While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, July 30, 2025
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took the decision after recalling his cabinet during the summer holidays to discuss a new proposed peace plan.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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UK plans to recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel meets conditions, Starmer says
Britain will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the “appalling situation” in Gaza and meets other conditions, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his cabinet on July 29 according to a government statement.
“He said that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (United Nations General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a Two State Solution,” the statement said.
“He reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas and that our demands on Hamas remain, that they must release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, accept that they will play no role in the government of Gaza, and disarm.”
Displaced Cambodians return home after Thailand truce
PHOTO: AFP
As Cambodia and Thailand’s ceasefire held on July 29, Lat Laem hared back home – one of the first evacuees to return to the frontier since deadly cross-border clashes sent more than 300,000 people fleeing.
The territorial conflict, which ignited into open combat on July 24, stems from an obscure cartographical dispute dating back decades, and the truce was sealed after interventions from world leaders including US President Donald Trump.
Back in his Cambodian village of Kouk Khpos – about 10 kilometres from the Thai border – 30-year-old farmer Lat Laem is grateful for his homecoming, and more quotidian concerns.
Trump says Russia faces tariffs in 10 days if no progress on ending Ukraine war
PHOTO: REUTERS
US President Donald Trump said on July 29 that the United States would start imposing tariffs and other measures on Russia “10 days from today” if Moscow showed no progress toward ending its more than three-year-long war in Ukraine.
Trump first announced on July 28 that he was shortening the initial 50-day deadline he set a month ago for action from Moscow, and mentioned a new deadline of 10 to 12 days. On July 29, he told reporters he had not heard a response from Russia.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said he was not worried about the potential impact of Russian sanctions on the oil market or prices, vowing to boost domestic oil production to offset any impact.
First direct flight from Pyongyang lands in Moscow
PHOTO: EPA
A passenger plane from Pyongyang landed at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on July 29, the first direct flight from the North Korean capital to Moscow in decades as the two countries deepened ties.
The Boeing 777 aircraft, operated by Russia’s Nordwind Airlines, had already flown from Moscow to Pyongyang on July 27.
It landed back in the Russian capital at 0750 GMT on July 29, completing its first round trip on the route, according to the website of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport.
Chelsea’s Portugal forward Joao Felix joins Al-Nassr
PHOTO: REUTERS
Portugal forward Joao Felix has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr from Club World Cup winners Chelsea on a two-year contract, the two teams said on July 29.
“Let’s win together ... Joao Felix is a Nasraoui,” Al-Nassr wrote on X, along with a short video of the striker. “I’m here to have fun and win together,” the 25-year-old said.
Neither club disclosed any financial details of the deal, but Sky Sports said the transfer could cost up to 43.7 million pounds (S$75.08 million), consisting of an initial 26.2 million fee plus 17.5 million in potential add-ons.
