Slovenia Calls on NATO to Expand Its Defense Spending Terms
Like-minded alliance members aim to establish a unified methodology on defense spending in the coming weeks and present the proposal to Mark Rutte, the alliance's secretary general, Slovenian Premier Robert Golob said in an interview on the sidelines of European Political Community summit in Albania on Friday.
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Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Death toll rises in Thai-Cambodian clashes despite ceasefire call
Thailand and Cambodia clashed for a third day on Saturday, as the death toll from their bloodiest fighting in years rose to 33 and Phnom Penh called for an "immediate ceasefire". A long-running border dispute erupted into intense conflict involving jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, prompting the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis Friday. Cambodia's defence ministry said 13 people were now confirmed killed in the fighting, including eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people wounded. In Thailand, the army said five soldiers were killed on Friday, taking the toll there to 20 -- 14 civilians and six military. The death toll across the two countries is now higher than the 28 killed in the last major round of fighting between 2008 and 2011. Both sides reported a clash around 5:00 am (2200 Friday GMT), with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of firing "five heavy artillery shells" into locations in Pursat province, which borders Thailand's Trat province. The fighting has forced more than 138,000 people to be evacuated from Thailand's border regions, with more than 35,000 driven from their homes in Cambodia. After the closed meeting of the Security Council in New York, Cambodia's UN ambassador Chhea Keo said his country wanted a ceasefire. "Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire -- unconditionally -- and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute," he told reporters. - Border row - Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said Friday, before the UN meeting was held, that Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia. "We are ready, if Cambodia would like to settle this matter via diplomatic channels, bilaterally, or even through Malaysia, we are ready to do that. But so far we have not had any response," Nikorndej told AFP. Malaysia currently holds the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc, of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members. Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has warned that if the situation escalates, "it could develop into war." Both sides blamed each other for firing first, while Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells and a petrol station hit by at least one rocket. Cambodia has accused Thai forces of using cluster munitions. At the UN, Cambodia's envoy questioned Thailand's assertion that his country, which is smaller and less militarily developed than its neighbour, had initiated the conflict. "(The Security Council) called for both parties to (show) maximum restraint and resort to a diplomatic solution. That is what we are calling for as well," said Chhea Keo. The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbours -- both popular destinations for millions of foreign tourists -- over their shared 800-kilometre (500-mile) border. Dozens of kilometres in several areas are contested and fighting broke out between 2008 and 2011, leaving at least 28 people dead and tens of thousands displaced. A UN court ruling in 2013 settled the matter for over a decade, but the current crisis erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a new clash. burs-pdw/amj
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
President Herzog makes inaugural visit to reservists in Gaza
"It is clear that everything you do is aimed at protecting the citizens of Israel, protecting the communities in the Gaza envelope, and protecting the entire country," Herzog said. President Isaac Herzog visited IDF soldiers inside Gaza for the first time on Wednesday. The president was accompanied by Southern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor, along with several additional commanders, briefed the president on the operational situation in the sector. "When I hear and see you firsthand, it is clear that everything you do is aimed at protecting the citizens of Israel, protecting the communities in the Gaza envelope, and protecting the entire country," Herzog told the reserve soldiers of Battalion 969. "You left work, family, and routine, and came without hesitation because you knew there is no substitute for your presence. It is also important for me to reflect on the enormous burden on the reservists. We must understand that at this moment, the people of Israel must be united, and never give up for a moment." The Post visited Battalion 969 in northern Gaza The Jerusalem Post visited Battalion 969, led by Lt.-Col. (res.) T, on Thursday. The Post was visiting a new secret IDF position in northern Gaza, built by the battalion and dubbed 'Israela,' which is designed both to project power and serve as an additional forward defense line to prevent any potential invasion from getting anywhere near residential Israel. The position, along with two other nearby positions, gives a unique strategic high-ground view of Beit Hanun, Beit Lahiya, Jabalya, and Gaza City in the distance. Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Europeans meet with Iranian officials face-to-face for first time since Israel, US bombings as sanctions loom
European diplomats met with Iranians on Friday face-to-face for the first time since Israel and the U.S. bombed the country last month. The "serious, frank and detailed" meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, lasted for around four hours and the officials all agreed to meet again for continued negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. Sanctions that were lifted on Iran in 2015 after it agreed to restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program could be reimposed if Iran doesn't comply with requirements. One of Europe's E3 nations – Britain, France and Germany, who held the talks with Iran – could bring back sanctions under the "snapback" mechanism, which allows one of the European countries to bring back U.N. sanctions if Iran violates the conditions. European leaders have also said that sanctions will start being reinstated by the end of August if there is no progress on reining in Iran's nuclear program. "A possible delay in triggering snapback has been floated to the Iranians on the condition that there is credible diplomatic engagement by Iran, that they resume full cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and that they address concerns about their highly-enriched uranium stockpile," a European diplomat said on condition of anonymity before the talks on Friday. The diplomat added that the snapback mechanism "remains on the table." Iran said that the U.S. needs to rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal – after President Trump pulled America out of it in 2018 – saying Iran has "absolutely no trust in the United States." The U.S. bombed Iran's nuclear sites on June 22, a little over a week after Israel had bombed the country over national security concerns about its nuclear program. Iran responded by attacking Israel and a U.S. Army base in Qatar. Isreal and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on June 24. The IAEA issued a concerning report in May that said that Iran's stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium had grown by nearly 50% in three months.
