Aug 11, 2026, 02:00 PM UTC

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte appeared before a parliamentary commission of inquiry in Rome to defend his government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. During his testimony, which lasted over three hours, the Five Star Movement leader asserted that "da me nessun illecito" occurred under his leadership and defended the emergency measures enacted during the health crisis.

Conte revealed that he submitted an anonymous document to Rome prosecutors concerning a 100-million-euro contract with JC Electronics for potential counterfeit masks, urging authorities to investigate the procurement deal. The former premier pushed back against criticism from the ruling coalition, cautioning lawmakers against using the inquiry as "plotoni di esecuzione." The parliamentary panel is continuing its review of emergency decrees, procurement processes, and vaccine purchases.

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

At least 17 people were killed and dozens injured across Ukraine following a series of heavy Russian drone and ballistic missile strikes targeting Kyiv and several southern and eastern regions.

Local authorities reported widespread destruction and multiple fires in the capital area, describing the bombardment as "one of the most tragic attacks" recorded recently. Strikes also hit the Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions, with emergency services confirming fatalities in Dnipropetrovsk, including three people killed when a drone struck a gas station near Kryvyi Rih.

Meanwhile, Moscow announced that its forces captured the settlements of Vasyutinske and Toretsk in the eastern Donetsk region. Ukrainian military reports acknowledged severe front-line combat but did not confirm the Russian territorial advances.

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

Iran continues to enforce its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, demanding full US adherence to the June memorandum, including sanctions relief and compensation for war damages. While US President Donald Trump stated that the waterway has been cleared of mines, Tehran remains committed to using the choke point to limit American influence in the Gulf. Iranian officials simultaneously rejected reports concerning the declining health of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Concurrently, Tehran-backed Houthi militants launched renewed strikes against regional maritime targets near Yemen's port of Mokha. In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces carried out fresh bombardments. Meanwhile, international envoy Nickolay Mladenov defended the US-backed Gaza peace framework on Israeli television, asserting the roadmap will permanently eliminate security threats despite explicit opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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

Newly appointed Ukrainian military chief Mychajlo Drapatyj has begun restructuring army command to resolve operational inefficiencies. Drapatyj, known for his leadership during the 2014 Mariupol engagements, succeeds previous commanders amidst a broader administrative overhaul.

Concurrently, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and former top commander, publicly stated that Ukraine will never join NATO, claiming the alliance remains tied to obsolete doctrines ill-suited for modern conflict.

On the security front, the Security Service of Ukraine disclosed it thwarted dozens of Russian assassination attempts targeting military personnel who were lured through online dating applications and fake social invitations. Meanwhile, air defenses failed to intercept ballistic missiles in recent attacks on the Kyiv region, escalating strategic debates over targeting launch platforms inside Russian territory.

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

German security authorities are investigating more than 100 cases of suspected foreign state-backed sabotage and drone overflights, following a recent incident involving an explosive-laden drone detected near Leipzig/Halle airport. Security agencies warn that Russian state actors are intensifying hybrid warfare operations aimed at destabilizing German society and political institutions.

Ahead of upcoming September regional elections, intelligence officials report an uptick in targeted Russian disinformation campaigns. These operations focus on discrediting established mainstream political parties, including the CDU, SPD, Greens, and FDP, while notably sparing the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Concurrently, defense experts are urging the federal government to accelerate defensive measures. Analysts have also raised questions regarding the Bundeswehr's military procurement strategy, questioning whether heavy armored vehicles remain viable against low-cost uncrewed aerial systems.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, DW, FAZ