
UN urges Cambodia and Thailand to show restraint amid border clash
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both countries to resolve their differences peacefully. 'Exercise maximum restraint and address any issues through dialogue and in a spirit of good neighbourliness, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the dispute,' Guterres said in a statement.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet sought UN intervention after clashes broke out between Cambodian and Thai troops in the Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear regions. The conflict stems from a decades-old dispute over sovereignty along their 817-km undemarcated border, home to several ancient temples.
The Security Council met under the agenda 'Threats to international peace and security' to discuss the crisis. ASEAN chair and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim proposed a ceasefire to de-escalate tensions. Several council members supported ASEAN's mediation efforts.
No official statement has been released following the Security Council meeting. - Bernama

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Star
10 minutes ago
- The Star
97% of teacher placements done, aligning with needs
A TOTAL of 97% of newly trained teachers have been successfully placed with the cooperation of the Education Services Commission (SPP), says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (pic). 'Our priority is always the pupils. Every child deserves access to quality education,' she said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, adding that the ministry remains committed to ensuring adequate teacher distribution nationwide. 'Achieving a 97% placement rate is a reflection of our strong collaboration with SPP and we will continue to ensure sufficient teacher distribution nationwide.' She added that placements are made based on actual school needs and subject demand, in line with national education priorities. Fadhlina reiterated that priority is given to candidates from Sabah, Sarawak and Orang Asli communities, especially for placements near their hometowns. 'To support rural education development, the ministry created special pathways for Sabah, Sarawak and Penan candidates starting at the Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia (IPGM) level, enabling them to return and serve their communities.' For the current year, Fadhlina said placements for IPGM graduates are scheduled for September, subject to the outcome of interviews conducted by SPP. 'In 2024, all 5,256 IPGM graduates from the Bachelor of Education programme received placements across the country. 'For 2025, the process will begin this September following the conclusion of interviews.' Fadhlina also said the ministry is addressing the imbalance in subject specialisation, which has led to an oversupply in certain areas and shortages in others. 'We are expanding subject clusters and refining our matching process to ensure graduates are placed according to their academic and pedagogical training,' she said. In line with these efforts, she said the ministry has introduced structured training for graduates without formal education degrees who are recruited under the Contract of Service (COS) scheme. 'These COS teachers will undergo a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (DPG) at IPGM before being placed in schools.' Fadhlina added that teacher recruitment is no longer limited to IPGM or public universities. 'We are now opening opportunities to high-potential graduates from private Malaysian institutions and even foreign universities,' she said, adding that these candidates must still meet the ministry's qualification criteria. The ministry has also expanded pre-service teacher pathways to include those who completed Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and matriculation programmes, to allow them to enrol in education training schemes. 'This ensures a broader and more inclusive talent pool to meet future demands,' she said. Fadhlina stressed that while applicants may indicate location preferences, all final placements are ultimately determined by school-level vacancies and subject requirements. 'The core of our placement process is the national education agenda. 'It is not about convenience – it is about fulfilling our duty to ensure that every classroom has a qualified teacher.'

The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
New US tariff announcement expected today
PETALING JAYA: The new tariff rate imposed by the United States on Malaysian exports will be known today. US President Donald Trump, who had planned to announce the rate yesterday, will now do so today, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister had spoken on the phone with Trump at 6.50am yesterday, with the two leaders discussing various matters, including the tariffs and Asean. Anwar said they spoke frankly on the new tariff rates, in the spirit of free trade principles, as they had done after discussions led by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, the US Trade Representative, and the US Secretary of Commerce. 'After clarifications I provided, he decided to postpone the announcement until Friday. 'We pray the tariff rate will help and not burden our economy,' Anwar said when tabling the 13th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, however cautioned that Malaysians must remain vigilant as consumer prices could rise if the tariff measures fall short of expectations. 'Prices of goods and other costs may rise if tariffs do not turn out as expected. 'That's why it is important to build domestic resilience. It's a strength we must develop,' added Anwar. Malaysia is seeking lower tariffs while maintaining measures that the United States deems as barriers, such as halal certification, foreign equity ownership and government procurement policies. Anwar also confirmed that Trump will attend the 47th Asean Summit in October. 'I said okay, Mr President. I will announce this in Parliament,' added Anwar. He said Trump had extended his congratulations on Malaysia's mediation in the Thailand-Cambodia conflict. 'This was due to the Asean consensus and the positive attitude of both countries, as well as the cooperation shown by the United States and China, specifically Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping,' added Anwar. Cambodia and Thailand agreed to an unconditional ceasefire following peace talks in Malaysia to end the fighting in disputed zones along their 800km border. At least 38 people have been killed in five days of clashes, with nearly 300,000 more displaced. On July 29, a special meeting, brokered by Anwar in his capacity as the current Asean Chair, was held at the Seri Perdana Complex in Putrajaya. Also in attendance were US Ambassador to Malaysia, Edgard Kagan, and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Ouyang Yujing. The two South-East Asian neighbours have a long history of diplomatic rows over the 817km undemarcated stretch of shared border.


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Female workforce target must go beyond numbers
Fairer future: Groups laud the government's move for a 60% female workforce participation target under the 13MP but state that inclusion and accountability are crucial. PETALING JAYA: The government's 60% female workforce participation target under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) is a positive move, but it must be matched by deeper inclusion and accountability, says Yayasan Chow Kit co-founder Datuk Dr Hartini Zainudin. She stressed that participation alone is not enough if the structural inequalities facing marginalised groups remain unaddressed. 'It's not only about reaching 60%, it's also about who is part of that 60%, and under what conditions,' she said in an interview. Hartini welcomed efforts to expand childcare, upskill women and create supportive workplaces but warned that many are still left behind – including rural, Indigenous and stateless women, as well as those in the gig economy and informal sectors. She said that care work must also be recognised and supported through public investment, especially for women burdened with unpaid caregiving duties in underserved communities. Hartini, who is a child activist, urged the government to include women not just as beneficiaries but also as decision-makers. While the 56.5% participation rate in 2024 marks an improvement from 55.1% in 2020, Hartini questioned whether it is sufficient in a country where women make up nearly half the population. Engender Consultancy founder and principal consultant Omna-Sreeni Ong said the 60% female labour participation target under the 13MP required 'coherent, multipronged action' to speed up progress through an inter-agency action plan. Omna-Sreeni, who also co-chairs the Malaysian CSO-SDG Alliance, stressed that entrenched gender norms remain a key barrier. 'This won't materialise naturally. It needs strong political will to make it happen.' CnetG Asia managing partner Raj Kumar Paramanathan said female labour force participation must go beyond policy. 'Implementation must be consistent, measurable and incentivised, especially in rural areas.' He stressed that retaining women in the workforce requires public investment in childcare as infrastructure, not welfare. 'Childcare should be treated like education or transport – publicly funded, accessible and job-generating. 'This includes creating childcare centres near low-cost flats with trained staff, encouraging mothers to return to the job market, and creating jobs for unemployed graduates and locals.' Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the 13MP aims to raise female labour force participation to 60% by 2030, with measures such as expanded childcare, reskilling and gender-inclusive workplace initiatives. He said the five-year roadmap seeks to create a more inclusive workforce, especially for mothers and women returning to work.