US President Donald Trump announced a trade agreement with Vietnam, marking the administration's third significant deal ahead of a July 9 deadline. The US will charge a 20% tariff on Vietnamese exports and a 40% tariff for "transshipping" goods that pass through another country before being exported to the US. In return, Vietnam will grant the US total access to its markets with zero tariffs. The agreement was finalized after a phone call between Trump and General Secretary Tô Lâm of Vietnam, who proposed recognizing the US as a market economy and lifting export restrictions on high-tech products.
https://www.koat.com/article/us-vietnam-trade-deal-tariffs-market-access/65279159The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the US and Israel, is facing criticism from over 165 international charities and NGOs, including Oxfam, Save the Children, and Amnesty International, for its handling of aid distribution in Gaza. The GHF, led by an evangelical leader close to former US President Trump, has been accused of putting people's lives at risk while trying to access food, with allegations that over 500 Palestinians have been killed near its centers. Despite delivering over 52 million meals, the organization has faced criticism for its secretive nature and the new aid system it implemented, which limits distribution to a few hubs guarded by armed contractors, leading to at least 10 Palestinian deaths while seeking food.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/humanitarian-groups-seek-end-to-israeli-backed-aid-system-in-gaza-211014The US has announced it's halting shipments of key weapons to Ukraine, including Patriot air defence systems and Hellfire missiles, amid efforts to push for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. The decision comes as the Biden administration seeks to reduce military support to Kyiv, which remains "seriously dependent" on US arms supplies. The White House cited a review of its nation's military support and assistance to other countries as the reason for the move. Ukraine has expressed concern over the halt in aid, with residents worried that it would leave the capital vulnerable to further attacks.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/ukraine-left-scrambling-after-us-says-halting-some-arms-shipments/article_889296ac-4f90-5f26-acf6-0f4a9c7b2211.htmlVietnam has reached a deal with the US to address reciprocal tariff issues, with President Trump affirming that the US will significantly reduce tariffs on Vietnamese export goods. The agreement comes ahead of the threatened reimposition of steep tariffs on dozens of economies, including the European Union and Japan. A deal was also recently announced with Britain, where the US agreed to cut tariffs on cars from 27.5% to 10%, in exchange for further market access for US ethanol and beef.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/trump-says-vietnam-to-face-20-tariff-under-great-deal/article_c2516a0b-a9ba-5b9f-b76e-58331f63268d.htmlChinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to meet EU counterpart Kaja Kallas in Brussels for a high-level strategic dialogue. The meeting comes ahead of Wang's visits to Germany and France, as tensions between China and Europe remain strained due to concerns over Chinese firms' involvement in Russia's war efforts in Ukraine and alleged cyberattacks in Europe.
https://channelnewsasia.com/watch/china-not-eus-adversary-security-ties-under-strain-says-kaja-kallas-ahead-wang-yi-meeting-5216541The Court of Arbitration has reaffirmed its competence to handle the dispute over Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, stating it will proceed with a timely, efficient, and fair manner. The decision comes after India's unilateral announcement to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, which Pakistan claims is invalid. The Foreign Office says the award vindicates Pakistan's stance that the treaty remains valid, while India accuses Islamabad of orchestrating a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, leading to the suspension.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1325743-pakistan-asks-india-to-resume-operations-under-iwtAir Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, the Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), has concluded a historic visit to the United States, marking a significant breakthrough in defence cooperation between the two countries. During his visit, he met with senior US military and political leaders, including Secretary of the Air Force Kelli L Seybolt and General David W Allvin, to discuss enhancing military-to-military cooperation and exploring avenues for joint training and technology exchange. The Air Chief reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to expanding training partnerships and collaborative engagements with the US air force, while also highlighting Pakistan's role in fostering regional stability and countering terrorism in South and Central Asia.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40370788/air-chief-concludes-historic-visit-to-usA report has identified dozens of corporate actors, including Elbit Systems and Lockheed Martin, which supply arms and heavy equipment used in illegal Israeli settlements. The report also highlights technology companies like Microsoft Azure and Amazon's Project Nimbus Consortium, which provided critical cloud and AI infrastructure to Israel during a 2023 crisis. Albanese alleges that these companies have profited from the occupation of Palestinian territory, with 48 companies informed of the facts and 15 responding directly to her office. The Israeli mission in Geneva has denied the report as "legally groundless" and "defamatory".
https://en.tempo.co/read/2023784/over-60-companies-profit-from-palestinian-genocide-by-israel-says-un-rapporteurUS President Biden and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy discussed a potential weapons package with Patriot missile systems during their meeting at the NATO summit last week. The US Defense Department is reviewing its stockpiles, but did not specify which weapons are being held back. Zelenskyy hopes to see harsher sanctions imposed on Russia's energy and banking sectors, including a $30 per barrel price cap on Russian oil. EU envoy David O'Sullivan believes maintaining sanctions pressure while holding out the prospect of a ceasefire is key. Ukrainian officials await a sign from Trump that he will support deploying foreign troops in Ukraine as a security guarantee against future aggression.
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-offensives-ceasefire-c03921de21027d13117cb668c9a1a959