Aug 12, 2026, 01:30 AM UTC

Emergency personnel in Greece continued battling a major wildfire west of Athens near Megara and Mount Cithaeron, deploying aircraft, military vehicles, and hundreds of firefighters.

In Malta, trial testimony detailed journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s anti-corruption inquiries prior to her 2017 car bomb assassination. Businessman Yorgen Fenech stands accused of ordering the attack to suppress her investigations into ties between him and high-ranking officials.

In Croatia, the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) initiated a no-confidence motion against the ruling coalition following a hazardous waste scandal in Gospić. The political move coincides with newly released data from the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2026, which found that 63 percent of Croatian respondents actively avoid news coverage—among the highest rates globally.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Klix, Poslovni dnevnik

Omani-mediated negotiations over maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz have reached advanced stages, though an agreement remains unfinalized. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that reopening the strategic waterway requires U.S. concessions, including sanction relief, war damage compensation, and a cessation of military threats. Tehran seeks oversight of inbound and outbound traffic along with intervention rights if deemed necessary.

U.S. President Donald Trump presented varying assessments of the talks, initially suggesting a resolution could occur within days before downplaying urgency and describing the standoff as "a chess game."

Simultaneously, a seventh round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon commenced in Rome as roughly 800,000 displaced Lebanese citizens began returning to southern areas. Off the Yemeni coast, an Indian commercial vessel was reportedly struck and sunk.

Sources: Avaz, CDM, Dan, Klix, Vijesti

Iran continues to enforce its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, demanding complete American adherence to the June memorandum, sanction removals, and war damages. Although US President Donald Trump stated the waterway has been cleared of mines and emphasized that Washington retains "capabilities for an escalation," Iranian leadership maintains leverage over the vital maritime passage. Concurrently, officials in Tehran dismissed rumors concerning Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's deteriorating health, confirming he held discussions with President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Regionally, Houthi forces launched strikes against Saudi targets across the Red Sea, while Israeli operations targeted sites in southern Lebanon. In Israel, peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov advocated for the US-supported Gaza framework following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's explicit dismissal of the proposal, asserting the initiative ensures the territory will never again compromise Israeli security.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.

Spanish authorities are preparing to contain potential new mass border crossings into Ceuta following calls monitored on Moroccan social media targeting mid-August. Security personnel from the National Police, Guardia Civil, and military forces will maintain enhanced deployments in the enclave.

Ceuta President Juan Vivas reiterated that between 8,000 and 11,000 migrants remain in the territory, describing conditions as "unsustainable" and calling swift returns to Morocco the "only way out". Meanwhile, military involvement in detaining and transferring migrants for deportation has highlighted growing political friction between Spain's Interior and Defense ministries regarding border operations and diplomatic relations with Rabat.

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

Serbian media watchdog groups have reported a sharp increase in intimidation and physical violence targeting journalists during July 2026. The Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia recorded 19 security incidents, including two physical assaults and 14 death threats. Additionally, the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation documented over 100 verbal attacks, largely attributing them to ruling party officials.

Notable incidents include an online death threat directed at local outlet Volim Zrenjanin and a physical assault in Belgrade on film director Stevan Filipović. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the attack on Filipović. Concurrently, press groups condemned threats directed at pro-government figures, including harassment at the residence of Informer editor Dragan J. Vučićević. President Aleksandar Vučić condemned the violence and called for institutional action.

Sources: Beta, CDM, Danas, N1, Tanjug