Daily World Briefing, July 29

New round of China-U.S. trade talks starts in Sweden

The Chinese and U.S. delegations convened in Stockholm, Sweden, on Monday for a new round of economic and trade talks.

Netanyahu to present Gaza annexation plan if Hamas rejects deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to present to the Israeli security cabinet a plan to annex parts of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Monday night.

According to the report, Netanyahu told Israeli ministers that Israel has given Hamas a few days to agree to a ceasefire, or Israel will begin to gradually annex parts of the Strip in stages until Hamas surrenders.

Malnutrition in Gaza reaches alarming levels: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that malnutrition is on a dangerous trajectory in the Gaza Strip, marked by a spike in deaths in July.

In a statement issued on Sunday, WHO called for urgent, sustained efforts to flood the Gaza Strip with food, and to expedite the delivery of therapeutic supplies for children and vulnerable groups, as well as essential medicines and supplies.

Thailand, Cambodia agree on ceasefire, says Malaysian PM

Thailand and Cambodia's leaders have agreed to implement a ceasefire starting midnight on Monday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said following a meeting hosted by him in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

At a joint press conference with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai following the ceasefire talks, Anwar outlined a step-by-step de-escalation process and the mechanism through which it will be implemented and monitored.

Portugal questions fairness of EU-U.S. tariff deal, warns of high costs, limited gains

Portugal has raised concerns over the recently concluded tariff agreement between the European Union (EU) and the United States, describing it as a limited improvement that falls short of true free trade and comes at a steep cost for both sides.

The Ministry of Economy and Territorial Cohesion acknowledged in a statement that the deal -- fixing U.S. tariffs on European goods at 15 percent -- may bring a certain degree of predictability. However, it stressed that "nothing replaces the freedom of trade" and reaffirmed Portugal's commitment to actively push for the gradual elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers.

Rainstorms leave 30 dead in Beijing

The latest round of heavy rainstorms has left 30 people dead in Beijing as of midnight Monday, according to the municipal flood control headquarters.

In recent days, extreme and severe convective weather brought by warm, moist air from the edge of the subtropical high has occurred in Beijing's Miyun District and other areas.■