‘Nicest judge in the world’ Frank Caprio’s heartwarming final message before death aged 88
Frank Caprio went viral online for the way he handled himself in the courtroom
Frank Caprio, the man regarded as the ‘nicest judge in the world’, left a heartwarming message to the world shortly before his death yesterday.
The Rhode Island native passed away at the age of 88 following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, having touched the lives of millions thanks to his empathetic stance as a judge, which saw him go viral on several occasions.
He also fronted the TV show Caught in Providence, where real people would enter the Providence Municipal Court in Rhode Island to learn their fate, as he made the decisions on cases involving traffic, parking, and arraignments for criminal offences.
His empathy on the stand quickly earned him the title of ‘nicest judge in the world’, while he was also nominated for two Emmy Awards thanks to his amusing and kind-hearted persona on the popular TV show.
It was confirmed in December 2023 that the father-of-five was suffering from pancreatic cancer, and a statement made by his son Frank T. Caprio yesterday (20 August) shared the tragic news that he had succumbed to the illness.
Frank Caprio has died at the age of 88 (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
A statement shared to his Instagram page announcing his death stated: “Judge Frank Caprio passed away peacefully at the age of 88 after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
“Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond.
“His warmth, humour, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.
“He will be remembered not only as a respected judge, but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. His legacy lives on in the countless acts of kindness he inspired.
“In his honour, may we each strive to bring a little more compassion into the world – just as he did every day.”
Caprio, who is survived by his wife of six decades, Joyce, his five children – Frank, David, Marissa, John and Paul – seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, confirmed only the day before his death that he had been hospitalised again due to his cancer.
After confirming the news on his Instagram page, the viral judge asked for the prayers of his fans, writing: “As I continue this difficult battle, your prayers will lift my spirit.”
Speaking in the video clip, he said: “Last year I asked you to pray for me, and it’s very obvious that you did, because I came through a very difficult period.
“Unfortunately, I’ve had a setback, I’m back in the hospital. Now, I’m coming to you again and asking you to remember me in your prayers once more.”
The judge became a viral sensation (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Tributes have been flooding in for Caprio since his death was confirmed to his nearly four million followers on Instagram.
Debmar-Mercur, the company behind Caught in Providence, said in a statement: “Judge Caprio’s unique brand of compassion and common sense approach to justice caught the attention of daytime TV and social media audiences, making Caught in Providence a fan favorite.
“We will miss him dearly, and our hearts go out to the Caprio family.”
Viral Judge Frank Caprio’s most heartwarming moments remembered after his death aged 88
Caprio became famous for his compassionate conduct in the courtroom
Frank Caprio, a judge who gained viral fame for bringing his compassion and humour to the courtroom, has died at the age of 88.
His son confirmed yesterday (20 August) that the venerable judge had died due to pancreatic cancer.
Judge Caprio had been the star of Caught In Providence, a reality show set inside his courtroom where he showed leniency and joviality to many of the people brought before him.
A statement from his family read: “Judge Frank Caprio passed away peacefully at the age of 88 after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond.
“His warmth, humour, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him. He will be remembered not only as a respected judge but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. His legacy lives on in the countless acts of kindness he inspired.
“In his honour, may we each strive to bring a little more compassion into the world – just as he did every day.”
Dubbed the ‘nicest judge in the world’, shortly before his death, he posted a video of himself in hospital saying he’d suffered ‘a setback’ as he asked people to remember him in their prayers.
Since his death, numerous tributes have been paid to him, but among the most enduring are the viral videos that captured his courtroom antics.
Frank Caprio gained viral fame for his conduct as a judge (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
“How about five days in jail?”
One of Judge Caprio’s most famous moments came when he had to pass a verdict on a woman who had been caught speeding, albeit at one mph over the limit.
The woman had brought her five children to court with her, and Judge Caprio asked her to pick out which of her children liked to talk most of all, and he then invited the boy to come and stand with him.
It turns out this kid’s favourite word in the world was ‘yes’ as he kept saying it to whatever the judge asked him.
“Should we fine her some money or should we let her go for nothing?” the judge asked.
“Yes!” replied the boy, before amending his verdict to: “Yes money!”
At this point, the judge joked that someone in the court should ‘get the cuffs’, but he instead got the boy to say his mother was only one mile over the speed limit and the case should be dismissed.
Finding the verdict impossible to argue with, the mum of five was let off.
“So you want to charge her $50? Ok…”
That wasn’t the only time Judge Caprio would bring someone’s children up to help him deliver a verdict, as when he had to decide on a woman who had been fined for parking on the pavement, he asked her daughter to come up and help him.
He asked the girl whether she wanted to be a judge when she grew up, but she told him she’d rather become a teacher, and Judge Caprio said this was a good job for her to aim for.
The judge told the girl her mum was facing a $100 fine, but could pay as much as $300 due to penalties.
Laying out the options, he said they could give her mum either of these verdicts, halve the fine to $50 or even let her off with no charge at all.
While she had an option to let her mum off with nothing, the girl picked the $50 option.
“You can’t charge her zero, right?” the judge asked the girl, to which she replied: “No.”
“We can’t charge you zero,” the judge jokingly told the mum.
However, he then learned that the kids hadn’t had breakfast yet because the family had been to court, so he said he’d waive the fine if she agreed to go out and treat her children to breakfast.
“You’ve paid enough money, I’m not gonna charge you anything”
One of Judge Caprio’s most notable verdicts was in a case involving a student charged with parking during an emergency.
A nervous young woman explained that she had no other parking options and had been warned that it was going to snow.
She explained that the company which towed her car away told her that if she went to court and told them she was an impoverished student, then they’d probably let her off.
Judge Caprio learned that the student had forked over a fee to the towing company and was now facing a second blow of paying the parking ticket.
However, he liked her honest manner and said: “Let me tell you how I feel, you’ve paid enough money for the two, I’m not gonna charge you anything for the ticket.”
He wished her ‘good luck’ and said afterwards that while she had many of the ‘tells of a liar’, he thought her story was genuine and she was just nervous instead.
“An honest boy, shake hands”
In yet another case of the judge asking a child to come up and help him deliver the verdict on their parents, this one went a little bit differently than expected.
A man was having to answer for doing 35mph in a 25mph zone, and he explained that he hadn’t seen a speed sign.
In the place where he was driving, the law was that if you can’t see a speed sign, then it’s 25mph, but the man explained that he was just following the cars in front of him.
The judge then called the man’s son up to help him deliver a verdict.
“I’m gonna ask you two questions, okay? And you gonna say one or the other, we’re talking about your father,” the judge told the man’s son.
“Now you’re gonna say guilty, or not guilty. What do you say?”
“Guilty,” the boy replied.
Kids really do say the darndest things.
Judge Caprio praised the kid as ‘an honest boy’ as the courtroom erupted in laughter, telling the father he had a ‘wonderful family’ and gave him credit for his previous good driving record.
“You go through this every day?”
It’s not just children that the judge asked to help deliver verdicts during his years in court, as he memorably asked a wife to judge her husband after he was caught running a red light in her car.
Since the car was registered to her, she’d received the fine, but digging down into the details, it turns out the man ran the red light by three-tenths of a second.
At first the woman declared ‘I’m not guilty, he is’ and say if anyone should be paying the fine it better not be her.
She added that when she looked at the video, she’d have called him ‘guilty’ if she were with the police, but after the judge pointed out how close things were, she changed her tune to say it was ‘not much’.
Judge Caprio couldn’t help but ask the man: “You go through this every day?”
“We’ve been happily married for 43 years,” the woman told the court before turning to her husband and asking him, “Right?”
“Yes dear,” came the response of a man who nobody would doubt had been married for 43 years.
In the end, the wife was convinced to give her husband the benefit of the doubt as long as he took her out to dinner, and the case ended up being dismissed.
“Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond. His warmth, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him. He will be remembered not only as a respected judge, but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend,” the Instagram published to Caprio’s official account, read.
‘Pray for me’
Less than 24 hours before his passing, a video of Caprio was shared, also on his Instagram, asking for prayers. Caprio was soft-spoken and smiled throughout the video.
Compassionate judge
The backstory:
Caprio reached peak virility in 2017 after videos of him began to circulate on social media showing the kind-hearted judge helping people who were ticketed in Providence, Rhode Island.
Videos of Caprio calling children to come up on the bench to help pass judgment on their parents and making high schoolers promise to attend college in return for dropping tickets have reached hundreds of millions of viewers.
He even worked out payment plans for people who were struggling financially.
Caprio said at the time the reason why he believed he went viral was because people had lost faith in government and were accustomed to institutions coming down hard without regard for personal circumstances.
“I think I should take into consideration whether somebody is sick and whether their mother died and whether they have kids who are starving,” he said. “I don’t wear a badge under my robe. I wear a heart under my robe.”
Judge Frank Caprio smiles as he concludes his morning session inside Municipal Court at the Providence Police Station in Providence, Ri on Oct. 30, 2017.
Boston Globe via Getty Images
Judge Frank Caprio, beloved for viral court videos, dies at 88 from pancreatic cancer
Judge Frank Caprio, who is known for his heartwarming viral court moments, has died. He was 88.
According to a statement shared on his official Facebook page, the former Providence, Rhode Island, judge “passed away peacefully at the age of 88 after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.”
“Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond,” the statement continued. “His warmth, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.”
‘Nicest judge in the world’ talks new book
The statement went on and said that he “will be remembered not only as a respected judge, but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. His legacy lives on in the countless acts of kindness he inspired. In his honor, may we strive to bring a little more compassion into the world — just as he did every day.”
Many may know Caprio from his TV show, “Caught in Providence,” in which clips from the series have gone viral on social media.
Caprio became known as the “nicest judge in the world” for his compassion in the courtroom and the leniency he provided to those who needed it most.
The show aired in 2000 and earned four Daytime Emmy nominations.
“Compassion, understanding and sympathy really emanates from my upbringing, my early childhood,” Caprio told “GMA3” in February while he was promoting his book, “Compassion in the Court: Life-Changing Stories From America’s Nicest Judge.” “My parents were from Italy and they took care of all the neighbors and helped them, and it was those influences that really influenced my life.”
“Sometimes you can change somebody’s life just by placing your hand on your shoulder and telling them you believe in them,” Caprio told NBC Boston in 2024.
Born on Nov. 23, 1936, Caprio grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, where he would go on to serve as a municipal court judge nearly 50 years later, according to his website.
Prior to law, he taught American government at Hope High School in Providence. While teaching, he also attended night school at Suffolk University School of Law in Boston.
He served as a Providence Municipal Court Judge from 1985 to 2023.
In December 2023, shortly after his 87th birthday, Caprio shared an emotional video on social media revealing his cancer diagnosis.
Judge Frank Caprio visits SiriusXM Studios on September 20, 2018 in New York City.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
“I would ask each of you in your own way to please pray for me,” he began in the video at the time. “Quite recently, I was not feeling well and received a medical examination and the report was not a good one.”
“I have been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas, which is an insidious form of cancer,” he continued.
Caprio said that he was being treated for the disease.
“I know this is a long road and I’m fully prepared to fight as hard as I can,” he added and thanked his followers for their kind messages. “I am in need for the power of prayer which I believe in addition to medical treatment that I’m receiving, is the most powerful weapon to help me survive this. Just knowing that you were keeping me in your thoughts means the world to me.”
In May 2024, Caprio completed his last radiation treatment, sharing on social media that he rang the bell at Baptist Health Cancer Care to mark the occasion.
In one of his last videos on his official Instagram page, which was shared on Tuesday, Caprio said he had a “setback” and was back in the hospital. He asked his followers to “remember me in your prayers once more.”
“I ask you again if it’s not too much to remember me in your prayers,” he said.
Caprio is survived by his wife, Joyce Caprio, of almost 60 years, their five children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, according to his website.
Superman actor Terence Stamp dies aged 87 as family release emotional statement
The Oscar-nominated actor has tragically passed away
Actor Terence Stamp, who most famously played Superman villain General Zod, has died at the age of 87.
The family of the one-time Oscar-nominated actor confirmed his death in a statement issued this morning (August 17).
His family issued the following statement: “He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come. We ask for privacy at this sad time.”
The cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
Stamp, of Stepney in London, won a Golden Globe back in 1963 for ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ following his performance in the hit film Billy Budd.
Speaking about the beginning of his career, Stamp said: “The great blessing of my life is that I had the really hard bit at the beginning because we were really poor.”
Actor Terence Stamp, pictured back in 2019, has died at the age of 87 (Tim Francis/Getty Images)
In 2019, he featured as Malcolm Quince in Murder Mystery, a Netflix production that starred Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston – who respectively played a New York cop and his wife.
Incredibly, Stamp’s on-screen career spanned across seven decades – from 1960 until 2021, but when he first told his parents he wanted to pursue a life in acting, it didn’t go down too well.
Speaking about it with The Hollywood Reporter back in 2013, he said: “This was so private this, this desire, this wish – it was like I thought that I would kind of dissipate it if I spoke about it somehow.
“But when we got our first TV, I started commenting – it was a way of letting my family know. I started saying things like, ‘oh I could do that’, ‘I could do better than that’, and my dad wore it for the first few times and then he said, ‘son people like us don’t do things like that’, and I went to protest and he said, ‘son, I don’t want you to talk about it anymore’.
“Now in retrospect he was trying to protect me from something that to him seemed beyond impossible, and then that gave me the energy, and of course I had to leave home because I couldn’t really go against my dad – and that’s when I won the scholarship to the Webber Douglas Academy.”
Before finding his way in front of the camera, Stamp worked at theaters in London, England. His big break came when he was cast as Billy Budd in the film of the same name.
• The strikes come a day after a Thai soldier lost his leg to a landmine on the border, prompting a downgrade of diplomatic ties by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh as relations collapse to their lowest level in years.
• Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended this month and could face dismissal after the leak of a phone call she had with Cambodia’s powerful former leader Hun Sen, in which she appeared to criticize her army’s actions in the dispute.
• Thailand and Cambodia have a relationship of both cooperation and rivalry. They share a 500-mile (800-kilometer) land border — largely mapped by France when it ruled Cambodia — that has periodically seen military clashes and been the source of political tensions.
Thailand closes border with Cambodia as conflict escalates
From Patrick Sarnsamak in Thailand
Thailand closed its border with Cambodia after conflict between the neighboring countries intensified, according to Thai officials.
“We have escalated the measures to level 4, which involves the complete closure of all border checkpoints along the Thai Cambodian border,” said Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, a spokesperson for Ad Hoc Centre for Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation.
Surasant said Thailand felt “obligated and compelled” to close the border because the situation had escalated.
Cambodia’s prime minister urges UN Security Council to convene urgently to “stop Thailand’s aggression”
From CNN’s Lex Harvey and Len Leng
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet speaks during the 32nd Founding Anniversary of the Royal Gendarmerie at the Royal Gendarmerie Training Centre in Kampong Chhnang province, Cambodia, on July 14.
Stringer/AFP/Getty Images
Cambodia’s Prime Minister has called on the United Nations Security Council to convene an “urgent meeting” to “stop Thailand’s aggression,” after fighting intensified between the neighbors.
Prime Minister Hun Manet said Thai armed forces launched “unprovoked, premeditated and deliberate attacks on Cambodian positions along the border areas,” accusing it of violating international law in a letter to Security Council President Asim Iftikhar Ahmad.
Thailand has accused Cambodia of violating both its sovereignty and international law by laying landmines within Thai territory on the disputed border, and by firing rockets into civilian areas this morning.
Thailand was “prepared to intensify our self-defense measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations,” its statement said
Death toll in Thailand rises to 11
From CNN’s Kocha Olarn and Lex Harvey
At least 11 civilians have been killed in Cambodia’s attacks in Thailand, the Thai Health Ministry said.
Cambodia has not yet reported any fatalities on its side.
Thailand-Cambodia clash “likely to get worse before it gets better,” analyst says
From CNN’s Rhea Mogul
The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia is “likely to get worse before it gets better,” an analyst said, as relations between the Southeast Asian countries collapse to their lowest level in years.
The next few days could see more “confrontation, clashes, escalation,” Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University, told CNN. “Each side has so much pent-up tension.”
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended this month after the leak of a phone call she had with Cambodia’s powerful former leader Hun Sen, in which she appeared to criticize her army’s actions in their long-standing border dispute.
Some background: Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia with an iron fist for almost 40 years, stepped down in 2023 and handed power to his son Hun Manet. But he remains a hugely influential figure in Cambodian politics:He serves as senate president and was a friend and ally of Paetongtarn’s father, the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
“(Thailand’s) government is very weak and there’s no unity,” said Pongsudhirak, adding Cambodia is “exploiting divisions in Thailand.”
The border dispute will make the ASEAN regional grouping “even more off balance,” Pongsudhirak said. The grouping, which includes Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, among other Southeast Asian countries, has faced challenges and setbacks in recent years, including internal conflicts, territorial disputes, and geopolitical tensions.
Cambodian rocket attack on Thai gas station killed six people, Thai army says
From CNN’s Lex Harvey, Teele Rebane, Kocha Olarn and Patrick Sarnsamak
Six civilians were killed and 10 other people wounded when a Cambodian rocket hit a busy gas station in a Thai village, according to Thailand’s army.
The rocket struck a gas station in the Sisaket province, an army spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.
Social media videos geolocated by CNN showed several wounded people outside a heavily damaged 7/11 store, with smoke in the background. The store’s entrance was destroyed and its windows were shattered, according to the videos. Several people could be seen running to help a wounded person who was lying in a pick-up truck.
At least nine people have been killed and over a dozen were wounded in Thailand in Cambodian attacks, including an 8-year-old boy, according to the Thai army. Two of the other deaths were in Surin province, while one was in Ubon Ratchathani province.
There was no immediate information about casualties in Cambodia.
Why is the Thai-Cambodian border still disputed?
They share a 508-mile (817-kilometer) land border — largely mapped by the French when they controlled Cambodia as a colony — that has periodically seen military clashes and been the source of political tensions.
Cambodia has previously sought a ruling from the UN’s International Court of Justice over disputed areas, including the site of the most recent clash.
But Thailand does not recognize the ICJ’s jurisdiction and claims that some areas along the border were never fully demarcated, including the sites of several ancient temples.
In 2011, Thai and Cambodian troops clashed in a nearby area surrounding the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO world heritage site, displacing thousands of people on both sides and killing at least 20 people.
What caused the flare-up between Thailand and Cambodia?
From CNN’s Helen Regan, Jessie Yeung and Kocha Olarn
An injured Thai soldier who stepped on a land mine is airlifted to a hospital in Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand, on Wednesday.
The Royal Thai Army/AP
Tensions worsened in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief clash between Thai and Cambodian troops in a contested border area of the Emerald Triangle, where Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos meet.
Thai and Cambodian forces said they were acting in self-defense and blamed the other for the skirmish.
Although military leaders from Thailand and Cambodia said they wished to de-escalate, both sides have since engaged in saber-rattling and reinforced troops along the border.
Thailand took control of border checkpoints, imposed restrictions on crossings and threatened to cut electricity and internet to Cambodia’s border towns. Cambodia, in return, stopped imports of Thai fruit and vegetables and banned Thai movies and TV dramas.
Recent landmine explosions prompted both countries to downgrade relations with each other and recall diplomatic staff.
The first soldier lost his leg in a landmine explosion on July 16. The second incident occurred Wednesday, when a blast injured five Thai soldiers, with one losing his leg. Thursday’s violence marked a significant escalation.
The conflict has had huge political ramifications in Thailand.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from duties on July 1 after the leak of a phone call she had with Cambodia’s powerful former leader Hun Sen in June, in which she appeared to criticize her own army’s actions in the dispute.
Shinawatra hails from a powerful dynasty and became Thailand’s youngest prime minister last year, at just 38. She could face full dismissal over the call, in which she appeared to signal there was discord between her government and the powerful Thai military.
Few international tourists visit the area where Thai and Cambodian forces clashed
From CNN’s Karla Cripps
The area where Thai and Cambodian forces clashed today, near the ancient Ta Muen Thom Temple, is not considered a popular destination for international travelers.
The temple lies in disputed territory in the south of Thailand’s Surin province and in Cambodia’s northwest. It’s about 250 miles (400 kilometers) northeast of the Thai capital Bangkok and a five-to-six-hour drive by car.
Surin’s airport does not currently serve commercial flights. The nearest airport offering daily connections with Bangkok is in neighboring Buriram province, about an hour’s drive from downtown Surin and 90 minutes from the temple.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has increased efforts to promote the country’s northeast in recent years, highlighting its unique cuisine, festivals and ancient sites. The region comprises 20 provinces, including Buriram and Surin, and is collectively referred to as Isan.
Unlike Thailand’s north, home to popular destinations such as Chiang Mai, Pai and Chiang Rai, Isan has remained off the radar for the bulk of the millions of international tourists who visit the country each year.
At least eight people in Thailand killed by Cambodian attack, Thai police say
From CNN’s Lex Harvey
At least eight people in Thailand have been killed in clashes with Cambodia today, Thai police said.
A rocket hit a convenience store in Ban Nam Yen, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from the border with Cambodia, District Chief of Kantharalak District, Sisaket Province, told Thai public broadcaster PBS.
Thailand accused Cambodian troops of firing two BM-21 rockets into a civilian area in Kap Choeng district, in Surin province, wounding three civilians.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said Cambodian attacks on civilian areas continued throughout Thursday, including at the Phanom Dong Rak Hospital.
Cambodia previously said a Thai F-16 fighter jet dropped two bombs on a road. There was no immediate information on casualties on the Cambodian side.
Fighting erupted at six locations along entire length of border, says Thai military
From Laura Sharman
A Cambodian BM-21 multiple rocket launcher returns from the Cambodia-Thai border as Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged fire in a new round of clashes in Preah Vihear province on Thursday.
Stringer/AFP/Getty Images
Clashes have been reported along the entire length of the disputed frontier between Cambodia and Thailand, military officials said.
Thai military officials said clashes, involving small arms and heavy weapons, have since spread along the frontline affecting a total of sixlocations. This includes sites in Surin province, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani.
The violence began Thursday morning local time at the ancient, disputed Ta Muen Thom temple site in Thailand’s Surin province, but it is also claimed by Cambodia. Both countries accused their neighbor of firing the first salvo.
Though Cambodia hasn’t acknowledged all six locations, its Defense Ministry said all affected areas “are within Cambodian territory … and are actively protected by Cambodian forces.”
Thailand’s military is more than triple the size of Cambodia’s, and better equipped
From CNN’s Brad Lendon
Members of the Thai army take part in a ceremony in Saraburi province, Thailand on January 18, 2023.
Thailand’s military dwarfs that of neighboring Cambodia, both in personnel and weaponry.
Thailand’s 361,000 active-duty personnel spread across all branches of its military is three times Cambodia’s manpower.
And Thailand is far ahead of Cambodia when it comes to weaponry.
The US classes Thailand as a major non-NATO ally, the IISS notes. That has enabled it to enjoy decades of US support for its weapons programs, although it has also boosted ties with China in recent years and has developed a strong domestic weapons industry with the help of countries such as Israel, Italy, Russia, South Korea and Sweden, the report said.
The air force’s equipment includes at least 11 modern Swedish Gripen fighter jets and dozens of older US-made F-16 and F-5 jets, according to the IISS. Cambodia has no combat-capable air force.
On the ground, Thailand has dozens of battle tanks, including 60 modern, Chinese-made VT-4 tanks, and hundreds of older, US-made tanks. Cambodia has around 200 old Chinese- and Soviet-made tanks, the “Military Balance” shows.
The Thai army boasts more than 600 artillery pieces, including at least 56 powerful 155mm weapons and more than 550 105mm towed guns. Cambodia has only a dozen 155mm guns with around 400 smaller towed artillery pieces, according to IISS figures.
In the air, the Thai army has US-made Cobra attack helicopters and 18 US Black Hawk transports. Cambodia has only a few dozen older Soviet and Chinese transport helicopters.
Thailand’s armed forces are also regular participants in international military exercises, most prominently the annual Cobra Gold exercises, which Bangkok co-hosts with the US Indo-Pacific Command. Cobra Gold began in 1982 as joint drills with the US, but has added dozens of other participants since then. It’s the longest-running international military exercise in the world, according to the US military.
Thai embassy urges citizens to leave Cambodia, warning conflict “is likely to be prolonged and may expand”
From CNN’s Kocha Olarn and Lex Harvey
Local vehicles pass the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Thursday.
Heng Sinith/AP
The Thai embassy in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh is urging its citizens to leave the country “as soon as possible” as border clashes intensify, warning that the conflict “is likely to be prolonged and may expand further.”
The embassy also advised against any non-essential travel to Cambodia.
Cambodia confirms Thai airstrikes hit its territory first, accuses neighbor of “brutal” aggression
From CNN’s Lex Harvey
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry has confirmed that Thailand’s airstrikes hit its territory, and said it would “respond decisively.”
Thailand said it had readied six F-16 jets, and later claimed to have “destroyed” two Cambodian regional military headquarters.
Cambodia denounced what it described as Thailand’s “brutal, barbaric and violent military aggression,” its statement said.
Before jets were launched, armed clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces broke out
From CNN’s Helen Regan and Kocha Olarn
Hours before Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets against Cambodian military targets, armed clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces broke out along the border on Thursday, according to military officials.
They began early morning when Thailand’s military said Cambodian troops fired at a Thai army base in an area near the ancient Ta Muen Thom Temple – which lies in disputed territory in the south of Thailand’s Surin province and in Cambodia’s northwest. It said Cambodia had deployed an unmanned drone in front of the temple before sending troops in with weapons.
It also accused Cambodian troops of firing heavy weapons into a civilian area in the nearby Kap Choeng district, in Surin province.
A Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson said their troops had acted in self-defense after an unprovoked incursion from Thai soldiers.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a post on Facebook that Thailand attacked army positions at two temple sites in its Oddar Meanchey province, as well as in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province.
Hun Manet also called on Cambodian citizens to remain calm.
At least two Thai soldiers were injured on Thursday, Reuters reported, citing a Thai army official.
Two hospitals in Thailand’s Surin province near the site of the clash have begun evacuating patients, according to Thailand’s ministry of public health.
Thailand launches fighter jets as clashes erupt with Cambodia over disputed border
The attack comes a day after a Thai soldier lost his leg in a landmine explosion,
Thailand has deployed fighter jets against Cambodian military targets along their disputed border, in a dramatic escalation of tensions that threatens to erupt into a broader conflict.
The attack comes a day after a Thai soldier lost his leg in a landmine explosion, an incident that saw relations between the two Southeast Asian neighbors collapse to their lowest level in years.
Thailand’s 2nd regional military command in the northeast said on Facebook that F-16 fighter jets had been deployed. It also claimed to have “destroyed” two Cambodian regional military headquarters.
Thailand’s Deputy Army spokesperson Col. Richa Suksuwanont said the airstrikes were aimed only at military targets.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Cambodian side.
Armed clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces had broken out along the disputed border earlier on Thursday, according to military officials, wounding civilians and prompting the evacuation of residents in Thailand.
Black Sabbath legend Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, dead at 76
Black Sabbath legend Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, dead at 76
Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Prince of Darkness and one of heavy metal’s most iconic stars, has died. He was 76.
He died “surrounded by love,” his family said in a statement to The Post on Tuesday. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.”
News of Osbourne’s death comes more than five years after he announced his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in January 2020.
Born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, on Dec. 3, 1948, he was first nicknamed “Ozzy” in primary school.
He had a challenging childhood, but music provided him with an outlet.
Ozzy Osbourne signs copies of his album “Patient Number 9” at Fingerprints Music on September 10, 2022, in Long Beach, California.Getty Images
Two years later, he spent six weeks in the Winson Green prison because he was unable to pay a fine after stealing from a clothing store.
Once released, Osbourne and his friend, Geezer Butler, formed their first band, Rare Breed, with Ozzy on vocals.
He became a founding member of Black Sabbath in 1967. The band is highly regarded as a major influence in the development of heavy metal music,with hits like“Paranoid,” “War Pigs” and “Iron Man.”
“When we started gigging way back when, as soon as we started playing this song’s opening chords, young girls in the audience would f–king freak out,” Osbourne told NME in 2016. “They thought we were Satan’s f–king friends or something.”
Ozzy Osbourne attends the Black Sabbath town hall event celebrating the release of “13” at The Angel Orensanz Foundation on June 11, 2013, in New York City.Getty Images
Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performing on stage at Rainbow Theatre, London, on March 16, 1973.Redferns
“That’s when the whole ‘Prince of Darkness’ s–t started,” he explained about the origin of his nickname. “When people get excited about Halloween coming around each year, all I think is, ‘Well, we used to have Halloween every f–king night.”
Ozzy was fired from the band in 1979 for alcohol and drug abuse, which he later revealed felt hypocritical at the time.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel betrayed by what happened with Black Sabbath,” he wrote in his 2009 memoir “I Am Ozzy.”
“We were four blokes who’d grown up together a few streets apart. We were like family, like brothers. And firing me for being f–ked up was hypocritical bulls–t. We were all f–ked up.”
“If you’re stoned, and I’m stoned, and you’re telling me that I’m fired because I’m stoned, how can that be? Because I’m slightly more stoned than you are?” he added.
But that’s when Sharon Arden, daughter of Black Sabbath’s manager, Don Arden, decided to manage Ozzy as a solo act.
Both the band and Ozzy as a solo act were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. He joined the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006.
Ozzy also made headlines for his outlandish behavior.
He and Sharon, 72, married that same year. The couple had three kids: Aimee, 41, Kelly, 40, and Jack, 39. The family would go on to reach a new level of fame on a first-of-its-kind reality TV show.
Aside from Aimee, who refused to take part in the MTV series, “The Osbournes” invited cameras into their home to chronicle the raw rock-and-roll domestic life of Ozzy and his family.
“I don’t know how the Kardashians have done it for so long — it sent us crazy at the end,” Ozzy recounted in January 2023.
“I am not sorry I did it, but after three or four years I said, ‘Do you know what, we’re going to lose somebody because it is getting too crazy,’” he continued, adding that the show traumatized him and his family.
“There is rock-and-roll fame, which is pretty intense, but that Osbourne level was just unbelievable. The kids paid for it. They all ended up doing drugs. Jack got clean and sober on that show, Kelly messed up on that show, I was messed up, and Sharon got cancer.” (In 2002, Sharon was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery and chemotherapy.)
Ozzy reunited with Black Sabbath on several occasions and rejoined the group in 2013 to record their final album, “13.” He also joined the band on their farewell tour from 2016 to 2017.
Ozzy struggled with heavy drug and alcohol addiction throughout his life. He was introduced to cocaine in 1971 and later claimed he took LSD every day for two years while in Black Sabbath.
At the end of his time with the band, the musician said he “got very drunk and very stoned every single day.”
In September 1989, Ozzy’s challenges got him into legal trouble when he allegedly tried to kill Sharon.
Kelly Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne and Jack Osbourne attend the 56th Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on January 26, 2014, in Los Angeles, California.WireImage
The Osbournes celebrating Ozzy’s 75th birthday in 2023.kellyosbourne/Instagram
He was too intoxicated to remember the incident, and Sharon ended up dropping the criminal charges against him. But a judge still ordered Ozzy to complete six months in rehab.
“We’ve come to a decision that you’ve got to die,” Sharon recalled Ozzy saying before he allegedly strangled her.
“He was calm – very, very calm,” she said in the A&E series “Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne.” “I felt the stuff on the table, and felt the panic button, and just pressed it. Next thing I know, the cops were there.”
“It’s not exactly one of my greatest f–king achievements,” Ozzy added.
He was sober for many years until Ozzy announced on Facebook in April 2013 that he had been drinking and doing drugs for the past year and a half.
In February 2021, he told Varietythat he had been sober for seven years.
Then, in August 2022, Ozzy stated that he was “fed up” with the staggering amount of gun violence in America and that he and Sharon would be moving to the UK.
Ozzy Osbourne attending the ceremony where the original line-up of Black Sabbath was inducted into the Rock Walk of Fame at Guitar Center in Los Angeles, California, on November 18, 1992.Getty Images
However, he later walked back his statement and said he would rather stay in the States.
“I’m American now. To be honest with you, I don’t want to go back [to England],” he reiterated. “F–k that.”
The rocker canceled his 2023 tour three months before it was scheduled to kick off in Finland in May and declared that his touring career was officially over forever.
“This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans…” he captioned the announcement on social media.
He thanked and apologized to fans who bought tickets to his postponed 2019 shows, saying he was “honestly humbled by the way you’ve all patiently held onto your tickets for all this time.”
“My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage,” he explained at the time. “My singingvoice is fine.”
“However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy, and most recently, groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) Treatment, my body is still physically weak,” he added.
Ozzy, Kelly and Sharon Osbourne pose backstage following Kelly Osbourne’s first night of “Chicago” at the Cambridge Theatre on September 10, 2007, in London, England.Getty Images
“I’d love to say ‘never say never’, but after the last six years or so … it is time,” he told The Guardian two months before the concert. “I lived on the road for 50-odd years, and I’ve kind of got used to not picking up my bags and getting on the bus again.”
Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performs during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony at Alexander Stadium on August 8, 2022, in Birmingham, England.Getty Images
She posted to her Instagram Stories in July after an AI video of Ozzy went viral.
“So, there’s this video going around on social media, and it’s supposed to be my dad, but it’s AI,” the TV personality told her fans at the time.
Reality TV’s biggest stars. One unforgettable night.
“And it starts out saying, ‘I don’t need a doctor to tell me that I’m going to die. I know I’m going to die,’” she continued. “What the f–k is wrong with you people? Why would you spend your time making a video like this?”
Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath announce their first new album in 33 years and a world tour at the Whisky a Go Go on November 11, 2011, in West Hollywood, California.Getty Images
“Yes, he has Parkinson’s, and yes, his mobility is completely different than it used to be, but he’s not dying,” she said. “What is wrong with you?”
Kelly also took a moment to slam the rumors that her parents had a “suicide pact” after Sharon suggested as much back in 2007.
“That was bulls–t my mum said to get attention one time,” Kelly concluded. “And my dad’s not dying. Stop.”
Ozzy is survived by his wife, Sharon, and their children: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, as well as his children, Jessica, 45, and Louis, 50, from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, 71.
Ozzy also adopted Riley’s son from a previous relationship with Elliot Kingsley, now 59, during their marriage, which lasted from 1971 to 1982. The late star also had 10 grandchildren.
Paranormal investigator’s family share heartbreaking statement after he dies while touring with infamous ‘Annabelle’ doll
Dan Rivera died at the age of 54 on Sunday
The family of paranormal investigator Dan Rivera have issued a statement after he died aged just 54 on Sunday (July 13).
Rivera died suddenly while touring with the supposedly demonic doll, Annabelle, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as part of his sold-out and infamous ‘Devils on the Run Tour’.
Rivera made a name for himself having appeared on Travel Channel’s notorious Most Haunted Places.
Emergency services rushed to Rivera’s hotel after he wrapped up the show, reports the Evening Sun, and arrived at around 8pm to perform CPR.
While paramedics worked endlessly to try and save the father of four, he was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.
Also part of the US army at one point in his life, the man from Bridgeport, Connecticut, worked as a producer on other shows he was involved with, including Netflix’s28 Days Haunted.
After authorities confirmed the investigator had died, his family took to Facebook to issue an emotional statement.
The private investigator’s family have issued a statement (Facebook)
They said: “We as a family are in pieces as we share the news that Dan Rivera has passed away unexpectedly.
“He was the center of this family and a pillar of love and strength.
“As a devoted husband, father of four sons, and a staunchly faithful friend, he always had a quiet source of resilience, strength and endless hope. Daniel carried a light and a brave heart everyday through his life and his work.
“We are currently at a loss for words as we process his loss but are extremely thankful for the love, support and respect during this unimaginable time.”
Adams County Coroner Francis Dutrow told the Evening Sun that his office is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of his death with the exact cause yet to be confirmed.
Dan Rivera died on Sunday (Instagram/@dan_rivera_nesp)
An autopsy will provide the family more answers, but that could take several months.
The coroner’s office said Rivera’s death did not appear suspicious at this time and that he was found alone in his hotel room.
Rivera was the lead investigator of New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) at the time of his passing.
NESPR said it was ‘devastated’ by his death and ‘is still coming to terms with this profound loss’.
“Dan was not only a vital part of our team for over a decade, but also a deeply compassionate, loyal and dedicated friend,” the statement continued.
Rivera is survived by his wife Sarah and four children.
Paranormal Investigator Dies Suddenly While On Tour With Real ‘Haunted ‘Annabelle’ Doll
A paranormal investigator has died at 54 after showcasing an allegedly ‘possessed’ Annabelle doll.
Dan Rivera had been working on paranormal research and investigations for over 10 years prior to his death on July 13.
Emergency services were called to a hotel in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where CPR was reportedly administered to Rivera.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the father-of-four passed away at the scene.
The investigator was leading the Devils on the Run tour, which showcases a ‘demonically possessed’ Annabelle doll, at the time of his death.
The New England Society for Psychic Research, founded by Ed and Lorraine Warren, whose story led to the development of the horror film franchise The Conjuring, confirmed his death on Monday (July 14), in a heartfelt Facebook post.
It read: “We are heartbroken and still processing this loss.
“Dan truly believed in sharing his experiences and educating people on the paranormal.
“His kindness and passion touched everyone who knew him.
“Thank you for your support and kind thoughts during this difficult time.”
Louise Warren was also a mentor to Rivera.
Dan Rivera was mentored by the Warren’s, whose story led to the production of the Conjuring. Credit: @dan_rivera_nesp/Instagram
In his bio on the touring website, the 54-year-old described himself as an expert in the rites and rituals of Santeria – an Afro-Caribbean religion.
It also read: “At an early age he was introduced to haunting phenomena, having witnessed paranormal events occurring in his home.”
He had been showcasing the raggedy Ann doll on the tour, which is still running until September.
The doll’s origin goes back to 1968, when a student nurse received her as a gift, and brought it to the home where she lived with her roommate.
The organization said: “Almost immediately, the roommates noticed strange occurrences with the doll and they were introduced to a medium who told them the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a young girl named Annabelle.
“The two roommates tried to accept the doll’s spirit and please it only to have it reciprocate maliciousness and violent intent.”
Paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, were called in to confirm that the doll was ‘possessed.’
His family have issued a statement. Credit: Facebook
They indeed took her home, where she was stored in a glass box ‘to contain the evil spirited entity.’
The Conjuring storyline was developed from this true happening.
The exact cause of Rivera’s death is yet to be confirmed.
After authorities confirmed the investigator had died, his family took to Facebook to issue an emotional statement.
They said: “We as a family are in pieces as we share the news that Dan Rivera has passed away unexpectedly.
“He was the center of this family and a pillar of love and strength.
“As a devoted husband, father of four sons, and a staunchly faithful friend, he always had a quiet source of resilience, strength and endless hope. Daniel carried a light and a brave heart everyday through his life and his work.
“We are currently at a loss for words as we process his loss but are extremely thankful for the love, support and respect during this unimaginable time.”
Rivera had also served in the U.S. Army, and is survived by his wife Sarah and their four children.
The Princess of Wales announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024, after rumors circulated on social media about her disappearance from public life.
In a clip revealing the devastating news, Middleton said: “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful.
“However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.
“My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
She added that: “It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be okay.”
In September last year, the royal announced that she had completed her treatment, and in January 2025 revealed that she was in remission.
The princess revealed her cancer diagnosis in 2024. Credit: Alamy
But following the health scare, she has decided to take a very slow and steady return to royal life, given the demanding nature of the public-facing job.
Middleton was set to make an appearance alongside her husband at the Royal Ascot in June, but it was announced last minute that the mom-of-three would not be in attendance.
Speaking to People, Queen Elizabeth’s former spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson, said: “She’s being sensible, listening to what her body is telling her and easing back into public life.”
But the princess recently opened up about the true extent of her cancer battle, and how she navigated the challenging time following her treatment.
She made her return to public duties with a meaningful visit to a hospital garden in Essex, U.K., where she spoke about finding her ‘new normal.’
Middleton said: “You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment.
“Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.”
The 43-year-old added: “You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.
“And actually, someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment, I think is really valuable.”
Kate Middleton opened up about navigating cancer post-treatment. Credit: Alamy
She noted that having someone to talk to during the ‘life-changing’ experience is so vital.
“You have to find your new normal, and that takes time,” Middleton said.
“And it’s a roller coaster, it’s not smooth, like you expect it to be.
“But the reality is you go through hard times.”
Her visit to the hospital garden, in particular, was fueled by how much nature and being outside helped her through the difficult journey.
She noted that it’s where she felt most ‘at peace.’
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