Aug 11, 2026, 08:00 AM UTC

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte defended his administration's management of the COVID-19 pandemic during a parliamentary inquiry commission hearing in Rome. Speaking for over three hours, the Five Star Movement leader maintained that "da me nessun illecito" occurred during his tenure, emphasizing that emergency decree laws were necessary to safeguard public health.

Conte revealed he submitted an anonymous document to Rome prosecutors regarding a 100-million-euro mask procurement deal with JC Electronics, urging authorities to investigate potential counterfeit equipment. The former premier strongly rejected criticism from the ruling coalition, warning lawmakers against acting as "plotoni di esecuzione." The parliamentary commission continues its investigation into emergency decrees, vaccine purchases, and equipment procurement during the health crisis.

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

A massive wave of Russian drone and missile strikes hit several Ukrainian regions, leaving dozens of civilians dead and injured across the country. In the Kyiv capital region, authorities reported at least 17 fatalities and over 40 injuries following overnight bombardments that sparked severe fires in urban areas and surrounding suburbs.

Further south in the Dnipropetrovsk region, official updates confirmed five deaths and 16 injuries across multiple districts, including a drone strike on a gas station near Kryvyi Rih. Air raids were also recorded in Odesa, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.

Meanwhile, Moscow claimed its military forces captured two settlements, Vasyutinske and Toretsk, in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian officials reported intense combat along the front lines.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă

Ukraine's military leadership under newly appointed chief Mychajlo Drapatyj has begun dismantling parallel command structures and addressing operational inefficiencies inherited from former leadership. Meanwhile, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and former commander-in-chief, publicly stated that Ukraine will never join NATO, claiming the alliance relies on doctrines unsuited for modern warfare.

Domestically, Ukrainian security forces face growing threats. The Security Service of Ukraine reported thwarting dozens of Russian assassination plots targeting service members lured through online dating platforms. Concurrently, air defenses failed to intercept several Russian ballistic missiles during recent strikes on the Kyiv region, intensifying discussions around directly targeting missile launch platforms inside Russian territory.

Sources: Deník N, Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

German authorities and NATO are continuing investigations after an explosive-laden drone was discovered near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle Airport. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser warned of a "new dimension of threat," characterizing the security breach as a potential "hybrid attack scenario" after existing anti-drone defenses were bypassed.

The incident caused a temporary overnight shutdown of the airport, prompting flight diversions while a specialized robot defused the explosive device. Investigators are also examining a possible mid-air collision between a DHL cargo aircraft and an unidentified aerial object during the same timeframe.

Leipzig/Halle Airport is a major European transport hub utilized for military and civilian deliveries to Ukraine. Authorities have not officially confirmed who operated the drone, as multi-agency inquiries remain active.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, Economedia, HotNews, Ziarul de Gardă.

Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz persist as US President Donald Trump declared Washington will demand financial compensation from Tehran for past casualties linked to Iranian-sponsored attacks and internal crackdowns. The demand adds friction to diplomatic efforts aimed at reopening the strategic waterway.

While US officials and Qatari mediators expressed hope that an agreement to reopen the route could be finalized shortly, Tehran denied holding direct talks with Washington. Simultaneously, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaïl Baghaï confirmed an agreement with Oman on revised maritime coordinates, stating that "the geographical coordinates of the route planned by both parties have been approved," provided third parties do not interfere.

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