The United States and European Union have signed a new trade agreement following weeks of negotiations. The deal imposes a 15% flat tariff on all EU goods entering the U.S. market. In return, the EU has pledged to buy $750 billion worth of American energy and increase its investment in the U.S. economy by $600 billion. The agreement was reached during a closed-door meeting between President Donald Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry, Scotland.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has called for urgent action to prevent starvation deaths in Gaza, describing the crisis as entirely preventable. Citing alarming reports, he stressed the need to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians. The WHO reports rising malnutrition rates, with 63 of 74 famine-related deaths in July alone. In response to international pressure, Israel has announced a daily 10-hour pause in attacks to permit safe aid delivery in select areas of Gaza.

Following Israel's withdrawal from ceasefire and hostage negotiations with Hamas, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that it is now up to Israel to decide its next steps. Speaking ahead of a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump noted that Hamas has become increasingly uncooperative in talks. He emphasized the critical need to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. Meanwhile, the United Nations has called for a significant increase in food aid to the besieged territory.

The United States has approved Lenacapavir, marketed as Sunlenca or Yeztugo, a groundbreaking new drug that offers near-complete protection (99.99%) against HIV with just two injections per year.

Developed by Gilead Sciences, the drug has been hailed as a major milestone in the fight against HIV. To ensure wider access, Gilead has signed royalty-free licensing agreements with six generic manufacturers, enabling affordable global distribution.

Lenacapavir has proven nearly 100% effective in preventing HIV infections, a virus that still affects approximately 1.3 million people annually. In recognition of its impact, the scientific journal Science named it the "Breakthrough of the Year" in 2024.

A massive technical failure on July 24, 2025, disrupted internet services for over 6 million Starlink users worldwide. The outage, caused by a core software error, lasted about two and a half hours and affected regions including the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Military operations and emergency services were also impacted, raising concerns about Starlink’s system resilience. Elon Musk apologized, but experts emphasize the need for structural upgrades in redundancy and disaster recovery to prevent future incidents in satellite-based internet infrastructure.

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Thailand and Cambodia to implement an immediate ceasefire amid rising border tensions. Trump confirmed he had spoken to the leaders of both nations and that they agreed to engage in peace talks.

Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the ceasefire agreement but stressed, “Thailand wants to see genuine sincerity from the Cambodian side.”

Trump further stated, “Once peace is established, I look forward to completing trade deals with both nations.” Malaysia’s Prime Minister had earlier expressed interest in mediating between the two countries.

Microsoft has accused Chinese state-linked hacker groups of exploiting vulnerabilities in its SharePoint server software to carry out cyberattacks targeting global organizations. The attackers, identified as Lilin Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, and Storm-2603, infiltrated on-premises servers to steal sensitive data. Microsoft confirmed its cloud-based SharePoint was not breached and has released security updates, urging users to patch systems immediately. The hackers reportedly used encryption to maintain ongoing access. Investigations continue as Microsoft warns of potential repeat attacks on unpatched systems.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the establishment of a Palestinian state is essential for resolving the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including tensions with Israel. He reiterated Russia’s long-standing support for a two-state solution, noting that the country officially recognized Palestine's independence back in 1988.

Peskov urged all parties to adhere to UN Security Council resolutions to achieve lasting peace. Meanwhile, in the UK, 220 MPs—mostly from the ruling Labour Party—have called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to formally recognize Palestine. France has also announced its intention to recognize the Palestinian state soon.

During a meeting in Washington with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Pakistan’s "unmatched sacrifice" in the fight against terrorism. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, trade, investment, and regional peace. Dar emphasized Pakistan’s desire for a strong and sustainable partnership with the U.S. Previously, Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir at the White House, acknowledging his role in de-escalating tensions with India. While Pakistan welcomed these efforts, India rejected them.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is imminent. Speaking to reporters before departing for Scotland, Trump remarked that the talks should have happened three months ago. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also expressed interest in bringing Putin and Trump together in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Kyiv has proposed a peace summit in August, though the Kremlin insists any such meeting must be part of a finalized peace agreement.

The United States has removed sanctions on several close associates of Myanmar’s military junta, following a letter from junta leader Min Aung Hlaing praising former President Donald Trump and requesting tariff reductions. The move marks a significant policy shift, drawing criticism from Human Rights Watch, which warns it could undermine efforts to hold the military accountable for crimes against humanity. Myanmar’s rare mineral resources and geopolitical considerations with China are believed to influence the US decision.

SpaceX's satellite-based internet service, Starlink, suffered a massive global outage lasting nearly two and a half hours, impacting more than six million users across over 140 countries. The disruption was caused by a software malfunction, confirmed by Starlink’s Head of Engineering, Michael Nicolls. Elon Musk also addressed the issue on X, expressing regret and assuring a permanent fix. Analysts are calling it the most significant outage in Starlink’s history. Since its launch in 2020, Starlink has deployed over 8,000 satellites, providing internet access to remote areas worldwide.

Apple’s upcoming iPad Pro will introduce dual front-facing cameras, one for landscape and another for portrait mode, ensuring users remain centered during FaceTime, video calls, and selfies regardless of device orientation. The new model will also feature the more powerful and energy-efficient M5 chip, improving battery life and multitasking. This chip is expected to be integrated into other Apple products like Vision Pro, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and iMac in the future, marking a significant technological leap for the iPad Pro line.

Russia is set to introduce a new digital app called ‘Max,’ pre-installed on all new devices from September, aiming to enhance government control over citizens’ online activities. The app offers messaging, video calls, government services, and mobile payments but stores data within Russia, allowing the FSB to monitor users. Experts warn this could lead to banning popular apps like WhatsApp, forcing citizens to switch to ‘Max’ and marking a significant step in Russia’s expanding digital surveillance.

Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky stated that a direct meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelensky will only occur once a comprehensive peace agreement is ready for signing. The Istanbul talks concluded without a final deal, and Medinsky emphasized that a summit should be solely for signing, not negotiating. Drawing on historical examples, he warned against premature meetings. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed no meeting will happen until terms are finalized, though Putin remains open to talks if progress is made.