U.S. ramps up nuclear signaling toward Russia even as internal export licensing paralysis threatens AI/chip flows

Reuters,

President Donald Trump ordered the repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines after provocative rhetoric from Russian quarters, portraying the move as a deterrent amid ongoing tensions tied to the Ukraine conflict. Concurrently, a deepening bureaucratic crisis at the Commerce Department has frozen thousands of export approvals, including critical AI chips and semiconductor equipment, disrupting global technology supply chains. The combination of external strategic posturing and internal administrative dysfunction is complicating allied planning on both security support to Ukraine and the stable flow of advanced technology.

Three killed in overnight Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory as war grinds on

AP,

Russian officials reported that Ukrainian drone strikes overnight killed three people in regions including Rostov and Penza, with air defenses claiming to have intercepted over a hundred incoming drones. The operations came after intense Russian attacks on Kyiv and amid diplomatic pressure from the U.S., which has set deadlines for de-escalation. The continuing exchange highlights the persistent intensity and volatility of the Russia-Ukraine war, with no immediate ceasefire in sight.

Online hate and disinformation deepen mistrust despite fragile Thailand–Cambodia ceasefire

The Guardian,

Although a ceasefire has held after deadly border clashes, rising nationalist rhetoric, disinformation, and targeted online hostility are undermining public trust between Thailand and Cambodia. Migrant communities face discrimination, major crossings remain disrupted, and historical grievances are being inflamed through social media. Analysts caution that without active efforts to counter these narratives and rebuild grassroots confidence, the uneasy peace risks collapsing back into open confrontation.

U.S.–India partnership strains as trade talks stall and tariff threats escalate

The Washington Post,

Hopes for a strengthened U.S.–India strategic relationship have been dented as trade negotiations falter and tariff threats loom, with Indian officials expressing concern over sharp public criticism and policy unpredictability from Washington. While cooperation continues in select areas, the transactional and increasingly adversarial tone has prompted New Delhi to seek broader hedges in regional partnerships, exposing vulnerabilities in what was seen as a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific stability.

Israeli fire kills at least 18 in Gaza amid deepening humanitarian collapse and hostage family protests

AP,

At least 18 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire near aid distribution sites in Gaza, where severe shortages have driven civilians into dangerous crowds seeking food. Protests by Israeli hostage families in Tel Aviv coincided with diplomatic engagement from a U.S. envoy pressing for more effective relief, even as the humanitarian system shows signs of collapse. The violence compounds growing international alarm over civilian suffering under blockade and conflict.

Desperate Gaza civilians describe ‘death journey’ at aid sites as killings of aid seekers continue

Al Jazeera,

Palestinians attempting to collect humanitarian aid described the process as a “death journey” as Israeli attacks on distribution hubs killed dozens more, including aid seekers, on 2 August. Eyewitnesses reported soldiers firing on crowds, exacerbating hunger and fear. The live coverage portrayed a deepening crisis in which the mechanisms meant to deliver relief are themselves lethal, intensifying calls from rights groups about the engineered nature of civilian suffering.