World News Live Updates: UN Expert Condemns US Sanctions Rollback On Myanmar Regime Allies

The United States and Ecuador have signed a bilateral agreement aimed at strengthening their collaboration against transnational criminal networks, AP says in a report. The deal, formalized during a visit by US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, facilitates the exchange of information on suspected criminals and enhances risk assessments for cargo and travelers. This cooperation is intended to bolster Ecuador’s efforts against powerful drug cartels amid an ongoing internal security crisis and to help manage regional migration by targeting human smuggling operations.

Bayardo Arce, a veteran Sandinista commander and key economic advisor to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, has been arrested amid a corruption probe, Al Jazeera says in a report. Arce was an influential political strategist and considered a primary architect of the government’s economic and financial policies. His arrest occurs within a broader political shake-up in Nicaragua, according to the source material.

The Hind Rajab Foundation is utilizing social media footage posted by Israeli soldiers themselves as evidence for potential war crimes investigations, Al Jazeera says in a report. Named after a 6-year-old girl killed in Gaza in February 2024, the non-governmental organization leverages open-source intelligence (OSINT) by collecting and verifying videos and photos from soldiers’ personal accounts. This digital evidence is intended to support accountability processes and contribute to legal inquiries by international bodies scrutinizing the conflict, highlighting the growing role of OSINT in modern warfare and human rights investigations.

A US federal immigration judge in Miami ordered on Thursday that Haitian businessman and former presidential hopeful Jean Boulos will remain in custody, according to a report in AP. Boulos was arrested at his home in South Florida earlier in July on accusations from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of engaging in a campaign of violence and gang support that contributed to the destabilization of Haiti. Boulos is considered a high-profile member of Haiti’s elite.

Eight people have been reported dead after a skirmish between Ugandan and South Sudanese military forces along their shared border, as per a report in The New York Times. The incident allegedly occurred when Ugandan soldiers crossed into South Sudan, leading to an exchange of fire with local troops. The specific location of the clash and the identities of the casualties have not yet been clarified.

Colombia’s government reported a significant increase in Amazon rainforest deforestation for the previous year, reversing recent progress, as per a report in AP. The country’s national meteorological agency attributed the surge to pasture expansion for cattle, the cultivation of illicit crops, illegal mining operations, and unregulated infrastructure development. This new data contrasts with a separate report from a month ago that had indicated a decrease in deforestation during the first quarter of this year.

US President Donald Trump has threatened a crackdown on pharmaceutical giants, demanding in a letter to 17 companies that they match US prescription drug prices with the lowest price offered in other developed nations within 60 days, according to a report in The Guardian. The move is aimed at reducing the financial burden on American families. This policy is reminiscent of the ‘Most Favored Nation’ (MFN) rule proposed during Trump’s first term, which faced legal challenges and was ultimately blocked by federal courts. The new threat follows the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) under the previous Biden administration, which introduced a different mechanism allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for certain high-cost drugs.

Microsoft has accused Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) of orchestrating a sophisticated cyber-espionage campaign targeting foreign embassies, diplomats, and other organizations within Moscow, Al Jazeera says in a report. The tech company stated that the campaign utilizes malware and poses a “high risk” to its targets, aiming to steal sensitive information and monitor communications. This alleged activity is consistent with a documented history of Russian state-sponsored cyber operations against diplomatic and government entities globally, particularly amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

Numerous countries worldwide are facing the imminent prospect of much higher duties on their exports to the United States, which could negatively impact the global economy, as per a report in AP. A Friday deadline set by the Trump administration for reaching new trade agreements is nearing. While the article notes that some of the largest US trading partners have secured agreements or their outlines, many other nations have not yet done so and remain at risk of the new tariffs being imposed.

A new report highlights the global emergence of a class of synthetic opioids, such as nitazenes, which are significantly more potent and deadly than fentanyl, according to a report in The Independent. These substances are increasingly being found mixed with other illicit drugs like heroin or counterfeit pills, leading to a surge in overdose fatalities because even trace amounts can be lethal. The extreme potency of these novel opioids presents major challenges for public health systems and emergency responders, as multiple or higher doses of naloxone are often required to reverse an overdose. This has prompted international bodies to work towards scheduling and controlling these compounds to curb their trafficking and production.

Apple is facing significant investor scrutiny ahead of its third-quarter earnings report as it navigates multiple challenges, including its slow progress on artificial intelligence compared to rivals and struggles in the Chinese market, as per a report in The Guardian. The company has experienced a double-digit drop in its stock price since the beginning of the year and recently closed an Apple store in China for the first time ever. Furthermore, the prospect of new US tariffs on Beijing threatens its critical supply chain. Despite these pressures, Wall Street analysts remain optimistic, forecasting a 4% rise in revenue to $89.3 billion for the last quarter.

Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, has stated that Israel risks international isolation over its conduct in Gaza, urging the country to demonstrate it is not pursuing a policy of expulsion and annexation, as per a report in Deutsche Welle. Baerbock described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as “beyond imagination.” Concurrently, US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues, David Satterfield, is preparing to visit Gaza to address the escalating humanitarian needs amid growing international pressure on Israel to ensure civilian protection and aid access.

An Israeli military strike on the Al-Baqa Cafe in Gaza resulted in the deaths of multiple individuals, including civilians, according to a report in The New York Times. The Israeli military stated its operation targeted and killed at least three Hamas operatives at the location. However, the strike also killed a journalist, an artist, and two friends who were at the cafe, which was described as a seaside refuge. This incident adds to the growing number of civilian casualties in the conflict and intensifies international scrutiny over Israel’s targeting practices and adherence to international humanitarian law. The event highlights the risks to non-combatants and the destruction of civilian social spaces, further compounding the humanitarian crisis in the region.

India has confirmed the repatriation of the Piprahwa Gems, a collection of ancient relics associated with Buddha, after auction house Sotheby’s canceled a planned sale due to diplomatic pressure from the Indian government, The New York Times said in a report. The event underscores a significant trend in the global art market, placing increased pressure on auction houses like Sotheby’s to rigorously verify the provenance of cultural artifacts to avoid reputational and financial damage. This successful repatriation is a key victory for India’s intensified diplomatic efforts to reclaim its cultural heritage and strengthens its position in future claims, contributing to a broader international movement for the return of historical artifacts to their countries of origin.

Croatia commemorated the 30th anniversary of a significant war victory with a large-scale military parade in Zagreb on Thursday, as per a report in AP. The event, which highlights the nation’s military modernization, included 3,400 army personnel, police units, emergency service teams, and war veterans. A flyover by French-made Rafale fighter jets was a central feature of the display, which was complemented by navy battleships sailing by the Adriatic port of Split. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic commented on the occasion, stating the country is looking to further enhance its military capabilities.

The family of a US teenager, Mohammed Ibrahim, who is being held by Israel, is pleading for his release, citing severe health issues including significant weight loss and scabies, according to a report in Al Jazeera. The family’s plea comes after Ibrahim’s cousin was reportedly killed by Israeli settlers. This case highlights the broader context of a significant increase in arrests by Israeli forces in the West Bank and reports from human rights organizations about deteriorating conditions in detention facilities since October 2023. The situation has potential diplomatic implications for US-Israel relations and draws international attention to the treatment of detainees, particularly minors, under Israeli military law.

Amid a global resurgence of measles, Canada is experiencing significant outbreaks, with the per-capita infection rate now exceeding that of the US, according to a report in The New York Times. The western province of Alberta is a major hotspot, where some medical professionals are criticizing officials for not declaring a state of emergency to manage the escalating crisis. The surge, also affecting provinces like Quebec and Ontario, is attributed to gaps in vaccination coverage. A state of emergency would grant authorities greater powers to implement mass vaccination clinics and quarantine measures to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed.

A new anti-poaching campaign has been launched in South Africa to inject rhino horns with harmless radioactive material, making them detectable at border crossings to deter trafficking, according to a report in AP. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the University of the Witwatersrand, nuclear energy officials, and conservationists. The project began on Thursday with the injection of five rhinos, as part of a long-term goal to treat more of the country’s declining rhino population and disrupt the illegal horn trade.

A coalition of fourteen countries across Europe and North America, including the United Kingdom and the United States, has accused Iran of orchestrating cross-border plots to kidnap and assassinate individuals on Western soil, Al Jazeera said in a report. The joint accusation highlights a coordinated international response to what the allies describe as a pattern of state-sponsored threats targeting Iranian dissidents, former officials, and other perceived enemies of the Tehran government. This development occurs amid broader geopolitical tensions and follows several publicly reported foiled plots and arrests of alleged Iranian agents in Western nations in recent years. Iran has consistently denied such allegations, typically dismissing them as politically motivated propaganda.

The United States has imposed sanctions on officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) after the State Department determined they had violated unspecified agreements, according to a report in Fox News. This action occurs amid ongoing international discussions on the future governance of Gaza. The sanctions complicate the internationally supported proposal for a reformed PA to govern the territory, represent a downturn in US-Palestinian relations, and impact the prospects for a two-state solution by weakening the PA’s standing.

A lion known as Blondie, which was part of an Oxford University research project and wore a GPS collar, was killed by a trophy hunter in Zimbabwe in June, according to a report in AP. The incident has drawn condemnation from wildlife groups and echoes the international outrage that followed the 2015 killing of another research lion, Cecil, in the same country. Blondie’s death highlights the ongoing conflict between conservation research and regulated trophy hunting, reigniting international debate on the ethics and sustainability of the practice and its impact on Zimbabwe’s tourism and wildlife management policies.

The number of people arriving in the UK via small boat crossings of the English Channel has surpassed 25,000 for 2025, reaching the milestone faster than in any previous year on record, according to a report in The Guardian. A total of 898 people made the journey in 13 boats on Wednesday, pushing the year’s total to 25,436. This new record pace, which surpasses the previous record from 2022 by nearly a month, occurs as UK ministers state their aim to disrupt people-smuggling operations.

Malaysia has unveiled its 13th Malaysia Plan, a five-year economic blueprint for 2026-2030, aiming to achieve developed nation status, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Central to this strategy is the “Made by Malaysia” initiative, which marks a significant shift from the country’s traditional role as a low-cost manufacturing hub. The plan, announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, focuses on climbing the global value chain by producing high-value technology products, such as semiconductors, and leveraging artificial intelligence. This strategic move is designed to attract high-quality foreign investment, create higher-paying jobs, and make Malaysia a key player in the diversified global technology supply chain.

The US and Ecuador have signed a new bilateral agreement to strengthen cooperation against transnational criminal networks, as per a report in AP. The pact, formalized during a visit by US Homeland Security officials to the South American nation, facilitates the exchange of information on suspected criminal offenders. It also includes provisions for sharing risk assessments on cargo and travelers, with a stated goal of improving security and ensuring migration is carried out in a safe and orderly manner.

A research paper co-authored by Liang Wenfeng, founder of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, was honored with the best paper award at the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL) conference in Vienna, according to a report in South China Morning Post. The paper, titled “Native Sparse Attention: Hardware-Aligned and Natively Trainable Sparse Attention,” presents a method to make large language models more computationally and memory efficient. The research addresses the scalability and cost of large-scale AI systems by focusing on a technique known as sparse attention.

At least nine asylum seekers held under Australia’s offshore processing policy on Nauru have contracted dengue fever, with one individual being medically evacuated to Australia and subsequently returned, according to a report in The Guardian. The cases emerge amid a broader dengue outbreak across the Pacific and have led to renewed criticism of the conditions in the processing center, as asylum seekers report that preventative measures like mosquito nets are ‘impossible’ to access. The situation places further political and humanitarian pressure on the Australian government over its long-standing and controversial policy, with advocacy groups highlighting the compounding health risks for a population with pre-existing medical conditions.

A worldwide surge in demand for medications, especially popular GLP-1 agonist weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, has fueled a dangerous and expanding market for counterfeit pharmaceuticals, according to a report in Deutsche Welle. Widespread shortages of these legitimate drugs have created a lucrative opportunity for illicit sellers operating through unverified online pharmacies and social media, making it difficult for consumers to identify fraudulent products. These fake medications pose severe health risks, as they can contain incorrect ingredients, wrong dosages, or toxic substances. The issue creates a significant burden on public health systems, challenges regulatory bodies, and causes both financial and reputational damage to the legitimate pharmaceutical industry.

US President Donald Trump has extended trade talks with Mexico for 90 days, a move applauded by Mexico’s president, as per a report in AP. The delay comes as an August 1 deadline for potential tariffs creates uncertainty for other nations, including Switzerland and Norway. Meanwhile, Chilean officials expressed relief after refined copper was excluded from a separate 50% tariff threat. Brazil has stated that 35% of its exports to the US could be impacted by a potential 50% tariff rate. In Europe, automakers like Ferrari are awaiting clarification on EU-US tariffs as the industry prepares for potential price increases on vehicle shipments.

China is actively promoting a new model for global cities that diverges from the traditional Western concept of open, market-driven development, as per a report in Financial Times. This state-led approach is built on several key strategies, including the “Dual Circulation” plan which emphasizes domestic demand, the ongoing Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for creating strategic economic corridors, and a major push for technological self-sufficiency. Unlike cities such as London or New York that thrive on liberalized markets, China’s emerging global hubs like Shenzhen and Shanghai are shaped by strong industrial policy and integration into national strategic goals. This has significant implications for multinational corporations, which face pressure to localize supply chains, and for developing nations, which are offered an alternative, state-centric model for growth and infrastructure.

Germany’s government has declared that the diplomatic process for the recognition of a Palestinian state “must begin now,” marking a notable evolution in its foreign policy, France 24 says in a report. This new stance represents a shift from Germany’s long-held position that recognition should only come after a negotiated two-state solution is finalized. The development follows the formal recognition of Palestine by several other European nations, including Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia, in mid-2024. The move is seen as adding significant weight to the pro-recognition consensus within the European Union, increasing diplomatic pressure on Israel, and providing a boost to the Palestinian Authority’s campaign for statehood, even as Germany reaffirms its commitment to Israel’s security.

The US is set to begin a 90-day negotiating period with Mexico regarding trade, with President Donald Trump maintaining the threat of 25% tariffs during the talks, according to a report in AP. The announcement was made on Thursday as part of a broader plan to impose global tariffs starting Friday. President Trump also posted on his Truth Social platform about a “very successful” phone conversation with Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum, noting a growing understanding between them.

Iran’s former foreign minister, Javad Zarif, has put forward a proposal for a new UN-endorsed forum dedicated to civil nuclear cooperation across the Middle East and North Africa, as per a report in The Guardian. The plan, co-authored with former ambassador Mohsen Baharvand, suggests sharing enriched uranium and the benefits of civil nuclear power as a way to resolve the long-standing impasse over Iran’s nuclear activities and reduce the threat of regional proliferation. The proposal comes as a potential diplomatic overture from figures associated with Iran’s incoming moderate president, Masoud Pezeshkian, amid stalled international negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal and heightened regional tensions over nuclear ambitions.

Russia’s President on Thursday signed a new law that makes searching for and accessing online materials officially branded as “extremist” a punishable offense, according to a report in AP. The legislation, previously approved by parliament, introduces a fine equivalent to approximately $60 for violations. This measure is the latest in a series of government actions aimed at tightening control over the internet, under a broad and expanding definition of “extremism” that has been used to target political opposition, religious groups, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Public anger is growing across Chinese social media after reports revealed the existence of large online groups sharing non-consensual, explicit photos of women, according to a report in The Guardian. The Chinese newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily first reported last week on a specific group on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, named “MaskPark tree hole forum,” which allegedly had more than 100,000 members and was comprised of Chinese men. The revelations have sparked widespread condemnation and calls for accountability.

A former Hong Kong politician and democracy campaigner, Carmen Lau, has accused the UK’s Thames Valley police of asking her to “retreat from public life” through a signed memorandum of understanding, The Guardian says in a report. The request to avoid public gatherings followed the distribution of ‘bounty letters’ to her neighbours, a tactic linked to Hong Kong’s extraterritorial National Security Law. The incident raises significant political and economic questions, challenging the UK’s status as a safe haven for dissidents and highlighting the geopolitical risks of China’s transnational repression. This creates a potential chilling effect on free speech and may complicate the operating environment for international businesses navigating UK-China relations.

Researchers at King’s College London are launching a major study to track the experiences of up to 3,000 children and teenagers receiving gender-related care from the UK’s National Health Service, The New York Times says in a report. This initiative follows the landmark Cass Review in April 2024, which concluded that the evidence base for medical interventions for minors was weak and recommended a more cautious, holistic approach. The study is a direct response to the evidence gaps highlighted by the review and comes after NHS England ceased the routine prescription of puberty blockers outside of clinical trials in March 2024 and replaced its single specialist clinic with new regional centers. The research aims to provide robust, long-term data to inform future healthcare policy and clinical guidelines for transgender youth.

Human rights organizations have strongly criticized plans by Germany and other countries to airdrop food into Gaza, labeling the efforts as “ineffective” and “symbolic” amid worsening famine-like conditions, according to a report in Deutsche Welle. The groups argue that airdrops are inefficient, costly, and cannot deliver the necessary volume of aid compared to land routes, which they insist are the only viable means to avert a wider catastrophe. This criticism comes as UN agencies continue to warn of imminent famine (IPC Phase 5) in the territory, highlighting that current aid methods are insufficient. The organizations are urging donor countries to exert political pressure to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access through land crossings rather than engaging in measures they deem futile.

A French terrorism court has ordered that six suspected Palestinian militants will stand trial for a deadly attack on the Jo Goldenberg Jewish restaurant in Paris 43 years ago, AP says in a report. The attack, which occurred on August 9, 1982, killed six people, including two Americans, and injured 22 others, marking it as the most fatal antisemitic attack in France since World War II. A lawyer confirmed the trial order on Thursday, noting that four of the six suspects are currently abroad and will likely be tried in absentia.

A 40-year-old Palestinian man, identified as Khamis Ayyad, has died in the occupied West Bank town of Silwad, Al Jazeera says in a report. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed his death was caused by smoke inhalation after Israeli settlers allegedly set fire to vehicles in the town. This incident occurs amid a documented increase in violence across the West Bank since October 2023, which has involved a rise in both Israeli military operations and attacks by Israeli settlers.

A group of Israeli settlers rallied on the Israeli side of the Gaza border on Wednesday, calling for the government to re-establish civilian settlements inside the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera said in a report. The demonstration comes amid a sustained Israeli military presence in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks and represents a push to reverse the 2005 disengagement, in which Israel unilaterally dismantled 21 settlements and withdrew its forces. These demands create significant political implications, increasing internal pressure on the Israeli government and complicating international diplomatic efforts for post-war stabilization, as most countries consider settlements in occupied territories illegal under international law.