Aug 16, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his refusal to accept a US-supported 15-point peace framework for the Gaza Strip, declaring that military forces will not pull out until Hamas is completely disarmed.

Addressing his cabinet, Netanyahu stated that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" that had gained backing from Hamas and US mediators. He affirmed that the military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" while operations continue to neutralize ongoing security risks.

The refusal marks an escalating divergence with US President Donald Trump, who had presented the proposal as a major step toward regional stability. Although Israeli forces have dialed back large-scale operations under American pressure, Netanyahu faces conflicting priorities between Washington's diplomatic push and right-wing coalition partners ahead of national elections set for 27 October.

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

Cross-border aerial strikes and intensive ground fighting have led to substantial casualties across Ukraine and Russia.

Ukrainian drone incursions targeted Russian logistics hubs, igniting fires at Wildberries distribution centres in the Leningrad and Moscow regions. Regional officials reported at least six fatalities and multiple injuries across the affected sites. In southern Russia's Krasnodar region, a drone crash on a Black Sea beach near Gelendzhik killed seven people, including three children, and injured roughly 40 others.

Simultaneously, a Russian aerial bombardment on Kyiv killed nine people and injured 33. On the front lines, Russian forces advanced near Artelne in the Kharkiv region and pushed into Kostiantynivka, while Ukrainian troops progressed toward Uspenivka in southern Donetsk. Meanwhile, Belarus initiated the formation of a new air assault brigade along its Ukrainian border.

Sources: France24, Mediazona, Point, The Insider, Радіо Свобода

Casualty figures continue to rise in Colombia following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck near San José del Palmar, triggering extensive building collapses and prompting national authorities to declare a state of emergency.

Reported death tolls vary as recovery teams access heavily impacted zones. Moldova1 reported that fatalities have reached at least 164, while Digi24 and Ziarul de Gardă cited at least 132 deaths alongside more than 500 injuries. Earlier accounts by HotNews and Adevărul reflected preliminary assessments reporting lower counts. Search and rescue personnel, supported by military units, continue digging through rubble for trapped survivors across western Colombia and border areas near Ecuador, where the tremor was also felt. Local officials warn the casualty count could increase further in the coming days.

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

A shallow magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Flores island in eastern Indonesia on Saturday, causing extensive destruction and triggering mass coastal evacuations. Emergency officials and disaster management authorities have released varying casualty estimates as search operations continue, with reported fatalities ranging between 20 and 40 people, alongside numerous injuries.

The tremor destroyed numerous structures, including residences, schools, and commercial buildings, while landslides obstructed key transport routes across the island. Authorities briefly issued a tsunami alert before withdrawing the warning. Rescue teams continue working through debris and aftershocks to reach isolated communities and assess the full extent of structural damage.

Sources: Canarias7, El Día, El Mundo, Expresso das Ilhas, La Vanguardia

Global climate monitoring indicates record-breaking marine heat and intensified weather disruptions worldwide, fueled by long-term warming and emerging El Niño conditions. According to the European Union's Copernicus climate service, extra-polar sea surface temperatures reached a historic July high of 20.96 degrees Celsius, surpassing prior records.

Across Europe, consecutive heatwaves have shattered regional temperature marks, heightened wildfire risks, and subjected roughly 150 million people to temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius. Simultaneously, extreme meteorological shifts are straining agricultural output, energy supplies, and supply chains globally. In southern Brazil, communities in Porto Alegre remain on alert for renewed flooding following earlier disasters, as meteorologists caution that compounded atmospheric and oceanic conditions are driving severe weather hazards across multiple continents.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, STV News, The Guardian, The Local Sweden.