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Rubio says US officials are in Malaysia to help in Cambodia-Thailand talks
Rubio says US officials are in Malaysia to help in Cambodia-Thailand talks

Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Straits Times

Rubio says US officials are in Malaysia to help in Cambodia-Thailand talks

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a nuclear cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said State Department officials were in Malaysia to assist peace efforts as Cambodia and Thailand were scheduled to begin talks there on Monday in hopes for a ceasefire. President Donald Trump and Rubio were engaged with their counterparts for each country and were monitoring the situation very closely, Rubio said in a statement released by the State Department late on Sunday in the U.S. and early Monday in Asia. KEY QUOTES "We want this conflict to end as soon as possible," he said. "State Department officials are on the ground in Malaysia to assist these peace efforts." WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia were scheduled to attend mediation talks over their deadly border conflict in Malaysia on Monday, the Thai government said, as both sides accused each other of launching fresh artillery strikes across contested areas. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified since the late-May killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief border skirmish. Border troops on both sides were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. Hostilities resumed on Thursday and, within just four days, escalated into the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbors in more than a decade. CONTEXT The death toll has risen above 30, including 13 civilians in Thailand and eight in Cambodia, while authorities report that more than 200,000 people have been evacuated from border areas. Trump said on Sunday he believed both Thailand and Cambodia wanted to settle their differences after he told the leaders of both countries that he would not conclude trade deals with them unless they ended their fighting. REUTERS

University charts remarkable link to Donegal's All Ireland team
University charts remarkable link to Donegal's All Ireland team

Irish Independent

time5 days ago

  • Sport
  • Irish Independent

University charts remarkable link to Donegal's All Ireland team

No fewer than 19 players and 11 members of the management and support team involved in this weekend's All-Ireland final squad have a direct link to ATU. 'This is a truly extraordinary story of connection, support and long-standing partnership,' said Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU. 'A massive number of past and current ATU students will line out for Donegal this Sunday at the All-Ireland final.' ATU and Donegal GAA have worked in close partnership for many years, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that also extends to Sligo GAA. The collaboration focuses on athlete development, education, and welfare — and Sunday's sporting occasion is proof of its impact. 'The majority of the players and backroom team have come through our Letterkenny campus, and a number have strong links to our Sligo campus as well,' Dr Flynn added Among the many influential figures connected to ATU, few stand taller than Michael Murphy — the former All Star and iconic captain who famously led Donegal to their last All-Ireland title in 2012. Murphy retired from inter-county football in 2022, drawing a close to a glittering career that left an indelible mark on the game. However, in a dramatic return to the panel in November 2024, Murphy re-joined the Donegal setup, bringing with him invaluable leadership, experience. Now serving as Head of Sport at ATU Donegal, Murphy bridges the gap between education and sport in a unique way. His dual role reflects the university's ambition to provide a home for emerging athletes, combining academic achievement with elite sporting development. His return to the Donegal setup this season has been seen as a symbolic and strategic moment in Donegal's resurgence. Other standout names among the panel include Ryan McHugh, Jamie Brennan, Peadar Mogan, Caolan Ward, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, and Michael Langan — all of whom studied at ATU. Rising stars such as Luke McGlynn, Odhran Doherty, and Cian McMenamin are current students balancing lectures with championship pressure. In the backroom and coaching setup, ATU's influence is just as evident. Figures like Luke Barrett, Colm McFadden, Neil McGee, Tommy Devine, and Antoin McFadden — all of whom are past or present students or staff — are helping steer Donegal's preparation and performance from the sidelines. As Donegal eyes a third Sam Maguire, the county jersey will be worn with pride by a team deeply intertwined with ATU. ATU's sporting pride isn't just focused on football this weekend — there's also huge excitement building in Galway, where the senior camogie team are set to take on Tipperary in the All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final this Saturday, July 26th. Current ATU students Shannon Corcoran and Ava Lynskey, and former students Sarah Healy and Ann Marie Starr are representing the Tribeswomen this weekend. ATU is also represented on the coaching side, with Adrian Pilkington and Ewan Cunningham both serving as strength and conditioning coaches. Dr Flynn added, 'When you see the scale of this, it shows how our commitment to sport and education is helping shape elite performance and leadership in Gaelic games across the region. We wish the Donegal team the very best of luck this Sunday and also the Galway camogie team on Saturday.' FULL LIST OF PLAYERS: Donegal GAA Team - Past & Current ATU Donegal Students (15 in total) Michael Murphy – Head of Sport Oisin Caulfield – current student Luke McGlynn – current student Odhran Doherty – current student Cian McMenamin – current student Eoghan McGettigan – former student Charlie McGuinness – former student Conor O' Donnell – former student Michael Langan – former student Caolan Ward – former student Peadar Mogan – former student Jason McGee – former student Ciaran Thompson – former student Jack Gallagher – former student Keelan McGroddy – former student ATU Sligo (some overlap with the list above as some students below started in Sligo, and finished in Letterkenny) Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Michael Langan (above), Ciaran Thompson (above), Eoghan McHugh, Jamie Brennan, Management Team Neil McGee Support Team Members who studied (study) at ATU Donegal (11) Cormac McColgan – current student Conal McDermott – current student Tommy Devine – current staff Antoin McFadden – current staff Ruairi Crealey – current staff Luke Barrett – current GAA coach Colm McFadden – former student Neil McGee – former student Donall Barrett – former student Niall Diver – former student

Construction of second batch of LMS vessels on schedule, says Defence Minister
Construction of second batch of LMS vessels on schedule, says Defence Minister

The Star

time5 days ago

  • Business
  • The Star

Construction of second batch of LMS vessels on schedule, says Defence Minister

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled (centre) at the Istanbul Shipyard to survey the construction of the second batch of three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) by Turkish defence firm Savunma Teknolojileri Muhendislik (STM). - Photo: Bernama ISTANBUL: The construction of the second batch of three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) by Turkish defence firm Savunma Teknolojileri Muhendislik (STM) at the Istanbul Shipyard is proceeding according to schedule, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. The Defence Minister said the first LMS is expected to be launched next April, followed by the second in June 2026 and the third in August 2026. "The construction of the second batch of LMS marks the first procurement following the signing of the government-to-government (G2G) memorandum of understanding (MOU) for defence acquisitions during my official maiden visit to Turkiye in June last year. "The progress of this construction is definitely important because it serves as the benchmark for the new procurement approach by the government," he told reporters after surveying the ship construction at the Istanbul Shipyard here on Thursday (July 24). He was accompanied by Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) chief Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain and a delegation from the Defence Ministry. He said that after the vessels are launched into the water, they will enter a critical phase involving integrating various systems to be used on board, before Malaysia takes full delivery of the three ships by the end of 2027. He added that the procurement of the three LMS vessels will be followed by an Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP), which has the potential to significantly impact the local defence industry, including through technology transfer that will be finalised by the end of this year. He said that Turkiye, before becoming a producer of defence products, also underwent a process of technology transfer from other countries before successfully developing its defence industry. "Malaysia has the same aspiration. Hopefully, the good bilateral relations and strategic collaboration between Malaysia and Turkiye can help propel the local defence industry, and at the same time, strengthen national sovereignty," he said. The second batch of LMS vessels for the Navy is based on the Ada-class corvette design developed by STM, which is equipped for multiple roles. Each of the ships will also be armed with ATMACA surface-to-surface missiles and air defence systems. Earlier, Mohamed Khaled attended the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025, which is one of the world's prestigious defence exhibitions, organised by Turkiye's Ministry of National Defence (MOND) at the Istanbul Expo Centre. - Bernama

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