Ukraine's surprise ground offensive in Russia's Kursk region has disrupted potential ceasefire negotiations set to take place in Doha, Qatar. The talks, mediated by Qatar, aimed to end attacks on energy infrastructure affecting both nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces were consolidating their positions in Kursk, intensifying their military efforts. This move, intended to disrupt Russian supply routes, led Russian officials to view the incursion as an escalation, causing a postponement of the meeting. Previous diplomatic efforts, including secret talks in Istanbul and at the UN, failed due to ongoing hostilities.

Ukrainian forces continue to strengthen their positions in Russia's Kursk region, expanding their incursion deeper into Russian territory. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian troops are stabilizing their hold on captured areas, marking the deepest advance since Russia's full-scale invasion began over two years ago. Moscow has labeled the incursion a provocation, vowing a strong response. Meanwhile, Russia claims to have repelled Ukrainian forces near three settlements in Kursk, while Ukrainian officials report ongoing Russian assaults in eastern Ukraine, including the Kharkiv region.

Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President, will be officially confirmed as the Democratic presidential nominee next week. Harris, who would be the first Black woman to run for U.S. president, is betting that America is ready for this historic milestone. Born to an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, Harris has already broken barriers as the first woman, African American, and Asian American to hold several significant offices. If successful, she will follow Barack Obama as the second Black person to lead the nation. Harris is running alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice-presidential candidate.

Germany plans to reduce its military aid to Ukraine by fifty percent in 2025, according to a parliamentary source. The government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, will rely on funds from frozen Russian assets rather than increasing the aid budget. This year's aid totaled eight billion euros, but next year's budget allocates four billion euros. The decision aligns with a financial strategy involving the G7 and EU to use Russian assets for Ukraine's support. The budget still faces discussions, with additional spending possible on a case-by-case basis.

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed optimism that a Gaza ceasefire deal is closer than ever, stating that talks have made significant progress. However, a senior Hamas official contradicted this, claiming no real advances have been achieved. Biden has dispatched Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel to further negotiations, focusing on a six-week ceasefire and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Despite Biden's confidence, the ongoing conflict in Gaza continues, with Israeli airstrikes killing fifteen people, including nine children, as skepticism remains high on both sides regarding the likelihood of a lasting agreement.

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have announced the destruction of approximately fifty Hamas tunnels in the Philadelphi corridor, a buffer zone along the fourteen-kilometer Gaza-Egypt border. This operation, conducted over the past month, aims to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons and escaping with hostages into Egypt. The IDF's Yahalom combat engineering unit destroyed a three-meter-tall smuggling tunnel on August fourth, large enough to allow vehicles through. The destruction of these tunnels is critical in curbing Hamas’s rearmament. The announcement comes as Israeli and Arab leaders prepare to resume ceasefire negotiations in Qatar.

Sacked Bangladesh Army Major General Ziaul Ahsan, a key figure during Sheikh Hasina's rule, was arrested on murder charges following the government’s fall on August 5. Ahsan, previously the Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre, was apprehended in Dhaka's Khilkhet area. He is accused of involvement in the murder of street vendor Shahjahan Ali during recent protests. Ahsan, linked to several enforced disappearances, was dismissed by the new army chief following Hasina’s resignation. Human rights group Mayer Dak had issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding his arrest, accusing him of severe human rights violations during Hasina's regime.

An Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon has killed nine people, including a woman and her two children, according to Lebanon's health ministry. The strike occurred in the Nabatieh area, around twelve kilometres from the Israeli border. Five others were wounded, two critically. Israel's military reported that the air force targeted a Hezbollah weapons storage facility. The incident is the latest in the ongoing conflict, as Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been exchanging near-daily fire since the Gaza War began in October between Palestinian Hamas militants and Israel. International efforts continue to prevent a broader regional conflict.

A brawl erupted in Turkey's parliament on Friday as lawmakers clashed over the case of jailed opposition deputy Can Atalay. The altercation, which lasted about 30 minutes and injured at least two lawmakers, forced a suspension of the session. The dispute began when AKP member Alpay Ozalan attacked Ahmet Sik of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP), who had criticized the government's handling of Atalay, a lawyer and rights activist stripped of his parliamentary immunity earlier this year. Following the chaos, deputies reconvened and voted against restoring Atalay’s parliamentary mandate, intensifying the political turmoil in Turkey.

Ukraine has destroyed a bridge over the River Seym in Russia's Kursk region, according to Russian state news agency TASS. The bridge linked areas under Russian control with regions where Ukrainian forces have made advances. Its destruction has complicated civilian evacuations in the Glushkov district, home to around twenty thousand people. The Kremlin-aligned Mash Telegram channel reported the bridge was hit by a rocket and collapsed. Neither Russian nor Ukrainian authorities have commented on the incident. This follows Ukraine's surprise invasion of Kursk, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirming the capture of Sudzha.