Aug 9, 2026, 01:30 PM UTC

Greek emergency services continued operations on Sunday to control a severe wildfire in the Kitheronas mountain range near Megara, utilizing aircraft, military personnel, and ground crews.

In Malta, court proceedings progressed in the trial concerning the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Jurors heard testimony from her son regarding her corruption investigations into government figures and businessman Yorgen Fenech, who is accused of ordering the fatal car bomb attack.

Meanwhile, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković projected that average monthly net wages will reach €1,600 by the end of his term in 2028, with minimum wage talks scheduled for October. Concurrently, findings from the Reuters Institute showed that 63 percent of Croatians frequently avoid news coverage, among the highest rates globally.

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

Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's arrival in Belgrade, discussions with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić focused on bilateral trade and mutual support for European Union integration.

During joint press statements, Vučić confirmed that both nations support each other's territorial integrity and pledged that Serbia would not block Ukraine's EU accession. However, Vučić emphasized that their talks did not involve any military cooperation, expressing hope for a swift end to the conflict. Observers noted that while the visit serves as a diplomatic signal to Western allies, the Serbian leadership avoided explicit condemnation of Russia's actions.

The visit highlights Belgrade's delicate balance between seeking EU membership and maintaining ties with Moscow, amid internal political divisions within Serbia.

Sources: Beta, Danas, HRT Vijesti, Klix, Vijesti.

US intelligence assesses that Moscow could stage a limited provocation against a NATO nation within years to test the alliance's Article 5 mutual defense guarantee.

The assessment coincides with severe shortages in Ukrainian air defenses. Reports indicate Western interceptor deliveries to Kyiv dropped threefold in 2026 compared to 2025, leaving major infrastructure vulnerable as allies retain domestic stockpiles.

To strengthen North American security, the United States plans to test initial elements of its multi-layered "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative before the end of the year, with flight tests scheduled for 2027.

Simultaneously, European Union countries are advancing plans to phase out American military technology in favor of local production, seeking defense independence amid transatlantic trade frictions and shifting security commitments.

Sources: Belsat, NEXTA, Point, The Insider