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American Military News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- American Military News
Thai, Cambodian militaries chart path forward after deadly border fight
This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission. BANGKOK, Thailand – Military leaders from Thailand and Cambodia met on Tuesday to agree on details of a ceasefire, brokered amid pressure from the U.S., that halted five days of deadly skirmishes along their disputed border. Regional military commanders along the 800-kilometer border agreed to halt gunfire, refrain from moving troops and establish direct bilateral communications, according to a Thai army spokesman and a spokesperson from the Cambodian defense ministry. Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Vejjayachai on Tuesday accused Cambodian troops of violating the ceasefire. The Thai government said it had filed a complaint about the alleged violation to Malaysia, the U.S. and China. Cambodia's defense minister, Tea Seiha, denied the claim, writing on Facebook that Cambodia's armed forces has been strictly observing the truce. He said the Cambodian defense ministry would lead a delegation of foreign diplomats to observe the border. Local sources near the border told RFA that gunfire was heard periodically in the predawn hours on Tuesday. An Agence France-Press journalist near the border said the sound of gunfire stopped ahead of the midnight deadline, a quiet that continued into Tuesday evening. Thailand's Phumtham and Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia appeared together on Monday to announce the ceasefire, brokered with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, the annual chair of the ASEAN regional bloc. The announcement came amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said that continued fighting could stall negotiations for a trade deal with the U.S. Both countries face a 36% tariff on their goods unless a reduction can be negotiated. After the deal was announced, Trump said he had spoken with both leaders and told his team to restart talks. At least 43 people were killed and around 300,000 were displaced during the fighting, which included jets, rockets and artillery. Some locals, like Cambodian Soklang Slay, expressed wariness as they returned to their homes on Tuesday. 'I am very concerned that new fighting may break out. Thailand often provokes the fighting first, but then accuses Cambodia. Their aims is that they want to occupy our temples [along the border]. I really don't want to see any new fighting happen,' he told the Associated Press. Supalak Ganjanakhundee, an author and former editor of the Nation newspaper in Bangkok who lives in his hometown in Kantharalak district, Sisaket province, was among those displaced. He had to evacuate, he said, and lost his cattle and his chance to harvest ripe durian fruit. 'The recent border skirmish between Thailand and Cambodia was senseless and served no real benefit to either nation. It did, however, serve the interests of the Thai military and Cambodia's ruling family,' he told RFA, referring to the spat between Hun Manet and suspended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. 'Politically, the conflict has placed the government of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the brink of collapse. The failure of coherent diplomacy has opened the door to external interventions — most notably by the United States and China — complicating an already volatile situation.' To resolve their issues long-term, he said both countries must accept the presence of international observers to monitor and verify the truce's implementation. 'At the same time, they must reactivate dormant bilateral mechanisms to address critical issues of border security and the long-overdue boundary demarcation,' he said. Includes reporting by RFA Khmer and Pimuk Rakkanam for RFA, as well as Agence France-Presse, The Associated Press, and Reuters.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Free Agency: Early look at 33 key Eagles slated to hit the open market in 2026
Dallas Goedert and Reed Blankenship are among 33 Philadelphia Eagles who will be restricted or unrestricted free agents in the 2026 NFL offseason. Week 1 of Eagles training camp is off and running, and Nick Sirianni's team is loaded with playmakers and versatility. Philadelphia added 10 players during the NFL draft and still has a huge Super Bowl window thanks to an MVP candidate at quarterback and elite talent in several critical positions. Regardless of the outcome of this upcoming season, the roster will likely undergo further changes. The Birds have 33 players who'll test restricted or unrestricted free agency during the 2026 NFL offseason. Several key factors include a pending contract extension for Jalen Carter and the contract status for star tight end Dallas Goedert. Reed Blankenship is one of the biggest names on the list, and the defense could look drastically different with Nakobe Dean entering the final year of his rookie deal. With Week 2 of training camp set to begin, we're previewing the 33 Eagles who'll be free agents next spring. CB Tariq Castro-Fields- RFA OL Darian Kinnard-RFA FB/LB Ben VanSumeren- RFA VanSumeren had carved out a role as the Eagles' fullback, reserve linebacker, and special-teams standout. Still, his season ended after the second-year sensation suffered a knee injury during a Friday practice. VanSumeren did not play a single snap on defense last season; he has carved out a role as a fullback on the offensive side of the ball. He's also a major special-teams contributor, having played 12 offensive snaps last season and 153 on special teams. DB Lewis Cine-RFA Cine was selected by Minnesota 32nd overall in the 2022 draft and joined the Bills' practice squad after being released by the Vikings last summer. He broke his leg during his rookie season and was limited to playing 10 defensive snaps in 10 games over his two years in Minnesota. The 24-year-old from Haiti is listed at 6-foot-2 and 199 pounds and is a low-risk signing, having had a decorated college career at Georgia. Cine earned defensive MVP honors in Georgia's 33-18 win over Alabama in the national championship game in the 2021 season. OLB Josh Uche-Void The young pass rusher struggled over the past two seasons but was named an underrated pass rusher by PFF entering 2025 NFL free agency. DT Thomas Booker-RFA CB Eli Ricks-RFA Eli Ricks will move up the Eagles' depth chart after a season spent watching and continuing to learn his craft. He could also be trade bait because Ricks is 23 years old, plays with great length, and has had incredible mentors in Darius Slay and James Bradberry. OL Kenyon Green-UFA Green is entering the last year of his rookie deal at a $2.88 million salary. Green started 14 of 15 games as a rookie but was the 77th-highest-graded guard (37.7) out of 77 players in Pro Football Focus rankings that year. Last season, Green was one of the lowest-graded offensive guards in the NFL. LS Charley Hughlett-UFA RB A.J. Dillon-UFA Dillon signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia after missing last season with a neck injury. LB Nakobe Dean-UFA Nakobe Dean earned All-Pro votes with his performance this season. Now, the Eagles linebacker will work to rehab from a torn patellar tendon he suffered in the NFC Wild Card win over Green Bay. Ian Rapoport reports that Dean could miss part of the 2025 season while rehabbing. He's entering the final year of his deal. OLB Patrick Johnson-UFA WR/KR Avery Williams- UFA TE Harrison Bryant- UFA CB Parry Nickerson- UFA TE Nick Muse- UFA TE Grant Calcaterra- UFA A player who could benefit the most from a Goedert departure, Calcaterra finished his third professional season with career highs in catches (24), yards (298), and touchdowns (one). TE Dallas Goedert- Void Goedert is set to enter the final year of his deal. Last season, Goedert played in 10 games, logging 42 receptions for 496 yards, averaging 11.8 yards per catch, and two scores. He led the team in receptions (17) and receiving yards (215) during their Super Bowl run in the postseason. Goedert is a warrior, and when he's healthy, the talented pass catcher is one of the top tight ends in the NFL. Goedert is 30 years old, and like Zach Ertz before him, the Eagles could be preparing for an exit strategy as they work to get younger at the position. WR Jahan Dotson- Void Dotson had his fifth-year option declined, and he'll be playing for a contract. Azeez Ojulari-Void The 24-year-old made the most of his return to the starting lineup with five sacks in three games. He's an intriguing free agent and someone who could have a Zack Baun-like impact on the defense. DB Reed Blankenship- Void Blankenship logged 78 tackles (52 solo), six pass defenses (including four interceptions), and one fumble recovery during 15 regular-season games in 2024. He added 27 tackles (18 solo), one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery across the Eagles' four playoff games. Blankenship earned a one-year, $3.58 million contract extension with the Eagles last April after leading the team in tackles and interceptions. He saw his tackling numbers dip in the regular season and finished third behind Zack Baun (151) and Nakobe Dean (128), but Blankenship finished as the Eagles' second-leading tackler during the postseason behind Dean (33). Blankenship could be in line for another, more sizable contract extension heading into the 2025 campaign. DB Tristin McCollum -- ERFA McCollum logged 33 tackles (18 solo) and two pass defenses in 14 regular-season appearances in 2024. P Braden Mann- Void CB Adoree' Jackson-Void TE Kylen Granson- Void OL Kendall Lamm- Void OL Matt Pryor- Void DT Joe Evans -- ERFA DT Jacob Sykes-ERFA Edge Rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo -- UFA TE EJ Jenkins -- ERFA OLB Ochaun Mathis-ERFA WR Terrace Marshall Jr. -- UFA The former LSU star pass catcher was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round (59th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft. He appeared in 13 games as a rookie and recorded 17 receptions for 138 receiving yards. Marshall finished his second season (2022) with 28 receptions for 490 receiving yards and one touchdown in 14 games.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Devils Sign Fascinating Prospect To New Deal
The New Jersey Devils have announced that they have signed restricted free agent forward Thomas Bordeleau to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2025-26 season.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Why has the Royal Navy taken over a civilian support ship? The answer won't cheer you up
Could the RN take back the amphibious mission and the minehunting motherships, leaving the RFA to run the tankers and support ships? This seems like a natural division of labour but would need firm leadership to force it through and even then the RN is short of people too. At least that problem is not as severe as it is for the RFA. The recent Strategic Defence Review mentions some of this but offers no detail – especially on money. The Investment Plan, due in the Autumn, will have some serious questions to answer here, as with everything all across Defence. The other even broader question is to what level should the Stirling Castle model of simply putting combat equipment on affordable merchant service hulls be used. Here the answer is divided between traditionalists and realists. The traditionalist view is that a warship should be a purpose-built thoroughbred, sleek, as fast as possible, bristling with weapons and sensors and made to exacting standards in order to be survivable in war. There are others of my acquaintance who would suggest that (for example) three Merlin anti-submarine helicopters on an ex-merchant hull would fight submarines at least as well as a single Merlin on a frigate. They'd suggest that radar drones or helicopters would find enemy surface units or aircraft much further away than a destroyer's radar can, being up in the air with hugely greater line of sight. They'd point out that destroyer weapons are already supplied in containerised forms suitable for bolting on to any hull. These people point out that a dedicated warship's high top speed – typically achieved using expensive gas turbines – is usually irrelevant as the thirsty gassers get through fuel very quickly at speed. A warship cannot actually travel over any serious distance any faster than its accompanying auxiliary tanker. When high speed is called for in combat, aircraft or missiles are what count: a frigate's primary means of attacking submarines is, after all, its helicopter. But I'm a former frigate captain and a specialist in the use of destroyers, and I'd rather have frigates and destroyers. There is a reason frigates, destroyers, aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines etc have remained largely unchanged in recent decades – they work. But I would freely admit that an insistence on exquisite, fast, heavily equipped specialist warships has got us to a terrible place in terms of capabilities and numbers. I do wonder how we punch our way out of the navy-wide hole we are currently in when there is no more serious money coming. I do ask how we achieve the mass that is missing and uncrewed advancement that we so obviously need? Before long every platform starts looking like a Stirling Castle -type purchase, or container ships with drones the way the Iranians are doing it, or uncrewed surface weapons and expensive proper warships are consigned to the military history bin. As ever, the answer is probably somewhere in the middle, but this is a balance that is hard to strike when financial conditions constantly force you to make decisions because you have to, not because you should. In the meantime, it's a safe bet that the practice of converting unusual ships for RN use is going to increase. So let's use the transfer of Stirling Castle to the Royal Navy as a test bed to become better at it.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Marco Rossi and Minnesota Wild locked in major contract disagreement
Photo Via Getty Images The Minnesota Wild and restricted free agent Marco Rossi appear to be at a standstill in contract negotiations. According to NHL insider Michael Russo, the two sides haven't spoken in weeks and remain far apart on contract value. With Rossi turning down a significant long-term offer earlier in the season, both parties are now locked in a high-stakes standoff that may not end soon. Minnesota Wild and Marco Rossi far apart on contract value and NHL RFA negotiations The heart of the dispute centers around a major difference in how Marco Rossi and the Minnesota Wild view his worth. Rossi reportedly rejected a five-year contract offer at a $5 million average annual value (AAV) during the 2024–25 season. His camp is citing recent comparable deals, such as Matt Coronato's seven-year, $6.5 million AAV with the Calgary Flames and Gabe Vilardi's six-year, $7.5 million AAV as justification for a higher payout. However, the Wild are not willing to exceed the $7 million AAV they currently pay Matt Boldy, their young offensive cornerstone. Russo suggests that general manager Bill Guerin may be trying to apply pressure on Rossi by waiting out the situation and daring another team to extend an offer sheet. So far, no such offer has materialized. Bridge deal not ideal for Marco Rossi amid NHL contract talks and Minnesota Wild lineup concerns A short-term bridge deal doesn't appear to be a viable option for Rossi either. Without any trade protection, he risks being moved to a team he may not want to play for. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cat Keeps Hugging Friend Before Going To The Vet – The Vet Paled When He Saw Them Tips and Tricks Undo Additionally, his reduced playoff role, averaging just 11 minutes per night despite scoring twice in six games, raises questions about whether he can continue building value under current usage. Rossi had a strong 2024–25 regular season, recording 24 goals and 60 points in 18:15 average ice time. Yet his postseason deployment has left him unsure about his long-term role in Minnesota, making negotiations even more complex. With both sides holding firm, the contract impasse between Marco Rossi and the Minnesota Wild shows no sign of easing. Unless a third team intervenes with an offer sheet or one side softens its stance, it may be weeks before talks resume and longer before a resolution is reached. FAQs: 1. How old is Marco Rossi? Marco Rossi is 23 years old (born September 23, 2001). 2. Where is Marco Rossi from? Marco Rossi is from Feldkirch, Austria. Also Read: Nazem Kadri trade talks stall as Toronto Maple Leafs struggle to meet Calgary Flames' demands Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
