Aug 5, 2026, 02:00 AM UTC

US President Donald Trump announced that diplomatic negotiations with Iran have resumed, framing the discussions as Tehran's "last chance" to secure an agreement. Iranian officials had previously denied that any talks were taking place. The diplomatic push coincides with expanding federal investigations into cyberattacks on American water infrastructure in Minnesota and Michigan, which authorities suspect originated in Iran. Municipal utility operators confirmed that public water supplies remain secure.

Domestically, recent polling by The Economist and YouGov indicates a sharp decline in public support for Trump ahead of November's midterm elections, adding domestic political pressure as foreign policy and security challenges mount.

Sources: Der Standard, DW, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

Extreme heat and prolonged drought continue to sweep across Europe, driving water levels on major waterways to historic lows. In Germany, the Rhine's water level at Kaub dropped to its lowest point since 1880, while sections of the Danube and Lake Constance also reported record-low July levels.

The German Weather Service warned of incoming temperatures reaching up to 39 degrees Celsius alongside risks of severe thunderstorms. Meanwhile, Southern and Western Europe remain heavily impacted. Emergency crews in France, Spain, and Portugal continue to battle persistent wildfires, including an uncontained blaze near Bordeaux that has halted local tourism. In Italy, health authorities elevated all 27 major cities to the highest heat warning level, designating the extreme conditions as a severe risk for the entire population.

Sources: Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted logistics warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest e-commerce platform, in the Moscow and St. Petersburg regions. Russian officials reported at least six people killed and nine injured in the attacks on the commercial facilities, including five deaths in Moscow County. Ukrainian forces have reportedly struck around 20 Wildberries locations since mid-July, alleging the site is utilized to distribute military equipment and drones.

In a separate incident, Russian authorities stated that seven people died when a drone struck a crowded beach near the Black Sea resort town of Gelendzhik on Monday. Verified footage showed an explosion near bathers. Concurrently, Russian defense officials claimed to have struck seven Ukrainian cargo vessels.

Sources: Aftenposten, Finansavisen, NRK, TV 2 Nyheter.

Recent Ukrainian drone strikes across multiple Russian regions have caused fatalities and significant infrastructure damage. In Moscow Oblast, attacks targeted commercial warehouses, leaving five people dead and ten others injured, according to regional governor Andrey Vorobyov. In Leningrad Oblast, air defenses intercepted 17 drones near Krasny Bor, though falling debris triggered a major fire at a Wildberries e-commerce logistics facility and injured one worker.

Additionally, in Krasnodar Krai, a drone crashed onto a beach in Arkhipo-Osipovka, killing seven people—including three children—and injuring roughly 40 others, regional officials reported. Meanwhile, Russian forces launched night strikes against Kyiv, resulting in nine deaths and 33 injuries, as fighting continued along the eastern frontlines.

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

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on Tuesday that the country's sole nuclear power plant at Paks narrowly avoided a complete shutdown overnight due to critically low water levels in the Danube River. Magyar stated that authorities came "within millimetres" of halting operations around 1:30 a.m. before river levels began to stabilize.

By Tuesday afternoon, Magyar confirmed during a visit to the facility that Hungary's power grid remains stable, with Paks and the Százhalombatta thermal plant continuing to generate electricity. However, extreme heat and record-low river flows continue to strain regional energy supplies, disrupt Danube shipping, and cause agricultural damage across Southeastern Europe. Nearby Slovenia's nuclear facility continues operating at full capacity.

Sources: Balkan Insight, FAZ, France24, Telex, The Guardian