30 Children from Santisuk Foundation Receive Educational Sponsorships from Philanthropic Couple

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8 December 2025, 14:22

BANGKOK, THAILAND – November 24, 2025 – In a profound act of corporate social responsibility and commitment to community upliftment, philanthropic couple Kwanchanok Mann, alongside her husband, esteemed business leader and Vanuatu Trade Commissioner Daniel Francis Agius, have inaugurated a major charity campaign. Marking Mann’s birthday, the couple pledged to fully sponsor the year-long education of 30 children from underprivileged families through the Santisuk Foundation’s Education Fund Program.

This initiative is far more than a typical philanthropic gesture; it embodies a deeply personal commitment by Mann and Agius to the future of Thailand’s youth, specifically targeting the crucial area of educational access. The focused sponsorship is designed to actively dismantle the systemic barriers to learning that perpetuate the cycle of poverty, providing a critical lifeline for children residing in marginalized communities. The announcement follows an emotional and inspiring visit by the couple to the Santisuk School and Day Care Centre, solidifying their promise to these vulnerable young learners.

The Santisuk Foundation is a dedicated Non-Government Christian organization that has served as a vital support system for children and families for decades. Operating across more than 40 slum communities in Bangkok and its surrounding areas, the Foundation champions the transformative power of education. Currently, it extends comprehensive support to over 700 children who face daily struggles with extreme poverty, unstable housing, and a critical lack of basic necessities.

The Santisuk Foundation recognizes that true educational opportunity requires more than just a classroom. The core philosophy of the Education Fund Program is built on providing holistic support to ensure sustained academic success and personal well-being. A modest monthly contribution is carefully utilized to provide a suite of essential benefits, ensuring the sponsored child can focus entirely on their learning and development without the looming stress of survival.

Kwanchanok Mann and Daniel Francis Agius’s sponsorship immediately injects critical funds into the Santisuk program, ensuring stability and opportunity for young learners right at the start of the academic year. This funding provides holistic support for academic success and personal well-being, covering every essential need: a crucial mid-day lunch for cognitive development, comprehensive education (tuition and fees), essential clothes and uniforms for dignity, necessary educational equipment, and year-long accident insurance coverage, offering families vital peace of mind.

The depth of the couple’s dedication was vividly showcased during their personal visit to the Santisuk School and Day Care Centre on November 24, 2025. The day was filled with joy and hope, featuring heartfelt performances by the children expressing their gratitude and dreams. Kwanchanok and Daniel spent invaluable time sharing lunch and engaging in meaningful conversations. The highlight was their personal meeting with the children, establishing a tangible, meaningful bond that transforms financial aid into a personal connection. The Education Fund Program ensures this relationship is maintained through regular updates, photos, and progress reports, making the couple active participants in the children’s growth.

Wichai Laivatanapaisan, Director of Santisuk Foundation commented: “This incredible generosity from Kwanchanok and Daniel provides monumental, year-long stability for 30 vulnerable children. Their initiative is about more than just resources; it’s a powerful statement demonstrating that breaking the insidious cycle of poverty is possible. It reaffirms the undeniable right of every child to a hopeful future through education and stands as a powerful call for equal opportunity.”

Kwanchanok Mann expressed the couple’s enthusiasm: “There’s truly no better celebration than investing in the future of our bright, hopeful children. Our visit to Santisuk was incredibly heartwarming and deeply inspirational. Daniel and I are thrilled to personally ensure these students have some stability, resources, and education they need to thrive. We view this as a deeply personal and ongoing commitment for many years to come, and we look forward to witnessing their growth.”

While the couple continues their philanthropic mission across the world, they view this sponsorship with the sincere hope that their commitment inspires others to join this critical cause. They urge the broader community to recognize the attainable power they possess: by supporting impactful organizations like the Santisuk Foundation, we can collectively grant vulnerable children the hopes, opportunities, and self-sufficiency they need to break the cycle of poverty and design their own futures.

Thailand Launches Airstrikes Along Border with Cambodia as Tensions Reignite

By

Associated Press

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8 December 2025, 10:50

Thailand Cambodia — FILE - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, right, and Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, left, react during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

By JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI and SOPHENG CHEANG

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand launched airstrikes along the disputed border with Cambodia on Monday as both sides accused the other of breaking a ceasefire that halted fighting earlier this year.

Longstanding border disputes erupted into five days of combat in July that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians. U.S. President Donald Trump pushed the Southeast Asian neighbors to sign a truce agreement in October, but tensions have continued to simmer.

The Thai ministry of defense said that more than 35,000 people have left areas near the border for shelters and more are believed to have fled to stay with relatives elsewhere, while Cambodia’s Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said that residents of several villages near the border have been evacuated.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said in a televised speech that military operations would be carried out as necessary to defend the country and protect public safety.

“Thailand has never wished for violence. I’d like to reiterate that Thailand has never initiated a fight or an invasion, but will never tolerate a violation of its sovereignty,” he said.

AP25342121103290 — A wounded Thai soldier is carried to be transferred to a hospital in Sisaket province, Thailand, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, after, according to a Thai army spokesperson, Cambodian troops fired into Thai territory. (Royal Thai Army via AP)

Fighting follows exchange of fire on Sunday

The ceasefire was strained in early November after Thai troops were injured by land mines, leading Thailand to announce that it would indefinitely suspend implementation of the agreement. Both sides continue to trade accusations over responsibility, even as they are supposed to be cooperating in getting rid of the mines.

Trump said in mid-November that he’d intervened to preserve the ceasefire as tensions simmered between the two countries.

But another brief episode of fighting took place along the border Sunday, after which both sides said the other fired first. The Thai army said Cambodian fire injured two Thai soldiers and Thai troops retaliated, resulting in an exchange of fire that lasted around 20 minutes. Cambodia said that the Thai side fired first and that its own troops did not retaliate.

On Monday, Thai army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree said the Cambodian troops fired first into Thai territory in multiple areas. He said one Thai soldier was killed and four other soldiers were wounded, and civilians were being evacuated from the affected areas.

Thailand used aircraft “to strike military targets in several areas to suppress Cambodian supporting fire attacks,” he said.

Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said the Thai military attacked the Cambodian troops first on Monday, and that Cambodia did not retaliate during the initial attacks.

“Cambodia urges that Thailand immediately stop all hostile activities that threaten peace and stability in the region,” she said.

The prime minister of regional neighbor Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, called for restraint in a statment posted to social media and said that his country is ready to supports efforts to avert further fighting.

“Our region cannot afford to see long-standing disputes slip into cycles of confrontation,” he wrote.

Centuries of rivalry lie beneath territorial dispute

Thailand and Cambodia have a history of enmity going back centuries, when they were warring empires.

Their modern territorial claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn when Cambodia was under French colonial rule, which Thailand has argued is inaccurate.

The International Court of Justice in 1962 awarded sovereignty to Cambodia over an area that included the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which still rankles many Thais.

The ceasefire does not spell out a path to resolve the underlying basis of the dispute, the longstanding differences over where the border should run.

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Sopheng Cheang reported from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Associated Press writer Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia contributed to this report.

Three Observations About the New Round of Military Clashes Between Thailand and Cambodia

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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8 December 2025, 10:13

ubon dec8-12-2025 — Residents of Nam Yuen district in Ubon Ratchathani province take shelter in a bunker on Dec. 8 following the Thai-Cambodian military clash.

Three Observations About the New Round of Military Clashes Between Thailand and Cambodia

1. Both sides claim the other side fired first. Media outlets in both country cannot independently verify who actually initiated the shooting. And we should note this very important point. We owe it to the public to do so.

2. Thai and Cambodian media should clearly distinguish what is being said by military or government spokespersons from what is confirmed fact. For example, on the Thai side, reports should say: “The Army spokesperson said that Cambodia fired first,” rather than presenting it as an established truth. Responsible media must differentiate between their role and that of a military spokesperson, and refrain from writing short conflated reports such as “Cambodia launched the attack first” when Thai media cannot verify this on their own (and vice versa for Cambodian press).

For information coming from the government that is significant but cannot yet be independently verified—such as “who fired first”— should be stated clearly that the information cannot be confirmed by journalists.

3. Regarding the deployment of F-16s in a “retaliatory” strike after the death of a Thai soldier (my condolences to the soldier’s family), does this require approval from the Thai Prime Minister? How much control does the current civilian interim government actually have over the military? Or is the military deciding its own actions? Civil society must be cautious of the possible corrosion of the power of civilian supremacy over the military, as well have very little of that in Thailand to begin with.

P.S. War is not a computer games. Lives are loss and those killed have loved ones and family waiting at home. The media should not desensitised war by their choice of words.

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Thai Pageant Host Sues Miss Universe Over “Dumbhead” Claim

By

Khaosod English

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8 December 2025, 03:19

nawat - fatima2 — FILE - Nawat Itsaragrisil congratulates Miss Universe 2025 winner Fátima Bosch at Impact Mueang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi Province on Nov. 21, 2025.

BANGKOK — A Thai pageant organizer has filed a defamation complaint against newly crowned Miss Universe Fátima Bosch, escalating turmoil that has surrounded this year’s competition even after it concluded in November.

Bosch, 25, from Mexico, won the 74th Miss Universe title in Bangkok amid accusations that the contest was tilted in her favor. She now faces legal action from Nawat Itsaragrisil, chairman of the Miss Universe Thailand Host Committee and CEO of the Miss Grand International Organization (MGI), who alleges she falsely accused him of calling her a “dumbhead” during pageant activities in Thailand.

Nawat confirmed the complaint Sunday night in Phuket during the Miss Grand Phuket 2026 final, saying Bosch repeatedly made the allegation in television interviews, claiming he verbally bullied her after she declined to participate in sponsor-related activities.

He said the defamation report was filed on November 12 to protect MGI’s reputation as a publicly listed company. “I had already let it go, but the company cannot ignore accusations that damage its name,” he said, adding that he wanted to act within Thailand’s three-month legal window for filing such cases.

nawat 07 12 2025 — Miss Grand International chairman Nawat Itsaragrisil speaks to reporters during a press conference at the Miss Grand Phuket 2025 final at Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra on Dec. 7, 2025.

Nawat insisted he never used the insult, stating that digital records from the event show he told Bosch, “Your damage,” referring to the negative impact of skipping scheduled activities. “I said that clearly,” he said.

He added that he had apologized to Bosch for losing his temper amid what he described as repeated provocations and refusals to fulfill her commitments. “What I cannot accept is being accused of something I didn’t say,” he said. “That is why the legal team reviewed the matter and decided to proceed.”

Calling Bosch’s accusation a deliberate falsehood, Nawat argued that public advocacy requires responsibility. “If you have a voice, you must also have respect,” he said. “If you lie and defame others, that is not empowerment—it is a crime.”

He stressed that the complaint has no connection to Bosch’s title. “No one is trying to dethrone her,” he said. “She holds the highest position in the organization. But she should reflect on what she said. Defamation is a criminal offense.”

AP25325158840535 — Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch celebrates winning the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Broader Controversy

The 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Thailand has been engulfed in controversy for months. Beyond the dispute between Nawat and Bosch, questions have been raised about Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú, a co-owner of the pageant, and his business ties to Bosch’s family—concerns that prompted two judges to resign before the final.

After the event, Miss Côte d’Ivoire Olivia Yacé resigned her fourth runner-up placement and continental queen title, citing alleged misconduct and judging irregularities.

The turmoil deepened when Mexico’s anti-money laundering agency froze Rocha Cantú’s bank accounts as part of an investigation into alleged drug, fuel, and arms trafficking. Separately, a Thai court issued an arrest warrant for former Miss Universe co-owner Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip after she failed to appear for a verdict hearing in a fraud case involving $930,000.

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Thai Students Help Rescue of Injured French Tourist on Koh Samui

By

Khaosod English

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8 December 2025, 01:03

french fall samui3 — A French tourist is rescued after slipping and breaking his ankle at Hin Lad Waterfall on Koh Samui on Dec. 7, 2025.

KOH SAMUI — A group of Thai students helped rescuers reach a French tourist who slipped and broke his ankle at the top tier of Hin Lad Waterfall on Koh Samui late Sunday, prompting a difficult four-hour evacuation, officials said.

The accident occurred in the uppermost section of the waterfall in Ang Thong subdistrict on the afternoon of December 7. The Narenthorn 1669 emergency center at Koh Samui Hospital received a report that a foreign visitor had fallen on the rocks and was unable to walk.

Poonchai Khamloon, acting chief of the local Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, coordinated a multi-agency response involving district officials, marine police, Royal Thai Air Force personnel from the Samui Naval Air Station, and local rescue foundations. Teams trekked up steep terrain as daylight faded.

french fall samui2 — Rescue teams save a French hiker who fell at the top of Hin Lad Waterfall on Koh Samui on Dec.7, 2025.

Rescuers reached the scene more than an hour later and found seven male students assisting the injured man, identified as Christophe, 48, of France.

The students told authorities they had been hiking ahead of the tourist when they saw him step onto a large boulder, slip and fall. With no phone signal in the area, they stayed with him while another hiker went down the trail to call for help.

Rescue crews used ropes and technical equipment to lower the man through rugged terrain in darkness, finally getting him to a waiting ambulance and transporting him to Koh Samui Hospital.

Hospital officials said the tourist was in stable condition. He thanked the students and rescue teams for their efforts.

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Thai-Cambodia Border Clash Injures Two Thai Troops, Triggers Evacuation

By

Khaosod English

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7 December 2025, 19:43

clash thaicam1 — Military personnel evacuate two injured Thai soldiers following a clash with Cambodian forces at the disputed Phu Pha Lek – Phlan Hin Paet Kon border area in Sisaket Province to a provincial hospital on Dec. 7, 2025.

SISAKET — A brief exchange of gunfire between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted Sunday afternoon along a disputed stretch of the border in Sisaket province, leaving two Thai soldiers injured and prompting evacuations in four Thai provinces.

The clash broke out around 2:15 p.m. December 7 near the Phu Pha Lek–Phlan Hin Paet Kon area when Thai soldiers from Infantry Battalion 13 exchanged small-arms fire with Cambodian troops. Thai officials said the fighting escalated when Cambodian forces fired a recoilless rifle. The shooting stopped at 2:50 p.m.

Lt. Gen. Weerayut Raksil, commander of Thailand’s 2nd Army Area, ordered units to remain on high alert and adhere strictly to the rules of engagement.

The Thai Army said Sgt. Anuchat Rueankham was shot in the leg and Pvt. Phonchai Champajum suffered chest pain and bruising after a round struck his body armor. Both were evacuated to Kantaralak Hospital. The 2nd Army Region later reported that both soldiers were in stable condition, though Champajum continued to experience chest tightness.

clash thaicam5 — Military personnel evacuate two injured Thai soldiers following a clash with Cambodian forces at the disputed Phu Pha Lek – Phlan Hin Paet Kon border area in Sisaket Province to a provincial hospital on Dec. 7, 2025.

Authorities ordered residents in border districts of Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani to move to designated shelters as a precaution. Local military units are monitoring the situation amid concerns the violence could escalate.

Defense Ministers Clash Over Responsibility

Thai Defense Minister Gen. Nattaphol Nakpanich criticized Cambodian Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Tea Seiha for accusing Thailand of firing first. Nattaphol said the claim was made “without fact-checking,” pointing to the two injured Thai soldiers as evidence of Cambodian fire.

“This has been a consistent pattern,” he said, alleging that Cambodian frontline units have repeatedly provoked Thai troops and removed barbed-wire fencing Thailand installs to stop landmine planting.

Asked whether the clash could be linked to this week’s Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa landmine treaty at the United Nations office, Nattaphol said Cambodia might be seeking to portray Thailand as the aggressor ahead of the gathering.

clash thaicam3 — Villagers in Surin province evacuate from red-zone communities in Phanom Dong Rak district to temporary shelters following a border clash between Thai and Cambodian troops near the Pha Lak cliff pass in Kantharalak district, Si Sa Ket province, on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 7, 2025.

Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered full defensive measures to protect Thailand’s sovereignty and instructed provincial governors to activate evacuation procedures, according to government spokesman Siripong Angkhasakulkiat. He also stated that PM Anutin, along with the Minister of Defence, will fly urgently tomorrow to visit four Thai-Cambodian border provinces following this incident.

Cambodia Calls for Investigation

Cambodia offered a sharply different account. Defense Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said Thai troops opened fire in Choam Ksan district using “shotguns, B-40 machine guns and 60mm mortars.” She said Cambodian forces did not fire back and immediately contacted Thai authorities, ending the incident at 2:32 p.m.

“During the incident, Cambodian forces refrained from retaliating and continued to cautiously monitor the situation,” the ministry said in a statement.

Cambodia said it has notified the ASEAN Observer Team and requested an investigation “with transparency, fairness and correctness.” The ministry reaffirmed what it called Cambodia’s “unwavering commitment” to the ceasefire agreement and the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord.

clash thaicam2 — Villagers in Surin province evacuate from red-zone communities in Phanom Dong Rak district to temporary shelters following a border clash between Thai and Cambodian troops near the Pha Lak cliff pass in Kantharalak district, Si Sa Ket province, on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 7, 2025.

Regional Diplomacy Underway

The incident underscores once again how fragile the October 26 ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia is — a deal that U.S. President Donald Trump helped push forward and witnessed. Earlier, on November 11, a Thai soldier lost a foot to a land mine while patrolling the border in Sisaket province, becoming the seventh amputation case since May. Thailand presented evidence that the device had been newly planted. In response, Thai Prime Minister Anutin declared that Thailand would suspend the ceasefire.

Two days later, a brief clash erupted between Thai and Cambodian troops, during which Cambodia claimed one civilian was killed by gunfire from the Thai side.

However, two days later, President Trump said he had successfully eased hostilities between the two countries, saying he managed to preserve the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that appeared to be unraveling.

AP25299197048420 — President Donald Trump, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, left, and Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pose with their documents during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

The latest clash occurred as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet hosted Gen. Tan Sri Hj Mohd Nizam bin Hj Jaffar, Malaysia’s chief of defense forces. Nizam reaffirmed Malaysia’s support for the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord and a neutral stance on border issues. He also met with Cambodian Defense Chief Tea Seiha during the visit.

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French Man Accused of Assaulting American Tourist After Full Moon Party

By

Khaosod English

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7 December 2025, 14:00

french rape1 — Police bring the French man accused of assaulting an American tourist to Koh Phangan Police Station for further investigation and legal procedures on Dec. 6, 2025.

KOH PHANGAN — Police on Koh Phangan have arrested a 35-year-old French man accused of raping a 22-year-old American tourist after the Full Moon Party earlier this week, authorities said Sunday.

The Special Operations Unit of the Surat Thani Provincial Police Investigation Division raided a room on Koh Phangan and arrested the suspect, identified as Romain (family name withheld), following a warrant issued by the Koh Samui Provincial Court.

Tourist police said they received a report at 12:20 p.m. on December 6 from the American woman, who alleged she was sexually assaulted at a guesthouse in Haad Rin village on the island.

According to police, the woman and her friends had been staying on nearby Koh Samui and traveled to Koh Phangan on the night of December 5 to attend the Full Moon Party. Around 2 a.m., she became intoxicated and lost contact with her friends.

french rape2 — Police question a 35-year-old French suspect at Koh Phangan Police Station after his arrest over an alleged assault on an American tourist on Dec. 6, 2025.

Police said Romain approached her, offered to help find her friends and later took her to a hostel, where he allegedly raped her. She regained consciousness during the assault and screamed for help, prompting the suspect to flee.

Tourist police brought the woman to Koh Phangan Police Station to file a formal complaint and later took her to Koh Samui Hospital for a medical examination.

An investigation by police and tourist police units led to the identification of the suspect. Officers sought and obtained an arrest warrant charging him with “rape by sexual intercourse with a person unable to resist.”

Police later arrested Romain and handed him over to investigators at Koh Phangan Police Station for further legal proceedings.

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Hat Yai Flood and the Flooding Thai-Cambodian Relations with Hatred

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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7 December 2025, 13:29

Floods Climate — FILE - People wade through floodwaters in Songkhla province, southern Thailand, on Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sarot Meksophawannakul, File)

T he mega flood which inundated the whole southern city of Hat Yai at the end of November and killed at least 145 people so far reminded us how some friendly foreign states such as Japan and China quickly provided Thailand some relief and assistance. We are grateful.

On a much darker note, it demonstrates how degraded the relationship between some Cambodians and Thailand has become.

English-language Thai media, including Khaosod English, over the past ten days or so were inundated with disparaging comments from Cambodian Facebook users expressing a sense of schadenfreude upon reading about the deaths and suffering of residents of Hat Yai whom they do not know in person (and some pets).

Here are some ‘milder’ comments chosen to demonstrate how low some Cambodian netizens on Facebook have sunk:

FB user Molivaan Heng, originally from Phnom Penh, now living in Perth, Australia, reacted on Saturday, December 6, following a flood-related news item on Khaosod English.

“Good job Thailand 👏👏👏 Keep flooding, Cambodians will laugh so hard 😂😂😂 and I can’t wait to see the news like this.”

“Congratulations Thailand, hope it will happen again next year 😂,” wrote Rosat Sles, from Phnom Penh, on the same day.

“This is the first lot of floodwaters and the second lot will come to visit soon again I hope that Thai people will be happy for swimming in the second lot of floodwaters, I wish….,” Cambodian FB user Yem Thong commented yesterday.

“Happy day,” reacted another Cambodian reader of Khaosod English.

A Thai reader also reacted to these posts, by saying: “I’m tired of people who have no sense of right or wrong. They treat other people’s suffering as a joke, even though their own lives aren’t much better,” and tagged the United Nations.

While some have written to us, demanding Khaosod English to block FB users from Cambodia from commenting, we believe the fundamental right to free expression must be upheld, as much as possible. Also, we should not be in denial of what’s happening between Thailand and Cambodia.

Three days ago, a Thai reader of Khaosod English, Sean Teeratada Rongmaung, explained why these depraved comments should not be deleted, when he posted in Thai language:

“A message to all Thai people: there’s no need to respond to their comments—just leave them. Let foreigners see for themselves. Personally, I think we should just let them say whatever they want. The rest of the world will see the kind of things they choose to comment. It becomes their digital footprint from now on.”

Reading such comments from Cambodian Facebook users, one is reminded of how deep the hatred for Thais in general, they are harbouring. Only people who have lost a part of their humanity could publicly express sadistic glee upon reading about the suffering of strangers.

When you can laugh and rejoice in the deatts and suffering of strangers, you are losing a key trait that makes you human and humane – empathy.

While Cambodia has yet to face a loss of this magnitude since the 5-day undeclared war with Thailand in July, I fear some Thai ultra-nationalists may fare no better in laughing at the suffering of Cambodians if Cambodia were to face a natural calamity of such magnitude. Already Thai ultra-nationalists are branding Cambodia as Scambodia and a nation of dog-eaters, supporting the threat by a prominent ultra-nationalist Thai social media influencer Kan Jom Phalang to spray faeces into the Cambodian side of the border, and more.

Reading these sadistic and depraved comments one feels discouraged and is prone to believe there is no hope for Thailand and Cambodia to restore even a semblance of normal relations in the coming years. One must remember however that there are 17 million people in Cambodia (and roughly 70 million in Thailand).

If both sides have a million or two ultra-nationalists who feel delighted about the suffering of strangers, then they are still in the minority. We must remind ourselves of this and not allow these vocal and depraved people to poison and direct the course of Thai-Cambodian conflict towards a dead end.

Thais and Cambodians who believe in humanity and empathy cannot be idle and allow these extremists to hijack the future of Thai-Cambodia relations for years to come by hurling dehumanising speech at one another and fail to send a clear signal that such hateful and myopic reactions will do more harm to both countries and the people of both nations. Those still sane must try to redirect the conflict towards a more rational and empathetic direction.

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Thai Park Chief Explains Why Young Tiger Approached Cars Near Popular Viewpoint

By

Khaosod English

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7 December 2025, 01:36

thap lan tiger11 — A tourist’s video screenshot shows a young wild tiger walking along the mountain road near Khao Saladdai in Thap Lan National Park on Dec6, 2025.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — A young male tiger seen walking close to cars on a mountain road in Thailand’s Thap Lan National Park this week likely wandered out of its territory after being displaced by an adult male, park officials said Saturday.

Tourists captured video of the tiger on December 6 near Pha Rak Saladdai and along the road leading to the Khao Saladdai radar station, an area straddling Prachinburi and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces. Rangers from Thap Lan National Park and district officials later inspected the site to ensure the safety of visitors and staff.

Phrawattisat Chanthep, chief of Thap Lan National Park and the Khao Saladdai radar station, said the tiger is about 2 years old and the offspring of a well-known female tiger identified as No. 106. The animals normally roam deep inside Lam Plai Mat forest, part of the wider Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai forest complex.

He said the young tiger likely moved toward the forest edge because an adult male had taken over its father’s territory, prompting the juvenile to search for a new home range. Lacking experience, it appeared unafraid of vehicles and wandered onto the mountain road.

Rangers have temporarily restricted access to the area and stationed officers with vehicles and survey equipment to warn remaining visitors and to create human activity that will encourage the tiger to retreat deeper into the forest. Officials expect the situation to resolve within two to three days.

“This is not the first time tigers have been seen here, but people need to understand they generally fear humans,” Phrawattisat said. “Adult tigers ready to hunt will avoid areas where they hear cars. Still, we ask residents and tourists to avoid the area for now.”

thap lan tiger2 — A scenic view from Khao Saladdai, a popular lookout point inside Thap Lan National Park in northeastern Thailand.

He added that the sighting is a positive indicator of a healthy forest ecosystem and ongoing tiger conservation success. Rangers will continue monitoring the animal to ensure the safety of both the public and wildlife.

The movement of the young tiger also suggests the wildlife corridor between Thap Lan National Park and Khao Yai National Park is functioning well. The two protected areas are connected by an over-road ecological passage above Highway 304 in Prachinburi’s Na Di district.

On December 7 , the Facebook page “This Is Khao Yai” posted a new video showing a wild tiger walking near the roadside as tourists drove up Khao Saladdaiใ The tourist who recorded the video said he was still stunned, as he never expected to encounter a wild tiger this close. Officials believe it is the same juvenile tiger recorded by another visitor a day earlier.

Thap Lan National Park, Thailand’s second-largest national park, spans parts of Prachinburi and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces and forms a key section of the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Known for its vast dry evergreen forests, diverse wildlife and critically important tiger habitat, the park includes several protected corridors that allow animals to move safely between major forest blocks in the region.

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Locomotive Crashes into Tourist Train at Kanchanaburi Station

By

Khaosod English

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6 December 2025, 21:09

train collide kan4 — Foreign tourists, who sustained minor injuries in a collision when a shunting locomotive backed into their stationary train at Nam Tok Station in Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, await a replacement train on December 6, 2025.

KANCHANABURI – Eighteen tourists, including both Thai and foreign nationals, were injured on Saturday after a shunting operation went wrong at Wang Yen Railway Station in Kanchanaburi Province, causing a locomotive to crash into a stationary passenger train carriage.

The incident occurred as the passenger train, operating on the Kanchanaburi-Nam Tok line, was stationary at the Wang Yen station for a scheduled change of the locomotive that pulls the train. According to police from Mueang Kanchanaburi Provincial Police Station, the locomotive being maneuvered to connect to the passenger cars suddenly backed into the first passenger carriage with significant force.

The impact caused immediate damage to the locomotive, rendering it unable to proceed. The collision violently jarred the six passenger cars, injuring dozens of tourists aboard.

Local officials quickly arrived at the scene to provide immediate first aid to the injured. A total of 18 people were confirmed to have sustained injuries, with four of them being classified as seriously injured. All of the injured were urgently transported to Phahol Pholpayuhasena Hospital.

train collide kan3 — International tourists walk to find roadside transportation after a shunting locomotive backed into their train carriage at Nam Tok Station, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, on December 6, 2025.

One tourist aboard the train, who was traveling with family from Nam Tok Station in Sai Yok District to Kanchanaburi Station, described the moment of impact.

“The train had nearly a hundred Thai and foreign tourists,” the passenger stated. “When we arrived at Wang Yen Station, we stopped to wait for the locomotive swap, which takes about 20 minutes. While we were sitting in the carriages, the car was suddenly hit with a very hard impact. Tourists in every carriage were thrown about, with some hitting their heads against the windows, causing them to break, and others falling to the floor.”

train collide kan2 — A foreign tourist tends to his infant following the accident where a shunting locomotive collided with their stationary train at Nam Tok Station in Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province. They are awaiting the arrival of a replacement train on December 6, 2025.

Station officials indicated that the accident was caused by a malfunction in the shunting locomotive that was being used to connect to and pull the train back to Kanchanaburi Station. As the locomotive was reversing toward the stationary carriages, its brakes reportedly failed, causing it to slam into the six parked passenger cars.

Following the collision, Kanchanaburi Station coordinated to dispatch a replacement locomotive to the scene. This engine was used to switch out the damaged locomotive and tow all six passenger carriages, along with the remaining uninjured passengers, back to Kanchanaburi Station.

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