Archive August 1, 2025

Members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) have been accused of undermining efforts to bring about peace.

More Western governments are publicly criticizing Israel, urging the nation to end its occupation of Gaza and move toward a two-state solution.

More nations have made it clear that they will support the recognition of Palestinian statehood under certain conditions, including Hamas’ disarmament and PA reform.

What’s the purpose of the US sanctions, then?

Are they a bargaining chip for more peace negotiations, or do they indicate there will be more difficulties?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests:

Former Palestine Liberation Organization adviser Xavier Abu Eid

Eli Clifton, Senior Advisor at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

The Cambodian Defense Ministry reported that Oddar Meanchey and Surin province in Thailand were connected via a checkpoint on Friday.

Their return to their home country comes as both governments continue to accuse them of violating international law and alleged civilian targeting during a five-day conflict that broke out last week.

Eighteen additional Cambodian troops were detained on Tuesday during a ceasefire negotiation, and they are still in Thai custody.

According to Maly Socheata, a spokesperson for Cambodia’s Defense Ministry, “the wounded soldiers were returned through a designated border point,” calling on Bangkok to repatriate the remaining captured soldiers “in accordance with international humanitarian law.”

The two governments’ accounts of the soldiers’ capture are starkly different.

Phnom Penh claims its troops greeted Thai troops with consolation and post-conflict greetings as they approached them with peaceful intentions. Bangkok disputes that claim, alleging that the soldiers’ apparent hostility led to their arrest when they allegedly entered Thai territory while being held hostage.

Officials in Thailand claim that while reviewing the soldiers’ actions, they are following legal guidelines. No release date has been specified.

Nationalist rage is raging online, with social media platforms in both nations flooded with patriotic fervour and reciprocal reproaches as a result of the ceasefire.

In the meantime, both countries have taken foreign diplomats and observers on guided tours of former combat zones. Using the visits to support their narratives, each side has accused the other of inflicting harm.

Infantry clashes, Cambodian rocket fire, Thai air strikes, artillery exchanges, and recent violence. More than 260, 000 people were forced to leave their homes as a result of the fighting, which included more than 30 civilians.

Military representatives from both nations are scheduled to meet in Malaysia the following week to discuss de-escalation measures in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.

The underlying territorial dispute, which has raged for decades, will not be a focus of these discussions, though.

Between August 4 and August 4, Thailand’s acting defense minister Nattaphon Narkphanit announced that the General Border Committee, which coordinates border security, ceasefires, and troop deployments, will meet.

A Malaysian government spokesperson stated to reporters that “defensive attaches from other ASEAN nations will be invited as well as the defense attaches from the US and China.” The country is currently a member of the Southeast Asian regional bloc.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol also stated on Friday that Phnom Penh plans to nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his contribution to brokering the ceasefire.

He thanked Trump earlier in the capital for “bringing peace” and argued that the award was deserved for the US leader.

Megan Romano, the first female and first US athlete to compete in the Olympic-style sport venture that will host an event next year without conducting any drug testing, has been chosen as its first female and first US athlete.

In an event that will allow athletes to use performance enhancers, the Enhanced Games will debut in Las Vegas in May with swimming, track, and weightlifting competitions.

Romano describes the event as “an opportunity to push the boundaries of human performance in a transparent and scientifically supported environment, and to compete on a stage where female athletes are valued and compensated fairly.” equally . This is the future of sport, in my opinion.

Anyone who breaks the 100-meter sprint (track) and 50-meter freestyle (swimming) world records will receive $500, 000 in prize money for each event at The Enhanced Games.

Because international federations must ratify records, which require record-breakers to pass doping tests, those marks wouldn’t count as “official.”

The Enhanced Games would be a good way to end any notion of fair play and fair competition in sport, according to the International Olympic Committee.

However, founder Aron D’Souza claims that the games have gained some traction and raised money in the “double-digit millions” (double-digit millions) since then.

Four male swimmers have signed up for the competition, including Australian Olympic medalist James Magnussen.