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Pictured: Australian man, 21, who tragically died on holiday in Thailand

Pictured: Australian man, 21, who tragically died on holiday in Thailand

7NEWS2 days ago
An Australian man who died while holidaying in Thailand with friends had taken medication after suffering injuries in a motorbike crash a day earlier.
Ahmad Akkouche, 21, was found dead in a bed at The Rubber Hotel in Tambon Thepkrasattri, a northern district of Phuket, on Wednesday by a cleaner.
Police were called about 10am and arrived to find him wearing a black T-shirt and still holding his phone, according to local media reports.
Thai Police said there were no signs of a disturbance, no evidence of a break-in and no visible injuries suggesting foul play.
Police lieutenant colonel Thanom Thongpaen, from Thalang Police District, said he saw Akkouche lying on with a mobile phone resting on his chest.
'He was still on a call with someone,' he said.
'The line hadn't been disconnected and he had died like that. There were no signs of struggle or anything suspicious.
'It appeared he had been on the call for about 12 hours. The phone screen had gone dark, but we could still see the call duration and confirm he was on a call.
'We don't know who he was talking to. I tried speaking into the phone, but there was no response. The line remained active, but there was no voice on the other end. The phone was locked, so we couldn't examine it further.'
Thongpaen said there were no drugs or alcohol at the scene, but there were about '10 pills in blister packs' of over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication.
'The day before, he had a motorcycle accident and injured his elbow and wrist,' he said.
'He had asked the hotel maid to buy medicine for him from a pharmacy. He likely took the medication before he passed away.'
Thongpaen said police 'could not determine a clear cause of death', but there were 'no signs of foul play in this case'.
Akkouche was just one day away from flying home after spending several days holidaying in Thailand with friends.
He had checked into the hotel just three days earlier, on July 20, and was due to check out on July 24.
Akkouche was from western Sydney.
Loved ones announced his death in a post online.
'It is with deep sadness our beloved cousin returned to Allah,' the post reads.'Kindly remember the family and Ahmad in your Dua.
'He will be dearly missed. '
A forensic doctor was called to the hotel and took Akkouche's body to Vachira Phuket Hospital for post-mortem examination as police investigations continue.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it is 'providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Thailand'.
'Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,' a DFAT spokesperson said.
Investigations continue.
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Thai-Cambodia deadly border clashes enter third day
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Thai-Cambodia deadly border clashes enter third day

Thailand and Cambodia have traded accusations of fresh attacks, as international pressure mounted on both sides to reach a ceasefire, as the death toll climbed to at least 33. Artillery fire and gunshots were reported near several border villages, expanding the area of the fighting that flared again Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Cambodian and Thai officials claimed to have acted in retaliation. Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its northeastern border crossings with Cambodia. More than 168,000 people have been displaced in the conflict. Cambodian authorities on Saturday reported 12 new deaths, bringing its toll to 13, while Thai officials said a soldier was killed, raising the deaths to 20, mostly civilians. The regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is under growing pressure to defuse the situation between its two members. 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Cambodia's Defence Ministry condemned what it said was an expanded Thai offensive early on Saturday after five heavy artillery shells were fired into multiple locations in the province of Pursat, calling the attack an "unprovoked and premeditated act of aggression". Ministry spokesperson Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said tensions flared in the province of Koh Kong, where four Thai naval vessels were reportedly stationed offshore and four others en route. She said the naval deployment was an "act of aggression" that risked further escalation. Maly Socheata said seven civilians and five soldiers were killed in two days of fighting. Earlier, one man was reported dead after a pagoda he was hiding under was hit by Thai rockets. The Thai army had denied targeting Cambodian civilian sites and accused Phnom Penh of using "human shields" by positioning their weapons near residential areas. Thailand's navy accused Cambodian forces of initiating a new attack in the province of Trat, saying Thai forces responded swiftly and "successfully pushed back the Cambodian incursion at three key points", warning that "aggression will not be tolerated". Thai authorities also alleged several Cambodian artillery shells had landed across the border in Laos, damaging homes and property. Lao officials have not publicly responded to the claim. Cambodia's Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said on Saturday the clashes had forced 10,865 Cambodian families, or 37,635 people, in three border provinces to evacuate, while Thai officials said more than 131,000 people had fled their border villages. Human Rights Watch urged the UN Security Council to press the Thai and Cambodian governments to abide by international humanitarian law and take all steps to protect civilians. Children have been harmed and Thai authorities have closed at least 852 schools and seven hospitals for safety reasons, the rights group said. Both sides have employed rocket and artillery attacks. After initially denying Cambodian claims that internationally prohibited cluster munitions were being used, a Thai military spokesperson said that such weapons could be used: "when necessary" to target military objectives. HRW condemned the use of cluster munitions in populated areas. Neither Thailand nor Cambodia is party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use of the weapon and Thai authorities had previously used them during a border dispute with Cambodia in February 2011 that left 20 people dead. Thai officials also acknowledged the use of F-16 jets and drones to launch air strikes. Thailand and Cambodia have traded accusations of fresh attacks, as international pressure mounted on both sides to reach a ceasefire, as the death toll climbed to at least 33. 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The 800-kilometre frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief. The current tensions broke out in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics. Cambodia's Defence Ministry condemned what it said was an expanded Thai offensive early on Saturday after five heavy artillery shells were fired into multiple locations in the province of Pursat, calling the attack an "unprovoked and premeditated act of aggression". Ministry spokesperson Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said tensions flared in the province of Koh Kong, where four Thai naval vessels were reportedly stationed offshore and four others en route. She said the naval deployment was an "act of aggression" that risked further escalation. Maly Socheata said seven civilians and five soldiers were killed in two days of fighting. Earlier, one man was reported dead after a pagoda he was hiding under was hit by Thai rockets. The Thai army had denied targeting Cambodian civilian sites and accused Phnom Penh of using "human shields" by positioning their weapons near residential areas. Thailand's navy accused Cambodian forces of initiating a new attack in the province of Trat, saying Thai forces responded swiftly and "successfully pushed back the Cambodian incursion at three key points", warning that "aggression will not be tolerated". Thai authorities also alleged several Cambodian artillery shells had landed across the border in Laos, damaging homes and property. Lao officials have not publicly responded to the claim. Cambodia's Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said on Saturday the clashes had forced 10,865 Cambodian families, or 37,635 people, in three border provinces to evacuate, while Thai officials said more than 131,000 people had fled their border villages. Human Rights Watch urged the UN Security Council to press the Thai and Cambodian governments to abide by international humanitarian law and take all steps to protect civilians. Children have been harmed and Thai authorities have closed at least 852 schools and seven hospitals for safety reasons, the rights group said. Both sides have employed rocket and artillery attacks. After initially denying Cambodian claims that internationally prohibited cluster munitions were being used, a Thai military spokesperson said that such weapons could be used: "when necessary" to target military objectives. HRW condemned the use of cluster munitions in populated areas. Neither Thailand nor Cambodia is party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use of the weapon and Thai authorities had previously used them during a border dispute with Cambodia in February 2011 that left 20 people dead. Thai officials also acknowledged the use of F-16 jets and drones to launch air strikes. Thailand and Cambodia have traded accusations of fresh attacks, as international pressure mounted on both sides to reach a ceasefire, as the death toll climbed to at least 33. Artillery fire and gunshots were reported near several border villages, expanding the area of the fighting that flared again Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Cambodian and Thai officials claimed to have acted in retaliation. Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its northeastern border crossings with Cambodia. More than 168,000 people have been displaced in the conflict. Cambodian authorities on Saturday reported 12 new deaths, bringing its toll to 13, while Thai officials said a soldier was killed, raising the deaths to 20, mostly civilians. The regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is under growing pressure to defuse the situation between its two members. 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Neither Thailand nor Cambodia is party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use of the weapon and Thai authorities had previously used them during a border dispute with Cambodia in February 2011 that left 20 people dead. Thai officials also acknowledged the use of F-16 jets and drones to launch air strikes.

Thai-Cambodia deadly border clashes enter third day
Thai-Cambodia deadly border clashes enter third day

Perth Now

time5 hours ago

  • Perth Now

Thai-Cambodia deadly border clashes enter third day

Thailand and Cambodia have traded accusations of fresh attacks, as international pressure mounted on both sides to reach a ceasefire, as the death toll climbed to at least 33. Artillery fire and gunshots were reported near several border villages, expanding the area of the fighting that flared again Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Cambodian and Thai officials claimed to have acted in retaliation. Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its northeastern border crossings with Cambodia. More than 168,000 people have been displaced in the conflict. Cambodian authorities on Saturday reported 12 new deaths, bringing its toll to 13, while Thai officials said a soldier was killed, raising the deaths to 20, mostly civilians. The regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is under growing pressure to defuse the situation between its two members. During an emergency meeting on Friday, members of the UN Security Council called for de-escalation and urged ASEAN to mediate a peaceful solution. The 800-kilometre frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief. The current tensions broke out in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics. Cambodia's Defence Ministry condemned what it said was an expanded Thai offensive early on Saturday after five heavy artillery shells were fired into multiple locations in the province of Pursat, calling the attack an "unprovoked and premeditated act of aggression". Ministry spokesperson Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said tensions flared in the province of Koh Kong, where four Thai naval vessels were reportedly stationed offshore and four others en route. She said the naval deployment was an "act of aggression" that risked further escalation. Maly Socheata said seven civilians and five soldiers were killed in two days of fighting. Earlier, one man was reported dead after a pagoda he was hiding under was hit by Thai rockets. The Thai army had denied targeting Cambodian civilian sites and accused Phnom Penh of using "human shields" by positioning their weapons near residential areas. Thailand's navy accused Cambodian forces of initiating a new attack in the province of Trat, saying Thai forces responded swiftly and "successfully pushed back the Cambodian incursion at three key points", warning that "aggression will not be tolerated". Thai authorities also alleged several Cambodian artillery shells had landed across the border in Laos, damaging homes and property. Lao officials have not publicly responded to the claim. Cambodia's Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said on Saturday the clashes had forced 10,865 Cambodian families, or 37,635 people, in three border provinces to evacuate, while Thai officials said more than 131,000 people had fled their border villages. Human Rights Watch urged the UN Security Council to press the Thai and Cambodian governments to abide by international humanitarian law and take all steps to protect civilians. Children have been harmed and Thai authorities have closed at least 852 schools and seven hospitals for safety reasons, the rights group said. Both sides have employed rocket and artillery attacks. After initially denying Cambodian claims that internationally prohibited cluster munitions were being used, a Thai military spokesperson said that such weapons could be used: "when necessary" to target military objectives. HRW condemned the use of cluster munitions in populated areas. Neither Thailand nor Cambodia is party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use of the weapon and Thai authorities had previously used them during a border dispute with Cambodia in February 2011 that left 20 people dead. Thai officials also acknowledged the use of F-16 jets and drones to launch air strikes.

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