This Week in Explainers: Are Thailand and Cambodia headed towards a war?

The world is staring at another conflict. Clashes have erupted between Thailand and Cambodia over their disputed border. As the fighting ensues, the possibility of a war looms large over Southeast Asia.

Gaza is witnessing a humanitarian crisis. Severe malnutrition and starvation are claiming several lives, especially of children, in the narrow strip as Israel’s war with Hamas continues.

After the Air India flight mishap, another plane crash has sent South Asia into mourning. A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) fighter jet crashed into a school building in Dhaka, killing more than 20 people, mostly schoolchildren, and wounding more than 100 others.

Here’s all this and more in our weekly wrap of stories around the world.

1. Thailand and Cambodia are witnessing their bloodiest military clashes in over a decade. The two sides exchanged fire on July 24 in an area near the disputed Ta Moan Thom Temple, located in a border area in northwestern Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province. In recent days, clashes have extended to other areas.

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Both countries have blamed each other for the latest flare-up. Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has warned that “if the situation escalates, it could develop into war.” Several nations, including India and the United States, have issued travel advisories for their nationals amid the ongoing conflict. We take a look at what is happening.

2. Footage of mothers holding their malnourished children, as well as adults queuing up to get food in Gaza, is haunting the world. Palestinians are facing unimaginable levels of hunger even as Israel relaxed an over two-month blockade on the narrow enclave in West Asia.

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However, Israeli forces have also killed hundreds of Palestinians trying to get to aid sites and convoys — a charge they deny. According to the UN World Food Program, Gaza’s hunger crisis has reached “new and astonishing levels of desperation.” About one-third of the population is said to be going days without eating. Then, why has a famine not been declared in Gaza? We explain in this story.

3. At least 27 people died and 100 others were injured after a Bangladesh Air Force fighter aircraft crashed into a school building in Dhaka. The aircraft involved in the crash was an F-7 BGI, a variant of the Chinese J-7 fighter series.

The mishap has brought attention to the safety record of China’s F-7 fighter jets. While many countries have started phasing out the jets, Bangladesh continues to operate a fleet of these aircraft. But how safe are the ageing F-7? Here’s our report.

4. United States President Donald Trump’s friendship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, has come to haunt him. Calls are growing in America, including from his Maga supporters, to release the Epstein Files.

Reports have recently emerged about Trump’s closeness with the disgraced financier. Epstein attended the US president’s 1993 wedding to Marla Maples. The revelation comes after claims that Trump sent a racy birthday letter to Epstein in 2003. Were the duo friends? Read our story to know more.

5. Coldplaygate has grabbed the world’s attention these past few days. Recently, a video of Astronomer’s then CEO Andy Byron hugging the now-former HR head of the firm, Kristin Cabot, at a Coldplay concert went viral.

Caught on “kisscam”, the duo – both married to other people – became fodder for gossip around the world. As the attention turned to the pair, it came to light that Kristin is married into the wealthy Cabot family, who are in the ‘Boston Brahmins’. But who are these ‘Boston Brahmins’? We explain here.

6. The ‘Gen Z stare’ has got millennials rattled. The phrase is being used for a blank, expressionless stare from Gen Z employees to their managers and employers. TikTok users are talking about this. To know more, read our story.

In personal life, Gen Z is facing a problem with sex, in what has been dubbed the “sex recession”. While they are interested in sex, they are hardly getting any. But why? We take a look here.

This is all we have for you this week. If you like our explainers, you can bookmark this page.

PS. Don’t know if your Labubu doll is fake? Here’s how to find out.