Latest news with #BM-21Grad
Express Tribune
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Guns fall silent on Thai-Cambodia border
A Cambodian military personnel gestures from a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, around 40 km (24 miles) from the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery on Friday as their worst fighting in more than a decade stretched for a second day, in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia, July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Soveit Yarn A ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia held on Tuesday and military commanders from both sides met to discuss measures to maintain the truce, as some residents along the disputed frontier trickled back home after five days of intense fighting. Thai and Cambodian leaders met in Malaysia on Monday and agreed to a ceasefire to halt their deadliest conflict in more than a decade, which has killed at least 43 people, many of them civilians, and displaced over 300,000 in both countries. Border areas remained calm, Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters in Bangkok, although he accused Cambodian troops of violating the ceasefire early on Tuesday. Cambodia denied this, insisting its troops had strictly abided by the ceasefire since midnight, according to a statement by Defence Minister Tea Seiha. Despite the initial jitters, military commanders from both sides held talks and agreed to maintain the ceasefire, stop any troop movement, and facilitate the return of the wounded and dead, Thai army spokesman Major-General Winthai Suvaree said. Each side will establish a coordinating team of four to resolve any problems, Winthai told reporters. Cambodia's influential former premier Hun Sen, in a Facebook post, thanked "the armies of both Cambodia and Thailand for respecting and implementing this agreement". Further negotiations will continue at a meeting of the General Border Committee, which coordinates on border security, ceasefires, and troop deployments, scheduled for August 4 in Cambodia, the Thai army said. The committee includes the defence ministers and senior military commanders from both countries. In a statement, the Thai army said it had detained 18 Cambodian soldiers who surrendered. A Cambodian defence ministry spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions on the detentions. Both militaries have agreed not to deploy more troops along their disputed border, said Lim Menghour, Director-General of the Commission on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the National Assembly of Cambodia, who also underlined the need for international observers to monitor the ceasefire. Malaysia's Defence Chief General Mohd Nizam Jaffar led a delegation to Thailand and Cambodia on Tuesday, the Malaysian army said in a statement. Reuters
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First Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
This Week in Explainers: Are Thailand and Cambodia headed towards a war?
Thailand and Cambodia are witnessing their bloodiest military clashes in more than a decade. The fighting over their disputed border has raised fears of an all-out war. All this and more in our weekly roundup from around the globe read more A Cambodian military personnel stands on a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, around 40 km from the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery on Friday as their worst fighting in more than a decade stretched for a second day, in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia, July 25, 2025. Reuters 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. 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. 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. Firefighters and army members work next to the wreckage of an air force training aircraft after it crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 21, 2025. File Image/Reuters 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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.
Barnama
3 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Border Crisis: Experts Call For More Effective Information Management To Combat Fake News
A Cambodian military personnel stands on a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, around 40 km (24 miles) from the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery on Friday as their worst fighting in more than a decade stretched for a second day, in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia, July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Soveit Yarn By Tuwaedaniya Meringing and Kenny Teng BANGKOK, July 27 (Bernama) -- Accurate information management during the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute crisis is crucial to prevent the spread of fake news and speculation that could worsen the current situation. Associate Professor Dr. Chaiwat Meesanthan, Director of the Institute of East Asian Studies at Thammasat University, said that false information, especially when spread via social media during a crisis, often sparks tension between the peoples of both countries, further aggravating the situation. bootstrap slideshow He believes that although access to information on social media should not be restricted, it must be managed carefully. 'Both governments need to provide proactive public information materials to counter false narratives, enhance media literacy among the public, and work with social media platforms to swiftly remove harmful content,' he told Bernama in a recent exclusive interview. Chaiwat also suggested establishing a fact-checking network through collaboration between the media, non-governmental organisations, and government agencies as the best approach to combat misinformation. He further emphasised the role of local and international media in delivering information that is neutral, accurate, and timely. On Friday, Thailand and Cambodia denied reports claiming that Thai military forces had taken control of the Preah Vihear Temple, one of the hotspots in the ongoing border dispute. The statement followed viral social media reports quoting Thai military sources alleging that Thai troops had successfully seized Preah Vihear Temple as well as Wat Kaeo Sikha Khiri Svara.
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First Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Cambodia, Thailand agree to ceasefire talks following Trump's warning
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Cambodian and Thai leaders have agreed to meet immediately to negotiate a ceasefire, following three days of intense border fighting. read more A Cambodian military personnel stands on a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, around 40 km (24 miles) from the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery on Friday. Reuters US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Cambodian and Thai leaders had agreed to meet immediately to work out a cease-fire, as he sought to broker peace after three days of fighting along their border. During a visit to Scotland, Trump stated on social media that he had spoken with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, and warned them that if the border conflict continued, he would not make trade deals with either of the Southeast Asian governments. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace,' Trump wrote as he gave a blow-by-blow account of his diplomatic efforts. Before Trump spoke to the two leaders, clashes on the Thai-Cambodian border persisted into a third day and new flashpoints emerged on Saturday as both sides said they had acted in self-defense in the border dispute and called on the other to cease fighting and start negotiations. More than 30 people have been killed and more than 130,000 people displaced in the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in 13 years. There were clashes early on Saturday, both sides said, in the neighbouring Thai coastal province of Trat and Cambodia's Pursat Province, a new front more than 100 km (60 miles) from other conflict points along the long-contested border. The two countries have faced off since the killing of a Cambodian soldier late in May during a brief skirmish. Troops on both sides of the border were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. As of Saturday, Thailand said seven soldiers and 13 civilians had been killed in the clashes, while in Cambodia five soldiers and eight civilians had been killed, said Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata. Following calls for restraint on both sides from Trump's senior aides, he became directly involved on Saturday, speaking to each leader and saying he relayed messages back and forth. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE!,' Trump wrote, saying both countries wanted to get back to the 'Trading Table.' He has sought to reach separate deals with dozens of countries in response to his announcement of wide-ranging tariffs on imports to the U.S. 'When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!' Trump said. He offered no details on the ceasefire negotiations he said Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to hold. The Thai and Cambodian embassies in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In the Thai border province of Sisaket, a university compound has been converted into temporary accommodation, where a volunteer said more than 5,000 people were staying. Samrong Khamduang said she left her farm, about 10 km from the border, when fighting broke out on Thursday. The 51-year-old's husband stayed behind to look after livestock. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We got so scared with the sound of artillery,' she said. 'But my husband stayed back and now we lost the connection. I couldn't call him. I don't know what is happening back there.' In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, said he would continue to push a ceasefire proposal. Cambodia has backed Anwar's plan, while Thailand has said it agreed with it in principle. 'There is still some exchange of fire,' Anwar said, according to state news agency Bernama. He said he had asked his foreign minister 'to liaise with the respective foreign ministries and, if possible, I will continue engaging with them myself – at least to halt the fighting'. Security council meeting Thailand's ambassador to the United Nations told a Security Council meeting on Friday that soldiers had been injured by newly planted land mines in Thai territory on two occasions since mid-July - claims Cambodia has strongly denied - and said Cambodia had then launched attacks on Thursday morning. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Thailand urges Cambodia to immediately cease all hostilities and acts of aggression, and resume dialogue in good faith,' Cherdchai Chaivaivid told the council in remarks released to media. Cambodia's defense ministry said Thailand had launched 'a deliberate, unprovoked, and unlawful military attack' and was mobilizing troops and military equipment on the border. 'These deliberate military preparations reveal Thailand's intent to expand its aggression and further violate Cambodia's sovereignty,' the ministry said in a statement on Saturday. Cambodia called for the international community to 'condemn Thailand's aggression in the strongest terms' and to prevent an expansion of its military activities, while Bangkok reiterated it wanted to resolve the dispute bilaterally. Thailand and Cambodia have bickered for decades over jurisdiction of various undemarcated points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th century Preah Vihear central to the disputes. Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, but tension escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage site. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths. Cambodia in June said it had asked the court to resolve its disputes with Thailand, which says it has never recognized the court's jurisdiction and prefers a bilateral approach.
Barnama
4 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Thailand, Cambodia Seek UN Support Amid Escalating Border Conflict
A Cambodian military personnel stands on a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, around 40 km (24 miles) from the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery on Friday as their worst fighting in more than a decade stretched for a second day, in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia, July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Soveit Yarn By Kenny Teng & Vijian Paramasivam BANGKOK, July 26 (Bernama) -- As the border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia enter their third day, both countries addressed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday, with Thailand calling for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to dialogue. Cambodia, meanwhile, urged international intervention, warning that continued fighting could destabilise the region. bootstrap slideshow Speaking during the closed-door UNSC meeting in New York, Thailand's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Cherdchai Chaivaivid, reaffirmed Thailand's rejection of force as a means of resolving international disputes. He reaffirmed the kingdom's firm commitment to peaceful settlement in accordance with the UN Charter. 'Thailand urges Cambodia to immediately cease all hostilities and acts of aggression, and resume dialogue in good faith,' he told the council. His remarks were released to media. The UNSC held an emergency session on Friday under the agenda item "Threats to International Peace and Security," focusing on the Thai-Cambodian conflict that erupted following a deadly border clash. Cherdchai said Thailand has actively engaged Cambodia over the past two months through multiple bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), to resolve differences and prevent further escalation. Meanwhile, Cambodia's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Chhea Keo, urged the UN and ASEAN to intervene and help resolve the border dispute with Thailand, warning that failure to act could destabilise regional security.
