UK-Israel Settlements Sanctions: Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to announce a UK ban on trade tied to illegal Israeli West Bank settlements, a move expected to strain ties with the US and Israel after tenders for 1,200 settler homes. US-Canada Trade War: Trump escalated the dispute with Canada by pushing a boycott of Bombardier unless it builds in America, adding pressure ahead of new tariffs. Middle East Humanitarian Fallout: Yemeni rights groups condemned Saudi strikes hitting civilian homes and a correctional facility in Al-Jawf, calling the attacks violations of international humanitarian law. UAE Trade Boost: The UAE reported non-oil foreign trade topping AED1.9 trillion ($517bn) in H1, positioning itself as a global trade hub at the AIM Investment Summit. Regional Jobs Push (NZ): New Zealand’s Taranaki Alliance got a $3m government grant to help engineering and manufacturing firms win bigger contracts as oil-and-gas decline threatens jobs. Digital Trade & Finance: GSBN named BIMCO to its board to speed paperless bills of lading, while Citi and DBS tested near-instant USD settlement using Swift’s digital ledger. Work & Rights (Labor Law): Australian employment rulings highlighted disputes over meeting attendance on medical grounds and late unfair dismissal claims, with commissions scrutinizing timing and whether medical details were actually provided. Local Governance & Safety: Jamaica advanced justice and correctional modernisation plans, while Kenya faced rising tensions in Nairobi after directives targeting foreign small retailers.