Manchester United's Harry Maguire, second right, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Manchester United in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
BANGKOK — Monomax, the streaming platform under Mono Next Public Company Limited (MONO), has crossed the 1 million subscriber mark for its Standard package, fueled by surging demand for English Premier League content. The milestone comes as partner Jasmine International Public Company Limited (JAS) celebrates the success of its six-season exclusive broadcasting deal for the Premier League and Emirates FA Cup in Thailand.
The achievement signals strong momentum heading into Q4, with both companies banking on high-profile content including the Emirates FA Cup, SV League matches, and critically acclaimed original series to drive continued growth.
“Reaching 1 million viewers under the Monomax Standard package validates our strategy of bringing premium football content to Thailand’s OTT ecosystem,” said Dr. Soraj Asavaprapha, CEO of JAS. “This subscriber growth directly fuels our revenue model and establishes Monomax as the essential platform for sports enthusiasts nationwide.”
Data-Driven Growth Strategy
Monomax’s success reflects calculated timing and content strategy. Platform data reveals subscription spikes correlating with marquee matchups, demonstrating Thai audiences’ appetite for exclusive sports programming. The recent “Red War” match exemplified this trend, driving significant new sign-ups.
“Our analytics show clear patterns: major matches equal major growth,” explained Navamin Prasopnet, CEO of MONO. “With 2.8 million total subscribers across all tiers—1 million Standard, 800,000 Basic, and 1 million Starter—we’re building a diversified base that can scale with our expanding content library.”
Positioning for Market Leadership
The companies are leveraging this momentum to cement Monomax’s position as Thailand’s “Sport & Lifestyle Entertainment hub.” Beyond sports, the platform is investing in Mono Original productions that have garnered domestic and international recognition, creating a broader value proposition for subscribers.
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches in Q4, both JAS and MONO project accelerated subscriber acquisition and retention—positioning themselves to dominate Thailand’s sports streaming market for the coming decade.
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul speaks to reporters about Deputy Finance Minister Woraphak Thanyavong’s resignation following reports linking him to a scam network, praising his integrity, at Government House on October 22, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Pattarayoot Phukpol)
BANGKOK — Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul publicly thanked Deputy Finance Minister Woraphak Thanyavong on October 22 after accepting his resignation, even as allegations linking the minister to transnational scam networks threaten to undermine the government’s credibility before a planned parliamentary dissolution.
“Right now, we cannot say he has done anything wrong, but when allegations like this emerge, he has shown real character,” Anutin said, praising Woraphak’s “spirit” and concern for the greater good during what has become a growing political crisis for the administration.
The resignation ends Woraphak’s brief 33-day tenure that began on September 19, 2025, making him one of the shortest-serving ministers in recent Thai political history.
Government Under Fire from Multiple Fronts
The departure comes as Anutin faces mounting pressure from opposition parties over his government’s handling of transnational scam operations. Pheu Thai has contrasted his response with former PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s aggressive crackdown on scam networks in Myanmar and Cambodia—efforts they claim were so effective that scammers retaliated by leaking audio that led to her Constitutional Court removal.
Drone footage from Amnesty International’s report shows a scamming compound with high perimeter walls, security cameras, and security guards in Cambodia. The report “I Was Someone Else’s Property” is published on June 26, 2025.
People’s Party, once a supporter of Anutin’s prime ministership, has grown increasingly critical, with several prominent members accusing him of being “too passive” as the U.S. and South Korean governments pressure Cambodia to dismantle scam operations. Questions have emerged about whether figures within the Thai government itself might be connected to these networks.
Woraphak was reportedly the first of seven Thai politicians allegedly linked to Cambodian scam operations to be publicly named.
High Stakes for March 2026 Elections
While swift ministerial resignations are rare in Thai politics, political observers say Woraphak had little choice. The government came to power promising to dissolve parliament after just four months, with elections expected in March 2026. Any prolonged scandal could severely damage Bhumjaithai Party’s prospects as Anutin aims to win the most seats and secure another term as prime minister.
Deputy Finance Minister Woraphak Thanyavong announces his resignation while denying allegations of involvement with scammers, at the Ministry of Finance on October 22, 2025.
“I do not want my personal matters to become an obstacle to the government’s important missions,” Woraphak stated during his resignation announcement, emphasizing his commitment to transparency and allowing the administration to function efficiently.
PM Defends Anti-Scam Record
Responding to critics, Anutin insisted his government has taken concrete action, establishing a comprehensive committee to combat scammers that coordinates all relevant agencies. The effort includes tracking financial flows, seizing assets, freezing accounts, and prosecuting cases—though he noted some operations cannot be publicly disclosed for operational reasons.
“We are tracking the money trail, seizing assets, freezing accounts, and prosecuting cases. It’s already being done, but in some cases we cannot publicly announce how we will proceed,” the prime minister said.
Minister Denies All Allegations
Woraphak firmly rejected all accusations during his farewell address. “I would like to make it clear that my wife has never held any cryptocurrency accounts, either in the past or at present, and has never received any benefits related to such activities,” he said.
He called the allegations linking him or his family to Cambodian scam networks “unfounded smears” and vowed to pursue legal action to protect his reputation and the dignity of his office, citing his more than 30-year career guided by “honesty, transparency, and public responsibility.”
Cyber police raid a luxury house in Bangkok on July 15, 2025, after the court issued arrest warrants for three children of Cambodian businessman Kok An, who are involved in a scammer network.
Banking Credentials and Controversies
Woraphak brings extensive banking experience, including senior roles at Bank of America (Thailand), J.P. Morgan Chase (Thailand), and as President & CEO of Krung Thai Bank until 2016. After retiring at 52, he worked as an economic commentator before being appointed Chief Adviser to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira in 2024.
He acknowledged knowing Benjamin Mauerberger socially because their children attended the same school in Thailand, but denied any business relationship.
Regarding alleged ties to Finansia Syrus Securities (FSS), Woraphak explained that the 29% stake purchased in 2021 through Pilgrim Finansa Company Limited was a legal management buyout approved by regulatory authorities. The transaction was financed by Capital Asia Investment in Singapore and BIC Bank Lao—not BIC Bank Cambodia as alleged. He said he sold all shares and resigned from management roles during the company’s 2021-2024 restructuring.
Woraphak confirmed that Prime Minister Anutin gave him full discretion in making the resignation decision, characterizing it as a personal choice to protect the government rather than an admission of wrongdoing.
BANGKOK — Thailand’s automotive sector saw a significant shift toward electric vehicles in September 2025, with battery electric vehicle (BEV) production surging 330.45% and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) output soaring 527.08% year-on-year, contributing to a modest 4.77% increase in overall vehicle production for the month, according to Automotive Industry Club.
Surapong Paisitpattanapong, advisor to the chairman and spokesperson of the Automotive Industry Club at the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), revealed that total automotive production in September reached 128,104 units, up 4.77% from the same period last year.
The increase was driven by domestic EV production compensating for the imported electric passenger vehicles that dominated the market in 2022-2023. However, cumulative production for the first nine months of 2025 (January-September) totaled 1,075,801 units, down 4.63% year-on-year.
Electric Vehicle Categories Lead Growth
The production breakdown for September showed remarkable growth across all EV segments:
BEVs: 6,375 units (up 330.45%)
PHEVs: 3,474 units (up 527.08%)
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs): 17,863 units (up 23.66%)
Additionally, passenger pickup vehicle (PPV) production for both export and domestic sales increased 29.95%, driven by new model launches from several manufacturers.
Surapong Paisitpattanapong, advisor to the chairman and spokesperson of the Automotive Industry Club at the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI)
Domestic Market Shows Resilience
Domestic production reached 42,479 units in September, up 22.73%, while nine-month production totaled 367,107 units, up 3.75%. This aligned with domestic sales of 48,350 units in September (up 23.82%) and 477,969 units for the nine-month period (up 2.12%).
The growth in EV sales was attributed to increasingly competitive pricing and attractive technology features. Several EV models have become more affordable, expanding market accessibility and driving consumer interest.
Pickup Truck Sales Face Headwinds
In contrast, pickup truck sales declined 4% due to tighter lending standards from financial institutions. Weak financial documentation stemming from sluggish economic growth, high living costs, and negative industrial production indices have reduced purchasing power among industrial workers and other consumer segments, including retail and tourism sectors.
Export Performance Mixed
September export production stood at 85,625 units, down 2.33%, with nine-month production totaling 708,694 units, down 8.46%. However, actual exports reached 86,056 units in September, up 7.23%, driven by increased shipments of pickup trucks, including newly launched PPV models, as well as electric passenger cars and pickup trucks to markets in Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Central America, and South America.
Despite the overall positive export performance, internal combustion engine (ICE) passenger car exports declined 16.97%, reflecting the global transition toward electrification.
Market Outlook
The surge in EV production signals Thailand’s growing competitiveness in electric vehicle manufacturing as domestic producers compete aggressively on pricing. The trend suggests a structural shift in the country’s automotive industry as manufacturers adapt to changing global demand patterns and local market preferences for electrified vehicles.
BANGKOK — The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT) has unveiled a strategic initiative to accelerate sustainability standards adoption across Thailand’s gem and jewelry sector, aiming to capture a larger share of the global market valued at $366.79 billion in 2024.
The move responds to shifting consumer behavior, with sustainability factors now influencing 20-30% of global jewelry sales, according to McKinsey & Company. Modern buyers increasingly prioritize material origin, environmental impact, and ethical production practices alongside traditional craftsmanship considerations.
“Thailand’s craftsmanship and design excellence are already world-class. What will truly unlock the potential of our entrepreneurs to compete globally are trusted standards encompassing responsible sourcing, fair labor, safety, and environmental protection,” Sumed Prasongpongchai, Director General of GIT, told Media OutReach Newswire.
Sumed Prasongpongchai, Director General of GIT
He emphasized that international standards such as the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) have become essential “trade passports” for accessing major markets, with transparency and good governance increasingly defining industry competitiveness.
GIT has developed a comprehensive framework anchored on three operational pillars:
GIT Standard for Laboratories: Enhances testing, analysis, and certification processes to ensure products meet internationally recognized standards with clear, traceable origins.
Due Diligence and Traceability: Builds robust corporate governance covering fair labor practices, workplace safety, transparent record-keeping, and material traceability to establish buyer trust.
PHOTO: Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair
International Standard Readiness: Provides training and incubation programs to help entrepreneurs comply with international frameworks including RJC Code of Practices and Chain-of-Custody Guidelines.
GIT plans to extend the initiative through 2026 in collaboration with industry partners and government agencies, targeting the entire value chain from manufacturers and factories to laboratories and retailers. The program will particularly support SMEs in meeting global benchmarks, reducing regulatory and reputational risks while enhancing export competitiveness.
NONTHABURI — Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF) appeared before the Nonthaburi Provincial Court today, October 22, for the first hearing in a criminal defamation case, addressing the dissemination of false and misleading information regarding the spread of invasive blackchin tilapia, which has caused significant reputational damage to the company.
The Nonthaburi Provincial Court is presiding over a case filed by the public prosecutor against Mr. Witoon Lianjamroon, Secretary-General of the BioThai Foundation, on charges of criminal defamation by publication. The charges arise from the circulation of fabricated images and false claims alleging CPF’s involvement in the blackchin tilapia outbreak.
At the hearing, the defendant pleaded not guilty. CPF, as the injured party, submitted a motion to join the case as a co-plaintiff alongside the public prosecutor. The Court approved the motion and scheduled the pre-trial evidence examination for 1 December 2025.
The indictment stems from the dissemination of misleading images and false information during a public seminar broadcast live online on 26 July 2024. The prosecution asserts that these actions caused widespread public misunderstanding and inflicted substantial reputational harm on CPF.
Examples of the falsified materials cited in the case include:
A photograph falsely represented as a soil pond at CPF’s Yi San farm, which was not part of the company’s facility;
An image mischaracterized as CPF’s fish egg selection process, which did not reflect the company’s standard procedures;
Aerial images misrepresented as fish ponds, which were in reality shrimp ponds.
CPF underscores that this lawsuit reflects the company’s firm commitment to factual accuracy, integrity, and legal accountability. By pursuing its rights through the judicial process, CPF seeks to uphold justice, protect its corporate reputation, and prevent deliberate misinformation from misleading the public. The company remains steadfast in its mission to operate transparently, comply with legal standards, and provide verifiable, trustworthy information to society and all stakeholders.
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.
