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A protester reacts as they are taken away by police officers at a “Lift The Ban” demonstration in support of the Palestine Action, calling for the…
Six weeks after a ceasefire ended fighting at the Thai-Cambodian border, thousands of displaced Cambodians still hope to return home, despite an election victory in Thailand by nationalists who want to wall off the disputed frontier.In Banteay Meanchey province, Proeung Sopheap, 59, was visiting her abandoned home in the border village of Prey Chan for the first time since the December clashes to collect some personal belongings and cooking utensils.”I don’t know what led to this fighting,” she said. “Like other Cambodians, I want peace, not war.”In an election last week, Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul romped to victory on a platform that includes building a wall at the border.During a visit to the area on the Cambodian side, most of the people Reuters spoke to said they knew nothing about last week’s Thai vote or what the implications might be for the area.Pich Vorn, displaced from the neighbouring village of Chouk Chey, said he just wanted his house and land back.”Even if it is small, it is where I have lived for many years.”The worst fighting in more than a decade has left Sopheap’s village Prey Chan divided: Thai authorities say part of it is in Thailand, and have put up barbed wire fencing, now reinforced with a barrier formed of metal shipping containers.On the Thai side, authorities say all residents have been able to return home since fighting ended.But on the Cambodian side, officials estimate that about 80% of land and homes in Prey Chan and Chouk Chey communes are now inaccessible, leaving more than 4,600 people living in temporary shelters.Thailand said in a statement on Friday the installation of barriers “to enhance safety and security along the border” was “fully consistent” with the joint statement agreed by the two countries during the ceasefire on December 27.The border clashes killed at least 149 people and displaced hundreds of thousands along the 817-kilometre border (508-mile) before Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a second ceasefire in late December, after an earlier truce from July collapsed.Both sides have traded accusations of aggression. They have tussled over their shared border for decades. Source link
Three skiers died after being swept away in an avalanche in the upmarket French Alpine ski resort of Val d’Isere yesterday, Cedric Bonnevie, who is in charge of the resort’s pistes, told reporters.Bonnevie said one of the victims was a French national while the others were foreigners.He said an inquiry into the incident was underway.On Thursday Meteo France, the national weather service, placed the local area under a red alert for avalanche risk. Source link
Supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party carry a poster of him during a protest in Karachi over concerns about their…
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a majority of more than two-thirds of the seats in parliamentary polls, the Election Commission said on Friday.Election Commission figures said the BNP alliance had won 212 seats, compared with 77 for the Islamist-led Jamaat-e-Islami alliance, Commission senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters. Turnout was 59 percent. A referendum on a sweeping democratic charter was endorsed by 60 percent of voters. Source link
The death toll from Cyclone Gezani in Madagascar has climbed to at least 36, as authorities continue recovery operations following the powerful storm that struck the Indian Ocean island nation last Tuesday, disaster officials reported.The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said the cyclone, which made landfall near the eastern port city of Toamasina, inflicted widespread destruction, injuring more than 370 people and leaving six others missing. Of the confirmed deaths, 32 occurred in the Toamasina region, the country’s primary economic hub. The storm uprooted homes, flattened buildings, and displaced thousands as it tore across the island with winds exceeding 195 kilometers per hour. Authorities reported that nearly 18,000 homes were destroyed and more than 37,000 others damaged by the cyclone. President Michael Randrianirina declared a state of national disaster and appealed to the international community for urgent assistance to support relief and recovery efforts, including shelter, food, and basic necessities for affected families. Officials said many of the fatalities were caused by building collapses as the cyclone brought torrential winds and flooding to populated areas. Toamasina’s infrastructure suffered extensive damage, with reports indicating that a large portion of the city’s buildings were either severely damaged or destroyed. Cyclone Gezani’s landfall follows a series of powerful storms in recent weeks. Just last month, Cyclone Fytia hit the northwestern part of Madagascar, killing at least 14 people and displacing tens of thousands.Madagascar, located off Africa’s southeast coast, is highly vulnerable to cyclones and tropical storms originating in the Indian Ocean, with frequent seasonal impacts that compound the country’s ongoing development challenges. Source link
Escalating settler attacks have forced seven Palestinian families to dismantle their homes and leave the Al Mitah community in the northern Jordan Valley.According to Mahdi Daraghmeh, head of the al-Malih Village Council, the families began evacuating after a recent surge in harassment and violence. The previous night, settlers reportedly burned uninhabited tents belonging to families who had already been displaced from the same area. The northern Jordan Valley has witnessed increasing daily attacks by settlers, including assaults on homes, intimidation of residents, and attacks on shepherds and their livestock. The Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported that 1,872 attacks were carried out in January, including 1,404 by Israeli forces and 468 by settlers. The highest number of incidents occurred in Hebron, followed by Ramallah and al-Bireh, Nablus, and Jerusalem. Source link
Al Duhail begin their Amir Cup knockout campaign Thursday with a Round of 16 clash against Al Waab at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, aiming to book a berth in the quarter-finals.Elsewhere, Al Wakrah will square off against Al Sailiya at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium, as the knockout fixtures run through Sunday.Speaking ahead of the tie, Al Duhail assistant coach Fares Bouzid underlined the need for complete concentration and discipline against their opponents. “This is a crucial match in a tournament that means a great deal to Al Duhail, and we must give everything to win the title. We’ve prepared thoroughly and expect a tough match,” he said at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.“We’ve studied Al Waab closely, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and will fight with full focus and determination to secure qualification.”Second Division side Al Waab advanced to the Round of 16 after defeating Lusail in the preliminary stage. Al Waab coach Ahmed Abdelsalam Mohamed said his team is ready to rise to the challenge.“We’re looking forward to delivering our best performance against Al Duhail. The team is fully prepared, and we aim to show a level worthy of this highly competitive tournament,” he said.Meanwhile, Al Wakrah, currently sixth in the Qatar Stars League, are aiming for a strong showing in the prestigious competition. “We’re excited to perform well in a competition that means a lot to us and everyone involved, and we are striving to win the title, even though we know it will be very difficult with so many strong teams,” said Al Wakrah coach Vicente Moreno.“Al Sailiya are a distinguished side with good players and a good coach, but we are ambitious and determined to compete strongly and fight for the trophy.”Al Sailiya coach Mirghani Al Zain said his side is eager to make the most of their opportunity in the tournament. “We are preparing to compete in a tournament that is dear to everyone’s hearts. The players are striving to give their best, and despite the difficulty of our situation, we are determined to seize the opportunity to qualify for the next round.”Round of 16 FixturesThursday: Al Duhail vs Al Waab at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium (4:30pm); Al Wakrah vs Al Sailiya at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium (7:15pm)Friday: Al Shamal vs Qatar SC at Grand Hamad Stadium (4:30pm); Al Shahania vs Al Arabi at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium (7:15pm)On Saturday: Al Gharafa vs Al Kharaitiyat at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium (4:30pm); Al Rayyan vs Al Khor at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium (7:15pm); Al Sadd vs Al Markhiya at Grand Hamad Stadium (7:15pm)On Sunday: Al Ahli vs Umm Salal at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium (7:15pm) Related Story Source link
A visit to Pebble Beach last year helped set up Rory McIlroy for one of the biggest moments of his golf career.McIlroy earned a two-shot victory at the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, kickstarting a stellar run that saw him win the Players Championship before completing the career Grand Slam by capturing the Green Jacket at the Masters.The 36-year-old Northern Ireland native is back on the Monterey Peninsula this week to defend his Pebble Beach championship.”Obviously last year was a great way to start the 2025 season,” McIlroy said. “Historically I haven’t played Pebble Beach that well. I’ve played OK, but nothing spectacular.”I think winning on a golf course that I hadn’t won on before, hadn’t really contended on before, I feel like it gave me a lot of confidence going into the rest of the season.”He added of his triumphant performance at Pebble Beach Golf Links that he was pleased with “how in control I was with my ball flight, especially in tough conditions last year on the Saturday. There was a lot of things that I worked on in the offseason that I brought with me into here. Yeah, it was a massive confidence boost and obviously then went on to play well in that early part of the season, won at The Players and then obviously into the Masters.”Yeah, it was a perfect way to start the year here last year. Hoping for something similar this.”An aggressive approach and clutch work on the greens were key to prevailing at Pebble Beach, McIlroy believes.”I hit driver a lot, giving myself short irons in,” he said of his 2025 strategy. “I think last year as well, it was probably the best putting performance I’ve ever had on poa greens. I usually come to the West Coast and I struggle a little bit on the poa, and last year I didn’t. I holed a lot of putts and that was a big difference.”McIlroy finished last season and started this season well, too. After the PGA Tour playoffs concluded, he captured the Irish Open, tied for third in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and finished second at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.After tying for 14th at the Australian Open to end 2025, he tied for third and tied for 33rd in two Middle Eastern events to kick off 2026.”Game feels in good shape,” McIlroy said. “I had two weeks in Dubai to sort of shake the rust off. Played OK, wasn’t anything spectacular. But I’ve had two nice weeks at home and done some practice. … I feel pretty good coming in here.” Related Story Source link
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – FA Cup – Third Round – Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain – January 10, 2026…