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Talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US envoy Jared Kushner on the Gaza ceasefire deal ended without progress, with Netanyahu insisting on Hamas's disarmament first. Hamas, meanwhile, demands an Israeli withdrawal from the 60% of Gaza it occupies.
President Trump’s July meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was notably cool, reflecting a broader shift in U.S. politics where Israel faces unprecedented criticism. Polls show eroding support for unconditional aid, and Trump has declined to endorse Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s October election.
President Trump declared on Truth Social that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon 'in any way, shape or form' as the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed in June expired Monday, with no permanent peace deal reached. Iran rejected the deadline, citing 'gross and widespread US violations' and saying it does not formulate policy under pressure. In related developments, US envoy Jared Kushner pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a Gaza peace plan, while Hunter Biden and Bill Maher sparred over Kushner's role on 'Real Time.'
The Trump administration has imposed sweeping restrictions across virtually all legal immigration categories, including the Diversity Visa lottery, refugee admissions, family- and employment-based visas, and public charge rules. Analysts project the policies could cut legal immigration by up to 50% and cost the U.S. economy trillions of dollars, sparking legal challenges and employer concerns.
US President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Oman if it impedes efforts to end the conflict with Iran, saying he views the Strait of Hormuz as 'American territory'. Russia has condemned the threats as pressure tactics, while Iran's foreign minister called US sanctions threats 'doomed to fail'.
Iran and Oman have agreed in principle on a temporary maritime transit mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz, with talks continuing on a permanent corridor. The deal includes a joint navigational corridor and mine clearance, but Iran insists traffic will not fully normalize until the US lifts its blockade and sanctions.
At least three National Institutes of Health grants totaling $15 million for research on how discrimination affects long-term brain health have been terminated at Emory University and the University of Pittsburgh. Researchers described the moves as scientifically flawed political interference, while termination letters cited a shift in NIH priorities. Both The Guardian and indy100 reported that the Department of Health and Human Services did not provide comment.
Ukrainian President Zelensky outlined a peace plan involving a ceasefire and a free economic zone, while a Russian expert predicted that US envoys Witkoff and Kushner will bring concrete proposals to Moscow. The conflicting statements highlight the wide gap between Kyiv and Moscow's positions.
President Trump's call to 'substantially' reduce US-South Korea military exercises has unsettled Seoul, which must balance alliance fidelity with the president's overture to Kim Jong-un. While some see diplomatic potential, critics warn of a weakened deterrent and a return to 'Korea passing.'
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said negotiations with Oman on Strait of Hormuz security have been delayed due to US and Israeli interference, while Tehran and Muscat work on a mechanism to ensure safe passage. Baghaei also reiterated Iran's refusal to accept US conditions for ending the Middle East conflict, warning that countries hosting US troops could face consequences.
Five months into the war, Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has cut oil traffic by 90%, defying US claims of control and prompting cautious NATO-facilitated talks. As Tehran asserts sovereignty over the waterway, the world faces an energy crisis with no easy resolution.
The United States has cancelled the Ssangyong amphibious landing exercise with South Korea, citing constraints on US forces due to the war in Iran. The move follows President Trump's order to scale back the separate Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, raising questions about alliance reliability and prompting concerns in Seoul.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a trilateral defence agreement in Mecca on August 7, pledging collective defence and drawing comparisons to NATO. US President Donald Trump praised the move, while India said it is studying the pact's implications.
Bangladesh has said it is open to joining the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan-Turkiye defence pact, with two junior ministers stressing any decision hinges on national interests. Meanwhile, reports of an invitation for Iran to join remain unconfirmed, with Tehran denying receiving any official proposal.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed she will return to the Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc. after leaving the administration at the end of August, citing family reasons. President Trump has yet to name her successor, while he has indicated interest in Scott Jennings and Margo Martin for the role.
A Financial Times report citing sources close to Tehran says Iran has assessed striking US military assets in southeastern Europe, including bases in Bulgaria and Cyprus, if President Trump escalates the conflict. NATO says it is prepared to defend allies, while Bulgaria and Cyprus have taken precautionary measures and Cypriot officials deny the threat.
President Trump has ordered a substantial reduction in joint US-South Korea military exercises, citing his 'very good relationship' with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. South Korea's defence ministry said the drills would proceed as scheduled, while a Republican lawmaker expressed hope the curtailment is temporary.
North Korea's Kim Yo Jong dismissed the U.S. decision to scale back military drills with South Korea, saying the exercises remain provocative. The move, ordered by President Trump, was linked to his relationship with Kim Jong Un and Seoul's refusal to support U.S. policy on Iran, and drew mixed reactions from South Korean officials and analysts.
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his relationship with North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Seoul's refusal to support US efforts in Iran. The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills were shortened from 11 days to five, drawing reactions from allies and analysts while North Korea dismissed the move as still provocative.
As the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding set to expire on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for ending the war from a position of strength, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no decision has been made to restart negotiations. The US is preparing intensified sanctions, and analysts note Iran's increased leverage.