Aug 5, 2026, 01:00 AM UTC

Wildfires triggered by an intense heatwave across France and Spain have severely degraded air quality for millions of residents, according to atmospheric scientists. The smoke pollution follows record-breaking regional heat, prompting municipal leaders in Rome to unveil a science-based adaptation strategy aimed at expanding urban greening, safeguarding vulnerable populations, and upgrading public water infrastructure.

Globally, preliminary climate data places 2026 as the third-warmest year on record, behind 2024 and 2025. Researchers warn that upcoming climate patterns, including El Niño, could push temperatures higher. Meanwhile, severe drought in eastern Croatia has reduced the Drava and Danube rivers to historical lows, with the Drava setting record minimum levels three times in rapid succession. Despite surging municipal demand, national water authorities report that public water supplies remain secure and unaffected.

Sources: Beta, HRT Vijesti, Index, N1, Poslovni dnevnik

Ukrainian drone attacks across several Russian regions have damaged commercial infrastructure and caused multiple casualties. In Moscow Oblast, warehouse strikes killed five people and injured ten. A separate attack in Leningrad Oblast ignited a fire at a Wildberries logistics complex, leaving one worker injured after air defenses intercepted 17 drones. In Krasnodar Krai, a drone crash on a beach in Arkhipo-Osipovka killed seven people, including three children, and wounded around 40 others.

Concurrently, Russian forces launched strikes on Kyiv, resulting in nine deaths and 33 injuries. On the frontline, Russian forces achieved tactical advances near Artelne in the Kharkiv region, whereas Ukrainian troops pushed toward Uspenovka. Amid the ongoing combat, Belarus reported forming a new air assault brigade along its border with Ukraine.

Sources: France24, Mediazona, Point, Радіо Свобода, The Insider

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić emphasized Serbia's economic resilience and military defense capabilities during a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina alongside Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik. Speaking at the Rmanj Monastery, Vučić announced that Belgrade had directed €142 million to ethnic Serbs in the region, offering further financial support if Serbia's economic growth surpasses 4.2%.

At a commemoration in Mrkonjić Grad marking Croatia's 1995 Operation Storm, Vučić declared that Serbia would "never again" permit violence against Serbs, citing the nation's rising strength while reiterating commitment to military neutrality. He also visited his ancestral home in Čipuljić, reflecting on childhood memories and framing upcoming domestic elections as critical for national stability.

Sources: Beta, Danas, Klix, N1, Tanjug

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić visited the municipality of Jezero in Republika Srpska on August 4, pledging substantial financial support from Belgrade for local development projects.

Meeting with municipal officials and residents, Vučić reaffirmed Serbia's commitment to deepening ties with the autonomous Serb entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Addressing broader regional challenges, he alleged that external powers frequently seek to curtail Serbia's sovereignty and strategic influence in the Western Balkans. He drew historical comparisons to foreign diplomatic interference following the 1878 Congress of Berlin.

The pledge reinforces Serbia's ongoing strategy of extending financial and political assistance to Serb-populated areas in neighbouring states despite recurring regional diplomatic friction.

Sources: Tanjug

Ukrainian forces have sustained their long-range drone offensive against key Russian logistics centers, damaging facilities belonging to major online retailer Wildberries. Strikes across Russia, including a recent attack on a warehouse in the Vladimir region near Moscow, have now destroyed over one million square meters of distribution infrastructure.

Concurrently, aerial violence escalated along the Black Sea coast. Russian officials reported that drone debris crashed onto a crowded resort beach in Gelendzhik, killing seven civilians, including three children. Further strikes in Belgorod and Crimea raised the reported death toll across Russian-controlled territories to 11. Moscow accused Kyiv of intentionally targeting civilian sites. Meanwhile, Russian forces launched a series of glide bomb attacks on residential neighborhoods in Zaporizhzhia, killing one person and injuring dozens.

Sources: Canarias7, El Día, El Mundo, La Stampa, La Vanguardia