While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, July 24, 2025
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The UN's highest court has said countries must address the “urgent and existential threat” of climate change.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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Court says nations must address climate change
The United Nations’ highest court on July 23 said countries must address the “urgent and existential threat” of climate change by cooperating to curb emissions, as it delivered an opinion set to determine future environmental litigation.
The opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, was immediately welcomed by environmental groups. Legal experts said it was a victory for small island and low-lying states that had asked the court to clarify states’ responsibilities.
“Climate change treaties establish stringent obligations on states,” Judge Yuji Iwasawa said, adding that failing to comply with them was a breach of international law.
“States must cooperate to achieve concrete emission reduction targets,” he said, reading out the court’s advisory opinion.
Russia, Ukraine still far apart at Istanbul talks
PHOTO: AFP
Russia and Ukraine discussed further prisoner swops on July 23 at a brief session of peace talks in Istanbul, but the sides remained far apart on ceasefire terms and a possible meeting of their leaders.
“We have progress on the humanitarian track, with no progress on a cessation of hostilities,” Ukraine’s chief delegate, Mr Rustem Umerov, said after talks that lasted just 40 minutes.
The talks took place just over a week after US President Donald Trump threatened heavy new sanctions on Russia and countries that buy its exports unless a peace deal was reached within 50 days.
Illicit Chinese engines powering Russian drones
PHOTO: EPA
Chinese-made engines are being covertly shipped via front companies to a state-owned drone manufacturer in Russia, labelled as “industrial refrigeration units” to avoid detection in the wake of Western sanctions, according to three European security officials and documents reviewed by Reuters.
The shipments have allowed Russian weapons-maker IEMZ Kupol to increase its production of the Garpiya-A1 attack drone, despite the US and EU sanctions imposed in October designed to disrupt its supply chain, according to the sources and documents, which included contracts, invoices and customs paperwork.
An internal Kupol document, reviewed by Reuters, showed it signed a contract with the Russian defence ministry to produce more than 6,000 Garpiya this year, up from 2,000 in 2024. The document stated that more than 1,500 drones had already been delivered by April.
Idaho students’ killer gets life without parole
PHOTO: REUTERS
The former criminal-justice doctoral student convicted in the 2022 stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students was sentenced to life in prison on July 23, but his motives for the killings remained a mystery.
Bryan Kohberger, 30, received four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole or appeal under a deal with prosecutors sparing him the death penalty in return for pleading guilty earlier this month to four counts of first-degree murder.
Judge Steven Hippler gave Kohberger, dressed in orange jail garb and seated beside his lawyers, an opportunity to make a statement before sentence was pronounced.
Bonmati fires Spain into Women’s Euro final
PHOTO: REUTERS
Spain’s Aitana Bonmati struck a superb extra-time winner to fire her side to a 1-0 victory over Germany on July 23 and send them through to the Women’s European Championship final for the first time, where they will face reigning champions England.
Spain captain Irene Paredes struck the foot of a post with a first-half header as her side dominated possession, with the Germans building a solid block and inviting the Spaniards to attack while they attempted to strike on the counter.
Klara Buehl had a number of decent chances in the second half, including a deflected stoppage-time effort that Spain keeper Cata Coll had to claw away, but the game ended scoreless, forcing extra time.
