You are invited to join us for Global Crisis Watch 359, on Friday, August 1st at 10:00 BST.
The highlighted topics will include:
Century-Old Dispute Reignites Despite Truce Agreement
Tensions along the Thailand-Cambodia border have flared into the most serious confrontation in over a decade, despite a ceasefire that was meant to take effect on Tuesday. The truce, agreed on Monday, 28 July, in Malaysia and brokered with the help of US and Malaysian diplomacy, followed five days of deadly clashes that left at least 43 people dead and forced more than 300,000 people to flee their homes.
The conflict centers on a long-disputed stretch of border territory, particularly surrounding an 11th-century Khmer-Hindu temple. The roots of the dispute go back to colonial-era boundary demarcations. Tensions intensified in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed, and worsened after five Thai soldiers were injured by a landmine.
Heavy fighting broke out last Thursday, with both sides accusing each other of provocation. Thailand claimed Cambodia used drones and fired rockets and artillery, damaging Thai homes and infrastructure. Cambodia alleged Thai troops encroached on its territory, placed barbed wire around the temple and opened fire first.
Despite agreeing to halt hostilities and de-escalate troop movements, Thailand accused Cambodia of violating the ceasefire twice – first on Tuesday morning, and again overnight into Wednesday. According to Thailand’s foreign ministry, Cambodian troops launched grenade and small arms attacks in Sisaket province. Cambodia has denied both violations.
Command-level meetings between both armies did take place on Tuesday, and some efforts were made to stabilize the situation. However, Thai officials warned the truce remains fragile and trust between the two sides is low.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet has said his country will defend itself if attacked, while Thailand’s acting Premier Phumtham Wechayachai has called for restraint and resolution under international law.
Both countries are under external pressure to de-escalate, particularly from US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to suspend trade negotiations unless the fighting stops. While diplomatic engagement continues, analysts note that neither side currently shows strong leadership capable of fully stepping back from confrontation.
Gaza Famine Crisis Triggers Global Political Shift Towards Palestinian Recognition
UN-backed experts have issued a grave warning that the Gaza Strip is undergoing a “worst- case scenario” famine, with widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease threatening its 2.1 million residents. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that Gaza City has breached key famine thresholds related to food consumption and acute malnutrition, highlighting a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in real time.
This crisis stems from an Israeli blockade imposed since March, restricting food, medicine and fuel amid ongoing military operations against Hamas. While Israel denies deliberately starving the population and insists aid flows continue, UN agencies and Gaza health officials report alarming malnutrition-related deaths, with at least 147 fatalities this month, many of them children.
Aid delivery remains critically insufficient. The UN estimates Gaza requires over 62,000 tonnes of monthly supplies, but only a small fraction arrives. Aid convoys face theft and looting, and UN leaders stress the urgent need for a ceasefire to allow safe, unimpeded humanitarian access.
Politically, the crisis has fueled a growing international movement to recognize the Palestinian state and distance from any actions perceived as supporting what even within Israel have been called crimes against humanity and genocidal actions. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel takes substantive steps – including agreeing to a ceasefire and allowing humanitarian aid.
This follows France’s recent recognition and increasing global pressure on Israel regarding the conflict. The UK’s move signals wider diplomatic shifts, as many nations reconsider their stance in light of the humanitarian emergency and political impasse.
Israeli officials reject accusations of starvation policies and condemn recognition efforts as rewarding terrorism. The US and many European countries continue to link Palestinian state recognition to negotiated peace efforts.
The deepening famine crisis, combined with mounting international political shifts, highlights urgent global calls for humanitarian relief and renewed efforts toward a sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
8.8 Magnitude Earthquake Off Russia Triggers Tsunami Warnings Across Pacific
A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday morning local time, generating tsunami warnings across the Pacific Rim. The quake, one of the strongest ever recorded, hit at a shallow depth of 19.3 km (12 miles) near a sparsely populated region but prompted evacuation orders for more than two million people in Russia, Japan and parts of the US west coast.
The earthquake’s epicenter lies about 119 km east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. Videos from the Russian town of Severo-Kurilsk show waves around 4 meters (13 feet) high flooding the port and sweeping away vessels, while power outages occurred on Sakhalin Island. In Japan, 1.9 million residents were urged to move to higher ground as initial tsunami waves measuring around 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) reached coastal areas, with forecasts warning waves could rise to nearly 3 meters (9.8 feet).
Tsunami alerts extended beyond Asia to the US west coast, Hawaii and as far as Peru and Mexico. Hawaii’s initial warning of potential 10-foot waves was downgraded to an advisory, meaning minor flooding and strong currents may occur but a major tsunami is unlikely. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center noted waves typically travel at speeds comparable to jet planes, so tsunami impacts reached US coastal areas several hours after the quake.
While the event ranks as the sixth most powerful earthquake historically—on par with major quakes in Chile and Ecuador – it is smaller than the 9.2 – 9.3 magnitude 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake that caused devastating tsunamis. The relatively low population density near Kamchatka has limited human impact so far.
Scientists emphasize that tsunami effects will vary locally depending on coastline shape and the direction of energy released from the quake. Authorities and researchers continue to monitor wave activity closely as they run models to predict further impacts. This event highlights the importance of rapid response systems and international cooperation to mitigate risks from natural disasters affecting multiple countries.
Unprecedented Heat Fuels Devastating Wildfires in Southern Europe and the Balkans
In July 2025, severe wildfires raged across multiple countries in the Mediterranean, fueled by extreme heat, drought and strong winds. Firefighters struggled to contain blazes in Turkey, Greece, Albania, Cyprus and neighboring regions, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on this vulnerable area.
Turkey faced widespread fires in three provinces, including Karabuk near the Black Sea, where smoke from a six-day blaze forced evacuations of villages and damaged large forest areas. Turkey has seen dozens of wildfires recently, with a notable fatal incident last week that killed ten firefighters in Eskisehir. More than 3,600 people were evacuated in southern provinces like Mersin and Antalya.
Greece experienced at least 44 wildfires within 24 hours, including persistent blazes on the island of Kythera and near Athens, where firefighters quickly contained a fire close to a university campus. Several villages were evacuated over the weekend, with five people injured.
In Albania, over 900 firefighters and military personnel worked to stop a wildfire from reaching the tourist city of Saranda and nearby Ionian coast resorts. Authorities arrested 13 people suspected of arson. Bulgaria also deployed firefighting planes to combat a large fire near the Bulgarian-Turkish border.
Cyprus faced its largest wildfires in more than 50 years, scorching approximately 120 square kilometers – over 1% of the island’s land. The fires caused the evacuation of 14 villages, destroyed at least 20 homes and resulted in two confirmed deaths found in a burned vehicle. Ten people were injured, with two in serious condition. Firefighters battled the flames with support from 18 aircraft and international aid, including firefighting aircraft from Spain, Jordan, the UK and Israel.
The Cypriot government attributed the fires to “unprecedented conditions” of heat, drought and wind, while investigations into possible arson were ongoing. The widespread wildfires reflect rising temperatures and more extreme weather events in the Mediterranean, underscoring urgent challenges for fire prevention and emergency response in the region.
Plus, all the stories that are catching our attention wherever we live in the world. Feel free to join us and add your voice to the conversation.
