Aug 4, 2026, 02:00 PM UTC

Following the recent migration surge into Ceuta, Spanish authorities and local officials are managing the aftermath while conflicting casualty and entry figures persist. Guardia Civil officers have established a missing persons bureau as Ceuta's autonomous government reported 88 fatalities linked to last week's events. Local officials estimate that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in the enclave.

Meanwhile, Morocco acknowledged that 40,000 migrants approached Ceuta and 1,135 reached Melilla, confirming 11 deaths on its territory. Political fallout continues in Madrid, where the central government dismissed a National Security Department official over published statistics that cited 49,000 entries. Internal friction also emerged between ministries over border management.

Sources: Canarias7, Diário de Notícias, El Día, El Mundo, La Vanguardia

A severe heatwave continues across Western Europe, with forecasts predicting temperatures reaching up to 39 degrees Celsius. The Deutscher Wetterdienst issued official heat warnings across central and southern German states, alongside alerts for heavy thunderstorms, hail, and strong gusts.

The prolonged dry conditions have severely impacted maritime transport, causing the Rhine River's water level at Kaub to drop to its lowest point since 1880. Meanwhile, emergency crews in France, Spain, and Portugal are battling widespread wildfires. In France, an uncontrolled blaze near Bordeaux has halted local tourism activities, while additional fires were reported in the Netherlands near the German border.

Sources: Die Zeit, DW, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

Norwegian authorities and courts are handling several criminal developments. Three teenagers from Stavanger have been charged in Norway for assisting in a murder plot in England, following a British court conviction. In Ullensaker, police evaluators determined that a 45-year-old man was legally sane when he allegedly stabbed his father to death at Kløfta in June. In the Øst police district, a teacher with church ties has been remanded in custody over alleged sexual abuse of minors aged 14 to 16, with police searching for additional potential victims. Meanwhile, Norwegian media covered the trial of Lindsay Clancy in the United States, where her husband testified regarding the deaths of their three children as defense lawyers cite postpartum psychosis.

Sources: VG, Aftenposten, TV 2 Nyheter, NRK

High temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius have triggered severe drought, wildfires, and repeated heatwaves across the Netherlands. Parts of the southern province of Limburg are currently facing their fourth regional heatwave this summer, prompting emergency responses.

Firefighters are working to contain multiple blazes, including a large wildfire in the Rosmolen nature reserve. Meanwhile, water management authorities warn that ecosystems, agriculture, and shipping sectors face acute water shortages. Although earlier investments in freshwater buffers helped prevent worse outcomes, officials cautioned that "the garage with measures is now empty" as water reserves decline. At the same time, health experts advise that human bodies can acclimate to prolonged warm spells, helping reduce heat stress.

Sources: NRC, NU, NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting)

Cross-border attacks between Russian and Ukrainian forces have left 14 people dead. Ukrainian strikes targeted infrastructure in Russian-occupied Crimea and the Krasnodar region, triggering power outages, fuel deficits, and water shortages. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev described the action as a deliberate assault against civilians, while reports from Crimea highlighted mounting public dissatisfaction with local Russian authorities' emergency handling.

Separately, former Ukrainian army chief Valery Zaluzhny stated during a meeting with diplomats that Ukraine will never join NATO, attributing this to opposition from key member states, including the United States. Zaluzhny remarked that Ukraine's military has effectively become "more modern than NATO" due to its extensive combat experience.

In Middle Eastern affairs, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that active discussions are currently taking place with Iran concerning regional conflicts.

Sources: Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, RTBF Info.