Latest news with #landmines
NHK
a day ago
- Politics
- NHK
Thailand blames Cambodia after troops injured by landmines
Government officials in Thailand say three soldiers have been injured by landmines, and they're pointing the finger at Cambodia. They say the troops were patrolling along a disputed border area between the two countries on July 16th. They say one sustained a serious leg injury. The officials say the landmines were made in Russia and recently planted by Cambodia. They accuse their neighbor of violating a treaty banning the explosive devices. The Cambodian government dismissed the allegations as baseless and unfounded. The two countries exchanged fire in May along the disputed border area. One Cambodian soldier died.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Landmine dispute escalates tensions between Thailand and Cambodia
Thailand has accused Cambodia of placing landmines in a disputed border area after three soldiers were injured, but Phnom Penh denied the claim and said the soldiers had veered off agreed routes and triggered a mine left behind from decades of war. Thai authorities said the three soldiers were injured, with one losing a foot, by a landmine while on a patrol on July 16 on the Thai side of the disputed border area between Ubon Ratchathani and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province. Cambodia's foreign ministry denied that new mines had been planted, and said in a statement on Monday night that the Thai soldiers deviated from agreed patrol routes into Cambodian territory and into areas that contain unexploded landmines. The country is littered with landmines laid during decades of war. "The Royal Government of Cambodia categorically denies these baseless and unfounded allegations," the ministry said. It added the country was fully committed to the Ottawa Convention, an international agreement banning antipersonnel landmines. On Monday, the Thai army said that 10 freshly laid Russian-made PMN-2 type landmines, which are not used or stockpiled by Thailand, were found between July 18 and July 20 in areas near where the soldiers were injured. "This is a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Thailand and an outright breach of principles that are fundamental to international law," Maratee Nalita Andamo, deputy spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry, said on Monday in Bangkok. Figures from the Cambodia Mine Action Centre, which estimates there are still 4 to 6 million landmines scattered across the country, show five people were killed and a dozen injured by mines and unexploded ordnance in Cambodia in the first four months of 2025. The area where the Thai soldiers were injured is near where a Cambodian soldier was killed in May after a brief exchange of gunfire between troops on both sides. The shooting has since flared into a broader diplomatic dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbours that has destabilized the Thai government and seen the Prime Minister suspended from office. Thailand said it will issue a formal condemnation and call for accountability from Cambodia for breaching the landmine treaty, and the army will also increase vigilance during border patrols. Cambodia said the landmine incident showed the need for both countries to settle the border dispute at the International Court of Justice. Bangkok has previously said it has never recognized the court's jurisdiction on the issue and prefers to settle the dispute through bilateral mechanisms.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Prince Harry speaks of his 'heartbreak' during minefield trip to Angola after following in his mother Princess Diana's footsteps to visit country
Prince Harry has spoken of his 'heartbreak' in a statement released after his trip to Angola, where he followed in Princess Diana 's footsteps by walking through a minefield. The Duke of Sussex, 40, touched down in the South African nation over the weekend to complete the walk with his charity, The Halo Trust. His crossing of the cleared minefield mirrors Princess Diana's in January 1997, when the nation experienced a brief period of peace following a two-decade civil war that had left the country contaminated by more than 15 million landmines. The prince also walked the minefield back in 2013, which has now been transformed thanks to clearance by Angolan men and women trained by HALO. However, he was not joined by his wife Meghan Markle after reportedly deciding it was too dangerous for her to join him. In comments shared to Harry and Meghan's website following his participation in a landmine safety education session in the remote village of Mawano, the Duke said what he had witnessed 'breaks my heart'. Referring to his children Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, he said: 'As a father to young children, it breaks my heart to see innocent children still living and playing next to minefields. 'All of us have a duty to protect children and future generations from the harms of war, both present and past.' Discussing the absent of his wife, Meghan, a source said: 'The duke won't let his wife go to England over security concerns, so there was no chance he'd allow her to go to Angola to walk across landmines.' A source involved in organising the event told the MailOnline: 'Usually these trips help to drive a bit more money from the government.' The session formed part of Halo's community outreach programme. The Prince also repeated safety instructions in Portuguese, taught local children how to recognise and avoid landmines, and spoke to families. Harry said: 'Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school. Here in Angola, over three decades later, the remnants of war still threaten lives every day.' The Duke added: 'The Angolan government's continued commitment is a powerful testament to HALO's success in saving lives and reducing humanitarian risk. 'We thank President Lourenço for his leadership and partnership, as well as continued donor support as we work together towards completing the mission of a landmine-free country.' During a meeting with the President, Harry said, per 'This commitment is about more than removing deadly devices. 'It's about unlocking potential in a country that has so much - enabling children to walk to school safely, allowing farmers to grow crops, attracting sustainable development and bringing back wildlife tourism.' Harry also said: 'This work isn't just about removing explosives - it's about enabling opportunity, development, and long-term peace.' In 2019, when Harry came on board as Halo's patron, the Angolan government pledged £46million to create wildlife corridors and protect endangered species in conservation areas. It set a target of clearing all landmines by 2025 and Harry is said to hope that his presence there will boost efforts to meet the target. Angola is in southwestern Africa, along the Atlantic coast. It was ravaged by a brutal 27-year civil war until 2002 and the country is still grappling with the legacy of landmines, with millions buried across the countryside. Halo has cleared more than 123,000 landmines since 1994, and works to transform former war zones into farmland, national parks and 'safe' villages. Despite the progress made, more than 1,000 minefields remain across Angola. Princess Diana's walk in 1997 took place when the nation experienced a brief period of peace following a two-decade civil war that had left the country contaminated by more than 15 million landmines. Wearing a Halo Trust flak jacket and helmet, the striking photographs of the royal went down in history, particularly as she died later that year in a car crash. At least 60,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines in Angola since 2008, although the exact number of casualties is not known and is likely to be higher. HALO has cleared more than 120,000 landmines and 100,000 bombs from the country, but at least 80 Angolans have still been killed by them in the last five years. Over 1,000 minefields remain to be cleared across the entire country, including on the periphery of the Lobito Corridor, a strategically important railway that links Angola's Atlantic coast to the mineral heartlands of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. James Cowan, CEO of The HALO Trust, said: 'We are hugely grateful to President Lourenço for his leadership and to the Duke of Sussex for his personal commitment to HALO's work in Angola. 'This new contract is an important step forward in our mission to make Angola mine-free, and we will continue our work in solidarity with the Angolan people until every last mine is cleared.' This is the latest of several significant visits Harry has made to Angola in recent years. In September 2019, after he became patron, he retraced the exact steps his mother took near Huambo, causing a sensation across the globe. The duke also visited the remote Dirico region, where he toured a newly cleared minefield, a detonated a landmine, and spent a night camping by the Cuito River. He then visited the town's Princess Diana Orthopaedic Centre, met female deminers, and toured a demining camp in southeastern Angola. In September 2024, he joined Angola's foreign minister at a United Nations Halo event in New York. Again, Meghan steered clear of the event despite the fact it was in the US. Sources at the time said she did not attend because the trip was part of his 'independent schedule' during Climate Week. The trip comes in the wake of a secret peace summit held between Harry's two most senior aides and King Charles's head of communications in central London earlier this month The meeting was described as a charm offensive by the Sussexes to turn around their negative public image. Harry and Meghan's new chief of communications, Meredith Maines, met with Tobyn Andreae, the King's communications secretary, at the Royal Over-Seas League a three-minute walk from Clarence House, the monarch's London residence, on Wednesday. Also present was Liam Maguire, who runs the Sussexes' PR team in the UK. Images of the rendezvous raised hopes of a reconciliation between Harry, 40, and his father, 76. The meeting, held at a private members club in London, was the first step in a 'rapprochement process' to restore the broken relationship between the duke, his wife Meghan and the rest of the royal family. While royal experts claimed a wounded Prince William will feel less inclined to resolve the feud than his father King Charles, they added the monarch would have undoubtedly consulted the heir to the throne before conducting any peace talks with Harry's aides. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'The King and Harry are currently, we understood from Harry's interview on the BBC, not speaking. This meeting obviously is a sign things are moving forward. 'The King would never have made these moves without William's support and understanding. William and Catherine are the future of the monarchy. 'He has undoubtedly been furious at the way the Sussexes have behaved and undoubtedly regards Harry's behaviour as treason of a sort. They reportedly have not spoken in over two years.' He added: 'Ideally, the Sussexes might like to drive a wedge between the King and the heir to the throne. They won't succeed.' However, following the summit, the Mail revealed that Prince Harry has 'no plans' ever to move back to Britain despite the recent hopes of a reconciliation with King Charles. Following news of a secret peace summit between aides of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and his father, it was thought the Windsor family feud could be resolved, paving a way for the prince to return to the UK. However friends of Harry and Meghan have said the couple are 'very happy' in California and are never likely to return. A source, who is close to Harry, 40, said: 'They're very happy living in and raising their family in California and, as it stands, have no plans to leave.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry addresses 'heartbreak' in new statement after trip without Meghan Markle
Prince Harry has spoken of his heartbreak for children in a statement following his trip to Angola without Meghan Markle. The Duke of Sussex recently made the trip to Angola to visit a minefield 28 years after his mother, Princess Diana, made her own visit to the same country. You may also like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's home is a Roman palace from unseen angle Princess Kate and Prince Harry's 'neck grazing' moment shows heartfelt bond Prince Harry 'floored' by Queen's unexpected response to Meghan Markle question In a new statement posted to the official Sussex website following the visit, Prince Harry said: "As a father to young children, it breaks my heart to see innocent children still living and playing next to minefields. All of us have a duty to protect children and future generations from the harms of war, both present and past." He continued: "I urge all donors to stand with Angola in fighting the job. This is not just about landmines, it's about healing the last wounds of war and giving future generations the peace they deserve." Harry, who is a patron of the landmine clearance charity HALO Trust, was pictured visiting Africa's largest minefield in Cuito Cuanavale, where he followed in his mother's footsteps almost thirty years later. "It's an incredibly heartfelt and personal statement from Prince Harry about a cause he has always cared so strongly about," says Danielle Stacey, HELLO!'s Online Royal Correspondent. "You can sense a deep need from him to continue the work that his mother began, and his message, as well as his trip, which was not announced in advance, will bring attention and awareness to the HALO Trust's vital work." According to the charity, at least 60,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines in Angola since 2008. However, the true number is likely higher. HALO Trust has also worked to clear over 120,000 landmines and 100,000 bombs, but landmines have still caused 80 deaths in the past five years. In 1997, just months before her death, Princess Diana walked through minefields in Huambo wearing a visor, a protective vest, and a white button-up shirt, which quickly became one of the most iconic images of her humanitarian legacy. "I visited some of the mine victims... and when you look at the mangled bodies of some of the children, you marvel at their survival," the late Princess recalled during a 1997 speech, delivered at a seminar with the Mines Advisory Group and the Landmine Survivors Network. The Duke has continued his mother's legacy by spearheading initiatives and visiting affected countries. In 2011, he made a visit to Mozambique, and in 2013, he traveled to Cuito Cuanavale in Angola on a private trip. Harry also launched the campaign for a Landmine Free 2025 on International Mine Awareness Day in 2017. Meghan Markle was also noticeably absent from his trip; however, a source told the Daily Mail, "The Duke won't let his wife go to England over security concerns, so there was no chance he'd allow her to go to Angola to walk across landmines."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry addresses 'heartbreak' in new statement after trip without Meghan Markle
Prince Harry has spoken of his heartbreak for children in a statement following his trip to Angola without Meghan Markle. The Duke of Sussex recently made the trip to Angola to visit a minefield 28 years after his mother, Princess Diana, made her own visit to the same country. You may also like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's home is a Roman palace from unseen angle Princess Kate and Prince Harry's 'neck grazing' moment shows heartfelt bond Prince Harry 'floored' by Queen's unexpected response to Meghan Markle question In a new statement posted to the official Sussex website following the visit, Prince Harry said: "As a father to young children, it breaks my heart to see innocent children still living and playing next to minefields. All of us have a duty to protect children and future generations from the harms of war, both present and past." He continued: "I urge all donors to stand with Angola in fighting the job. This is not just about landmines, it's about healing the last wounds of war and giving future generations the peace they deserve." Harry, who is a patron of the landmine clearance charity HALO Trust, was pictured visiting Africa's largest minefield in Cuito Cuanavale, where he followed in his mother's footsteps almost thirty years later. "It's an incredibly heartfelt and personal statement from Prince Harry about a cause he has always cared so strongly about," says Danielle Stacey, HELLO!'s Online Royal Correspondent. "You can sense a deep need from him to continue the work that his mother began, and his message, as well as his trip, which was not announced in advance, will bring attention and awareness to the HALO Trust's vital work." According to the charity, at least 60,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines in Angola since 2008. However, the true number is likely higher. HALO Trust has also worked to clear over 120,000 landmines and 100,000 bombs, but landmines have still caused 80 deaths in the past five years. In 1997, just months before her death, Princess Diana walked through minefields in Huambo wearing a visor, a protective vest, and a white button-up shirt, which quickly became one of the most iconic images of her humanitarian legacy. "I visited some of the mine victims... and when you look at the mangled bodies of some of the children, you marvel at their survival," the late Princess recalled during a 1997 speech, delivered at a seminar with the Mines Advisory Group and the Landmine Survivors Network. The Duke has continued his mother's legacy by spearheading initiatives and visiting affected countries. In 2011, he made a visit to Mozambique, and in 2013, he traveled to Cuito Cuanavale in Angola on a private trip. Harry also launched the campaign for a Landmine Free 2025 on International Mine Awareness Day in 2017. Meghan Markle was also noticeably absent from his trip; however, a source told the Daily Mail, "The Duke won't let his wife go to England over security concerns, so there was no chance he'd allow her to go to Angola to walk across landmines."
