RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE Russian troops reportedly pushing Ukrainians back in Kursk Russian forces appear to be pushing Ukrainian troops back in a Kiev-controlled area of Russia’s Kursk Region, footage circulating online purports to show. The Russian Defense Ministry has not confirmed that the counteroffensive has begun. A pro-Russian Telegram channel released on Wednesday clips that it claims show the achievements of the 51st Guard Regiment of the Russian Airborne Troops near the settlement of Snagost. Kiev deployed thousands of heavily armed troops for its operation on Russian soil. According to the Russian military, Ukrainian casualties have surpassed 10,000 during the month-long…

Israel close to completing Gaza missions, focus on north, defence minister says Israeli forces are near to fulfilling their mission in Gaza and their focus will turn to the country's northern border with Lebanon as daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah take place, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday "The centre of gravity is moving northward, we are near to completing our tasks in the south, but our mission here is not yet done," Gallant told troops on Israel's northern border in a video sent by his office. Gallant was attending a ground combat drill, his office said. "These…

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE More Ukrainians want talks with Russia – WSJ An increasing number of Ukrainians want Kiev to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict with Moscow, the Wall Street Journal has reported. The US outlet acknowledged in an article on Tuesday that “some Ukrainians are asking a question that had until recently been taboo: Is it time to try to negotiate?”Support for talks with Russia has been “creeping upward” in Ukraine since the failure of Kiev’s much-hyped counteroffensive last year, according to the WSJ. Another poll, published by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in early August, suggested…

Israel's ultra-Orthodox parties help approve more funding for war Israeli lawmakers gave their initial approval on Monday to raising the 2024 budget framework to help fund reservists and assist people displaced as a result of the war in Gaza, with support coming from ultra-Orthodox parties. The vote to add 3.4 billion shekels ($906 million) to the 2024 budget passed by a 58-52 margin, the Finance Ministry said. Ultra-Orthodox parties had threatened to boycott votes in parliament in a dispute over funding for their separate education system. The bill still needs to pass two more votes to become law. The rift…