Free Republic

President Trump has begun mediating the deadly conflict between Cambodia and Thailand over a border dispute and demanded that the two sides reach a ceasefire to avert a full-blown war. Trump revealed that he held a call with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Saturday and is planning to speak with Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai in an effort to broker peace. “We happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on Trade with both Countries, but do not want to make any Deal, with either Country, if they are fighting,” Trump announced on Truth Social Saturday. “And I have...

"Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire - unconditionally - and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute," said Phnom Penh's UN ambassador.Thailand and Cambodia clashed for a third day on Saturday (Jul 26), as the death toll from their bloodiest fighting in years rose to 33. A long-running border dispute erupted into intense conflict involving jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, prompting the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis on Friday. After the closed meeting in New York, Cambodia's UN ambassador Chhea Keo said his country wanted a ceasefire. "Cambodia...

Demilitarization and regime change might be in the cards...The latest clashes between Cambodia and Thailand over their decades-long border dispute, which were arguably initiated by the Thai military to restore its damaged prestige amidst a recent political scandal as explained here, could “move towards war” according to its acting Prime Minister. Thailand doesn’t recognize the International Court of Justice’s 1962 ruling in favor of Cambodia and rejects third-party mediation in the current conflict so the fighting will likely continue until it achieves some tangible goal.That scenario would naturally raise the question of Thailand’s endgame. It’s officially only defending itself from...

On Thursday, simmering tensions between Thailand and Cambodia exploded into a deadly battle at the border. At least 12 Thai nationals, most of whom are civilians, have been killed, Thai authorities have said. How many people - if any - have lost their lives on the Cambodian side is not known. Each side is blaming each other for causing the escalation, which reportedly began with gunfire over the border. Thailand has accused Cambodia of then firing rockets, while Bangkok carried out air strikes on Cambodian military targets. So how did we get here - and where is it going? This...

Domestic regime change is no stranger to Thailand, which has had at least 12 successful coups and 31 Prime Ministers since the founding of its current constitutional monarchy in 1932—itself the product of a coup. It’s for that reason that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who took over after her fellow Pheu Thai party predecessor Srettha Thavisin was ousted from power last year, has sought to insulate the government against military takeovers, which have typically occurred in coordination with conservative, royalist elites. It’s likely, however, that she’s failed. Amid an escalating crisis sparked by border tensions with neighbor Cambodia, experts and...

Thailand will negotiate with the United States on tariffs, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Thursday, hours after US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports from many countries to the US. 'We won't let it get to where GDP will miss the target,' Ms Paetongtarn told reporters. 'We have a strong plan.' 'We have prepared several steps, including sending our permanent secretary to talk with them. … I think we can still negotiate.' Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said the government was not surprised to be hit with tariffs, though the 36% level was higher than anticipated. 'We...

I’m hoping to hear from some fellow freeper thoughts on retiring in Thailand. We’re looking at Chiang Mai as our target destination. We’ve been to Thailand before; 1989, 1992 and most recently in 2014 (so we know what it is like right now - big changes lol). I know there is a lot of info available on YouTube and other sites, but I want to check here with anyone who may have actually made the move and what their suggestions may be.

Psst, wanna buy some innovation?An estimated $1 billion worth of smuggled high-end Nvidia AI processors have reportedly found their way onto the Chinese black market, despite the US government's strict restrictions on exports of the tech. The eyebrow-raising figure, which Nvidia has neither confirmed nor refuted, was revealed by the Financial Times, which claims to have based its reporting on a combination of interviews and analyses of company filings and sales contracts. If accurate, the report sheds light on the limitations of the US trade policy's ability to control the movement of much sought-after AI technology around the world. The...

The complaints MAHA has about artificial food colorings in the U.S. food industry don't even compare to the Chinese, at least not to Peixin Kindergarten in northwest China, which substituted lead-based paint for food coloring. Apparently, they tried regular food coloring but didn't think the colors were bright enough. According to Sky News, A total of 233 out of 251 children had unhealthy [lead] levels and 201 needed to be hospitalized, said local authorities. Two food samples were seized and both had lead levels 2000 times higher than the legal safe limit. The principal apparently wanted to attract more students...

As Covid cases begin to rise this summer, many may be wondering: What are my risks, and is it time to get another vaccine? As of July 15, Covid cases were growing or likely growing in 27 states including Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates of positive Covid tests have also been increasing in recent weeks, the CDC says, specifically in the southern region of the country. N.B.1.8.1 is the current dominant variant in the United States, accounting for 43% of all new Covid cases, according to the CDC. It’s...

For myriad reasons, I’m not fond of traveling, not the least of which is that traveling in the 21st century is such a horrible shlep. Having said that, I am a very well-traveled person. That means that I’ve visited more than my share of places that UNESCO has tagged as “world heritage sites,” and every time I see that designation, my hackles go up. That’s why I was just thrilled to see that Trump has dumped UNESCO (again).The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was formed out of the wreckage of WWII to bind humankind together and prevent future...

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced on Tuesday that the United States will withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization or UNESCO. It's the third time the United States has made such a move. The first instance occurred in 2019 under the first Trump administration. The Biden administration rejoined it in 2023 and vowed to repay approximately $600 million in dues incurred since the U.S. stopped paying. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stating that UNESCO, among other United Nations organizations, deserved renewed scrutiny, in large part, due to its anti-Israel and antisemitic...

A remarkable image taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) offers a breathtaking view of three glaciers merging into one massive ice mass in the Karakoram mountain range. These glaciers, located in one of Earth’s most remote and contested regions, are gaining ice volume despite the warming temperatures that are threatening glaciers worldwide. A Rare Glacial Phenomenon The image showcases the merging of the Lolofond glacier, the Teram Shehr glacier, and the Siachen glacier. Situated in the Karakoram mountains, which straddle the borders of India, Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan, these glaciers are part of the Karakoram anomaly....

We just completed a massive Deal with Japan, perhaps the largest Deal ever made. Japan will invest, at my direction, $550 Billion Dollars into the United States, which will receive 90% of the Profits. This Deal will create Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs — There has never been anything like it. Perhaps most importantly, Japan will open their Country to Trade including Cars and Trucks, Rice and certain other Agricultural Products, and other things. Japan will pay Reciprocal Tariffs to the United States of 15%. This is a very exciting time for the United States of America, and especially for...

3 days after my exclusive report about how Leslie Beavers, the former acting DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO) and current Deputy DOD CIO failed to act when a CCP breach by Chinese foreign nationals of DOD cyber systems via the Microsoft Government Azure program was reported to her in 2024 by @prescott, DoD CIO just announced that Leslie Beavers is "stepping down" after 30 years of service. Source: linkedin.com/posts/dod-cio_… DOD Source tells me DOD gave Leslie Beavers the option to either resign, or be fired. Dereliction of duty at the expense of our national security is a fireable offense.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines have reached a trade agreement. Shortly after, he also revealed more detailed terms of an agreement with Indonesia. Both agreements call for 19% tariffs on goods the US imports from the two countries, paid by American businesses, while American goods shipped there won’t be charged a tariff. Trump’s announcement of the agreement with the Philippines came after he met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on Tuesday. “It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal,” Trump wrote on his social...

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a new 19% tariff rate for goods from the Philippines after what he called a "beautiful visit" by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the White House, saying U.S. goods would pay zero tariffs. "It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff," Trump said, calling Marcos a "very good and tough negotiator." Trump said the two Pacific allies would also work together militarily but gave no details. Marcos, the...

President Trump announced Tuesday that he had sealed a new trade deal with the Philippines after meeting with the island nation’s “tough” president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., at the White House. “It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff,” Trump, 79, wrote on Truth Social. The US has struck economic agreements with only a handful of countries so far — including with the UK and China — but the administration is hoping to announce dozens more...

President Trump is pulling the US out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), citing its anti-America and anti-Israel leanings as well as its woke agenda, The Post has learned. Trump ordered a 90-day review of America’s presence in UNESCO back in February, with special emphasis on probing any “anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment within the organization.” Upon conducting the review, administration officials took issue with UNESCO’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies as well as its pro-Palestinian and pro-China bias, a White House official told The Post. “President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO...

A Bay Area man has admitted to stealing missile-detecting technology for the benefit of China. San Jose resident Chenguang Gong, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of trade secrets, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.