13/08/2025

WEDNESDAY | AUG 13, 2025

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Another Thai soldier injured by landmine near border

WARRANT HANGS OVER YOON’S WIFE SEOUL: South Korea’s former first lady, Kim Keon Hee (pic) , appeared in court for a five-hour hearing yesterday,

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but at press time the judge had yet to issue a ruling on a prosecution request for a warrant to arrest her on accusations of

Philippines voices concern over risky moves MANILA: The Philippines expressed serious concern yesterday over what it described as “dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference” by Chinese vessels during a coast guard supply mission for Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal on Monday. “Their actions not only posed a grave danger to Philippine personnel and vessels, but also resulted in the unfortunate collision between the two Chinese vessels,” the Philippine Foreign Ministry said in a statement. A Chinese navy ship collided with a smaller coast guard vessel while the latter was chasing one of the Philippine Coast Guard ships involved in the mission, according to the PCG, which captured the incident on video. China’s Defence Ministry and its embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the statement. On Monday, China’s coast guard said it took necessary measures to expel Philippine vessels from waters around the Scarborough Shoal. The Philippines said it had offered medical aid and other support to the Chinese side, including an offer to tow the damaged vessel. “The incident demonstrates the importance of international maritime rules,” the Philippine Foreign Ministry said. It reaffirmed its commitment to diplomacy and dialogue in resolving differences. A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal voided Beijing’s sweeping claims in the region, saying they had no basis under international law, a decision China rejects. Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad, Philippine navy spokesperson for the South China Sea, warned that similar incidents could happen again as long as China continued to conduct what he called “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive” activities in the strategic waterway. – Reuters undemarcated points along their 817km land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th-century Preah Vihear central to the disputes. The latest clashes that started on July 24 were the worst fighting between the countries in more than a decade, and involved exchanges of artillery fire and jet fighter sorties that killed at least 43 and left over 300,000 people displaced. The fragile ceasefire has been holding since Thailand and Cambodia agreed last week to allow Asean observers to inspect disputed border areas, ensuring that hostilities do not resume. – Reuters

between Thailand’s Sisaket and Cambodia’s Preah Vihear provinces. Two earlier incidents led to the downgrading of diplomatic relations and triggered the clashes. Bangkok accused Cambodia of planting landmines on the Thai side of the disputed border that injured soldiers on July 16 and July 23. Phnom Penh denied it had placed any new mines, saying the soldiers had veered off agreed routes and triggered old landmines left over from decades of war. It said on Saturday that it was a “proud state party” to the Ottawa Convention. Thailand and Cambodia have bickered for decades over

temple in Thailand’s Surin province, the army said in a statement. The soldier is being treated at a hospital, it said. The incident is clear evidence that Cambodia has violated the ceasefire as well as international agreements like the Ottawa Convention against landmines, Thai army spokesman Major-General Winthai Suvaree said in the statement. It was the fourth time in a few weeks that Thai soldiers have been injured by mines during patrols along the border. On Saturday, three soldiers were injured by a landmine in an area

BANGKOK: A Thai soldier was injured by a landmine near the Cambodian border yesterday, the Thai army said, a week after the Southeast Asian neighbours agreed a ceasefire following last month’s deadly five-day conflict. The soldier’s left ankle was severely injured when he stepped on the mine while patrolling along a routine border route about a kilometre from Ta Moan Thom o Ceasefire holding despite incident

graft.If detained, she would be South Korea’s only former first lady to be arrested, joining her husband, ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, in jail. The charges against her range from stock fraud to bribery and illegal influence peddling. Kim’s lawyers have denied the accusations against her and dismissed as groundless news reports about gifts she allegedly received. – Reuters TAIWAN PREPARES FOR NEW TYPHOON TAIPEI: Authorities in Taiwan were scrambling yesterday to evacuate hundreds ahead of a possible landfall by Typhoon Podul on the island’s southeastern coast, while nearby areas battle to recover from earlier floods. The typhoon, packing gusts of as much as 155kph, was heading for the southeastern city of Taitung as it intensifies and was expected to make landfall today. In the eastern county of Hualien, nearly 700 people will be evacuated to guard against the risk of overflow from a natural dam formed after a landslide caused by a previous typhoon. After making landfall, the storm was expected to hit the densely populated western coast. – Reuters HIMALAYAN FLOOD TOLL ESTIMATED AT 70 NEW DELHI: Indian officials say at least 68 people are unaccounted for a week after a deadly wall of icy water swept away a Himalayan town and buried it in mud. On top of four people reported killed, it takes the likely toll of the Aug 5 disaster to more than 70 dead. Videos broadcast by survivors showed a terrifying surge of muddy water sweeping away apartments. Disaster officials said they were searching for corpses in the tourist town of Dharali in Uttarakhand. Gambhir Singh Chauhan, from the National Disaster Response Force, said sniffer dogs had identified several sites indicating there was a body. He said teams were also using ground penetrating radar. – AFP WHALES HANG OUT WITH DOLPHINS: STUDY SYDNEY: Whales and dolphins often engage in friendly encounters, according to a study published by researchers at Australia’s Griffith University yesterday. The study, led by whale researcher Olaf Meynecke, analysed 199 encounters between baleen whales and dolphins in 17 countries, using photos and videos from social media and drone footage. About a quarter of the interactions were judged to be positive and mutual. Humpback whales were seen rolling onto their sides, showing their bellies or slowly approaching dolphins. Dolphins often initiated contact, typically near the whale’s head. “The assumption is that dolphins stay within sight of the whales to be seen,” Meynecke said. – Bernama

MAKING MERIT ... Buddhist monks receive offerings during a ceremony to celebrate the 93rd birthday of Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit in Narathiwat, southern Thailand yesterday. – AFPPIC Art show ‘distorts’ policies, says China

BEIJING: China accused the organisers of an exhibition in Thailand of promoting fallacies about its policies on Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong after the show’s co curator said artworks were removed or altered at Beijing’s request. As China builds influence in Southeast Asia, regional governments are treading cautiously as they balance cooperation with the world’s second biggest economy against concerns about political sovereignty. Replying to Reuters’ queries about the exhibition, which opened in the Thai capital on July 24, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday it distorted Chinese policies and “undermined China’s core interests and political dignity”. It neither confirmed nor denied that the Chinese embassy was

Machinery Authoritarian Solidarity”, had a theme of authoritarian governments and featured works by artists in exile. Its co-curator, Sai, an artist from Myanmar who goes by one name, said China’s response showed it was “engaging in systematic political manipulation far beyond its borders”, such as in his own country, where Beijing backs the ruling military. If the claims about ethnic minority causes were true, he said, there would have been no need to send officials “into galleries in Thailand, no need to black out artists’ names and no need to threaten institutions into compliance.” Sai said: “Censorship is never the weapon of those confident in the strength of their ideas.” – Reuters of

behind the removal and alteration. “The fact that the relevant country took timely measures precisely shows that the promotion of the fallacies of ‘Tibetan independence’, ‘East Turkestan Islamic Movement’ and ‘Hong Kong independence’ has no market internationally and is unpopular,” it said. The gallery and Thailand’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre, one of Thailand’s top galleries, removed or altered artworks on Hong Kong as well as the Chinese government’s treatment of ethnic minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang at the request of the Chinese embassy. The show, titled “Constellation of Complicity: Visualising the Global