10 Things Global News - 30 July 2025
News that matters from around the world
Tsunami Warnings Issued After Massive Russian Quake
Thailand - Cambodia Ceasefire Wobbles
U.S.-China Tariff Truce Holds For Now - Trump to Decide
Trump Shortens Deadline for Russia to Agree Ukraine Truce
UK to Recognise Palestine Unless Israel Changes Course
IMF Nudges Up Global Growth Forecast - Tariff Risks Persist
Trump claims Epstein ‘stole’ Mar-a-Lago spa staff
US Government Moves to Scrap Landmark EPA Climate Finding
Palestinian Activist Behind Oscar-Winning Film Killed
Palestinian Death Toll in Gaza War Surpasses 60,000
A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami alerts across the Pacific on Tuesday, with warnings and advisories stretching from Japan to California and Hawaii. The U.S. Tsunami Warning Center issued its highest alert level — a tsunami warning — for California’s North Coast, including Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Waves as high as 4.8 feet are forecast for Crescent City, a town with a history of tsunami devastation. The rest of the California coast is under an advisory, with possible waves under 1.3 feet expected to reach Los Angeles after 1 a.m. Wednesday.
In Hawaii, residents evacuated inland in anticipation of waves reaching 10 feet along north-facing coasts. Flights were diverted and traffic clogged roads in Honolulu. Japan reported smaller waves, but warnings remain in place. Experts say wave intensity depends on the direction of the quake’s energy release, which appears to be pushing strongest toward Hawaii and South America. Officials warn even modest waves can pose serious risks, and tsunamis can last for many hours.
Sources: LA Times, CNN
Thailand has accused Cambodia of violating a newly agreed ceasefire by launching overnight attacks on troops stationed in Sisaket province, claiming the use of small arms and grenades. The Thai foreign ministry described the incident as a “flagrant violation” of the truce, which came into force Tuesday following five days of deadly clashes along the 800-kilometer border. Cambodia denied the allegations, insisting it remains committed to the ceasefire and will host diplomatic observers to verify the situation.
Despite reported clashes, Thai authorities stated they had maintained control, with conditions stabilizing by 8 a.m. Wednesday. The armistice, brokered in Malaysia with backing from U.S. President Donald Trump, follows violence that has killed at least 43 people and displaced over 300,000. Both sides agreed to halt troop movements and conduct border coordination. However, Thai officials continue to warn that the situation remains precarious, with further diplomatic efforts planned, including a General Border Committee meeting on August 4.
Sources: South China Morning Post, The Guardian
Trade talks between the U.S. and China wrapped up in Stockholm on Tuesday without a breakthrough, but officials from both sides described the discussions as constructive. While Chinese negotiators announced an agreement to extend the current 90-day tariff truce, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified that the final decision rests with President Donald Trump. The current pause in tariffs expires August 12, with a 90-day extension under consideration.
Trump, returning from Europe, said he was briefed by Bessent and felt “better than yesterday” about the meetings. U.S. officials signaled cautious optimism but noted that “a few technical issues” remain. China has resumed rare earth exports, and the U.S. has approved select AI chip shipments—moves seen as signs of de-escalation. Trump may meet Chinese President Xi Jinping by year-end, though no summit is confirmed. The talks mark the third round in as many months as global markets await clarity on future tariff policy.
Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg
President Donald Trump has given Russia ten days to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, reducing a previously announced 50-day deadline set earlier this month. The new ultimatum, which expires on August 8, includes the threat of sweeping economic penalties if Moscow fails to act. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, Trump reiterated his frustration with President Vladimir Putin, saying Russia “probably wants to keep the war going” and had yet to respond to U.S. demands.
Trump has floated the imposition of 100% tariffs on Russia, potentially extending to secondary sanctions targeting countries that import Russian oil. Such measures could affect India and China, despite ongoing trade talks with both. The Kremlin said it had “noted” the deadline but signaled no change in position. Trump’s deadline push comes as Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities and as oil prices rise amid renewed geopolitical tension. Trump maintains the U.S. can offset any energy fallout by boosting domestic output.
Sources: Poltico, Bloomberg
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that the UK will formally recognise the State of Palestine by the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel takes “substantive steps” to end the war in Gaza and commit to a lasting peace process. Starmer outlined conditions including an immediate ceasefire, halting annexation plans in the West Bank, and a return to two-state negotiations. The move marks a shift from past UK policy, which supported recognition only when “the time is right.”
The announcement follows France’s recent pledge to also recognise Palestine and comes amid mounting pressure from Labour MPs. Israel condemned the UK’s stance as a “reward for Hamas.” Starmer said Hamas must release hostages, disarm, and play no role in Gaza’s future governance. Palestinian envoy Husam Zomlot welcomed the move as a historic step. The UK has linked the recognition to an eight-point European-backed peace plan, while the US remains opposed and has not reaffirmed its two-state stance.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Axios
The International Monetary Fund has slightly raised its 2025 global growth forecast to 3.0%, up 0.2 percentage points from April, citing strong pre-tariff purchasing and a drop in the U.S. effective tariff rate to 17.3%. However, the IMF cautioned that growth remains below historical averages and warned that global trade tensions, high debt, and looming tariff hikes still pose significant downside risks.
The Fund’s chief economist said current resilience was partly due to front-loading of exports ahead of a fresh wave of U.S. tariffs set for August. But that boost is expected to fade later in 2025, dragging activity into 2026. The IMF’s outlook does not yet account for additional U.S. tariffs on sectors like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, which could further slow growth. While inflation is easing globally, price pressures are rising in the U.S., driven by tariff pass-through. The IMF also flagged concerns over weakening fiscal space and urged stability in trade and monetary policy.
Sources: Reuters, IMF
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Jeffrey Epstein “stole” young women who worked at the spa in his Mar-a-Lago resort, singling out Virginia Giuffre as one of them. The remarks, made aboard Air Force One, expand on Trump’s earlier statement that he cut ties with Epstein after learning he had hired away resort staff. Giuffre, who accused Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell of sexual abuse, reportedly began working for Epstein after being recruited from Mar-a-Lago as a teen. She died by suicide earlier this year.
Trump has long denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein but is facing renewed scrutiny from his political base following the Justice Department’s decision not to release additional Epstein files. Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence, recently met with federal officials and has offered to testify before Congress if granted immunity—an offer lawmakers have rejected. Trump has not ruled out a pardon for Maxwell but said he has not been asked to issue one
Sources: PBS, Time
The US Government has announced plans to repeal the “Endangerment Finding,” a 2009 decision that underpins U.S. authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. EPA Director Lee Zeldin said the policy, which originated under President Obama following the Supreme Court’s 2007 ruling on air pollutants, was based on flawed reasoning and has constrained economic growth. If finalized, the repeal would revoke federal emissions standards, including electric vehicle mandates, and could mark the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.
The EPA claims the change would save Americans $54 billion annually but is expected to face fierce legal challenges. Critics warn that overturning the finding would severely limit federal climate action. Governors from California and Wisconsin condemned the move as “reckless abandonment of science and the law.” Environmental advocates argue the proposal is politically motivated and threatens to reverse decades of progress in cutting harmful emissions.
Sources: BBC, DW
Awdah (Odeh) Hathaleen, a Palestinian activist and contributor to the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was shot and killed on Monday during a settler attack in the West Bank village of Umm al-Khair. Witnesses say settler Yinon Levi opened fire after residents confronted a bulldozer destroying village property. Hathaleen, reportedly standing apart from the confrontation, was struck in the chest and died from his wounds.
Levi was arrested but quickly released to house arrest. He was previously sanctioned by the U.S., EU, and UK for violent acts against Palestinians, but U.S. sanctions were lifted by President Trump in January. The killing prompted widespread condemnation, including from France and members of Israel’s Knesset, who decried settler impunity.
Hathaleen was a resident of Masafer Yatta and father of three. His final messages urged global attention to settler encroachment. Israeli soldiers later raided the mourning tent, detaining activists and declaring the area a closed military zone.
Sources: The Guardian, CNN
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported Tuesday that over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, with nearly half identified as women and children. The war has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population and pushed the territory to the brink of famine. Israeli strikes overnight reportedly killed dozens, including 30 people in a refugee camp and 33 more around an aid convoy. Israel said it targeted Hamas infrastructure but did not confirm civilian casualties.
The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, has since devastated Gaza’s infrastructure. Aid deliveries remain sporadic, with food scarce and hoarded at exorbitant prices. U.N. officials warn of a humanitarian catastrophe, and the World Health Organization has confirmed over 60 hunger-related deaths this month alone. Despite recent Israeli measures to increase aid access, much of the international community says efforts fall short of meeting urgent needs on the ground.