Page 5 - Thailand

Thai, Cambodian forces clash as border dispute leaves at least 11 dead

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 has also sealed all land border crossings while urging its citizens to leave Cambodia. The Southeast Asian neighbours have longstanding border disputes that periodically flare along their 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier and usually result in brief confrontations that sometimes involves exchang

Explained: Why Thailand and Cambodia are clashing over ancient temples

Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty along parts of their 817-km border for over a century, resulting in repeated skirmishes over the years

At least 9 killed, 14 injured in Thailand-Cambodia border clash

Thai and Cambodian soldiers fired at each other in contested border area Thursday after the nations downgraded their diplomatic relations in a rapidly escalating dispute. It was not immediately clear if the clash was ongoing. A livestream video from Thailand's side showed people running from their homes and hiding in a concrete bunker Thursday morning as explosions sounded periodically. The clash happened in an area where the ancient Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple stands along the border of Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia Oddar Meanchey province. Both Thailand and Cambodia accused each other of opening fire first. Earlier, Cambodia said it was downgrading diplomatic relations with Thailand to their lowest level and recalling all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok. That was in response to Thailand closing its northeastern border crossings with Cambodia, withdrawing its ambassador and expelling the Cambodian ambassador to protest a land mine blast that wounded five Thai

Thailand closes border with Cambodia, recalls ambassador amid tensions

Thailand said Wednesday it is closing northeastern border crossings with Cambodia, withdrawing its ambassador to the neighboring country and expelling the Cambodian ambassador to protest a landmine blast in which a Thai soldier lost a leg. A Thai Army statement said four other soldiers also were wounded Wednesday when one of them stepped on a land mine that Thailand blamed on Cambodia and said took place in Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province. Cambodia disputed that account, saying the blast happened in its Preah Vihear province. It occurred in one of several small patches of land along the border that both lay claim to and which is treated as a no-man's land. The explosion drew a swift response from the Thai government. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the Foreign Ministry would make an official protest to Cambodia, and further measures would be considered. The injuries Wednesday came a week after three other Thai soldiers were wounded when one of them stepped on a

610 antiquities retrieved from six countries in five years, says govt

A total of 610 antiquities were retrieved from the US, the UK and four other countries over the last five years, the government informed Parliament on Monday. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared this information in a written reply to a question on whether the government has conducted any survey or study regarding theft of Indian artefacts in the last five years; and details of the total number of artefacts recovered, still missing and unaccounted for over the same period. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains up-to-date data of theft cases in respect of protected monuments, sites and museums under its jurisdiction, he said. On retrieval of antiquities from abroad, according to the data shared by him, in 2020, three artefacts were brought back from Australia and five from the UK. In 2021, 157 antiquities were brought back from the US and one each from Canada and the UK. In 2023 and 2024, the figures stood at 105 (the US) and 297 (the US) ...

India becomes second-largest air passenger mkt for Thailand this summer

In the summer of pre-Covid 2019, India was Thailand's sixth-largest international airlines market

Thailand's nomad visa for remote workers and freelancers: Decoded

Thailand's Destination Thailand Visa draws 35,000+ applicants in a year, offering a five-year stay option for digital nomads, remote workers and wellness tourists

Thailand to cut tariffs on 90% of US goods to avoid Trump trade levy

Thailand is one of the Southeast Asian countries racing to finalize terms with the US

Thailand court suspends Prime Minister Shinawatra over leaked phone call

Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office pending an investigation over a leaked phone call with a former Cambodian leader. The judges voted unanimously Tuesday to take the petition accusing her of a breach of ethics, and voted 7 to 2 to suspend her from duty. Paetongtarn has faced growing dissatisfaction over her handling of the latest border dispute with Cambodia, involving an armed confrontation on May 28 in which one Cambodian soldier was killed. The leaked phone call while she engaged in diplomacy over the border dispute set off a string of complaints and public protests. Paetongtarn said Monday she would accept and follow the court process although she didn't want to see her work interrupted. If you ask me whether I'm worried, I am, she told reporters. Earlier Tuesday, King Maha Vajiralongkorn had endorsed a Cabinet reshuffle forced when a major party left Paetongtarn's coalition government over the leaked phone call. The ...

A look at soaring border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh on Wednesday for a march to show their solidarity with the government and military, amid soaring tensions with neighbouring Thailand following a border row that erupted last month. Here's what to know about the latest dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbours. What was the latest conflict about? The recent dispute was triggered in May after armed forces of Thailand and Cambodia briefly fired at each other in a relatively small no man's land constituting territory along their border that both countries claim as their own. Both sides have said they acted in self-defence. One Cambodian soldier was killed. While the countries said afterwards they have agreed to de-escalate the situation, Cambodian and Thai authorities continue to implement or threaten measures short of armed force at each other, keeping tensions high. Thailand has added restrictions at the border such as limiting crossing times and barring

Air India flight makes emergency landing in Phuket after bomb threat

A Delhi-bound Air India flight, carrying 156 passengers, turned back to Phuket International Airport on Friday after crew received a bomb threat

Thai wedding, 19 plots, 4 flats: Telangana engineer arrested in graft case

Raids by Anti-Corruption Bureau reveal Telangana irrigation engineer's lavish lifestyle: luxury villa, hotel stakes, crores in cash, gold, and land linked to alleged corruption

Philippines eyes India, Thailand rice to reduce reliance on Vietnam

The agriculture department is in talks with private importers on purchases from producers like India, Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar

Covid-19 wave returns in Asia, cases increase in Hong Kong, Singapore

Covid-19 cases are rising sharply across Asia, with Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Thailand reporting spikes. However, despite rising cases elsewhere in Asia, India has not reported any increase

Thailand reports anthrax outbreak after rare death: What you should know

Anthrax outbreak in Thailand prompts public health alert after first fatality in 30 years, with 98 under surveillance and 636 receiving antibiotics as precautionary treatment

Anthrax alert in Thailand: Travellers must follow these govt guidelines

Thailand reports rare anthrax case after decades, travellers asked to avoid raw meat and stay alert in affected areas

Thailand travel from May 1: New pre-departure digital form a must

The online card replaces the previously used paper form and is mandatory for foreigners entering the country by air, land or sea

Thailand launches Digital Arrival card for foreign visitors amid crackdown

Starting Monday, travelers can fill up the Thailand Digital Arrival Card for trips beginning Thursday. The online card replaces the previously used paper form, and is mandatory for all foreigners

Six killed as police plane crashes near popular beach town in Thailand

A small police plane crashed into the sea near a popular beach town in Thailand, killing all six people on board, officials said. The plane was conducting a test flight to prepare for parachute training in Hua Hin district before it crashed around 8 am, said Royal Thai Police spokesperson Archayon Kraithong. Officials did not immediately share the model of the propeller plane, but photos from the scene appear to show a Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter. The plane crashed near Hua Hin Airport, said the public relations department of Prachuab Kiri Khan province. The photos show the plane in the sea about 100 meters off shore. The body of the plane appeared to be broken in two. All six people on board were police officers, Archayon said, adding that five died at the scene and one died later at a hospital. The cause of the crash was not immediately known. Archayon said officials are gathering evidence including data from the plane's black box.

Thailand: Great food, better sights, and plenty of cultural attractions

From idyllic tropical beaches and lush jungles to serene mountains and vibrant urban scenes, Thailand's USP lies in being a dynamic blend of affordability, rich cultural heritage