Aug 11, 2026, 02:00 AM UTC

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte defended his government's pandemic response during testimony before a parliamentary inquiry commission in Rome. Defending his administration's emergency measures, the Five Star Movement leader insisted that "da me nessun illecito" took place.

Conte revealed he submitted an anonymous document to Rome prosecutors regarding a 100-million-euro mask deal with JC Electronics, urging authorities to investigate potential irregularities and counterfeit equipment. Addressing the panel for over three hours following a parliamentary delay, Conte rejected criticisms from the ruling coalition, warning members against acting as "plotoni di esecuzione." The commission will question the former prime minister on pandemic decree laws, vaccine rollouts, and emergency procurement.

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

Local authorities in Ceuta report that between 8,000 and 11,000 migrants remain in the Spanish enclave following recent mass crossings, a situation regional President Juan Vivas described as "unsustainable." Vivas called for the immediate deployment of 1,000 extra security officers and swift repatriations to Morocco, emphasizing that recent arrivals will not receive legal status.

Spain’s Interior Ministry has defended its current posture, stating that border infrastructure is adequate following €79 million in investments since 2019 and rejecting calls for immediate troop additions. However, friction has surfaced between Spain’s Defence and Interior ministries over military personnel detaining and returning migrants directly at the border. Officials maintain that containment measures will be continuously adapted.

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

US President Donald Trump announced that Washington will demand financial compensation from Tehran for casualties linked to Iranian-sponsored attacks abroad and domestic crackdowns over past decades. The declaration introduces new friction into efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing maritime crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

While American officials and Qatari mediators previously expressed optimism that an agreement to reopen the vital shipping lane could be finalized within days, Iranian officials continue to deny engaging in direct talks with Washington. Simultaneously, Tehran confirmed a separate deal with Oman regarding revised maritime coordinates, contingent on third-party non-interference. Trump's latest condition significantly complicates prospects for a swift diplomatic resolution between the two nations.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, RTBF Info.

Cross-border attacks between Russia and Ukraine left 14 people dead on Saturday, following Ukrainian strikes in Russian-controlled territory and continued retaliatory bombardments.

Concurrently, an explosive-laden drone crashed near a strategic gas pipeline in northeastern Bulgaria close to the Romanian border. Bulgaria's Ministry of Defence indicated that the wreckage corresponds to a drone model "largely used by Ukrainian armed forces," while emphasizing that investigations remain ongoing.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgii Tykhyi stated that Kyiv did not target Bulgaria "deliberately" and is conducting an inquiry in close cooperation with Bulgarian authorities.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération.

Southern and central European countries are facing severe conditions as a fourth summer heatwave delivers dangerous temperatures and breaks historical weather benchmarks.

Italian health authorities issued maximum red weather alerts across all 27 major cities after extending warnings to Messina and Reggio Calabria. Temperatures approaching 40°C are expected to persist for at least another week, prompting officials to advise residents to remain indoors between 11:00 and 18:00 and take precautionary health measures. At least four deaths have been linked to the extreme heat in Italy.

Record high temperatures were also documented across central Europe. Austria's meteorological service reported a preliminary national record after temperatures in Vienna reached 40.8°C, with later readings reaching 41.2°C further east. In southern Slovakia, temperatures peaked at 41.4°C in Kamenica nad Hronom, while elevated temperatures were also recorded across Hungary and France.

Sources: 8 Sidor, Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter