Aug 3, 2026, 03:30 AM UTC

Fresh diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran are scheduled to start on Monday following Washington's decision to suspend planned military strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that the pause responded in part to requests from regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, while reiterating that Tehran remains "almost defeated."

The diplomatic opening follows a recent flare-up in which American forces intercepted multiple Iranian ballistic missiles directed at U.S. personnel. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that Washington must abide by existing framework agreements, even as Tehran conducts negotiations with Oman regarding transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, reports emerged of an explosion near a tanker in the strategic waterway.

Expectations of a potential breakthrough led Asian crude oil prices to decline by more than five percent. In parallel, Saudi Arabia announced a new maritime coalition aimed at safeguarding shipping routes across the Red Sea.

Sources: Bloomberg, Corriere della Sera, El Mundo, FAZ

European Union interior ministers will hold emergency talks on Tuesday to address the influx of migrants entering the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco. Between 50,000 and 60,000 people crossed into the territory, prompting 22 EU member states to petition Brussels for stronger external border management.

Discrepancies remain regarding total casualties. Municipal officials initially recorded 34 to over 40 fatalities, while Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska later confirmed 67 individuals drowned attempting to swim around border barriers.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the event as a violation of national sovereignty and pledged to return arrivals. Sánchez rejected calls to suspend Schengen open-border rules, calling those proposals "selfish, polarising and unlawful". European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the situation as "unacceptable".

Sources: BBC News, Corriere della Sera, FAZ, Respect

American defense companies are actively pursuing partnerships and manufacturing facilities in Spain to maintain their footprint in the expanding European defense market. Following increased military spending triggered by the conflict in Ukraine, European nations are increasingly prioritizing sovereign defense capabilities and local procurement.

To prevent losing lucrative supply contracts to European competitors, major US defense firms aim to establish local production hubs across Spain. By partnering with Spanish industrial enterprises or establishing local manufacturing bases, these companies intend to comply with European Union initiatives that favor localized defense production while continuing to meet rising demand for military hardware.

Sources: El Mundo

Authorities in Liechtenstein are investigating a major cyberattack after unknown perpetrators stole approximately 31,000 digital records from the country's register of beneficial owners during the night between Thursday and Friday.

The compromised database, established in 2021 to prevent money laundering, contained information regarding corporate entities, foundations, and trust arrangements. Officials in Vaduz confirmed that a government crisis team has been meeting since Saturday to manage the response, evaluate security protocols, and assess the full scope of the compromise.

The identity and motives of the hackers remain unknown. The incident highlights potential reputational risks for Liechtenstein's standing as a clean financial hub as official investigations continue.

Sources: Der Standard, Die Zeit.