An Israeli minister has claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will agree to a ceasefire with Hamas “only when the streets are burning.” This statement comes amid a nationwide general strike in Israel, which aims to force Netanyahu into negotiations after six hostages were killed by Hamas. The minister suggested that peaceful protests may not be enough to shift Netanyahu’s stance, who reportedly fears hard-right ministers more than the demonstrators. The US is also pushing for a ceasefire deal, with a final proposal expected soon. Public pressure continues to mount as demonstrations spread across Israel.

The Supreme Court granted bail to Bibhav Kumar, an aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the assault case involving Swati Maliwal. Kumar, who had been in custody for 100 days, is accused of assaulting Maliwal when she visited the CM's residence. The court ordered that Kumar not be reinstated as the CM's personal assistant or enter the residence until all witnesses are examined. The Delhi Police filed a 500-page chargesheet against Kumar, who faces multiple charges under the Indian Penal Code, including assault and criminal intimidation.

The UK government has suspended certain military export licences to Israel, citing concerns over potential violations of international humanitarian law. Officials stressed that this is not an arms embargo but a targeted suspension based on the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The review, initiated by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, assessed Israel's humanitarian provisions, treatment of detainees, and military conduct in Gaza. Protests continue in Israel, with demonstrators demanding the government secure a hostage release deal with Hamas. Critics argue that UK arms sales could make Britain complicit in humanitarian law breaches as the Gaza conflict persists.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Sandip Ghosh, ex-principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, for his involvement in financial irregularities. Ghosh, who stepped down after a trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the hospital, faces charges of conspiracy, cheating, and corruption under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The arrest followed a two-week CBI probe, including a polygraph test. The Indian Medical Association suspended Ghosh's membership, and Kolkata Police summoned him for disclosing the victim's identity, amid ongoing nationwide protests.

Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli and legendary filmmaker, has been awarded the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award, known as Asia's Nobel Prize. Miyazaki, celebrated for films like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, was recognized for using animation to help children understand complex issues like environmental protection and peace. The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation praised his work for creating some of the most beloved films worldwide. The award ceremony will take place in Manila this November. Miyazaki recently came out of retirement to direct The Boy and the Heron, earning critical acclaim.

Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh shared stunning black-and-white images from their pregnancy photoshoot. Deepika looked radiant in a black bralette and sheer dress, while Ranveer kept it casual in a tee and jeans. Fans quickly showered the couple with love and warm wishes in the comments. The couple, married in 2018, is expected to welcome their baby this month. On the work front, Deepika was last seen in Kalki 2898 AD, while Ranveer recently starred in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and has Singham Again coming up.

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a historic victory in Thuringia, winning 32.8% of the vote. This marks the first time a far-right party has won a state election after WWII in Germany. In Saxony, AfD narrowly missed another victory, finishing just behind the center-right CDU with 30.6% of the vote. These results highlight rising dissatisfaction with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government, particularly in the eastern regions. The victory has sparked concerns, as AfD is classified as a right-wing extremist group by Germany's domestic intelligence agency.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore reported strange, pulsating sounds from the Starliner spacecraft while aboard the ISS. The noise, likened to submarine sonar, puzzled both the crew and NASA engineers. This incident adds to the Starliner’s ongoing issues, which have kept the astronauts on the ISS longer than planned. The spacecraft is set to return to Earth without a crew on September 6, 2024. NASA plans to bring the astronauts back in February 2025 using a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The source of the mysterious sounds remains unknown.

At the Paris Paralympics 2024, 17-year-old para archer Sheetal Devi made headlines with a stunning bullseye shot in the women’s individual compound archery event. Despite her impressive start and breaking the world record with a score of 703, Sheetal lost narrowly to Chile’s Zuniga Mariana, missing the knockout stages. Her bullseye video went viral, capturing the attention of football star Jules Kounde and former cricketer Harbhajan Singh. Sheetal, a former Asian Para Games gold medalist, has been celebrated globally for her remarkable achievements and inspiring performance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Singapore on September 4-5 to strengthen bilateral ties. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that this visit will elevate India-Singapore cooperation to new heights, with a significant focus on the semiconductor sector. Singapore is India’s largest trade partner in ASEAN and a major source of Foreign Direct Investment, contributing $11.77 billion in 2023. PM Modi will address CEOs during the visit, highlighting India's growth story. The visit also coincides with the upcoming 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations in 2025.