Aug 14, 2026, 10:00 PM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially rejected a 15-point Gaza peace framework championed by US President Donald Trump, maintaining that Israeli forces will not leave the enclave until Hamas is fully disarmed.

Speaking to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that the military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and pledged to maintain operations to counter emerging threats. The US-backed initiative had previously been accepted by Hamas.

The formal refusal underscores escalating diplomatic friction between Washington and Jerusalem, coming at a time when Israeli offensive actions have largely slowed under American pressure. Netanyahu's decision also intersects with domestic political pressures ahead of national parliamentary elections scheduled for late October.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald.

Emergency workers in western Colombia continue search and rescue operations following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake near San José del Palmar. The tremor, originating at a depth of roughly 107 kilometres and felt in Ecuador, prompted authorities to declare a national state of emergency amid widespread structural collapse.

Casualty counts have fluctuated as responders clear debris. Moldova1 reports the death toll has reached at least 164, while Digi24 and Ziarul de Gardă cite at least 132 fatalities and over 500 injuries. Earlier dispatches from HotNews and Adevărul recorded initial preliminary figures. Rescuers and military personnel remain deployed in hopes of finding survivors trapped under collapsed buildings, though officials warn the number of victims could rise further.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

Ukrainian forces have revealed significant territorial advances along the Oleksandrivka front, representing their largest liberation of territory since autumn 2022 following months of operational secrecy. Concurrently, Ukrainian strikes targeted Russian naval vessels in Novorossiysk, hitting two frigates capable of launching cruise missiles.

The battlefield developments coincide with extensive structural adjustments within the military. Newly appointed armed forces commander Mykhailo Drapatyj has initiated reforms to overhaul command structures established under his predecessor. Meanwhile, former commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi stated that Ukraine would not join NATO, arguing the alliance remains anchored in outdated doctrines ill-suited to 21st-century warfare.

Domestically, the Security Service of Ukraine reported thwarting numerous Russian intelligence plots targeting soldiers through deceptive dating profiles designed to facilitate assassinations.

Sources: Deník N, Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

US officials have pushed back against reports of declining morale and deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier deployed for more than 250 days in the Middle East.

Reports from military publications and US lawmakers indicated that the carrier's 5,000 personnel face food shortages, maintenance issues, and mental health strains during an extended mission supporting operations involving Iran. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that claims regarding poor conditions aboard the vessel were "completely misrepresented." President Donald Trump also dismissed concerns over the deployment's duration, stating that it was "not nearly long enough."

Congressional scrutiny has increased over crew welfare, with lawmakers noting the vessel has operated without a port visit for over six months. The US military is reportedly preparing to rotate the carrier out with a replacement vessel.

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, France24, Sweden Herald, The Guardian

A fast-moving wildfire along Croatia's southern coast has prompted mass evacuations around the town of Omiš, southeast of Split. Originating in Lokva Rogoznica, the blaze spread rapidly through pine forests toward residential zones, driven by strong winds, and forced the closure of sections of the primary coastal highway.

Local authorities reported one fatality, seven critical injuries, and dozens of other injuries, according to DR. Evacuation figures varied among reports, ranging between 1,000 and 2,000 residents and vacationers, with many sheltering in local sports facilities and emergency accommodation. A naval vessel was placed on standby to assist with maritime rescues if needed.

Although open flames have largely subsided, firefighting crews remain on site to monitor smoldering hotspots.

Sources: Dagens Nyheter, DR, ORF, SVT.