Aug 13, 2026, 08:30 PM UTC

Moroccan authorities have attributed the late July border surge of tens of thousands of migrants toward the Spanish enclave of Ceuta to widespread social media misinformation. Security forces in Morocco have arrested several suspects accused of instigating fresh coordinated mass crossing attempts planned for 15 August across online platforms.

The initial surge, fueled by deceptive digital promises, resulted in widespread drownings, though casualty figures remain disputed, with reports ranging from over 70 to more than 100 fatalities. Ceuta remains under significant logistical and humanitarian strain, with hundreds of stranded migrants sheltering along local beaches as local residents express growing frustration over the crisis and its wider political fallout.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.

Ukrainian drone strikes continue to disrupt Russian energy infrastructure, igniting a blaze at an oil facility in Salavat while leaving other installations facing prolonged closures. In response to mounting strain on energy systems, officials in Kyiv are preparing for potential disruptions ahead of winter, anticipating sustained Russian bombardments against domestic power networks.

Concurrently, regional security concerns are mounting. United States intelligence assessments indicate Moscow may attempt to test NATO cohesion through localized incursions or cyber operations along the alliance's eastern flank. The Kremlin has also heightened pressure on Nordic partners, blacklisting several Norwegian civil society and humanitarian organisations as undesirable entities. Meanwhile, Russian authorities have intensified domestic censorship, penalizing residents who share footage of strike damage on social media platforms.

Sources: Aftenposten, Dagens Næringsliv (DN), Finansavisen, TV 2 Nyheter, VG (Verdens Gang)

Widespread heatwaves continue to drive dangerous temperatures across Southern and Central Europe. In Italy, health officials issued red weather warnings for 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria, as temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius. Authorities reported at least four heat-related deaths and urged residents to avoid sun exposure between 11:00 and 18:00.

In Austria, national meteorological service GeoSphere recorded a preliminary all-time high temperature of 40.8 degrees Celsius in Stammersdorf, near Vienna, potentially surpassing the previous national mark set in 2013 by 0.3 degrees. Meanwhile, Western European nations, including France and the United Kingdom, are bracing for another wave of extreme heat alongside severe drought conditions and increased wildfire threats.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG (Verdens Gang)

Persistent heat and low precipitation across Czechia have driven river flows to critical lows, leaving water managers and local communities grappling with severe hydrological drought. According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, rainfall since the beginning of the year remains 34 percent below average, depleting both groundwater reserves and surface streams.

Along the Vltava River Cascade, basin authority Povodí Vltavy announced plans to tap emergency water reserves from the Slapy reservoir if the Orlík dam falls by another 3.5 metres, an exceptional operation expected roughly once every 50 years. Meanwhile, volunteers across affected regions have mobilized to rescue aquatic wildlife from dry streambeds. Experts warn that long-term landscape water retention must take priority over mega-dam construction to prevent desertification in southern Moravia and the Polabí basin, while public concern rises over government preparedness for heat extremes.

Sources: Český rozhlas Plus, Deník N, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Seznam Zprávy.

Health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo report that the ongoing Ebola outbreak has killed more than 2,000 people, with total confirmed cases rising past 4,300. The epidemic, which began in mid-May, is now recognized as the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in the nation's history and its largest in total infection numbers.

Recent updates show roughly 50 daily deaths alongside dozens of newly confirmed infections. Emergency response teams in the hardest-hit northern province of Ituri face severe operational challenges caused by persistent militia attacks and mass civilian displacement. Containment is further complicated because the circulating Bundibugyo strain currently has no approved vaccines or targeted therapies. Over 700 patients remain hospitalised or in isolation facilities as global health bodies urge swift international intervention.

Sources: Canarias7, Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, La Vanguardia, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal).