Travelers at the Bajakovo-Batrovci border crossing between Croatia and Serbia faced very long wait times, sometimes up to eight hours, in hot weather reaching over 95°F (35°C). The heavy traffic happened during a busy summer holiday weekend, with many people traveling in both directions between the two countries.
Key Facts
The Bajakovo-Batrovci crossing links Croatia, an EU country, with Serbia, which is not in the EU.
Lines for crossing reached up to 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) long.
Wait times for crossing were reported as long as eight hours.
Temperatures during the delays were above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius).
Both sides had heavy traffic as tourists traveled for summer holidays.
The delays occurred alongside the start of the EU’s new Entry-Exit System (EES), a biometric system replacing passport stamps.
It is unclear if the new EES system caused the long waits.
Travelers expressed exhaustion and frustration due to the long delays.
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Authorities ended a five-day rescue operation at a collapsed shopping mall in southwest Japan after a strong 7.1-magnitude earthquake caused extensive damage and killed 34 people. While the mall search finished with all missing accounted for, rescue efforts continue elsewhere in the affected Kumamoto prefecture, which faces water shortages and heat challenges.
Key Facts
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Kumamoto on Japan’s Kyushu island on Tuesday.
The Aeon Mall in Kashima town partially collapsed due to an explosion believed to be caused by a gas leak.
About 3,000 shoppers were evacuated before the explosion, but some employees remained inside.
Rescuers saved five people and recovered seven bodies under the mall debris.
Rescue operations at the mall ended after all missing persons were found or accounted for.
In a nearby factory, 11 workers were trapped; two were rescued and nine died.
The earthquake injured 103 people in the region; some deaths are still under investigation.
Nearly 70,000 homes lack fresh water; more than 9,000 people are in crowded shelters enduring hot weather.
Over 180 homes were destroyed and around 3,500 buildings damaged in the Kumamoto area.
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China held military exercises near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea amid rising tensions with the Philippines. The drills tested Chinese forces' coordination of air and sea operations near the disputed area, which both countries claim.
Key Facts
The military drills involved both naval and air forces near Scarborough Shoal, also known as Huangyan Island (China) and Panatag Shoal (Philippines).
China criticized the Philippines for trying to extend its seabed rights in the South China Sea through a UN submission.
The South China Sea is an important global trade route with valuable oil and gas deposits.
China’s Southern Theater Command called the Philippine territorial claims illegal and invalid.
China released rules for a nature reserve around Scarborough Shoal, banning unauthorized fishing, mining, and coral gathering.
Frequent confrontations occur between Chinese coast guards and Philippine sailors and fishermen in the area.
Recent incidents include one where a Philippine sailor was hurt by a Chinese coast guard using a baton.
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The Guthrie family asked the public for help to find Nancy Guthrie, who went missing in February. Two ransom notes sent to a TV station were recently shared to help gather information about her disappearance.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie disappeared in February.
She is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, a host on the Today Show.
Two ransom notes were sent to a TV station called KOLD in Tucson.
These notes were released to the public on Friday.
The Guthrie family made a new appeal for anyone with information to come forward.
The family said their hearts are deeply broken by the situation.
The investigation is ongoing and authorities continue to seek leads.
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More than 80% of Australian teenagers continue to use social media three months after the government banned under-16s from using these platforms. The ban's limited effect is mainly due to poor age checks by social media companies, allowing many children to keep or create accounts despite the law.
Key Facts
The ban on social media use for under-16s started in Australia on December 10, 2025.
Over 81% of children aged 10 to 15 still used social media three months after the ban.
About 58% of teenagers reported daily social media use, slightly lower than the 60% before the ban.
Many children kept accounts because social media companies failed to verify their ages properly.
Some accounts falsely listed users as 16 or older, bypassing age checks.
The ban was introduced to protect young people’s mental and physical health.
Australia’s government acknowledges not expecting full compliance but sees the ban as an important national discussion starter.
Around “millions of accounts” were reportedly shut down since the ban began.
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Greek police are speeding up tests to find out how Elisabeth-Jane Ross, a Scottish woman, died after her body was found in a suitcase in Athens. Authorities are investigating her death and looking for her American friends who were staying nearby.
Key Facts
Elisabeth-Jane Ross was 38 years old and from Scotland.
Her body was found in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of Athens on July 18.
She went missing on July 15 after traveling to Greece from Edinburgh in late June.
Police are conducting a post-mortem exam and fast-tracking toxicology tests to determine the cause of death.
Authorities are unsure if her death was caused by murder.
Police are trying to locate American friends she planned to meet in Kypseli.
Her mobile phone sent signals and messages a few days after her death.
The UK Foreign Office and Scottish government are supporting her family.
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The Iran War has made a key shipping route more dangerous. This issue is not just about local security but involves the spread of weapons and threats at sea linked directly to Tehran.
Key Facts
The shipping lane affected is considered the world’s most dangerous.
Problems in this area involve weapons spreading to different groups.
There are threats of terror acts happening on the sea.
These threats have a direct connection to Tehran, Iran’s capital.
The situation affects global maritime security, not just the nearby region.
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About 60,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco in recent days, but Spain says nearly all of them have now left voluntarily. At least 67 people died trying to enter Ceuta, with some drowning and others crushed near the border fence.
Key Facts
Around 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco by land and sea over a few days.
Spain reports that almost all migrants have returned to Morocco on their own.
At least 67 deaths were confirmed during the crossing attempt; some died by drowning, others by being crushed.
Spanish and Moroccan authorities have increased border controls, including installing new barriers and using riot police.
The mass crossing led to tensions in the European Union and calls to tighten border controls between member countries.
Spain linked the migrant surge to rumors spread by criminal gangs about a Spanish court ruling on migrant returns.
Ceuta and Melilla are Spain’s only land borders with Africa and common crossing points for migrants heading to Europe.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the mass crossing as a violation of Spain’s territorial sovereignty.
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Iceland's coast guard and special forces seized an anti-whaling ship called Bandero, operated by Paul Watson’s foundation, and detained its crew after the ship did not leave Icelandic waters and ignored orders. The ship was taken to Reykjavik, and Icelandic police are investigating and plan to deport the crew.
Key Facts
Iceland’s coast guard and police special forces took control of the Bandero ship on Thursday night.
The crew of a whaling ship called Hvalur 9 asked for help, saying the protest ship Bandero threatened their safety.
Bandero did not follow orders to leave Iceland’s waters or to stop its engines.
Paul Watson, the anti-whaling activist who founded the group operating Bandero, was not on the ship.
The 21 crew members are detained on the ship without access to their phones.
Iceland, along with Norway and Japan, still allows commercial whaling under set quotas.
Whale meat demand in Iceland is low, and most exports go to Japan.
Paul Watson has a history of using aggressive tactics against whalers and was removed from Interpol’s most-wanted list in 2025 after being on it since 2012.
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Iran has warned of retaliation if the United States attacks its energy facilities amid rising military strikes in the region. US and Israeli forces have targeted Iranian military and civilian infrastructure, while Iran and its allies have launched missile and drone attacks on US and allied bases and energy sites in nearby countries.
Key Facts
Iran’s Major General Ali Abdollahi warned that countries supporting the US could suffer in a wider regional war.
Reports say President Donald Trump has not yet approved US strikes intended to disrupt Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Israel’s Defense Minister said Israel wants to attack Iran’s energy targets but the US is holding back due to concerns about wider conflict.
The US and Israel have bombed Iranian military bases and civilian infrastructure since February 28.
Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on US and Israeli military sites and energy infrastructure in multiple Gulf countries.
Recent US strikes targeted Iranian command centers, missile sites, and coastal defenses in several provinces.
Kuwait shot down multiple Iranian drones that entered its airspace, causing some damage.
Two ships off Oman’s coast were attacked, one suffering engine damage.
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About 100 Israeli soldiers from the Givati Brigade’s Tzabar Battalion left their military base without permission after their commander destroyed plaques they had put up. This walkout shows growing tension and a loss of trust between soldiers and commanders after years of ongoing conflict and fatigue.
Key Facts
The incident happened on July 30 at the Sde Teiman military base in Israel.
Soldiers left their weapons behind and walked out in protest after their commander smashed plaques they considered part of their unit’s heritage.
The army called the plaques informal traditions related to seniority within the unit, but soldiers saw them as important to their company’s history.
The battalion was preparing to rotate into Gaza but was temporarily unable to deploy because of the walkout.
Most soldiers returned later under threat of punishment for being absent without leave (AWOL).
The military faces ongoing challenges after nearly three years of continuous multi-front conflict involving Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank.
Reservist turnout has decreased and the army acknowledges manpower shortages of thousands of combat troops.
There are deeper issues about authority, recognition, and communication between commanders and soldiers beyond just fatigue or discipline problems.
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Nirmal Purja, a well-known British-Nepali climber, died in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. Rescue teams continue searching for other members of the expedition, but some have been confirmed deceased already.
Key Facts
Nirmal Purja died after an avalanche struck Broad Peak during a climbing expedition.
Other members of the 10-person team were also caught by the avalanche; some have died, others are missing.
Rescue efforts involve military helicopters and experienced climbers but face difficulties and fading hope.
Among the deceased are climbers from Oman, the United States, and Nepal.
Purja was famous for climbing the 14 highest mountains in the world in a record 189 days in 2019.
Broad Peak is the 12th highest mountain globally and located in Pakistan’s Karakoram range.
The expedition included climbers of various nationalities, including Nepalese, Omani, American, Pakistani, and Chinese.
Climbing in northern Pakistan is dangerous due to avalanches, falling ice and rocks, high altitude, and changing weather.
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Nirmal Purja, a famous mountaineer from Nepal, died along with nine other climbers in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. Rescue teams had been searching for the group after the accident on the 8,047-meter mountain in the Karakoram range.
Key Facts
Nirmal Purja was a Nepali climber known for climbing the 14 highest mountains in the world in just over six months.
He led a 10-person multinational expedition on Broad Peak in Pakistan.
An avalanche struck the team on Thursday, killing all 10 members.
Bodies of three climbers were recovered, including that of an American and a climber from Oman.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, confirmed Purja’s death and honored the climbers’ dedication.
Purja was formerly a soldier in the British Army and the Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service.
Broad Peak is considered a difficult mountain and has seen many climber deaths since its first ascent in 1957.
The incident is one of the deadliest recent events on Broad Peak, which has had multiple fatalities in past years.
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Hundreds of thousands of people watched the annual Pride boat parade in Amsterdam on August 1, 2026, which is the main event of the city's Pride festival. The parade occurred a week after a deadly attack on a Pride event in Berlin, and security was increased for safety.
Key Facts
The Amsterdam Pride boat parade featured about 80 decorated boats cruising the canals.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, who is openly gay, participated by sailing on a small boat and waving to the crowd.
The parade took place one week after a violent attack on a Berlin Pride event that killed one person and injured 29.
The Berlin attacker was Abdul Ballout, who was killed by police and had links to an extremist group.
Authorities in Amsterdam increased security, including police boats and a helicopter monitoring the parade.
The event is part of World Pride, also hosted by Amsterdam this year.
Pride boats represented government, military, police, and LGBTQ+ groups.
A recent court case in Amsterdam sentenced a man to community service for using hateful language at a Pride event.
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Megan Kaverman struggled for years before being diagnosed with a rare genetic lung and heart disease called heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension, which makes breathing hard and can lead to heart failure. Later, her sister Katie showed similar symptoms and was diagnosed with the same condition, thanks to Megan’s advice. Both sisters now receive treatment and participate in research at the Cleveland Clinic.
Key Facts
Megan Kaverman experienced weight gain, shortness of breath, and severe fatigue starting at age 18 but was not diagnosed until age 27.
Her diagnosis was heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare genetic disease that causes high blood pressure in the lungs and strains the heart.
This disease affects fewer than 1 in 1 million people and accounts for less than 4% of pulmonary hypertension cases.
Symptoms include difficulty breathing, swelling in legs, fatigue, and can lead to right heart failure.
Megan’s sister, Katie, showed similar symptoms and was diagnosed after Megan suggested testing for pulmonary hypertension.
Both sisters are treated at the Cleveland Clinic and participate in clinical trials to find better treatments.
The disease has no cure but can be managed with medication and ongoing care.
Support between the sisters helped them cope with the diagnosis and treatment challenges.
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A total solar eclipse will cross parts of Spain, Iceland, and Greenland on August 12, causing daytime darkness for up to two minutes and 18 seconds in some areas. The event will coincide with a meteor shower and a visible alignment of six planets, creating a rare sky spectacle for millions of people across the northern hemisphere.
Key Facts
The eclipse path starts near the North Pole and moves south over the Atlantic Ocean.
Total eclipse will last up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds, with maximum totality off Iceland’s west coast.
Mainland Spain will experience its first total solar eclipse in over 100 years, lasting about one minute.
Partial eclipses will be seen from Alaska to Siberia, covering parts of Canada, the northern U.S., Europe, and West Africa.
Special eclipse glasses are needed to view the event safely, even during partial coverage.
On the same day, six planets will form an arc visible before dawn, and the Perseid meteor shower will peak after nightfall.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA will host live broadcasts and public events for the eclipse.
A video camera will be used in Greenland to try and capture the northern lights during the eclipse.
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Hamburg’s Pride parade began with extra police protection one week after a deadly extremist attack near Berlin’s Pride event. Around 250,000 people were expected to attend, showing support and solidarity for a future without fear.
Key Facts
Hamburg’s Pride parade is one of Germany’s largest Pride events.
About twice as many police officers as last year were deployed to secure the event.
The parade’s motto was “Queer in solidarity. Take a stand — for a future without fear.”
One truck in the parade represented the Berlin Pride event, with participants wearing dark clothes to honor attack victims.
On July 25, a man drove into people near the Berlin Pride closing party and attacked others with a machete, killing one woman and injuring many.
The suspect, Abdul Ballout, 21, was killed by police the day after the attack.
Investigators found a video where the suspect claimed responsibility and supported the Islamic State group.
Ballout was born in Germany, had Lebanese roots, and traveled to Lebanon in 2025 aiming to join IS in Syria.
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Fighting has started again in the northern Tigray region of Ethiopia between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian federal army. Previous fighting from 2020 to 2022 killed about 600,000 people, and peace efforts by the US and the African Union have not stopped the new clashes.
Key Facts
The renewed fighting is in a disputed area in northern Ethiopia called Tigray.
The TPLF is the main group from Tigray involved in the conflict.
The Ethiopian federal army is fighting against the TPLF.
The previous war from 2020 to 2022 caused around 600,000 deaths.
The Tigray region is still recovering from the earlier war.
Attempts to mediate peace by the United States and the African Union have failed.
The conflict has raised fears of a larger renewed war in the region.
The information was reported by correspondent Tom Canetti in Addis Ababa.
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Around 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in a few days, causing a major migration event. Most migrants have now returned to Morocco, but at least 67 people died trying to cross. Spain plans to build a 500-meter barrier along the sea border, and many European Union countries want emergency talks about the situation.
Key Facts
About 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco over a few days in 2026.
At least 67 people died while trying to cross into Ceuta.
Most migrants have left Ceuta and returned to Morocco by early August 2026.
Spain will construct a 500-meter-long barrier along the sea border of Ceuta.
Many European Union countries signed a letter asking for emergency meetings on this migration issue.
Ceuta is a Spanish enclave located on the north coast of Africa, bordering Morocco.
This event is larger than a similar migration crisis that happened in 2021.
The migration caused tension between Spain, Morocco, and the European Union.
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A large wildfire in the Gironde area of France has been brought under control, meaning the fire is no longer spreading. Over the past nine days, about 42,000 hectares (a very large area) have burned.
Key Facts
The wildfire occurred in Gironde, a region in southwest France.
The fire burned around 42,000 hectares in nine days.
The French Interior Minister confirmed the fire is now contained.
Contained means the fire is not spreading, but it may still burn in some places.
Firefighters continue to face dangers while working on the fire.
The wildfire threatens wildlife and local areas, including the Bordeaux wine region.
The French army is helping the firefighters using equipment like drones and bulldozers.
The fires are linked to wider concerns about climate change and its effects.
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