BBC Learning English News

2025-07-30 Thailand-Cambodia conflict – Learning English from the News

The story

Fighting broke out last week on the border between Thailand and Cambodia leading to the deaths of at least 33 people and causing thousands of people to leave their homes.

The exact border between the two countries has been disputed for many years – there are some areas which both countries claim to be theirs.

Disagreement over the border goes back to 1907 when Cambodia was a French colony and a treaty was signed. Recent political developments in each country have also contributed to the current crisis.

News headlines

Thailand seeks to ease fears amid shaky ceasefire deal with Cambodia
The Guardian

As Thai-Cambodia truce nears, evacuees speak out
Deutsche Welle

The Roots of the Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict
The Diplomat

Key words and phrases

shaky
weak and vulnerable

  • No one wanted to invest in the company because of its shaky financial situation.

evacuee
someone who has been moved from, or has moved from a dangerous location

  • Emergency hostels have been set up for evacuees.

roots
causes

  • The roots of the economic crisis lie in the last government’s policies.

BBC Learning English

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