Cambodian migrant workers face an uncertain future as Thai border conflict drives them home
Tensions between the countries have escalated due to disputes over pockets of land along their 800 kilometer (500 mile) border. A five-day clash in July left at least 43 people dead and displaced more than 260,000 in both Southeast Asian nations.
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New York Times
6 minutes ago
- New York Times
Top Iranian Official Visits Lebanon as Hezbollah Bucks Calls to Disarm
A top Iranian security official met with Lebanese leaders on Wednesday as pressure mounted for its most powerful regional ally, Hezbollah, to disarm. Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's top security body, was the most senior Iranian official to visit Beirut since the Lebanese government last week endorsed a U.S.-backed road map to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. Hezbollah has rejected the plan, which followed weeks of shuttle diplomacy by Washington aimed at implementing a cease-fire deal signed last year with Israel that ended Lebanon's deadliest conflict in decades. Hezbollah's arsenal has long underpinned both its self-declared role as Lebanon's defender against Israel and its political prowess at home. But after emerging from the war severely weakened, the group's future is now in question. In recent months, Lebanon's new government has faced mounting pressure from the United States and Gulf states to complete the group's disarmament, a key step mandated by the cease-fire agreement reached in November. Neutralizing Hezbollah as a fighting force is seen as essential to unlocking billions in foreign aid needed to rebuild a country ravaged by war and economic crisis. For Lebanon, it is delicate balancing act with the highest of stakes. After months of trading cross-border fire with Hezbollah, Israel invaded last October and its forces still hold a handful of positions in Lebanon and carry out near daily strikes there. Lebanese officials and Western diplomats say that if the government delays in disarming Hezbollah, Israel could escalate its military campaign. Yet any move by Lebanon to dismantle the group's arsenal without parallel concessions from Israel risks inflaming sectarian tensions and triggering civil unrest. During the visit by Mr. Larijani on Wednesday, President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon said that no group in Lebanon was permitted to bear arms or depend on foreign backing — a thinly veiled reference to Iran's longstanding support for Hezbollah. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Ukraine and European leaders urge Trump not to strike peace deal in Alaska without them
European leaders urged US President Donald Trump on Wednesday not to strike a unilateral Ukraine peace deal with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during their one-on-one meeting later this week in Alaska. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had convened a virtual summit with Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders as fears mounted that Putin, a former KGB spy, would seek to bring the US president back round to seeing the war on his terms. In a joint statement, Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the participants had reiterated to Trump four key points. First, that meaningful peace talks can only take place after a ceasefire or a 'lasting and significant cessation of hostilities.' Second, that Russia must face fresh sanctions if it does not agree to a ceasefire in Alaska. Third, that international borders must not be changed by force. And, fourth, that Ukraine must have 'robust and credible' security guarantees. 'No limitations should be placed on Ukraine's armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries. Russia could not have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to EU and NATO,' the statement said. Trump, who described the call as 'very good,' told reporters that if his summit with Putin goes well, a follow-up meeting between the Russian president and Zelensky could happen 'almost immediately' afterward. 'There's a very good chance that we're going to have a second meeting which will be more productive than the first. Because the first is: I'm going to find out where we are, what we're doing,' Trump said during an appearance at the Kennedy Center. Standing alongside Zelensky, Merz told a press conference following the virtual meeting that 'we made it clear that Ukraine must be at the table at the next meeting.' He added: 'We want things to go in the right sequence: We want a ceasefire at the very beginning, and then a framework agreement must be drawn up.' Zelensky said Trump had voiced his support for Europe's demand for an initial ceasefire before talks to reach a full settlement, and said that fresh sanctions should be slapped on Russia if Putin leaves Alaska without agreeing to a ceasefire. Although Trump said bluntly on Monday that 'there'll be some land swapping going on,' Merz stressed that legal recognition of Ukrainian territory is 'not up for discussion.' 'The principle that borders may not be changed by force must continue,' Merz said. During a meeting in Moscow last week with Witkoff, Putin proposed a plan that would require Ukraine to cede the eastern Donbas region, most of which is occupied, in exchange for a ceasefire, according to US officials. The exact details of the plan have been shrouded in confusion since reports of it first emerged. Last week, Trump had given Putin the deadline of August 8 to agree to a ceasefire or face punishing new sanctions on its 'shadow fleet,' which has enabled Moscow to circumvent sanctions on its oil exports and finance its war. After the deadline ended without consequence, Trump announced the summit with Putin this Friday. Putin has long tried to shrug off the effect of sanctions. But Zelensky said Wednesday that the Russian leader was bluffing. 'Sanctions are hitting Russia's war economy hard,' he said after the call with Trump. 'Putin can't fool anyone.' A European official familiar with the call said that they got the impression the 'threat is on' of secondary sanctions against Russia if the upcoming Alaska talks prove fruitless. It is 'obvious that the India sanctions had an effect,' the official said, referring to Trump's pledge of issuing a 25% additional tariff on India for buying Russian oil. That tariff is expected to go into effect in the weeks ahead. Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told CNN that Zelensky is urging Trump to use the 'stick' he wields over Russia. 'The key issue is the stick that President Trump allegedly has. This could be either more economic sanctions (on Russia), or more military support to Ukraine,' Gabuev said. 'That's where President Zelensky wants to be optimistic that the Russian economy is crumbling.' But Ukraine is facing its own pressures, he said. This week, small groups of Russian troops pierced parts of Ukraine's increasingly porous front lines in the eastern Donetsk region, to the alarm of Ukrainian officials and military bloggers. If Russia's economy is creaking, so is Ukraine's front line, Gabuev said. 'The timeline here is really crucial,' he added. 'Putin is confident that he has another 12 to 18 months, and that Ukraine doesn't have that.' CNN's Seb Shukla, Catherine Nicholls, Saskya Vandoorne, Nick Paton Walsh and Bianna Golodryga contributed reporting.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump Issues Stark Warning to Russia Ahead of Putin Summit
U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018. Credit - Brendan Smialowski—Getty Images President Donald Trump warned that "severe consequences" lie ahead for Russia if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't agree to stop the Ukraine war after they meet for a high-stakes summit in Alaska on Friday. Responding to a question from a reporter after announcing this year's recipients for the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., Trump said "there will be very severe consequences" and that "he doesn't have to" specify what, should Russia not move toward a cease-fire. Trump was then asked if he believes he can "convince" Putin to "stop targeting civilians in Ukraine," to which he replied: "I've had a lot of good conversations with him [Putin], but then I go home and see that a rocket hit a nursing home [or an apartment building] and people are laying dead in the street, so I guess the answer to that is 'no.'" The U.S. President went on to add that he wants to "end the war" and will be "very proud" to end it. Trump's remarks came shortly after he shared an 'exceptionally constructive and good conversation' with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European leaders on Wednesday, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Debriefing the press after the call, for which Trump dialled in virtually and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance was also on the line, Merz suggested 'there is hope that something is moving,' ahead of the Putin summit. Read More: Zelensky on Trump, Putin, and the Endgame in Ukraine Zelensky, meanwhile, warned Trump that Putin is 'bluffing' about being open to a cease-fire and lasting peace. French President Emmanuel Macron divulged that while the group discussed a potential exchange of land, 'as of today, there are no serious territorial exchange plans on the table.' Zelensky and Merz both reiterated the need for a cease-fire and strong Ukrainian security guarantees before any negotiations take place. Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO, shared a positive outlook following the conversation. 'Great call with [Trump], Zelensky, and European leaders ahead of President Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska. We are united in pushing to end this terrible war… and achieve just and lasting peace,' Rutte said via social media. 'Appreciate Trump's leadership and close coordination with allies. The ball is now in Putin's court.' Shortly after the call, Vance spoke to U.S. soldiers at a military base in England, where he is currently on a trip with his family. 'We are going to make it our mission as an Administration to bring peace to Europe once again,' Vance said. Zelensky touched down in Berlin early Wednesday to meet with Merz and others ahead of the all-important conversation with Trump. The opportunity served as Zelensky's chance to make a final case to the U.S. President before he meets with Putin. Trump referred to the European leaders as 'great people who want to see a deal done,' in a Truth Social post early Wednesday. After the conversation, Zelensky said that Trump struck down the idea that Russia could veto Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations and reiterated calls for possible economic penalties on Russia—which the U.S. President has repeatedly promised to enact—should a cease-fire deal not be reached. Trump has also agreed to first inform Zelensky, then the key European leaders, of any updates following his conversation with Putin, according to Merz. Meanwhile, Trump previously stated that a lasting cease-fire in the Russia-Ukraine war, which was triggered when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, could only come through the exchange of territories 'for the betterment of both.' Zelensky, backed by his European allies, staunchly denounced that idea, stating that Ukraine will not 'gift their land to the occupier.' The Ukrainian leader doubled down on his position on Wednesday, saying: 'I stress that any questions concerning our country's territorial integrity cannot be discussed without regard for our people, for the will of our people and the Ukrainian constitution.' World leaders, such as France's Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, had previously urged Trump to consider inviting Ukraine to the Putin summit while reiterating their support for the eastern European nation. 'The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,' the leaders of France, Italy, the U.K., Germany, Poland, and Finland said in a statement on Saturday. 'We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.' Russian troops advanced deeper into Ukraine on Tuesday, in what some have viewed as a bid to pressure Kyiv into considering Putin's demands for more territory. 'We see that the Russian army is not preparing to end the war. On the contrary, they are making movements that indicate preparations for new offensive operations,' Zelensky said. Furthermore, ahead of his call with Zelensky and others on Wednesday, Trump strongly criticized what he claimed has been 'very unfair' media coverage of his upcoming talk with Putin. 'Very unfair media is at work on my meeting with Putin. Constantly quoting fired losers and really dumb people,' Trump said via Truth Social, before referencing recent comments made by his former national security adviser John Bolton, who asserted that 'Putin has already won,' in an interview with The Atlantic. 'What's that all about? We are winning on EVERYTHING. The fake news is working overtime. (No tax on overtime),' Trump maintained. Read More: World Leaders React to Zelensky and Trump's Oval Office Showdown Amid much discussion over the Trump-Putin summit and what, if any, progress can be made, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has seemingly downplayed expectations. Addressing reporters on Tuesday, she said the meeting will serve as a 'listening exercise' for Trump, in order for him to get a 'better understanding' of how to end the war in Ukraine. Contact us at letters@
