January 22, 2026
World
World
TOKYO, Jan 22 — Japan has halted the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant just hours after it began, though the reactor remains “stable,” the operator said.
SREI SNAM, Dec 9 — Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia spread today to new sections of their disputed border, with the death toll rising to 10 and more than 140,000 civilians forced to flee their homes.
Both sides have blamed each other for the renewed violence linked to their century-old border conflict. Thailand launched air strikes and deployed tanks against Cambodian positions on Monday. Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen said Phnom Penh had retaliated after initially denying any counterattack for two days.
The latest clashes are the deadliest since five days of intense fighting in July that killed dozens and displaced about 300,000 people before a ceasefire was reached. Officials said tens of thousands have evacuated border areas since hostilities resumed on Sunday.
Cambodian resident Poan Hay, 55, said she fled her home in Oddar Meanchey province on Monday after hearing gunfire, marking the fourth time she had evacuated this year due to recurring conflict.
“I am angry at the Thai army, but I ask them to stop firing at Cambodians,” she told AFP. She is now sheltering in a pagoda with relatives about 70km from the border in Siem Reap’s Srei Snam district.
“For the past five months, I have barely been able to sleep because I feared for our safety,” she said, adding that Thai jets flying along the border yesterday left her terrified.
Phnom Penh accused Thai forces of shelling border positions overnight, killing two people on a national road. Cambodia’s interior ministry said seven civilians have been killed so far this week and about 20 wounded. More than 21,000 people have been displaced from three provinces.
Cambodia’s defence ministry said Thai forces resumed attacks around 5am Tuesday in border regions, including areas near ancient temples such as the Unesco-listed Preah Vihear.
The Thai army said three of its soldiers have been killed since Monday, including one today in Surin province from indirect fire and another near Preah Vihear after a grenade attack.
Nearly 500 temporary shelters have been set up across several Thai border provinces, housing more than 125,000 evacuees, according to Thai authorities.
Thai navy spokesperson Parat Rattanachaiphan said Cambodian troops, settlements and weapon bases were detected in a disputed coastal area of Trat province, accusing Cambodia of escalating tensions by deploying drones. He said Thai forces launched an operation early Tuesday to drive them out.
Hun Sen said Cambodia had shown restraint for over 24 hours to respect the ceasefire and allow civilian evacuations before retaliating to defend itself.
The conflict stems from a century-old border dispute dating back to French colonial-era maps, with both sides claiming ownership of several historic temple sites.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand’s military would remain steadfast in defending national sovereignty.
In Thailand’s Surin province, resident Sutida Pusa, 30, said her younger and elderly family members had been moved to an evacuation centre, while others stayed behind to protect their property. Her home lies less than 20km from the border.
“We never trust the situation,” she said, recalling that the current fighting is quieter than the major clash in July.
The Thai army reported that Cambodian shells landed on two civilian homes in Sa Kaeo province, though no casualties were recorded.
The United States, China and Malaysia, as Asean chair, helped broker the July ceasefire. In October, US President Donald Trump supported a joint declaration extending the truce, linked to new trade deals with both countries. Thailand later suspended the agreement, and fresh clashes followed.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the European Union and Malaysia’s prime minister yesterday urged both sides to exercise restraint and end the fighting. — AFP
