25/07/2025

FRIDAY | JULY 25, 2025

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Thai fighter jet strikes Cambodia in renewed clash

6.3-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HITS INDONESIA JAKARTA: A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Gorontalo province yesterday, according to the country’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, reported Xinhua. The quake occurred at 3.50am local time (2050 GMT on Wednesday), with its epicentre located 8km on land southeast of Pohuwato Regency at a depth of 132km. “No tsunami warning has been issued as the tremor is not expected to generate large waves,“ said Gorontalo city disaster management agency secretary Hendry Ticoalu. He added that there have been no initial reports of damage or casualties. – Bernama-Xinhua SIX STUDENTS DROWN AFTER FALLING INTO MINE IN CHINA BEIJING: Six university students drowned while on a field visit to a mine owned by Shanghai-listed Zhongjin Gold Corp in northern China’s Inner Mongolia region on Wednesday. The tragedy occurred when the students from Northeastern University in Shenyang fell into a flotation cell at the copper molybdenum mine after the collapse of protective grates, said Zhongjin Gold, a subsidiary of state-owned China National Gold Group Co, in a stock exchange filing. – Reuters women claimed that they were made to take off their underwear and subjected to non-consensual gynaecological inspections by a nurse in ambulances on the tarmac. Federal Court Justice John Halley dismissed the claims against Qatar Airways last year, finding that they had no reasonable prospect of success and that Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority amounted to a foreign state immune from Australian law. Yesterday, the full Federal Court overturned the ruling, saying the issue was too complex to be dismissed summarily. “Whether or not the claims come within the scope of (the Montreal Convention) is a matter of some complexity,“ the judgement said. “It is not an issue apt to be decided at the stage of summary dismissal.” The judgment allows the women to continue their lawsuit against Qatar Airways and Matar. Both companies were ordered to pay the costs of the appeal. “Our clients endured a traumatic experience on that night in Doha, and they deserve to have their day in court and compensation for their suffering,“ said Damian Sturzaker from Marque Lawyers, representing the women. – Reuters

BR I E F S

BANGKOK: Thailand’s military deployed an F-16 fighter jet against Cambodia’s Armed Forces yesterday, the Thai army said, as weeks of tension over a border dispute escalated into clashes that have killed at least two civilians. Of the six fighter jets that Thailand has readied to deploy along the disputed border, one fired into Cambodia and destroyed a military target, the Thai army said. Both countries accused each other of starting the clash yesterday. “We have used air power against military targets as planned,” Thai army deputy spokesperson Richa Suksuwanon told reporters. Cambodia’s Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation on o Bangkok claims Phnom Penh forces opened fire along border

SYDNEY: Five Australian women who say they were pulled from a Qatar Airways flight by armed guards and strip searched have won the right to sue the airline after a court yesterday overturned an earlier decision to throw out the case. Women on 10 Qatar Airways flights, including 13 Australians, were subjected to invasive examinations to see if they had recently given birth after a newborn baby was found abandoned at Doha’s Hamad Airport in October 2020. The incident made headlines around the world, sparked outrage in Australia and strained diplomatic ties with Qatar. A group of five women on a Sydney-bound flight launched legal proceedings in 2022 against Qatar Airways, airport operator Matar and Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority. They brought claims under the Montreal Convention, which covers airline liability, negligence, assault and false imprisonment. They sought damages for the impact on their mental health, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, stemming from the “unlawful physical contact”. After being escorted off their flight by armed Qatari authorities, some lowest level yesterday. According to Agency Kampuchea Press, ties were reduced to the Second Charge d’Affaires level. Cambodian diplomatic staff based in Bangkok will also be recalled. The Thai diplomatic mission in Phnom Penh has been instructed to do the same, according to the report. Tensions between the two countries have been escalating since May 28, when a deadly clash broke out between Thai and Cambodian troops along the disputed Preah Vihear border area. One Cambodian soldier was killed in that exchange of fire. The two Southeast Asian neighbours have been disputing an 817km undemarcated border for decades. The issue continues to sour diplomatic ties. Thailand’s embassy in Phnom Penh yesterday urged its nationals to leave Cambodia. It said Thais should leave Cambodia “as soon as possible” unless they have urgent reasons to remain. – Bernama

86 villages near the border to safer locations. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s influential former premier Hun Sen said two Cambodian provinces have come under shelling from the Thai military. Agency Kampuchea Press also reported that armed clashes took place in Oddar Meanchey province along the Cambodia-Thailand border. “Cambodian forces acted strictly within the bounds of self-defence, responding to an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops that violated our territorial integrity,” said Cambodian National Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt-Gen Maly Socheata. On Wednesday, the Thai government downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia in immediate retaliation after a Thai soldier sustained injuries from what the government claimed was a newly planted landmine. The Cambodian government reciprocated by lowering its diplomatic ties with Thailand to the

the air strike. A fresh clash between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted yesterday morning along the disputed border, amid heightened tensions following a downgrade of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In a statement, the Thai army said the skirmish occurred near the Ta Muen Thom Temple, located in Thailand’s northeastern Surin province. It said the confrontation allegedly occurred after Cambodian forces opened fire along the Thai-Cambodian border. “The Cambodian side was observed deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle for reconnaissance before dispatching troops equipped with heavy weapons to engage in the clash.” Surin’s Kabcheing district chief Sutthirot Charoenthanasak said: “Artillery shell fell on people’s homes.” “Two people have died,” he said, adding that district authorities have evacuated 40,000 civilians from

Group wins right to sue airline over strip searches

Philippines cancels classes, flights as typhoon nears MANILA: The Philippines shut schools and cancelled flights yesterday as torrential rains driven by a typhoon and a separate tropical storm pounded the country’s northern island of Luzon. Typhoon Co-May , upgraded from a tropical storm overnight, follows days of monsoon rains that have killed at least 12 people and left eight missing across the archipelago since July 18, according to the national disaster agency.

With maximum sustained winds of 120kph, the typhoon is expected to make landfall on the west coast in either La Union or Ilocos Sur province by today, the country’s weather service said. About 70 domestic and international flights have been cancelled due to the storms, the civil aviation authority said. The government announced the suspension of classes across Luzon yesterday. Tens of thousands were displaced across Manila earlier this week by floodwaters that swamped some neighbourhoods in waist-deep water and left residents of nearby provinces stranded and in need of rescue by boat. As of yesterday, at least several thousand people in Manila remained unable to return to their homes.

Typhoon Co-May follows days of monsoon rains that have killed at least 12 people and left eight missing across the archipelago since July 18, according to the national disaster agency. – AFPPIC

210km off the country’s west coast as of 11am (0300 GMT) yesterday. Tropical storm Francisco was situated about 735km from the country’s east coast and on a trajectory towards northern Taiwan. The two storms are not believed to be on a collision path. – AFP

“We cannot send them home yet because it is still raining and some typhoons are still expected to affect the country,“ said Manila rescue coordinator Ria Mei Pangilinan. “There might be more (evacuees) if the rain does not stop.” Typhoon Co-May was about

18 held over forged degrees in Hong Kong HONG KONG: Eighteen people were arrested for using forged degrees to apply for Hong Kong’s Top Talent Pass Scheme, reported Xinhua. The Hong Kong Special they have uncovered a criminal syndicate assisting mainland residents in submitting false qualifications for the scheme.

the city and promoted a “one-stop service package”, which included forging overseas university degrees. The department added that the syndicate has been operating for about one and a half years and has processed at least 22 applications. – Bernama-Xinhua

Department assistant principal immigration officer Hui Chi-kin said the criminal syndicate monitored and tracked posts on social media platforms that shared information about Hong Kong. They then sent private messages to individuals interested in relocating to

individuals, aged between 27 and 47, were mainland residents. According to preliminary estimates by the department, each application, including follow-up services, was charged up to HK$2.5 million (RM1.34 million) in the case, which involved HK$55 million.

Among those arrested were five Hong Kong residents, aged between 42 and 56, believed to be members of the syndicate, while the remaining

Administrative Region government Immigration Department said on Wednesday it was the first time that