Daily News Brief
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Top of the Agenda
Cambodian and Thai military commanders met today to shore up a truce after their worst outbreak of violence in more than a decade. They committed to not targeting civilians or sending more troops to the border, a Thai army spokesperson said, while the director of Cambodia’s lower legislative house said that “armed clashes” between the countries would end. After threatening to call off trade talks with both countries due to the fighting, U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday they would resume in light of the ceasefire.
A fragile truce.
Hours before the bilateral talks, Thailand accused Cambodia of violating the truce that began at midnight local time. Cambodia’s defense ministry denied there were clashes.
Thailand at first rejected outside mediation, but changed its position after Trump said he would call off tariff talks. China, Myanmar, and the United States stepped in to mediate. Both Cambodia and Thailand face a potential 36 percent tariff from the United States—the top destination for their exports—beginning August 1.
The sides plan to hold another bilateral security meeting on August 4.
The context. Cambodia and Thailand’s border dispute goes back decades. But in recent months a close relationship between Cambodia’s Hun Sen and Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra—powerful politicians who had helped maintain peace—broke down. Hun Sen last month posted a recording of a call with Thaksin’s daughter, who had been serving as prime minister, to social media; controversy over its contents led to her suspension.
After weeks of rising tensions, border violence last week quickly escalated into artillery fire and airstrikes. By the time the truce was agreed, at least forty-three people had been killed and more than three hundred thousand had been displaced.
“The border conflict is driving a sizable cleavage between two countries that have in the past decade built strong bilateral relations, is threatening all of mainland Southeast Asia’s economic ties—and has the potential to bring more political chaos to Thailand, which has been roiled by political instability for two decades.”
—CFR expert Joshua Kurlantzick, Asia Unbound
Across the Globe
New deadline for Putin. Trump said yesterday that Russia had about ten to twelve days to reach a truce with Ukraine and avoid new economic penalties—significantly shortening his earlier deadline. Russia had rejected a truce proposal after previous urging by Trump; the Kremlin “took note” of Trump’s new ultimatum, a spokesperson said today. Meanwhile, as the war continues, Russia’s national airline said yesterday it cancelled dozens of flights after a cyberattack. A pro-Ukrainian group claimed responsibility.
Reported ban on Lai’s travel. The Trump administration declined to allow Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te to stop in New York on a proposed trip to Central America next month, three unnamed sources told the Financial Times. Such stopovers had previously been allowed, with Lai’s predecessor conducting one during the Biden administration. Taiwan’s foreign ministry denied today that the United States had obstructed Lai’s visit. The report comes as the United States holds trade talks with China.
Trump on Gaza hunger. Trump said yesterday that there is “real starvation” in Gaza, contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim Sunday that there was “no starvation” in the territory. Trump said Washington would work with European countries to increase aid delivery, including through “food centers.” The Trump administration has previously approved funding for an aid group in Gaza, but Israeli forces have been accused of killing hundreds of Palestinians at its aid distribution points.
Landmark Colombian trial. A court found former conservative president Álvaro Uribe guilty of bribery in a case regarding tampering with witness testimony. He was accused of trying to bribe a former paramilitary to withdraw testimony that Uribe funded a paramilitary group in the 1990s. Uribe ruled Colombia from 2002 to 2010 and was close to Washington while in office. He is the country’s first ex-president to be criminally convicted at trial. Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that “the weaponization of Colombia’s judicial branch by radical judges has now set a worrisome precedent.”
U.S.-Argentina travel thaw. Officials from the two countries signed a statement of intent for Argentina to join a program for visa-free business and tourism travel to the United States. Finalizing the policy is expected to take up to three years. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Argentina was strengthening its friendship with the United States under the Javier Milei administration and had the lowest visa overstay rate of all Latin American countries.
China’s baby stipend. China launched a childcare subsidy policy that will pay parents the equivalent of around $500 per year for each child under the age of three, state news agency Xinhua said. Parents can claim partial payments for children born beginning in 2022 and full payments for children born after January 2025. The policy is meant to bolster the birth rate and stimulate the economy; China’s population has now shrunk for three years in a row.
Indian operation in Pakistan. Indian security forces killed three people yesterday who they said were involved in the April attack on tourists in India-administered Kashmir, the country’s Home Minister Amir Shah said today. He said the Pakistanis were killed in a gun battle and that forensic tests found their rifles were used in the Kashmir attack. Pakistan’s foreign ministry did not immediately comment. It has denied claims by New Delhi that Islamabad was connected to the attacks.
Pyongyang’s stance on diplomacy. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jon Un, said yesterday that efforts by South Korea’s new liberal government to improve ties were “sincere” but that there was no reason for the countries to meet. Today, she said that relations with Trump were “not bad” but that Washington should drop a demand that Pyongyang denuclearize.
What’s Next
Today, the International Monetary Fund releases an update to its World Economic Outlook.
Today, King Abdullah of Jordan visits Berlin.
Tomorrow, the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to announce its latest interest rate decision in Washington, D.C.
by CFR Editors
July 29, 2025
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