Aug 28, 2026, 04:30 PM UTC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially proposed appointing former intelligence chief Yevhen Khmara as Defence Minister, with the Verkhovna Rada scheduled to vote on Wednesday. Lawmakers are also set to confirm Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

The leadership transition follows the dismissal of former Defence Minister Mychajlo Fedorov, whose removal triggered public protests. Following his departure, Fedorov publicly condemned corruption and called for wartime national elections, alleging that Ukraine faces a severe governance crisis.

Concurrently, newly appointed Commander-in-Chief Mychajlo Drapatyj has initiated a broader reorganization of the armed forces, moving to dismantle internal patronage networks established under his predecessor, Oleksandr Syrskyj.

Sources: Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

German security authorities are currently investigating more than 100 suspected cases of foreign state-sponsored sabotage and espionage, according to survey data from regional law enforcement agencies. Suspicion has repeatedly fallen on Russian intelligence services for orchestrating hybrid operations across the country.

Among the key incidents under scrutiny is the discovery of an unexploded explosive-laden drone near Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig Airport in August, which officials characterized as a hybrid attack attempt. Furthermore, investigative reports revealed that law enforcement uncovered a covert depot containing two loaded handguns near the Berlin border last year. Intelligence agencies suspect the firearms were cached by Russian operatives for prospective physical operations. Media reports emphasize that these escalating incidents are designed to destabilize public safety and democratic institutions.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, Tagesschau

Emergency services across Germany, Belgium, and France are confronting persistent wildfires driven by severe heat. In Germany's Black Forest region near Schramberg, crews are struggling to contain an expanding blaze on steep terrain that limits ground access. Meanwhile, progress has been reported along the German-Belgian border in the High Fens nature reserve, where the fire stopped advancing into German territory despite thick smoke causing localized evacuations in Monschau.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, firefighters brought a 300-hectare blaze in Hürtgenwald under control. In southwestern France, emergency teams contained a pine forest fire in the Landes department after it scorched roughly 1,580 hectares and forced 650 residents to evacuate without destroying homes.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

The United States Supreme Court has temporarily permitted the Trump administration to resume building a $400 million ballroom on the grounds of the White House.

Under a brief order issued by Chief Justice John Roberts, the high court suspended a previous ruling from a lower court that had halted key elements of the development. The administrative stay grants the justices additional time to deliberate on an emergency petition submitted by the federal government. The legal challenge, initiated by a historic preservation group seeking to stop the expansion, remains pending while the court reviews the case.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF

Major listed companies in Germany and the United States recorded record corporate earnings in the second quarter, even as domestic employment and labor income shares faced downward pressure.

According to an EY analysis, Germany’s 40 DAX companies increased operating profits by nearly 16 percent to 52.6 billion euros, driven by strong international operations. However, industrial sectors, particularly automotive, continue to eliminate tens of thousands of domestic jobs. Citing these economic pressures, business figures such as Nikolas Stihl argued that Germany can no longer afford its standard 35-hour workweek.

A parallel trend emerged in the United States, where pre-tax corporate profits reached a record $4.8 trillion, accounting for 18 percent of national income. Meanwhile, the share of income going to workers fell to 60 percent, marking its lowest point since the 1950s.

Sources: Der Spiegel, FAZ, Der Standard, Tagesschau.