Empowered21 and the Global Evangelist Alliance (GEA) have jointly announced the launch of the ‘EveryONE Thailand: Gospel for Everyone’ initiative, uniting Christians worldwide. The mission aims to impart a message of positivity and hope to Thai people, featuring evangelistic events across over 23 provinces nationwide.
PastorManoonsakKamolmatayakul, the Thai Co-Chair, said that ‘EveryONE Thailand: Gospel for Everyone’ has emerged from a collaboration betweenglobalChristian agencies and local churches in Thailand.
The purpose of the initiative is to deliver hope, renewal, and solutions to Thais facing a wide range of challenges. Whether they are challenges related to physical or mental health, family relationships, life’s uncertainties, or anxiety about the future.
The launch event holds on 21 October 2025 at Central Ladprao. attends by several renowned artists and public figures such as Ms Fonthip Watcharatrakul ‘Pooklook’, Ms Nararak Jaibumrung ‘Taen’ who comes together to share their life experiences and send their encouragement to all those facing life’s challenges. The launch also features numerous activities and musical performances from various Christian artists.
The ‘EveryONE Thailand: Gospel for Everyone’ initiative will roll out its evangelistic programs across over 23 provinces nationwide until April 2026 to promote the initiative and ensure that a message of hope reaches every area.
For more information about ‘EveryONE Thailand: Gospel for Everyone’ initiative, visit: TikTok/Facebook/Instagram/Youtube: ข่าวดีเพื่อทุกคน, www.ข่าวดีเพื่อทุกคน.com.
For life counseling and support, a hotline is available at 066-123-1014.
Thai authorities seize 20 cars and 400 motorcycles during a raid on a rental car company in Village 1, Koh Phangan, on October 21, 2025.
KOH PHANGAN — Authorities on Koh Phangan continue their ongoing crackdown on nominee businesses operated by foreigners, with the latest operation targeting the island’s largest vehicle rental network run by Russians. Officials seized 400 motorcycles and cars following a four-month investigation triggered by complaints from foreign tourists that a rental company had confiscated their passports.
Raid Uncovers Extensive Operation
On October 21, tourist police from Koh Phangan, in coordination with local administrative officials, Koh Phangan Police Station, Surat Thani Provincial Police, and immigration officers, inspected the Center Point rental car and accommodation business in Village 1, Koh Phangan subdistrict.
The raid found one Thai national managing the company’s operations, one Russian national handling customer service, three Myanmar men working as mechanics, and two Myanmar women employed as housekeepers.
Authorities discovered 87 passports confiscated from customers as collateral for vehicle rentals, along with 20 cars and 400 motorcycles. Initial findings suggest possible links to multiple motorcycle theft cases in the area, as one detained Myanmar national admitted to purchasing motorcycles from Myanmar acquaintances for just a few thousand baht.
Nominee Business Structure Revealed
Beyond the unlicensed rental operation, investigators found the company was also running an unlicensed daily accommodation service and auto repair shop. The business had two shareholders: one Thai national who admitted to having no actual investment and merely working as an on-site employee, and one Russian national residing in Phuket who invests in real estate across multiple areas.
Thai authorities discover 87 customer passports held as collateral for vehicle rentals during a raid on a rental car company in Village 1, Koh Phangan, on October 21, 2025.
Seven Charged in Main Operation
Valery, 39, a Russian national, faces charges of working beyond permitted activities; a 39-year-old Thai woman was charged with jointly operating an unlicensed hotel business; three Myanmar men aged 24, 31, and 45 were charged with working beyond permitted activities as mechanics; and two Myanmar women aged 34 and 39 were charged with failing to notify authorities about employment details within required timeframes.
Thai authorities inspect a law office on Koh Phangan where documents showed 81 companies registered at a single address, revealing a Thai woman’s involvement in establishing nominee companies for foreigners, October 21, 2025.
Additional Businesses Targeted
Simultaneously, authorities inspected three additional illegally operated foreign-owned businesses, including a law office belonging to a Thai woman named Khemthong, where documents showed 81 companies registered at the same address, indicating she assisted foreigners in establishing nominee companies.
Two companies were found operating unlicensed hotels. Fishman Villa had two Israeli directors: Mr. Ron, 45, and Mrs. Reut, 45. Thoren Phangan had three directors: Mr. Shai, 48, and Mrs. Inbal, 44, both Israeli nationals, and Mr. Kanit, 44, a Thai national.
Former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announces her resignation as Pheu Thai Party leader to the Party Executive Committee and Members of Parliament at Pheu Thai Party headquarters on October 22, 2025.
BANGKOK — Thai politics faces another seismic shift as former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced her resignation as Pheu Thai Party leader Wednesday morning.
In a public letter to party members and the general public, she explained her decision to step down:
“Today, I have decided to resign from the position of Leader of the Pheu Thai Party, with the intention that this marks the beginning of an overhaul of the Pheu Thai Party, as I announced on October 7, 2025. This is with a new vision, courageous in change, for the people in the truest sense.
Currently, we are in an era where global society is fragile, complex, sensitive, and difficult to predict. Thailand is at the most critical transitional phase with the upcoming election. Therefore, the Pheu Thai Party, as the country’s main political party, needs to overhaul, transform, change its structure, process, and entire way of thinking so that the party can win the election and then proceed to overhaul and revitalize Thailand.
Former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announces her resignation as Pheu Thai Party leader to the Party Executive Committee and Members of Parliament at Pheu Thai Party headquarters on October 22, 2025.
I firmly believe that the change for the Pheu Thai Party must start as soon as possible. Thus, I have chosen to resign from the position of party leader to allow the party the freedom to conduct this overhaul and build a new, perfect party.”
While Paetongtarn framed her resignation as part of the party’s transformation strategy announced on October 7, the timing follows the Constitutional Court’s August 29 ruling that removed her from the prime ministership for ethics violations related to a leaked audio conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.
Though not specified in party regulations, her legal status could complicate future candidate endorsements, as party leaders must sign off on parliamentary candidates. “If a petition is filed, our candidates might not be able to register,” a source explained, describing the move as “a preemptive measure to prevent future damage to the party.”
Anutin Signals Early Dissolution
The timing coincides with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s hint that parliament could dissolve before January 31, 2026, stating “anything can happen.”
The Bhumjaithai Party leader’s confidence stems from decisive by-election victories over Pheu Thai in Kanchanaburi’s District 4 on October 19 and earlier in Si Sa Ket’s District 5 on September 28. Combined with Anutin’s strategic reshuffling of 45 Interior Ministry officials—he serves as Interior Minister—these wins signal Bhumjaithai’s potential rise from third-largest party to frontrunner.
Anutin emphasized that dissolution timing remains his prerogative, with no obligation to inform media in advance.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says on October 20, 2025 that parliament could dissolve before January 31, 2026, stating “anything can happen.”
The Red-Blue Breaking Point
The coalition rupture intensified when Paetongtarn’s government backed investigations into Senate selection irregularities, which allegedly favored “Blue Senators” allied with Bhumjaithai. Simultaneously, her administration pursued land encroachment cases in Buriram’s Khao Kradong forest, involving the influential Chidchob family—key Bhumjaithai supporters—despite Supreme Court rulings that the disputed land belongs to the State Railway of Thailand.
The Shinawatra Squeeze
Before either case concluded, the Thai-Cambodian border conflict erupted. Hun Sen’s release of Paetongtarn’s negotiation audio on June 18—despite its focus on war avoidance—led to her removal as PM for “seriously violating ethical standards” and damaging Thailand’s dignity, according to the Constitutional Court on August 29.
Days later, on September 8, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra received a one-year prison sentence, restarting his term count. The father-daughter duo’s setbacks prompted coalition partners and former supporters to abandon Pheu Thai for Anutin’s camp.
Former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra delivers a speech on Pheu Thai Party’s restructuring during a meeting to unveil parliamentary candidates at the party headquarters on October 7, 2025.
Orange Party Sets Terms
Despite Bhumjaithai’s seat count falling short of 100, Anutin secured a deal with the People’s Party, the leading opposition force. Under a memorandum of agreement, the Orange Party demands Anutin form a minority government within four months and initiate constitutional amendments before dissolving parliament for fresh elections.
Since becoming PM, Anutin has attracted numerous prominent MPs from various parties, including some from Pheu Thai itself, giving the Blue Party advantages across the board.
On October 18, Democrat Party members elected former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva as leader with 96.18 percent support. Anutin congratulated Abhisit the next day at a football match celebrating 170 years of Thai-UK diplomatic relations—continuing rapport established during a September dinner meeting before Abhisit’s leadership bid.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul congratulates Abhisit Vejjajiva on his return as Democrat Party leader during a football match celebrating the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the United Kingdom at Polo Football Park, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, on October 19, 2025.
This camaraderie evokes memories of 2008, when Newin Chidchob’s faction (precursor to Bhumjaithai) defected from the Red camp to support Democrat Abhisit as PM through barracks negotiations. That alliance sparked massive Red Shirt protests, culminating in military crackdowns in 2010 that left 99 dead during Abhisit’s government.
While Democrats and Bhumjaithai will compete in southern constituencies, analysts expect the leaders’ friendship to translate into continued support for an Anutin-led government.
Pheu Thai Without Shinawatra
Pheu Thai has announced internal restructuring to address weaknesses and strengthen policy implementation capabilities. Despite the previous coalition government’s incomplete policy agenda, the party is preparing to campaign on finishing unfinished business while unveiling new parliamentary candidates.
The interim Party Executive Committee meeting on October 22 selected Chusak Sirinil to serve as acting party leader until the election of a new party leader and a new Party Executive Committee at the Pheu Thai Party’s extraordinary general meeting on October 31.
Paetongtart’s resignation follows her declaration that Pheu Thai’s next PM candidates will not come from the Shinawatra family—marking a historic transformation for both the party and Thai politics.
Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Election Director of Pheu Thai Party, presides over the second round of parliamentary candidate unveiling on October 17, 2025.
During Pheu Thai Party’s second round of parliamentary candidate unveiling on October 17, which Paetongtarn did not attend, Suriya Juangroongruangkit presided over the event in his capacity as the party’s Election Director.
Given Suriya’s prominent role within the party—having previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister, along with his ability to coordinate both internal and external party affairs—he is widely expected to become the next Pheu Thai Party leader. However, he later declined, revealing that the new party leader will be someone within the party but not from the Shinawatra family.
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un attends the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling party, in Pyongyang, North Korea, Fridai, Oct. 10, 2025. (
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea performed its first ballistic missile test in five months Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, days before President Donald Trump and other world leaders are to gather in rival South for a regional conference.
A brief statement from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was launched in an eastward direction but gave no further details such as how far the weapon flew.
North Korea usually test-launches missiles in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, causing no damage in neighboring countries. But the Joint Chiefs of Staff statement only said the latest missile landed in the waters.
The launch comes days before South Korea hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference , an annual summit meant to promote economic integration and trade throughout the region. It has no military component. Trump was expected to come to Gyeongju ahead of the summit for bilateral meetings with world leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, but South Korean officials say Trump won’t likely attend the APEC’s main conference set for Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
Experts earlier said North Korea could launch provocative missile tests before or during the APEC summit to underscore its commitment to being recognized as a nuclear weapons state. Experts say Kim would need that status to call for the U.N. to lift punishing economic sanctions on it.
Wednesday’s ballistic missile launch is the first of its kind since North Korea on May 8 tested short-range systems that simulated nuclear counterstrikes against U.S. and South Korean forces. The latest launch was also the first missile test by North Korea since Lee took office in June with a promise to push to restore peace on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been sharply accelerating the pace of weapons tests since since his high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with Trump fell apart in 2019 due to wrangling over U.S.-led economic sanctions on North Korea. But last month, Kim suggested he could return to talks if the U.S. drops its demand for a denuclearization of North Korea, after Trump repeatedly expressed his hopes for a new round of diplomacy.
Earlier this month, Kim displayed a new intercontinental ballistic missile at a massive military parade in Pyongyang, with top Chinese, Russian and other leaders present. The parade, which marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party, highlighted Kim’s growing diplomatic footing and his relentless drive to build an arsenal that could strike the U.S. and its allies. Analysts say Kim would believe an expanded nuclear arsenal would increase his leverage in potential talks with the U.S.
North Korea’s state media said the Oct. 10 parade featured the Hwasong-20 ICBM, which it described as the country’s “most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system.” Observers said the ICBM is designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads to defeat U.S. missile defenses and that North Korea could test-launch it in coming months.
Kim’s diplomatic credentials have been bolstered recently. He took center stage with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Beijing military parade last month. Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have also repeatedly expressed hopes to meet Kim as he flaunts a provocative nuclear program.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy reacts before entering a police car Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 in Paris as he heads to prison to serve time for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PARIS (AP) — Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy entered a prison in Paris on Tuesday to begin serving a 5-year sentence for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya — a historic moment that makes him the first ex-leader of modern France to be imprisoned.
Sarkozy, 70, was greeted by hundreds of supporters when he walked out of his Paris home earlier in the day hand-in-hand with his wife, supermodel-turned-singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. He embraced her before getting into a police car.
Minutes later, the vehicle passed through the gates of the notorious La Santé prison — where Sarkozy will now serve his sentence in solitary confinement.
Sarkozy was convicted last month for criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy leave their home Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 in Paris as Nicolas Sarkozy heads to prison to serve time for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
He contests both the conviction and a judge’s unusual decision to incarcerate him pending appeal. His lawyers said Tuesday that they filed an immediate request for his release.
A show of defiance
“It’s an ominous day for him, for France and for our institutions, because this incarceration is a disgrace,” Sarkozy’s lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois told reporters soon after his incarceration.
In a show of defiance and while on his way to the prison, Sarkozy released a statement on social media declaring that “an innocent man” was being locked up.
“I will continue to denounce this judicial scandal,” he wrote. “The truth will prevail.”
Sarkozy told Le Figaro newspaper that he would bring three books in prison — the maximum allowed — including Alexandre Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo,″ in which the hero escapes from an island prison before seeking revenge. He also picked a biography of Jesus Christ.
“I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll hold my head high, including in front of the doors of La Santé,” he told La Tribune Dimanche newspaper last week. “I’ll fight till the end.”
Sarkozy has repeatedly said he is the victim of “a plot” staged by some people linked to the Libyan government and denounced the Sept. 25 verdict as a “scandal.”
Solitary confinement
Sarkozy’s lawyers said he will be kept away from all other prisoners for security reasons. They said he packed a bag with a few sweaters because the prison is cold and earplugs because it’s noisy.
FILE – A prison service guard checks the security screens at the entrance of La Sante prison during a press visit after a four-year renovation project in Paris, Friday, April 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
Christophe Ingrain, another of Sarkozy’s lawyers, denounced “a serious injustice.”
“It’s a very difficult time, but the president has stood strong,” Ingrain said. “He doesn’t complain, hasn’t asked for anything, no special treatment.”
Solitary confinement implies that Sarkozy will never see other inmates and will spend most of his time alone in his cell, Ingrain said.
He will be allowed to go outdoors one hour per day alone in the prison yard and to get three visits per week from his family, Ingrain said, adding that he is planning to write a book about his prison experience.
After leaving their home, Sarkozy and his wife walked slowly to join family members, including his children and grandchildren, outside his home.
“I’m very proud to share his name, and very proud of how he’s reacting,” said his brother, Guillaume Sarkozy. “I’m truly convinced that he is innocent.”
Hundreds of supporters applauded and chanted “Nicolas, Nicolas” and sang the French anthem. Two French flags were hung on a nearby fence, with the words “Courage Nicolas, return soon” and “true France with Nicolas.”
Parisian resident Virginie Rochon, 44, came in support of Sarkozy, calling it “scandalous” to see ”a former president being taken away while still presumed innocent.”
Another supporter, Véronique Maurey, 50, said “it’s just not possible. And on top of that, calling it a ‘criminal conspiracy’ kind of makes all of us feel like criminals too because we voted for him. It’s not right to say that.”
Meeting with Macron
Embattled centrist President Emmanuel Macron hosted the conservative Sarkozy at the presidential palace last week, explaining it was “normal on a human level” to receive one of his predecessors in this context.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was to supporters as he and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy leave their home Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 in Paris as Nicolas Sarkozy heads to prison to serve time for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
On Tuesday, Macron said he would not comment on a justice decision. “Nevertheless, it’s normal that the image of a president being imprisoned … may prompt comments,” he said.
“We must distinguish emotion, including the legitimate emotion of relatives and part of the country … and the proper functioning of justice,” Macron added.
Sarkozy has been retired from active politics for years but remains very influential, especially in conservative circles.
France’s top magistrate Rémy Heitz, Prosecutor-General at the Court of Cassation, warned Tuesday about a risk of “hindering (justice) serenity” and of “undermining the independence of judges,” including when the justice minister — a former conservative who joined Macron’s party — plans to visit Sarkozy in prison.
“The goal for everyone must be serenity, to allow justice to truly rule independently… free from any pressure,” Heitz said.
The Paris court ruled last month that Sarkozy would start to serve prison time without waiting for his appeal to be heard, due to “the seriousness of the disruption to public order caused by the offense.”
The court said Sarkozy, as a presidential candidate and interior minister, used his position “to prepare corruption at the highest level” from 2005 to 2007, to finance his presidential campaign with funds from Libya — then led by longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi.
Under the ruling, Sarkozy was able to file a request for release to the appeals court only once behind bars. Judges have up to two months to process it.
Bangkok – 21 October 2025 – At the recent Sustainability Expo 2025, One Bangkok hosted a special forum titled “Planet Shift 2025: Navigating the Crisis Towards the City of the Future.”
Leaders from the public and private sectors participated, shared collaborative efforts to advance the city. The discussion aimed to transform the mindset from “adapting to change” to “designing the future” for true sustainability.
The forum’s keynote speaker, Dr. Youssef Nassef, Director of the Adaptation Division at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), urged a shift towards proactive design, stating, “The future does not happen to us. We happen to the future.”
This vision was echoed by Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Frasers Property Limited, who introduced the private sector’s framework of “Moderation, Reasonableness, and Prudence”, an extension of the sufficiency economy philosophy.
He stressed that sustainability is an inclusive process of collective growth, a philosophy embodied by One Bangkok. This very philosophy is meticulously woven into the fabric of One Bangkok, conceived as far more than a real estate venture.
It is a meticulously designed urban ecosystem, seamlessly integrating economic, social, and environmental dimensions to cultivate a city that thrives with enduring stability and shared value. This vision perfectly encapsulates Frasers Property’s purpose: “Inspiring experiences, creating places for good.”
A concluding panel discussion confirmed robust cross-sector collaboration. Representatives from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the financial sector (Bangkok Bank), and One Bangkok shared a unified commitment to balancing development with environmental stewardship through green investments and public-private partnerships.
Urasate Navanugraha, Chief Investment Officer of One Bangkok, detailed how this “sufficient investment” yields tangible returns. He highlighted that One Bangkok exemplifies this byefficiently utilizing prime downtown land while devoting a substantial 25 rai of lush green space back to the city.
Beyond this, its meticulously planned infrastructure actively promotes public transportation, offers direct connection to the expressway to alleviate traffic congestion, and incorporates utility systems designed for optimal energy and water conservation.
Tangible examples include a centralized air conditioning system that achieves up to 15% energy savings and a water recycling system projected to save nearly 3 million cubic meters of tap water annually.
Urasate noted that this approach not only reduces operational costs but also attracts sustainability-conscious clients and streamlines access to Green Financing.
These insightful discussions demonstrate the commitment and robust collaboration across all sectors towards building the city of the future. This vision extends beyond mere aesthetics and prosperity, firmly embracing sufficiency, enduring sustainability, and a harmonious equilibrium between economic vitality, societal well-being, and environmental stewardship.
The journey towards this transformative future begins with a clear, shared mindset, propelled by sustained action, and fortified by united forces. Together, we can surmount challenges and advance towards our collective aspiration: “Sufficient for Sustainability,” ensuring a happier, higher quality of life for all.
Aerial view shows expanding casino buildings and new construction suspected to be a future scammer hub in Cambodia's O Samach.
SURIN — Thai authorities are intensifying surveillance along the Surin province border after detecting signs that international scam operations may be moving to O Samach, a Cambodian town adjacent to Thailand.
The concern comes as pressure mounts on Cambodia to crack down on criminal networks operating in Takeo province, potentially pushing these groups to seek new locations.
Recent events have heightened these fears. Eight Indonesian nationals recently fled from the area and sought assistance from Thai officials, prompting closer scrutiny of developments across the border.
New Infrastructure Raises Red Flags
O Samach subdistrict in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province sits directly across from the Chong Chom checkpoint in Thailand’s Kap Choeng district, Surin province. The area is home to two large casinos, and new office buildings capable of housing tens of thousands of people have recently been completed nearby.
New buildings under construction in Cambodia’s O Samach that Thai authorities suspect may become a scammer operations base. Photo taken June 21, 2025.
Sitthiroj Charoenthanasak, District Chief of Kap Choeng, explained what Thai authorities have observed. “From our monitoring, we’ve seen casino buildings being rented and converted into office spaces. Construction of several units is nearly finished,” he said. “Once completed, it’s possible these facilities will host scammers of various nationalities, possibly numbering in the thousands.”
Thai military, police, and local administration agencies are now coordinating strict preventive measures, undeterred by ongoing border tensions between the two countries.
Inside the Scam Operations
Intelligence gathered from rescued victims paints a grim picture of how these syndicates operate. Workers fall into two categories: those deceived into joining and those who volunteer as leaders.
The financial incentives explain why many stay despite the risks. Thai team leaders, for example, can earn 30% of every million baht ($30,520) their subordinates successfully scam, while the actual scammers receive only 2-3%. This lucrative arrangement keeps people trapped even after their passports or visas expire.
“Aerial view shows expanding casino buildings and new construction suspected to be a future scammer hub in Cambodia’s O Samach.
Those who fail to meet targets face brutal consequences. Victims report being subjected to electric shocks, beatings, and torture. Some are sold to other compounds in what amounts to human trafficking. The syndicates maintain tight control over phone usage, allowing calls only at specific times. Those who manage to escape often do so by secretly calling for help and sharing their locations.
“If anyone resists, they may be beaten to death,” Sitthiroj noted grimly.
Shifting Victim Demographics
The profile of victims has evolved over time. While most escapees entering Thailand were previously Chinese, Indonesian rescues have recently increased. Vietnamese and Indonesians are now the primary victims, while Cambodian victims have become rare.
South Koreans typically don’t use the O Samach route. Instead, they’re usually lured by promises of high-paying jobs and enter through natural border crossings near Poipet in Banteay Meanchey province. From there, they’re transported by van to various locations, told they must undergo training, and threatened with physical abuse if they fail to meet quotas.
South Koreans allegedly involved in online scams are escorted by their police officers before boarding a plane at Techo International Airport in Kandal province, Cambodia, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AKP via AP)
Corruption Enables the Operations
Thai officials acknowledge that corruption within Cambodia facilitates these criminal enterprises. One officer stated bluntly that officials “from top to bottom are bribed,” allowing these operations to flourish despite international pressure.
Thai and Cambodian authorities have previously cooperated to rescue Thai victims trapped by scammers, but the persistent problem suggests these efforts haven’t been enough to dismantle the networks.
Enhanced Border Security Measures
In response to the threat, Thai authorities are taking decisive action. Under orders from the Region 3 Police Commander, strict monitoring protocols have been implemented across all border police stations.
“Sitthiroj Charoenthanasak, District Chief of Kap Choeng (left), and Pol. Col. Kamphon Nonuch, superintendent of Kap Choeng Police Station, review footage of buildings in Cambodia suspected of housing scam operations.
Pol. Col. Kamphon Nonuch, superintendent of Kap Choeng Police Station, confirmed that security forces—including military, immigration, and administrative agencies—are jointly monitoring the situation. Surveillance cameras have been installed along 16 identified natural crossings in the Kap Choeng area.
Authorities plan to clearly demarcate these crossing points and erect fencing to enhance security and improve operational coordination.
Regarding O Samach specifically, Pol. Col. Kamphon stated that intelligence reports indicate some scam operators have already moved into the area. “We believe they have begun settling in,” he warned. “We’re tightening our watch and urging locals to act as our eyes and ears.”
He encouraged immediate reporting of any suspicious activity, emphasizing that community vigilance will be crucial in preventing these criminal networks from establishing a foothold near the Thai border.
Surveillance footage from Suvarnabhumi Airport shows 26-year-old Belarusian model Vera Kravtsova departing through a self-service immigration channel with no signs of coercion on September 20, 2025.
BANGKOK — Thai police have refuted foreign media reports alleging a Belarusian model was abducted and trafficked through Thailand to Myanmar, presenting immigration records and surveillance footage showing she departed voluntarily.
Police Major General Chengron Rimphadee, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police, announced Tuesday that a detailed investigation into Vera Kravtsova’s travel records was conducted through the Biometric database system under orders from Police Lieutenant General Phanumas Bunnyalak, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau.
The investigation revealed Kravtsova entered Thailand on September 12, 2025, at 12:41 a.m. via Suvarnabhumi Airport. She departed on September 20 at 7:20 a.m. aboard Thai Airways flight TG301 to Yangon, Myanmar.
Nexta TV published a photo of Belarusian woman Vera Kravtsova and claimed she was in Myanmar before being killed for her organs.
CCTV Shows No Signs of Coercion
Kravtsova processed her departure through the Automatic Border Control (ABC) system, a self-service immigration channel requiring no officer interaction. Surveillance footage from the airport showed no indication she was under duress or being coerced.
“Reports claiming the model entered Thailand and was abducted to Myanmar are not true,” the police spokesperson stated firmly.
Officials noted that events occurring after Kravtsova’s arrival in Myanmar fall outside Thailand’s jurisdiction. Thai immigration authorities have provided photographic evidence from their systems to the Belarusian Consulate in Thailand.
34,000 Denied Entry This Year
Police outlined existing measures to prevent human trafficking through Thailand to scam operations in neighboring countries. These include airport screening interviews, mandatory accommodation registration through the TDAC system, and coordinated military, administrative, and police checkpoints in Tak Province.
Authorities also screen and deny entry to high-risk individuals attempting to enter as tourists under visa-free privileges. Since early 2025, immigration has rejected entry to 34,000 suspected individuals.
“We want to assure everyone that Thailand is safe. There is no abduction of foreigners for human trafficking to neighboring countries as rumored,” the spokesperson emphasized.
Police Urge Caution on Unverified Job Offers
Major General Chaturaphat Phiromkaew, Commander of the Foreign Affairs Division and Deputy Spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police, warned the public to exercise caution with unverified employment offers, particularly those involving overseas work without proper documentation or legal compliance verification.
He urged anyone witnessing or suspecting fraudulent recruitment to immediately contact police, reaffirming the Royal Thai Police’s commitment to protecting both Thai citizens and foreigners from transnational crime networks.
Lawmakers applaud as Sanae Takaichi, center, is elected as Japan's new prime minister during the extraordinary session of the lower house, in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s parliament elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister Tuesday, a day after her struggling party struck a coalition deal with a new partner expected to pull her governing bloc further to the right.
Takaichi replaces Shigeru Ishiba, ending a three-month political vacuum and wrangling since the Liberal Democratic Party’s disastrous election loss in July.
Ishiba, who lasted only one year as prime minister, resigned with his Cabinet earlier in the day, paving the way for his successor.
Takaichi won 237 votes — four more than a majority — compared to 149 won by Yoshikoko Noda, head of the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, in the lower house, which elects the prime minister.
Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi, right, and leader of Japan Innovation Party, or Ishin no Kai, Hirofumi Yoshimura shake hands after signing an agreement to form a coalition government in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
The LDP’s off-the-cuff alliance with the Osaka-based rightwing Japan Innovation Party, or Ishin no Kai, ensured her premiership because the opposition is not united. Takaichi’s untested alliance is still short of a majority in both houses of parliament and will need to court other opposition groups to pass any legislation – a risk that could make her government unstable and short-lived.
“Political stability is essential right now,” Takaichi said at Monday’s signing ceremony with the JIP leader and Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura. “Without stability, we cannot push measures for a strong economy or diplomacy.”
The two parties signed a coalition agreement on policies underscoring Takaichi’s hawkish and nationalistic views.
Their last-minute deal came after the Liberal Democrats lost its longtime partner, the Buddhist-backed Komeito, which has a more dovish and centrist stance. The breakup threatened a change of power for the LDP, which has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for decades.
Later in the day, Takaichi, 64, will present a Cabinet with a number of allies of LDP’s most powerful kingmaker, Taro Aso, and others who backed her in the party leadership vote.
Sanae Takaichi, center, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and other lawmakers attend the extraordinary session of the lower house, in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
JIP will not hold ministerial posts in Takaichi’s Cabinet until his party is confident about its partnership with the LDP, Yoshimura said.
Takaichi is running on deadline — a major policy speech later this week, talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and regional summits. She needs to quickly tackle rising prices and compile economy-boosting measures by late December to address public frustration.
While she is the first woman serving as Japan’s prime minister, she is in no rush to promote gender equality or diversity.
Takaichi is among Japanese politicians who have stonewalled measures for women’s advancement. Takaichi supports the imperial family’s male-only succession and opposes same-sex marriage and allowing separate surnames for married couples.
A protege of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi is expected to emulate his policies including stronger military and economy, as well as revising Japan’s pacifist constitution. With a potentially weak grip on power, it’s unknown how much Takaichi would be able to achieve.
When Komeito left the governing coalition, it cited the LDP’s lax response to slush fund scandals that led to their consecutive election defeats.
The centrist party also raised concern about Takaichi’s revisionist view of Japan’s wartime past and her regular prayers at Yasukuni Shrine despite protests from Beijing and Seoul that see the visits as lack of remorse about Japanese aggression, as well as her recent xenophobic remarks.
Takaichi has toned down her hawkish rhetorics. On Friday, she sent a religious ornament instead of going to Yasukuni
In this image provided by the Myanmar military on Oct. 19, 2025, soldiers stand next to Starlink machines as they seize KK Park online scam center in Myawaddy township, Karen State, Myanmar. (The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP)
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military has shut down a major online scam operation near the border with Thailand, detaining more than 2,000 people and seizing dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals, state media reported Monday.
Myanmar is notorious for hosting cyberscam operations responsible for bilking people all over the world. These usually involve gaining victims’ confidence online with romantic ploys and bogus investment pitches.
The centers are infamous for recruiting workers from other countries under false pretenses, promising them legitimate jobs and then holding them captive and forcing them to carry out criminal activities.
Scam operations were in the international spotlight last week when the United States and Britain enacted sanctions against organizers of a major Cambodian cyberscam gang, and its alleged ringleader was indicted by a federal court in New York.
According to a report in Monday’s Myanma Alinn newspaper, the army raided KK Park, a well-documented cybercrime center, as part of operations starting in early September to suppress online fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border cybercrime.
It published photos displaying seized Starlink equipment and soldiers said to be carrying out the raid, though it was unclear when exactly they were taken.
In this image provided by the Myanmar military on Oct. 19, 2025, soldiers raid the KK Park online scam center in Myawaddy township, Karen State, Myanmar. (The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP)
KK Park is located on the outskirts of Myawaddy, a major trading town on the border with Thailand in Myanmar’s Kayin state. The area is only loosely under the control of Myanmar’s military government, and also falls under the influence of ethnic minority militias.
Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for the military government, charged in a statement Monday night that the top leaders of the Karen National Union, an armed ethnic organization opposed to army rule, were involved in the scam projects at KK Park.
The allegation was previously made based on claims that a company backed by the Karen group allowed the land to be leased. However, the Karen, who are part of the larger armed resistance movement in Myanmar’s civil war, deny any involvement in the scams.
Myanma Alinn said the army ascertained that more than 260 buildings were unregistered, and seized equipment, including 30 sets of Starlink satellite internet terminals. It said 2,198 individuals were detained though it did not give their nationalities.
Starlink is part of Elon Musk’s SpaceX company and the terminals link to its satellites. It does not have licensed operations in Myanmar, but at least hundreds of terminals have been smuggled into the Southeast Asian nation.
The company could not be immediately reached for comment Monday but its policy bans “conduct that is defamatory, fraudulent, obscene, or deceptive.”
There have been previous crackdowns on cyberscam operations in Myanmar earlier this year and in 2023.
Facing pressure from China, Thailand and Myanmar’s governments launched an operation in February in which they released thousands of trafficked people from scam compounds, working with the ethnic armed groups that rule Myanmar’s border areas.
