Latest news for 8 August 2025

ISRAEL

Next steps.

Israel’s security cabinet has approved what it’s describing as expanded operations in Gaza, plus five principles for ending the war: i) disarming Hamas, ii) returning the hostages, iii) demilitarising Gaza, iv) full Israeli security control over the Strip, and v) the establishment of “an alternative civilian government that is not Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.” The IDF is now preparing to re-take Gaza City, though that might first be subject to review by Israel’s full cabinet, which isn’t meeting until at least Sunday. (NBC)

Comment: Israel is already anticipating global protests given the humanitarian crisis, and the cabinet already considered objections from its own generals, including risks to the hostages and reservist exhaustion. Meanwhile, Netanyahu told Fox that Israel plans to hand Gaza to Arab forces rather than rule Gaza itself, though principle #5 (excluding the Palestinian Authority) seems likely to irk the same Arab states who’ve long conditioned their own Gaza involvement on Ramallah having a role.

Mozambique

They’re back.

The UN is reporting that attacks by ISIS-affiliated jihadis in Mozambique’s troubled northern Cabo Delgado province have displaced nearly 60,000 locals, while leaving an unknown number dead. (Al Jazeera)

Comment: French energy giant Total is hoping to revive its $20B gas project in the area this summer, but it’s hard to see that happening, even with Rwanda deploying soldiers to help.

UNITED STATES

You gotta go.

President Trump has called for the immediate resignation of Intel’s newish CEO Lip-Bu Tan, labelling him “highly conflicted” over his investments in Chinese tech firms with reported military links. Intel’s shares dropped ~2% on the tweet. (CNBC)

Comment: Tan just took the job in March, replacing Pat Gelsinger who struggled to close IBM’s yawning gap with Nvidia and others. Markets assumed Tan would ditch Gelsinger’s costly foundry strategy (making chips for others), but he’s instead doubled-down. The US government is a key IBM customer and backer, so it’s a tough look having the commander in chief call for your CEO to resign.

GERMANY

Nevermind.

A nominee for a top court has withdrawn her candidacy after conservative lawmakers from the ruling coalition threatened to block her appointment. (Euractiv)

Comment: This whole saga has been a reminder that there are still real tensions between the centre-left and centre-right within Germany’s ruling coalition.

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Actually, you’re not invited.

Honiara has decided to exclude partner countries (including both the US and China) from its summit of Pacific leaders next month, following pressure from China to exclude Taiwan. (Straits Times)

Comment: The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is one of the few international spaces where Taiwan still has a seat — of the 12 states still recognising Taiwan, three are in the Pacific.

HAITI

New sheriff in town.

With gangs still controlling 90% of the capital (Port-au-Prince), Haiti’s transitional council has appointed a wealthy insurance executive as the country’s new interim leader. (AP)

Comment: Until authorities can (with international help) restore order, these periodic shuffles at the top will continue to look cosmetic.

GHANA

It can’t be.

Accra has declared three days of mourning after a chopper crash outside the capital left both the ministers of defence and environment dead. The cause is unclear. (BBC)