Police arrest the Norwegian suspect as he lies on the street in front of a hotel in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area on Dec. 5, 2025.
BANGKOK — A Norwegian man was arrested after allegedly trying to hijack a tuk-tuk and later assaulting a woman to steal her bicycle in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area, police said Saturday.
Metropolitan Police Division 5 commander Maj. Gen. Witawat Chinnakham said officers from Thonglor police arrested the 33-year-old Norwegian, identified as Notland Jorgen, at noon on December 5 in front of the Nikko Bangkok Hotel on Sukhumvit 55. He was found with a red bicycle taken from one of the victims.
Police were first alerted to an assault near Sukhumvit 25, where tuk-tuk driver Wasan told officers that the suspect approached him as if asking for directions, then shoved him off the vehicle and tried to drive away. Wasan managed to remove the key before the suspect fled on foot.
The man then confronted a second victim, Sunee, near Sukhumvit 43, pushing her off her bicycle and injuring her before riding away toward Thonglor Road, police said.
The two victims point at the Norwegian man to identify him as the suspect at the Thonglor Police Station on Dec. 5, 2025.
Officers chased and intercepted him near the hotel. Police said he ignored commands to stop and had to be restrained.
Both victims later identified him as the attacker. Police said they suspect the man may have mental health issues. He faces charges of attempted robbery causing harm and robbery causing harm.
The suspect later injured himself by repeatedly hitting his head against the holding cell bars, police said. He tested negative for alcohol, and officers are awaiting drug test results. Immigration police and the Norwegian Embassy have been notified.
Later on the morning of December 6, police transferred the Norwegian man to a Bangkok hospital for treatment.
Survivors take shelter at a makeshift hut at an area devastated by flash flooding in Aceh Tamiang on Sumatra Island, Indonesia, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)
ACEH TAMIANG, Indonesia (AP) — Emergency crews raced against time on Friday after last week’s catastrophic floods and landslides that struck parts of Asia, killing more than 1,500 people. Relief operations were underway, but the scale of need overwhelmed the capabilities of rescuers.
Authorities said 883 people were confirmed dead in Indonesia, 486 in Sri Lanka and 185 in Thailand, as well as three in Malaysia.
Many villages in Indonesia and Sri Lanka remained buried under mud and debris, with nearly 900 people still unaccounted for in both countries, while recovery was further along in Thailand and Malaysia.
As the waters recede, survivors find the disaster has crippled their villages’ lifelines. Roads that once connected the cities and districts to the outside world are severed, leaving some areas accessible only by helicopter. Transmission towers collapsed under the weight of landslides, plunging communities into darkness and causing internet outages.
Survivors walk at an area affected by flash flood in Aceh Tamiang, on Sumatra Island, Indonesia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)
Survivors plead for urgent aid amid widespread devastation
In Aceh Tamiang, the hardest-hit area in Aceh province, infrastructure is in ruins. Entire villages in the lush hills district lie submerged beneath a thick blanket of mud. More than 260,000 residents fled homes once on green farmland. For many, survival hinges on the speed of aid as clean water, sanitation and shelter top the list of urgent priorities.
Trucks carrying relief supplies crawl along roads connecting North Sumatra’s Medan city to Aceh Tamiang, which reopened almost a week after the disaster, but distribution is slowed by debris on the roads, said the National Disaster Management Agency’s spokesperson Abdul Muhari.
An Associated Press photojournalist described widespread devastation in Aceh Tamiang after flash floods tore through the area, with cars overturned and homes badly damaged. Animal carcasses are scattered among the debris. Many residents are still haunted by the 2004 tsunami that devastated Aceh and killed around 230,000 people globally, with 160,000 in Aceh alone.
On a battered bridge spanning the swollen Tamiang River, families found shelter under makeshift tents of bed sheets and torn fabric.
A military personnel wait to load relief goods for flood survivors to aid flights, at Sultan Iskandar Muda Airbase in Aceh Besar, Indonesia, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Reza Saifullah)
A survivor there, Ibrahim bin Usman, cradled his grandsons on the muddy ground where his home once stood. He recounted how floodwaters full of logs hit his house and the houses of his children and his siblings, forcing his family of 21, including babies, to cling to the roof of a warehouse before being evacuated by a small wooden boat by fellow villagers.
“Six houses in my family were swept away,” he said. ”This wasn’t a flood — it was a tsunami from the hills. Many bodies are still buried under mud.”
Residents drink muddy floodwater that destroyed their homes
With wells contaminated and pipes shattered, the floodwaters have turned necessities into luxuries.
Resident Mariana, who goes by a single name like many Indonesians, broke down in tears when recalling how she survived as water surged into her village on Nov. 27. “The water kept rising, forcing us to flee. Even at higher ground, it didn’t stop. We panicked.”
The 53-year-old widow said she and others eventually reached a two-story school, but survival was grim: there was no food or clean water. “We drank floodwaters after letting it settle and boiling it. Children drank it too,” said Mariana, whose home was flattened.
A survivor holds a cat as he walks at an area devastated by flash flood in Aceh Tamiang on Sumatra Island, Indonesia, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)
A clothing trader in the village of Kampung Dalam, Joko Sofyan, said residents had no choice but to drink the same water that destroyed their homes as they waited for aid, causing children to fall ill.
“My house is just rubble now,” said Sofyan, a father of two. ”We need food, medicine, and clean water urgently.”
Survivor blames deforestation and corruption for devastating floods
While some relief has trickled in, survivors say they need household equipment to cook food.
Frustration is mounting: “Why isn’t there a public kitchen? We have nothing left,” shouted Hadi Akher to the crowd as rescue workers struggled to maintain order among long lines of hungry villagers near a truck full of aid supplies.
Akher, who was bare-chested like most men in flood-hit areas due to lack of clothing, blamed deforestation for worsening the disaster, accusing local officials of corruption.
“This deadly floods happened because too many officials here are corrupt,” he said, causing the crowd to grumble.
Rafael Scislowski, Google Thailand's country manager
BANGKOK — Rafael Scislowski, who took over as Google Thailand’s country manager two months ago, said the nation’s digital economy is positioned for continued expansion despite broader economic headwinds.
Thailand’s digital economy is projected to reach $56 billion in 2025, a 16% increase from the previous year, making it Southeast Asia’s second-largest, according to the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company.
“I am excited to take on this role in Thailand because the digital economy here is growing so quickly,” Scislowski said. “There is still so much opportunity ahead.”
The country of 71 million people has 96.6 million mobile connections, 67.8 million internet users and 56.6 million social media accounts. That infrastructure has attracted investment from global digital service providers and data center operators.
Rafael Scislowski, Google Thailand’s country manager says the nation’s digital economy is positioned for continued expansion despite broader economic headwinds.
Thailand’s e-commerce sector is the region’s fastest-growing, expected to reach $33 billion in 2025, up 22% from last year. Video commerce has been a major driver, with sellers using video platforms surging 175% to 850,000, making Thailand Southeast Asia’s largest video commerce seller market.
Scislowski outlined three priorities for boosting Thailand’s digital economy: training consumers in digital skills, including free one-year access to the Gemini Pro package for students; strengthening infrastructure through government partnerships; and helping Thai businesses adopt AI and expand internationally.
In 2024, Google announced more than $1 billion in investments to build its first data center and Cloud Region in Thailand, along with TalayLink, a subsea cable connecting Thailand and Australia.
Scislowski acknowledged economic challenges including weak macroeconomic conditions, a tourism slowdown and sluggish domestic consumption. He said Google maintains long-term investments in Thailand and can adapt quickly to changes.
“My acceptance of this position will help reinforce confidence that Google is prepared to support Thailand’s digital transformation,” he said, adding that the company expects to announce new investments in 2026.
Scislowski previously held marketing and sales positions at Procter & Gamble, LEGO Group, Uber and Grab across the Asia-Pacific region. He earned a master’s degree in marketing from the University of Technology Sydney in 2004.
President of the Miss Universe Organization and Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú attends a press conference after the beauty pageant in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s anti-money laundering office has frozen the bank accounts of the Mexican co-owner of Miss Universe as part of an investigation into drugs, fuel and arms trafficking, an official said Friday.
The country’s Financial Intelligence Unit, which oversees the fight against money laundering, froze Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú’s bank accounts in Mexico, a federal official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the investigation.
The action against Rocha Cantú adds to mounting controversies for the Miss Universe organization. Last week, a court in Thailand issued an arrest warrant for the Thai co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization in connection with a fraud case and this year’s competition — won by Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch — faced allegations of rigging.
Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch, center, celebrates after winning the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The Miss Universe organization did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment about the allegations against Rocha Cantú.
Mexico’s federal prosecutors said last week that Rocha Cantú has been under investigation since November 2024 for alleged organized crime activity, including drug and arms trafficking, as well as fuel theft. Last month, a federal judge issued 13 arrest warrants for some of those involved in the case, including the Mexican businessman, whose company Legacy Holding Group USA owns 50% of the Miss Universe shares.
The organization’s other 50% belongs to JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., a company owned by Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip.
Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, along with Mexican entrepreneur Raul Rocha Cantu, photographed with 73rd Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig on November 24, 2024.
A Thai court last week issued an arrest warrant for Jakrajutatip who was released on bail in 2023 on the fraud case. She failed to appear as required in a Bangkok court on Nov. 25. Since she did not notify the court about her absence, she was deemed to be a flight risk, according to a statement from the Bangkok South District Court.
The court rescheduled her hearing for Dec. 26.
Rocha Cantú was also a part owner of the Casino Royale in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey, when it was attacked in 2011 by a group of gunmen who entered it, doused gasoline and set it on fire, killing 52 people.
Baltazar Saucedo Estrada, who was charged with planning the attack, was sentenced in July to 135 years in prison.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold up country names during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Argentina and Lionel Messi will play Algeria to open its World Cup title defense as part of a group that also includes Austria.
The United States was drawn Friday to start against Paraguay at Inglewood, California, on June 12, a day after Mexico hosts the opener against South Africa. The U.S. reached the semifinals at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and has gotten as far as the quarterfinals only one other time, in 2002.
U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney selected the balls of their own countries from bowls during a ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The show was almost as long as a soccer match, with the actual draw for the expanded 48-nation tournament starting in the 87th minute.
Singer Andrea Bocelli performs at the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/Pool Photo via AP)
On a wintry day with snow falling, soccer officials and celebrities filled the hall, 189 days before the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament.
There were long lines outside the complex even at 7 a.m. as workers and media filed through with Secret Service agents securing the area.
Earlier in the ceremony, FIFA awarded its first peace prize to Trump, who has campaigned to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave Trump a large gold-colored trophy and a gold-colored medal hanging from a blue ribbon, which Trump hung around his neck. Standing next to Trump, Infantino lavished praise.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, listens as President Donald Trump speaks after Trump was awarded the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” Trump said.
A red carpet was laid outside the arts center, taken over this year by Trump and his supporters. Retired stars Tom Brady of the NFL, Shaquille O’Neal of the NBA and Wayne Gretzky of the NHL along with three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge were to assist in a ceremony run by former England captain Rio Ferdinand.
All 11 of the highest-ranked teams were in the draw, with No. 12 Italy among 22 nations competing in playoffs for the final six berths to be decided March 31.
All games from the quarterfinals on will be in the U.S., which is using 11 NFL stadiums. Sites for most games and kickoff times are to be announced Saturday.
Broadcaster Samantha Johnson and former England soccer captain Rio Ferdinand speak during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
2026 World Cup draw
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, UEFA Playoff D
Group B: Canada, UEFA Playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Playoff C
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, UEFA Playoff B, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA Playoff 2, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, FIFA Playoff 1, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
___
UEFA Playoff A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland
UEFA Playoff B: Ukraine, Poland, Albania, Sweden
UEFA Playoff C: Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, Romania
UEFA Playoff D: Denmark, Czech Republic, Ireland, North Macedonia
Thai security forces deploy along the Thai-Myanmar border in Mae Sot district, Tak province, after firing warning shots toward the Myanmar side. December 5, 2025.
MAE SOT — Heavy fighting between the Myanmar military and anti-regime resistance forces spilled across the border into Thailand on Friday, when an artillery round landed in a village, injuring two Thai civilians and causing property damage, officials said.
The incident occurred near the Moei River, opposite Thailand’s Tak province, as Myanmar Army forces escalated an offensive against a resistance base. The projectile struck the center of Mai Mae Kon Khen village, forcing authorities to issue urgent warnings for residents to seek shelter from stray fire and shrapnel.
Thai officials reported that two villagers were wounded. One victim, identified as Som Champa, 68, sustained serious injuries from shrapnel while sheltering inside his home and was rushed to Mae Sot Hospital. Several homes and vehicles in the community were also damaged by the blast.
Smoke billows from fighting on the Myanmar side in Nilapan village, Myawaddy township, Myawaddy district, Karen State, as seen from the Thai side. December 5, 2025.
The fighting erupted when a large contingent of Myanmar Army Light Infantry Division 22 forces, utilizing heavy weaponry, launched a sustained attack on the “Pa Sak Base,” a strategic position held by resistance fighters along the riverbank in Myawaddy Township, Kayin State, Myanmar. Resistance forces returned fire with heavy machine guns and mortars, resulting in more than an hour of intense shelling and explosions.
In response to the cross-border breach, Thai forces from the Rajamanu Special Task Force fired four rounds of smoke ordnance into the conflict zone in Myanmar as a warning signal.
Thai security officials inspect a house in Mae Kon Ken village, Mahawan subdistrict, Mae Sot district, Tak province, which was hit by a shell from Myanmar. A resident was seriously injured. December 5, 2025.
Community leaders used public address systems to urge residents to evacuate to safe zones immediately, as intelligence suggested the Myanmar military was determined to seize the base, indicating the intensity of the fighting would likely continue. Vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly, have since been moved to secure areas.
Thai defense units, including the Rajamanu Task Force, Border Patrol Police, and local security teams, have reinforced their positions along the frontier to maintain sovereignty and security.
Workers gather outside the Daikin plant in Chonburi to protest after bonus negotiations collapsed and the company announced a lockout affecting 1,500 employees on Dec. 4, 2025.
BANGKOK — Thailand’s Labor Ministry said Friday it will step in to mediate a labor dispute between Daikin Industries (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and a company labor union after 11 negotiation rounds failed, prompting the company to announce a lockout affecting 1,500 workers.
Labor Minister Trinuch Thienthong said the conflict does not constitute a “layoff,” but rather a breakdown in negotiations between the employer and the Daikin Amata Raksaree Labor Union. She said she has instructed the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare to act quickly to facilitate a resolution within the bounds of labor law.
The company announced the lockout at its Chonburi plant effective 8 a.m. on December 6, following the failure of the latest talks on December 4. Despite the announcement, the union said a 12th mediation session remains scheduled for December 8 at the provincial labor office.
Labor Minister Trinuch Thienthong
Saroj Komkai, director-general of the labor protection agency, said he has been ordered to expedite the mediation. “The Minister of Labor is concerned for both employers and employees and hopes the negotiations will reach a fair conclusion,” he said.
Saroj emphasized that the lockout is legal under Thailand’s Labor Relations Act. “During a suspension of work, the employer is not required to pay wages. This action is lawful when employees go on strike or when negotiations fail to reach an agreement. It is not considered a layoff,” he said.
Union president Manit Piyang said on Dec. 4 that the union’s demands were reasonable. “We, the insiders, know what the company is able to offer. This is a negotiation. We’re saddened that people don’t understand us,” he said.
Manit added that the lockout applies only to the Daikin Amata Raksaree Labor Union at the Amata City Chonburi industrial estate, not to Daikin’s unions in Rayong or Map Ta Phut. He said the company must still pay legally required benefits — including an extended bonus of six months’ salary plus 12,000 baht ($375) and a 3% wage increase — to all employees, including those locked out.
Daikin workers demonstrate at the company’s Chonburi factory following 11 failed rounds of negotiations and the announcement of a lockout.
The union still plans to participate in the December 8 mediation session, Manit said, adding that representatives from all three Daikin factories will meet over the weekend to determine their next steps.
The dispute began after workers rejected the company’s offer of a five-month bonus plus 12,000 baht and a 2% salary increase. Employees demanded higher compensation, citing Daikin Thailand’s nearly 6 billion baht ($188 million) profit and strong cash flow.
Workers were also angered by the company’s plan to change its long-standing practice of giving ten-year employees a gold gift. With gold prices rising, Daikin proposed replacing the gold with a 40,000-baht ($1,255) payment and reallocating the cost into the general bonus pool. Some employees opposed the change, prompting the company to offer a higher bonus of seven to eight months if workers agreed to end the gold-gift tradition or convert it to cash.
The disagreement led workers to protest outside the Chonburi factory in the Amata City industrial estate after 11 rounds of negotiations failed to produce an agreement.
A tearful Indian tourist hugs a tourist police officer in gratitude to thank authorities for their help on Dec. 4, 2025.
KOH PHANGAN — Tourist police on Koh Phangan located a 32-year-old Indian visitor with a heart condition after he went missing for several days, following a request for assistance from the Indian Embassy in Bangkok, officials said Friday.
Pol. Lt. Winij Boonchit of the Koh Phangan Tourist Police said officers were alerted on December 4 that the man, identified as Harsh, had lost contact with his family, raising concern due to his underlying arrhythmia.
Police traced his movements to a local hotel where he had stayed from November 22 until checking out on December 2. After distributing his information and searching key tourist areas, officers found him sitting alone on Haad Rin beach, appearing disoriented. He was later reunited with relatives who had traveled to the island to help look for him.
Family members of an Indian tourist express gratitude to Thai officials after he is found safe on Dec. 4, 2025.
Despite the reunion, Harsh initially refused to return to India, citing family issues. Tourist police spent hours persuading him until he agreed to travel home for medical care.
Before departing, he embraced officers in tears to thank them for their help and asked for a final moment to sit by the sea. Police later assisted him onto a ferry to Koh Samui, where he was scheduled to catch a flight home.
His family and the Indian Embassy expressed deep gratitude, saying they plan to encourage more Indian tourists to visit Thailand, citing confidence in local safety and law enforcement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, poses for a photograph with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, and Indian President Droupadi Murmu during a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo)
NEW DELHI (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at an annual summit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties on the second day of his state visit.
The 23rd Russia-India Summit comes at a pivotal moment as the United States pushes for a Ukraine peace deal while seeking global cooperation. They will test New Delhi’s efforts to balance relations with Moscow and Washington as the nearly four-year war in Ukraine grinds on.
Putin was received by Modi at an airport in New Delhi on Thursday, who gave the visting leader a bear hug and a tight handshake with the gusto of an old friend.
According to Indian officials involved in the preparation for the summit, the agenda includes talks on defense, energy and labor mobility.
While India has historically maintained deep ties with Russia, critics say Putin’s visit could strain relations with the European Union and the United States and might jeopardize negotiations for major trade agreements with both that are seen as critical for India’s exports.
U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% in August, citing New Delhi’s discounted Russian oil. India has been the second biggest importer of Russian crude after China.
The U.S. says purchases of Russian oil help finance Moscow’s war machine. In October, U.S. sanctioned two of Moscow’s biggest oil producers to force countries like India to cut down on imports. Indian officials have said New Delhi has always abided by international sanctions and would do so in the case of Russia oil purchases as well.
India and the U.S. set a target for the first tranche of a trade deal by the fall, but the deal hasn’t come through yet amid strains in relations.
India is also in the final stages of talks on a trade agreement with the EU, which sees Russia’s war in Ukraine as a major threat.
In his meeting with Putin, Modi is likely to push for faster delivery of two further more Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. It has already received three under a 2018 deal worth about $5.4 billion. The delay has been tied to supply chain disruptions linked to the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, Indian President Droupadi Murmu, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Konstantin Zavrazhin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
The two sides signed a pact in February to improve military cooperation, exercises, port calls, disaster relief assistance and logistics support. Moscow’s State Duma ratified the same ahead of Putin’s India visit.
Talks are also expected on upgrading India’s Russian-made Su-30MKI fighter jets and accelerating deliveries of critical military hardware.
Trade is also expected to be a major point in talks.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $68.7 billion in the last fiscal year ended March, while the aim is to boost it to $100 billion by 2030. The trade is heavily skewed in favor of Russia with deep deficits for India, which it is looking to bridge by pushing exports.
India is keen to increase exports of pharmaceuticals, agriculture and textiles to Russia and is seeking the removal of non-tariff barriers. New Delhi is also seeking long-term supplies of fertilizers from Moscow.
Another key area where the two countries are expected to finalize an agreement is the safety and regulation of migration of Indian skilled workers to Russia.
Putin last visited India in 2021. Modi was in Moscow last year, and the two leaders briefly met in September in China during a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
The promotional poster for the SEA Games 2025 virtual run is being widely criticized and mocked. Many users point out the image's rough, low-quality appearance, suggesting it was hastily produced using AI.
BANGKOK — Thailand’s preparations for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games have been marred by organizational failures and budget disputes, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties and raising questions about the country’s readiness to host the regional competition.
The Games, scheduled to run December 9-20, mark Thailand’s first time hosting in 18 years. But a series of mishaps has emerged before the official opening ceremony, reflecting broader problems stemming from a government transition that disrupted months of planning.
Ceremony Producer Dismissed After Seven Months
Rueangrith Suntisuk announced on Facebook on December 2 that his contract to produce the opening and closing ceremonies had been canceled despite seven months of preparation. He said a new team took over in mid-October.
Rueangrith said he wasn’t seeking compensation but wanted to highlight the challenges of working transparently with state agencies, hoping the situation might still benefit the country.
SEA Games opening ceremony design by the production company that was dismissed after seven months of preparation.
Sound System Failure Mars Football Match
On December 3, organizers failed to play national anthems before a football match between Vietnam and Laos, forcing players and coaching staff to sing without accompaniment.
Sound technicians from the Sports Authority of Thailand had finished their regular working hours before the 4 p.m. kickoff and shut down the system before leaving. Replacement staff assigned to handle SEA Games football matches couldn’t operate the equipment.
Officials had to call the original technicians back, and the system worked properly for the second match between Thailand and Timor-Leste.
Opposition Criticizes Government Handling
Payu Nueangjamnong, deputy spokesperson of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, said the failures have turned Thailand into a regional laughingstock.
“The various problems circulating on social media — unprepared stadium lighting, ticketing system errors, substandard equipment, and questionable procurement — reflect management failures,” Payu said on December 4.
He said the problems weren’t caused by unforeseeable circumstances but by organizers’ carelessness.
Vietnamese and Laotian players sing their own national anthems at Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, after sound technicians left for the day, Dec. 3, 2025.
“We should have brought in professionals from the beginning,” Payu said. “The SEA Games — an event meant to showcase Thailand’s capabilities — has instead become a sloppy event that makes us look like the laughingstock of the region.”
He warned that more mistakes will likely surface by the closing ceremony. “The SEA Games belongs to the nation, not to any specific government. If you want to fix this, you must act now — not wait until after the closing ceremony and then start blaming others.”
Official Page Apologizes for Multiple Errors
The official SEA Games Thailand 2025 Facebook page apologized after facing criticism for incorrect national flags, illegible schedules and promotional posters created using artificial intelligence.
The page said it receives promotional materials from various agencies and some content may contain errors beyond its control. Officials pledged to verify competition information more carefully.
Prime Minister Defends Response
PM Anutin Charnvirakul defended the government’s efforts, saying Deputy Prime Minister Thammamnat Prompao, who oversees the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, is working to resolve issues.
Rajamangala Stadium, venue for the 33rd SEA Games opening and closing ceremonies, Dec. 9-20, 2025.
“This did not just start two months ago. Upon taking office, we had to urgently address the budget,” Anutin said. “We know the problem, that’s why we’re rushing it. Capt. Thammamnat has been working with his head spinning; he has to solve many situations.”
Anutin also addressed venue problems in Hat Yai District in Songkhla Province, where some events couldn’t be organized as planned. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is arranging alternative venues and athlete accommodations.
When asked if relevant ministers’ performance should be evaluated, Anutin said: “It’s too late to measure; the parliament will be dissolved soon anyway.”
Contractor Cancels LED Work Over Unpaid Deposit
On the same day, the contractor, identified as “Love Led” on Facebook, said the arrangement was based on an oral agreement with payment expected starting December 1. After repeated postponements, the contractor set a 4 p.m. deadline on December 4.
“The SEA Games work is massive, but the hiring and payment processes are unclear,” the contractor wrote. “I’m worried not just for myself, but also for our team and other suppliers involved, as we have to take responsibility for them.”
The contractor said the work involved only the Chonburi zone, not Rajamangala Stadium or other areas. After the deadline passed without payment, the contractor declared the contract void.
Thai women’s national football team supporters cheer for their team during a match against Indonesia at Chonburi Stadium, Dec. 4, 2025
Schedule Delays Add to Confusion
Tourism and Sports Minister Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn previously acknowledged that competition schedules for some sports remained unfinalized close to the start date. He attributed delays to changes and withdrawals by participating countries, with Cambodia pulling out of eight sports.
Atthakorn set an economic stimulus target of at least 15 billion baht (approximately $470 million) from hosting the Games. He acknowledged that flooding over the past two months had diverted public attention but said the government has increased promotional efforts and is encouraging Thais to be good hosts.
