10 Things Global News - 24 July 2025
News that matters from around the world
Thai-Cambodian Border Clash Escalates
UN Court Says States Must Act on Climate
Australia Lifts Ban on US Beef
Columbia Settles with Govt. $221m Deal
Trump Accuses Obama of Treason
EU-China Summit Opens Amid Deep Mistrust
WHO Warns of Man-Made Famine as Gaza Deaths Mount
Iran Confronts US Destroyer in Gulf as Tensions Persist
Chinese Smuggled Parts Used for Drones Attacking Ukraine
South Park Renewed as Creators Sign $1.5B Deal
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia flared Thursday morning as troops from both countries exchanged gunfire near the disputed Ta Muen Thom temple on their shared border. The Thai military said Cambodian soldiers initiated the attack following the sighting of a Cambodian surveillance drone and armed personnel near a Thai base. Cambodia, however, claimed its forces were responding in self-defence after coming under Thai fire.
Fighting spread to at least six locations along the frontier. Cambodian troops reportedly used BM-21 rocket launchers and artillery, some of which struck Thai territory, including civilian areas in Surin province, injuring at least three civilians and one soldier. Thailand accused Cambodian forces of positioning weapons in populated zones, effectively using civilians as shields.
The clash follows a recent landmine explosion that injured five Thai soldiers and has pushed diplomatic ties to their lowest point in over a decade. Both sides have recalled ambassadors, and Thailand is seeking international recourse under the UN’s Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet defended the response as necessary to protect sovereignty, while Thai officials urged restraint and adherence to international law.
Sources: BBC, Bangkok Post
In a landmark opinion issued Wednesday, the International Court of Justice ruled that states have a legal duty to confront climate change or risk committing internationally wrongful acts. Though nonbinding, the unanimous advisory opinion asserts that greenhouse gas emissions are an “urgent and existential” threat to humanity and the planet. The court said obligations under treaties like the Paris Agreement are binding, and that failure to reduce emissions or regulate domestic polluters could open the door to reparations.
Requested by the UN and spearheaded by Vanuatu, the case sought clarity on whether states are legally responsible for cross-border environmental harm. The judges found that failure to act violates international law and may infringe on basic human rights, including the right to life and a clean environment.
The opinion was welcomed by climate-vulnerable nations and campaigners, who say it provides a legal foundation to hold major emitters accountable through domestic and international courts.
Sources: RFI, Japan Times
Australia has lifted longstanding restrictions on US beef imports following a government biosecurity review, prompting political backlash and debate over trade influence. While officials insist the move is unrelated to tariff negotiations with the US, the Trump administration is hailing the decision as a key trade victory. President Trump’s team framed the reversal as a major win for American agriculture, long excluded from the Australian market due to concerns over cattle from Canada and Mexico entering the US supply chain.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the five-year review process was based on science, not diplomacy, and that recent improvements in US traceability standards justified the change. However, farming groups and opposition leaders have called for an independent scientific panel to verify the safety of the decision.
Industry figures expect minimal imports due to cost differences and limited demand. Nonetheless, concerns remain over potential disease risks and the perception that biosecurity standards may have been compromised to ease diplomatic tensions.
Sources: ABC News, The Sydney Morning Herald
Columbia University has agreed to pay over $220 million in a settlement with the Trump administration, resolving federal probes into alleged discrimination and restoring access to suspended federal grants. The deal includes a $200 million payment over three years and an additional $21 million to settle Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigations related to antisemitism on campus following the October 2023 Hamas attacks. While Columbia did not admit wrongdoing, it pledged policy reforms, including restrictions on protests, curriculum reviews, and stricter oversight of admissions and international students.
Federal funding—frozen in March amid concerns over antisemitic incidents and campus protests—will now be reinstated, securing billions in research support. The administration has framed the agreement as a model for other elite universities, with Education Secretary Linda McMahon calling it a “seismic shift.” Critics, however, warn of threats to academic freedom and concerns over targeting pro-Palestinian voices. An independent monitor will oversee Columbia’s compliance.
Sources: CNN, Reuters
President Trump has publicly accused former President Obama of treason, claiming he orchestrated efforts to undermine the 2016 election through the Russia investigation. The accusation, made during a meeting with the Philippine president, has intensified pressure from Trump’s base, with prominent MAGA figures calling for arrests of “Deep State” officials and those allegedly tied to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump’s comments follow renewed scrutiny of his administration’s handling of the Epstein case and growing expectations within his movement for accountability.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard echoed Trump’s claims, referring Obama-era intelligence actions to the Justice Department. Obama’s office dismissed the accusations as “bizarre” and politically motivated. Legal experts note that even if charges were attempted, a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity could shield former presidents from prosecution for official acts.
While MAGA remains largely loyal, some supporters warn that failure to deliver arrests could fracture the movement’s unity heading into the 2026 election cycle.
Sources: MSNBC, Axios
Leaders from the EU and China met in Beijing on Thursday for a long-planned summit overshadowed by growing political and economic tensions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa are holding talks with President Xi Jinping, but expectations are low as relations hit a multi-year low. Hopes of a reset earlier this year faded after China imposed export controls on critical minerals and rejected calls to distance itself from Russia over the war in Ukraine.
The EU recently sanctioned two Chinese banks for aiding Russia, prompting Beijing’s anger. Trade friction has also worsened, with both sides imposing retaliatory tariffs on vehicles and medical products. EU officials say they are pushing for a “rebalancing” of trade, with last year’s €305 billion deficit seen as unsustainable.
Despite the frosty climate, the summit may yield a joint climate declaration ahead of COP31. Broader resolutions, however, appear unlikely as both sides dig in.
Sources: BBC, Euronews
The head of the World Health Organization has declared that Gaza is facing a man-made famine, as aid blockades and rising hunger deaths draw urgent international condemnation. In a statement from Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said mass starvation in Gaza is “very clear” and directly caused by Israel’s blockade. Over 100 humanitarian organizations, including Amnesty International and Oxfam, have called on Israel to allow full humanitarian access, saying vital food and medicine remain undelivered just outside the enclave.
Gaza health authorities reported 10 more starvation deaths Wednesday, raising the toll to 111, including 80 children. Aid deliveries remain minimal—around 28 trucks a day, far below the 500 needed. Reports of people fainting or dying while seeking food are widespread. Simultaneously, Israeli strikes killed over 70 people in the past 24 hours, including journalists and children. Despite growing calls for a ceasefire, aid access remains severely restricted and talks show only slow progress.
Sources: The Guardian, Al Jazeera
Iranian forces confronted a US Navy destroyer in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, warning it to stay clear of waters monitored by Tehran. Iranian state media released footage of a military helicopter approaching the USS Fitzgerald and issuing radio warnings. The encounter marked the first direct military interaction since the US joined Israel in bombing Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day war in June.
Iran claimed the destroyer made a provocative approach and eventually changed course after repeated warnings. A US official, however, described the event as “professional” and said it occurred entirely in international waters, with no impact on the Fitzgerald’s mission.
The exchange comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program. While Tehran maintains its nuclear activities are peaceful, it has continued to enrich uranium and expand missile capabilities. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated the country’s readiness for future conflict, saying he does not expect the current ceasefire with Israel to last.
Sources: Times of Israel, Al Jazeera
Chinese-made engines are being secretly shipped to Russia’s state-owned drone manufacturer, IEMZ Kupol, labeled as “cooling units” to evade Western sanctions, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and three European security officials. The shipments have enabled Kupol to ramp up production of its Garpiya-A1 attack drones, used in strikes against civilian and military targets across Ukraine.
The Garpiya, modeled on Iranian Shahed drones, relies heavily on Chinese technology. After earlier sanctions targeted the engine maker Xiamen Limbach, a new firm—Beijing Xichao International—began supplying the same engines. Documents show they were funneled through Russian intermediaries using false documentation to disguise their military use.
Russia plans to produce over 6,000 Garpiya drones this year, with over 1,500 delivered by April. EU leaders have warned China to stop exporting dual-use goods supporting Russia’s war machine. China says it enforces strict controls and denies supplying lethal equipment to either side in the war.
Exclusive Source: Reuters
South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have signed a new five-year deal with Paramount Global, securing 50 new episodes of the long-running animated series and moving the entire library to Paramount+. The agreement, reportedly worth $1.5 billion, ends months of tense negotiations and legal wrangling between Parker, Stone, Paramount, and its incoming owner, Skydance.
New episodes will air on Comedy Central and stream on Paramount+ the following day, while all 26 prior seasons will now be available on the platform globally. Season 27 premieres July 23 after a brief delay caused by uncertainty over the show’s future.
The deal marks a significant win for Paramount, which retains ownership of South Park while Park County — Parker and Stone’s company — receives roughly half of the streaming revenue. The creators thanked Paramount executives for their support and emphasized their ongoing commitment to the series and its fans.