Costa Rican lawmaker says the US revoked her visa over alleged ties to Chinese Communist Party
Vanessa Castro of the opposition Social Christian Unity Party, speaking in the Legislative Assembly, denied such ties and said that media outlets allied with President Rodrigo Chaves knew her U.S. visa had been revoked before she did.
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CBS News
7 hours ago
- CBS News
Thailand and Cambodia forces clash along border, with Thai jets bombing purported military sites
Bangkok — Thai and Cambodian soldiers clashed in several areas along their border Thursday in a major escalation of their conflict that left at least 11 people dead, mostly civilians. The two sides fired small arms, artillery and rockets, and Thailand also called in airstrikes. Thai villagers could be seen on video fleeing their homes to seek shelter as the clashes began in the morning. Fighting was ongoing in at least six areas along the border, Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri said. The trigger for the clashes was a mine explosion along the border on Wednesday that wounded five Thai soldiers and led Bangkok to withdraw its ambassador to Cambodia and expelled Cambodia's. Thailand's foreign ministry said all land border crossings with Cambodia were sealed and communities near the frontier had been evacuated. It urged all Thai nationals to leave Cambodia. The Southeast Asian neighbors have longstanding border disputes that periodically flare along their 500-mile frontier and usually result in brief confrontations that sometimes involves exchanges of gunfire. But relations have deteriorated sharply since a confrontation in May that killed a Cambodian soldier, and Thursday's clashes were far bigger in scale and intensity than usual. The U.S. Embassy in Thailand noted reports "of fighting, including rocket and artillery fire, between Cambodian and Thai forces along the border," and it said the Thai government was "ordering the evacuation of certain areas." "U.S. citizens living or traveling near the Thailand-Cambodia border should follow direction from Thai security services and consult local government authorities for the latest information," the embassy said. The first clash Thursday morning happened in an area near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple along the border of Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province. A video from the Thai side showed people running from their homes and hiding in a concrete bunker as explosions sounded. The Thai army said its forces heard a drone before seeing six armed Cambodian soldiers moving closer to Thai military positions at the border. It said Thai soldiers tried to shout at them to defuse the situation, but the Cambodian side started to open fire. Cambodia's Defense Ministry, however, said Thailand deployed a drone first before opening fire, and that Cambodia "acted strictly within the bounds of self-defense, responding to an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops that violated our territorial integrity." Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet wrote to the current president of the U.N. Security Council asking for an urgent meeting "to stop Thailand's aggression." The Thai army said it later launched airstrikes on military targets in Cambodia, while the Cambodian Defense Ministry said the Thai jets dropped bombs on a road near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which has been the site of some of the most prominent and violent past conflicts between the countries. Thailand's Foreign Ministry accused Cambodia of attacking both military and non-military sites in Thailand, including a hospital. "The Royal Thai Government is prepared to intensify our self-defense measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations upon Thailand's sovereignty in accordance with international law and principles," said Nikorndej Balankura, the ministry's spokesperson. Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said 11 people have died, including 10 civilians and one soldier. Meanwhile 28 have been injured, four of whom were soldiers and the rest civilians. Cambodia released no details on deaths or injuries on its side. On Wednesday, Thailand withdrew its ambassador to Cambodia and expelled the Cambodian ambassador to protest the mine blast that wounded its soldiers. Thai authorities alleged the mines were newly laid along paths that both sides had agreed were supposed to be safe. They said the mines were Russian-made and not of a type employed by Thailand's military. Cambodia rejected Thailand's account as "baseless accusations," pointing out that many unexploded mines and other ordnance are a legacy of 20th century wars and unrest. Cambodia also downgraded diplomatic relations, recalling all Cambodian staff on Thursday from its embassy in Bangkok. The border dispute in May that resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier has had political fallout in Thailand. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra came under fire for for being too fawning in a phone call with her Cambodian counterpart when she tried to defuse the situation. She has since been suspended from office pending an investigation into possible ethics violations over the matter.
Epoch Times
10 hours ago
- Epoch Times
Impossible to Negotiate Away the Ambitions of the CCP: Former Australian PM Tells Congress
Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned a U.S. Congress Committee that the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ambition for global hegemony and a new world order cannot be changed or negotiated away. During a hearing of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the CCP on July 23 (Washington time), Morrison, who was invited as a witness, noted that the United States and Australia, as long-standing allies, saw the world through the same lens.
Washington Post
13 hours ago
- Washington Post
State Department to investigate Harvard's use of international J-1 visas
The State Department on Wednesday opened a new investigation into Harvard University's eligibility as a sponsor of visas through the Exchange Visitor Program, intensifying the Trump administration's battle with the Ivy League institution. In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said all program sponsors need to comply with government regulations and ensure they do not undermine U.S. foreign policy or compromise the country's national security interests. 'The American people have the right to expect their universities to uphold national security, comply with the law, and provide safe environments for all students. The investigation will ensure that State Department programs do not run contrary to our nation's interests,' the statement said. It did not outline any specific misconduct on Harvard's part. In an emailed statement Wednesday, Harvard said it remains committed to compliance with all Exchange Visitor Program regulations. 'This investigation is yet another retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard's First Amendment rights,' a spokesperson said, adding that the university continues to enroll and sponsor international scholars, researchers and students. The Exchange Visitor Program provides nonimmigrant visas, also known as J-1 visas, for those coming to the United States in various educational and cultural capacities, including as students, professors, au pairs, camp counselors, interns and researchers. President Donald Trump's targeting of higher education institutions to bring them in line with his political agenda has involved actions such as freezing of billions of dollars in federal research funding. His administration has tried to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students and has focused on visa applications related to the nation's oldest university for additional federal scrutiny. Harvard has pushed back against the administration's claims, including that it is not taking sufficient action against antisemitism on campus. This week, in a case that could have significant ramifications for higher education in the U.S., Harvard's lawyers argued that the Trump administration's reasons for withholding federal funding were 'cooked up' and unconstitutional. The hearing before U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs concluded without a ruling. In May, when the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard's ability to admit international students, the university sued and won a temporary block of the ban. There are more than 10,000 foreign students and scholars from over 150 countries at Harvard in the current academic year, according to its data. Days later, the State Department directed its embassies and consulates to undertake extra scrutiny of visa applicants requesting travel to Harvard, including students, faculty, workers, guest speakers and tourists. Last month, Trump issued a proclamation — which typically does not have the force of law — seeking to restrict the entry of international students and scholars looking to study or research at Harvard. Soon afterward, a court blocked the administration from targeting student visas, following which the State Department instructed consulates to resume processing such applications. Harvard says it has taken numerous steps to address antisemitism in the wake of campus protests last year over the war in Gaza. Earlier this month, the Harvard Crimson reported that the school told international students to expect enhanced screening at Boston Logan International Airport and warned them that their social media could be vetted for pro-Palestinian posts. While Harvard's legal fights continue, other institutions have sought to compromise with the administration. Columbia University on Wednesday agreed to pay the federal government more than $200 million to settle a dispute over funding. The deal reinstates most of the $400 million in frozen research grants and closes investigations into the school. Amy B Wang contributed to this report.
