Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, poses with her trophy after winning the Mizuho Americas Open LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand turned back a pair of challenges Sunday and played bogey-free over the final 27 holes at Liberty National, closing with a 3-under 69 for a four-shot victory over Celine Boutier in the Mizuho Americas Open.
Thitikul, who captured the Race to CME Globe and its $4 million prize to end last season, won for the first time this year and the fifth time in her LPGA Tour career.
Nelly Korda is still trying to win for the first time this year. She was within one shot of Thitikul until driving into the hazard on the par-4 ninth hole and taking bogey. It was a downward spiral from there, as Korda played the back nine with two bogeys and no birdies and was never a factor the rest of the way.
Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, hits off the 15th tee during the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The final challenge came from Boutier, who was posed to catch the Thai player on the 15th hole when she hit her approach to 10 feet. Thitikul faced a tough par save from a bunker left of the green, with her foot up against the slope and having to clear another bunker to a back pin.
Thitikul pulled off the shot perfectly to 3 feet to save par. Boutier not only missed her birdie chance, she missed the 30-inch comeback putt and made bogey. Instead of a two-shot swing and a tie for the lead, Boutier fell three back with three holes to play.
Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, right, and top amateur Aphrodite Deng, hold their trophies as they pose with Michelle Wie West, after winning the Mizuho Americas Open LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
On the 16th, Boutier missed an 8-foot birdie putt and Thitikul made her par putt from 7 feet to stay three shots behind. Thitikul all but ended the tournament with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, and she capped off a clean par with a par save on the 18th.
“I know that a lot of putts didn’t drop on the front nine, but I’m trying to do my best,” Thitikul said. “I was just trying to tell myself, ‘Be patient, it’s coming, it’s coming.’ That’s pretty much what I told myself today.”
Thitikul finished at 17-under 271 and won $450,000, pushing her over $1 million for the year and reclaiming the lead in the Race to CME Globe.
Boutier shot 72 to finish second, followed by Carlota Ciganda (70) and Andrea Lee (72).
Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, right, and top amateur Aphrodite Deng, pose with their trophies after winning the Mizuho Americas Open LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Thitikul didn’t make many putts on the front nine, but just like the back nine on Saturday, she stayed in front by not making any bogeys. She made birdie on the opening hole, and her best work was a 6-iron to a back pin, using the slope to feed the ball down to 5 feet.
It was one of only two birdies for the round.
That’s where Korda fell back. The No. 1 player in women’s golf made three birdies on the front nine, the last one on the par-5 eighth hole, to get within one shot. That was the last birdie for Korda the rest of the round. She closed with a 73 to tie for fifth.
The tournament, hosted by Michelle Wie West, pairs American Junior Golf Association players with the LPGA pros. Aphrodite Deng, who lives about 20 minutes away, won the AJGA division that used the modified Stableford scoring.
Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, poses with her trophy after winning the Mizuho Americas Open LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Onlookers watch as rescue workers search the debris at the site of a bus crash near the town of Kotmale, Sri Lanka Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) —A passenger bus skidded off a cliff in Sri Lanka’s tea-growing hill country on Sunday, killing 21 people and injuring 35 others, a police spokesman said.
The accident occurred in the early hours of Sunday near the town of Kotmale, about 140 kilometers (86 miles) east of Colombo, the capital, in a mountainous area of central Sri Lanka, police said.
Police spokesman Buddhika Manathunga said 21 people died and another 35 were being treated in hospitals.
Onlookers watch as rescue workers search the debris at the site of a bus accident near the town of Kotmale, Sri Lanka Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo)
Local television showed the bus lying overturned at the bottom of a precipice while workers and others helped remove injured people from the rubble.
The driver was injured and among those admitted to the hospital for treatment. At the time of the accident, more than 50 people were traveling on the bus.
Manathunga said police launched an investigation to ascertain whether the driver’s recklessness or a technical fault of the bus caused the accident.
The bus was operated by a state-run bus company, police said.
Deadly bus accidents are common in Sri Lanka, especially in the mountainous regions, often due to reckless driving and poorly maintained and narrow roads.
A banner with the message 'The voice of the people is the greatest power in building Patani's future. Stop oppressing the people through vote buying' was displayed in the area of Village 7, Ban Wang Sila, and Village 11, Ban Bo Hin Nok, across Highway 410 Yala - Betong in Thanto District, Yala Province, on May 9, 2025.
The issue of the three southern border provinces (Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala) is a complex issue and involves deeply challenging core issues.
In light of the recent deadly attacks on civilians, predominantly non-Malay and non-Muslim, the public’s attention was drawn to the protracted conflict in the deep south anew.
First, what is the truth?
Earlier this week, the BRN (Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani) has denied responsibility for the killing of civilians, including a disabled person and a Buddhist novice. If their is true, the question then becomes: who did it?
The answer may depend on individual beliefs – was it a splinter separatist group (fighting for Pattani homeland independence)? Was it a a secret element within the Thai armed forces seeking increased budget allocation for the conflict in the deep south? Or is it a third party (e.g., those taking the opportunity to seek personal revenge)? Or a foreign agent provocateur?
The reality is that most people do not know the truth about who is responsible.
Second, the matter of trust.
The situation is characterized by little to no trust between the conflicting parties (and there may be more than two parties). A number of non-Malay-Muslim Thais doubt if the government of Malaysia is genuinely an impartial broker in the negotiations, believing the Malaysian government would naturally side with those of the same ethnicity, language, religion, and roots. Furthermore, if the violence against the population stops (albeit temporarily), what does that imply? Does it mean that the party that desires or benefits from the negotiations was actually behind the attacks in recent weeks?
What’s more, some conservative Thais even believe that the main opposition People’s Party is secretly supporting the separatist movement. Their conspiracy theory is that the party seeks to uproot Thai society to its core.
No matter what you may think, the issue of trust, or the lack there of, is undeniably problematic. It’s very difficult to foster trust given the decades of conflicts, deaths and casualties.
Third, the path towards the solution.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai clearly announced earlier this week his readiness for peace talks, but under two conditions: an immediate end to the attacks on civilians, and excluding the issue of territorial integrity, which is non-negotiable. This suggests that what the Thai state can offer most is decentralization of power, but it remains unclear whether this will reach the level of electing a governor, declaring the provinces a special administrative zone, or making Pattani semi-autonomous.
Nevertheless, as long as there are still dissatisfied groups or individuals given the parameter on what’s negotiable, violence against civilians will likely persist, at least until one side achieves a decisive victory. However, even that does not guarantee a permanent end to the century-old conflict, as future generations of Thai-Malay Muslims may still aspire to an independent homeland of Pattani, or Patani as they refer to it.
Given such difficult situations, it’s best that the Thai general public consider the matter carefully, use reasoning more than emotions, and try to play whatever positive role they can to lessen the pain of this protracted conflict.
Paramilitary soldiers patrol on an inflatable boat on Dal Lake after loud explosions were heard in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, May 10, 2025.(AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
The deal was expected to bring a swift end to weeks of escalating clashes, including missile and drone strikes, triggered by the massacre of tourists by gunmen last month that India blames on Pakistan, which denies the charge. Dozens of civilians have been killed on both sides since then. But multiple explosions were heard in two large cities of India-controlled Kashmir hours after the countries agreed to the deal.
The first word of the truce came from U.S. President Donald Trump, who posted on his Truth Social platform that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire: “Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the truce on Geo News, saying that Saudi Arabia and Turkey played an important role in facilitating the deal.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the head of military operations from both countries spoke Saturday afternoon.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addresses the media at a press briefing in New Delhi, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karma Bhutia)
“It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, and in the air and sea. Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding.” The top military leaders will speak again Monday, Misri added.
Hours after the agreement, explosions heard by residents in Srinagar and Jammu in India-controlled Kashmir were followed by blackouts in the two cities. There were immediately no reports of casualties.
Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, said in a post on social media: “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!”
Working toward a broader agreement
Conflict between India and Pakistan is not rare, with the two countries having periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British India in 1947.
The ceasefire in the latest hostilities came after the countries fired volleys of cross-border missile strikes Saturday, when India said it targeted Pakistani air bases after Islamabad fired several high-speed missiles at military and civilian infrastructure in Punjab state. Pakistan said it responded with retaliatory strikes.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he and Vice President JD Vance had engaged with senior officials from both countries over the past 48 hours. They included Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir.
Rubio said the two governments agreed to “start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.”
People share cake as they celebrates following India and Pakistan have reached a ceasefire deal, during a demonstration, in Hyderabad, Pakistan, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Pervez Masih)
Though Pakistanis had initially celebrated their army’s retaliation, they were later jubilant about the truce, saying it was a moment of national pride and relief after days of tension.
“War brings nothing but suffering,” she said. “We are happy that calm is returning. It feels like Eid to me. We have won.”
Indian strikes hit Pakistani air bases
Tensions have soared since the attack at a popular tourist site in India-controlled Kashmir left 26 civilians dead, mostly Indian Hindu tourists, on April 22.
Earlier Saturday, India’s military held a press briefing in New Delhi, saying Pakistan had targeted health facilities and schools at its three air bases in Kashmir.
“Befitting reply has been given to Pakistani actions,” Indian Col. Sofiya Qureshi said.
Indian missiles targeted Nur Khan air base in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad, Murid air base in Chakwal city and Rafiqui air base in the Jhang district of eastern Punjab province, according to Pakistan’s military spokesman.
There were no immediate reports of the strike or its aftermath from residents in the densely populated Rawalpindi.
Pakistan’s military had said it used medium-range Fateh missiles to hit an Indian missile storage facility and air bases in the cities of Pathankot and Udhampur. Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif said the country’s air force assets were safe after the Indian assault.
The Associated Press could not independently verify all the actions attributed to Pakistan or India.
Explosions in India-controlled Kashmir
After the announcement of Pakistani retaliation, residents in Indian-controlled Kashmir said they heard loud explosions at multiple places, including the large cities of Srinagar and Jammu and the garrison town of Udhampur.
“Explosions that we are hearing today are different from the ones we heard the last two nights during drone attacks,” said Shesh Paul Vaid, the region’s former top police official and Jammu resident. “It looks like a war here.”
Vaid said explosions were heard from areas with military bases, adding it appeared that army sites were targeted. Residents living near Srinagar’s airport, which is also an air base, said they were rattled by the explosions and booming sound of jets.
“I was already awake, but the explosions jolted my kids out of their sleep. They started crying,” said Srinagar resident Mohammed Yasin.
A Kashmiri villager examines damages to his house caused by overnight Indian shelling, in Shah Kot, in Neelum Vallery, a district of Pakistan’s administered Kashmir, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/M.D. Mughal)
Buildings were destroyed or damaged in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where powerful blasts ripped off roofs, windows and walls and left homes riddled with holes.
Villagers and rescuers in a district of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir sifted through the rubble of homes hit by overnight Indian shelling Friday as people carried the dead. Others surveyed the ruins.
Omar Abdullah, Indian-controlled Kashmir’s top elected official, welcomed the ceasefire. But he said had it happened two or three days earlier “we might have avoided the bloodshed and the loss of precious lives.”
Immigration officers at Phuket International Airport have detain a Ukrainian woman suspected of extensively vandalizing a rented condominium, on May 10, 2025.
PHUKET — Immigration officers at Phuket International Airport have detained a Ukrainian woman suspected of extensively vandalizing a rented condominium before attempting to leave the country.
Miss Anastasia, a Ukrainian national, was apprehended on May 10 as she was preparing to depart Thailand. She is accused of causing damage estimated at over 350,000 baht ($10,490) to a rental property in Mueang district, Phuket province.
Prior to her arrest, officers from Wichit Police Station had issued two summonses for questioning since May 1, but she failed to appear. Authorities subsequently obtained a court-approved arrest warrant. When she attempted to leave Thailand on the morning of May 10, immigration police detained her and transferred custody to Wichit Police.
Immigration officers at Phuket International Airport have detain a Ukrainian woman suspected of extensively vandalizing a rented condominium, on May 10, 2025.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspect confessed to the vandalism, stating she was angry about not receiving her security deposit back as agreed. However, according to the property owner’s explanation and evidence, Miss Anastasia was not the person who signed the rental agreement—a Russian national was the official tenant. This discrepancy was cited as the reason the owner did not immediately refund the deposit.
Police have charged the Ukrainian woman with property damage and are preparing to prosecute her according to legal procedures.
The case was first reported to Wichit Police Station on April 29 by Ms. Warinrat, 39, the property manager, who suspected the Ukrainian woman was responsible for the destruction inside the condominium unit.
The damaged interior of a rental room in a condominium in Wichit sub-district, Mueang district, Phuket province, as shared on the Facebook page of Praphaphan Meesomboon
Meanwhile, the room owner, Miss Praphaphan, posted photos of the damage on Facebook to warn other landlords. The images showed cream-white walls and ceiling covered with blue and green scribbles. Some areas featured male genitalia symbols, letters spelling “32,000” like the amount of money, and above the bed was written “SWINDLE.” Additionally, the bed, pillows, blankets, and curtains were slashed, with cotton stuffing scattered throughout the room.
Ms. Warinrat reported that the Ukrainian tourist had rented the room since April 15, 2024, on a one-year contract set to expire on April 15, 2025. However, after staying for a year, she initially refused to vacate the property. Eventually, she agreed to stay until April 29, 2025, and arranged to return the keys at 4:00 p.m. But at 3:00 p.m., the Ukrainian woman sent a message stating she had already left the room and had dropped the keys in a trash bin.
The damaged interior of a rental room in a condominium in Wichit sub-district, Mueang district, Phuket province, as shared on the Facebook page of Praphaphan Meesomboon
Subsequently, Ms. Warinrat, accompanied by friends and the condo’s security personnel, brought a locksmith to open the door for inspection. Upon entering, they were shocked by the extensive damage throughout the room. All electrical equipment had also been destroyed. They initially estimated repair costs and labor at approximately 350,000 baht.
The condo owner has clarified that she was not refusing to return the 32,000 baht ($965) security deposit but was following proper contract procedures. She explained several key points:
The contract stipulated a 14-day processing period for deposit returns after deductions
She would only transfer money to the official contract holder’s account
The Ukrainian woman demanding the refund wasn’t actually listed on the contract
A pre-departure room inspection couldn’t be completed as requested
Outstanding charges for utilities remained unpaid
The owner maintains she’s been unfairly portrayed as wrongfully withholding the deposit when she was simply following proper procedures and couldn’t legally return funds to someone not listed on the rental agreement.
After the Ukrainian woman’s arrest, the room owner posted today: “Whatever karma you create, you must face the consequences, young lady.”
The Glass Pavilion, where plans have been proposed to install air conditioning for welcoming foreign guests of the Parliament.(Puangthong Pawakapan)
BANGKOK — The Thai parliament building, which was only inaugurated six years ago and only fully handed over in mid-2023 after more than a decade of problematic construction work, has once again become a political flashpoint. The Secretariat of the House of Representatives has proposed almost 1 billion baht (approx. USD 27 million) for renovation work in the 2026 budget.
Several renovation projects are outlined in the budget proposal including:
Parliament Museum renovation: 120 million baht ($3.64 million)
New audio system for 1,500-seat seminar room: 99 million baht ($3 million)
Renovation of CB406 meeting room: 118 million baht ($3.64 million)
Lighting system upgrades on seminar floors B1 and B2: 118 million baht ($3.64 million)
Renovation of the Information Room: 180 million baht ($5.47 million)
Renovation of the Kaew Pavilion, including installation of air conditioning: 123 million baht ($3.74 million)
Parliament kitchen upgrades: 117 million baht ($3.55 million)
The extensive spending plan comes at a time when Thailand is facing economic headwinds, including slow GDP growth, high household debt and the threat of US tariffs. It also follows the collapse of a newly constructed building for the Auditor General’s office, an incident that sparked public skepticism about government construction spending.
The parliament building, Sappaya Sabha, viewed from the bank of the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, on March 12, 2021. (Matichon Photo Library. Copyright reserved)
As the parliament complex is named Sappaya Sapasathan, meaning “place of virtuous deeds,” criticism has intensified. Critics include the public, internet users and even lawmakers.
Architect Protests Renovation Plan
The national artist and chief architect of the parliament building, Chatree Ladalalitsakul, submitted a letter on May 8 to the Senate Committee on Religion, Ethics, Arts and Culture opposing changes to the original design of the building.
Chatree particularly objected to the plan to roof over the Emerald Pool and convert the area into a library and commercial space. He argued that the claims about water leaking and the proliferation of mosquitoes were unfounded. In his opinion, the pool was equipped with a proper filtration system, like a swimming pool, and if operated properly, would not become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The national artist and chief architect of the parliament building, Chatree Ladalalitsakul, giving an interview to the media at the parliament, opposing modifications to the parliament design, including the project to fill in the Emerald Pond to build a library, on May 8, 2025.
He explained tha the Emerald Pool was designed with a swimming pool-like filtration system. With proper maintenance and daily water circulation according to standard procedures, it would be impossible for mosquitoes to breed.
“As for the leakage issue, this is a construction quality issue and should be the responsibility of the contractor as the work is still under warranty and has only recently been handed over. There is no reason to consider the contractor’s problem as our own,” he said.
He also warned that moving the library from the 9th to 10th floor to the first floor would be structurally risky and financially wasteful. The library has already cost over 100 million baht and is underutilized. Moreover, it is connected to the archive on the 8th floor and mainly serves MPs, senators and staff. If public access is to be made easier, he suggests building a new library outside the main building instead.
Answer: why the glass pavilion has no AC
Chatree explained that the Parliament was designed as an energy-efficient “pantry-style” building with cross-ventilation and strategic lighting for passive cooling, even in Thailand’s hot seasons.
He pointed out that filling in the pool to build a new library would require extensive air conditioning of the now ten-storey atrium, which would incur enormous installation and electricity costs.
The Glass Pavilion, where plans have been proposed to install air conditioning for welcoming foreign guests of the Parliament.(Puangthong Pawakapan)
Regarding the glass pavilion, another focus of the renovation proposal, Chatree also expressed disapproval. Originally designed for ceremonial purposes like religious rites, the pavilion is naturally cooled by the surrounding water and was never intended to be air-conditioned.
“This building wasn’t just designed for utility. It was envisioned as a symbolic architectural sculpture, reflecting Thai wisdom and spirit, a modern Thai landmark in global architectural circles,” he said.
World’s Largest Parliamentary Building
The Thai Parliament is located on the Chao Phraya River at the southwest corner of the Kiakkai intersection in Bangkok’s Dusit district. With an area of 424,000 square meters, it is the largest parliament building in the world, surpassing even the Palace of Parliament in Romania.
The project began in July 2008, with pile driving starting on June 8, 2013 and completion originally scheduled for 2015. However, due to delays, including four contract extensions and disruptions caused by COVID-19, full operation was postponed to May 1, 2021. The final handover was completed on July 4, 2021.
The Emerald Pond area inside the parliament building has been criticized for becoming a mosquito breeding ground.
The building is often referred to as the “10 billion baht parliament”,” referring to its official cost of 12.28 billion baht. Although it is touted as environmentally friendly, it does not have solar panel infrastructure, resulting in high electricity costs. Other problems such as leaking roofs, faulty water pumps, collapsed ceilings and stagnant water in the Emerald Pool have sparked criticism as to whether the costs were justified.
Renovation for Better Use
On May 7, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Pharadorn Prisananantakul, led parliamentary reporters on a tour to explain why the renovations were necessary.
He highlighted the seminar room on level B2 with 1,500 seats, which needs to be modernized at a cost of 99 million baht. The room is currently dim and acoustically poor, unsuitable for large national events, forcing the government to rent expensive hotels.
“If we had a fully functional hall, it would not only benefit MPs, but also the public, who could use it for various events,” he said.
Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Pharadorn Prisananantakul, led parliamentary reporters on a tour to explain the renovation of the Parliament Museum on May 7.
He also referred to the unused 6,000 square meter parliamentary museum. Ideally, it should be a living, technology-based educational center for politics, legislation and administration that invites repeat visits.
Pharadorn said that all proposed projects will be evaluated based on three main principles: Necessity, cost-effectiveness and transparency and accountability. He emphasized that the budget request is only a proposal from the Secretariat. The final approval depends on the MPs and budget committees.
Chonburi local officials and police officers inspect a mansion building near Pattaya in Pong Subdistrict, Banglamung District, allegedly hosting a noisy pool party on May 9, 2025.
CHONBURI — The Banglamung District Chief in Chonburi Province received complaints from local residents late Friday night around 8:00 p.m. regarding a hotel operator allegedly hosting a noisy party.
The district chief ordered local officials and police officers to investigate a mansion building near Pattaya in Pong Subdistrict, Banglamung District on May 9.
Undercover agents observing the scene discovered an unauthorized pool party with over 200 foreign tourists, primarily of Indian nationality. The tourists were swimming in the pool and drinking alcohol poolside while loud music blared throughout the area.
Chonburi local officials and police officers inspect a mansion building near Pattaya in Pong Subdistrict, Banglamung District, allegedly hosting a noisy pool party on May 9, 2025.
Officials then conducted a surprise raid, causing significant panic among the tourists. Authorities managed to control the situation and maintain order while warning the organizers about noise pollution laws.
Officials proceeded to check identification cards of young women hired to entertain the tourists and conducted drug tests. No underage individuals or persons with illegal substances in their systems were found.
Simultaneously, authorities requested to inspect the hotel operator’s permits and documentation of tour guides who brought tourists to use the hotel’s services. Operations at the hotel have been temporarily suspended pending verification of proper licensing.
Chonburi local officials and police officers inspect a mansion building near Pattaya in Pong Subdistrict, Banglamung District, allegedly hosting a noisy pool party on May 9, 2025.
Police Region 8 officers apprehend an Australian suspect wanted for robbing fellow Australians in Phuket and Samui at his luxury hideout in Chonburi on May 9, 2025. Officers discover two pet lions and numerous weapons.
CHONBURI — Police Region 8 has successfully apprehended an Australian suspect wanted for robbing fellow Australians in Phuket and Samui. When officers raided the luxury hideout in Chonburi, they discovered two pet lions and numerous weapons.
Police Lieutenant General Surapong Thanomjit, Commander of Police Region 8, led a team of officers from Police Region 8 along with Chonburi Provincial Police and Nong Prue Police Station to arrest Billy, an Australian national, under warrants issued by the Phuket Provincial Court and Samui Provincial Court on robbery charges.
The suspect was captured at a luxury villa near Pattaya in Moo 9, Pong Sub-district, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province on May 9.
During the raid, authorities found two large lions being kept on the property, reportedly registered under the name of the suspect’s Thai girlfriend. Billy stated that he purchased the lions – one aged 1 year for 1 million baht ($30,367) and another aged 5 months for 700,000 baht ($21,257) – and kept them inside the residence.
Police Region 8 officers apprehend an Australian suspect wanted for robbing fellow Australians in Phuket and Samui at his luxury hideout in Chonburi on May 9, 2025. Officers discover numerous weapons.
Police also discovered several BB guns in the villa. The property spans approximately 2 rai of land with an estimated value of 30 million baht. Authorities will investigate the source of funds used to purchase the property.
The case began when an Australian victim reported to Region 8 investigators that fellow Australians had robbed him twice, stealing cash and cryptocurrency worth over 21 million baht. The victim was also being followed and threatened. The leader of the gang reportedly has ties to influential groups in Australia, with family members involved in drug trafficking. Fearing for his safety, the victim sought help from the Region 8 Police Commander.
After gathering evidence, investigators believe the victim was indeed robbed twice. In the first incident, four perpetrators led by Billy and his associates broke into a villa in the Chalong Police jurisdiction in Phuket.
They used firearms to threaten the victim, forcing him to transfer 2 million baht to Billy’s account and later taking an additional 10.5 million baht ($318,860) in cash. They threatened the victim not to report the crime.
Two lions are found inside the luxury villa where Police Region 8 officers arrest an Australian suspect wanted for robbery in Phuket and Samui. Chonburi, May 9, 2025.
The victim fled to another location but was tracked down. In late January this year, Billy sent a group of Thai associates to follow the victim while he was staying in Koh Samui. They forced him to transfer 2.8 bitcoins to Billy, bringing the total losses from both incidents to approximately 21 million baht ($637,715).
Following these events, Police Major General Lertchai Champatong, Commander of the Investigation Division of Police Region 8, ordered urgent assistance and escorted the victim to file reports at Chalong Police Station in Phuket and Samui Police Station in Surat Thani.
The investigating officers at both locations expedited the issuance of arrest warrants, leading to the successful capture of the suspect. Initially, the suspect was sent to Phuket for questioning.
A 33-year-old Myanmar worker from SA Construction 2008 Company and her husband smile as they retrieve their lost gold jewelry from police at Zone B of the SAO collapse site on May 9, 2025.
BANGKOK — A Myanmar female worker and her husband arrived to claim their gold necklaces and rings that were recovered from the collapsed State Audit Office building in Zone B, Chatuchak district. They expressed joy and gratitude to rescue workers who found and turned over the valuables to police.
Mya Thaw Tar, a 33-year-old Myanmar worker from SA Construction 2008 Company, accompanied by her 31-year-old husband, came to retrieve their lost possessions from police at the Zone B collapse site on May 9.
She said rescue workers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation discovered the gold jewelry while clearing debris from the State Audit Office Zone B building adjacent to the parking structure. The recovered items included 4 gold rings, 1 necklace, 1 bracelet, 1 pearl pendant, and 1 gold fish pendant, with a total value of approximately 50,000 baht ($1,517).
Heavy machineries are clearing the rubble from the State Audit Office building that collapsed during an earthquake on March 28, 2025, as seen during a media tour on May 6, 2025.
She expressed deep gratitude to the rescue workers who found the items and delivered them to the Bang Sue Police Station joint command center to locate the rightful owner.
Mya Thaw Tar recounted that on March 28, the day of the incident, she was working as an elevator operator in the State Audit Office building. She was on the first floor when the earthquake struck and immediately evacuated the building without taking her bag or any belongings.
After the situation stabilized, she filed a report with Bang Sue Police Station on April 10 about her missing gold jewelry, providing photographic evidence to verify her claim.
The recovered items included 4 gold rings, 1 necklace, 1 bracelet, 1 pearl pendant, and 1 gold fish pendant, with a total value of approximately 50,000 baht ($1,517).
“At first I didn’t think I would get it back, but I kept asking many rescue workers to help look for it. I tried searching myself, digging through rubble while crying because this gold was something I had worked to buy and collect over many years. Today, when the police contacted me saying they found the gold I was looking for, I was overjoyed. I’m so thankful to the Thai police and all the rescue workers who returned my gold,” she said.
Regarding the ongoing debris removal and search for missing persons under the collapsed State Audit Office building, officials updated on May 9 that the number of affected people had decreased to 105 from the previous 109, after confirming that 4 people were at home and not at work on the day of the incident. The death toll stands at 89, with 9 injured and 7 still missing.
BANGKOK — Thai Airways demonstrates strong performance in Q1/2025, generating $1.56 billion in revenue with profits approaching $300 million. The airline outlines fleet expansion plans as it awaits court approval on June 4 to exit its business rehabilitation plan, with plans to return to the stock exchange in Q3.
Piyasvasti Amranand, Chairman of the Business Rehabilitation Plan Administration Committee of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), revealed on May 9 the company’s Q1 2025 performance results.
The company and its subsidiaries delivered satisfactory operational results with total revenue (excluding one-time items) of 51,625 million baht ($1.56 billion), growing 12.3% compared to the same period last year which recorded revenue of 45,955 million baht ($1.39 billion). Net profit reached 9,839 million baht ($298 million), increasing 306.1% from the previous year.
Contributing factors include the continuous expansion of passenger travel demand, alongside the company’s fleet expansion and increased flight frequencies. This resulted in a 21.1% year-on-year increase in Available Seat Kilometers (ASK), while Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK) grew 20.8% year-on-year, with a total of 4.33 million passengers, representing an 11.6% increase from the previous year.
Fleet Upgrade and Wi-Fi Installation
Piyasvasti added that based on these operational results, in 2025 the company plans to increase its fleet to 81 aircraft from the current 77 operational aircraft. Initially, the airline will gradually take delivery of one Airbus A330, one Boeing 789, and two new Airbus A321 Neo aircraft, with an additional 15 aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2026.
“These new aircraft will come equipped with personal entertainment systems at every seat and free Wi-Fi for all Royal Orchid Plus members regardless of status level, to enhance the passenger experience. We expect the first deliveries toward the end of 2025,” he stated.
Simultaneously, the company is prioritizing aircraft maintenance to increase competitive capabilities and fleet efficiency by gradually installing high-speed internet connectivity (In-flight Connectivity or IFC) on Airbus A330-300 aircraft and renovating the interior seating.
The service has already launched on the first two aircraft, allowing passengers unlimited chat and messaging capabilities at no cost. Full internet service will be available free of charge for Royal Orchid Plus frequent flyer program members according to membership level starting May 1, 2025.
Rehabilitation Exit Plan and Stock Market Return
Regarding progress on exiting rehabilitation, following the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on April 18, 2025, which approved the appointment of a new board of directors, the company completed registration of these board changes with the Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce, on April 22, 2025.
Piyasvasti Amranand
As a result, the company has fully complied with the requirements of the rehabilitation plan and has submitted a petition to the Central Bankruptcy Court requesting termination of the rehabilitation process on April 28, 2025. The court has scheduled a hearing for the petition on June 4. If approved in the latter half of June, the duties of the Rehabilitation Plan Administration Committee will end.
Subsequently, management authority will transfer to the newly appointed board of directors, which will need to convene to select a chairman and audit committee before entering processes related to the Stock Exchange of Thailand and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to enable the company to resume trading on the stock exchange.
“Returning to trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in the second half of the year represents another challenge and risk we must face, particularly given the volatility of both domestic and international capital markets and shareholder expectations. Nevertheless, we are confident that our improving performance and strong organizational management will build investor confidence,” he stated.
Regarding Thai Smile Airways Co., Ltd., following the Rehabilitation Plan Administration Committee’s resolution to approve its dissolution on May 8, 2025, the company has already completed the transfer of all Airbus A320 aircraft into the company’s fleet and terminated Thai Smile Airways’ services as of January 1, 2024.
Australian Market Recovery
Piyasvasti concluded by noting that although Q2 2025, particularly May and June, falls within the low season, the company’s operational plans should enable continued strong growth, as reflected in advance booking data for this period which shows good expansion compared to the same period last year.
At the same time, the Australian market has begun to clearly recover and is expected to grow continuously from July to August, as this coincides with the European tourism season which sees high travel demand. This trend is likely to significantly positively impact the company’s revenue in the second half of the year.
