Thai Government Responds to Elevated Arsenic Levels in Salween River

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4 November 2025, 19:14

Salween3 — Salween River communities urge authorities to urgently inspect water quality after reports reveal arsenic contamination five times above safety standards.

MAE HONG SON — Thai authorities have launched urgent measures following the detection of arsenic contamination in the Salween River at levels five times higher than safety standards, according to researchers from Chiang Mai University who made the discovery last week.

Assistant Professor Dr. Wan Wiriya, Assistant Director of the Environmental Science Research Center at Chiang Mai University, reported on October 28 the results of water samples collected from the Salween River as it flows through Mae Sariang District, Mae Hong Son Province, in early September 2025. Three locations were tested for water quality.

Dr. Wan noted that prior to this study, someone had submitted water samples from the Salween River for testing, which also revealed arsenic levels exceeding safety standards.

Salween2 — Salween River communities urge authorities to urgently inspect water quality after reports reveal arsenic contamination five times above safety standards.

Beyond arsenic, other heavy metals were found at concentrations approaching dangerous thresholds, creating significant health risks. He urged relevant agencies to conduct immediate investigations and issue public warnings.

Emergency Response Underway

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin on November 4 ordered immediate action from key agencies, including the Pollution Control Department and the Department of Groundwater Resources, to address the water quality crisis.

The findings have sparked alarm among communities along the riverbanks in Mae Hong Son province, prompting swift government intervention.

Officials Issue Warnings

The Department of Water Resources has been directed to deploy teams to distribute clean drinking water to affected residents immediately. Officials are working to ensure communities stop drawing water directly from the contaminated source.

Authorities are also conducting public education campaigns to inform residents about health and hygiene safety measures during the crisis.

Salween1 — Beyond arsenic, other heavy metals were found in Salween River.

Khamphan Mokthaisong, District Chief of Sob Moei District in Mae Hong Son, has instructed riverside communities to avoid direct contact with the river water and refrain from consuming fish caught from the Salween.

Mining Activities Under Scrutiny

According to information from the Stimson Center, a foreign affairs think tank, there is extensive mining of various minerals and rare earth elements in the upper reaches of the Salween River.

The situation mirrors pollution problems that occurred in the Kok River and Sai River in Chiang Rai Province, which faced contamination from mining operations in Myanmar and required international cooperation to resolve.

However, since the mining sites are located very far from where the water samples were collected, it remains uncertain whether mining activities are the direct cause of the contamination. Investigations into the source of the pollution are ongoing.

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Thai Cabinet Approves $123 Million to Renew Disputed MotoGP Contract

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Khaosod English

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4 November 2025, 15:56

MotoGP2025-2 — MotoGP winner Spain's Marc Marquez, center, second placed Spain's Alex Marquez, left, and third placed Italy's Francesco Bagnaia celebrate on the podium after the MotoGP race at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Ekachai Rattanawong)

BANGKOK — Thailand’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved a 3.99 billion baht (US$123 million) budget to host the MotoGP World Motorcycle Championship from 2027 to 2031, despite criticism from the opposition Pheu Thai Party over the rush to renew the contract.

The decision, proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, authorizes Thailand to bid for a new five-year hosting deal for the premier motorcycle racing series. The budget cap is set at 3,997.86 million baht, adjustable for currency fluctuations.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Ayrin Phanthurit said the event is expected to generate up to 24.9 billion baht in economic value, citing tourism, hospitality, and local business benefits. Surveys from previous events between 2018 and 2025 found that each race drew an average of 206,000 spectators, both local and foreign, contributing to spending across accommodation, transport, and restaurants.

Singha — The MotoGP 2025 World Motorcycle Championship at Chang International Circuit, Buriram Province, was held on March 1, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Todsaporn Lohkunceam)

Ayrin added that MotoGP attracts nearly 800 million viewers across 207 countries, boosting Thailand’s profile in the global sports industry and reinforcing its appeal as a major tourism destination.

However, Pheu Thai Party spokesperson Suksit Srijomkhwan questioned the government’s urgency, alleging the renewal primarily benefits vested interests. He noted that event costs have risen yearly while sponsorships have declined, forcing greater reliance on public funds.

Suksit contrasted the move with the former Pheu Thai-led government’s negotiations to bring Formula 1 (F1) to Thailand, citing F1’s larger audience and higher potential economic returns. Both F1 and MotoGP are owned by Liberty Media, but he said the current administration appeared focused solely on MotoGP, which is held at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram province—a facility linked to Newin Chidchob, an influential figure in the ruling Bhumjaithai Party.

The Chang circuit has been at the center of a long-running land dispute involving the State Railway of Thailand over the Khao Kradong area, where the track was built.

Globally, MotoGP drew around 677 million cumulative viewers in 2024, averaging 33.9 million per race. Formula 1, meanwhile, recorded a fanbase of 826 million and roughly 1.6 billion total viewers, maintaining its position as the world’s most-watched motorsport.

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New QR Payment Link Set to Boost Thai-Chinese Tourism and Trade

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Khaosod English

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4 November 2025, 14:34

chinese pay1 — Tourists pay in Chinese yuan, while merchants receive Thai baht. (Xinhua)

BANGKOK — The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has launched a cross-border QR payment linkage with China, making it the ninth country to join Thailand’s regional real-time payment network.

The new system aims to boost tourism, trade, and investment between the two nations by allowing Chinese visitors to make payments directly through Alipay, UnionPay, and WeChat Pay at Thai merchants displaying local QR codes.

The initiative connects the instant retail payment systems of Thailand and China through private-sector collaboration under the BOT’s supervision. It allows Chinese visitors to make purchases in Thailand by scanning Thai QR codes issued by local banks including Bangkok Bank, Krungthai Bank, Kasikornbank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Thai), Siam Commercial Bank, and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

Additional banks, such as Krungsri, GSB, HSBC, and TTB, will join the system soon.

chinese pay2 — The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has launched a cross-border QR payment linkage with China.

The BOT said the linkage will facilitate economic activities, particularly in the tourism sector. More than 8.8 million Thai and Chinese tourists traveled between the two countries in 2024.

National ITMX (NITMX), the three Chinese service providers, and the Thai settlement banks — Bangkok Bank and Krungthai Bank — jointly developed the system to enable real-time settlements between the two countries.

The BOT emphasized that cross-border, real-time payment linkages enhance convenience for consumers and open new trade opportunities for businesses through a secure, efficient, and low-cost payment system.

Thailand currently has similar payment collaborations with nine jurisdictions — China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam — supporting regional economic integration and the transition toward a digital economy.

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Fatal Typhoon Traps People on Roofs and Submerges Cars in Central Philippines

By

Associated Press

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4 November 2025, 13:26

APTOPIX Philippines Extreme Weather Asia Typhoon — Vehicles lie piled on after flooding caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi in Cebu city, central Philippines, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Typhoon Kalmaegi has left at least 26 people dead in the Philippines, mostly in flooding set off by the storm, which barreled across the central part of the country on Tuesday, disaster response officials said. Floodwaters trapped scores of people on their roofs and submerged cars.

A Philippine air force helicopter with five personnel on board crashed in a separate incident in southern Agusan del Sur province while flying to help provide humanitarian assistance to provinces battered by Kalmaegi.

The Super Huey chopper crashed near Loreto town and efforts were underway to locate the air force personnel aboard, the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command said in a statement.

Military officials didn’t immediately provide other details about the crash, including the condition of the five air force personnel aboard and what could have caused the crash.

Kalmaegi was last spotted over the coastal waters of Jordan town in the central province of Guimaras with sustained winds of 130 kph (81 mph) and gusts of up to 180 kph (112 mph). It was forecast to blow away into the South China Sea late Tuesday or early Wednesday after hitting the western province of Palawan.

AP25308125159460 — In this photo provided by the Philippine Red Cross, the Water Search and Rescue Team assists individuals trapped on a roof in the Talamban barangay of Cebu, Philippines, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Philippine Red Cross via AP)

Gwendolyn Pang, secretary-general of the Philippine Red Cross, said an unspecified number of residents were trapped on their roofs by floodwaters in the coastal town of Liloan in central Cebu province. In the city of Mandaue, also in Cebu, floodwaters were “up to the level of heads of people,” she said, adding that several cars either were submerged in floods or floated in another Cebu community.

“We have received so many calls from people asking us to rescue them from roofs and from their houses, but it’s impossible,” Pang told The Associated Press. “There are so many debris, you see cars floating so we have to wait for the flood to subside.”

In Eastern Samar, one of the east-central provinces first lashed by Kalmaegi early Tuesday, fierce wind either ripped off roofs or damaged about 300 mostly rural shanties on the island community of Homonhon, which is part of the town of Guiuan, but there were no reported deaths or injuries, Mayor Annaliza Gonzales Kwan said.

AP25308142742076 — Residential areas are flooded by Typhoon Kalmaegi as it affects Cebu city, central Philippines, Tuesday Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

“There was no flooding at all, but just strong wind,” Kwan told the AP by telephone. “We’re Ok. We’ll make this through. We’ve been through a lot, and bigger than this.”

In November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones on record, slammed ashore into Guiuan then raked across the central Philippines, leaving more than 7,300 people dead or missing, flattening entire villages and sweeping scores of ships inland. Haiyan demolished about a million houses and displaced more than 4 million people in one of the country’s poorest regions.

Kalmaegi, the 20th tropical cyclone to batter the Philippines this year, was moving westward at 25 kph (16 mph) and was forecast to start shifting away from the western section of the archipelago into the South China Sea later Tuesday or early Wednesday, forecasters said.

Ahead of the typhoon’s landfall, disaster-response officials said more than 150,000 people had evacuated to safer ground in eastern Philippine provinces. Authorities warned of torrential rains, potentially destructive winds and storm surges of up to 3 meters (nearly 10 feet).

AP25308210600871 — Aftermath of flooding caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi in Cebu city, central Philippines, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

The typhoon, which has a broad wind band spanning about 600 kilometers (373 miles), was expected to batter central island provinces, including Cebu, which is still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake on Sept. 30 that left at least 79 people dead and displaced thousands when houses collapsed or were severely damaged.

On central Negros island, villagers were warned that heavy rains could cause volcanic mudflows on Mount Kanlaon, one of the country’s 24 most active volcanoes which has been emitting plumes of ash and steam in recent months, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Interisland ferries and fishing boats were prohibited from venturing into increasingly rough seas, stranding more than 3,500 passengers and cargo truck drivers in nearly 100 seaports, the coast guard said. At least 186 domestic flights were canceled.

The Philippines is battered by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. It is often hit by earthquakes and has more than a dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

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North Korea’s Longtime Ceremonial Head of State Kim Yong Nam Has Died

By

Associated Press

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4 November 2025, 12:14

North Korea Obit Kim Yong Nam — FILE - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, waves while Kim Yong Nam, third left, Choe Ryong Hae, second left, and Pak Pong Ju, center, clap during a military parade April 15, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Kim Yong Nam, a longtime North Korean ceremonial head of state best known for his trademark propaganda-filled speeches with a deep, booming voice in support of the ruling Kim dynasty, has died, state media reported Tuesday.

The Korean Central News Agency said that Kim Yong Nam, former president of the Presidium of North Korea’s rubber-stamp Supreme People’s Assembly from 1998 to 2019, died Monday of multiple organ failure at the age of 97.

KCNA said that leader Kim Jong Un visited the bier of Kim Yong Nam early Tuesday to express deep condolences over his death. Kim Yong Nam is not related to Kim Jong Un, the third generation of his family to rule North Korea since its foundation in 1948.

“Comrade Kim Yong Nam faithfully upheld the party’s ideology and leadership and displayed his distinctive competence and experience on the international stage, making notable contributions in the history of our country’s politics and diplomacy,” KCNA said.

KCNA said North Korea will hold a state funeral for him on Thursday. It released a list of 100 funeral committee members with Kim Jong Un’s name at the top.

AP25307828422655 — In this photo provided by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un, back third left, offers his condolences in front of the coffin of Kim Yong Nam at an undisclosed location in North Korea, early Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: “KCNA” which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

Ceremonial head of state for 2 decades

Born in 1928 into “a patriotic family” resisting then Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, Kim Yong Nam held a string of top posts since he joined the ruling Workers’ Party in the mid-1950s, according to KCNA. His tenure as head of North Korea’s parliament made him the country’s nominal head of state and allowed him to appear frequently in state media greeting visiting foreign dignitaries.

But the true power was held by the Kim family, which maintains absolute control of North Korea’s 26 million people. Kim Jong Un, grandson of state founder Kim Il Sung, took power upon his father Kim Jong Il’s death in 2011 in the country’s second hereditary power transfer.

In February 2018, Kim Yong Nam traveled to South Korea with Kim Jong Un’s influential sister, Kim Yo Jong, to attend the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics as North Korea sought better ties with South Korea and the U.S. after years of heightened animosities on the Korean Peninsula. At the opening ceremony, Kim Yong Nam and Kim Yo Jong sat within feet of then-U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, though the two sides made no apparent contact.

That Pyeongchang trip made Kim Yong Nam the highest-level North Korean official to visit South Korea since 2014. North Korea’s temporary diplomatic openness peaked when Kim Jong Un met U.S. President Donald Trump three times from 2018-19, before the high-stakes summitry collapsed due to wrangling over U.S.-led sanctions on North Korea. Trump recently expressed his desire to meet Kim Jong Un again during his trip to South Korea last week, but North Korea didn’t respond.

South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, a supporter of greater reconciliation with North Korea, expressed his condolences over Kim Yong Nam’s death.

“He contributed to opening South-North Korea dialogue by coming to South Korea as head of a North Korean delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in 2018,” Chung said in a statement. “I also recall I had meaningful talks with him about peace on the Korean Peninsula and development of South-North Korea relations” during meetings in 2005 and 2018, both in Pyongyang.

Kim Yong Nam’s influence was seen as waning due to his age. In April 2019, he was replaced by Choe Ryong Hae, one of Kim Jong Un’s close confidants who had previously served as the top political officer of North Korea’s 1.2 million-member military.

AP25307827625102 — FILE – Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and North Korea’s nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam, talk before the start of the preliminary round of the women’s hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Feb. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

Quintessential bureaucrat

Kim Yong Nam’s career epitomized that of a successful North Korean bureaucrat. He survived major political purges through the 1970s. He was appointed to the powerful Politburo in 1978 and served 15 years as foreign minister, starting in 1983. He was left intact even when Kim Jong Un orchestrated a series of purges and executions, including the spectacular 2013 killing of his powerful uncle, in the early years of his rule in an apparent bid to remove his potential rivals from the old guard.

North Korea watchers also say Kim Yong Nam had an expertise in third-world diplomacy. He was a frequent participant in gatherings of nations that consider themselves independent from major power blocs, including the 2012 Non-Aligned Movement summit in Iran.

People who met Kim Yong Nam described him as mild-mannered but staunch in his opinions.

“I found Kim Yong Nam a puzzling figure. In greetings before business began, he was cordial and relaxed, but once at work, he relentlessly followed his script in a way that reminded of former Soviet foreign minister Andrei Gromyko,” former Washington Post reporter Don Oberdofer wrote in his book, “The Two Koreas.”

In a testament to his loyalty to the ruling dynasty, Kim Yong Nam read an elegy to Kim Il Sung when he died in 1994. Kim Yong Nam also undertook the job of formally nominating Kim Jong Il to be chairman of the National Defense Commission after the son observed a three-year mourning period.

A native of Pyongyang, Kim Yong Nam studied at Kim Il Sung University and Moscow State University.

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Police Raid Miss Universe Team Over Illegal Casino Promo

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Khaosod English

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3 November 2025, 20:45

universe gambling1 — A photo shows Miss Philippines holding a pillow featuring a sponsor’s logo, which has drawn attention for its alleged link to a Philippine-based online gambling site.

BANGKOK — Thai police have launched an investigation into alleged illegal online casino promotions linked to the 74th Miss Universe pageant, creating a controversy that now involves Miss Philippines and threatens the event scheduled for later this month.

The complaint was filed by Nawat Itsaragrisil, CEO of Miss Grand International (MGI) and chairman of the Miss Universe Thailand Host Committee, against the Miss Universe Organization (MUO). Nawat claims MUO staff instructed contestants to film promotional content for an online casino at their Bangkok hotel—a violation of Thai law.

Miss Philippines Photo Under Scrutiny

On November 3, Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom ordered an immediate investigation. Officers at Wat Phraya Krai Police Station summoned all parties involved.

During the review, investigators focused on a photo of Miss Philippines holding a pillow bearing a sponsor’s logo allegedly linked to a Philippine-based gambling website. The Host Committee claims this sponsor was not part of officially contracted licensing agreements.
Police have filed an initial report but said further verification is needed to confirm whether the website operates as an illegal online casino before pursuing criminal charges.

nawat universe probe — Nawat Itsaragrisil (left), chairman of the Miss Universe Thailand Host Committee, explains to police on Nov. 3 that his organization is not involved in promoting an online gambling website.

Host Committee Denies Responsibility

MGI issued a statement denying all involvement and placing blame squarely on MUO: MGI acknowledged that MUO promoted a sponsor associated with online casinos, which are strictly illegal in Thailand

As the official host, MGI stated it has “no involvement whatsoever” with such activities
The promotion was “carried out solely by the Miss Universe Organization”

Nawat appeared at the police station to provide testimony, officially denying all allegations against his company.

Complex Ownership Structure

The Miss Universe Organization, founded in 1952, underwent significant ownership changes in recent years. It is currently co-owned through JKN Legacy Inc., a joint venture between JKN Global Group, a Thai media company, and Legacy Holding Group USA Inc., the American arm of a Mexican corporation.

Current leadership includes Raúl Rocha Cantú as president and Mario Búcaro as CEO, appointed in late 2024.

universe begin2 — Miss Universe 2025 contestants check in at the Chatrium Riverside Hotel in Bangkok on Nov. 2, 2025.

Adding complexity to the situation, Nawat was appointed Executive Director of the Miss Universe pageant in early 2025. His MGI group also acquired the Miss Universe Thailand license and is organizing the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Bangkok from November 2-21.

This intertwining of leadership—with Nawat simultaneously running MGI, serving as Host Committee chairman, and holding an executive director role at MUO—raises questions about his complaint against the organization he partly oversees.

Despite the investigation, the Miss Universe 2025 pageant is expected to proceed as scheduled in Thailand. The host committee has promised further updates as the investigation continues.

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Former Thai PM Faces Revived 2010 Crackdown Controversy

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Khaosod English

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3 November 2025, 19:22

Soldiers storming the Redshirts' encampment in Bangkok's financial district on 19 May 2010.<br /> — Soldiers storming the Redshirts encampment in Bangkok financial district on May 19, 2010.

BANGKOK — Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was confronted by a student protester during a university lecture, reviving scrutiny over the 2010 political violence that killed nearly 100 people during his time in office.

Abhisit, now leader of the Democrat Party, was guest lecturing at a Chulalongkorn University doctoral seminar on November 2 when a student held up a sign reading: “Dispersal of the 2010 protest, the one who ordered the killing is here.”

The former prime minister defended his record, saying courts had dismissed murder charges against him at three judicial levels. He also cited his successful counter-suit against Tharit Pengdit, former director-general of the Department of Special Investigation, who was imprisoned for malicious prosecution.

abhisit chula22 — Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva responds to questions from a Chulalongkorn University student demanding justice for Red Shirt protesters killed in the 2010 crackdown, during his guest lecture at the Faculty of Political Science on November 2, 2025.

Abhisit then turned the question back on the student, asking whether they had demanded accountability from governments responsible for deaths among other protest groups, including the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

“The people who died, simply because their political beliefs weren’t the same as yours, do they have no meaning?” he asked. The student said they would pursue accountability as they chose, and told PDRC supporters who backed Abhisit to seek their own justice. Abhisit responded by denying alignment with the PDRC.

That claim quickly drew online mockery as photos resurfaced showing Abhisit at PDRC rallies in 2013-2014, blowing whistles—the group’s signature symbol. The PDRC’s protests against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government set the stage for the May 2014 military coup.

abhisit PDRC1 — Photos of Abhisit on stage at PDRC rallies, blowing whistles and embracing PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban, are widely shared and criticized on social media on November 3, 2025.

Red Shirts Challenge Account

Former Red Shirt co-leader Nattawut Saikuar thanked the students in a Monday Facebook post while disputing Abhisit’s version of events.

All civilian deaths in 2010 involved unarmed people with no gunpowder residue, Nattawut wrote. Those accused of being armed “men in black” were acquitted by the Supreme Court after years in detention—some imprisoned nearly a decade before being cleared.

Abhisit’s government formed a fact-finding committee that made no progress, Nattawut said. The subsequent Yingluck government secured bail for detainees, approved compensation for victims across all sides, and conducted inquests finding 17 of 31 examined deaths resulted from state weapons.

abhisit chula11 — Chulalongkorn University students hold a sign reading “The one who ordered the killing in the 2010 dispersal is here” during Abhisit’s guest lecture on November 2, 2025.

“The remaining 68 deaths have yet to have court-ordered inquests,” he wrote. Recent requests to the DSI have gone nowhere.

Nattawut explained that while the DSI prosecuted Abhisit and former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban for intentional murder, both successfully argued the Criminal Court lacked jurisdiction. They claimed only the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders could hear the case—requiring a National Anti-Corruption Commission investigation first.

“No Evidence Heard”

Political activist Sombat Boonngam-anong called Abhisit’s claims of court victory misleading. “The Criminal Court never heard a single witness testimony,” Sombat wrote. “Abhisit merely disputed the court’s jurisdiction on technical grounds.”

He noted that Abhisit had previously said political responsibility matters more than legal responsibility after resuming party leadership.

“Help prove whether Abhisit truly believes this, or if he’s just using his language skills to deceive listeners,” Sombat wrote.

The confrontation reopens wounds from April-May 2010, when military forces dispersed Red Shirt protesters occupying central Bangkok for weeks, leaving 90 civilians and security personnel dead in Thailand’s worst political violence in decades. No officials have been held accountable for the deaths.

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Pregnant British Teen Accused of Drug Smuggling Released After Guilty Verdict

By

Associated Press

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3 November 2025, 17:48

Georgia Drug Trial — Bella May Culley, 19-year-old, who was arrested upon arrival at the Tbilisi Airport in May and accused of attempting to smuggle marijuana and hashish into the country, center, walks with her lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia, left, and her mother Lyanne Kennedy after she was released from prison near the court building, in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — British teenager Bella May Culley, who was arrested in Georgia on drug smuggling charges earlier this year, was released from prison Monday as part of a plea deal.

Culley, 19, who is pregnant, was arrested in May at Tbilisi Airport and accused of attempting to smuggle 12 kilograms (26.5 pounds) of marijuana and 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of hashish into the country.

She was found guilty by a Georgian court on Monday and sentenced to five months and 25 days in prison, the total time she had already spent in custody. Her family also paid a 500,000 lari (about $184,000) fine as part of a plea deal.

Culley and her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, both cried as the verdict was read.

AP25301267850948 — Lyanne Kennedy, background left, the mother of 19-year-old Bella May Culley who was arrested upon arrival at the Tbilisi Airport in May and accused of attempting to smuggle marijuana and hashish into the country, stands at an entrance as she arrives to attend the court session in Tbilisi, Georgia, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)

Georgian prosecutors were considering a two-year sentence, but “decided to consider the time she has already served,” case prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili told The Associated Press.

The teenager was informed of the decision shortly before the court session began. Her mother told the AP she had believed that she would only see her daughter in person again when her grandchild was born. “It was totally unexpected,” she said.

Culley’s lawyer, Malkhaz Salakhaia, said that the teenager would be given her passport and would free to leave the country. While in court, she thanked everyone present for finalizing Culley’s plea deal.

AP25307347479154 — Lyanne Kennedy, the mother of 19-year-old Bella May Culley who was arrested upon arrival at the Tbilisi Airport in May and accused of attempting to smuggle marijuana and hashish into the country, arrives to attend the court session in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)

Culley initially faced a maximum penalty of up to 15 years or life in prison.

In Georgia, a 3.7-million nation in the South Caucasus, the law allows for financial plea agreements that can be reached to reduce or eliminate a prison sentence in certain cases. Such plea agreements are often reached in drug-related cases.

Culley, who is from Teesside, in northeast England, was reported missing in Thailand prior to her arrest at the Tbilisi airport on May 10. The teenager pleaded not guilty to the charges after her arrest, saying she was tortured in Thailand and forced to carry the drugs.

Salakhaia has told reporters that she showed visible physical signs of torture upon her arrival in Georgia.

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Bangkok’s Tawandang German Brewery Turns 27, Evolves into Lifestyle Destination

By

MC Marketing

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3 November 2025, 16:41

Building on its legacy of success, the iconic venue strengthens its position with distinctive beer, food, and entertainment offerings—targeting over 1 billion baht in revenue by 2025.

Tawandang German Brewery, Thailand’s first microbrewery and one of Bangkok’s most iconic food, beverage, and entertainment destinations, reaffirms its standing as the top choice for both locals and international visitors. Now entering its 27th year with a strong and enduring presence, the brewery continues to build on its success through four core pillars—beer, food, entertainment, and service. These pillars have been central to its sustained leadership in the food and beverage industry, contributing significantly to Thailand’s economy and tourism for more than two decades. Today, it remains one of the key businesses supporting the robust growth of Thailand’s gastronomy tourism.

The new decade marks an ambitious new chapter for Tawandang German Brewery, as the brewery sets its sights on becoming a leading entertainment lifestyle destination—captivating both Thai and international visitors. Backed by its strong foundation, Tawandang German Brewery projects its revenue to reach 1 billion baht this year.

Amidst the fierce competition in the restaurant industry, where businesses are all turning to offer “unique experiences” to secure customer loyalty, Tawandang German Brewery continues to stand out as Bangkok’s undisputed leader in the integrated restaurant and lifestyle segment, with few rivals matching its scale.

Nine Chinese Arrested in Trat Linked to Myanmar Scam Hub

By

Khaosod English

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3 November 2025, 15:54

chinese trat2 — Thai police arrest nine Chinese nationals at a beachfront resort in Trat province on Nov. 3, 2025, seizing dozens of mobile phones believed to be linked to online scams.

TRAT — Police in Trat province have arrested nine Chinese nationals who allegedly fled a scam compound KK Park in Myanmar and were preparing to cross into Cambodia by boat, authorities said Monday.

Pol. Lt. Col. Phichit Phuensan, chief of Mai Root Police Station, ordered a patrol to investigate reports of suspicious foreigners staying at a beachfront resort in Ban Chuen Beach, Khlong Yai district, around 8 a.m. Monday.

Officers found nine Chinese men inside a two-bedroom resort unit without any identification or passports. They also seized 48 mobile phones, which police said contained gambling and money-laundering apps as well as deleted data believed to be linked to online scams.

The group was taken to Mai Root Police Station for questioning. Because none spoke English, police sought help from interpreters with the Trat Provincial Police Investigation Division and the Immigration Bureau.

chinese trat1 — Nine Chinese nationals are detained at Mai Root Police Station in Trat province on Nov. 3, 2025, after being arrested at a resort with dozens of mobile phones linked to online scams.

One man, identified as Xiao Chen, 26, from Yunnan province, reportedly told investigators he had been “sent here” but did not know his location or who was coming to pick him up.

Authorities believe the group escaped from KK Park, a notorious cybercrime hub in Myawaddy, Myanmar, and entered Thailand illegally with help from local facilitators. Trat province shares a border with Cambodia, and police said the men likely planned to cross into Cambodia when arrested.

Police said the investigation began after the resort caretaker, identified only as Somjai, reported a booking made by a group of Thai nationals who arrived earlier in a black Toyota Fortuner and a van with Bangkok license plates. The Thais had reserved multiple rooms, claiming other guests would arrive later in the day.

Somjai told reporters she initially refused to host foreign guests, but heavy rain obscured her view when the Chinese group arrived. The Thai men who made the booking left no ID cards, only advance payment for rooms and meals.

The nine men remain in custody pending further investigation and possible immigration charges.

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Ceremonial head of state for 2 decades

Quintessential bureaucrat

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