Aug 13, 2026, 08:30 AM UTC

A fourth summer heatwave continues to grip Southern and Central Europe, prompting severe health warnings and pushing temperatures past historical highs.

Italian authorities issued red weather alerts for all 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria, as forecasted temperatures near 40°C are expected to linger for at least another week. Officials urged the public to stay indoors during peak sunshine hours after several heat-related fatalities were reported.

In Central Europe, Austria's national meteorological institute recorded a preliminary all-time high temperature of 40.8°C in Stammersdorf, a suburb of Vienna. Meanwhile, France and the United Kingdom are bracing for further extreme temperatures alongside elevated risks of drought and severe wildfires as heat conditions persist.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG (Verdens Gang)

Tensions across key Middle Eastern waterways continue to escalate amid stalled diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Iranian leadership maintains that the Strait of Hormuz will remain blocked until the US fulfills all conditions of the June memorandum, including unfreezing foreign assets and ending port blockades. Conversely, US President Donald Trump asserted American military control over the passage, stating, "I don't trust Tehran."

Concurrently, military engagements have intensified. US forces targeted the container ship Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman for allegedly violating transit restrictions. Meanwhile, Houthi strikes hit Yemen's Al Makha port and a commercial vessel near Bab el-Mandeb, causing casualties and driving up global crude prices. Diplomatic strain also broadened after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Israel will "under no circumstances" withdraw from occupied areas in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, drawing sharp criticism from Washington.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica, Shipping Italy

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte delivered extensive testimony to a parliamentary commission investigating Italy's pandemic response, defending his administration's health protocols and emergency decrees. Speaking for over three hours, the Five Star Movement leader insisted that all measures implemented during his tenure were lawful and necessary to protect public health.

Conte also revealed that he submitted an anonymous document to Rome prosecutors concerning a 100-million-euro mask contract involving vendor JC Electronics, urging magistrates to probe potential counterfeiting. He cautioned against turning the inquiry into a "political execution squad" targeting opposition figures while calling for an objective evaluation of the country's crisis management. His appearance followed parliamentary delays, with commission members proceeding to question the former leader on procurement decisions and executive decrees.

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

Ukraine is restructuring its armed forces following the appointment of Mychajlo Drapatyj as military chief, aiming to resolve internal management bottlenecks and reform command structures. Meanwhile, former commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi remarked that Ukraine "will never join" NATO, arguing that the alliance relies on World War II-era doctrines unsuited for modern conflict.

On the security front, Ukrainian counterintelligence reported disrupting dozens of Russian assassination plots targeting service members via fake social media and dating profiles. Concurrently, military analysts warn of operational strain ahead of winter due to accelerated Russian missile manufacturing and increased deployments of jet-powered Geran-4 drones.

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

An explosive-laden drone crashed near a strategic gas pipeline in northeastern Bulgaria near the Romanian border, according to local authorities. The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense identified the unmanned aerial vehicle as a model "largely used by Ukrainian armed forces," though officials stressed there is no evidence indicating Bulgaria was intentionally targeted.

In response to the incident, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgii Tykhyi stated that Kyiv did not "deliberately" target its neighbor. Tykhyi confirmed that Ukrainian officials are working in close contact with Bulgarian authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the crash and conduct an investigation. The explosion occurred near key energy infrastructure amid ongoing regional aerial warfare, though no casualties were reported.

Sources: Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération.