Aug 13, 2026, 09:30 AM UTC

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down at the end of the month to focus on her family, US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social. Leavitt, who recently returned from parental leave following the birth of her second child in May, will transition into a role as an external adviser to the administration.

Trump stated that he fully respects her decision and praised her ongoing influence within the Republican Party. The administration has not yet named a replacement for the press secretary role. While several media outlets focused on the official reason for her departure, others highlighted Leavitt's contentious relationship with the press corps and noted that her sudden exit has sparked speculation regarding White House dynamics.

Sources: FAZ, Die Zeit, Der Standard, ORF, Tagesschau.

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte defended his government's handling of the COVID-19 emergency during a parliamentary commission hearing in Rome.

Addressing lawmakers for over three hours following earlier procedural delays, the Five Star Movement leader denied any wrongdoing regarding executive decrees or medical procurement. Conte revealed that he submitted an anonymous document to Rome prosecutors detailing a 100-million-euro mask transaction with vendor JC Electronics, urging magistrates to investigate potential counterfeiting. Rebuffing political criticism from the governing majority, he rejected claims targeting his administration and warned against turning the inquiry into a "firing squad" aimed at opposition figures.

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

Ukraine has initiated military restructuring following the appointment of new armed forces chief Mychajlo Drapatyj, seeking to overhaul command structures and address internal bottlenecks. Meanwhile, former top commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi stated that Ukraine "will never join" NATO, arguing the alliance relies on outdated World War II-era doctrines unsuited for modern conflicts.

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

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

US President Donald Trump has confirmed he secretly switched aircraft while departing last month's NATO summit in Turkey following an Iranian security threat. After publicly boarding Air Force One in Ankara, Trump was transferred via a catering truck to a military aircraft that subsequently flew to RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.

Press corps members and select White House staff remained aboard Air Force One, unknowingly serving as decoys. The operation generated criticism from journalists over safety concerns and lack of transparency. Trump defended the protocol, stating he followed military recommendations and noted that the alternative aircraft actually presented a “greater risk”.

Sources: BBC News, France24, Sweden Herald, The Guardian, UK Defence Journal

Austria continues to face extreme weather as national temperatures reached a record peak of 41.2 °C in Lower Austria, following consecutive days over 40 °C and historically warm nights. Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig noted that the widespread drought is unprecedented, as authorities describe intense heat as an emerging long-term climate reality.

The conditions are testing public transport and sparking education debates. In Vienna, public transit vehicles registered interior temperatures above 30 °C despite operational cooling systems. In response to severe classroom conditions, Vienna Education Councillor Bettina Emmerling suggested moving summer holidays earlier so school resumes in August, a policy proposal scheduled for regional review in September. Meanwhile, educators and parents maintain that proposed federal heat mitigation measures fall short of what is needed.

Sources: Der Standard, Die Presse, ORF, Profil