UN

An Associated Press investigation found that Israeli restrictions on goods entering the Gaza Strip have led to a booming illegal smuggling trade, with millions of dollars changing hands among various actors. The illicit passage of items, ranging from cigarettes and iPhones to anesthetics, has caused inflated prices for residents in Gaza. Profits are reported to flow not only to traders and middlemen but also potentially to Israeli soldiers and the Hamas-led government.

Israel's military stated it would launch criminal investigations into attacks including the killings of 5-year-old Hind Rajab and fifteen Palestinian paramedics, while simultaneously declining to investigate three other incidents involving aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders. The statement was issued after reviews of 150 incidents were completed, yet it did not mention high-profile killings such as the August 2025 strike on a hospital in southern Gaza that killed five journalists.

Taliban leaders marked the fifth anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan. However, a UN official also warned about the presence of a rights crisis.

Myanmar's military-backed government stated that over 300,000 Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh are former residents of western Rakhine state and will be accepted for return once security improves. This statement comes amid the ninth year of the refugee crisis following a crackdown launched by the military in August 2017. The article notes that Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as one of the country’s lawful ethnic minorities.

Myanmar stated that over 300,000 Rohingya refugees are verified former residents of western Rakhine state, with the government accepting their return once security conditions improve. The refugee crisis has entered its ninth year following violence in August 2017, which drew international accusations of ethnic cleansing. Repatriation plans have since failed due to widespread armed resistance and chaos brought about by fighting between the Arakan Army group and the military.

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia's west, causing immense devastation in cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo. The search for survivors is difficult and is complicated by ongoing deep poverty and civil warfare. Amidst the disaster, the Colombian government and various international groups are coordinating a response that includes aid from the U.S., Mexico, and others.

The search for survivors in the rubble following Colombia’s powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake has tested the country’s new government and civil society. The devastating quake, which killed at least 181 people and injured over 2,500, has compounded existing humanitarian crises of poverty and warfare. International aid is arriving from countries including the U.S., Mexico, and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.

The search for survivors after Colombia’s powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake continues amid immense strain on President Abelardo de la Espriella’s government and rescuers. The devastation has been complicated by ongoing issues of deep poverty and civil warfare, though international aid from the U.S., Mexico, and Salvadoran forces is arriving. Aid organizations are leveraging a 2016 peace accord to distribute materials in conflict-torn centers.

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, resulting in at least 181 deaths and injuring 2,595 people in the west. The search for survivors proved desperate, challenging President Abelardo de la Espriella's government amid ongoing struggles with deep poverty and armed conflict. International aid is flowing in from countries including the U.S., Mexico, and El Salvador to assist relief efforts.

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticizing Ukraine, Kyiv continued escalating its military efforts by ramping up longer-range strikes into Russia, hitting oil infrastructure and seizing areas controlled by Moscow. These attacks have sent thick plumes of smoke over St. Petersburg and contributed to a summer fuel crisis. While these actions aim to undermine the idea that Russia can afford inaction, Ukraine still faces major challenges defending against intensified Russian strikes.

During a diplomatic clash, Donald Trump criticized Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what he claimed was Ukraine's lack of leverage in the war. Despite this, Kyiv ramped up long-range strikes into Russia, targeting infrastructure like oil refineries and air defenses. Although these escalating attacks have influenced the narrative in Washington, it remains uncertain if they will successfully push Russia toward negotiations.

South Korean and U.S. troops are scheduled to begin the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises next week to boost readiness against North Korea’s threats. The drills are designed to incorporate realistic modern threats, including lessons learned from recent conflicts in Ukraine. Officials noted that the exercise aims to strengthen combined capabilities following reports of North Korea resuming ballistic missile testing activities.

The UN reported that over 80% of civilian deaths in Sudan at the start of this year were caused by drone attacks. Spain is addressing the situation of over 1000 unaccompanied minors in Ceuta who cannot be legally deported.

Africa’s glaciers have shrunk by more than 90% since the late 19th century, with Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and the Rwenzori Mountains being the only snow-capped peaks. The continent is warming faster than the global average, and Mount Kenya’s glaciers have lost over half their area in the last decade. While African glaciers are not major water reservoirs, they provide critical data on long-term climate patterns through annual ice layers.

More than 800,000 displaced Lebanese have begun returning home as of 30 July, according to the UN. OCHA reports 821,077 people have started returning, while 360,000 remain displaced, with 26,000 in government shelters.

The UN reported that Iran executed at least 56 people since 19 March, including 27 in cases related to protests earlier this year. UN human rights chief Volker Turk noted an increase in executions and death sentences since March and urged Iran to halt executions and abolish the death penalty.

Footage from Kherson shows an FPV drone attacking 52-year-old Yuriy, a vegetable seller, near his truck before exploding. He survived, but the incident reflects a pattern documented by the UN of civilians near the front being targeted during daily tasks.

New UN-backed centers have opened in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as confirmed Ebola cases continue to climb sharply, marking the largest outbreak of the disease in the country's history.

Israel and the US are exploiting Spain's migrant crisis in Ceuta to retaliate against Spain's criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and its refusal to support US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Israel's UN ambassador falsely claimed Spain declared a state of emergency in Ceuta, while over 60,000 Moroccan migrants attempted to cross into the Spanish enclave, resulting in at least 70 deaths.

The Guardian highlights a proposed global corporate tax reform that could generate $500bn annually by taxing multinational profits where economic activity occurs. The Tax Justice Network report advocates for unitary taxation, with UN negotiations in New York aiming to establish a global framework by 2027. Despite Trump's opposition and the US withdrawal last year, no other nations followed.

The article criticizes the Board of Peace as a failed entity that should be abandoned and advocates for the Palestinian issue to be addressed within the UN framework and international law.

Mr. Makinde called on the UN to investigate the 15 May Oyo School Abduction, which sparked divided opinions. The article notes that this request should not diminish security efforts.

New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to approve reopening North Sea oil fields, including Rosebank and Jackdaw, which are partially owned by Ithaca Energy. Ithaca is majority-owned by Delek Group, an Israeli firm blacklisted by the UN for supporting West Bank settlements and accused of profiting from illegal activities.

Violence surged in the West Bank as Israeli settlers burned two mosques following deadly clashes, according to Palestinians. The UN accuses settlers of increasing attacks and expanding their presence, while Israel claims Palestinians are responsible for the violence.

Trump has cut funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) from the Gavi vaccine alliance. This decision follows a long-standing feud between Trump and a UN group.

The UN reports that online scam center trafficking is increasing, with gangs trafficking more people to East Asian centers. Approximately 300,000 individuals from over 80 countries are currently being exploited and abused.

The United Nations warned that a political process cannot succeed while Israeli forces devastate Gaza and escalate violence in the West Bank. Deputy special coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov highlighted that Gaza's reconstruction is unsustainable without a political process, and violence in the West Bank remains at alarming levels.

UN expert Francesca Albanese has called for an immediate trade and arms embargo on Israel. She responded to a former Israeli ambassador to France who described 'genocidaires' in the Israeli government, urging countries to act now to stop the situation.

The UN reports 1,330 settler-related incidents in the occupied West Bank since January, with escalating violence resulting in eight Palestinian deaths, including a child, two Israeli settler deaths, and 10 families displaced from their homes last week.

The US has halted strikes on Iran, with both sides refraining from hostilities amid regional diplomatic efforts. The ceasefire follows rising practical costs, economic concerns, and warnings of global economic risks from potential closures of key maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb.

Settler attacks on Palestinians increased by 63 percent in the first half of 2026, with 660 incidents recorded compared to 405 in the same period in 2025. This weekend saw 30 nationalist crime incidents, and UN expert Francesca Albanese condemned the violence as a 'pogrom,' with four Palestinians killed, 80 detained, and mosques set alight by settlers.

Iran and Oman made progress in Hormuz management talks as the US disabled ships near Iran. Israel marked Palestinian homes for demolition following a settler attack, while Iran summoned Ukrainian diplomats after a Caspian Sea bombing. Kuwait condemned Houthi attacks, and the US welcomed Venezuela's cooperation against the ICC.

The Trump administration rejected the UN's Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Livestock Transformation due to its frequent references to gender equality. U.S. officials argued that terms like 'gender' and 'climate change' were ambiguous and detracted from core agricultural goals, while the plan was ultimately adopted by other delegates.

A UN report states that two-thirds of Gaza's population remains in crisis-level food insecurity nine months after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Sustained humanitarian access, funding, and stability are needed to prevent reversals in recent humanitarian gains.

The article argues that the British Empire created three post-colonial states—the United States, Israel, and the UAE—which continue to influence 21st-century imperialism through militarization and colonial governance. It criticizes these regimes for perpetuating racial hierarchies and violent expansion, similar to the British imperial project.

Israel bombed Gaza following displacement orders, killing two Palestinians. The UN reported a 'desperate' humanitarian situation in Gaza as Israeli violations of a 'ceasefire' intensified.

UN envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg expressed alarm over Houthis' Red Sea attacks and urged talks, warning that further confrontation risks worsening the suffering of Yemeni people.

Africa now has 307 million undernourished people, surpassing Asia’s total for the first time. One in five Africans faced hunger in 2024, compared with a global average of 7.8%. Over one billion Africans, roughly two-thirds of the population, could not [...]

Ed Miliband, the new UK foreign secretary, has been appointed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. He emphasized strengthening alliances with the European Union, NATO, and the UN, while addressing conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, and Palestine-Israel. Miliband highlighted his parents' history as Jewish refugees and Britain's role in combating fascism.

Global hunger has declined according to a UN report, but it remains higher than pre-COVID levels, with millions still experiencing hunger.