Aug 10, 2026, 07:30 AM UTC

Firefighters in Greece continued combating a major wildfire west of Athens near the city of Megara, deploying hundreds of personnel along Mount Cithaeron alongside military and volunteer support.

In Valletta, testimony continued in the trial of businessman Yorgen Fenech, charged with orchestrating the 2017 car bomb assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Jurors heard that Caruana Galizia was targeted while researching alleged corruption tied to Fenech and senior government officials.

Meanwhile, data from the Reuters Institute's Digital News Report revealed that 63 percent of citizens in Croatia regularly or occasionally avoid news coverage, marking a two percentage point increase from the previous year and placing the country among the highest globally.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Poslovni dnevnik

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel announced expanded security cooperation with China and Russia, identifying them as non-traditional partners. The initiative involves reciprocal law enforcement exchanges, joint intelligence sharing, and coordinated operational raids. The announcement coincides with new retaliatory measures from Beijing targeting American firms. China’s Commerce Ministry banned transactions with seven US entities, restricted drone export controls, and limited American involvement in domestic factory inspections following recent trade restrictions from Washington.

Concurrently, the US State Department notified lawmakers of plans to close five diplomatic missions globally to reduce administrative spending, raising concerns among critics regarding expanded Chinese diplomatic influence. Meanwhile, a US Senate committee approved a resolution recommending contempt of Congress charges against former medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci after he declined to testify regarding federal responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources: Avaz, CDM, Klix, N1, Vijesti.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded a visit to Belgrade following bilateral talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to respecting each other's territorial integrity and pledged not to obstruct their respective European Union accession goals. Vučić explicitly stated that military cooperation was not discussed during the meetings, emphasizing Serbia's alignment with the United Nations Charter. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for Serbia's support toward the Ukrainian public, while regional reporting highlighted differing interpretations of the diplomatic encounter and its broader geopolitical implications.

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

Western defense dynamics are shifting as Ukraine experiences severe air defense shortages, with interceptor deliveries in 2026 dropping to one-third of 2025 levels amid intensified Russian missile strikes. As partners preserve domestic stockpiles for multiple contingencies, Washington is advancing plans to test its multi-layered "Golden Dome" missile defense system by late 2026, with interceptor flight tests scheduled for 2027.

Simultaneously, European Union member states are accelerating efforts to phase out American military technology in favor of domestic defense manufacturing, seeking greater strategic autonomy amid transatlantic trade friction and shifting security commitments. These developments coincide with US intelligence assessments indicating Moscow could stage a limited provocation against a NATO nation within years to test the alliance's Article 5 mutual defense clause.

Sources: Belsat, NEXTA, Point, The Insider