Donald Trump has described talks on 6 August between his envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin as ‘highly productive’, claiming that ‘great progress’ has been made toward ending the Ukraine war. The Kremlin issued a vague statement confirming the exchange of ‘signals’ but did not give further details. The meeting occurred days ahead of Trump’s ceasefire deadline, amid mounting frustration over stalled peace efforts. Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders were briefed on the talks and reiterated the need to end the war. Despite Trump’s threats of increased sanctions, including raising the tariff on India to 50% for buying Russian oil, Russia has continued its attacks on Ukrainian cities. Three years into the invasion, peace talks have repeatedly failed, and Russia’s preconditions remain unacceptable to Kyiv. Meanwhile, the USA has approved $200 million in military support to Ukraine, with Trump still open to meetings with both Putin and Zelensky. The humanitarian toll of Russian strikes remains devastating and ongoing.

A major scandal has erupted in Greece, with European prosecutors accusing senior government officials, including ministers and MPs, of orchestrating a large-scale scheme to defraud the EU of agricultural subsidies. It is claimed that individuals illegally claimed payments for non-existent or unusable pastureland, depriving legitimate farmers of support. However, those who have been accused are likely to evade justice because, despite widespread criticism, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is blocking a full-scale investigation, using legal loopholes and his party's parliamentary majority. A 3,000-page dossier has implicated former agriculture ministers and top officials in a coordinated effort to bypass controls, intimidate investigators, and ensure fraudulent payments were processed. Despite internal warnings and blocked payments, whistleblowers were forced out, and payments resumed under political pressure. Even though the extent of damages has not yet been assessed, Brussels has ordered Greece to forfeit nearly €400 in funding, over a fifth of the direct payments it had been due to receive next year. The case offers damning evidence that after three bailouts and a financial crisis that lasted over a decade, Greece still hasn’t cleared out the rot.

After nearly two years of war in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to escalate the conflict further by ordering a full military occupation of the territory, despite international outrage, domestic opposition, and dissent within Israel's own military. Critics allege that his push is politically motivated, aimed at preserving his fragile coalition and delaying his corruption trial. Analysts question whether the Israeli army, already strained and suffering from troop shortages and internal resistance, can sustain such an operation. Over 600 ex-military officials have urged Donald Trump to intervene diplomatically, stating that in their professional opinion, Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat. Despite widespread destruction, the goal of rescuing all the Israeli captives has not been achieved. Public support continues to decline, and many accuse Netanyahu of prioritising political survival over peace or national security. Further escalation could deepen the humanitarian catastrophe and international isolation.

A new report has revealed that over 22,000 people, most of them Christians, have been killed by Islamist militants across Africa in the year to June 2025. This marks a 60% increase in violence since 2023. The Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) network, now controlling more than half of Burkina Faso, was responsible for over 80% of fatalities in the Sahel region. In Somalia, al-Shabaab killed more than 6,000 people, while the Islamic State in Somalia (ISS) is emerging as a global IS hub. The Allied Democratic Forces, linked to IS, claimed a deadly church attack in eastern Congo, killing 43 during a night service. Media restrictions and loss of state control across 950,000 square kilometres are masking the true scale of violence. The report warns of growing danger to Christian communities throughout Africa.

US-India relations entered a turbulent phase when Donald Trump tore into India for its continued oil imports from Russia and slow progress on trade negotiations. Formerly close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump, accusing India of funding Russia’s war in Ukraine, has vowed to raise tariffs on Indian exports to 50%. India regards its Russian energy imports as economically necessary; it has a longstanding relationship with Russia and is among the largest importers of Russian oil. Modi’s government has so far resisted Trump’s pressure, particularly over opening up US access to the heavily protected agriculture and dairy sectors. In response to Trump’s belligerent language, Modi has called on citizens to buy only Indian-made goods, leading to greater economic self-reliance. Political commentators note that it will be very difficult for Modi to give any large concessions in a trade deal, given the growing anger within India towards Trump.

Brazil’s supreme court has placed former president Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest as he stands trial for allegedly plotting a coup to overturn the 2022 election won by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, citing violations of restrictions on Bolsonaro’s social media activity and political messaging, has ordered the measure. Bolsonaro, accused of leading an armed criminal group and attempting to abolish democratic rule, faces up to twelve years in prison if convicted. The prosecution links him to the January 2023 storming of Brazil’s congress and other institutions by his supporters. Bolsonaro denies all charges, calling the case a political witch hunt. The ruling has sparked political tensions, with Donald Trump’s administration imposing tariffs on Brazil and sanctions on Moraes, which Lula has called ‘unacceptable’. Bolsonaro’s movements are now restricted, and his communications have been seized; only close family and lawyers are allowed to visit. There have been widespread rallies to protest this decision: see

The US health department is to cancel $500 million in funding for 22 mRNA vaccine projects targeting viruses such as flu and Covid-19, including those by Pfizer and Moderna. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, a vaccine sceptic, claimed mRNA technology poses more risks than benefits for respiratory viruses. Health experts strongly disagreed, noting that the vaccines were pivotal in slowing Covid-19 and saving millions of lives. They warned that withdrawing support undermines one of the most effective tools for pandemic preparedness. Kennedy argued the department would fund alternative vaccine platforms with broader safety records. However, experts say that viruses mutate naturally and that mRNA vaccines are remarkably safe, effective, and faster to develop than traditional vaccines. The decision is part of broader changes Kennedy has made to vaccine policy, including removing Covid vaccines from the recommended immunisation schedule for healthy children and pregnant women.

Customs officials have intercepted a shipment of over 1,620 live parrots and canaries at Lagos' international airport, bound for Kuwait without the required permits. The birds, including protected ring-necked parakeets and yellow-fronted canaries, were seized during a routine inspection on 31 July. A spokesman said that the airport remains under strict surveillance to prevent illegal trafficking. As a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Nigeria must ensure such exports have legal documentation, which this shipment did not have. Authorities are investigating those behind the attempted export. The rescued birds were handed over to the National Park Service for rehabilitation. Conservationists view this seizure as a major success in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle against wildlife trafficking. Although the country is a key transit hub due to porous borders, widespread corruption, and weak enforcement, the interception is a sign of positive change in the fight against illegal wildlife trade, which globally generates $8–10 billion annually.

Jenn Johnson, worship leader with Bethel Music, has shared a powerful testimony of encountering an angel during a critical moment in hospital. Speaking to CBN News, she described seeing an angel appear in her hospital room just before undergoing a C-section for her daughter’s birth. The angel, bald with a gold earring, simply looked at her, nodded, and turned away - but the peace Johnson felt in that moment was overwhelming. The encounter inspired her song ‘Mention of Your Name’, born from the deep reassurance she received when she needed it most. 'Peace went through my body’, she said, recounting how unafraid she was despite the gravity of the situation. The experience left her longing for more such glimpses of heaven. Johnson also shared a separate miracle: the healing of her leg after it had been lifeless for two years due to a back condition. After being prayed for, sensation returned instantly. These encounters have deepened her faith and stirred hope in many who hear her story.

James O Fraser, a missionary to China in the early 1900s, is being remembered as a 'latter-day Joseph' whose quiet faithfulness sparked a spiritual awakening. Working among the Lisu people in remote southwest China, he faced immense challenges: isolation, language barriers, and demonic opposition. Yet he persevered with prayer and sacrificial service, often spending entire nights in intercession. Instead of rushing to convert, Fraser devoted himself to translating Scripture and creating a phonetic alphabet for the Lisu language. His patient work laid the foundation for a revival that would later sweep through the region. When the Chinese church faced decades of persecution, the Lisu believers endured and multiplied - in large part due to Fraser’s early efforts. Today, they are one of the few people groups in China where a whole Bible-based Christian culture exists. Fraser’s life illustrates how deep prayer and obedience can shape nations. Though largely unknown in his lifetime, his legacy is likened to that of Joseph in Egypt: faithful, prophetic, and world-changing through God’s hand.