Latest news with #Violence
Sky News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Why have tensions escalated between Thailand and Cambodia - and is it safe to travel there?
Military clashes have erupted between Thailand and Cambodia, killing at least 12 people. A long-standing dispute over border areas escalated into an exchange of gunfire, shelling and rockets being launched on 24 July, with both sides accusing one another of initiating the violence. Relations between the Southeast Asian neighbours deteriorated sharply after an armed confrontation in May that killed a Cambodian soldier. Nationalist passions on both sides have further inflamed the situation. Here is all you need to know about the situation and how it got to this stage. What is happening in Thailand and Cambodia? Tensions first broke out on Thursday morning in an area near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple along the border of Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province. The Thai army said that most casualties occurred in the Si Sa Ket province, where six people were killed after shots were fired at a fuel station. At least 14 people were injured in three other border provinces. An eight-year-old boy was among those killed, Thailand's health minister Somsak Thepsuthin said. Thailand's foreign ministry said Cambodian troops fired "heavy artillery" on a Thai military base on Thursday morning and also targeted civilian areas, including a hospital. In response, the Thai army said a Thai F-16 fighter jet bombed military targets in Cambodia. Cambodia's defence ministry said Thai jets had dropped bombs on a road near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, saying it "strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia". Clashes are now thought to be ongoing in at least six areas along the border, the Thai defence ministry said. What caused the escalation? For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have laid claim to undisputed points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border. This has led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a weeklong exchange of artillery in 2011. Tensions were reignited in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief exchange of gunfire, which escalated into a full-blown diplomatic crisis and now has triggered recent armed clashes. Both countries agreed to de-escalate tensions, but Cambodian and Thai authorities continued to implement or threaten restrictions on the other. Tighter restrictions on Thailand's land border with Cambodia were implemented, stopping almost all crossings except for students, medical patients and others with essential needs. Thai authorities sealed the border entirely after Thursday's escalation. Meanwhile, Cambodia has banned Thai movies and TV shows, stopped the import of Thai fuel, fruits and vegetables and boycotted some of its neighbour's international internet links and power supply. Earlier on Thursday, Cambodia said it was downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level, expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok. That was in response to Thailand withdrawing its ambassador and expelling the Cambodian ambassador a day earlier, in protest against a number of land mine blasts that injured a total of eight Thai soldiers. Thai authorities alleged the mines were recently laid along paths that by mutual agreement were supposed to be safe. They said the mines were Russian-made and not of a type used by Thailand's military. Cambodia accused Thailand of making "baseless accusations", pointing out that the unexploded mines could have been from previous periods of unrest. Political fallout Earlier this month, Thailand's former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra attempted to resolve tensions via a call with Cambodia's influential former prime minister and current president of the senate, Hun Sen. Their conversation was later leaked, revealing Ms Shinawatra referred to Mr Sen - who stepped down as prime minister in favour of his son Hun Manet in 2023 - "uncle" and criticised Thai military leadership. Her comments caused widespread outrage and protests and led to Ms Shinawatra being suspended from her position on 1 July after a court ruling. Her ally, former defence minister Phumtham Wechayachai was appointed as acting prime minister. Mr Wechayachai said on Thursday that fighting between Cambodia and Thailand must stop before negotiations between the two sides can begin. Is it safe to travel there? The neighbouring countries are both hugely popular with tourists, but since tensions escalated on the border on Thursday, the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has updated its advice for individuals already in the area or planning to visit. The FCDO website states: "There are reports of fighting including rocket and artillery fire on 24 July between Thailand and Cambodia at several locations along the border. Casualties have been reported, as well as evacuations of areas close to the border." It adds that British nationals should "exercise a high level of vigilance in border areas" and "follow the instructions of local authorities. There are also unexploded landmines in the border area". The US Embassy in Thailand also released new advice, telling US citizens to "follow direction from Thai security services and consult local government authorities for the latest information". Why is the border contested? Tensions over the border largely stem back to a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand. Cambodia has used the map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate. The most prominent and violent conflicts have been over the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded Cambodia sovereignty over the temple area, which caused irritation between the neighbouring countries. Cambodia went back to the court in 2011, following several clashes between its army and Thai forces that killed about 20 people and displaced thousands. The court reaffirmed the ruling in Cambodia's favour in 2013. Cambodia has again turned to the international court to resolve the border disputes but Thailand has rejected the court's jurisdiction.
Sky News AU
21-07-2025
- Sky News AU
Prince William and Harry's cousin, 20-year-old Rosie Roche, found dead
Rosie Roche, the 20-year-old cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry, has been found dead at her family property, with a firearm discovered close by, an inquest has heard. Ms Roche, the granddaughter of Princess Diana's uncle, died at her home in Norton, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire, on July 14. She was reportedly found by her mother and sister while packing for a trip away with friends. A firearm was located near her body at the scene. The inquest was formally opened at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Court and adjourned until October 25. According to The Sun, area coroner Grant Davies told the hearing police had "deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement." Rosie had been studying English Literature at Durham University at the time of her death. A spokeswoman said she "will be sorely missed". More to come. If you or anyone you know needs help: Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 Lifeline – 13 11 14 Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 Domestic Violence Helpline – 1800RESPECT
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Clashes rage in Druze region as Syria struggles to enforce ceasefire
By Laila Bassam DAMASCUS (Reuters) -Sectarian clashes escalated in Syria's predominantly Druze region of Sweida on Saturday, with machinegun fire and mortar shelling ringing out after days of bloodshed as the Islamist-led government struggled to implement a ceasefire. Reuters reporters heard gunfire from inside the city of Sweida and saw shells land in nearby villages. There were no immediate, confirmed reports of casualties. The government had said security forces were deploying in the southern region to try to keep peace, and urged all parties to stop fighting after nearly a week of factional bloodshed in which hundreds have been killed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said clashes since last week around Sweida had killed at least 940 people. Reuters could not independently verify the toll. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa said "Arab and American" mediation had helped restore calm, before the clashes escalated. He criticised Israel for airstrikes during the week. VIOLENCE IN DRUZE REGION CHALLENGES DAMASCUS The fighting is the latest challenge to the control of Sharaa's Islamist-dominated government, which took over after rebels toppled autocratic president Bashar al-Assad in December. It started last week as clashes between the Druze - a religious minority native to southern Syria, the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and parts of Lebanon and Jordan - and Syrian Bedouin tribes. Government forces then arrived to try to quell tensions, clashing with Druze gunmen and attacking the Druze community. Saturday's violence once again pitted Druze against Bedouin, witnesses said. The fighting has drawn in neighbouring Israel, which carried out airstrikes in southern Syria and on the Defence Ministry in Damascus this week while government forces were fighting with the Druze. Israel says it is protecting the Druze, who also form a significant minority in Israel. But Israel and Washington differ over Syria. The U.S. supports a centralised Syria under Sharaa's government, which has pledged to rule for all citizens, while Israel says the government is dominated by jihadists and a danger to minorities. In March, Syria's military was involved in mass killings of members of the Alawite minority, to which much of Assad's elite belonged. ISRAEL-SYRIA TENSIONS In a statement on Saturday, the Syrian presidency announced an immediate ceasefire and urged an immediate end to hostilities. The interior ministry said internal forces had begun deploying. Sharaa said Syria would not be a "testing ground for partition, secession, or sectarian incitement". "The Israeli intervention pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatened its stability," he said in a televised speech. Sharaa appeared to blame Druze gunmen for the latest clashes, accusing them of revenge attacks against Bedouins. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Sharaa was siding with the perpetrators. "In al-Shara's Syria, it is very dangerous to be a member of a minority — Kurd, Druze, Alawite, or Christian," he posted on X. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack announced on Friday that Syria and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire. Barrack, who is both U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Washington's Syria envoy, urged Druze, Bedouins and Sunnis, together with other minorities, to "build a new and united Syrian identity". Israel has attacked Syrian military facilities in the seven months since Assad fell, and says it wants areas of southern Syria near its border to remain demilitarised. On Friday, an Israeli official said Israel had agreed to allow Syrian forces limited access to Sweida for two days. SWEIDA HOSPITAL FILLS WITH CASUALTIES Mansour Namour, a resident of a village near Sweida city, said mortar shells were still landing near his home on Saturday afternoon, and that at least 22 people had been wounded. A doctor in Sweida said a local hospital was full of bodies and wounded people from days of violence. "All the injuries are from bombs, some people with their chests wounded. There are also injuries to limbs from shrapnel," said Omar Obeid, director of the hospital.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC seeks U.P. govt reply in plea on implementation of SC guidelines
: The Allahabad high court has directed the state government to file a better counter-affidavit (reply) with regard to compliance with the Supreme Court's guidelines/directions laid down in Tehseen S. Poonawalla v. Union of India (2018) on preventing and addressing incidents of mob lynching and mob violence. The present petition seeks a probe into the alleged incident by a special investigating team (SIT) and ₹ 50 lakh as compensation for the family of the deceased. (File Photo) A division bench comprising Justice Siddharth and Justice Avnish Saxena sought the affidavit while dealing with a petition filed by the brother of a 37-year-old man killed on suspicion of slaughtering cattle in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district last year. The present petition seeks a probe into the alleged incident by a special investigating team (SIT) and ₹50 lakh as compensation for the family of the deceased. The counsel for the petitioner argued that the state had not implemented the mandatory safeguards outlined in the Tehseen Poonawalla ruling, which were mentioned as remedial measures, including the top court's directions regarding prompt FIR registration, nodal officer oversight, timely charge sheet filing and compensation. The high court, in its order, recorded that only the investigating officer had filed a counter-affidavit in the matter, and the U.P. government had not shown any steps taken in line with the binding directions of the apex court. 'Thus, the division bench remarked that the U.P. government should file a better counter affidavit/compliance affidavit keeping in view the directions of the apex court in the case of Tehseen S. Poonawalla within a period of three weeks,' the bench observed. Noting that the FIR should have been lodged by the police under Section 103(2) of the BNS (mob lynching) but was instead registered under Section 103(1) (Murder), the court stayed the investigation in the FIR until the next date of hearing. The court, in its order dated July 10, directed that the matter will now be heard next on August 5. In the present writ petition, the petitioner alleged that the state government has failed to formulate a Lynching/Mob Violence Compensation Scheme in compliance with the provisions of Section 357A of the criminal procedure code (CrPC), despite the explicit and binding direction in the Tehseen Poonawalla case, which constitutes 'grave' and 'wilful' violation of the rule of law. The petition also requested the court to direct the U.P. government to take disciplinary action against the police officials involved in the matter, as per the Supreme Court's directions to ensure accountability. It also requested the court to direct the government of India to launch public awareness campaigns against mob violence and lynching, highlighting legal consequences, as directed by the Supreme Court. At around 3 am on December 30 last year, Shahedeen and a few others were allegedly caught by a mob for slaughtering a cow for meat. While the others managed to flee, Shahedeen was left behind and was brutally beaten by the mob for nearly an hour. He succumbed to the injuries the next day. Later, Moradabad police booked Shahedeen and his alleged accomplices under the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act.
The Independent
14-07-2025
- The Independent
Anti-migrant groups throw bottles at riot police in Spain during unrest
Anti-migrant groups in Spain have clashed with riot police for a second night in a row on Sunday (13 July), after violence broke out following an attack on an elderly man by unknown assailants. Footage shows protesters throwing bottles and various objects at officers in Torre Pacheco in south-east Spain, with locals scared to leave their homes. One resident said: 'We want peace... All the neighbours are complaining, I ride my scooter and I'm afraid of being hit by a bottle.' Violence broke out after the elderly man was attacked in the street on Wednesday, causing injuries from which he is recovering at home. The reasons behind the assault are unclear and no one has been arrested.
