Democratic Republic of Congo authorities released 15 prisoners and handed them over to AFC/M23 rebels on August 6-7, marking the first known prisoner transfer under a peace agreement signed last year. The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the handover as part of the Doha peace process for eastern DRC.
Peru and Mexico announced the restoration of diplomatic ties on August 7, 2026, ending a nine-month rift that began when Mexico granted asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, who faced conspiracy charges related to ousted President Pedro Castillo's 2022 coup attempt. Chávez departed Peru on a Mexican Air Force plane shortly before the announcement.
Negotiations between Venezuela's interim government and opposition faction commenced Thursday following nearly a week of delays. The US-backed talks aim to reshape the country's political system and establish groundwork for future elections after years of political turmoil.
Israel launched major retaliatory strikes on southern Lebanon after two reserve soldiers were killed and four seriously wounded in an IED explosion, marking the first Israeli military deaths since a June ceasefire with Hezbollah. The violence occurred as Israeli-Lebanese negotiations continued in Rome.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected a US-backed peace plan for Gaza, stating Israel will not withdraw from current positions until Hamas is completely disarmed. The statement contradicts terms proposed by the Board of Peace and threatens to derail Trump administration efforts to broker a Gaza settlement.
The seventh round of U.S.-facilitated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon began Tuesday in Rome, focusing on establishing pilot zones for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah disarmament. However, talks ended early on the second day after Israel's ambassador halted negotiations, citing what sources described as Beirut's 'repeated misleading leaks.'
Heavy clashes broke out near Sheraro in western Tigray on August 1, 2026, between the Ethiopian National Defense Force and Tigray People's Liberation Front forces, marking one of the most serious breaches of the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement. Hundreds of civilians have fled into Sudan as fighting subsided by August 2.
Negotiations between Venezuela's government and opposition factions commenced on July 31, 2026, led by former lawmaker Dinorah Figuera, with the country's most prominent opposition figure Maria Corina Machado notably absent from the proceedings. Venezuelans are watching the U.S.-backed talks with cautious optimism after previous negotiation attempts failed.
António Guterres arrived in Syria on Saturday for a three-day visit, marking the first time a serving UN Secretary-General has visited Damascus since 2009, before the civil war that killed hundreds of thousands. Guterres met with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and appealed to the international community to support Syria's reconstruction and political transition.
Seoul's Lee Jae Myung government is dropping its longstanding demand for North Korea's denuclearization as a precondition for dialogue, with Unification Minister Chung Dong-young announcing a shift to a "peace first" policy that prioritizes engagement and an initial nuclear freeze over immediate disarmament.
The United States and Ukraine are jointly developing peace proposals to present to Moscow, with officials expressing cautious optimism that changing war dynamics could lead to negotiations. Ukrainian officials view a partial ceasefire as the most realistic outcome, though Ukraine's new military chief has simultaneously pledged to escalate offensive operations.
The United States and Iran engaged in their most extensive military exchange since signing an interim deal last month, with attacks targeting commercial vessels and US military installations across the Middle East. President Trump indicated Iran has requested continued negotiations while revealing he has left instructions in case of his assassination.
The United States and Iran announced plans to send delegations to Qatar this week to discuss implementing a memorandum of understanding, though they disagree on the meeting format and Iran has not yet received $6 billion in frozen funds tied to the agreement.
Russia and Ukraine conducted a major prisoner exchange on June 26, 2026, with each side releasing 160 POWs in a swap mediated by the United Arab Emirates. The exchange occurred amid ongoing military operations, including Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on Russian territory.
A major oil refinery south of Moscow will be offline for at least six months following extensive damage from Ukrainian drone attacks this month, complicating Russian efforts to address fuel shortages. The attacks come as Putin signals readiness for peace talks with Ukraine.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan for talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after Pakistan helped mediate a breakthrough truce between the United States and Iran. The visit comes amid ongoing disputes over nuclear inspections and technical-level negotiations aimed at achieving lasting regional peace.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have stated that Israeli forces will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, with Katz explicitly rejecting any potential American demands for withdrawal. The stance is complicating ongoing Iran peace negotiations.
Russia is pushing Belarus to take a more active role in the Ukraine conflict, while the Kremlin accuses Kyiv of threatening Belarusian sovereignty after Ukraine demanded removal of signal relay stations used to guide Russian attacks. The developments come as Putin claims readiness for peace talks following Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Vice President JD Vance met with senior Iranian officials in Switzerland, describing the talks as laying a "good foundation" for a deal to end hostilities. However, Iran disputed Vance's claim about allowing nuclear inspectors back, while President Trump threatened further attacks even as his administration waived sanctions and pursued financial concessions.
Vice President JD Vance conducted high-level negotiations with Iran in Switzerland following an apparent conflict, claiming progress toward peace while President Trump simultaneously issued threats that disrupted the talks. The negotiations have ended with technical discussions continuing, as both Democratic and Republican lawmakers express skepticism about any provisional deal.
The United States and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire and 'road map' for negotiations following nearly four months of conflict, with Pakistan and Qatar mediating talks in Switzerland. The agreement includes partial lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil but leaves unresolved questions about Iran's nuclear program.
High-level negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded in Switzerland after the first round of talks aimed at achieving a permanent end to their conflict and cementing a ceasefire. Mediators Pakistan and Qatar reported "encouraging progress" and announced that technical-level discussions will continue through the week, despite tensions from President Trump's renewed threats of strikes and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky each spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday as he turned 80. The conversations focused on ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Trump reportedly telling Putin he was prepared to help resolve the conflict.
Russia launched at least 166 drones at Ukraine killing three people, while Ukraine's sustained strikes on occupied territories have created severe fuel shortages in Crimea with rationing limiting purchases to 20 liters. The escalation comes as President Zelenskyy seeks diplomatic solutions to end the war.
Leaders of Ukraine, the UK, France, and Germany issued a joint statement outlining five conditions that must be met to achieve a 'just and lasting peace' to end Russia's war in Ukraine. The statement emerged from bilateral talks held in London on June 7, 2026.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for face-to-face peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a rare public letter on Thursday, proposing a full ceasefire and negotiations in a neutral country. The Kremlin responded by saying Zelenskyy could meet Putin in Moscow "any time."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged modest progress in negotiations with Iran on Friday, even as Pakistan's military chief traveled to Tehran for mediation efforts. Key sticking points include Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and disputes over the Strait of Hormuz, with uncertainty remaining over whether conflict will resume.
Iranian officials say both countries are reviewing a brief proposal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide 30 days to negotiate a comprehensive deal. Trump expressed optimism about talks while Iran indicated the supreme leader is overseeing key decisions on the matter.
Pope Leo marked his first anniversary as head of the Catholic Church by calling on world leaders to calm global tensions and reduce hatred, one day after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican.
Russian President Putin warned President Trump in a 90-minute call, that resuming military operations against Iran; especially a ground invasion, would be "dangerous and unacceptable" with "extremely damaging consequences for the entire international community". Putin offered to help secure Iran's enriched uranium as part of a deal, which Trump rebuffed, telling the Russian leader he would "much rather" have him focus on ending the war in Ukraine.
Pakistan conducted airstrikes on a university in Afghanistan's Kunar province, killing at least seven and injuring 85, marking the first attacks since both countries agreed to halt violence at peace talks last month. Afghanistan denies Pakistan's dismissal of the reports.
Myanmar's new military-backed president Min Aung Hlaing called for peace talks with opposition armed groups by July 31, but two key rebel groups immediately rejected the offer, continuing the country's civil conflict.
A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight local time (21:00 GMT Thursday), announced by US President Donald Trump. The truce follows rare direct negotiations in Washington and aims to pause fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, though violations have already been reported by Lebanon's military.
Iran's nuclear program has survived five weeks of US and Israeli bombing with most of the infrastructure needed to make a nuclear bomb intact according to officials and experts, posing a challenge for US negotiators. Vice President JD Vance identified Iran's nuclear ambitions as the 'critical flashpoint' behind the collapse of 21-hour emergency talks in Islamabad.
