Following the severe flooding that has significantly impacted people’s livelihoods and essential public services, including public healthcare systems in Songkhla Province, True Corporation continues its mission to support the recovery of Hat Yai. Most recently, the company donated THB 2.5 million to Hat Yai Hospital to help restore and strengthen medical service capacity in the aftermath of the disaster.
This contribution aims to support the hospital during a critical recovery period, as it works to swiftly reinstate full medical services and ensure uninterrupted care for the community.
The donation was presented by Khun Oliver Kittipong Veerataecha, Chief Brand and Media Officer of True Corporation, to Dr. Chaisit Thepchattri, Director of Hat Yai Hospital. The funds will be used to rehabilitate essential medical service systems, covering emergency care, inpatient services, and other vital public health operations that must resume without delay.
True Corporation believes that true recovery goes beyond repairing physical infrastructure. It is about enabling communities to move forward with confidence and resilience. Hospitals play a frontline role in safeguarding public health and restoring trust and safety for the people they serve.
Throughout the crisis, True Corporation has undertaken a comprehensive “Mission of the Heart” to support flood-affected communities in Hat Yai across multiple dimensions. In education, the company helped restore learning opportunities for Thai children by supporting Ban Bang Fab School and 18 partner schools through the donation of laptops, digital learning tools, and building rehabilitation, ensuring that teaching and learning could resume promptly.
In technology and innovation, True leveraged its AI capabilities and Mobility Data to support government agencies in rescue coordination and evacuation planning. The company also deployed 20 intelligent drones to deliver medicines and food to hard-to-reach areas, while maintaining 24/7 network stability. Rapid-deployment mobile base stations (Cells on Wheels – COWs) were installed to reinforce connectivity in flooded zones.
For customer care, True waived service fees for mobile, TrueOnline, and TrueVisions customers, extended service validity and payment deadlines, and provided free True–dtac SIM cards and WiFi at evacuation centers and field hospitals. Nationwide TrueOnline technicians were mobilized for the proactive “Fix Every Alley” mission, replacing modem equipment for 100% of affected households without waiting for customer requests.
In addition, the company provided financial donations and relief kits, as well as special smartphone discounts and service packages for medical personnel and public health workers, empowering them as a vital force in Hat Yai’s recovery.
This support for Hat Yai Hospital marks another meaningful step in reinforcing True Corporation’s role in standing alongside Thai society in every circumstance. Under the commitment #TrueForThais, the initiative reaffirms the belief that “in every crisis, Thais stand together.”
Thai police from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division escort a 26-year-old British man accused of violently assaulting his wife in the United Kingdom after his arrest in Sri Saket province, northeastern Thailand, on Dec. 26, 2025.
SISAKET — Thai police have arrested a 26-year-old British man accused of violently assaulting his wife in the United Kingdom before fleeing to Thailand, authorities said Friday.
The suspect, identified by police as Nicholas, was detained on December 26 along a roadside in Kantharalak district of Sisaket province, according to the Central Investigation Bureau.
Investigators said the man is wanted in Britain for a series of alleged offenses, including unlawful detention and physical assault of his wife.
Police said he allegedly beat her with a BB gun or imitation firearm and with a glass, and forced her to swallow more than 100 tablets of various medications before escaping the country.
The UK’s National Crime Agency later tracked the suspect to Thailand, where he had been hiding since 2022, and requested assistance from Thai authorities. Police said the Central Investigation Bureau launched an operation that led to his arrest.
Thai authorities said the suspect is wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on Dec. 3, 2025, on charges including coercive or controlling behavior against an intimate partner, intentional administration of poisonous or dangerous substances, causing bodily harm, assault and property damage.
During questioning, the suspect denied the allegations. Police said he has been handed over to prosecutors as authorities proceed with extradition to the United Kingdom.
Delegates attend the 3rd Special Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) meeting at the immigration office in Ban Phakkad Permanent Border Crossing in Chanthaburi on Dec. 26, 2025.
CHANTHABURI — Thai and Cambodian officials are expecting a ceasefire to take effect on Dec 27 after three days of border talks produced a revised draft agreement that is now awaiting approval from Thailand’s National Security Council, officials said Thursday.
The Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) meeting concluded around 1 p.m. on December 26 at an immigration office in Pong Nam Ron district in Chanthaburi province, near the Cambodian border. The atmosphere of the talks was described as tense.
The Thai side was led by Lt. Gen. Natthapong Phraokaeo, deputy chief of staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and head of the Thai GBC secretariat. The Cambodian delegation was led by Maj. Gen. Nyam Boraden, head of Cambodia’s GBC secretariat.
Cambodia submitted a revised draft agreement — the sixth version — to the Thai side before returning home. Thai officials said the draft will be forwarded to Thailand’s National Security Council for consideration. The contents of the draft have not been disclosed.
The National Security Council meeting is chaired by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Officials have begun preparing a venue for a possible signing ceremony on Dec 27 between Thai Defence Minister Gen. Natthapol Nakpanich and Cambodian Defence Minister Gen. Tea Seiha.
The joint press center on the Thai-Cambodian border situation will also move its briefings to Chanthaburi, the same location as the talks.
Reporters were told a ceasefire is expected to take effect on Dec 27 and will be monitored for 72 hours.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Choengron Rimpadee, deputy commissioner and spokesperson for the Immigration Bureau (right), joins inspection at Suvarnabhumi Airport
BANGKOK — Thailand’s immigration bureau on Friday strongly denied reports that its officers harassed foreign tourists transiting through Thai airports to Cambodia, calling the claims “fake news.”
Pol. Maj. Gen. Choengron Rimpadee, deputy commissioner and spokesperson for the Immigration Bureau, said the allegations — which appeared in international media and were cited by Cambodian embassies abroad — are impossible because transit passengers never enter Thailand.
“Foreign passengers who transit through Thai airports, particularly Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, to connect onward flights to Cambodia do not enter the Kingdom of Thailand and therefore are not subject to immigration inspection,” Choengron said. Transit passengers remain in airport airside areas and proceed directly to connecting flights.
Passengers queue at Suvarnabhumi Airport immigration on Dec. 14, 2025 as Thailand increases security checks amid Cambodia border tensions.
He characterized the reports as an attempt to spread misinformation and damage Thailand’s tourism industry. The country currently receives 75,000 to 80,000 foreign visitors daily.
Immigration Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Panumas Boonyaluck has ordered checkpoints nationwide to deploy adequate staff during the New Year holiday and peak tourism season, according to the bureau.
The agency said it remains committed to maintaining security while providing professional service in line with international standards.
The brand marks a major milestone with the opening of its first stand-alone branch on Banthat Thong Road
SOURI, a contemporary French patisserie brand that seamlessly blends taste with lifestyle, continues to expand its premium dessert footprint with the opening of its first stand-alone branch on Banthat Thong Road. Introducing a distinctive “Night Café Culture” concept, the new location is envisioned as a vibrant nighttime dessert ‘check-in’ destination. Celebrating Thai identity through distinctive design elements and exclusive, one-of-a-kind flavors, the branch reflects SOURI’s continued growth and brand strength and marks the beginning of a new chapter as it elevates the dessert experience into a lifestyle destination designed to meet the diverse preferences of today’s consumers.
Win-Metawin Opas-iamkajorn, CEO and co-founder of the brand, revealed, “For SOURI, selecting a location goes beyond choosing a high-traffic area. We look for destinations that truly reflect our customers’ lifestyles and where the brand’s character resonates naturally with its surroundings. Today, Banthat Thong is undeniably one of Bangkok’s key destinations. It draws travelers seeking its signature menus in a neighborhood known for its vibrant and diverse food culture. We view this area not merely as a street food hub, but as a lifestyle destination for the younger generation—particularly food enthusiasts and travelers from around the world who continue to visit throughout the year.
Few moments are as meaningful as time spent with loved ones – whether shared with close friends or family. From relaxed escapes to joyful celebrations, these occasions create lasting memories. ONYX Hospitality Group invites guests to savour destinations that combine restorative stays with outstanding culinary experiences. More than simply dining, each venue offers exceptional flavours, attentive service and distinctive settings that turn every meal into a moment worth sharing.
ONYX Hospitality Group, a leading regional player and prominent hospitality management company in Southeast Asia specialising in hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, and luxury residences, presents a selection of its signature restaurants and cafés – each a must-visit for discerning diners.
Amari Bangkok
The group’s flagship hotel in the heart of Bangkok is home to an acclaimed collection of restaurants showcasing Thai, International, Italian and Indian cuisine.
Amari Phuket
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YALA, Thailand — Tourism in the southern Thai border town of Betong has surged during the Malaysian school holidays and the year-end festive period, with spending estimated at more than 20 million baht ($570,000).
On December 26, crowds of Malaysian tourists were seen crossing into Thailand at the Betong border checkpoint in Yala province, many travelling with their children during the mid-term school break in Malaysia and the run-up to the New Year. The influx has brought a lively atmosphere to the town, with hotels, restaurants and shops reporting brisk business.
Visitors have been travelling with their families to Betong’s tourist attractions, shopping at local stores and street food stalls, and buying Thai dishes and traditional snacks. Local vendors said Malaysian tourists continue to return for the distinctive flavours of southern Thai cuisine.
Many visitors also travel to Aiyerweng to experience the cool weather and view the sea of mist and sunrise in the early morning, before heading on to take boat trips through the Hala–Bala forest area. The trips offer views of rivers, mountains and wildlife along the Hala–Bala waterways. Tourists also take the opportunity to visit temples and perform religious rites as part of New Year traditions.
Naratep “Seng” Weeramutikrai, 64, owner of Seng Dim Sum restaurant, said the Malaysian school holidays and the year-end festive season have drawn large numbers of families to Betong.
“The town is very lively. Parents bring their children to travel, eat and shop here, which has increased income for local traders,” he said.
He added that tourists from Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have been visiting Betong in large numbers during the year-end period, with many hotels and accommodation fully booked through to February next year.
Local businesses said visitors have been spending on food, souvenirs and travel to nearby attractions, helping to steadily improve the local economy. Authorities estimate that spending in Betong during this period has exceeded 20 million baht.
FILE — Anne Jakrajutatip, then chief executive officer of JKN Global Group, is pictured during her tenure as a company executive.
BANGKOK — Thailand’s Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court ruling and rejected a petition to place JKN Global Group Plc into court-supervised business rehabilitation, dealing a major setback to the media and content company founded by Anne Jakrajutatip, the former owner of the Miss Universe Organization.
The Central Bankruptcy Court on December 25 read the decision of the Court of Appeal for Specialized Cases, Bankruptcy Division, which found there were no reasonable grounds or viable legal pathway for JKN to rehabilitate its business. The appellate court reversed the earlier ruling, dismissed the rehabilitation petition and struck from the docket the appeal concerning the appointment of the debtor as plan preparer.
The appeal was filed by North Haven Thai Private Equity Gemini Co. (Hong Kong) Ltd., listed as the 13th objector and the company’s 1,512th creditor, challenging both the rehabilitation request and the Central Bankruptcy Court’s order appointing the debtor to prepare a plan.
In its review, the appellate court said JKN, a publicly listed company engaged in content licensing, advertising, dietary supplements and management of Miss Universe Organization rights, had relied heavily on bond issuances as its primary source of funding. The company issued bonds 17 times between 2016 and 2023.
Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, owner of the Miss Universe Organization, stands on the stage during the final round of the 72nd Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in San Salvador, El Salvador, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
JKN initially met its bond repayment obligations through the seventh issuance, but defaulted on its eighth bond (JKN239A) upon maturity on Sept. 1, 2023. The default triggered acceleration clauses on bond series 12 through 19, bringing total immediately due debt to 3.212 billion baht ($103.5 million), the court said.
The court acknowledged JKN faced a liquidity crisis that rendered it unable to meet obligations as they fell due, a condition that can qualify a debtor to seek rehabilitation under bankruptcy law. However, it said the company’s financial statements showed growth driven by repeated debt issuance rather than operating profitability.
The court rejected JKN’s claim that investor confidence had been undermined by the collapse of Stark Corporation Plc, saying Stark’s bond default occurred later and was unrelated to JKN’s own default.
It also cited governance concerns surrounding JKN’s sale of the Miss Universe Organization. The court said JKN received only $3.7 million from the transaction, with $10.8 million still unpaid, and that proceeds from a capital increase were used to repay a 300 million baht ($9.7 million) loan to an executive director ahead of other creditors.
“The debtor’s business problems stem from internal management factors,” the appellate court said, adding that JKN failed to demonstrate any realistic means to repay or mitigate losses suffered by bondholders. “There is therefore no reasonable cause and no viable channel for rehabilitation.”
Jakrajutatip, a high-profile transgender businesswoman, resigned from all positions at JKN after being charged by Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission. She later stepped down from roles at the Miss Universe Organization. On June 6, 2025, JKN disclosed the SEC charges and the resignations in a filing.
Jakrajutatip became the first transgender woman to own the Miss Universe Organization after purchasing it for $20 million in October 2022. The acquisition was followed by mounting financial turmoil at JKN.
Gun Jompalang posted a photograph of himself holding a military arm badge attached to a Cambodian uniform.
A Thai social media influencer has triggered widespread criticism after posting an image appearing to mock Cambodian soldiers, as fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border enters its 19th consecutive day.
The influencer, known as Gun Jompalang, initially posted a photograph of himself holding a military arm badge attached to a Cambodian uniform, smiling and accompanied by the caption: “Don’t you want to stop yet?” The post quickly went viral and prompted a wave of condemnation from Thai social media users, many of whom argued that frontline soldiers — regardless of nationality — are human beings, often junior ranks with little control over political decisions.
Critics pointed out that many Cambodian troops are believed to be conscripts or ordinary civilians ordered into combat, and that mocking them dehumanises individuals who are themselves victims of political conflict.
Caption change fuels further controversy
After the backlash, Gun Jompalang changed both the image and the caption, replacing the smiling photo with one showing him crying. His new caption accused critics of selective outrage, arguing that incidents such as alleged Cambodian troops stepping on the Thai flag, harming civilians, or photographing Thai soldiers’ bodies had not generated the same reaction.
His sarcastic tone — including references to “peace goddesses” — intensified the debate rather than calming it, further polarising public opinion.
The episode highlights a broader struggle in Thai online discourse during wartime: where to draw the line between patriotism, protest, and incitement — and whether social media figures are amplifying emotion at the expense of restraint.
Public figures urge respect for fallen soldiers
The popular Thai page Drama Addict weighed in, arguing that most Cambodian soldiers killed at the border were ordinary villagers who believed they were defending their country.
The page stated that while Cambodia is a military adversary, individual soldiers deserve respect, noting that many of those killed were in their early twenties, some reportedly students or athletes whose futures were cut short. It argued that blame should be directed at political leaders — specifically Hun Sen — rather than at frontline troops, and urged communication with Cambodian citizens to challenge their leadership rather than dehumanise their soldiers.
Academic warning on international image
Political scientist Professor Pavin Chachavalpongpun of Kyoto University criticised the Thai government for allowing what he called irresponsible nationalist rhetoric to damage Thailand’s international standing.
He argued that while war involves hostility, it is governed by international norms, and publicly mocking enemy soldiers violates those principles. He warned that allowing influencers to shape war narratives risks escalating nationalism and reinforcing international condemnation of Thailand at a time when the country is already facing diplomatic pressure.
“War has rules,” he wrote, warning against the weaponisation of social media nationalism and what he described as the “normalisation of mockery and hatred”.
A digital front line
As fighting continues on the ground, the online reaction underscores how social media has become a parallel battlefield — shaping perceptions, inflaming sentiment, and influencing how conflicts are interpreted domestically and internationally.
While physical clashes take lives at the border, the information war is reshaping public attitudes, blurring the line between patriotism and provocation, and raising questions about the responsibility of those with large digital platforms during times of conflict.
With no immediate sign of de-escalation, both the military confrontation and the online debate appear set to continue — each feeding into the other in ways that may prove difficult to contain.
FILE - Supporters of Myanmar's military backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), dance on the first day of campaign for the upcoming general election, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Oct. 28, 2025.(AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File)
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar will hold the first phase of a general election on Sunday, its first vote in five years and an exercise that critics say will neither restore the country’s fragile democracy undone by a 2021 army takeover, nor end a devastating civil war triggered by the nation’s harsh military rule.
The military has framed the polls as a return to multi-party democracy, likely seeking to add a facade of legitimacy to its rule, which began after the army four years ago ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The takeover triggered widespread popular opposition that has grown into a civil war. The fighting has complicated holding the polls in many contested areas.
Voting will be held in different parts of the country in three phases, with the second on Jan. 11 and the third on Jan. 25.
Human rights and opposition groups say the vote will be neither free nor fair and that power is likely to remain in the hands of military leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.
Critics doubt a real transition to civilian rule
Richard Horsey, a Myanmar analyst for the International Crisis Group, noted that the vote is being run by the same military that was behind the 2021 coup.
“These elections are not credible at all,” he told The Associated Press. ”They do not include any of the political parties that did well in the last election or the election before.”
Horsey says the military’s strategy is for its favored Union Solidarity and Development Party to win in a landslide, shifting Myanmar from direct military rule to a government with a “civilian veneer” that perpetuates army control.
FILE – Ko Ko Gyi, chairman of the People’s Party and leader of Myanmar prominent 1988 pro-democracy uprising, speaks during opening ceremony of campaign poster and election campaign, Nov. 19, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw, File)
That would allow the military to claim that holding the election showed progress towards inclusiveness in the spirit of a peace proposal by the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, that calls for “constructive dialogue among all parties concerned” so they can “seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the people.”
It would also provide an excuse for neighbors like China, India and Thailand to continue their support, which they contend promotes stability in Myanmar.
Western nations have maintained sanctions against Myanmar’s ruling generals because of their anti-democratic actions and brutal war on their opponents.
The army seized power on Feb. 1, 2021, claiming the 2020 election — won in a landslide by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy — was illegitimate because of alleged large-scale voter registration irregularities. Independent observers, however, found no major problems.
On Sunday, ballots will be cast in 102 of the country’s 330 townships. Further rounds will follow on Jan. 11 and Jan. 25, leaving 65 townships where there would be no voting because of the ongoing conflict with ethnic guerrilla groups and resistance forces.
Though 57 parties have fielded candidates, most are posting candidates only in their own home states or regions. Six parties are competing nationwide and have a chance of winning enough seats to wield political power, but the rules make it likely the pro-military USDP will emerge in position to lead a new government.
In total, nearly 5,000 candidates are competing for more than 1,100 seats in the two chambers of the national legislature and in state and regional legislatures, though the actual number of seats that will be filled will be less where constituencies are not voting.
The Union Election Commission has yet to release the total number of eligible voters, but in 2020, there were more than 37 million.
Aung San Suu Kyi and her party are not participating
Myanmar’s 80-year-old former leader and her party are not taking part in the election. Suu Kyi is currently serving a 27-year prison term on charges widely seen as bogus and politically motivated. Her National League party was dissolved after refusing to officially register under the new military rules.
Other parties are also boycotting the vote or have declined to run under conditions they say are unfair. Opposition groups have also called for a boycott by voters.
Anti-coup protesters flash the three-fingered symbol of resistance while holding slogans bearing pictures of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration in Yangon, Myanmar on Wednesday April 7, 2021. Photo: AP
Amael Vier, an analyst for the Asian Network for Free Elections, noted recently that Myanmar’s political parties that won 90% of the seats in 2020 no longer exist today.
An Election Protection Law with harsh penalties enacted this year put even more restrictions on political activity, effectively barring all public criticism of the polls. More than 200 people have been charged for leafleting or online activity over the past few months.
All this likely sets the stage for the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party to dominate the polls — and for 69-year-old Min Aung Hlaing to take over as president.
Repression and violence continue
The human cost of Myanmar’s conflict has been high. According to the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 22,000 people are currently detained for political offenses and over 7,600 civilians have been killed by security forces since the army seized power.
There are more than 3.6 million internally displaced people, most driven from their homes by warfare, marking a major humanitarian crisis.
“Myanmar is witnessing intensified violence, repression, and intimidation ahead of military-controlled elections,” the U.N. Human Rights Office said. It added that civilians are being threatened by both military authorities and armed opposition groups regarding participation.
Amnesty International researcher Joe Freeman said that many fear the election will only entrench the power of those responsible for years of unlawful killings.
Horsey, of the International Crisis Group, believes that after the polls, Myanmar is likely to see increased conflict as opponents attempt to prove the military still lacks popular legitimacy.
