Water & Power Crisis in North Africa: In Tunisia, a July heatwave plus prolonged water cuts (often over a week) has pushed residents to protest and block roads, while rotating electricity cuts were introduced to protect the grid—sparking anger and economic disruption. Mediterranean Smuggling Crackdown (Algeria-linked): Spain and Europol report dismantling a major western Mediterranean network using “ghost speedboats” to move synthetic drugs from Spain/Portugal to Algeria, then smuggling migrants back to Spain and Ibiza; 78 arrests were made across Spain and Algeria, with boats, drugs, weapons, and cash seized. Humanitarian Flashpoint at Ceuta: Reports around the Ceuta border surge highlight how migration pressures are colliding with politics and security across the Spain–Morocco corridor. Climate & Wildfire Reality Check: A global look at extreme wildfires warns that in hotter conditions, firefighting water can evaporate before it reaches flames—raising stakes for Algeria-region fire preparedness. Energy & Environment Context: Algeria is cited among Africa’s cheapest petrol markets in August, reflecting how subsidies and regulation shape fuel use and emissions pressures.