In this photo (From left): Ms Sawitri Rochanapruk, UOB Influencer, Ms Suporntip Pongsachamnankit, Head of Card Business, Card Payment & Unsecured Products, UOB Thailand and Ms Araya Khantaprab, Executive at Gaysorn Village
Bangkok, 5 June 2025 – UOB Thailand partners with Gaysorn Village, Bangkok’s premier luxury lifestyle destination, to enhance the dining experiences of its credit cardholders through the exclusive culinary campaign “Savour the Flavours.” This exclusive offering includes a range of privileges such as discounts, vouchers, and cashback curated to complement their refined tastes from 1 May to 30 June 2026. UOB cardholders are entitled to a range of exclusive benefits including discounts of up to 25 per cent or special privileges at participating restaurants, Gaysorn Gift Vouchers valued at up to THB 500 on eligible spending at Gaysorn Village restaurants and cashback of up to 15 per cent when redeeming UOB reward points.
With over 50 culinary destinations under one roof – from local favorites to international dining gems – Savour the Flavours invites cardholder to indulge in memorable moments around the table.
Ms Suporntip Pongsachamnankit, Head of Card Business, Card Payment & Unsecured Products, UOB Thailand said “Our customers aren’t looking for just a meal – they seek moments worth savouring. Through partnerships like this, we are able to offer more than perks, we create experiences that reflect our customer’s individuality and aspirations.”
Ms Araya Khantaprab, Executive at Gaysorn Village echoed the sentiment, she said, “Dining at Gaysorn Village is about discovery and delight. Partnering with UOB enables us to reward discerning diners who value both exceptional taste and thoughtful service – hallmarks of our Gaysorn
30 May 2025: ONYX Hospitality Group, the prominent management company in Southeast Asia specialising in hotels and resorts, serviced apartments and luxury residences, has been recognised for its outstanding commitment to people development, securing four prestigious wins at the EXA: Employee Experience Awards 2025 Thailand.
These awards highlight ONYX Hospitality Group’s commitment to nurturing talent, championing sustainability, and fostering long-term career development for its employees.
As the company expands across Southeast Asia, it continues to place people at the heart of its growth. By investing in workforce development and embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into its operations, ONYX Hospitality Group not only empowers its employees but also creates a lasting positive impact on the wider community, reinforcing its position as a leading hospitality management company.
“At ONYX Hospitality Group, we believe that our people are the driving force behind our success. Investing in their growth, development, and wellbeing is not just a priority – it’s the foundation of our future,” said Saranya Watanasirisuk, Senior Vice President, ONYX Hospitality Group. “These award wins reflect our commitment to fostering a workplace where talent thrives, leadership is nurtured, and sustainability is embedded into everything we do. As we continue our ambitious expansion across Southeast Asia, we remain dedicated to empowering our teams and shaping a hospitality industry that is both people-centric and environmentally responsible.”
The company took home awards in four key categories:
Best Management Training Programme – Acknowledged for the General Manager Development Programme (GM Track), which is designed to develop well-rounded General Managers who blend commercial and operational expertise with strategic leadership skills to build high-performing teams and drive success across ONYX’s diverse portfolio.
Best Career Development Programme – Celebrated for the ‘NextYou’ initiative, which nurtures future leaders through talent assessment, succession planning, and tailored development programmes that cultivate a strong talent pool and ensure leadership continuity in critical roles, supporting long-term organisational stability.
Best In-House Certification Programme – Awarded for empowering property-level HR leaders to become Business Partners through a comprehensive and impactful development programme, equipping them with essential skills, industry best practices, and business acumen to enhance workforce performance.
Best ESG Programme – ONYX Hospitality Group was recognised for its commitment to ‘Sustainably Crafted Hospitality,’ seamlessly integrating sustainability into its operations while inspiring employees and stakeholders. ONYX’s initiatives drive measurable progress in carbon reduction, community engagement, and sustainability awareness. This award highlights ONYX’s dedication to balancing profitability with eco-conscious practices while strengthening partnerships with NGOs and local communities.
These achievements reflect ONYX Hospitality Group’s unwavering commitment to creating a people-first culture, ensuring employees at all levels receive the support, training, and opportunities needed to thrive.
For more information on ONYX Hospitality Group please visit: www.onyx-hospitality.com
A combination photo showing two cases where foreign men were found dead at residences in Kathu district, Phuket, on June 8, 2025. Left: the house in Kamala subdistrict where the German man was found. Right: the residence in Patong where the Danish tourist was discovered.
PHUKET — Two tragic incidents occurred as a 66-year-old German man and a 66-year-old Danish tourist both died at residences in Kathu district, Phuket, on Sunday. Both cases are believed to be related to their respective health conditions.
In the first case, German national Mr. Rainer was found dead at his residence where he lived alone on Hua Khuan Soi 1, Moo 3, Kamala subdistrict, Kathu district. Authorities discovered a rope believed to have been used for suicide near the stairs leading to the second floor of the house.
Mr. Rainer’s German daughter and Thai adopted daughter discovered his body when they came to visit him late on June 8 at the residence where he normally lived alone, while his children resided in the city center.
According to the investigation, the deceased had been suffering from brain-related symptoms, vertigo, insomnia, and panic attacks. He had previously been receiving treatment at Bangkok Hospital until financial problems forced him to stop treatment.
Rescue team removes a rope believed the German man used for suicide near the stairs leading to the second floor of the house in Kamala subdistrict, Kathu district, Phuket, on June 8, 2025.
On the evening of June 7, Mr. Rainer’s clinic doctor called to inform his daughter that her father’s condition was deteriorating – he was experiencing speech difficulties and might have Alzheimer’s disease as he was becoming unable to communicate, requiring further hospital testing for confirmation.
Neighboring residents reported that on June 8 around 6:00 PM, they still saw Mr. Rainer riding his motorcycle outside before returning home. Around 8:00 PM, they could still hear him inside the house. At 10:50 PM, when his daughter finished work and came to visit him, she found he had died.
Examination of the premises revealed no signs of robbery, and his body showed no evidence of struggle or physical harm. Inside the deceased’s bedroom, authorities found an opened storage cabinet with mobile phone passwords, safe codes, and cabinet keys written on paper placed on the bed. His children had no suspicions about the cause of his death. Authorities sent the body for autopsy at Vachira Phuket Hospital following standard procedures.
In the second case, Danish tourist Mr. Frank, 66, died inside a residence on Na Nai Road, Patong subdistrict, Kathu district. Patong Police Station officers and Kusoltham Phuket Foundation volunteers examined the scene where Mr. Frank was found dead in the bathroom next to the washing machine.
Rescue team prepares to remove the body of the Danish tourist from the bathroom at a residence in Patong subdistrict, Kathu district, Phuket, to send for autopsy on June 8, 2025.
Residents of the house reported that Mr. Frank had arrived in Thailand approximately five days earlier. From the day of his arrival, he began experiencing diarrhea, weakness in his arms and legs, and poor appetite. On June 8, while sitting and talking with friends in front of the house, he asked to use the bathroom.
After being gone for an extended period, friends went to check and found him dead in the bathroom with his head resting against a water bucket used for floor cleaning. They then notified police.
A forensic doctor from Vachira Phuket Hospital conducted a preliminary examination and found no signs of foul play before sending the body for autopsy at Vachira Phuket Hospital. The Danish Embassy has been contacted following proper procedures.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg with other activists from a human rights organization meets with journalists in Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025, ahead of their departure for the Mideast. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained Greta Thunberg and other activists who were on board early Monday, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas.
The activists had set out to protest Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which is among the deadliest and most destructive since World War II, and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, both of which have put the territory of some 2 million Palestinians at risk of famine.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organized the voyage, said the activists were “kidnapped by Israeli forces” while trying to deliver desperately needed aid to the territory.
“The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo—including baby formula, food and medical supplies—confiscated,” it said in a statement.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)
Israel’s Foreign Ministry cast the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying in a post on X that “the ‘selfie yacht’ of the ‘celebrities’ is safely making its way to the shores of Israel.”
It said the passengers would return to their home countries and the aid would be delivered to Gaza through established channels. It later circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests.
A weeklong voyage
Thunberg, a climate campaigner, was among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily a week ago. Along the way, it had stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by the Libyan coast guard.
“I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible,” Thunberg said in a pre-recorded message released after the ship was halted.
Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, was also among the volunteers on board. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.
After a 2½-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers and experts have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive.
An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group’s vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship.
An 18-year blockade
Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms, while critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza’s Palestinian population.
Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but later relented under U.S. pressure. In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg, center, waits to board the Madleen boat, before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)
Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages, more than half of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead.
Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead. It doesn’t say whether those killed are civilians or combatants.
The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of the territory’s population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid.
Efforts to broker another truce have been deadlocked for months. Hamas says it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to continue the war until all the captives are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and exiled.
NAN — The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization), or DASTA, through its Nan office (DASTA-Nan), is inviting everyone to the Nan Green Craft Festival, “Hum Fon Mon Sanan Nan.” This event aims to inspire visitors with contemporary handicrafts and local creativity, connecting the past, present, and future of Nan.
Driving Nan Towards UNESCO Creative City Status NAN, Thailand — DASTA-Nan, in close partnership with the Nan Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO), Nan Community College, the Nan Provincial Office, the Nan Chamber of Commerce, and a diverse network of local partners, is spearheading efforts to position Nan as a strong contender for inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
This initiative aims to significantly enhance Nan’s international profile, establishing it as a key hub for creative tourism. This aligns flawlessly with Thailand’s overarching 20-year National Strategy (2018-2037), which emphasizes the central role of creative and cultural tourism in national development. The ultimate objective is to develop more cities and communities with robust creative tourism potential, ensuring maximum benefits and achieving key national strategic objectives.
The Nan Green Craft Festival for the 2025 fiscal year, themed “Hum Fon Mon Sanan Nan,” will take place from May 30 to June 8, 2025, at the riverside public park in Na Nai Wiang, Mueang Nan, Nan Province. DASTA-Nan has partnered with several public and private sector organizations for this event, including the Tourism Council of Thailand (Nan Chapter), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (Nan Office), the Nan Provincial Tourism and Sports Office, the Nan Provincial Commercial Office, the Nan Handicraft and Folk Art Cluster, and various tourism-related networks in Nan Province.
Festival Highlights The festival will showcase over 50 booths featuring handicrafts and folk art from communities across Nan and surrounding provinces. Attendees can engage in various craft workshops, including wood painting, wind chime making, and vine thread weaving. There will also be exhibitions highlighting six groups of Nan handicrafts:
Nan textiles
Basketry
Wood carving
Stucco and pottery
Nan-style murals
Silverware
The event will also honor 15 master artisans from Nan, along with renowned national artists. Beyond the exhibitions, visitors can enjoy art performances, discussions, fashion shows, contemporary and folk music, performance art, traditional Sor singing, and concerts by famous artists such as Duang Dao Diao Dai, ChampPraew, Niyom Jai, Chit Maenam Chai Chue Kan, and many other local talents. There will also be nightly prize draws to encourage sales.
People enjoy the beach as vessels sail during the "Ocean Wonders" themed event in honor of World Oceans Day ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Nice, France. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)
NICE, France (AP) — The third United Nations Ocean Conference opens Monday as pressure mounts for nations to turn decades of promises into real protection for the sea.
The summit comes as just 2.7% of the ocean is effectively protected from destructive extractive activities, according to the nonprofit Marine Conservation Institute. That’s far below the target agreed under the “30×30” pledge to conserve 30% of land and sea by 2030.
Atop this year’s agenda is ratification of the High Seas Treaty. Adopted in 2023, the treaty would for the first time allow nations to establish marine protected areas in international waters, which cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean and are largely ungoverned.
“It’s the Wild West out there with countries just fishing anywhere without any sort of regulation, and that needs to change,” said Mauro Randone, regional projects manager at the World Wildlife Fund’s Mediterranean Marine Initiative. “The high seas belong to everyone and no one practically at the same time, and countries are finally committing to establish some rules.”
Coral is visible in the protected area of France’s Porquerolles National Park ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference on Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)
The ocean is critical in stabilizing Earth’s climate and sustaining life. It generates 50% of the oxygen we breathe, absorbs around 30% of carbon dioxide emissions and captures more than 90% of the excess heat caused by those emissions. Without a healthy ocean, experts warn, climate goals will remain out of reach.
The treaty will only come into force once 60 countries ratify it. As of Monday, just 32 countries had. Advocates hope UNOC can build enough momentum to cross the threshold, which would allow for the first official Oceans Conference of Parties.
“Two-thirds of the ocean is areas beyond national jurisdiction — that’s half our planet,” said Minna Epps, director of global ocean policy the International Union for Conservation of Nature. “We cannot possibly protect 30% of the ocean if it doesn’t include the high seas.”
South Korea, France and the European Union have championed the treaty, but most large ocean nations have yet to ratify it, including the rest of the G20. Thousands of attendees are expected in Nice — from delegates and heads of state to scientists and industry leaders. The United States has yet to confirm a formal delegation.
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers remarks ahead of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which gathers leaders, researchers and activists to discuss how to protect marine life, in Nice, southern France, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Christian Hartmann/Pool via AP)
Moving from protections on paper to something real
Beyond new commitments, the conference highlights the growing gap between marine protection declarations and real-world conservation.
France, the conference co-host, claims to have surpassed the 30% target for marine protection. But environmental groups say only 3% of French waters are fully protected from harmful activities like bottom trawling and industrial fishing.
In 2024 alone, more than 100 bottom-trawling vessels were recorded spending over 17,000 hours fishing within France’s six marine nature parks, according to ocean advocacy group Oceana.
“The government declares these as protected areas, but this is a lie,” said Enric Sala, founder of National Geographic Pristine Seas marine reserve project. “Most of it is political box-ticking. It’s all paper parks.”
That criticism is echoed across the continent. A new World Wildlife Fund report found that although more than 11% of Europe’s marine area is designated for protection, just 2% of EU waters have management plans in place.
Fabien Boileau, director of marine protected areas at France’s Office for Biodiversity, acknowledged the presence of bottom trawling in French protected areas, but said it was part of a phased strategy.
“In France, we made the choice to designate large marine protected areas with relatively low levels of regulation at first, betting that stronger protections would be developed over time through local governance,” he said. “Today, we’re gradually increasing the number of zones with stricter protections within those areas.”
Coral is visible in the protected area of France’s Porquerolles National Park ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference on Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)A rainbow wrasse swims in the protected area of France’s Port-Cros National Park ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference, Saturday, June 7, 2025, (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)
France’s Port-Cros: A model for conservation
While many marine protected areas struggle with enforcement, others show what real protection can achieve. Off the southern coast of France, Port-Cros National Park is one of the oldest marine reserves in the Mediterranean. There, strict anchoring bans have allowed vast seagrass meadows to grow undisturbed. Massive groupers patrol rocky outcrops, brightly colored nudibranchs munch on algae, and schools of large corbs glide through the shallows, undisturbed by fishing lines.
“Thanks to the protections that have been in place since 1963, we can observe species that are much larger than elsewhere in the Mediterranean and at a much higher density than in other areas,” said Hubert Flavigny, manager of Mio Palmo dive center in Hyeres, France.
Still, such examples remain exceptions.
Advocates say industrial fishing lobbies continue to resist stricter protections, despite evidence that well-managed reserves boost long-term fisheries through the “spillover effect,” whereby marine life flourishes in nearby waters.
“Protection is not the problem — overfishing is the problem,” said Sala. “The worst enemy of the fishing industry is themselves.”
Frustrated by government inaction, environmental groups have taken enforcement into their own hands. In May, Greenpeace dropped 15 limestone boulders into France’s Golfe du Lion, aiming to physically block bottom trawling in a marine area that has long been designated for protection. The protected zone was established in 2008 to preserve deep-sea ecosystems, yet 12 trawlers continue to operate there, despite scientific warnings of ecological collapse, according to activist group MedReAct. The Golfe is now one of the most overfished areas in the Mediterranean.
Common two-banded seabream fish swim in the protected area of France’s Porquerolles National Park ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference on Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)
What will UNOC deliver?
The conference will feature 10 panels on topics such as blue finance, sustainable fisheries and plastic pollution. Deep sea mining is expected to feature in broader discussions, while small island states are likely to use the platform to advocate for increased climate adaptation funding. The outcome of these discussions will form the basis of the Nice Ocean Action Plan — a declaration of voluntary commitments to be adopted by consensus and presented at the United Nations in New York this July.
“There cannot be a healthy planet without a healthy ocean,” said Peter Thomson, U.N. special envoy for the ocean. “It’s urgent business for us all.”
FILE - The United Nations logo is seen inside the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)
By Yi Fan, a Beijing-based political commentator
Ever since its inception 80 years ago, the United Nations has worked tirelessly to preserve the hard-won postwar international order by mediating crisis, delivering humanitarian aid, advancing sustainable development, among other endeavors. Through the process, China has contributed its due part and more, living up to the commitment it has made as a founding member of the U.N.
When trying times confront today’s world, some U.N. member states are casting themselves as victims of the world order they once helped build. China has stayed true to the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and is striving to make the global governance system more just, equitable and responsive to the needs of all.
A Firm Vote for a Multipolar World
In a multipolar world, all countries are equal. This is written as one of the primary principles the U.N. Charter vows to uphold. Chilean President Gabriel Boric said after the just-ended China-CELAC Forum that “In China, we witnessed the tremendous respect that exists for our country.”
Moreover, equality goes deeper from manner to participation. For too long, the voices of developing countries are drowned out in a world where decisions should have been made in inclusive consultation. Chinese President Xi Jinping said in the 70th session of the UNGA General Debate that China will always vote with developing countries. After ten years, China is still acting upon its commitment. As a natural member of the Global South, China has performed its responsibility conscientiously in the U.N., voting for greater representation and voice of developing countries, and has worked with them to build platforms for equal-footed dialogue, with the thriving BRICS a testament to this effort.
Multipolarity shall be pursued with order and toward order. Much turbulence and chaos today are not caused by multipolarity, but by obsession with “We First” approach. Peace and development across the world face challenges not because the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter are obsolete, but because they are not implemented effectively and faithfully. So when certain countries unnerved by such changes blame multipolarity, they got the causality wrong: it is the solution, not the cause.
Only when all hold dear the U.N.-centered international system, uphold the international order underpinned by international law and observe the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, can the United Nations better shoulder its central role in international affairs. And only when such a U.N. leads us to jointly pursue orderly multipolarity, can the well-being of humanity be safeguarded as a whole.
A Vast Ocean Through Economic Globalization
The global economy is increasingly interdependent like the ocean, where a current from one side could influence waters thousands of miles away. From its early days of integrating into the world economy, China has championed mutually beneficial economic globalization. Today, China drives more than 30 percent of global growth and 20 percent of global trade. This contribution stems from a fundamental choice: to treat interdependence as partnership, not rivalry.
In contrast to the United States wielding the tariff stick on all its trading partners, China is committed to upholding free trade together with friends around the world. China has extended zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent tariff lines to 43 least developed countries. China advocates reform of the World Trade Organization based on the principles of non-discrimination and openness.
Through the Belt and Road Initiative, a global public good, China has promoted cooperation on infrastructure and livelihood benefiting over 4.4 billion people in 65 countries. In frontier domains such as artificial intelligence, a U.N. General Assembly Resolution proposed by China is spearheading international cooperation and fostering innovation rather than stifling progress.
Navigating the vast ocean of the world economy requires braving raging tides and hidden currents. Retreating to isolationist ponds or lakes is no solution—we can achieve and benefit so much more by weathering storms together.
On this 80th anniversary of the U.N., every step taken casts a vote for humanity’s future: toward hazard or hope. China remains guided by the conviction that global governance is not about governing anyone, but about growing with everyone toward a future worthy of our shared aspirations.
Police arrest French suspect (in white shirt) in front of condominium in Sukhumvit Pattaya 59 Alley, Nong Prue Sub-district, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province on June 8, 2025.
PATTAYA — A French suspect in the rape case of a 13-year-old child in Nong Khai province, northeastern Thailand near the Laos border, fled to hide in Pattaya but could not escape arrest. Police from both provinces coordinated to apprehend him.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Saksit Boonserm, head of the Nong Khai Provincial Investigation Unit, led a team with an arrest warrant from Nong Khai Provincial Court, working together with Chonburi Immigration Police to arrest the French suspect, Mr. Yannick, age 44, outside the condominium in Sukhumvit Pattaya 59 Alley, Nong Prue Sub-district, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province on June 8.
In this case, Nong Khai Provincial Investigation Police, together with Nong Khai Provincial Social Development and Human Security officers, rescued a 13-year-old girl who was being held captive in a room in Nong Khai. She informed police that her mother knew Yannick from a beer bar where her mother worked. The mother then arranged for her to provide sexual services to this French man at a hotel in Nong Khai.
Police arrest French suspect (in white shirt) and inspect his room in a condominium in Sukhumvit Pattaya 59 Alley, Nong Prue Sub-district, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province on June 8, 2025.
Subsequently, authorities discovered financial transactions showing that Yannick had actually transferred money to the girl’s mother. They obtained an arrest warrant from Nong Khai Provincial Court and learned that the suspect was residing in Pattaya area.
They then coordinated with Chonburi Immigration Police to make the arrest and brought him back to Nong Khai province to face charges.
Initially, police have charged the French man with jointly taking away a child under fifteen years of age from their father, mother, guardian or caretaker for indecent purposes without reasonable cause, and committing indecent acts against a child not over thirteen years of age who is not his wife, regardless of whether the child consented or not.
Additionally, Nong Khai Provincial Investigation Police will expand their investigation to arrest all related individuals and pursue legal action against them as well.
The Royal Thai Army released photos of Thai military personnel from the Suranaree Task Force traveling to negotiate with Cambodian soldiers to discuss matters regarding the territorial encroachment issue in Chong Bok area on June 8, 2025, with both sides agreeing to reduce confrontations.
BANGKOK — Thailand and Cambodia have successfully reduced border tensions through coordinated diplomatic and military efforts, with both governments announcing significant progress in resolving the Chong Bok territorial dispute.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on social media on June 8 that discussions with the Cambodian government had reached “conclusions that positively affect the situation.” Both sides agreed to jointly adjust military forces at friction points to reduce confrontational atmosphere ahead of crucial talks.
The breakthrough came during military negotiations led by Cambodia’s Lieutenant General Saray Dek, Deputy Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, and Thailand’s Major General Somphop Parawej, Commander of Suranaree Task Force. Army Spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree revealed that Cambodia agreed to redeploy troops to their 2024 positions and fill trenches to restore original natural conditions.
The photos provided by the Army show the first two images released on May 18 and May 28, 2025, revealing a 650-meter trench that Cambodian soldiers dug in the disputed Thai-Cambodia border area at Chong Bok, the site of clashes with Thai forces. The bottom two images, released on June 8, show that Cambodia has filled in the trenches and restored the area to its original condition.The Royal Thai Army released photos of Thai military personnel from the Suranaree Task Force traveling to negotiate with Cambodian soldiers to discuss matters regarding the territorial encroachment issue in Chong Bok area on June 8, 2025, with both sides agreeing to reduce confrontations.
“The Cambodian side expressed willingness to proceed with filling in the trenches to restore them to their original natural condition as proposed by the Thai side to reduce tensions and create a cooperative environment,” Suvaree said. “Both sides have agreed to utilize the Local Border Committee mechanism as a channel for ongoing discussions to resolve area-level issues in the future.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed on the same day that joint border patrols had successfully reduced tensions, with both sides conducting land restoration work. The Defense Ministry praised Thai forces for their restraint throughout the crisis.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra holds a press conference alongside military leaders, the Defense Minister, and Foreign Minister following the National Security Council meeting on the Thai-Cambodia border situation at Government House on June 6. (Khaosod Photo/Yokin Charoenyiing)
“On behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Thai Armed Forces, I would like to express our gratitude to the Government of Cambodia, particularly the front-line units of the Cambodian army, for engaging in dialogue and helping to ease tensions in a manner consistent with the principles of peace, for the benefit of the people of both nations,” Phumtham said.
All parties now look toward the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting on June 14 to further resolve issues peacefully. Both governments will utilize Local Border Committee mechanisms for ongoing area-level discussions.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn urged the public to “ease their concerns and have confidence in the government’s problem-solving approach,” assuring citizens that “there will definitely be no severe incidents of conflict.” The Defense Ministry echoed calls for public caution with information sharing to prevent new conflicts.
The diplomatic resolution demonstrates effective cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia in managing sensitive border issues through dialogue rather than confrontation.
FILE - Workers from Thailand prune artichoke crops prior to the start of the ritual crop sabbatical, which begins at the Jewish New Year, so the vegetable will be kosher when it sprouts, at Beit Uziel in central Israel, September 14, 2000. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma, File)
Nattapong Pinta was among 31 Thais taken by the Hamas militant group. Thailand’s foreign ministry in a statement Saturday confirmed that Pinta, the last Thai hostage in Gaza, was confirmed dead. It said the bodies of two others have yet to be retrieved.
The ministry has said 46 Thais have been killed during the war. Thais were the largest group of foreigners held captive by Hamas. They were among tens of thousands of Thai workers in Israel. Here’s a look at what they were doing.
This undated photo provided by the Hostage’s Family Forum shows Nattapong Pinta, with his wife and son. (Hostage’s Family Forum via AP)
Why are there so many Thais in Israel?
Israel once relied heavily on Palestinian workers, but it started bringing in large numbers of migrant workers after the 1987-93 Palestinian revolt, known as the first Intifada.
Most came from Thailand, and Thais remain the largest group of foreign agricultural laborers in Israel today, earning considerably more than they can at home.
Thailand and Israel implemented a bilateral agreement a decade ago to ease the way for workers in the agriculture sector.
Israel has come under criticism for the conditions under which the Thai farm laborers work. A Human Rights Watch report in 2015 said they often were housed in makeshift and inadequate accommodation and “were paid salaries significantly below the legal minimum wage, forced to work long hours in excess of the legal maximum, subjected to unsafe working conditions and denied their right to change employers.”
A watchdog group found more recently that most were still paid below the legal minimum wage.
How many Thai nationals work in Israel?
There were about 30,000 Thai workers, primarily working on farms, in Israel prior to the attack by Hamas.
In the wake of the attack, some 7,000 returned home, primarily on government evacuation flights, but higher wages than those available at home have continued to attract new arrivals.
The Thai ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, recently said there are now more than 38,000 Thai workers in the country.
FILE – Thai workers work in a field next to an Israeli army base outside the Gaza Strip, near the southern Israeli Kibbutz of Nahal Oz. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov, File)
What happened after some left?
Faced with a labor shortage in the wake of the exodus, Israel’s Agriculture Ministry announced incentives to try to attract foreign workers back to evacuated areas.
Among other things, it offered to extend work visas and to pay bonuses of about $500 a month.
Thailand’s Labor Ministry granted 3,966 Thai workers permission to work in Israel in 2024, keeping Israel in the top four destinations for Thais working abroad last year.
Thai migrant workers generally come from poorer regions of the country, especially the northeast, and even before the bonuses, the jobs in Israel paid many times what they could make at home.
