Israel’s military unleashed heavy air and ground strikes on Gaza City on Wednesday, killing at least 123 people in the past day, according to the Gaza health ministry, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled preparations for a full takeover of the city.

The 24-hour death toll, the highest in a week, comes amid the nearly two-year war that has devastated the enclave’s population of more than two million. The Gaza health ministry said the latest fatalities included 12 people killed in an airstrike on a home in the Zeitoun district and nine others shot dead while seeking aid in central Gaza.

Israeli forces also destroyed several homes in Khan Younis in the south, while bombardments targeted the Shejaia neighborhood overnight.

Eight more people, including three children, reportedly died from starvation and malnutrition in the past day, bringing the war’s total hunger-related deaths to 235, including 106 children. Israel disputes these figures, accusing Hamas of diverting aid.

The Israeli military said nearly 320 trucks of supplies entered Gaza in the past 24 hours via Kerem Shalom and Zikim, along with three fuel tankers and air-dropped aid, but the U.N. and Palestinian officials maintain that the volume is far from sufficient.

Netanyahu reiterated a controversial proposal, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, that Palestinians could “leave of their own will,” telling Israeli TV: “All those who are concerned for the Palestinians, should open their gates and stop lecturing us.”

The idea has drawn sharp condemnation from Arab states and world leaders, who warn it would amount to a second Nakba, recalling the 1948 mass displacement of Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Hamas negotiators met Egyptian mediators in Cairo to discuss ending the war, boosting aid, and “ending the suffering” in Gaza, according to Hamas official Taher al-Nono.

Egyptian sources said talks were also addressing a potential comprehensive ceasefire that could involve Hamas relinquishing governance and weapons. A senior Hamas official told Reuters the group would consider options if Israel ended the war and withdrew, but insisted laying down arms before that “is impossible.”

Israeli officials say the planned re-seizure of Gaza City, which was briefly taken in the war’s early days before Israeli withdrawal, could launch as early as October. About half of Gaza’s population lives in the city and surrounding areas.

Since the war began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 in southern Israel, Israeli military operations have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

Written By Rodney Mbua

Myanmar’s military chief and acting president, Min Aung Hlaing, has ordered tighter security for political parties, candidates, and voters as the country prepares for elections scheduled for December and January, polls widely dismissed in the West as a bid to cement military rule.

Speaking at the first meeting of a newly formed election commission in Naypyitaw on Tuesday, Min Aung Hlaing warned of increased attacks on civil servants in the run-up to the vote and urged authorities to take comprehensive measures to protect participants.

“The election must be held without fail,” the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar quoted him as saying.

The planned polls come four years after the military coup that overthrew the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering mass protests and a civil war involving ethnic armed groups and new anti-junta militias.

Western governments and opposition movements have rejected the election, saying it will be dominated by military proxies and exclude key opponents, many of whom are barred from running or boycotting in protest.

The military-backed authorities last year conducted a nationwide census to compile voter rolls but were only able to reach 145 of Myanmar’s 330 townships due to ongoing conflict. Earlier this month, the junta transferred power to a nominally civilian-led interim administration tasked with organizing the vote.

Officials on Tuesday also reviewed ongoing military operations and plans to form “people’s security” groups to safeguard polling.

Last month, the junta enacted new electoral laws that include severe penalties, from a minimum of three years’ imprisonment to the death penalty, for violations, citing the need to protect the integrity of the election process.

Written By Rodney Mbua

A volunteer firefighter has died and several others have been hospitalised as dozens of wildfires, fanned by fierce winds and scorching temperatures, tore through parts of Spain on Wednesday.

Authorities said the victim, a 35-year-old volunteer, was battling flames near Nogarejas in the central Castile and Leon region when he became trapped while creating firebreaks. The blaze, still out of control, is burning on two active fronts amid forecasts of more strong winds and thunderstorms.

Over 5,000 residents have been evacuated from the area as emergency crews work to stop the flames from reaching smaller towns.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned on X that the situation remains “serious” and urged “extreme caution.” State weather agency AEMET said Spain is at “the most challenging point of the season,” with a 10-day heatwave set to last until Monday and an “extreme” wildfire risk declared for Wednesday.

Nearly 99,000 hectares (245,000 acres) have already burned nationwide this year.

Environment Minister Sara Aagesen said the intensity of many blazes suggests possible arson, though investigations are ongoing.

The wildfires have also claimed another life this week, a man killed on Monday while working at a horse stable near Madrid, where flames spread to homes and farms before being contained.

In Galicia’s Ourense province, six fires are raging across 10,000 hectares. Regional leader Alfonso Rueda described the situation as “complicated,” with weather conditions hampering containment efforts.

At least six major fires remain uncontained across the country, with emergency services warning that worsening weather could further escalate Spain’s wildfire crisis.

Written By Rodney Mbua

Iran’s parliament is prepared to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the United Nations reimposes international sanctions, senior lawmaker Manouchehr Mottaki said on Wednesday, according to the state-affiliated Defapress news agency.

The warning follows moves by several European countries to signal their readiness to trigger the UN “snapback” mechanism, allowing for the restoration of sanctions on Iran before the measure’s expiration in October.

The mechanism was originally part of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Iran says the West has undermined since the U.S. withdrew from the accord in 2018.

Mottaki’s remarks underscore escalating tensions between Tehran and Western powers amid disputes over Iran’s nuclear activities, which the West suspects may have military dimensions, allegations Iran denies.

Withdrawal from the NPT would mark a major shift in Iran’s nuclear policy, removing it from a key international treaty designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and could further isolate Tehran diplomatically while heightening regional security concerns.

Written By Rodney Mbua

Wildfires continued to sweep across Greece for a second day on Wednesday, destroying homes, farms, and factories and forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents and tourists amid scorching heat and strong winds.

Fires threatened villages near the western city of Patras and spread across the tourist islands of Chios and Zakynthos, as well as several inland regions.

Nearly 5,000 firefighters, supported by 33 aircraft, were deployed from dawn in a massive effort to contain the blazes, fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said.

Public broadcaster ERT reported dozens of people hospitalised for smoke inhalation since Tuesday, while 13 firefighters have been treated for burns and other injuries.

Authorities warned that wildfire risk would remain “very high” across much of the country, with temperatures expected to reach 34°C (93°F) in some areas.

Near Patras, flames tore through olive groves and forests, igniting a cement factory and disrupting rail traffic, sending thick smoke billowing over the city. “It looks like doomsday. May God help us and help people here,” said volunteer firefighter Giorgos Karavanis, who had travelled from Athens with the Kleisthenis volunteer association.

On Tuesday, authorities ordered the evacuation of a town of about 7,700 people near Patras, followed by fresh evacuation alerts for two nearby villages on Wednesday. On Chios, coast guard vessels ferried residents and tourists to safety as flames reached the shoreline.

The crisis comes as much of southern Europe battles wildfires during an intense heatwave, with Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Albania, and Montenegro also reporting widespread damage and destruction.

Written By Rodney Mbua

Wildfires driven by extreme heat scorched parts of Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, and the Balkans on Tuesday, killing at least four people and forcing thousands to flee homes, tourist resorts, and farmland.

Temperatures in some regions soared above 40°C (104°F), with scientists warning that climate change is making Mediterranean summers hotter, drier, and more prone to devastating blazes.

In Spain, a man died while working at a horse stable near Madrid, and a 61-year-old Hungarian seasonal worker is suspected to have succumbed to heat while picking fruit in Catalonia.

Fires also claimed lives in Albania and Montenegro, where an army tanker accident killed one soldier and seriously injured another. Spain’s meteorology service AEMET reported highs of 44°C (111°F) in some areas, minimal rainfall, and strong winds that heightened the risk.

More than 1,200 firefighters fought 32 wildfires in Spain’s Castile and Leon region alone, while 1,000 armed forces personnel joined firefighting operations nationwide.

A firefighter changes position during operations to battle a wildfire in the village of Parafita, Galicia region, Spain, August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura 

Over 2,000 people were evacuated from Tarifa, on Spain’s southern tip, after flames tore through eucalyptus and pine forests above hillside villas. Rail links between Galicia and Madrid were also suspended due to fires. Police arrested a firefighter in Avila who allegedly started a blaze for financial gain.

In Portugal, nearly 1,300 firefighters backed by 16 aircraft battled three major blazes, one of which in Vila Real has burned for 10 days. Local mayor Alexandre Favaios warned: “It’s been 10 days that our population is in panic, without knowing when the fire will knock on their door.”

Albania continues to face 30 active fires, with forests and farmland devastated. Montenegro, still reeling from multiple blazes, received firefighting aid from Serbia and Croatia and is expecting more assistance from Austria, Slovenia, and Italy under the EU civil protection mechanism.

Residents in Gornja Vrbica helped save a church and cemetery from approaching flames, while others mourned homes and irreplaceable personal belongings.

In Greece, wildfires fanned by gale-force winds forced evacuations on the tourist islands of Zakynthos and Cephalonia, as well as in several mainland regions, including the southern Achaia area. Fires near industrial zones and residential areas prompted urgent aerial and ground firefighting efforts.

In Turkey’s northwestern Canakkale province, a large wildfire burned for a second day, prompting the evacuation of hundreds as smoke blanketed surrounding areas.

With much of southern Europe under heat alerts, officials warn that worsening weather could push the crisis further “out of control” in the days ahead.

Firefighters work at a site, as wildfire continues to burn, in Delvina, Albania, August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Florion Goga TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Written By Rodney Mbua

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will travel to Japan from August 23–24 for talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, his office announced on Wednesday.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the two leaders will discuss strengthening regional peace and enhancing trilateral cooperation with the United States.

While the exact date of the summit during Lee’s two-day visit was not disclosed, the meeting will mark their second encounter following their first talks on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada in June, where they pledged to deepen bilateral ties.

Relations between Seoul and Tokyo, both key U.S. allies, have long been complicated by historical disputes rooted in Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945. Lee, who has previously been critical of past efforts to improve ties, has in recent months signaled a willingness to work with Ishiba on areas of mutual interest.

The summit comes as both nations face economic uncertainties, including the impact of U.S. tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration. Lee’s visit to Japan will be followed by a trip to the United States, where he is scheduled to meet Trump on August 25.

Written By Rodney Mbua

Nigeria’s air force says it has killed 592 armed militia members in Borno State over the past eight months, marking what officials describe as unprecedented operational gains in the country’s fight against insurgency.

Chief of Air Staff Hasan Abubakar, speaking during a visit to Borno Governor Babagana Zulum on Tuesday, said the intensified air campaign had also destroyed more than 200 technical vehicles and 166 logistics hubs in the northeast.

The offensive targets Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have waged a violent insurgency that has displaced millions and killed thousands.

“This year, our air war is faster, sharper, and more surgical,” Abubakar said. “We are taking out high-value targets, crippling logistics networks, and dismantling cells that threaten peace in the northeast.”

Operations have included coordinated day-and-night strikes in key insurgent strongholds such as Gonori, Rann, Dikwa, Damboa, Azir, and Mallam Fatori. The air force deployed A-29 Super Tucano aircraft for precision and night missions, Mi-171 helicopters for evacuation and logistics, enhanced surveillance platforms, and recently acquired Mi-35 gunships for close air support.

Under Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s counterinsurgency mission in the northeast, air force aircraft have flown 798 combat sorties and logged more than 1,500 operational hours since the start of the year.

Despite the claims of success, analysts caution that the insurgency remains far from defeated. “The reality on the ground shows that the military’s claim of success pales in comparison to gains and successful attacks carried out by Boko Haram factions since ISWAP renewed its offensive in late 2024,” said Confidence MacHarry, Senior Analyst at SBM Intelligence in Lagos.

According to Nigeria Watch, militia gangs in Borno have killed at least 2,000 people since 2023.

The air force’s stepped-up operations also extend beyond the northeast, this week, the military said it killed scores of armed gang members in Zamfara State during a joint air and ground operation against more than 400 fighters preparing to attack a village.

Written By Rodney Mbua

The Pentagon’s planned “Golden Dome” missile defense system will comprise four integrated layers, one space-based and three on land, with 11 short-range missile batteries across the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii, according to a U.S. government slide presentation seen by Reuters.

Presented last week to more than 3,000 defense contractors in Huntsville, Alabama, the slides, tagged “Go Fast, Think Big!”, outlined the $175 billion project’s unprecedented scale and complexity, ahead of a 2028 deadline set by President Donald Trump.

While $25 billion has been appropriated and another $45.3 billion requested in Trump’s 2026 budget, key elements such as the number of launchers, interceptors, and ground stations remain undecided.

Modeled in part on Israel’s Iron Dome but vastly expanded for U.S. geography and threats, the system’s top tier will use a space-based sensing and targeting network for early warning, tracking, and missile interception. The three land-based layers will combine interceptors, radar arrays, and potentially lasers.

A notable addition is a new missile field, appearing in the Midwest on presentation maps, for Lockheed Martin’s Next Generation Interceptors (NGI), forming part of the “upper layer” alongside THAAD and Aegis systems.

This would complement existing Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) sites in Alaska and southern California, adding protection against intercontinental ballistic missiles from adversaries.

The “under layer,” or final line of defense, will incorporate upgraded Patriot missile batteries, new radars, and a modular “common launcher” capable of firing both current and future interceptors. These mobile systems would allow rapid redeployment to multiple theaters without reliance on fixed infrastructure.

Technical challenges identified include reducing communications latency across the “kill chain” and developing reentry-capable interceptors for space-based “boost phase” interception, a capability the U.S. has never fielded.

Contractors involved in Golden Dome development include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, and Boeing; SpaceX, previously linked to the project, was not mentioned in the latest briefing.

Space Force General Michael Guetlein, appointed last month to lead Golden Dome, has 30 days from July 17 to assemble his team, 60 days to deliver an initial design, and 120 days to present a full implementation plan, including satellite and ground station specifications, under orders from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The Pentagon says it is still in the early planning stages, gathering input from industry, academia, national laboratories, and other agencies before releasing further details.

Written By Rodney Mbua