Thousands of Palestinians fled Gaza City’s Zeitoun area after six days of heavy Israeli air strikes and shelling. Gaza’s civil defence said at least 40 people were killed on Saturday. Israel plans to force over 1 million residents into camps in southern Gaza. The UN warned famine is unfolding, with 251 people, including 108 children, already dead from malnutrition. In Israel, a one-day nationwide strike saw roads blocked and trains disrupted. Protesters, led by hostage families, demanded the war end and hostages be freed. The war has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians since Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack. (PC: BBC)

Pakistan's Army Chief, Asim Munir, has revealed a plan to revive the country's economy by highlighting its "rare earth treasure." His remarks were made after the U.S. expressed interest in Pakistan's mineral reserves, which are crucial for the electronics and defense industries. The U.S. is seeking to reduce its dependence on China for these resources. Munir stated that with this treasure, "Pakistan's debt will also be reduced, and Pakistan will soon be counted among the most prosperous societies." This interest from the U.S. comes at a time of strained relations between the U.S. and India. The Washington Post reported that the US President’s new-found interest in Pakistan is "less about oil than about access to minerals and rare earths," even as Islamabad received its first-ever crude oil shipment from the US under the trade deal. (PC: News18)

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, but the summit concluded without a concrete deal. Both leaders called the talks "productive" and "constructive," but neither mentioned a ceasefire. The meeting, which included a red carpet welcome for Putin, drew criticism from some European allies and Ukrainians. Following the summit, Trump announced he would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington to discuss a potential peace agreement. The lack of a definitive outcome on the war leaves the situation unresolved, but signals a path for continued diplomacy. (PC: CNN & X)

Following the recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, U.S. President Donald Trump has shifted his stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, now advocating for a full peace accord instead of a mere ceasefire. This move comes after Trump supported a proposal where Russia would control Donetsk and Lugansk in exchange for halting its offensive in southern Ukraine, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to cede the Donbas region. Trump stated that peace agreements are the most effective way to end the "horrific war." While both leaders described the talks as "productive," European leaders have shown mixed reactions, with some acknowledging progress and others expressing skepticism about Russia's intentions. (PC: CNBC TV18 & CNN)

U.S. President Donald Trump conveyed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after their Alaska summit: halt fighting along current front lines in exchange for Kyiv ceding full control of Donetsk. Zelenskyy rejected the offer, according to Reuters. Trump publicly urged Ukraine to accept a peace deal, stating, “Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.” The three-hour Alaska summit marked the first direct U.S.-Russia engagement since the 2022 invasion. Trump and Putin agreed that peace should proceed without a ceasefire, a stance that diverges from Ukraine’s and Europe’s insistence on ceasefire as a prerequisite. Russia currently controls 20% of Ukraine, including most of Donetsk. (PC: The New York Times)

Following the Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump conveyed Putin’s proposal to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: halt Russian advances in exchange for Ukraine surrendering full control of Donetsk. Zelenskyy rejected the offer, maintaining Ukraine’s stance against territorial concessions. Trump publicly stated Ukraine should accept a peace deal, arguing “Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.” He and Putin reportedly agreed that peace should proceed without a ceasefire, diverging from prior U.S. policy. Russia currently occupies 20% of Ukrainian territory. The summit marked the first U.S.-Russia meeting since the 2022 invasion, amid strained ties and heightened NATO-Russia tensions. (PC: NDTV & CBC)

Russian President Vladimir Putin described his recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska as “very frank” and “timely,” emphasizing its usefulness in advancing discussions on ending the Ukraine conflict “on a fair basis.” Speaking to top officials in Moscow, Putin noted the rarity of such high-level direct negotiations and praised the opportunity to calmly and thoroughly reiterate Russia’s position. He stated the conversation was substantive and believed it brought both nations closer to making necessary decisions. The meeting took place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, marking a significant diplomatic engagement amid ongoing global tensions. (PC: X/Whitehouse)

On August 15, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. In a spectacle of diplomacy featuring a red-carpet welcome, limousine ride, and military flyover, the two leaders completed approximately 2.5 hours of talks—but left without reaching a ceasefire or actionable agreement on Ukraine . While both described the meeting as “productive,” pressing issues like stopping the war were left unresolved . European leaders vowed to uphold sanctions and reject any territorial veto by Russia on Ukraine’s EU or NATO aspirations . Ukrainian President Zelensky is set to meet Trump in Washington next week to continue dialogue. (PC: NDTV)

Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp killed eight Palestinians, including four children, according to Wafa news agency . Meanwhile, the UN relief agency UNRWA has issued a stark warning that 21.5% of children in Gaza City—roughly one in five—are suffering from malnutrition, signaling a worsening humanitarian catastrophe . These developments underscore the escalating toll of violence and deprivation in Gaza, where the convergence of bombardment and hunger is imperiling civilian lives, especially youthful and vulnerable populations. (PC: The Guardian)

At their high-stakes Alaska summit on August 15–16, 2025, Vladimir Putin breached diplomatic protocol by taking the microphone before U.S. President Donald Trump during the joint press conference . Framing the narrative on his terms, Putin highlighted Alaska’s history as former Russian territory and portrayed the two nations as “neighbours,” setting a cooperative tone despite the absence of a peace deal . The three-hour summit ended without any formal agreement to halt the Ukraine war; Trump insisted “there’s no deal until there’s a deal,” while Putin claimed an “understanding” had been reached. (PC: Reuters)