Aug 26, 2026, 10:30 AM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza proposal supported by US President Donald Trump, reiterating that Israeli forces will not pull out of the territory without total demilitarisation by Hamas. Speaking in televised remarks to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and confirmed the rejection of the framework previously accepted by Hamas.

The decision underscores a rift between Jerusalem and Washington, even as Israeli military operations in Gaza have slowed following American intervention. Netanyahu's announcement comes as he prepares for Israel's upcoming general election on October 27, balancing demands from coalition allies alongside diplomatic pressure from Washington. Meanwhile, regional security concerns persist following Houthi claims of strikes in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

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

Ukrainian drone attacks continued to target Russian infrastructure and regional sites, causing civilian casualties and supply chain disruptions across several areas. Strikes hit major logistics facilities belonging to online retailers Wildberries and Ozon in Moscow, Leningrad, and Dagestan, triggering warehouse fires and driving Ozon's share price down nearly 30 percent. In Moscow Oblast, regional officials reported five deaths and ten injuries following a warehouse blaze.

Along the Black Sea coast in Krasnodar Krai, a drone crash on a beach in Arkhipo-Osipovka killed seven people, including three children, and injured roughly 40 others. Concurrently, ground combat persisted along the eastern front, with Russian forces securing tactical advances near Artilne in Kharkiv Oblast while Ukrainian troops made gains near Uspenivka. An overnight strike on Kyiv left nine dead and 33 injured.

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

Canada has formally unveiled a counter-tariff package targeting C$28 billion ($20 billion) in American goods following the collapse of bilateral trade negotiations. The measures, which mirror the 50 percent levies imposed by the United States on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports, will apply to products including steel, furniture, seafood, and apparel.

The cross-border dispute escalated after Washington enacted Section 338 duties affecting approximately five percent of Canada's annual exports south. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended trade talks and pledged a "dollar-for-dollar" retaliation alongside financial support packages to protect domestic businesses and workers from market instability.

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, Sweden Herald

Ukrainian lawmakers are set to vote on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s nomination of former intelligence chief Yevhen Khmara as defence minister, alongside the confirmation of Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The parliamentary vote follows the dismissal of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who has publicly criticized government corruption and called for wartime national elections.

Simultaneously, newly appointed Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyj has begun restructuring the armed forces hierarchy. Drapatyj, recognized for his operational leadership dating back to 2014 combat actions in Mariupol, is working to dismantle internal patronage networks and streamline military management. The organizational overhaul addresses systemic command issues and internal friction previously highlighted during the recent leadership transition.

Sources: Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could bomb Oman if the Gulf nation interferes with American diplomatic efforts concerning Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to Fox News, Trump stated, "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them," while reiterating that Tehran must "put up the white flag of surrender."

The comments followed announcements from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei that Tehran and Muscat were finalizing a bilateral agreement to manage commercial maritime passage through the strategic waterway.

While Trump claimed the US maintained direct dialogue with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the group publicly denied participating in any talks. Washington also warned of economic consequences for nations extending a "lifeline to Iran," though shipping data indicated traffic through the strait remained stable.

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