A resident captures a naked foreign man riding away on a motorcycle after stopping at a convenience store in Kamphaeng Phet’s Khlong Lan market on Nov. 16, 2025.
KAMPHAENG PHET — A naked foreign man stunned shoppers in a Kamphaeng Phet market early Saturday when he rode a motorcycle into the town center and walked into a convenience store without wearing any clothing.
Photos and videos show the man — described by police as a Western national in his 30s — arriving at a shop inside the Khlong Lan fresh market around 7:30 a.m. He appeared unfazed by onlookers, using one hand to cover his genitals before riding away.
Residents alerted police, who later found the man sitting on a chair at a nearby snooker table in an intoxicated state, according to Khlong Lan police. Officers warned him about his behavior.
A Thai woman who identified herself as his wife soon arrived with clothes and took him home, police said.
Tourist Police and immigration officers later tracked him to a house in the Ban Suan Som area of Khlong Nam Lai, where they found him sitting calmly on a chair wearing only shorts. His Thai wife was trying to comfort him, officers said. With the help of an interpreter, police learned the man had been heavily intoxicated and stressed by personal problems.
A naked foreign man rides off on a motorcycle after visiting a convenience store at Khlong Lan market in Kamphaeng Phet, in a photo taken by a resident on Nov. 16, 2025.
After speaking with officers, he acknowledged the incident and regained composure. Police took him to Khlong Lan Police Station, where he was fined for public indecency.
His wife told authorities they had been together for three years and share a 2-month-old daughter. She said he arrived in Thailand unannounced, walking about 5 kilometers from a bus station to reach her. Before the incident, he had consumed a case of beer and smoked cannabis, she said, adding that she had tried to hide his cannabis supply.
She said her husband had spoken of depression and previously came close to attempting suicide abroad but had not received treatment. He planned to return to his home country at the end of the month for medical care.
Police question the foreign man at his home in the Ban Suan Som area of Khlong Nam Lai subdistrict, Kamphaeng Phet province, following the naked incident on Nov. 16, 2025.
“I want to apologize to society on behalf of my husband,” she said. “I tried to stop him, but he said this was normal where he comes from. I’m sorry for his behavior.”
Kamphaeng Phet is a lower northern province of Thailand with a population of nearly 700,000. It typically has far fewer foreign residents compared to major tourist destinations or northeastern provinces, where many foreigners marry Thai women and settle down to work or retire in Thailand.
Evidence seized from Da Qiang's Soi Rang Nam residence includes phones, bank cards, and SIM cards used to launder money for online scam operations.
BANGKOK — Immigration police at Don Mueang Airport intercepted a Chinese national holding a Thailand Privilege Card, also known as an Elite Visa, as he attempted to flee the country on Friday. The suspect, Mr. Da Qiang, was detained under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on June 13, 2025.
He faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud the public, entering false data into a computer system, conspiracy to launder money and operating an illegal lottery.
Authorities said the man entered Thailand under the Thailand Privilege Card program, commonly known as the Elite Visa. The scheme offers long-term visas and premium immigration services to foreign nationals who pay membership fees.
Following the arrest at the airport, officers escorted the suspect to his residence on Soi Rang Nam in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district for a search. They confiscated three mobile phones, 10 ATM and credit cards, 12 SIM cards, and numerous money-transfer receipts and bank transaction slips.
Evidence seized from the suspect’s residence includes mobile phones, ATM and credit cards, SIM cards, and stacks of money-transfer receipts collected by immigration police during the investigation.
How the Scam Worked
The case began in late March when a victim filed a police report after encountering what appeared to be a legitimate business opportunity on Facebook. The target was invited to join a LINE group with over 700 members that claimed to offer e-commerce opportunities.
As a test, the person sold one item for 1,420 baht and received genuine payment. Encouraged by this initial success, they contacted administrators to withdraw the earnings. The fraudsters directed them to register through a fake “SELLER CENTER” website and contact their so-called financial staff.
The scammers explained that while sales revenue had entered the system, withdrawals were blocked because the store’s visibility settings hadn’t been activated.
The Trap Tightens
The target was then moved to a smaller, private LINE group called “Store Visibility Activation.” There, they were instructed to complete activities requiring upfront cash transfers, supposedly to circulate product inventory. The fake website displayed realistic transaction data and growing account balances, making the scheme appear legitimate.
Each time the victim attempted to withdraw funds, the criminals invented new reasons why it wasn’t possible—demanding additional payments to unlock accounts, meet minimum thresholds, or resolve fabricated technical issues. The victim continued transferring money, believing each payment would be the last one needed.
In the end, no withdrawals were ever processed. Total losses exceeded 2.9 million baht ($89,700)
Evidence seized from Da Qiang’s Soi Rang Nam residence includes phones, bank cards, and SIM cards used to launder money for online scam operations.
Major Investigation Uncovers Network
Police conducted an extensive investigation that led to arrest warrants for 34 suspects—10 Chinese nationals and 24 Thai citizens. The operation spanned multiple levels of criminal activity, from financiers and operation managers to money launderers, mule account operators, account brokers, and cash withdrawal coordinators.
Authorities executed arrests in two phases: April 8, 2025, and May 7, 2025. A total of 28 suspects were apprehended, and officers seized 12 laptops, 64 mobile phones, and other assets valued at over 6 million baht ($89,700).
Extended investigations identified Mr. Da Qiang as a key money launderer operating within Thailand. His role involved converting digital currency (USDT) into Thai baht and Chinese yuan, then distributing funds to various members of the criminal network.
Financial records revealed that over an 18-month period, he processed more than 330 million baht ($10.2 million) worth of cryptocurrency through various exchange platforms, channeling the money to multiple call center fraud operations.
Suspect Denies Involvement
During interrogation, Da Qiang denied the criminal charges but confirmed he operated digital wallets and handled currency exchanges. He claimed he was simply following instructions from Chinese clients and was unaware of any illegal activity.
Police have retained all evidence and transferred the suspect to prosecutors for legal proceedings.
Police detain 15 foreign nationals inside a sealed warehouse room in Bangkok during a Nov. 14 raid that uncovered an alleged cryptocurrency scam operation, along with computers, mobile phones and scripts used to target victims.
BANGKOK— Thai police arrested 15 Eastern European nationals after raiding a Bangkok building that had been converted into a base for an alleged cryptocurrency investment scam, authorities said Saturday.
Metropolitan Police Devision 2 officers were dispatched to the site around 8:30 p.m.Friday after residents reported loud noise and a steady flow of foreigners entering and leaving a warehouse-like structure near the end of an alley between Soi Nuan Chan 36 and 38, Bueng Kim district.
Officers encountered two Azerbaijani men outside the building who struggled to communicate in English. The pair asked police to wait for a friend who could translate. When the warehouse owner arrived shortly afterward, he helped officers explain the search request, and the occupants complied.
Police detain 15 foreign nationals inside a sealed warehouse room in Bangkok during a Nov. 14 raid that uncovered an alleged cryptocurrency scam operation, along with computers, mobile phones and scripts used to target victims.
Inside, police found a large, windowless room sealed with a steel door fitted with a peephole. Officers moved to a connected back room, where they discovered 15 people sitting at computers. Some tried to flee but were immediately detained.
Police then contacted the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau. Investigators said the group was running a website used to defraud victims by luring them into cryptocurrency trading schemes. Scam scripts and other materials were seized at the scene.
Those arrested include nine Azerbaijani nationals, five Georgian nationals and one Ukrainian citizen. They face charges of conspiracy, involvement in a transnational criminal organization, and working in Thailand without permits.
Police confiscated 25 notebook computers, two routers, 16 mobile phones, 15 sets of headphones and charging cables, and several scam manuals. The suspects were taken to Khok Khram Police Station for further questioning, and immigration authorities will review their backgrounds, police said.
President Donald Trump speaks before signing the funding bill to reopen the government, in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that he had successfully eased hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand, saying that he’d been able to preserve a previous, U.S.-brokered ceasefire that had appeared to be breaking down.
“I stopped a war just today,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for the weekend. He said his actions were made possible by his willingness to impose steep tariffs on countries around the world, which he has argued gives the U.S. great leverage on trade and diplomatic leverage.
The president said he’d spoken to the prime ministers of both countries by phone and now, “They’re doing great. They were not doing great.”
He said the conversations left him believing, “I think they’re going to be fine.”
Territorial disputes over exactly where the border lies between the Southeast Asian neighbors led to five days of armed conflict in late July that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians.
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)
Trump threatened to withhold trade privileges from the two countries unless they stopped fighting, helping to broker a temporary halt to the conflict. The pact was then reaffirmed in greater detail last month, when Trump attended an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit meeting in Malaysia.
The ceasefire seemed on the verge of falling apart this week, however, when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said a villager was killed after shooting broke out along his country’s border with Thailand.
Manet said one civilian was killed and three others wounded when Thai troops opened fire on civilians residing in the area of Prey Chan in Cambodia’s northwestern province of Banteay Meanchey. The same village was the site of a violent but not lethal confrontation in September between Thai security personnel and Cambodian villagers.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), an injured man, rear center, is visited by members of the ASEAN’s observer team (AOT) in a hospital in Prey Chan, a border village to Thailand, in Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (AKP via AP)
The Thai military said that the latest incident began when Cambodian soldiers allegedly fired into a district in Thailand’s eastern province of Sa Kaeo. No Thai casualties were reported.
Thailand and Cambodia have a history of enmity going back centuries, when they were warring empires. Their competing territorial claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn when Cambodia was under French colonial rule, which Thailand has argued is inaccurate.
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.
Youth players from Mon Thong Wittaya School greet fans crowding the field before the final match of the 7HD Football Champion Cup 2025 at Bangkok’s Supachalasai Stadium on Nov. 8, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Ekachai Rattanawong)
It was a moment destined for the history books of Thailand’s high school football scene — a viral phenomenon that spread across the nation overnight and became a sensation embraced by the public and businesses alike.
After creating a nationwide buzz on Saturday, November 8, when Bangkok’s Supachalasai Stadium drew more than 36,000 spectators — the largest youth football crowd in 32 years — the team from Chachoengsao’s Mon Thong Wittaya School continued to captivate fans. The school’s name, instantly recognizable because Monthong is a famous durian variety, became a cultural talking point.
Even after losing 2–1 to Chainat PAO School in the final of the 7HD Football Champion Cup 2025, the team’s following only grew.
Nearly a week later, excitement had not died down. When Mon Thong Wittaya traveled for a special exhibition match against the popular YouTuber team Boy Tha Phrachan at Chachoengsao Municipality Stadium on November 14, crowds again flocked to see them.
Vendors rushed to secure space near the basketball court to sell souvenirs. Team jerseys sold briskly at 400–600 baht, despite being pricier than typical T-shirts. The jersey of No. 6, teen idol Tae-Varakorn Changkian, was in especially high demand — widely compared to being “harder to find than gold.”
Tae-Varakorn Changkian (center), Mon Thong Wittaya’s star player, is comforted by Chainat PAO players at Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok on Nov. 8, 2025.
A Cinderella Run That Won the Nation
Before the 7HD Cup final, Mon Thong Wittaya had already captured the nation’s imagination. Once considered underdogs, they stunned the country by defeating powerhouse programs such as Thepsirin School and Assumption College Sriracha to reach the final.
From that moment, the school’s name spread nationwide. Though they finished as runners-up, they became the talk of the town and, more importantly, a symbol of hope at a time when many Thais were weighed down by economic uncertainty.
Social media hailed the team’s journey as one of the most uplifting stories of the year — something that brought smiles, laughter, and tears of pride to millions.
More than 80% of fans who packed Supachalasai Stadium were middle-class workers, many originally from upcountry but now living in Bangkok. They came to cheer what felt like their own hometown team, turning the weekend match into a family outing and a lesson for children on sportsmanship and healthy competition.
Fans pack Supachalasai Stadium to full capacity as the viral Mon Thong Wittaya team faces Chainat PAO School in the final of the 7HD Football Champion Cup 2025 on Nov. 8, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Ekachai Rattanawong)
The “Super Coach” Behind the Dream
Although Mon Thong Wittaya fell to Chainat PAO in the final, the small school from Chachoengsao became a national giant thanks to its coach, Sakol Kliangprasert, widely known as the “Super Coach” of youth football.
A former coach at Rajavinit Bangkaew and Surasak Montri schools, Sakol has long dedicated himself to developing players often overlooked by major institutions. Many of his students come from low-income families, separated households, or challenging backgrounds.
He chooses them not for prestige, but because he sees grit and the desire to chase a dream.
His guiding principle is simple: discipline — train hard when it’s time to train, rest when it’s time to rest. Master that, he says, and everything else can be developed.
Coach Sakol Kliangprasert of Mon Thong Wittaya personally drives the team’s songthaew bus to transport players to matches at various venues.
The Old Blue Truck: A Symbol of Faith
Part of the team’s legend comes from an old blue pickup truck affectionately called the “Dream Carrier.”
Driven by Coach Sakol, the battered, non-air-conditioned truck carried players across Thailand for matches. The boys sat shoulder to shoulder, not in comfort, but in belief.
“This truck has taken us from the very beginning. It is our dream carrier,” Sakol said.
The truck didn’t just bring them to football fields — it carried them through the journey of perseverance, showing the country that success is not defined by what vehicle you travel in, but by the heart that drives you forward.
Their story mirrors countless people who start from nothing — rising through learning, resilience, and the courage to overcome mistakes. Doors don’t always open on their own; sometimes you must build them yourself, brick by brick.
Combination photo: (left) the songthaew bus that transports Mon Thong Wittaya’s youth players, which went viral and inspired memes from various teams — including (right) this playful edit of Manchester United players riding the “dream-carrying” bus.”
Nationwide Support From Public and Private Sectors
Following their viral success, institutions and businesses quickly stepped in to support the team.
Education Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat called the movement an inspiring phenomenon. She announced that the ministry would expand on the public–private–civil model used in the Connext ED and Partnership School Projects to develop more than 7,000 schools nationwide, with a special focus on strengthening sports programs and coaching networks.
Dhurakij Pundit University (DPU) offered full scholarships to players from both Mon Thong Wittaya and Chainat PAO, emphasizing that a student’s value extends far beyond the scoreboard.
True Corporation donated 100,000 baht per team and provided mobile and fiber-internet packages, praising the players as role models for youth across Thailand.
Lactasoy Co., Ltd., led by the Jirapattanakul family, became one of the earliest supporters, supplying beverages and essential items.
Youth players from Mon Thong Wittaya School receive a new electric bus, one of the many forms of support pouring into the club, on Nov. 12, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Thinnakorn Jitphaibul)
Other donors included: Sondhi Limthongkul – 1,000,000 baht, Madame Fin (Naree Cheewasuttisin) – 350,000 baht, Aum Patchrapa Chaichua – 20,000 baht, TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatpaiboon – 100,000 baht (50,000 baht for each team), Boy Tha Phrachan – 20,000 baht, Local restaurants – 100,000 baht, and Pimrypie (Pimradaporn Benjawattanapat) – 100,000 baht plus funding for a new football field on a 10-rai plot at Mon Thong Wittaya School.
A New “Dream Bus” and New Challenges Ahead
Most recently, on November 12, Thai Smile Bus Co., Ltd. (TSB) donated a 100% electric bus worth 4.5 million baht to Mon Thong Wittaya School. The bus will be used to safely transport young footballers as they continue pursuing their dreams.
TSB will also provide driver training and assign technicians to assist with maintenance and repairs.
The arrival of this new dream-carrying bus — along with the fame and financial support pouring in — now presents a new challenge for this small football club: how to continue growing, developing, and standing tall as Thailand’s new “dream team.”
Diners at the Pa Jit restaurant watch fish swim in the aisles due to flooding from the Tha Chin River in Thailand's Nakhon Pathom Province west of Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
By JERRY HARMER
NAKHON PATHOM, Thailand (AP) — A restaurant in central Thailand was bursting with a stream of customers coming for a unique dining experience: Enjoying a meal while sitting in flood waters, surrounded by live fish they bring into the establishment.
Since an adjacent river breached its banks 11 days ago, the flooded riverside restaurant has become an internet sensation, drawing customers keen to pose in the lapping brown water or toss fish food to photograph the feeding frenzy.
Families enjoyed lunch at Pa Jit restaurant in Nakhon Pathom province, about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from Bangkok, with enthralled toddlers gawping at the river fish flapping around their thighs. Wait staff in waders gingerly carried bowls of fish soup or chicken noodles from table to table.
Diners at the Pa Jit restaurant feed fish in the aisles that come from floods from the Tha Chin River in Thailand’s Nakhon Pathom province, west of Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Pa Jit has been a riverside fixture for more than 30 years, said owner Pornkamol Prangprempree. When the restaurant was flooded the first time around four years ago, her heart sank.
“I thought there would be no customer for sure,” she said. “But then there was a customer who posted online showing that there were fish. Then a lot of people flocked here to eat.”
She said floods have boosted her business, with her profits doubling from around 10,000 baht ($309) to around 20,000 baht ($618) per day.
Diners at the Pa Jit restaurant enjoy their meals as fish swim in the aisles due to flooding from the Tha Chin River in Thailand’s Nakhon Pathom Province west of Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Chomphunuth Khantaniti, a 29-year-old who lives in the same province, was there with her husband and son. She said when she heard, she couldn’t resist.
“I think it’s good, because we can bring the children here. When the children see the fish, they become less fussy,” she said. “I think in Thailand, there’s only this place where you can see fish coming up like this.”
Bella Windy, 63, came to the restaurant because she wanted to feel the fish nibbling on her feet.
“Normally, if the water is very high, the fish will come here. The nature experience here is the highlight of this restaurant and it attracts people.”
Diners at the Pa Jit restaurant enjoy their meals as fish swim in the aisles due to flooding from the Tha Chin River in Thailand’s Nakhon Pathom Province west of Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Pa Jit can expect another few weeks of inundation, as high tides and the tail-end of the monsoon season keep water levels up.
Though the flooding has brought an unusual boon to Pa Jit, it has devastated many other areas of Thailand. Since late July, 12 people were killed and two went missing due to flooding, according to data from the Department of Disaster Prevention and mitigation.
On Friday, it reported that more than 480,000 people in 13 provinces, particularly in the north and the central, were affected by floods.
BANGKOK – The 11th consecutive annual “River Festival 2025: The River of Thai Culture” concluded successfully, underscoring its dual role as a significant economic driver and a pioneer in sustainable cultural celebration. The event, held across nine key piers along the majestic Chao Phraya River bend in Bangkok and expanded to Lamphun, generated substantial income for local communities while setting new standards for environmental stewardship.
Economic Impact and Cultural Preservation
The festival’s comprehensive approach, which beautifully integrates arts, local cuisine, and community identity, successfully stimulated local economies. This year alone, the event generated over 2.8 million baht in revenue for participating communities, strengthening local economic resilience alongside cultural conservation efforts. The festival also provided a crucial platform for youth to showcase their potential and actively participate, proving the sustainable power of Thai arts and culture in community economic development.
The event, held in collaboration with various communities and anchored by principal sponsors including Thai Beverage Public Company Limited (ThaiBev), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Royal Thai Navy, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), and various partners, significantly elevated its commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.
Pioneering Sustainable Loy Krathong
A major highlight of this year’s festival was the innovative approach to the Loy Krathong ceremony. The event championed the use of “Love the Earth Floating Basins,” a closed-system method for floating krathongs (baskets) and lanterns. This innovation aims to drastically reduce the number of floating waste materials discharged into natural waterways.
This environmental drive was digitally integrated through the SX Application’s SX Point system, which tracked and publicized statistics on the reduction of krathong waste collected by the BMA, actively engaging the public in sustainability efforts.
Community and Waste Management Initiatives
The festival maintained its commitment to long-term sustainability through several enduring projects:
“Clean the Canal” Campaign: Continuing for the 11th year, this activity involved the disposal of krathong waste from the festival and the thorough cleaning of the surrounding areas.
“Collect-Return-Recycle” Project: Volunteer residents and youth from riverside communities actively sorted plastic bottles. These materials were subsequently delivered to ThaiBev Recycle Co., Ltd. (TBR) to be processed and recycled into “Green Love the Earth Blankets” for distribution in cold-weather regions.
Beta Young Entrepreneur Project: Young volunteer entrepreneurs promoted waste separation for recycling within their communities.
Upon the conclusion of the event, over 3,000 kilograms of krathongs made from natural materials were collected from the participating piers and forwarded to the BMA for recycling into organic fertilizer. Furthermore, over 150 kilograms of scented lantern candles were gathered and sent to Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan to be melted down and repurposed for future use.
The nine main piers in Bangkok included: Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Prayurawongsawat, Wat Kalayanamitr, Wat Rakhangkhositaram, Tha Maharaj, Asiatique The Riverfront, SookSiam at ICONSIAM, and the Prem Prachakon Canal area. The festival also featured the separate Lamphun River Festival 2025 on Rot Kaeo Road, Lamphun Province.
The 38-year-old Indian national is apprehended by immigration police at a hotel in Nong Khai on November 13, 2025.
NONG KHAI — Thai immigration police have arrested an Indian national in Nong Khai who had overstayed his visa and allegedly defrauded hotels after losing more than $216,000 gambling in a neighboring country.
Police apprehended Rohit, 38, at a hotel in Nong Khai city center on the evening of November 13 following reports that he had been staying at various accommodations without paying.
Police Colonel Noppadol Rakchat, Chief of the Nong Khai Immigration Office, confirmed that the arrest followed complaints about a suspicious individual obtaining free accommodation fraudulently.
Rohit had entered Thailand on a tourist visa on August 17, 2025, which expired on Oct. 15, 2025. Authorities said he failed to return home and had been hiding within Thailand since then.
The Indian national is processed at the Nong Khai Immigration Office following his arrest on November 13, 2025. Authorities are investigating his overstay and the source of the 7 million baht he gambled away abroad.
During questioning, Rohit admitted to withdrawing 7 million baht (approximately $216,000) from his bank account in a single day, stating he lost the entire sum gambling abroad. Penniless and unable to pay for hotels, he fled back to Thailand, checked into multiple hotels in Nong Khai, and requested free stays. Hotel owners eventually notified authorities of his suspicious behavior.
Rohit has been charged with overstaying his permission to remain in the Kingdom. Authorities are continuing to investigate the source of the large sum of money he withdrew.
Crackdown on Overstays
The arrest comes as Thailand’s Immigration Bureau implements a new, stricter four-point screening policy announced on Nov. 12, aiming to curb visa runs and enhance border security. The measures include:
Enhanced screening of individuals using frequent visa-free entry that appears inconsistent with typical tourist behavior.
Stricter monitoring of foreign nationals flagged in border surveillance systems, particularly those associated with high-risk areas.
Increased scrutiny of temporary stay extension applications for foreigners showing visa-run patterns.
Comprehensive operations by all immigration offices to remove foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas.
Immigration Bureau spokesman Police Major General Choengron Rimpadee acknowledged the new rules may affect passport processing times for foreigners but assured that individual screening will take no more than 45 seconds, with maximum queue waiting times not exceeding 40 minutes at airport inspection channels.
Police officers accompany Canadian female tourist to point out the location where she was sexually assaulted on Koh Tao on November 13, 2025.
KOH TAO — Thai authorities have arrested a 19-year-old Thai-Myanmar man following an attempted sexual assault on a 22-year-old Canadian tourist on Koh Tao, Surat Thani province early Thursday morning.
Police said the victim, identified as Julia, was returning to her accommodation around 1 a.m. after visiting XCo Bar when she was approached by a man on a motorcycle who offered her a ride, posing as a free motorcycle taxi driver.
According to her report, the suspect diverted into a dark alley, attempted to grope her, and tried to remove his pants. Julia said she jumped off the moving motorcycle, fell to the ground, and struggled as the man straddled her. She managed to use her phone to call for help, though the suspect briefly seized it, before she escaped to a main road and took a taxi back to the bar.
Police investigation and arrest team document the official arrest of a Thai-Myanmar man for sexually assaulting a Canadian female tourist on November 13, 2025.
Julia was treated at Koh Tao Hospital for multiple abrasions and filed a formal complaint. Police reviewed CCTV along the route, distributed the suspect’s photo for identification, and reconstructed the crime scene. Officers monitored ferry terminals and other exit points on the island.
Authorities located the suspect at a hiding spot near a warehouse parking area in Koh Tao at 9 a.m. Thursday. A urine test reportedly came back positive for methamphetamine. During questioning, the suspect, from Ranong province, admitted to the assault and said he borrowed someone else’s motorcycle to commit the crime.
Police took the suspect into custody along with the victim’s phone and the clothing worn during the attack. He has been handed over to investigators for prosecution.
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, rightm and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)
BEIJING (AP) — China’s leader Xi Jinping and Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn pledged closer ties on Friday during the first-ever visit to China by a reigning Thai monarch.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, greeted Vajiralongkorn and his wife, Queen Suthida, at Beijing’s vast Great Hall of the People. The visit was intended to mark the 50th anniversary of the countries establishing diplomatic ties.
Xi described China and Thailand as “truly good relatives, good friends and good partners,” according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.
Beijing was looking forward to boosting agricultural imports from Thailand and advancing cooperation in fields such as railway development, artificial intelligence and aerospace, Xi said.
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, center left, and Queen Suthida, left, Chinese President Xi Jinping, center right, and his wife Peng Liyuan, right, attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)
King Vajiralongkorn described his country’s relationship with China as “brotherly cooperation” and expressed his desire to deepen exchanges in various areas.
The Thai royals were scheduled to visit a Buddhist temple and an aerospace development hub in Beijing, as well as attend a state banquet.
Besides a trip to Bhutan in April, the visit to China was Vajiralongkorn’s only second official trip abroad since his ascension to the throne, in 2016, signaling a warming of ties with China.
Thailand remains an official military ally of the United States, but China is the kingdom’s biggest trading partner and increasingly a source of military equipment.
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping review the honour guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Tingshu Wang/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese investment in Thailand also has accelerated in recent years, particularly as many Chinese companies have moved production to Southeast Asia to avoid U.S. tariffs.
In August, a Bangkok exhibition featuring works by Tibetan, Uyghur and Hong Kong artists was censored, reportedly following complaints by Chinese diplomats.
China also has pressured Thailand and its Southeast Asian neighbors to crack down on cross-border cyber scams.
