Relations between Israel and Australia have entered a new phase of confrontation after Tel Aviv announced the cancellation of visas for two Australian diplomats accredited to the Palestinian Authority. The move came shortly after Canberra denied entry to far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman and confirmed plans to recognize the State of Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September.

On August 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will make his second visit to the White House this year, in an effort to shift the unfavorable momentum for Kyiv following the Trump–Putin summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15.

The summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Anchorage, Alaska, concluded without concrete agreements. However, the event is widely regarded as a turning point, breaking the years-long “frozen” state of U.S.–Russia relations and opening prospects for peace in Ukraine.

The high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska has sparked unease in Ukraine and across Europe. Yet in Beijing, the summit is being closely—and positively—watched. For China, Alaska is more than a discussion on Ukraine; it is a strategic test to gauge how President Trump bargains with other great powers, and a lesson that could shape Beijing’s approach to future US-China confrontations.

SoftBank Group, led by billionaire Masayoshi Son, has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) of its popular payment app PayPay in the United States. The deal could raise more than $2 billion and value the fintech at over $10 billion, providing fresh capital for SoftBank’s aggressive push into artificial intelligence (AI).

CK Hutchison Holdings, the conglomerate led by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, has postponed the completion of its $23 billion global port sale until 2026. The deal includes two critical ports along the Panama Canal, underscoring rising geopolitical and regulatory challenges.

Starting October 2025, the U.S. will impose steep port fees on vessels owned or built by China, forcing global shipping companies to reroute fleets to avoid millions in additional costs.

The growing wave of countries recognizing the State of Palestine — from Europe to the Middle East — is creating an unprecedented diplomatic challenge for Israel and testing the unity of the Western alliance. This shift comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the long-standing deadlock in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

The upcoming summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for August 15 in Alaska, is drawing intense international attention. Seen as a pivotal opportunity to ease U.S.–Russia tensions, the meeting could pave the way for a resolution to the Ukraine conflict and open doors for broader strategic cooperation.

Russia and Serbia are moving forward with plans to construct new oil and gas pipelines, aiming to create a strategic supply route for Southeast Europe and several EU countries. The initiative comes as Ukraine refuses to transport Russian gas through its territory.

Tensions in the Gaza Strip are escalating rapidly as Israel gears up for a large-scale military campaign aimed at taking full security control of the area. The United States, under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, has expressed firm support for Israel's approach, while voices from Europe — notably Italy — have issued harsh criticism over humanitarian concerns.

On August 11, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó held a phone conversation with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov to discuss the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for August 15 in Alaska.