Aug 11, 2026, 01:30 AM UTC

The US Senate has confirmed retired Marine General Ronald Johnson as the new ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Sarajevo currently processing the official agrement.

Simultaneously, FBI Director Kash Patel announced heightened law enforcement cooperation with China and Russia, describing them as non-traditional partners. The collaboration includes personnel exchanges, joint intelligence sharing, and coordinated arrests.

In response to separate American commercial curbs, Beijing’s Commerce Ministry announced countermeasures, restricting domestic transactions with seven US entities, tightening drone technology exports, and limiting American oversight during factory inspections.

Additionally, the US State Department notified Congress of plans to shutter five diplomatic missions globally to reduce operating expenditures, raising concerns among observers regarding potential shifts in regional influence.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded a two-day visit to Belgrade for talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić focused on European integration and regional stability.

During joint appearances, Vučić reiterated Serbia's commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty while clarifying that military cooperation was not discussed. Both leaders affirmed that neither country would impede the other's ambitions toward European Union accession.

The visit highlighted complex geopolitical dynamics in Belgrade. Domestic commentators described the summit as a calculated signal toward Brussels and Washington, even as Vučić refrained from explicitly condemning Moscow. Meanwhile, Russian media interpreted the talks as an attempt by the Serbian leadership to gain Western backing ahead of upcoming elections.

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

Greek firefighters deployed aerial support on Sunday morning to contain a major wildfire along Mount Cithaeron near Megara, west of Athens. Hundreds of emergency responders, volunteers, and military personnel fought the blaze overnight alongside heavy machinery.

In Malta, court proceedings continued against businessman Yorgen Fenech, accused of masterminding the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Her son testified that she was investigating corruption linked to Fenech and government officials.

Meanwhile, the Reuters Institute's Digital News Report 2026 showed that 63 percent of Croatians avoid news, placing Croatia alongside Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey with the world's highest rates.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Poslovni dnevnik

An ongoing heatwave across Southern and Eastern Europe continues to trigger wildfires and severe logistical challenges. In Albania's southern Mallakaster region, emergency services evacuated around 15 families alongside their livestock as blazes threatened residential areas. Meanwhile, Croatian authorities deployed air tankers to extinguish a new fire burning through rugged terrain near Lećevica.

In Greece, firefighters supported by international crews from France and Romania managed to weaken major blazes west of Athens, allowing some residents to return to damaged properties, though flare-ups persist in difficult terrain.

Beyond forest fires, prolonged drought has significantly reduced water levels along major European waterways. Dropping depths on the Rhine now threaten cargo navigation, while low levels on the Danube have created disruptions for energy generation in Hungary.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Klix, Tanjug, Vijesti.

Search and rescue operations continue in western Colombia following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. Death toll estimates vary among news agencies as updates emerge, ranging from at least 47 to over 80 fatalities. In Cali, Mayor Alejandro Eder reported that at least 20 buildings collapsed, leaving residents trapped under debris. Tremors were felt across major metropolitan areas including Bogotá and Medellín. Emergency personnel are conducting ongoing operations to clear rubble and locate survivors.

Sources: Avaz, CDM, HRT Vijesti, Index, Klix.