10 Things Global News - 15 July 2025
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Trump Threatens Harsh Sanctions, Greenlights NATO Weapons Flow to Ukraine
Sudan’s RSF Accused of Killing 300 Civilians in Wave of Attacks
Sweden Considers Raising Military Recall Age to 70 Amid Personnel Shortage
India Orders Boeing Fuel Switch Inspections After Deadly Air India Crash
Zuckerberg Unveils ‘Hundreds of Billions’ AI Spend in Race for Superintelligence
China’s Economy Holds Steady Despite Tariffs and Real Estate Weakness
Zelenskyy Nominates Yuliia Svyrydenko as Ukraine’s Next Prime Minister
Australia Launches Largest-Ever Military Drills with Allies as Chinese Surveillance Looms
Biden Rejects Claims He Was Unaware of Clemency Orders Signed by Autopen
Israel Strikes Syrian Tanks Amid Clashes Between Druze and Bedouin Clans
Trump Threatens Harsh Sanctions, Greenlights NATO Weapons Flow to Ukraine
President Donald Trump has unveiled a dual-track strategy aimed at pressuring Russia and supporting Ukraine, declaring the U.S. will impose 100% secondary tariffs on countries doing business with Russia unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days. The plan also includes a pledge to supply NATO countries with advanced U.S. weaponry, which will then be forwarded to Ukraine — with Europe footing the bill.
In a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump warned that “talk doesn’t talk — it’s got to be action,” voicing frustration over repeated Russian missile strikes following what he described as “nice phone calls” with President Vladimir Putin. Rutte confirmed that the new deal would deliver missiles and ammunition to Kyiv, including European Patriot air defense systems, with the U.S. backfilling the stocks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Trump for his support and stressed the importance of strengthened defenses. While Kremlin response was muted, Russian commentators expressed skepticism about the seriousness of the tariff threat, with some calling it a bluff. Nonetheless, Trump’s rhetoric has markedly hardened.
Sudan’s RSF Accused of Killing 300 Civilians in Wave of Attacks
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been accused of killing nearly 300 civilians in a series of attacks over the weekend in North Kordofan and Darfur, intensifying what the UN has called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. In North Kordofan, Sudanese human rights lawyers reported that more than 200 people were killed in Shag Alnom village alone, with dozens more slain in nearby villages and many still missing. On Sunday, another 46 were killed in Hilat Hamid, including pregnant women and children.
Meanwhile, the UN said RSF forces killed at least 300 people in raids on the Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps in Darfur, displacing up to 400,000 people. Satellite imagery showed widespread destruction. Among the dead were 10 humanitarian workers.
The RSF claims military targets were present, but witnesses and rights groups say the villages were civilian. Over 13 million people have now been displaced. Aid groups warn famine is spreading, while international calls for a ceasefire mount amid fears of regional spillover.
Sweden Considers Raising Military Recall Age to 70 Amid Personnel Shortage
Sweden is weighing whether to increase the age limit for recalling former military officers to active duty from 47 to 70, as part of a broader effort to strengthen its armed forces amid rising security concerns. The proposal, part of a government-commissioned review presented this week, comes as Sweden seeks to address persistent staffing shortages within its military, particularly among officers and technical specialists.
The review, launched in 2024—the same year Sweden joined NATO—recommended removing the current 10-year limit on deployment eligibility for former conscripts and placing inactive personnel into reserve status. Defence Minister Pal Jonson emphasized that these reforms aim to ensure readiness in a deteriorating security environment driven by Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Sweden has steadily reversed its post–Cold War defense drawdown, reintroducing conscription in 2017 and doubling defense spending since 2020. The government plans to increase military expenditure to 3.5% of GDP by 2032, with a particular focus on bolstering personnel numbers, air defenses, and ammunition reserves.
India Orders Boeing Fuel Switch Inspections After Deadly Air India Crash
India’s aviation regulator has directed all domestic airlines operating certain Boeing aircraft to inspect the locking mechanisms on fuel control switches by July 21, following preliminary findings in the June 12 Air India crash that killed 270 people. The directive impacts Boeing 737s, 787 Dreamliners, and other models. Several countries, including South Korea and the UAE, have initiated similar checks.
The order follows a preliminary crash report revealing that both fuel switches on the aircraft flipped from “run” to “cutoff” shortly after takeoff, triggering engine shutdown. One pilot was recorded asking the other why he had shut off the fuel, to which the second replied he hadn’t. While no specific faults were identified in the switches, the report cited a 2018 FAA advisory recommending inspections of the locking mechanism, though it was not mandatory.
Air India has already checked about half of its Dreamliners and most of its 737s without finding defects. Other airlines, including Qantas, Japan Airlines and Singapore Airlines, have also undertaken or resumed precautionary inspections.
Zuckerberg Unveils ‘Hundreds of Billions’ AI Spend in Race for Superintelligence
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to spend “hundreds of billions” of dollars on artificial intelligence infrastructure, intensifying the company’s bid to lead in the development of AI superintelligence. The funding will support the construction of multiple high-powered data centers, including “Prometheus,” expected to come online in 2026, and “Hyperion,” which could scale up to five gigawatts. Additional “titan clusters” are also in development.
Much of the capital will be directed toward compute power for training advanced AI models. Zuckerberg emphasized Meta’s financial strength and its existing advertising business as the engine powering the investments, which he views as long-term positioning rather than short-term returns. Analysts noted that AI is already boosting Meta’s ad business, though they caution that this next phase may take time to yield results.
The company recently launched Superintelligence Labs, led by Alexandr Wang and Nat Friedman, following a $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI. Meta’s stock has risen more than 20% this year, with further earnings due July 30.
China’s Economy Holds Steady Despite Tariffs and Real Estate Weakness
China’s economy grew 1.1% in the second quarter of 2025, maintaining momentum despite steep U.S. tariffs and persistent consumer weakness. Annualized, GDP expanded by 5.3% in the first half of the year, aligning with Beijing’s growth target of “around 5 percent.”
The resilience comes amid significant external and internal headwinds. US tariffs peaked at 145% earlier this year, but a temporary deal in May reduced duties to 30% for Chinese goods and 10% for U.S. exports. That truce remains in place until August 12. In the meantime, Chinese exports have rebounded, especially to non-U.S. markets like Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Domestically, government-led investment in manufacturing and infrastructure has helped offset a sharp downturn in the real estate sector, where housing prices and construction continue to fall. Consumer demand remains soft, with retail sales down month-over-month in June despite extensive subsidy programs.
Officials admit that effective demand remains weak, but analysts note that trade and factory output are strong enough to support modest upward revisions to annual growth forecasts.
Zelenskyy Nominates Yuliia Svyrydenko as Ukraine’s Next Prime Minister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has nominated Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko to become the country’s new prime minister, part of a broader reshuffle of the Ukrainian government. If confirmed by parliament, Svyrydenko would become only the second woman to hold the position, following Yulia Tymoshenko.
Zelenskyy announced the move as part of efforts to “significantly renew” the government’s work amid ongoing challenges from Russia’s invasion and the need to strengthen international partnerships. Parliament, where Zelenskyy’s party holds a majority, is expected to approve the nomination with little resistance once current Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal submits his resignation.
Svyrydenko, 39, has held several senior roles in government and became a prominent figure this year after securing a high-profile minerals agreement with the United States. She traveled to Washington and finalized the deal following a diplomatic dispute in February. The agreement established a reconstruction investment fund, aimed at boosting Ukraine’s mining sector and strengthening ties with Washington during the ongoing war.
Australia Launches Largest-Ever Military Drills with Allies as Chinese Surveillance Looms
Australia has begun its largest-ever military exercise, Talisman Sabre, involving over 35,000 personnel from 19 countries. The three-week joint training operation, centered at Shoalwater Bay in Queensland, includes live-fire drills and is expected to draw scrutiny from Chinese surveillance ships, as in previous years.
For the first time, the Australian Army fired its recently acquired HIMARS rocket systems, marking a significant advancement in the country’s long-range strike capabilities. The exercise, which began in 2005 as a bilateral operation with the U.S., now includes forces from nations across Asia, Europe, and the Pacific. Malaysia and Vietnam are attending as observers, and activities are also scheduled in Papua New Guinea — a first for the drill series.
Despite the military buildup, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, currently on a state visit to China, said Chinese monitoring would not be raised in talks with President Xi Jinping. Albanese emphasized that surveillance of the drills is routine and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to its national interest and regional stability.
Biden Rejects Claims He Was Unaware of Clemency Orders Signed by Autopen
Former President Joe Biden has strongly denied allegations that his aides issued pardons and clemency orders without his knowledge during the final days of his presidency. In a rare interview, Biden insisted he authorized every decision, including the use of an autopen to sign documents covering thousands of non-violent drug offenders, death row inmates, and several high-profile individuals, including his son and former officials.
The remarks come amid Republican-led investigations into Biden’s mental acuity while in office and the legitimacy of executive actions bearing an autopen signature. Biden dismissed these efforts as politically motivated, calling the allegations “lies” and reaffirming, “I made every single one of those [decisions].”
Republicans have zeroed in on the use of the autopen, questioning whether Biden was fully aware of what was being signed. But internal emails show that Biden’s chief of staff explicitly authorized the device’s use after discussions with the president. Biden accused his critics of trying to shift attention away from policy issues.
Israel Strikes Syrian Tanks Amid Clashes Between Druze and Bedouin Clans
Israel has confirmed conducting airstrikes on Syrian military tanks advancing toward the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, in response to escalating sectarian clashes that have left nearly 90 dead and over 100 injured. The strikes were intended to block Syrian forces from entering restricted areas near Israel’s border, officials said, and served as a direct warning to Damascus.
Violence erupted in Sweida after a Druze vegetable seller was reportedly kidnapped by a Bedouin tribe, triggering retaliatory attacks between the communities. Syrian government forces deployed to restore order, but some were accused of supporting the Bedouins. At least 14 government troops were among the dead.
Israel’s defense minister reiterated that the country “will not allow harm to the Druze,” a statement reflecting long-standing ties between Israel’s Druze population and their Syrian kin. Meanwhile, Druze leaders in Syria have called for a ceasefire and international protection.
The violence underscores Syria’s fragile post-war balance, with tensions now spilling into new areas as the interim government struggles to maintain control.