10 Things Global News - 14 July 2025
Succinct Global News
What’s Inside
Israel Strike on Gaza Water Site Kills Children as Ceasefire Talks Stall
U.S. Senators Push “Sledgehammer” Sanctions Bill to Pressure Russia as War in Ukraine Escalates
Ukraine Claims Killing of Russian Agents Linked to SBU Officer’s Assassination in Kyiv
Senate Report Slams Secret Service Over “Cascade of Failures” in Trump Assassination AttemptIsraeli Strike on Gaza Water Site Kills Children as Ceasefire Talks Stall
Sectarian Clashes in Syria’s Sweida Leave Over 30 Dead Amid Rising Minority Tensions
Sinner Clinches First Wimbledon Title in Comeback Triumph Over Alcaraz
Gisèle Pelicot Awarded France’s Highest National Honour
Israeli Plan for ‘Humanitarian City’ in Gaza Sparks Fierce Backlash
Gold Hits Three-Week High Amid Trade War Escalation
Macron Unveils €6.5 Billion Defense Boost Amid Warnings of New Threats
1 - Israel Strike on Gaza Water Site Kills Children as Ceasefire Talks Stall
At least eight children were killed and over a dozen injured when an Israeli missile struck a water distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Sunday. Israeli officials attributed the incident to a targeting malfunction, claiming the intended strike was against a nearby militant. Local medical sources reported six children among the dead, and 17 others wounded. The strike came amid deepening water shortages and a broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where residents face long, dangerous journeys to access basic necessities.
The attack was one of several over the weekend, with additional Israeli airstrikes killing more than 90 people across the territory, including families sheltering in displacement camps and homes. The total death toll in Gaza since October 2023 now exceeds 58,000, according to Gaza’s health ministry, with over half of those killed being women and children.
Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations in Doha appear stalled. Israel’s leadership insists on conditions including the destruction of Hamas and the release of all hostages. Hamas has rejected proposed withdrawal maps that would leave large parts of Gaza under Israeli control. International pressure is growing, but no breakthrough has emerged.
2 - U.S. Senators Push “Sledgehammer” Sanctions Bill to Pressure Russia as War in Ukraine Escalates
A bipartisan sanctions bill advancing in the U.S. Senate could give President Trump sweeping new powers to escalate economic pressure on Russia and its global backers. Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Richard Blumenthal, leading the effort with 85 co-sponsors, say the proposed legislation would serve as a “sledgehammer” to target Russia’s economy and countries—including China, India, and Brazil—that purchase Russian oil and other key exports.
The bill would allow the president to impose tariffs of up to 500% on goods from countries aiding Russia’s war effort, with the discretion to adjust as needed. It also includes authority to access up to $5 billion in seized Russian assets to fund Ukrainian defense. Congressional leaders have indicated the measure could reach the Senate floor by August 1.
Trump, who recently resumed arms shipments to Ukraine after a temporary pause, has expressed increasing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While he has yet to formally endorse the bill, he is expected to make a major announcement Monday following meetings with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
European leaders, who met with the senators in Rome, expressed unified support for the measure, describing the sanctions as essential leverage in pressuring Moscow toward peace.
3 - Ukraine Claims Killing of Russian Agents Linked to SBU Officer’s Assassination in Kyiv
Ukraine’s security service says it has tracked down and killed suspected Russian agents believed to be responsible for the assassination of SBU Colonel Ivan Voronych last Thursday in central Kyiv. The suspects, reportedly a man and a woman, were accused of shooting Voronych in broad daylight—a killing caught on CCTV and widely circulated in Ukrainian media.
According to the SBU, the two were members of an FSB-linked agent cell and were located during a Sunday operation near Kyiv. The suspects allegedly resisted arrest and were “liquidated” during the confrontation. A video released by the agency showed two bodies, though the total number of fatalities was not confirmed.
The SBU said the attackers had been ordered to surveil Voronych before retrieving a pistol with a suppressor from a concealed drop location. Authorities said they had attempted to hide after the attack but were located using tracking operations involving both the SBU and Ukrainian police.
Voronych was reportedly involved in covert operations in Russian-occupied Ukraine and helped plan a surprise Ukrainian raid into Russia’s Kursk region in 2024. Meanwhile, Russia launched 60 drones across Ukraine overnight Sunday. Twenty were downed and 20 jammed, but separate attacks killed four civilians and wounded thirteen in Donetsk and Kherson.
4 - Senate Report Slams Secret Service Over “Cascade of Failures” in Trump Assassination Attempt
A Senate report released Sunday has sharply criticized the U.S. Secret Service for a series of “preventable failures” that led to last year’s assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The report, marking the one-year anniversary of the July 13 shooting, highlights ignored security requests, internal miscommunication, and systemic lapses that nearly cost Trump his life and led to the death of rally-goer Corey Comperatore.
Senator Rand Paul, chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, accused the agency of failing to act on credible intelligence and misrepresenting facts to Congress. According to the report, the Trump detail made at least 10 unfulfilled requests for additional security measures, including counter-sniper and drone defense support. Six agents have been disciplined, though no one has been fired.
Former USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned last July under bipartisan pressure. Her successor, Sean Curran, said reforms are underway, including improved aerial surveillance and interagency coordination. Trump, whose ear was grazed by a bullet during the attack, said this week that “mistakes were made” but voiced confidence in the sniper who killed the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks.
The committee warned that unless accountability follows, similar failures could happen again.
5 - Sectarian Clashes in Syria’s Sweida Leave Over 30 Dead Amid Rising Minority Tensions
At least 30 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in intense sectarian clashes in the southern Syrian city of Sweida, according to authorities. The violence, which erupted over the weekend, is the deadliest since the fall of the Assad regime in December and underscores escalating tensions among the country’s religious minorities under the new Islamist-led government.
The clashes began after a Druze merchant was kidnapped Friday on the highway linking Damascus to Sweida, prompting fighting between Bedouin Sunni tribes and local Druze militias. Hostilities were concentrated in Sweida’s Maqwas neighborhood and later spread to villages on the city’s outskirts. Security forces have been deployed to contain the violence.
Sweida, a predominantly Druze city, had remained relatively insulated during Syria’s 13-year civil war. However, minority groups, including Druze and Alawites, now express growing fears about safety and political marginalization. Hundreds of Alawites were reportedly killed in March, and attacks on churches in Damascus have stoked further insecurity.
The current violence comes as Western nations cautiously reengage with Syria. The U.S. recently removed the dominant rebel group HTS from its terrorist list, and a UK minister visited Damascus for the first time in over a decade.
6 - Sinner Clinches First Wimbledon Title in Comeback Triumph Over Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner has won his first Wimbledon title (4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4), defeating Carlos Alcaraz in a rematch of their emotional French Open final just five weeks ago. The 23-year-old Italian became the first from his country to lift the trophy at the All England Club, completing a redemptive arc after narrowly losing in Paris despite holding three match points.
Sinner’s path to the title wasn’t smooth. He suffered an early injury scare with an elbow issue and narrowly escaped a fourth-round defeat to Grigor Dimitrov, who retired after taking a two-set lead. From there, Sinner dominated, defeating Ben Shelton, Novak Djokovic, and Alcaraz while dropping only one set.
Behind the scenes, Sinner worked intensively to recover from his Paris disappointment. He took just three days off before returning to practice, focusing on emotional resilience as much as physical form. His coaches praised his attitude, with Darren Cahill calling his Wimbledon preparation “awesome” and lauding his ability to mentally reset.
Despite a three-month doping suspension earlier in the year—accepted without dispute and attributed to his team’s negligence—Sinner has maintained world number one status. His victory marks a pivotal moment in his burgeoning rivalry with Alcaraz and solidifies his standing among tennis’s elite.
7 - Gisèle Pelicot Awarded France’s Highest National Honour
Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old woman whose testimony during a harrowing rape trial galvanized public attention across France and abroad, has been named a knight of the Legion of Honour. She is among 589 individuals recognized this Bastille Day for contributions to French society.
Pelicot gained international recognition last year after waiving her right to anonymity in a mass-rape trial involving her husband. Over nearly a decade, he drugged her and invited approximately 50 men to rape her while she was unconscious. Dominique Pelicot was sentenced in December to 20 years in prison for aggravated rape.
Pelicot insisted the trial be held publicly, declaring that the “shame should change sides.” Her decision to confront the abuse openly has been praised as a landmark moment for survivors of sexual violence in France. President Emmanuel Macron described her as a trailblazer whose courage moved and inspired the nation.
She joins others honoured this year, including Mona Ozouf, Pharrell Williams, and several former ministers. Pelicot’s lawyer confirmed that a memoir recounting her experience will be published early next year, continuing her mission to empower victims and confront societal silence around sexual violence.
8. - Israeli Plan for ‘Humanitarian City’ in Gaza Sparks Fierce Backlash
An Israeli proposal to relocate over two million Gazans to a newly built “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza has triggered widespread domestic and international condemnation. Unveiled by Defense Minister Israel Katz, the plan would involve constructing a closed zone during a potential 60-day ceasefire and gradually moving the entire population of Gaza there.
The facility would initially accommodate 600,000 displaced residents, with entry contingent on security screenings. Once inside, residents would be barred from leaving, and the Israeli military would provide “security from a distance.” Katz claims the area would include four aid distribution centers managed by international organizations.
Critics have called the proposal ethically indefensible and logistically unworkable. UN agencies and Amnesty International warn it could constitute a war crime. Even Israel’s own army chief and security officials have expressed alarm, calling the plan a distraction from military priorities and likening it to a “gigantic tent city.”
Far-right ministers aligned with Prime Minister Netanyahu have supported the initiative, aligning it with their calls for reoccupation and settlement expansion in Gaza. The estimated cost—up to $6 billion—has further intensified opposition as the toll of the nearly two-year war continues to rise.
9 - Gold Hits Three-Week High Amid Trade War Escalation
Gold prices climbed to a three-week peak on Monday as investors flocked to safe-haven assets following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose sweeping tariffs on imports from the European Union and Mexico. Spot gold rose to $3,371.34 per ounce, its highest since June 23, with U.S. gold futures also advancing.
The proposed 30% tariffs, set to take effect August 1, follow failed negotiations between the U.S. and its key trading partners. Both the EU and Mexico condemned the move, calling it unfair and disruptive. In response, the EU announced it would extend its suspension of counter-tariffs while continuing to pursue a negotiated resolution.
Analysts noted renewed uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and its potential inflationary effects, with the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate steps now under heightened scrutiny. The June inflation data, expected Tuesday, could shape the outlook for a possible 50 basis point rate cut by December.
Although a rising dollar slightly capped gold’s gains, analysts say a sustained close above $3,360 could push prices toward resistance at $3,435. Meanwhile, gold speculators trimmed their net long positions, and SPDR Gold Trust reported a marginal dip in holdings.
10 - Macron Unveils €6.5 Billion Defense Boost Amid Warnings of New Threats
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced an additional €6.5 billion in military spending over the next two years, citing a shifting global security environment marked by the persistent threat from Russia, terrorism, cyberattacks, and nuclear proliferation. The increase includes €3.5 billion in 2026 and €3 billion in 2027, bringing France’s annual defense budget to €64 billion by the end of his term—double what it was in 2017.
In a speech to military leaders ahead of Bastille Day, Macron emphasized the need for European nations to become strategically autonomous. He warned that peace on the continent is increasingly fragile, with “imperialist policies” and “annexing powers” challenging the postwar order. He called for a “strategic dialogue” among European allies on the role of France’s nuclear arsenal and for broader government mobilization behind national defense.
France’s top military officials also voiced concern over Russia’s growing assertiveness, including disinformation campaigns, undersea sabotage, and satellite disruption. The defense minister urged investment in defense technologies like quantum computing, warning that France must “stay in the game” or risk falling behind major global powers.