Aug 7, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC

Emergency responders in Greece deployed aircraft and ground troops to combat a severe wildfire threatening the town of Megara. In Malta, jurors in the trial of businessman Yorgen Fenech heard testimony regarding journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia's corruption investigations prior to her 2017 assassination. Meanwhile, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković reaffirmed targets to increase average net monthly salaries to €1,600 by 2028, with consultations scheduled for October to adjust the minimum wage. Additionally, findings from the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2026 revealed that 63 percent of respondents in Croatia actively avoid news coverage, positioning the country among the highest globally for news avoidance alongside Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that international partners delivered only one-third of the air defense interceptors to Ukraine this year compared to previous levels, despite escalating Russian missile and drone attacks. In response, Zelensky discussed options with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to secure additional interceptor missiles, particularly for Patriot systems capable of downing ballistic threats.

Simultaneously, Kyiv announced it has met all necessary conditions to open four new negotiating clusters for European Union accession. To further support Ukraine's defense and financial stability, the EU transferred a fifth tranche of €1.4 billion generated from interest on immobilized Russian central bank assets.

Sources: Digi24, Economedia, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that ongoing diplomatic talks with Iran represent the nation's "last chance" to secure a comprehensive agreement, noting that regional partners including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE support the effort while Washington maintains military readiness. Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker confirmed that a joint interceptor production deal for Patriot air defense systems with Kyiv is unlikely before winter, though broader defense cooperation continues. In Russia, Ukrainian drone strikes hit Wildberries e-commerce facilities across the Moscow, Tver, and Saint Petersburg regions. Moscow Governor Andrey Vorobyov confirmed at least five people were killed and ten injured in an attack near the capital.

Sources: Kanal 5, Makfax, MIA (Media Information Agency), SDK, Sloboden Pečat

Cross-border strikes and frontline shifts continue to escalate regional hostilities. Ukrainian drone attacks targeting multiple Russian regions caused casualties and ignited fires at commercial infrastructure. In Moscow Oblast, regional officials reported five deaths and ten injuries, while a strike near St. Petersburg ignited a fire at a Wildberries warehouse. Additionally, a drone impact on a beach in Krasnodar Krai left seven people dead, including three children.

Simultaneously, a Russian missile attack on Kyiv killed nine residents and injured dozens more. On the battlefield, Russian troops secured a tactical breakthrough near Artelne in Kharkiv Oblast, while Ukrainian forces reported progress in southern Donetsk Oblast. Meanwhile, Belarusian authorities confirmed the establishment of an air assault brigade near the Ukrainian border.

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

Spanish authorities have bolstered military and police deployments around Ceuta following a recent mass border entry. Spain’s Interior and Defense ministries have dispatched three naval vessels and expanded riot control personnel to secure the enclave by land and sea. Meanwhile, officials have begun processing initial asylum claims, even as some migrant minors voluntarily swim back to Morocco.

Data regarding the surge remains contested. Central government representatives state that roughly 2,500 migrants remain in Ceuta, including 500 unaccompanied minors. In contrast, local autonomous authorities estimate 6,000 individuals, following earlier claims by Ceuta’s president that up to 80,000 crossed. Reports also indicate military personnel are detaining migrant groups near perimeter fences to conduct immediate returns across the border.

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