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De Beers launches ‘Ombré Desert Diamonds’ jewellery beacon and ‘Origin, De Beers Group’ polished diamonds

First ‘beacon’ product in more than a decade will support category demand for natural diamonds, while Origin initiative will differentiate De Beers-sourced polished diamonds Rapid delivery of Origins strategy priorities and reinforced commitment to driving demand for natural diamonds

LAS VEGAS, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 June 2025 – De Beers Group today unveiled compelling new downstream propositions focused on driving desire for natural diamonds as a category and on differentiating polished diamonds sourced from De Beers Group.

Al Cook, Chief Executive Officer of De Beers Group announces the Origins strategy at JCK.
Al Cook, Chief Executive Officer of De Beers Group announces the Origins strategy at JCK.

At the annual JCK Las Vegas Show – the largest jewellery event in the global calendar – De Beers Group revealed its first ‘beacon’ product (a jewellery concept that enables various industry businesses to participate in a category marketing idea) in over a decade. The Ombré Desert Diamonds initiative draws inspiration from the desert landscapes from which many natural diamonds originate. These environments bring to life an array of colours, from warm whites to champagne tones and amber hues. Inspired by the rarity and authenticity of these precious stones, the Ombré Desert Diamonds beacon introduces a fresh, emotionally resonant way of evoking the enduring beauty and value of natural diamonds.

De Beers Group beacons, which have previously included the eternity ring and three-stone ring, are focused on driving desire for natural diamond jewellery by introducing new emotionally compelling retail propositions. At the JCK Show, De Beers Group unveiled new design concepts as part of the Ombré Desert Diamonds beacon including multi-stone ombre designs. Retailers across the industry will have the opportunity to participate in the programme. To support the success of Ombré Desert Diamonds, De Beers Group is investing significantly in media and digital campaigns to drive consumer demand at the point of sale. De Beers Group will also be making marketing collateral available to beacon participants.

Alongside the new beacon product, the business also formally launched Origin, De Beers Group. First unveiled at the 2024 JCK Show, Origin, De Beers Group is a new branded polished diamond offering designed to enable retailers to tell the individual stories of natural diamonds sourced by De Beers Group, strengthening the connection between a diamond and the individual who wears it. As a loose polished diamond programme, Origin, De Beers Group will enable consumers to explore the details of their diamond’s country of origin and journey through the value chain, supported by the Tracr blockchain platform. Moreover, consumers will be able to access a range of information about their unique purchase, including its rarity score and the social impact programmes it has supported.

Origin, De Beers Group will provide retailers with advanced digital tools, enhancing consumer engagement through seamless access to provenance information and brand storytelling. Origin, De Beers Group will provide consumers with the opportunity to purchase diamonds sourced from De Beers Group with enhanced assurance, reinforcing their ethical provenance as part of the marketing mix.

During its keynote presentation at the JCK Show, De Beers Group also provided a series of updates on its delivery against other areas of its Origins strategy.

In the upstream, De Beers Group highlighted progress across its asset portfolio, with the completion of all airborne geophysical surveying in Angola representing a key recent milestone in its exploration activities. In the midstream, De Beers Group reiterated it is doubling down on its commitment to traceability. Earlier this year, the business announced that single country of origin data is now available on Tracr and DiamondProof was launched in US retail stores. Both announcements reflect De Beers Group’s focus on leveraging technology to provide an enhanced consumer proposition by connecting diamonds to their source.

In the synthetics space, De Beers Group announced the first production of technology diamonds from its Element Six Oregon Centre. This is a key milestone in Element Six’s $130 million investment in its Portland, Oregon facility, and its progress with synthetic diamond technology solutions for industrial use. Theannouncement follows De Beers Group’s communication of its plans to close its Lightbox lab-grown diamond jewellery business.

Al Cook, Chief Executive Officer of De Beers Group, said: “One year on from announcing our Origins strategy, we have made fast and meaningful progress in delivering our vision. We have met every target that we announced back in 2024. Every part of De Beers is evolving to create lasting value, benefitting shareholders, the industry and consumers. The launch of our first beacon in over a decade marks an exciting new era in showcasing the magic of natural diamonds, while Origin, De Beers Group connects people with the powerful stories behind natural diamonds – the communities they help support, the landscapes they come from, and the meaningful impact they create. With innovation across the value chain – from provenance to synthetic diamond technology – De Beers is reinforcing its leadership in an evolving marketplace.”

De Beers Group also reinforced its commitment to sustainability, in line with its Building Forever programme, with key advancements in renewable energy. Recent agreements, including Namdeb’s partnership with Namibia’s NamPower, and Debswana’s collaboration with Botswana Power Corporation, pave the way for increased renewable energy integration across the De Beers Group business. De Beers Group also confirmed that Envusa Energy has commissioned on its renewable energy projects in South Africa, set to power Venetia Mine from 2026.

Hashtag: #DeBeersGroup #JCK #Origin #NaturalDiamonds





The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers London and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology services. De Beers Group is committed to ‘Building Forever,’ a holistic and integrated approach to sustainability that underpins our efforts to create meaningful impact for the people and places where our diamonds are discovered. Building Forever focuses on three key areas where, through collaborations and partnerships around the globe, we have an enhanced ability to drive positive impact; Livelihoods, Climate and Nature. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit .

Vinmec performs its first total femoral replacement for world’s youngest cancer patient


HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 June 2025 – Vinmec Healthcare System has successfully performed a Total Femoral Replacement (TFR) surgery using personalized 3D printing materials for the world’s youngest cancer patient. It is also the first biomedical product designed and produced entirely in Vietnam, marking a major milestone in the country’s advancement in precision medicine.

Vinmec successfully performs world's youngest pediatric total femur replacement surgery using 3D printing technology.
Vinmec successfully performs world’s youngest pediatric total femur replacement surgery using 3D printing technology.

Refusing to Surrender to Fate

In October 2022, after a minor fall, Tran Minh Duc (a boy from Ho Chi Minh City) hurt his left thigh. Believing it to be just a simple injury, his family was shocked to hear the bad news from the doctor: The boy was diagnosed with osteosarcoma – a malignant bone cancer with a tumor that had invaded his entire femur. It is typically seen in adolescents, but rare and haphazard in younger children.

Given the severe prognosis, most medical facilities recommended amputation to ensure his survival or bone grafting (a conventional method). Both methods carry a high risk of rejection and infection, especially for younger children in the development stage.

The flash of hope appeared when she met Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung – Director of the Orthopedic Council, Vinmec Healthcare System. An unprecedented approach was proposed to apply to such a young patient: replacing the entire femur with personalized 3D-printed materials that are produced in Vietnam.

A “Legendary” Surgery with Vietnamese Technologies

According to Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung, the entire femur of Duc has been invaded by the tumor. To ensure his life, Duc’s leg had to be amputated. However, different types of artificial joints available on the market are not compatible with young bodies.

After various interdisciplinary case conferences including Orthopedics, Oncology, Diagnostic Imaging, Pathology, Clinical Pharmacy, etc., the Vinmec experts reached a consensus on the optimal approach – a two-phase surgery. Phase 1 (January 2024): Removing the tumor and temporarily grafting a cement bone. Phase 2 (May 2025): Replacing the entire femur with a “customized” bone made of 3D-printed metal.

On January 29, 2024, Duc underwent his first surgery – removing the entire tumor and temporarily grafting a cement bone. In May 2025 when his conditions had stabilized, Duc’s entire femur was replaced with a “customized” bone made of 3D-printed metal. For the first time, 3D printing was applied to the youngest patient in the world with the collaboration between Vinmec medical professionals and VinUni’s engineers. The bone’s design is modular, enabling future extensions based on the child’s physical development.

According to MSc. Dr. Tran Duc Thanh, who was directly engaged in the surgery: “We contacted foreign manufacturers but there was no suitable design. Self-manufacturing the equipment allows us to be proactive in treatment, it also paves the way for a new direction for Vietnamese medicine.”

Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung added: “The 4-hour surgery was a success. Duc recovered quickly without any complications, now he is able to walk with the support of physical therapy. The surgery represented a breakthrough in complex techniques and the evidence for sound collaboration in the multidisciplinary medical team. Both the life and limb of the child were kept intact.”

Vinmec – Pioneering in Vietnam’s Personalized Precision Medicine

Once at risk of amputation and life-long dependence, Minh Duc is now able to walk on his own feet, supported by physical therapy without any complications of infection or transplant rejection. Every step Duc takes is a testament to precision medicine, advanced technologies, and the unwavering love of his mother.

“When my son stood up, I was trembling with joy. He has been unable to walk for nearly two years. Now he did it. I just hope that he will be capable of riding a bike and playing football like his peers…” – Ms. Hoang said in tears.

Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung also shared his emotions: “We believe that modern medicine and compassion should go side by side. Duc is not just a special patient, his case represents a story of determination, maternal love, and the faith that the impossible can become possible if we never give up.”

Vinmec is the first Vietnamese healthcare system that applies personalized 3D printing in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Instead of using standardized equipment, Vinmec uses CT and MRI data in the design of artificial joints and bones tailored to each patient to optimize motor functions, enhance precision, and reduce the recovery period.

To date, Vinmec has achieved successes in many difficult and rare cases, e.g. liver transplantation for an 8-month-old patient from a brain-dead donor, the first in Southeast Asia to reproduce 3D-printed titanium chest wall, and the first in the world to replace the pelvis and femur at the same time with 3D-printed bones.

With its series of breakthroughs and pioneering achievements in high-tech healthcare and precision medicine, Vinmec further affirms the aspiration to elevate the position of Vietnam in the global medical field.

Vinmec – A Place of Healing and Reimagining the Future.
Hashtag: #Vinmec

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Vinmec Healthcare System

Vinmec is Vietnam’s leading private healthcare system, with a network of 9 hospitals nationwide, developed to international standards with a focus on comprehensive, personalized, and specialty care. Its proud achievements include:

  • A strategic partnership with Cleveland Clinic, one of the world’s top healthcare systems, enabling global clinical collaboration and access to world-class medical standards.
  • No.1 Healthcare Services for Foreigners in Vietnam, trusted by international residents for its high-quality care, globally trained physicians, and international-standard facilities.
  • The only healthcare system in Asia honored at the Healthcare Asia Awards 2025, receiving two prestigious accolades: Hospital Group of the Year and Technology Innovation of the Year, reinforcing its leadership in the region.
  • JCI-accredited, meeting the world’s most rigorous standards for patient safety and healthcare quality.
  • The first and only healthcare system in Vietnam to establish Centers of Excellence (CoEs) across four key specialties: Cardiology, Oncology, Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, and Clinical Immunology – Allergy.

For medical inquiries, please contact: v.medtour@vinmec.com

Liuyang fireworks make Chinese-style romance a global sensation


BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 June 2025 – In Liuyang, central China’s Hunan Province, the stories of fireworks have been passed down through generations. As the world’s largest production and trade hub for fireworks and firecrackers, Liuyang has a history of making fireworks that dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

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Liuyang fireworks captivate audiences at many major events, such as 2008 Beijing and 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremonies.

Demand overseas is soaring. Consistent quality, diverse products, and stunning effects have earned Liuyang fireworks accolades from international consumers. In 2024, Liuyang’s fireworks exports totaled 6.58 billion yuan ($916.3 million), reaching over 100 countries and regions. China accounted for approximately 90 percent of global firework exports that year, nearly 70 percent of them originating from Liuyang.

Behind the fireworks are moving stories of Chinese-style romance, some of which embody memories of lost loved ones.

The drone and firework show, titled Tears from the Door of Heaven, was recently staged in Liuyang. The inspiration for the show came from Huang Jiayi, a high school student in Liuyang. Her grandfather, Huang Weide, is the founder of Qingtai Fireworks, a local fireworks company.

Huang Weide’s mother, Huang Jiayi’s great grandmother, died at an early age, leaving behind no photographs. To recognize this sadness, Huang Jiayi came up with the idea of making a fireworks display that resembled tears, making them drop through a halo made of drones to express the deep feeling of missing lost family members.

Every dazzling fireworks display lies the story of Liuyang’s industry upgrade: intelligent technology combined with cultural roots, urban fireworks driving cultural tourism consumption, and creative pyrotechnics igniting global markets. In 2024, Liuyang’s fireworks industry achieved a total output value exceeding 50 billion yuan ($7 billion), capturing about 60 percent domestic market share and accounting for approximately 70 percent of national exports.

Liuyang has refined “Chinese-style romance” through fireworks, illuminating night skies worldwide and allowing this millennium-old tradition to maintain its enduring charm.

Hashtag: #Liuyang

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“Wine Olympics” returns to China as international expo opens


YINCHUAN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 June 2025 – The Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo opened Monday in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, with the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) — dubbed the “Wine Olympics” — returning to China after seven years.

The opening ceremony of the Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
The opening ceremony of the Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

The four-day event has attracted over 1,100 domestic and international guests, featuring 14 activities such as a winery and wine exhibition, an innovation competition, and an art biennial.

Making its China debut in 2018 in Beijing, the CMB has this year brought together nearly 400 international judges and over 7,000 wine samples, including a record number of entries from China, according to CMB Chairman Baudouin Havaux.

“This event opens a new era for the global visibility of the Chinese wine industry,” Havaux said.

He added that it is no coincidence the 32nd edition of the CMB is being held in Yinchuan, as it clearly reflects the growing strength of Chinese wine, especially that of Ningxia.

A visitor (1st R) tastes wine at the Global Wineries Exhibition during the Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on June 9, 2025.(Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
A visitor (1st R) tastes wine at the Global Wineries Exhibition during the Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on June 9, 2025.(Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

The region boasts a unique terroir for making top-class wine, with its prolonged sunshine and a cool, dry climate aiding the cultivation of grapes. After four decades of development, Ningxia has become China’s largest wine-producing region. The eastern foot of Helan Mountain is widely regarded as a “golden zone” for grape growing and high-end wine production.

By the end of 2024, Ningxia had more than 600,000 mu (around 40,000 hectares) of wine grape plantations and an annual wine output of 140 million bottles. Its wines are exported to over 40 countries and regions.

Hashtag: #AdministrativeCommitteeofWineIndustryZoneofNingxiaHelanMountainsEastFoothill

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How a Chinese Copper Art Workshop from Jiande Win Hearts, Applause in Florence


FLORENCE, ITALY – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 June 2025 – From April 25 to May 1, the 89th Florence International Handicraft Fair in Italy was held. Tongshifu, a company from east China’s Jiande City, stood out among more than 530 exhibitors worldwide with its exquisite copper artworks and received extensive attention.

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At the dazzling booth of Tongshifu, every piece, from delicate and compact copper gourds to magnificent statues of Guan Gong, an ancient general known for his loyalty and bravery in battles, demonstrates a high level of artistry by taking the traditional lost-wax copper casting technique as the core and integrating modern aesthetics and cultural elements.

The sculpture of Bumblebee from “Transformers,” in particular, is an eye-catching Tongshifu collaboration with an internationally renowned IP. Using the high-temperature coloring technology for copper materials, it restores the mechanical texture and heroic fighting posture of the movie character, winning thumbs-up from numerous audiences.

These exquisitely crafted, vivid, and well-balanced artworks not only carry forward the time-honored inheritance of Chinese copper art but also convey the vitality of modern innovation.

Behind the stunning debut of Tongshifu at the fair lies the unremitting efforts of Jiande, where its headquarters is located, in painstakingly forging and cultivating cultural enterprises over the years, which have breathed new life into local traditional culture.

Founded in 2014, Tongshifu faced many problems, such as a shortage of funds, in the initial stage of its business. Keenly aware of the start-up’s problem and potential, the local government of Jiande took the initiative to assist the enterprise in applying for specific supportive funds totaling over 4 million yuan, a timely boost to the development of the start-up.

Meanwhile, Jiande has attached great importance to highlighting cultural inheritance, which is the soul of Tongshifu’s success.

In 2020, Jiande conducted in-depth visits to Tongshifu to explore the value of the traditional techniques behind it, and helped the lost-wax copper casting technique of Tongshifu to be recognized as a local intangible cultural heritage. In 2024, the lost-wax copper casting intangible cultural heritage workshop was selected as the second batch of provincial-level projects in Zhejiang. This has not only continuously enhanced the brand cultural connotation of the enterprise but also attracted broader attention to this ancient technique.

The ability of Tongshifu to reach the global stage of the Florence International Handicraft Fair benefits from the charm of the intangible cultural heritage behind it, as well as the accumulation and breakthrough of its design aesthetics, technological innovation, and cultural integration capabilities.

As early as 2021, Jiande held a cultural and creative design competition, encouraging enterprises to showcase the development of the times with traditional techniques.

Jiande is known for hosting the Xin’anjiang Hydropower Station, China’s first large-scale hydropower station. The local government collaborated with Tongshifu to develop a copper relief painting of the hydropower station, setting a successful example of modern expressions of traditional culture.

Today, thanks to continuous launches of new artworks with both artistic and collection value, Tongshifu has become a well-known brand with annual sales of hundreds of millions of yuan and 5 million fans.

The lost-wax copper casting technique has a complex process and high costs, with each artwork requiring an independent wax mold, and the production process taking 30 to 45 days. In fact, for an enterprise like Tongshifu to shine on the world stage, it relies not only on the inheritance of culture, technological breakthroughs, and expressions of the times but also on the patient, meticulous, and dedicated cultivation and support of the local government.

Hashtag: #FlorenceInternationalHandicraftFair

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Laos Sees 1.2 Million Tourist Arrivals in Q1 2025, Up 28 Percent from Previous Year

Nam Song in Vang Vieng Province (Photo: Lonely Planet)

Laos welcomed over 1.2 million tourists in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 28 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, which saw around 1.1 million visitors. 

Six Decades of Tension: Cambodia-Thailand Border Dispute Might Head to International Court

The roots of the conflict stretch back to colonial-era boundary maps. In 1962, the ICJ ruled Preah Vihear Temple belonged to Cambodia, but ambiguity over surrounding territory persisted. Tensions simmered until 2008, when UNESCO named the temple a World Heritage Site, a move that inflamed nationalist sentiment in Thailand and sparked armed clashes.

Cambodia is escalating a decades-old border dispute with Thailand to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), following the death of a Cambodian soldier in a late-May clash near the ancient Preah Vihear Temple. The move marks the most serious flare-up between the two neighbors since the deadly confrontations of 2008–2011.

Tensions reignited on 28 May when gunfire broke out around 5:45 AM in the disputed Emerald Triangle area, where Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani Province meets Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Province. One Cambodian soldier was killed, the first fatality in over a decade, according to Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence.

Each side blamed the other. Cambodia claimed its troops were ambushed, while Thai forces said they responded to gunfire. The clash triggered a rapid military build-up on both sides and raised fears of a wider confrontation.

Despite the incident, both governments moved quickly to prevent further escalation. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet held direct talks hours after the incident, vowing to prevent further escalation. 

Both leaders emphasized that neither country wanted the conflict to continue.

On 29 May, military leaders from both nations convened in Kap Choeng District, Surin Province, Thailand. The session concluded with joint agreements aimed at de-escalating tensions, including commitments to resolve the issue through the JBC and to maintain non-confrontational positions along the disputed border.

Cambodia’s Hun Manet, then on an official trip to Tokyo, assured the public that armed conflict served no one’s interest, especially the troops on the front lines. 

Cambodia’s Strategic Escalation to International Law

Despite diplomatic progress and apparent de-escalation, Cambodia announced on 2 June its intention to move forward with its initial plan to pursue international legal action before the ICJ.

Prime Minister Hun Manet’s declaration that Cambodia would pursue ICJ arbitration regardless of Thailand’s agreement represented a fundamental shift from bilateral to multilateral dispute resolution.

The move marked a strategic shift from bilateral to international arbitration, echoing Cambodia’s past legal wins at the ICJ in 1962 and 2013, both favoring its claim to Preah Vihear Temple.

By 4 June, Cambodia had formally filed its ICJ case, citing recent tensions and prior provocations, such as a February incident involving Cambodian women singing near the Thai border, which sparked diplomatic protests from Bangkok.

Thailand’s Firm Rejection of International Arbitration

Thailand’s response came swiftly and decisively following a cabinet meeting specifically convened to address the border crisis. 

Thai Government Spokesperson Jirayu Huangsap announced on 4 June that Thailand would not refer the dispute to the ICJ, instead emphasizing a commitment to peaceful resolution exclusively through diplomatic dialogue and existing bilateral mechanisms.

Thai officials clarified that discussions should be grounded in existing legal agreements, satellite imagery analysis, and historical documentation, suggesting confidence in their evidence base for bilateral negotiations. At the same time, they emphasized the importance of accurate public communication to prevent misunderstandings that could inflame nationalist tensions in both countries, recognizing the domestic political risks of appearing to concede to international pressure.

Meanwhile, Thailand bolstered its border defenses. On 5 June, the Ministry of Interior ordered heightened security and emergency planning in seven provinces, including Trat, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaeo, Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, and Buriram. Surveillance, public awareness campaigns, and rapid-response systems were put in place, especially in high-risk zones like Chong Bok, near the recent clash site.

Cambodia, for its part, maintained that its troop movements were defensive, not aggressive, and within sovereign territory.

On 7 June, Thailand adjusted border crossing hours without prior notice. A day later, Cambodia responded by slashing visa stays for Thai nationals from 60 to 7 days. Thailand immediately imposed reciprocal limits on Cambodian visitors. Thai officials have said the restrictions will remain “until the situation improves.”

Military commanders from both countries reached a de-escalation agreement on 8 June, committing to pull back forces to their respective positions as of early 2024. As part of the deal, Cambodia agreed to fill in defensive trenches and restore damaged terrain. Joint border surveys began immediately.

On 9 June, Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense clarified that its troop repositioning was a tactical adjustment within its own territory, not a territorial withdrawal.

Sophisticated Dual-Track Diplomacy

Despite diverging on ICJ arbitration, both countries agreed to proceed with a Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting on 14 June in Phnom Penh. However, Cambodia clarified that the four contested sites under ICJ review would be excluded from the JBC agenda.

This dual-track diplomacy, legal arbitration on specific flashpoints and bilateral dialogue on broader border management, reflects an effort to contain tensions without abandoning Cambodia’s push for legal clarity. 

Decades of Dispute

The roots of the conflict stretch back to colonial-era boundary maps. In 1962, the ICJ ruled Preah Vihear Temple belonged to Cambodia, but ambiguity over surrounding territory persisted. Tensions simmered until 2008, when UNESCO named the temple a World Heritage Site, a move that inflamed nationalist sentiment in Thailand and sparked armed clashes.

Between 2008 and 2011, over two dozen people were killed and thousands displaced. A second ICJ ruling in 2013 reaffirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty over the temple’s vicinity, but Thailand rejected the court’s jurisdiction over adjacent land, insisting on bilateral solutions.

From 2011 to 2024, the border remained relatively calm, aided by regular JBC meetings and direct military communications. The 28 May incident shattered that fragile peace and revealed how unresolved issues can quickly reignite.

As the 14 June JBC meeting approaches, the two neighbors face parallel but divergent paths: Cambodia pursues a legal ruling on select sites, while Thailand sticks to diplomacy. What remains uncertain is whether these strategies will converge, or collide.

Laos Launches Nationwide Blood Drive Amid Persistent Shortages

Laos Launches Nationwide Blood Drive Amid Persistent Shortages
Photo supplied by the Lao Friends Hospital for Children

As World Blood Donor Day approaches on 14 June, Laos is taking urgent action to address its ongoing struggle with blood shortages through a nationwide campaign. Organized by the Lao Red Cross in partnership with local health departments and hospitals, the blood drive is being rolled out across all provinces with the goal of encouraging more people to donate.