Latest news with #SingaporeSMRT
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Behind deadly Thai-Cambodian clashes, a bitter spat between two dynastic leaders
Many had believed that the personal relationship between Mr Thaksin Shinawatra (left) and Mr Hun Sen would be the glue holding the two neighbours together. SURIN PROVINCE, Thailand – After his daughter was sidelined from political office by a damaging phone call with Cambodia's leader in July, Thai power broker Thaksin Shinawatra broke his silence to a roomful of politicians and journalists. He had a stunning message to deliver: His decades-long relationship with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen was over. 'I used to be close to him – like brothers,' Mr Thaksin said. 'But after what he did to my daughter, I was shocked. How could this even happen?' For years, many had believed that the personal relationship between Mr Thaksin, 75, and Mr Hun Sen, 72, would be the glue holding the two neighbours together despite an intractable border dispute. Both were among South-east Asia's most seasoned politicians, bound by a friendship spanning 33 years and by their shared dynastic ambitions, with children who were elevated to power within a year of each other. Now, a rift has opened up between the two men, bewildering even Mr Thaksin himself and shocking insiders. And the fallout has been severe, with Thai and Cambodian troops exchanging fire in the deadliest clashes in over a decade. Analysts say they worry that the animosities could spiral out of control. 'I was surprised how two close friends for so many years ended up practically overnight in such an escalation,' said Mr Kantathi Suphamongkhon, who was Thailand's foreign minister from 2005 to 2006 when Mr Thaksin was premier. 'This is something that I never expected – how that friendship can break apart so spectacularly.' On July 25, clashes at the border entered their second day, sending thousands fleeing from their homes and bringing the death toll to at least 16 people. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Multimedia Lights dim at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at singing club Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Cambodian officials reported Thai strikes at seven sites, and a Cambodian military convoy was seen moving ammunition toward a contested temple, suggesting that de-escalation was not imminent. In the hours after fighting began on July 24, Mr Thaksin and Mr Hun Sen lobbed insults at each other on social media. Mr Thaksin said many countries had offered to mediate, but that he wanted to 'let the Thai military do their duty to teach Hun Sen a lesson about his cunning ways first'. Mr Hun Sen fired back at Mr Thaksin on Facebook while referring to himself in the third person: 'Now, under the pretext of taking revenge on Hun Sen, he is resorting to war, the ultimate consequence of which will be the suffering of the people.' Analysts say Mr Hun Sen has sought to exploit the turmoil within the Thai government to shore up his own legitimacy. Even opposition figures in Cambodia have taken the government's side, arguing that the disputed temples that lie along the border belong to the country. A crisis can also help solidify the nationalist credentials of Mr Hun Manet, the current prime minister and Mr Hun Sen's son, who has implied that Cambodia's one-party rule is better than the domestic chaos in Thailand because there is 'no confusion or conflicting orders'. The political standing of Mr Thaksin, a billionaire tycoon, and his ruling Pheu Thai party have both weakened since he struck a deal with the royalist-military establishment in 2022 to end 15 years of exile, alienating some of his core supporters. Despite that deal, in recent months, the Thai government has appeared increasingly at odds with the country's powerful military. And while he is still the most influential person in Thai politics, Mr Thaksin's hold on power is tenuous – he is fighting a criminal royal defamation charge that could send him to prison for as long as 15 years. For decades, Mr Thaksin and Mr Hun Sen worked to anchor their personal and political fortunes together. In 2001, they signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue the extraction of oil and gas in the Gulf of Thailand. But that plan ultimately fizzled because of resistance from Mr Thaksin's rivals. Mr Hun Sen and Mr Thaksin remained close even after Mr Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup. Mr Hun Sen appointed Mr Thaksin as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government, and allowed him and his sister, Yingluck, who was also overthrown in a coup, to seek refuge in his home in Cambodia. Mr Hun Sen later said he named the bedrooms the 'Thaksin room' and the 'Yingluck room'. In Thailand, though, this closeness with Mr Hun Sen has often been regarded with suspicion by Mr Thaksin's political opponents, particularly those in the military and conservative establishment. Mr Thaksin has never been able to shake off the view held by many that he is interested only in his personal gain. 'The aspirations and the dream of wealth of the two families have not been realised,' said Mr Kasit Piromya, another former foreign minister of Thailand. He said Mr Hun Sen probably saw this as a failure on Mr Thaksin's part. 'Hun Sen was in total control of his country, and he could carry out his end of the bargain. But Thaksin has been losing that lustre and control of the Thai society for the past 20 years.' After Mr Thaksin returned to Thailand in 2023, he increasingly positioned the country to be an economic competitor to Cambodia. He floated the idea of an entertainment complex that would rival the casinos in Cambodia, a lucrative source of revenue for Mr Hun Sen and his fellow tycoons. Analysts say Mr Hun Sen was probably feeling threatened by Thailand's warning to cut off electricity in the border area and its subsequent arrest warrants against tycoons operating casinos and online scam compounds in the area. The relationship between the two historical rivals has long been fraught because of the dispute over the undefined 500-mile-long border as well as over claims to ancient temples. In 2003, Cambodians rioted in the capital, Phnom Penh, after a Thai actor was reported to have said that Angkor Wat, the Cambodian temple, belonged to her country. Much of the fighting has centred around the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple. The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but Thailand has continued to claim the surrounding land. According to Mr Kantathi, Mr Hun Sen in 2006 invited Mr Thaksin to make a friendly visit to the Preah Vihear temple and land a helicopter near it. Mr Kantathi said he urged Mr Thaksin not to go, warning that Cambodia could use the visit to strengthen its territorial claims to the areas claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand. A visit by a Thai prince in the early 1930s, when Cambodia was a French colony, was later cited by Cambodia to bolster its argument at the International Court of Justice, he said. The Thai prince did not complain about the hoisting of the French flag during his visit, which the court said amounted to his tacit consent to French-Cambodian control. Mr Thaksin ultimately cancelled the trip. The proposed trip has not been made public, but Mr Jakrapob Penkair, a longtime associate of Mr Thaksin, confirmed that Mr Thaksin had told him about it. Mr Thaksin could not immediately be reached for comment. Mr Hun Sen's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The dispute over the temple escalated significantly in 2008 when Cambodia listed Preah Vihear as a Unesco World Heritage Site, leading to deadly military encounters in 2008 and 2011. In 2025, tensions rose again when Thai and Cambodian soldiers clashed briefly, killing a Cambodian soldier in late May. Two weeks after that, Mr Thaksin's daughter and the then prime minister of Thailand, Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra, tried to call Mr Hun Sen to discuss the crisis. She was unable to reach him, but Mr Hun Sen later called Ms Paetongtarn's personal number, according to Mr Thaksin, who recounted his version of the events at a seminar in Bangkok. Three days later, Mr Hun Sen posted the audio recording of that call on Facebook. The Thai public heard Ms Paetongtarn calling Mr Hun Sen 'uncle' and telling him to ignore 'the opposite side', a reference to the Thai military. It led to calls for her resignation and multiple complaints. One complaint filed by 36 senators at the Constitutional Court led to her suspension in July. Mr Thaksin said: 'I was wrong to trust someone like Hun Sen.' Upon learning that 12,000 Cambodian troops had been mobilised to the border in June, he called the translator who had facilitated his daughter's call with Mr Hun Sen and told him: 'You tell your boss – our children are prime ministers of both countries. Are we going to war now?' The July 24 clashes may have been an indication of the dangerous direction the two countries are heading. Thailand said Cambodia fired rockets into civilian areas and that it responded by sending F-16 fighter jets to bomb targets in Cambodia – a rare deployment of the jets for combat in the region. Cambodian officials said Thai soldiers had opened fire on Cambodian troops first, at a temple. NYTIMES
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ukraine facing fierce fighting around eastern city of Pokrovsk, Zelensky says
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A May 2025 photo shows Ukrainian officials who evacuate people from front-line towns and villages in Pokrovsk, in Ukraine's Donetsk region. KYIV - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 25 that Ukrainian forces were facing fierce fighting around the city of Pokrovsk in the east, a logistics hub near which Russia has been announcing the capture of villages on an almost daily basis. Mr Zelensky, speaking in his nightly video address, said Ukraine's top commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, told a meeting of senior officials that the situation around Pokrovsk was the current focal point of its attention in the war, which began when Russia invaded in February 2022. 'All operational directions were covered, with particular focus on Pokrovsk. It receives the most attention,' Mr Zelensky said. Ukrainian forces, he said, were also 'continuing to act' in border areas in the northern Sumy region, where Russian troops have gained a foothold in recent weeks. Gen Syrskyi, in a separate report on the Telegram messaging app, described Pokrovsk and five other sectors as among the most difficult theatres along the 1,000km front. 'The Russian Federation is paying the maximum price for attempting a 'summer offensive',' Gen Syrskyi wrote. Russian forces have for months been trying to close in on Pokrovsk, a road and rail hub whose pre-war population of about 60,000 has been all but evacuated. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Singapore S'pore could have nuclear energy 'within a few years', if it decides on it: UN nuclear watchdog chief Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Life 'Do you kill children?': Even before independence, S'pore has always loved its over-the-top campaigns Singapore Lung damage, poor brain development, addiction: What vaping does to the body Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Gen Syrskyi in May reported that Kyiv's troops had stabilised the situation around the town, also the site of the only colliery in Ukraine producing coking coal for the country's steel industry. Russia's Defence Ministry on July 24 announced the capture of two villages on either side of Pokrovsk - Zvirove to the west and Novoekonomichne to the east. A third village near the city - Novotoretske - was declared by Moscow to be 'liberated' earlier in the week. Ukrainian officials have made no acknowledgement that the villages have changed hands. The General Staff of Ukraine's military said in an evening report that two of them - Zvirove and Novoekonomichne - were in areas where Russian troops were trying to penetrate Ukrainian defences. In the Sumy region, where Russian troops are trying to establish what Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin calls a 'buffer zone', the popular Ukrainian military blog DeepState said Kyiv's forces had retaken a previously lost village. DeepState, which relies on open source reports to track the presence of Russian forces, said Ukrainian troops had restored control over the village of Kindrativka. There was no official comment from either side. REUTERS
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ukraine facing fierce fighting around eastern city of Pokrovsk, Zelenskiy says
FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a press briefing following phone calls with U.S. President Donald Trump, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, May 19, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that Ukrainian forces were facing fierce fighting around the city of Pokrovsk in the east, a logistics hub near which Russia has been announcing the capture of villages on an almost daily basis. Zelenskiy, speaking in his nightly video address, said Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, told a meeting of senior officials that the situation around Pokrovsk was the current focal point of its attention in the war, which began when Russia invaded in February 2022. "All operational directions were covered, with particular focus on Pokrovsk. It receives the most attention," Zelenskiy said. Ukrainian forces, he said, were also "continuing to act" in border areas in the northern Sumy region, where Russian troops have gained a foothold in recent weeks. Syrskyi, in a separate report on the Telegram messaging app, described Pokrovsk and five other sectors as among the most difficult theatres along the 1,000-km (620-mile) front. "The Russian Federation is paying the maximum price for attempting a 'summer offensive,'" Syrskyi wrote. Russian forces have for months been trying to close in on Pokrovsk, a road and rail hub whose pre-war population of about 60,000 has been all but evacuated. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Singapore S'pore could have nuclear energy 'within a few years', if it decides on it: UN nuclear watchdog chief Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict enters second day Life 'Do you kill children?': Even before independence, S'pore has always loved its over-the-top campaigns Singapore Lung damage, poor brain development, addiction: What vaping does to the body Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Syrskyi in May reported that Kyiv's troops had stabilised the situation around the town, also the site of the only colliery in Ukraine producing coking coal for the country's steel industry. Russia's Defence Ministry on Thursday announced the capture of two villages on either side of Pokrovsk -- Zvirove to the west and Novoekonomichne to the east. A third village near the city -- Novotoretske -- was declared by Moscow to be "liberated" earlier in the week. Ukrainian officials have made no acknowledgement that the villages have changed hands. The General Staff of Ukraine's military said in an evening report that two of them -- Zvirove and Novoekonomichne - were in areas where Russian troops were trying to penetrate Ukrainian defences. In Sumy region, where Russian troops are trying to establish what Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin calls a "buffer zone", the popular Ukrainian military blog DeepState said Kyiv's forces had retaken a previously lost village. DeepState, which relies on open source reports to track the presence of Russian forces, said Ukrainian troops had restored control over the village of Kindrativka. There was no official comment from either side. REUTERS
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Trump has not considered clemency for Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A 2020 photo showing the announcement of charges against Ghislaine Maxwell, pictured (left) with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said on July 25 he has not considered granting a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, even as her attorney indicated she would "welcome any relief." Mr Trump's remarks came as the White House is facing a political furore over Epstein's case and renewed questions over his past relationship with the disgraced financier, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019. 'It's something I haven't thought about,' Mr Trump told reporters, when asked about the possibility of a pardon for Maxwell. 'I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about.' Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida, after being found guilty in 2021 of helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. She is currently appealing her sentence. Maxwell completed a second day of interviews with Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche in Tallahassee, Florida, on July 25 after the Justice Department reached out to her lawyers to see if she had additional information about the case. Mr David Markus, a lawyer for Maxwell, told reporters she answered questions truthfully, but declined to detail what was discussed. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Singapore S'pore could have nuclear energy 'within a few years', if it decides on it: UN nuclear watchdog chief Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict enters second day Life 'Do you kill children?': Even before independence, S'pore has always loved its over-the-top campaigns Singapore Lung damage, poor brain development, addiction: What vaping does to the body Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly 'The truth will come out about what happened with Mr Epstein and she's the person who's answering those questions,' Mr Markus said. Mr Markus said Maxwell has not asked for anything from the US government in exchange for her testimony and has not held discussions about a pardon. But he added that Maxwell would 'welcome any relief,' deploring her treatment in federal prison. The role of Mr Blanche, the second-highest ranking official at the Justice Department and a former personal lawyer to Mr Trump, was unusual. Senior officials typically do not personally conduct investigative interviews. More information Mr Trump has been under growing pressure from his supporters and political opponents to release more information about the Justice Department's investigation into Epstein, the disgraced financier who officials ruled died by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. After Attorney-General Pam Bondi earlier this year promised to release additional materials related to possible Epstein clients and the circumstances surrounding his death, the Justice Department reversed course this month and issued a memo concluding there was no basis to continue investigating and no evidence of a client list. Those findings sparked an angry outcry from some of Mr Trump's base of supporters who have long believed the government was covering up Epstein's ties to the rich and powerful. Asked about the meeting between Mr Blanche and Maxwell, Mr Trump said on July 25 he wasn't aware of the details, only that it was taking place. He then pivoted to other claims, suggesting other high-profile figures should face scrutiny over their ties to Epstein. 'They don't talk about them. They talk about me. I have nothing to do with the guy,' Mr Trump said. Mr Trump appeared with Epstein at social events in the 1990s and early 2000s. Mr Trump's name, along with many other high-profile individuals, appeared multiple times on flight logs for Epstein's private plane in the 1990s. Mr Trump has denied ever being on the plane and has not been accused of any wrongdoing. REUTERS
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Straits Times
Two teens jailed in UK over murder of 14-year-old on London bus
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The attackers, aged 16 and 15 at the time, pleaded guilty to stabbing Kelyan Bokassa 27 times with machetes. LONDON - A British judge on July 25 sentenced two teenagers to life in prison, with a minimum term of 15 years, for stabbing to death a 14-year-old boy on a London bus earlier this year. The attack in January reignited debates around gang violence and the ongoing problem of knife crime that has plagued the British capital and other UK cities for years. On Jan 7, Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed 27 times with machetes on the bus in Woolwich in south-east London. He later died from his injuries, after the arrival of emergency services. The attackers, aged 16 and 15 at the time, were arrested later that month. They pleaded guilty to the murder in May. A judge at London's Old Bailey court sentenced the pair to life in prison, ordering they be considered for parole after 15 years and 110 days in detention. One boy was as a 'victim of child criminal exploitation,' said Judge Mark Lucraft, adding that he had faced 'a history of trauma'. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Singapore S'pore could have nuclear energy 'within a few years', if it decides on it: UN nuclear watchdog chief Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict enters second day Life 'Do you kill children?': Even before independence, S'pore has always loved its over-the-top campaigns Singapore Lung damage, poor brain development, addiction: What vaping does to the body Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly The second boy was also exploited by gangs from the age of 12 and experienced 'undiagnosed developmental needs,' the judge said. 'It is sadly an all too frequent senseless loss of yet another young life to the horrors of knife crime' which 'no sentence of a court can ever truly reflect,' Judge Lucraft said. Kelyan's mother, Ms Marie Bokassa, addressed the court, asking 'how can children behave like this?' 'What have the children been exposed to, to show such behaviour as this?' she added. Shortly after the murder, the victim's mother had told the press that her son was also exploited by gangs in the Woolwich area of south-east London. In 2024, 10 teenagers were fatally stabbed in London, after 18 in 2023, according to the Met Police. In September 2024, a 15-year-old boy, reportedly a close friend of Kelyan, was also stabbed to death in Woolwich, in what a prosecutor described as a gang retaliation linked to a turf war. AFP
