The UAE has been providing significant humanitarian aid to Gaza since December 2023 through various initiatives. A field hospital in Al Arish city was deployed with medical volunteers, treating over 51,000 cases by April 2025. The facility also provided prosthetics for injured individuals and supported rehabilitation efforts. Additionally, the UAE dispatched a floating hospital off the coast of Al Arish to provide medical support, which treated approximately 10,370 cases. Under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's directives, the UAE hosted over 2,600 Palestinian patients and their families for treatment. The country has also provided extensive medical supplies, including medicines, equipment, and ambulances, with a total of over 1,200 tonnes delivered since Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 began.
UAE Strengthens Ties with Ukraine in Geneva Meeting
7.31.25
The UAE reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with Ukraine through joint parliamentary action. Several members of the Federal National Council (FNC) attended a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, where they discussed ways to expand cooperation across various fields and promote mutual benefit for both countries. The UAE also met with Paraguay's President Raúl Luis Latorre Martínez, reaffirming strong ties of friendship between the two nations and calling for enhanced parliamentary diplomacy to support sustainable development.
US and China need to improve communication and consultation, rejecting unilateralism and bullying, according to a government statement. A high-level US delegation is visiting China this week, meeting with commerce and industry ministers, ahead of a planned summit between the two countries' leaders later in the year, possibly around the APEC forum in South Korea. US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping before the end of the year.
Humanitarian aid efforts are ongoing in Gaza as Palestinians receive flour and other supplies. The US and Israel have not attended a UN conference or signed a declaration aimed at normalizing relations with Arab neighbors, due to opposition from Iran, which supports Hamas. France has expressed support for Palestinian statehood, while the UN Secretary-General believes a two-state solution is "farther than ever before".
New Zealand and the US are strengthening their cooperation to address global challenges, particularly countering the Communist Party of China (CCP) in the Indo-Pacific region, combating narcotics trade and cyber threats, and protecting citizens. The FBI has a suboffice in New Zealand since 2017, and both countries collaborate on policing issues such as child exploitation and organised crime.
US-Backed Aid Centers Accused of War Crimes in Gaza
7.31.25
In Gaza, the Nasser Medical Complex reported 20 deaths while people queued for aid near the Morag Corridor, close to Khan Younis. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by the US and Israel, has faced criticism from the UN and international organizations over its handling of aid distribution centers. A former GHF security contractor, Anthony Aguilar, a retired US soldier, described witnessing American mercenary troops and Israeli forces committing war crimes by shooting starving Palestinians indiscriminately while waiting for aid.
The US State Department is strengthening its trade relationships with African partners through projects supporting supply chains, aiming to reduce dependence on aid. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Economic Growth, Scott Woodard, emphasized the benefits of these efforts, which include increased security and prosperity for the United States. The initiative also highlights the potential for critical minerals to anchor long-term strategic relationships and promote economic resilience in African countries.
The US has agreed to impose 15% tariffs on South Korea, lower than the initially proposed 25%, as part of a trade deal that would exempt the US from tariffs. Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp, the world's third-largest automaker, would have faced significant impact without a waiver or reduction in import duty. South Korean officials are discussing potential cooperation in chips, batteries, and biotechnology with the US. A foreign exchange official traveled to Washington to prepare for potential currency policy discussions, which were not part of initial trade negotiations but may be raised if necessary.
US imposes tariffs on Brazil over human rights concerns
7.31.25
The US has imposed tariffs on Brazil over human rights concerns, targeting policies and individuals deemed harmful to US companies, free speech, foreign policy, and the economy. The move comes after the US Treasury Department sanctioned Brazilian Attorney General Jorge Messias, who responded by denouncing the sanctions as 'arbitrary' and a 'serious attack on our country's sovereignty.' President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has criticized Trump's threats as 'unacceptable blackmail,' urging him to avoid a 'lose-lose' relationship between the two largest economies in the Americas. The US State Department and Pakistan's Foreign Ministry emphasized the need for increased trade between the two countries during a meeting between high-ranking diplomats. In contrast, the US has imposed sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alessandri de Morais, citing arbitrary pretrial detentions and suppression of freedom of expression. Brazilian President Lula da Silva has condemned US sanctions on Supreme Federal Court judge Alexandre de Morais, calling them 'unacceptable' and 'politically motivated.' The sanctions were imposed due to de Morais' trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of attempting a coup against Lula's presidency.