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At least 32 people have been killed in escalating border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, with thousands forced to flee. Cambodia confirmed 12 new deaths—seven civilians and five soldiers—while Thailand reported 19 total fatalities, including children and soldiers.

Fighting erupted Thursday after a landmine injured five Thai troops near the disputed border. Both sides blame each other for initiating attacks, which include airstrikes and artillery fire. Cambodia has accused Thailand of using banned cluster munitions, while Thailand says Cambodia targeted civilian areas, according to Al Jazeera.

Over 150,000 people have been evacuated across both countries. Thailand has declared martial law in eight districts. The UN Security Council has urged both sides to show restraint and resolve the crisis peacefully.

US has sharply criticized France’s investigation into Elon Musk’s X, calling it a threat to free speech. A French prosecutor is probing the platform for alleged foreign interference and has reportedly classified X as an “organized crime group”, according to BBC.

The US State Department called the move politically motivated and warned against silencing dissent. X has denied the claims and refused to hand over its algorithm and data, calling the request unjustified.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the country is “very close” to a trade deal with the US after meeting Secretary of State Marco Rubio, though Washington has not confirmed a timeline. Both sides discussed expanding trade, especially in critical minerals and mining, according to Firstpost.

Meanwhile, India and the US are finalizing the first phase of a Bilateral Trade Agreement aimed at boosting market access, reducing trade barriers, and strengthening supply chains. US President Donald Trump recently said a deal with India is also “very close.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and other top leaders during his visit to the Maldives, calling the country a “valued pillar” of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Mahasagar vision, Firstpost reported.

He will attend the Maldives’ Independence Day celebrations as chief guest. The visit marks a reset in ties following recent tensions.

India announced a $565m line of credit and signed six agreements in fisheries, digital infrastructure, meteorology, and finance. The two sides also agreed to cut Maldives’ annual debt repayment burden by 40 percent, according to Firstpost.

Modi called the talks productive, adding, “Our relations are older than history and as deep as the ocean. For us, it is always friendship first.”