Australia and New Zealand are working towards easing travel restrictions between the two countries, but warned it would take time.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined an Australian cabinet meeting on Tuesday, becoming the first world leader to do so in more than 60 years.
Speaking to reporters, she highlighted that travel will resume between the neighbours "as soon as it is safe to do so".
"When we feel comfortable and confident that we both won't receive cases from Australia, but equally that we won't export them, then that will be the time to move," she said, adding, "Neither of us want cases of COVID coming between our countries."
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said New Zealand would be the first country they would open its borders to.
So far, Australia has recorded around 6,800 infections and 96 deaths, while New Zealand has 1,137 cases and 20 fatalities.
Members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) adopted an agreement on Tuesday intended to improve preparedness for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to COVID-19, but the absence of the US cast doubt on the treaty's effectiveness.
The United Nations has received permission from Israel for about 100 more emergency aid trucks to enter Gaza, though the first supplies to have entered in weeks remained under Israeli control, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The leaders of Britain, Canada and France threatened sanctions against Israel on Monday if it does not stop a renewed military offensive in Gaza and lift aid restrictions, piling further pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The New Zealand government on Tuesday deferred a vote over the rare suspension of three Indigenous lawmakers from parliament for performing a haka, the Maori ceremonial dance, during the reading of a contentious bill last year.
Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius scorched parts of northern and central China on Tuesday with authorities issuing heat warnings and offering aid to farmers to protect food production.
The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation is urging private sector companies with 50 or more employees to meet their Emiratisation targets for the first half of 2025.
The Central Bank of the UAE has imposed a financial penalty of AED 200 million on an exchange house for serious violations of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations.
Dubai has launched "affordable housing projects" for working professionals in key public and private sector roles in an effort to "improve living standards for (the city's) workforce".