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French Coastguards Rescue 157 from Burning Migrant Boat in English Channel

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French coastguards rescued 157 migrants after a small boat caught fire in the English Channel near the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Three coastguard vessels responded to the emergency, safely bringing everyone on board to shore, according to French authorities.

The incident comes just days after three people died attempting the same crossing, highlighting the growing dangers faced by migrants using overcrowded boats to travel from France to the United Kingdom. Human traffickers are increasingly packing more people into fragile vessels, raising the risk of fatal accidents.

The English Channel remains one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, with strong currents making crossings especially hazardous. The latest rescue has renewed calls from both French and British authorities to curb dangerous small-boat crossings and combat human trafficking networks.

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Romania Blasts Rocks to Protect Nuclear Reactor Cooling

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Romania carried out controlled explosions to remove rocks from the Danube River and redirect water to the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, as severe drought and record-low river levels threatened reactor cooling. The emergency measure highlights the growing impact of Europe’s ongoing heatwave and energy challenges.

The operation aims to ensure adequate cooling water reaches the country’s only operating nuclear reactor after another reactor was shut down due to falling river levels. Authorities also plan to build a temporary dam to improve water flow, while urging households and businesses to reduce electricity consumption.

The drought has also affected neighboring Hungary, where the Paks nuclear plant is operating at reduced capacity because of the Danube’s low water levels. Governments across the region are taking emergency steps to protect power supplies as extreme weather continues to strain Europe’s energy infrastructure.

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Lufthansa Warns of Lower Profit Amid Fuel Price Volatility

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Lufthansa has warned that its operating profit could decline in 2026 as volatile fuel prices continue to weigh on earnings. The German airline said higher fuel costs linked to geopolitical tensions, including the U.S.-Iran conflict, caused its second-quarter operating profit to more than halve, prompting a weaker full-year outlook.

The airline now expects adjusted EBIT between €1.7 billion and €2.2 billion, compared with its earlier forecast of exceeding last year’s €1.96 billion. Quarterly adjusted EBIT fell to €383 million from €870 million a year ago, while investors reacted negatively, sending Lufthansa’s shares down more than 10%.

To improve efficiency, Lufthansa plans to retire older, fuel-intensive aircraft and temporarily ground some planes to reduce fuel consumption. Despite the short-term challenges, the airline maintained its long-term profitability targets and said it expects fuel supplies to remain stable while continuing to monitor market uncertainty.

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Rhine Hits Record Low as Europe’s Drought Deepens

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The River Rhine has fallen to record low levels in parts of Germany and the Netherlands as prolonged heatwaves and drought continue to grip Europe. Other major rivers, including the Danube and Italy’s Po, have also recorded historically low water levels, raising concerns over transportation, agriculture, and industrial operations across the continent.

The Rhine, one of Europe’s busiest commercial waterways, is facing severe navigation challenges as low water levels restrict cargo shipping. Authorities have warned that lighter vessel loads, higher transport costs, and potential supply chain disruptions could impact businesses, while the Danube’s shrinking water levels have also affected power generation in countries such as Serbia, Romania, and Hungary.

Experts say persistent high temperatures driven by climate change are increasing evaporation and making droughts more severe. The worsening conditions are threatening freshwater supplies, farming, ecosystems, and energy production, highlighting the growing economic and environmental impact of extreme weather across Europe.

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Rio Tinto Rules Out Glencore Revival

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Rio Tinto is not expected to restart takeover discussions with Glencore despite the expiry of a six-month standstill agreement under UK takeover rules. CEO Simon Trott remains focused on simplifying the company, reducing costs, selling non-core assets, and strengthening its core mining businesses rather than pursuing a major merger.

Earlier this year, Rio evaluated a potential $200 billion merger with Glencore but concluded that it did not offer sufficient value. Investors have largely supported the decision, with analysts warning that reviving negotiations could weigh on Rio Tinto’s share price. The company is instead prioritizing asset divestments, expanding its trading business, and increasing exposure to copper.

Meanwhile, Glencore is stepping up engagement with Australian investors while continuing to showcase its copper portfolio. Although speculation around future partnerships remains, analysts believe Rio Tinto is likely to focus on smaller acquisitions and organic growth, leaving the prospect of a merger with Glencore on hold for now.

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Ceuta Struggles After Massive Migrant Border Crossing

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Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta is struggling to cope after a massive migrant surge last week, with local authorities estimating that between 3,000 and 5,000 people remain in the territory. Hundreds of migrants have set up makeshift camps on local beaches, while reception centres for adults and minors have exceeded capacity. Spain says around 69,500 migrants have already been returned to Morocco in recent days.

The crisis has placed particular pressure on services for children, with more than 860 migrant minors currently under protection in Ceuta. Many migrants said they remained in the enclave after facing food shortages, closed shops, hostility from locals, and being unable to continue their journey to mainland Spain. The official death toll stands at 72 on the Spanish side and 11 on the Moroccan side.

The border crisis has also triggered diplomatic tensions within the European Union and renewed debate over migration policy. Spain praised Morocco for cooperating in the return of thousands of migrants but also called for stronger support from EU partners. Meanwhile, questions are being raised over whether Spanish intelligence services had sufficient warning before the mass crossing occurred.

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Liechtenstein Hack Exposes Data of 31,000 Legal Entities

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Liechtenstein has revealed that hackers illegally accessed and copied data from its register of beneficial owners, compromising information linked to around 31,000 companies, foundations, and trusts. The government said the cyberattack occurred during the night of July 29–30 before authorities detected unusual activity and took the affected system offline.

The breached register, established in 2021 as part of the country’s anti-money laundering measures, contains information on the beneficial owners of legal entities. Officials said preliminary investigations indicate the attackers copied data but found no evidence that the information was altered or deleted. Authorities also confirmed that no bank systems or customer banking data were affected.

The government has formed a crisis task force led by Prime Minister Brigitte Haas and Justice Minister Emanuel Schaedler to manage the incident and notify those affected. Liechtenstein, known for its large number of low-tax trusts and financial services, is continuing its investigation into the cyberattack.

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Boris Nadezhdin Leaves Russia After Political Crackdown

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Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin has announced that he is temporarily outside Russia after being labelled a “foreign agent” and barred from contesting the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections. In a video posted from Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, Nadezhdin said he was “alive and free” and would share his future plans later.

The 63-year-old former lawmaker has been a vocal critic of Russia’s war in Ukraine while attempting to remain active within the country’s political system. His political ambitions were halted after the Justice Ministry designated him a “foreign agent” in July, followed by police questioning and a court fine over alleged display of extremist symbols on social media, accusations he rejected.

Nadezhdin’s departure adds to the growing number of prominent Kremlin critics who have either left Russia or been imprisoned since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. Russian authorities say such measures are necessary to protect national security, while opposition figures argue they are part of a broader crackdown on political dissent.

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Euro Zone Factory Output Hits 4½-Year High Despite Weak Demand

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Factory output across the euro zone grew at its fastest pace in nearly four and a half years in July, according to the latest S&P Global Manufacturing PMI survey. The headline manufacturing PMI rose to 51.9 from 51.4 in June, while the output index climbed to its highest level since March 2022, signalling continued expansion in the region’s manufacturing sector.

Despite the strong production figures, demand remained weak as new orders increased only slightly and export orders declined in several major economies, including France, Spain, Italy and Austria. Economists said manufacturers are relying heavily on clearing existing order backlogs rather than benefiting from fresh business, raising concerns about the sustainability of the recovery.

Manufacturers also continued to reduce jobs as they remained cautious about future demand. While input cost inflation eased and factory gate price increases slowed, supply chain disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict continued to affect the sector. Business confidence improved modestly but remained below its long-term average, reflecting ongoing uncertainty across the euro zone economy.

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AstraZeneca Holds Preliminary Merger Talks with Bristol Myers Squibb

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AstraZeneca has reportedly held preliminary talks with Bristol Myers Squibb over a potential merger that could create one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, with a combined market value of nearly $400 billion. According to a Reuters source, it remains unclear whether discussions are ongoing. AstraZeneca declined to comment, while Bristol Myers did not immediately respond.

A merger would face significant regulatory scrutiny, particularly from U.S. antitrust authorities, due to the companies’ overlapping cancer drug portfolios. Both firms generate a substantial share of their revenue from oncology treatments, making competition concerns a key hurdle if negotiations progress.

The proposed deal would mark the first major pharmaceutical merger since 2020. Bristol Myers has been pursuing smaller acquisitions to strengthen its pipeline as key drugs approach patent expiry, while AstraZeneca continues to post strong growth driven by demand for its cancer and rare disease medicines.

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