The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a critical point, with the United Nations officially declaring a famine on August 22, 2025, marking the first time such a declaration has been made in the Middle East. Reports indicate that Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of 63 people across Gaza as troops push deeper into Gaza City. Tens of thousands of Palestinian children are reported to be starving in Gaza's tent camps. The dire circumstances have spurred widespread protests, with thousands taking to the streets at pro-Palestine demonstrations across Australia and the UK.

Meanwhile, the conflict in Eastern Europe continues to escalate as Russia claims to have captured two more villages in Ukraine's Donetsk region, namely Sredneye and Kleban-Byk. This advance is seen as a further push towards Kostiantynivka, a key fortified town that serves as a major Ukrainian logistics base on the road to Kramatorsk. Adding to the complexities, a report suggests that the Pentagon is blocking Ukraine from using US-made long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia, limiting Kyiv's ability to employ these weapons for defense. Amidst these developments, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has joined calls for a summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to signal a firm commitment to ending the war.

In Asia, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has supervised the test-firing of new anti-air missiles, a move that underscores the nation's continued focus on military advancements. This latest test follows previous reports of Kim overseeing similar missile tests.