Thanwa, a motorcycle taxi driver wearing a white shirt, suspected of stabbing an Indian tourist, gives a statement to police at Pattaya City police station in Pattaya, Thailand, on Dec. 28, 2025.
PATTAYA — A motorcycle taxi driver surrendered to police early Sunday after allegedly stabbing an Indian tourist, claiming he was startled by the sound of birthday fireworks.
The suspect, identified by police as 34-year-old Thanwa, turned himself in to Pattaya City Police investigators shortly before 4 a.m. on Dec. 28. He faces questioning over an incident that occurred just after midnight during a birthday celebration.
According to investigators, Thanwa, who works as a ride-hailing driver, admitted to stabbing the unidentified Indian tourist but claimed the act was a panicked reaction to hearing fireworks.
Police officers from Pattaya police station locate a suspect in the stabbing of an Indian tourist and persuade him to surrender, in Pattaya, Thailand, on Dec. 28, 2025.
However, witnesses at the party disputed the suspect’s account, telling police that no fireworks were set off. They stated the only loud noises were from balloons popping. Surveillance footage also shows Thanwa lunging at the Indian tourist and stabbing him in the back.
Police were able to track the suspect after surveillance footage from the scene clearly captured the license plate of his motorcycle as he fled the area.
Authorities said investigators are waiting for the Indian tourist’s condition to stabilize before conducting an interview. While the suspect is in custody, formal charges have yet to be finalized pending the victim’s statement and a full conclusion of the motive.
FILE - French actress Brigitte Bardot poses with a huge sombrero she brought back from Mexico, as she arrives at Orly Airport in Paris, France, on May 27, 1965. (AP Photo/File)
PARIS (AP) — Brigitte Bardot, the French 1960s sex symbol who became one of the greatest screen sirens of the 20th century and later a militant animal rights activist and far-right supporter, has died. She was 91.
Bardot died Sunday at her home in southern France, according to Bruno Jacquelin, of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the protection of animals. Speaking to The Associated Press, he gave no cause of death, and said no arrangements have yet been made for funeral or memorial services. She had been hospitalized last month.
Bardot became an international celebrity as a sexualized teen bride in the 1956 movie “And God Created Woman.” Directed by her then-husband, Roger Vadim, it triggered a scandal with scenes of the long-legged beauty dancing on tables naked.
At the height of a cinema career that spanned some 28 films and three marriages, Bardot came to symbolize a nation bursting out of bourgeois respectability. Her tousled, blond hair, voluptuous figure and pouty irreverence made her one of France’s best-known stars.
Such was her widespread appeal that in 1969 her features were chosen to be the model for “Marianne,” the national emblem of France and the official Gallic seal. Bardot’s face appeared on statues, postage stamps and even on coins.
FILE – French actress Brigitte Bardot poses in character from the motion picture “Voulez-Vous Danser Avec Moi” (Do you Want to Dance With Me), on Sept. 10, 1959. (AP Photo/File)
‘’We are mourning a legend,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote Sunday on X.
Bardot’s second career as an animal rights activist was equally sensational. She traveled to the Arctic to blow the whistle on the slaughter of baby seals; she condemned the use of animals in laboratory experiments; and she opposed Muslim slaughter rituals.
“Man is an insatiable predator,” Bardot told The Associated Press on her 73rd birthday, in 2007. “I don’t care about my past glory. That means nothing in the face of an animal that suffers, since it has no power, no words to defend itself.”
Her activism earned her compatriots’ respect and, in 1985, she was awarded the Legion of Honor, the nation’s highest recognition.
A turn to the far right
Later, however, she fell from public grace as her animal protection diatribes took on a decidedly extremist tone. She frequently decried the influx of immigrants into France, especially Muslims.
She was convicted and fined five times in French courts of inciting racial hatred, in incidents inspired by her opposition to the Muslim practice of slaughtering sheep during annual religious holidays.
Bardot’s 1992 marriage to fourth husband Bernard d’Ormale, a onetime adviser to National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, contributed to her political shift. She described Le Pen, an outspoken nationalist with multiple racism convictions of his own, as a “lovely, intelligent man.”
FILE – French Actress Brigitte Bardot with a dog in the Gennevilliers, Paris, while supporting the French animal protection society operation, Feb. 10, 1982. (AP Photo/Duclos, File)
In 2012, she wrote a letter in support of the presidential bid of Marine Le Pen, who now leads her father’s renamed National Rally party. Le Pen paid homage Sunday to an “exceptional woman” who was “incredibly French.”
In 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement, Bardot said in an interview that most actors protesting sexual harassment in the film industry were “hypocritical” and “ridiculous” because many played “the teases” with producers to land parts.
She said she had never had been a victim of sexual harassment and found it “charming to be told that I was beautiful or that I had a nice little ass.”
A privileged, but ‘difficult’ upbringing
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot was born Sept. 28, 1934, to a wealthy industrialist. A shy, secretive child, she studied classical ballet and was discovered by a family friend who put her on the cover of Elle magazine at age 14.
Bardot once described her childhood as “difficult” and said her father was a strict disciplinarian who would sometimes punish her with a horse whip.
But it was French movie producer Vadim, whom she married in 1952, who saw her potential and wrote “And God Created Woman” to showcase her provocative sensuality, an explosive cocktail of childlike innocence and raw sexuality.
The film, which portrayed Bardot as a bored newlywed who beds her brother-in-law, had a decisive influence on New Wave directors Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut, and came to embody the hedonism and sexual freedom of the 1960s.
The film was a box-office hit, and it made Bardot a superstar. Her girlish pout, tiny waist and generous bust were often more appreciated than her talent.
“It’s an embarrassment to have acted so badly,” Bardot said of her early films. “I suffered a lot in the beginning. I was really treated like someone less than nothing.”
FILE – Former French film star and animal right activist Brigitte Bardot acknowledges applause prior to a press conference, Sept. 28, 2006 in Paris. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, File)
Bardot’s unabashed, off-screen love affair with co-star Jean-Louis Trintignant further shocked the nation. It eradicated the boundaries between her public and private life and turned her into a hot prize for paparazzi.
Bardot never adjusted to the limelight. She blamed the constant press attention for the suicide attempt that followed 10 months after the birth of her only child, Nicolas. Photographers had broken into her house two weeks before she gave birth to snap a picture of her pregnant.
Nicolas’ father was Jacques Charrier, a French actor whom she married in 1959 but who never felt comfortable in his role as Monsieur Bardot. Bardot soon gave up her son to his father, and later said she had been chronically depressed and unready for the duties of being a mother.
“I was looking for roots then,” she said in an interview. “I had none to offer.”
In her 1996 autobiography “Initiales B.B.,” she likened her pregnancy to “a tumor growing inside me,” and described Charrier as “temperamental and abusive.”
Bardot married her third husband, West German millionaire playboy Gunther Sachs, in 1966, but the relationship again ended in divorce three years later.
Among her films were “A Parisian” (1957); “In Case of Misfortune,” in which she starred in 1958 with screen legend Jean Gabin; “The Truth” (1960); “Private Life” (1962); “A Ravishing Idiot” (1964); “Shalako” (1968); “Women” (1969); “The Bear And The Doll” (1970); “Rum Boulevard” (1971); and “Don Juan” (1973).
With the exception of 1963’s critically acclaimed “Contempt,” directed by Godard, Bardot’s films were rarely complicated by plots. Often they were vehicles to display Bardot in scanty dresses or frolicking nude in the sun.
“It was never a great passion of mine,” she said of filmmaking. “And it can be deadly sometimes. Marilyn (Monroe) perished because of it.”
Bardot retired to her Riviera villa in St. Tropez at the age of 39 in 1973 after “The Woman Grabber.”
Reinventing herself in middle age
She emerged a decade later with a new persona: An animal rights lobbyist, her face was wrinkled and her voice was deep following years of heavy smoking. She abandoned her jet-set life and sold off movie memorabilia and jewelry to create a foundation devoted exclusively to the prevention of animal cruelty.
Her activism knew no borders. She urged South Korea to ban the sale of dog meat and once wrote to U.S. President Bill Clinton asking why the U.S. Navy recaptured two dolphins it had released into the wild.
She attacked centuries-old French and Italian sporting traditions including the Palio, a free-for-all horse race, and campaigned on behalf of wolves, rabbits, kittens and turtle doves.
“It’s true that sometimes I get carried away, but when I see how slowly things move forward … my distress takes over,” Bardot told the AP when asked about her racial hatred convictions and opposition to Muslim ritual slaughter,
In 1997, several towns removed Bardot-inspired statues of Marianne after the actress voiced anti-immigrant sentiment. Also that year, she received death threats after calling for a ban on the sale of horse meat.
Bardot once said that she identified with the animals that she was trying to save.
“I can understand hunted animals because of the way I was treated,” Bardot said. “What happened to me was inhuman. I was constantly surrounded by the world press.”
Police officers from Lumpini station take two Tunisian men into custody after bystanders helped detain them for allegedly snatching a gold necklace from a British tourist in Sukhumvit Soi 4, Bangkok, on Dec. 28, 2025.
BANGKOK — Bystanders in Bangkok’s popular Sukhumvit district detained two Tunisian nationals early Sunday after they allegedly snatched a gold necklace from a British tourist, police said.
Officers from the Lumpini station responded to the scene at approximately 6:15 a.m. on Sukhumvit Soi 4. The victim, a 29-year-old British man identified only as Liam, told investigators he had just left a restaurant and was hailing a taxi when two men approached him.
According to police, the suspects attempted to distract the victim by claiming they recognized him. While the tourist was distracted, one of the men allegedly grabbed a gold necklace—valued at approximately 3,575 pounds ($4,830)—and fled into a nearby alley.
Police display a gold necklace belonging to a British tourist that was allegedly snatched by two Tunisian men in Sukhumvit Soi 4, Bangkok, with a label stating its value at about 150,000 baht ($4,830), on Dec. 28, 2025.
The victim’s cries for help prompted nearby “Good Samaritans” to chase the suspects, restraining them until police arrived.
Authorities identified the suspects as Fahdi, 30, and Marwan, 32, both Tunisian citizens. While an initial search of the men yielded no results, police said the suspects later confessed to discarding the jewelry under a street vendor’s pushcart during the pursuit.
Officers recovered the necklace from beneath the cart. Both men have been charged with snatch theft and remain in custody pending further legal proceedings.
Pheu Thai Party's Yodchanan Wongsawat leaves after a drawing at a candidate registration in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
By WASAMON AUDJARINT
BANGKOK (AP) — Political parties in Thailand on Sunday registered their candidates for the next prime minister, marking the unofficial start of campaigning for the Feb. 8 general election.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved Parliament earlier this month to call early polls, after the main opposition party prepared to seek a no-confidence vote over constitutional change. Calling a new election allows Anutin and his Bhumjaithai Party to build up their numbers in the House of Representatives to gain a more secure grip on government.
Voters will simultaneously cast ballots in a referendum asking whether they want a new constitution, a move promoted by progressive parties who claim the current powers held by the bureaucracy and unelected bodies are undemocratic.
The election is seen as a three-party race
The election is seen as primarily pitting Anutin’s conservative party against the progressive People’s Party, which under a different name and leadership won the highest number of House seats in the 2023 election. It ended up being blocked by conservative lawmakers from gathering enough support to form a government.
Thailand’s Prime Minister and leader of Bhumjaithai Party Anutin Charnvirakul, front right, arrives for a canddate registration in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The populist Pheu Thai Party, backed by billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is another major contender. It took power after the 2023 election, when the People’s Party’s effort was stymied. Thaksin remains the dominant figure behind Pheu Thai even though he is serving a prison term for convictions related to corruption and abuse of power.
Anutin has held office for only three months after the court-ordered removal of his predecessor, Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, for what were judged ethical lapses.
Anutin’s government saw a slip in popularity following deadly flooding in southern Thailand and high-profile scandals that ensnared several officials and business figures. However, he may have boosted his appeal by adopting an aggressive military posture appealing to nationalists as Thailand engaged in large-scale combat with Cambodia over a long-standing border dispute.
Thai media reported that representatives of 52 parties showed up Sunday in northern Bangkok to register their candidates, along with “party list” nominees who gain seats according to each party’s proportional share of the vote.
Each party is allowed to propose up to three candidates. The Bhumjaithai party selected just two, with veteran diplomat Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who currently serves as foreign minister, being the backup to Anutin. Their main challenger is the People’s Party.
People’s Party Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut shows his number after a drawing at a candidate registration in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A political marriage of convenience has broken up
Anutin won the September vote to become prime minister with support from the People’s Party in exchange for a promise to dissolve Parliament within four months and organize a referendum on the drafting of a new constitution by an elected constituent assembly. However, the People’s Party at the same time insisted on acting as an opposition party.
Its position now is that Anutin and his party showed bad faith in a vote on constitutional change, and dissolving Parliament constituted a final break of their temporary partnership.
People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, its primary candidate for prime minister, vowed that none of its lawmakers will support Anutin or Sihasak for prime minister.
The People’s Party continues to push a reformist agenda, including a controversial pledge to seek amnesty for political prisoners, specifically those held under Thailand’s strict law curbing criticism of the monarchy. Its position puts it sharply at odds with Thailand’s powerful royalist conservative establishment.
The Pheu Thai party, the current incarnation of Thaksin’s political machine, is fielding 46-year-old Yodchanan Wongsawat as its main candidate for prime minister.
Residents of Charat sub-district in Surin's Bua Ched district take cover inside a bunker on Dec. 27, 2025, after reports of gunfire near the border. Despite a conditional ceasefire agreement reached between Thailand and Cambodia earlier that day, local villagers remain on high alert following weeks of armed conflict over disputed territory.
T he Anutin Charnvirakul government deserves some credit for agreeing to a temporary ceasefire yesterday, following 20 days of intense border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia where dozens of soldiers and civilians have been killed and close to a million people displaced on both sides. In an attempt to smooth over acceptance among ultranationalists, the government even issued a Q&A.
One specific question was: “Why not continue fighting?”
The Thai government’s answer to its own question was pragmatic: “Continuing hostilities would risk diminishing Thailand’s legitimacy on the international stage and could result in further loss of life among our soldiers.”
This reasonable explanation, however, remains unconvincing to some ultranationalists who declare that they do not care how the international community thinks of Thailand.
Their logic is so twisted that they blame Thais who advocate for peace for the continued loss of life of Thai soldiers. Earlier this week, a pro-war netizen opposed to the ceasefire questioned me on X: “Does the fact that a Thai child walks into a 7-Eleven and never gets the chance to walk out alive [due to a Cambodian rocket strike in July during the first round of the 2025 border war] mean nothing to you?”
My reply to the person was: “With the daily increase in mutual killings and rising death tolls on both sides, will more killing bring back that child? If this is the extent of your reasoning, then Germany, France, and England would still be at war. Japan would still be seeking revenge against America. Thailand would still be at war with Myanmar to avenge the fall of Ayutthaya. In all those cases, the loss of life was incomparably greater than the current conflict.
“I grieve for every life lost on both sides, which is why I believe we must negotiate a ceasefire and find a peaceful solution. As for those calling for more: What is your intent? Do you want the killing to continue? For the situation to escalate? For more children to die in a needless war?”
I have stated before that a large segment of Thai society is intoxicated by war. After being “war-drunk” for nearly 20 days, the sudden 72-hour pause has triggered withdrawal symptoms—trembling hearts, restlessness, and a desperate urge for more violence.
Induced by war addiction, this paranoia means they trust no one. This was manifested in the suspicion surrounding a transport aircraft from Belarus. Because it did not pass through Thai airspace on its way to Phnom Penh yesterday, netizens claimed it was secretly carrying Russian weapons to be used against Thailand’s F-16s and Gripens. While I don’t know what it carried, the ceasefire agreement does not prohibit purchasing weapons. If the military feels it lacks the tools for future killings, they will procure them. The war-intoxicated public no longer cares about the economy or education budgets—they only want more taxpayers’ money spent on weapons.
Even the Facebook page ‘Baan Lae Suan Idea’ (Home and Garden Decoration) jumped on the war-intoxication trend, reporting on the “Russian cargo plane.” The comments were deeply worrying. Users called the government “stupid” or accuse the Thai Defence Minister Gen Nattapong Nakpanich of being a “traitor” for the ceasefire agreement. Some wanted F-16s to bomb Phnom Penh; others cursed Russian President Vladimir Putin, fearing Russia is re-supplying Cambodia.
Disturbingly, I saw at least two people openly calling for a coup:
”Just please stage a coup, before it’s too late,” wrote FB user Suriya Wannako less than 12 hours after the ceasefire began.
”Please stage a coup before we are outsmarted by Khmers again… Do not trust Khmers,” wrote FB user Tong Bai-toey.
This is what paranoia due to war intoxication looks like. The temporary ceasefire has induced disturbing withdrawal symptoms, and the thirst for conflict remains unquenched.
Voters line up to cast their ballots at a polling station, with Sule Pagoda in background, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Voters went to the polls Sunday for the initial phase of Myanmar ’s first general election in five years, held under the supervision of its military government while a civil war rages throughout much of the country.
Final results will not be known until after two more rounds of voting are completed later in January. It is widely expected that Min Aung Hlaing, the general who has ruled the country with an iron hand since an army takeover in 2021, will then assume the presidency.
The military government has presented the vote as a return to electoral democracy, but its bid for legitimacy is marred by bans on formerly popular opposition parties and reports that soldiers have used threats to force voters to participate.
While more than 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are competing for seats in national and regional legislatures, only six are competing nationwide with the possibility to gain political clout in Parliament. The well-organized and funded Union Solidarity and Development Party, with its support from the military, is by far the strongest contender.
Voters line up to cast their ballots at a polling station in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
Voting is taking place in three phases, with Sunday’s first round being held in 102 of Myanmar’s 330 townships. The second phase will take place Jan. 11, and the third on Jan. 25. Final results are expected to be announced by February.
Critics call the election a sham to keep the army in power
Critics charge that the election is designed to add a facade of legitimacy to military rule that began when the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. It blocked her National League for Democracy party from serving a second term despite winning a landslide victory in the 2020 election.
They argue that the results will lack legitimacy due to the exclusion of major parties and limits on freedom of speech and an atmosphere of repression.
The expected victory of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party makes the nominal transition to civilian rule a chimera, say opponents of military rule and independent analysts.
“An election organized by a junta that continues to bomb civilians, jail political leaders, and criminalize all forms of dissent is not an election — it is a theater of the absurd performed at gunpoint,” Tom Andrews, the U.N.-appointed human rights expert for Myanmar, posted on X.
In this photo provided by the Myanmar Military True News Information Team, Myanmar’s Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing shows off his finger marked with ink indicating he voted as he leaves a polling station Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. (The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP)
However, holding the election may provide an excuse for neighbors like China, India and Thailand to continue their support, claiming the election promotes stability. Western nations have maintained sanctions against Myanmar’s ruling generals due to their anti-democratic actions and the brutal war against their opponents.
Voters on Saturday expressed mixed feelings.
Khin Marlar, 51, who voted at a polling station in Yangon’s Kyauktada township, said she felt she needed to vote because she hoped that peace would follow afterward. She explained that she had fled her village in the town of Thaungta in the central Mandalay region due to the fighting.
“I am voting with the feeling that I will go back to my village when it is peaceful,” she told The Associated Press.
Some voters feel pressured by the army
A resident of southern Mon state, who asked to be identified only by her first name, Khin, for fear of arrest by the military, told The Associated Press she felt compelled to go to a polling station because of pressure from local authorities.
Voters line up to cast their ballots at a polling station in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
“I have to go and vote even though I don’t want to, because soldiers showed up with guns to our village to pressure us yesterday,” Khin said. There were reports ahead of the voting from independent media and rights groups that officials and the military used such threats to compel people to vote.
Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s 80-year-old former leader, and her party are not participating in the polls. She is serving a 27-year prison term on charges widely viewed as spurious and politically motivated. Her party, the National League for Democracy, was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under new military rules.
Other parties also refused to register or declined to run under conditions they deem unfair, and opposition groups have called for a voter boycott.
Amael Vier, an analyst for the Asian Network for Free Elections, noted a lack of genuine choice, pointing out that 73% of voters in 2020 cast ballots for parties that no longer exist.
War and repression shape the vote
Mobilizing opposition is difficult under the military’s repression. According to the 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 they seized power in 2021.
Armed resistance arose after the army used lethal force to crush non-violent protests against its 2021 takeover. The ensuing civil war has left more than 3.6 million people displaced, according to the U.N.
A new Election Protection Law imposes harsh penalties and restrictions for virtually all public criticism of the polls.
In these circumstances, both the military and its opponents believe power is likely to remain with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the 2021 seizure of power.
International tourists crowd a ferry in Surat Thani province during the 2026 New Year holiday period. Boat operators reported that bookings for high-speed routes to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are nearly at full capacity.
KOH SAMUI — Thousands of international travelers are flooding into Thailand’s Gulf islands for the year-end holiday season, pushing flights and ferry services to near-full capacity as the region prepares for major New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The surge in arrivals at Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao marks a robust start to the festive week, driven by favorable weather and the return of high-spending tourism sectors.
High Demand for Air and Sea Travel
At Samui Airport on Dec. 26, Bangkok Airways increased its operations to handle a heavy influx of domestic and international passengers, primarily families and large tour groups. Airport officials noted a steady stream of private jets arriving on the island, reinforcing Koh Samui’s status as a premium luxury destination.
Maritime travel is seeing similar spikes. At Nathon Pier, Lomprayah High-Speed Ferries reported that bookings for routes connecting Surat Thani, Samui, Phangan, and Koh Tao are nearly sold out across all time slots.
International travelers pull their luggage outside the Samui International Airport arrival terminal to hail taxis on Dec. 26, 2025. Authorities have increased inspections of public transport on the island to prevent overcharging during the peak holiday season.
Shift in Tourist Demographics
Nitchatharas Wanitcharoen, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Koh Samui office, said the current momentum is a “positive signal” for the local economy.
“Bangkok Airways has increased its daily flights to between 58 and 60, bringing in approximately 5,800 to 6,000 passengers per day,” Nitchatharas said.
While European markets—specifically Germany and the United Kingdom—remain the primary drivers, officials are seeing a notable increase in American travelers and Chinese “Free Independent Travelers” (FIT), who book their own itineraries rather than joining traditional tour groups.
Phangan’s Global Draw
While Koh Samui attracts families and luxury travelers, younger tourists are largely transiting through to Koh Phangan. The island is bracing for a massive turnout at Haad Rin, the site of the world-famous Full Moon Party, which will host a high-profile New Year’s Eve countdown.
International travelers wait for their luggage at the Samui International Airport baggage claim area during the 2026 New Year holiday. Flight arrivals have increased to nearly 60 per day to accommodate the surge of tourists visiting the Gulf of Thailand.
Local businesses and hotels have decorated extensively for the season, and authorities expect the influx to provide a significant economic boost to the province.
Safety and Consumer Protection Crackdown
In response to the crowds, local authorities have launched a dual campaign focused on road safety and consumer rights.
Officials from the Surat Thani Provincial Land Transport Office, local police, and internal security forces have established checkpoints at Samui Airport and the Central Samui shopping mall. The crackdown follows numerous complaints to the government’s Damrongdhama Center regarding taxi drivers overcharging tourists, refusing to use meters, and displaying aggressive behavior.
Authorities confirmed that more than 40 drivers have already been fined as part of an effort to protect the island’s tourism image.
Simultaneously, a public safety campaign is underway to enforce helmet laws for motorcyclists to reduce road casualties during the busy “Seven Dangerous Days” holiday period.
A flat-headed cat walks past a motion-activated camera trap in the To Daeng peat swamp forest in Narathiwat province, southern Thailand, in an image released by Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on Dec.26, 2025.
BANGKOK — Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and conservation group Panthera Thailand announced Friday the confirmed presence of the flat-headed cat, one of the world’s rarest and most endangered wild cats, in a protected peat swamp forest in the country’s far south.
The discovery was made in the Chalerm Phrakiat Somdet Phra Thep Rattanarajsuda Siam Boromrajakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the To Daeng peat swamp forest, in Narathiwat province. It marks the first confirmed record of the species in Thailand in nearly three decades.
National park officials mark the location where a flat-headed cat was recorded in the To Daeng peat swamp forest in Narathiwat province, southern Thailand, during a field survey.
Camera trap surveys recorded 13 sightings in 2024 and 16 sightings in 2025, the highest frequency reported for the species anywhere within its known range, authorities said. Researchers also captured images of an adult cat accompanied by a kitten, confirming breeding activity in the area.
The flat-headed cat is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, with an estimated global population of about 2,500 individuals. In Thailand, the species had previously been classified as “possibly extinct.”
A flat-headed cat walks past a motion-activated camera trap in the To Daeng peat swamp forest in Narathiwat province, southern Thailand, in an image released by Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on Dec.26, 2025.
“After decades of habitat protection and surveys, confirming the flat-headed cat’s return to southern Thailand demonstrates the dedication of park rangers in safeguarding one of the country’s last remaining peat swamp forests,” said Attapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks.
Kritsana Kaewplang, director of Panthera Thailand, said the finding shows effective habitat protection can deliver conservation results once thought impossible.
“After nearly 30 years without confirmed sightings, this discovery proves endangered species can recover when their habitats are effectively protected,” she said.
The flat-headed cat is among the smallest wild cats in Asia, distinguished by its elongated, flattened skull and partially webbed feet adapted for hunting aquatic prey. The nocturnal species inhabits wetlands and peat swamps but faces threats from habitat loss caused by agriculture, hunting and water pollution.
Thai authorities said the discovery will guide future conservation planning, including strengthened patrols, expanded use of SMART patrol systems and community-based intelligence networks to address threats.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha, left, stands with Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit, right, at the General Border Committee Meeting in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AKP via AP)
BANGKOK — Thailand and Cambodia signed a ceasefire agreement Saturday, aimed at ending weeks of deadly border skirmishes over disputed territory. The truce officially took effect at noon local time.
Under the terms of the deal, both nations have committed to a total halt of military movements and a ban on the use of airspace for military operations. While both sides have engaged in ground combat, the Cambodian Defense Ministry reported that Thailand conducted airstrikes as recently as Saturday morning.
A key provision of the agreement hinges on a 72-hour cooling-off period. If the ceasefire remains fully intact for three days, Thailand has agreed to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers held as prisoners since a previous bout of fighting in July. The release of the personnel has been a central demand from Phnom Penh throughout the negotiations.
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Joint Statement of the 3rd Special General Border Committee (GBC)Between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand at Prum (Pailin Province of Cambodia) – Ban Pak Kard (Chanthaburi Province of Thailand)International Point of EntryOn December 27, 2025
The 3rd Special General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting at Prum (Pailin Province of Cambodia) – Ban Pak Kard (Chanthaburi Province of Thailand) International Point of Entry was co-chaired by H.E. General Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Co-Chairman of the Cambodian General Border Committee and H.E. General Nattaphon Narkphanit, Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Thailand and Co-Chairman of the Thai General Border Committee and, with the participation of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) as observer.
The Meeting:
Recognizes the importance of conducting discussions on the peaceful settlement of disputes in an atmosphere of trust, sincerity, good faith, fairness, and mutual respect in accordance with the purpose and principles of the United Nations Charter, the ASEAN Charter and Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, paving the way for a new chapter of peace and cooperation between the two nations;
Recalls the ASEAN Chair’s Statement of the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the Current Situation Between Cambodia and Thailand, held on 22 December 2025 in Kuala Lumpur;
Reiterates the firm commitment to refrain from the threat or use of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for international boundary and of international law, for the promotion of peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region on the basis of mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of the respective nations;
Reaffirms the unwavering commitment to full and effective implementation of the ceasefire arrangement of 28 July 2025, all other related agreements reached thereafter, and agreements reached at the General Border Committee meetings and Joint Boundary Commission meetings, as well as other existing agreements between Cambodia and Thailand;
Reaffirms the shared determination to return to dialogue through and build up on the previous agreements as well as existing bilateral mechanisms toward the cessation of all forms of hostilities, and to establish a true and sustainable peace, with a firm commitment to confidence-building and the restoration of normalcy and lasting peace along the border;
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha, left, stands with Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit, right, at the General Border Committee Meeting in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AKP via AP) g
Agrees on the following understandings and measures:
I. De-escalation Measures
Both sides agree to an immediate ceasefire after the time of signature of this Joint Statement with effect from 12:00 hours noon (local time) on 27 December 2025, involving all types of weapons, including attacks on civilians, civilian objects and infrastructures, and military objectives of either side, in all cases and all areas. Both sides must avoid unprovoked firing or advancement or movement of troops towards the other side’s positions or troops. This agreement must not be violated under any circumstances.
Both sides agree to maintain current troop deployments without further movement. There shall be no troop movements, including patrol towards the other side’s position.
Both sides agree that all arrangements under this Joint Statement are without prejudice to the border demarcation and international boundary between the two countries. Both sides agree to refer to the Joint Boundary Commission to resume, at the earliest, the survey and demarcation works, in accordance with existing agreements between the two countries to achieve lasting peace along the border. Both sides agree to utilize Joint Boundary Commission’s existing mechanisms to ensure safety and security of the joint survey team on the ground, including its safety from landmines. Both sides agree that the Joint Boundary Commission will accord the first and foremost priority for the immediate survey and demarcation works in the affected border areas where the civilians resided.
Both sides agree to allow civilians residing in the affected border areas to return at the earliest, without obstruction and in safety and dignity, to their homes and normal livelihoods in areas within their own side.
Both sides agree not to increase forces along the entire Cambodia-Thailand border. Any reinforcement would heighten tensions and negatively affect long-term efforts to resolve the situation.
Both sides agree not to undertake provocative actions that may escalate tensions. This includes military activities to enter the other side’s air space and territory or positions as of ceasefire. Both sides agree to refrain from constructing or enhancing any military infrastructure or fortifications beyond their own side.
Both sides agree not to use any kind of forces against civilians and civilian objects in all circumstances. Such actions would not only endanger communities in the border areas but also violate international law and tarnish the global image of the non-compliant side.
Both sides agree to refrain from disseminating false information or fake news in order to de-escalate tensions, mitigate negative public sentiment, and foster an environment conducive to peaceful dialogue.
Both sides reaffirm their obligations under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mine and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention). Both sides will work together through the Joint Coordinating Task Force (JCTF) on Humanitarian Demining in accordance with the agreed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to make timely progress on demining efforts along the border.
Both sides agree to adhere to the Action Plan for Cooperation on the Prevention and Suppression of Transnational Crimes, including Cyber Scams and Human Trafficking, between the Cambodian National Police and the Royal Thai Police, and reaffirm the commitment to enhance cooperation aimed at preventing online scams, addressing the misuse of digital platforms, and promoting responsible and accurate information in a manner that contributes to trust, stability, and good neighbourly relations.
11.In the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration on 26 October 2025, the 18 Cambodian soldiers will be returned to Cambodia after the ceasefire has been fully maintained for 72 hours.
II. Mechanisms for the Implementation and Verification of De-escalation Measures
12. Both sides recognize the important role of ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) and agree to strengthen the roles of the AOT, in consultation with both the ASEAN Chair and the AOT, in verifying and ensuring the effective implementation of all the measures in this Joint Statement.
13. To ensure effective implementation, both sides agree to utilize the Cambodia-Thailand and Thailand-Cambodia Border Coordination Units to ensure that the ceasefire is sustained, manage situations on the ground, address incidents in a timely manner, and prevent miscalculation under the observation and verification of the ASEAN Observer Team.
14. Both sides will maintain regular and direct lines of communication between their Ministers of Defence and Chiefs of Defence Forces for prompt response to urgent situations that cannot be addressed at the local level. If required, high-level representatives from both sides will meet to effectively resolve any issues on the ground.
15. The JCTF will notify respective local authorities of its own side as well as the JCTF of another side to be aware of and to facilitate the Humanitarian Demining operations in the agreed priority border areas according to the Action Plans agreed by both sides for smooth operation without any obstructions or misunderstanding.
16. Official media teams from both sides will maintain regular and direct communication to ensure the effective prevention and management of misinformation and disinformation. They will also ensure transparency and accuracy of news and reports to enhance mutual trust.
The location where a foreign man jumped from an expressway in Bangkok on Dec. 26, 2025.
BANGKOK — A foreign man suffered serious injuries after jumping from an elevated expressway in Bangkok late Friday, police said.
The man jumped from the Sirat Expressway near Rama 9 around 9:35 p.m. on December 26, according to Pol. Lt. Col. Pongjinda Wiriyaprakob of Makkasan Police Station.
Rescue workers said the man had been walking back and forth on the expressway when they approached to help. Upon seeing the rescue team, he jumped from the elevated road, landing on the parallel street below.
Rescue workers provide first aid to a foreign man who jumped from the Sirat Expressway in Bangkok on Dec. 26, 2025.
The man, who had both legs fractured, was conscious when taken to Rajavithi Hospital, police said.
Authorities have not identified him. He carried no documents but had about 5,500 UAE dirhams (approximately $1,500) and 10,400 Thai baht (about $330) in cash.
Pol. Lt. Col. Prasert Wongcharoen, deputy superintendent of Makkasan Police Station, said the investigation is ongoing. The man remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
