Aug 9, 2026, 07:30 PM UTC

Emergency response crews in Greece continued fighting a massive wildfire in the Kitheronas mountain range near Megara, supported by aircraft, military units, and volunteers.

In Malta, testimony continued in the trial regarding the 2017 murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Her son told the court that she was targeted while investigating corruption linked to high-level officials and businessman Yorgen Fenech, who stands accused of orchestrating the fatal car bomb attack.

In Croatia, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković reaffirmed targets to increase average monthly net wages to €1,600 by 2028, ahead of minimum wage consultations in October. Separately, figures from the Reuters Institute highlighted growing media fatigue, revealing that 63 percent of Croatians frequently avoid news coverage.

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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point post-war plan proposed by the US-led Peace Committee for Gaza's disarmament. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu stated, "I want to make clear here. Israel rejects the 15-point document." Israeli officials expressed concern that Hamas accepted the framework primarily to stall further Israeli military operations.

The rejection comes alongside reports that the Peace Committee awarded its first Gaza construction contract to US firm Arkel International to build a temporary military base for 150 Moroccan peacekeepers, rather than housing for displaced residents. Meanwhile, violence persisted in the West Bank, where armed Israeli settlers set fire to homes in Khirbet a-Tuba, leaving several Palestinians injured.

Sources: Avaz, Beta, Danas, Index, Klix

Russian drone and missile bombardments have killed over 20 people and injured dozens across Ukraine in a severe wave of overnight attacks targeting multiple regions.

In the Kyiv capital region, local officials reported between 15 and 17 deaths and over 40 injuries following intense strikes with ballistic missiles and drones, which sparked major fires in residential districts and commercial warehouses. Authorities characterized the strikes as "one of the most tragic attacks so far" in the capital area.

Further south and east, regional authorities in Dnipropetrovsk recorded five fatalities and 16 injuries following nearly 60 bombardments across five districts, including a drone strike on a gas station near Kryvyi Rih. Meanwhile, attacks targeting Odesa damaged power grid infrastructure, port facilities, and apartment buildings, leaving eight people wounded.

Concurrently, Russian officials stated that a Ukrainian drone attack in the Belgorod border region resulted in three civilian deaths.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă

As transatlantic security challenges grow, American intelligence agencies assess that Moscow could stage a limited provocation against a NATO member within years to test the alliance's Article 5 mutual defense clause.

The assessment coincides with critical air defense shortages in Kyiv. Western interceptor deliveries to Ukraine fell threefold in 2026 compared to the previous year, leaving major infrastructure exposed as partners preserve domestic stockpiles.

In response to expanding aerial threats, Washington plans initial tests for its multi-layered "Golden Dome" missile shield by late 2026, with interceptor flight tests scheduled for 2027. Simultaneously, European Union member states are accelerating plans to phase out American military technology in favor of local defense manufacturing, seeking operational autonomy amid transatlantic trade friction and shifting security commitments.

Sources: Belsat, NEXTA, Point, The Insider

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić confirmed that his recent Belgrade talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not involve discussions on military cooperation, emphasizing mutual support for territorial integrity and European Union accession instead.

Analytic and regional media coverage highlighted varying interpretations of the high-level visit. Serbian analysts noted that Vučić sought to signal goodwill toward Brussels and Washington while avoiding direct condemnation of Moscow. Conversely, Croatian broadcaster HRT reported that the meeting followed pressure from EU officials and exacerbated divisions between pro-European and right-wing political factions in Serbia. Meanwhile, Russian media characterized the encounter as a calculated move by Vučić to secure Western backing ahead of upcoming domestic elections, asserting that the local public viewed the visit unfavorably.

Sources: Beta, Danas, HRT Vijesti, Klix, N1.