Good morning. It’s Monday, August 18, 2025. Start your week with the latest: Qatar pushes peace talks in Congo, Syria blames Israel for unrest, Serbia riots escalate, Amnesty International accuses Israel of deliberate starvation in Gaza, Zelenskyy and European Union leaders press Trump for Ukraine security guarantees, the US and South Korea kick off joint drills, and Jimmy Lai’s Hong Kong trial nears its end.

—Qatar Advances Peace Talks Between DRC and M23 Militia as Fighting Continues

Qatar shared a draft peace agreement on Sunday with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the M23 militia as part of the ongoing Doha mediation process.

The draft follows a July 19 declaration of principles signed by both parties in Qatar, which aimed for a formal peace deal by August 18.

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