collapsed.

The earthquake caused widespread structural damage, including collapsed castle walls, a destroyed footbridge, and damaged roads. Over 40,000 households are currently without electricity, and more than 150,000 residents were directed to evacuation shelters. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi noted that "the full extent of the damage has yet to be determined" as rescue efforts continue. An initial tsunami warning was lifted shortly after the quake.

Sources: BBC News, Die Zeit, NOS, ORF, TV 2 Nyheter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump at the White House for a one-hour closed-door meeting focused on air defence capabilities and diplomatic efforts.

During the talks, attended by key cabinet members including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Zelenskyy raised the prospect of acquiring licences to produce Patriot interceptor missiles in Ukraine. He also shared intelligence regarding Ukrainian strikes on Iranian vessels supplying Russia.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the encounter a "positive and productive meeting," while Zelenskyy characterized it as a "good meeting" and expressed gratitude for American assistance. Despite the constructive tone, no final agreement or formal breakthrough regarding the Patriot manufacturing licences was announced.

Sources: Bloomberg, La Stampa, ORF, Respect