July 31, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced yesterday that his country will recognize a Palestinian state at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, conditioning the move on the Palestinian Authority holding general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part and acting to demilitarize the Palestinian state. Carney's announcement follows similar recent actions by both the U.K. and France. [more]
• Palestinian health officials say at least 48 people were killed, and dozens of others were wounded, yesterday in clashes near the Zikim Crossing, the main entry point for humanitarian aid into northern Gaza. There was no immediate comment on the incidents from the Israeli military. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,253 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• At least seven people were killed, and more than 80 others were injured, in overnight Russian missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv that collapsed a large part of a nine-story residential building. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | Commerce Department data released yesterday indicates that the U.S. economy, as measured by gross domestic product, expanded at a higher-than-expected 3% annual rate in the second quarter of 2025 – up from a 0.5% decline in the first quarter. Economists note, however, that several quarterly economic indicators were worrying, including declines in imports, private and federal government investment, and inventories. [more]

MORE U.S. ECONOMY | The Federal Reserve left its benchmark short-term interest rate unchanged at about 4.3% yesterday. Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that it could take several months to determine the effects of Trump administration tariffs on inflation, suggesting additional delays for any Fed rate cuts. [more]

U.S. HEALTH DATA | Promising to make access to health records easier, the Trump administration announced plans yesterday to launch, in partnership with tech and healthcare companies, a program that would allow Americans to share their personal health data and medical records across health systems. Reports note that the program includes more than 60 companies, including major tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple as well as health care giants like UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health, and that participation in the program will be voluntary. [more]

U.S. VACCINES | In a commentary published yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine, 17 former members of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control vaccine advisory panel who were fired from their roles last month accused Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his new advisory panel of abandoning rigorous scientific review and open deliberation in making vaccine policy and considering approvals. [more]

U.S. IMMIGRATION OVERSIGHT | Twelve Democratic members of Congress filed a federal lawsuit yesterday seeking to block Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies that they say are preventing lawful oversight-related access to immigration detention centers by members of Congress. [more]

PUERTO RICO | Gov. Jenniffer González declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard in Puerto Rico yesterday as workers continue to restore service to thousands of homes and businesses in the U.S. territory left without water since late last week due to a damaged water main. [more]

U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA | Ahead of an August 1 deadline, the U.S. and South Korea announced a trade deal under which South Korean products imported into the U.S. will face a 15% tariff, Seoul will purchase $100 billion in U.S. gas and oil, and Korean companies will invest some $350 billion in the U.S. economy. [more]

U.S. AND INDIA | President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods imported into the U.S. from India yesterday and said he would impose an additional tax penalty over India's continued purchasing of Russian oil and military equipment that facilitates the invasion of Ukraine. [more]

U.S. AND BRAZIL | The U.S. announced sanctions yesterday against Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes for his role in investigating allegations that President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies plotted a coup after he lost the 2022 election. Additionally, President Donald Trump issued an executive order increasing U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods to 50%. [more]

CHINA | Authorities say the death toll from a week of heavy rains and flooding in the Beijing, China, region has risen to at least 60, with 31 deaths having been among residents of an elder-care home in the city's Miyun district. [more]

U.K. | After more than 150 flights were cancelled across the U.K. yesterday due to technical issues in the country's air traffic control system, U.K. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has announced an investigation into the issue to "understand what happened and how we can prevent reoccurrence." [more]

LITHUANIA | Gintautas Paluckas announced his resignation as Lithuania's prime minister today amidst investigations into his business dealings that have prompted protests calling for his removal from office. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 2012, at the Summer Games in London, American swimmer Michael Phelps captured an unprecedented 19th career Olympic medal when he helped the U.S. team win the 4 × 200-meter freestyle relay, surpassing the individual medal record held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. [more history]