CHONBURI — 14 May 2026, Police and administrative officers in Chonburi province arrested 16 Chinese nationals during a late-night raid on an illegal poker den operating inside a luxury house in Bang Lamung district, authorities said on Thursday.
At 23:46 on Wednesday, a coordinated task force led by Naphatphong Khositsuriyamanee (Chonburi Immigration Superintendent), Nattapol Pongsooksakul (Nong Prue Police Chief), and Prabda Suksoontree (Inspector General of Tourist Police Sub-Station 4, Subdivision 2, Tourist Police Division 1). Officers from the Immigration Bureau, Tourist Police, and Bang Lamung Administrative Office descended upon a residence located at 243/15 Soi Mab Yai Lia 24, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi.
Authorities said they detained 16 suspected gamblers and seized around 100,000 baht in cash, gambling chips worth several million-baht, three poker tables and a large quantity of playing cards and gambling equipment.
Police said the operation followed complaints from local residents who reported unusually large numbers of Chinese tourists entering the property. Residents also raised concerns because a previous incident involving Chinese nationals allegedly hiding C4 explosives in the area had heightened fears of potential criminal activity. Investigators monitored the house and confirmed that groups of Chinese nationals were regularly entering and leaving the property before planning the raid.
Because the house was equipped with surveillance cameras around the perimeter, officers carefully coordinated the raid to catch the group by surprise shortly before midnight. During the storming of the property, three suspects attempted to escape by jumping from a second-floor window but were injured after hitting the ground. Rescue workers were called to provide first aid while officers sealed off the premises.
Inside, officers found a group of 13 Chinese gamblers, both male and female, in a state of panic along with evidence of gambling activities, food and drinks prepared for players. Once the situation was brought under control, all 16 suspects, 13 men and three women, were taken into custody for questioning. Moreover, authorities also seized three poker tables, numerous decks of cards, and an amount of cash. Officials are currently checking on their immigration records before being handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings.
NONTHABURI — 14 May 2026, A man surrendered to police after allegedly killing a woman and driving her body to a police station in Nonthaburi province, authorities said.
Emergency responders from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation were alerted to the incident at about 10:10 after reports that a homicide suspect had placed the victim’s body inside a sedan and covered it with a cloth.
The suspect later drove the vehicle to the front of Bang Bua Thong police station, where officers took him into custody while investigators examined the scene.
Preliminary police questioning indicated that the suspect had been in a close relationship with the woman. Authorities said he allegedly killed her before calling his wife to say he was driving to Bang Bua Thong police station to surrender with the body in the car.
Police said the motive and circumstances surrounding the killing remain under investigation.
BORDEAUX — 14 May 2026, French authorities barred more than 1,700 passengers and crew aboard the British cruise ship MS Ambition from disembarking after around 50 people fell ill in an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness, officials said.
Authorities said there was no indication the outbreak was linked to the recent hantavirus cases reported aboard the Dutch-operated cruise ship MV Hondius.
The MS Ambition, operated by Ambassador Cruise Line, was on a 14-night voyage departing from Belfast and Liverpool, with scheduled stops in northern Spain and along France’s Atlantic coast.
The vessel arrived in Bordeaux on the evening of 13 May.
Étienne Guyot, prefect of the Gironde department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, ordered passengers and crew to remain on board and restricted contact between the ship and Bordeaux port authorities following recommendations from regional health officials.
Authorities said about 50 passengers showed symptoms consistent with acute gastrointestinal infection after the ship’s captain alerted French officials. Sick passengers were initially treated by onboard doctors and isolated in their cabins.
Medical teams supervised by France’s maritime medical coordination centre were later deployed to the ship, while infectious disease specialists at Bordeaux University Hospital began analysing patient samples to identify the pathogen, assess transmission risks and determine additional health measures.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 16 gastrointestinal outbreaks were reported on cruise ships in 2024, the highest annual total in more than a decade. Most were linked to norovirus, including a recently identified strain believed to spread more easily.
BANGKOK — 14 May 2026, Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its third weather warning on Thursday, cautioning that heavy to very heavy rainfall could trigger flash floods and forest runoff across parts of the country from 14-18 May.
The department stated in Advisory No. 3 (63/2026) that from this week, increased rainfall is expected in the northern, central, eastern and southern regions as a strong low-pressure system over the lower Bay of Bengal moves towards the upper Bay of Bengal, while the southwest monsoon strengthens over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand.
Residents in areas prone to flooding, particularly along foothills, waterways and low-lying areas, were urged to remain alert for possible flash floods and sudden runoff caused by heavy to very heavy rain and accumulated rainfall.
The shift in weather is attributed to a powerful low-pressure cell over the lower Bay of Bengal, which is moving toward the upper reaches of the bay. Simultaneously, the south-western monsoon covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand is gaining strength.
Authorities also warned of increasingly rough seas in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. From 15-18 May, waves in the Andaman Sea are expected to reach 2-3 meters, with waves exceeding 3 meters in areas affected by thunderstorms. In the upper Gulf of Thailand, waves are forecast at around 2 meters and higher than 2 meters during storms.
The department advised mariners to navigate with caution and avoid areas experiencing thunderstorms. Small boats in the Andaman Sea were urged to remain ashore during the warning period.
Residents can track live updates, which are available at http://www.tmd.go.th, the department’s website, or its 24-hour emergency hotlines: 0-2399-4012-13 and 1182.
The announcement was issued at 05:00 on Thursday. TMD said its next update would be released at 17:00 on the same day.
President Donald Trump walks with China's Vice President Han Zheng during a welcome ceremony Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
BEIJING (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for his hotly anticipated talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the Iran war, trade and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
The meat of the summit doesn’t start until Thursday, when the leaders hold bilateral talks, visit the Temple of Heaven, where Chinese emperors once prayed for bumper crops, and take part in a formal banquet. But the Chinese offered Trump a pomp-filled welcome, literally rolling out the red carpet for him after Air Force One landed in the Chinese capital.
The president was greeted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng; Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to Washington; Ma Zhaoxu, executive vice minister of foreign affairs; as well as the U.S. envoy to Beijing, David Perdue.
The welcoming ceremony included a military honor guard, a military band and some 300 Chinese youths waving Chinese and American flags and chanting, “Welcome, welcome! Warm welcome!” as Trump made his way to his waiting limousine. The youth greeters were decked out in white and robin’s egg blue outfits that matched the paint job of the iconic presidential plane.
“We’re the two superpowers,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House on Tuesday for the long flight to Beijing. “We’re the strongest nation on Earth in terms of military. China’s considered second.”
While Trump likes to project a sense of strength, the visit occurs at a delicate moment for his presidency as his popularity at home has been weighed down by the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran and rising inflation as a consequence of that conflict. The Republican president is seeking a win by signing deals with China to buy more American soybeans, beef and aircraft, saying he’ll be talking with Xi about trade “more than anything else.”
The Trump administration hopes to begin the process of establishing a Board of Trade with China to address differences between the countries. The board could help prevent the trade war ignited last year after Trump’s tariff hikes, an action China countered through its control of rare earth minerals. That led to a one-year truce last October.
But Trump is visiting Beijing when Iran continues to dominate his domestic agenda. The war has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, stranding oil and natural gas tankers and causing energy prices to spike to levels that could sabotage global economic growth. The U.S. president declared that Xi didn’t need to assist in resolving the conflict, even though Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Beijing last week.
President Donald Trump shakes hands during a welcome ceremony Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
“We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control,” Trump told reporters Tuesday.
Taiwan high on the agenda
The status of Taiwan also will be a major topic as China is displeased with U.S. plans to sell weapons to the self-governing island that the Chinese government claims as part of its own territory.
Trump told reporters Monday that he would be discussing with Xi an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan that the U.S. administration authorized in December but has not yet begun fulfilling. The arms package is the largest ever approved for Taiwan.
At the same time, Taiwan — as the world’s leading chipmaker — has become essential for the development of AI, with the U.S. importing more goods so far this year from Taiwan than China. Trump has sought to use Biden-era programs and his own deals to bring more chipmaking to America.
The Chinese Communist Party’s news outlet, People’s Daily, published a strongly worded editorial ahead of Trump’s arrival underscoring that Taiwan is “the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations” and is “the biggest point of risk” between the two nations.
Trump says relationship with Xi is on solid footing
Trump was already portraying the trip as a success before he even left White House grounds. He openly mused about Xi’s planned reciprocal visit to the U.S. later this year, lamenting that the White House ballroom under construction would not be completed in time to properly fete the Chinese leader.
“We’re going to have a great relationship for many, many decades to come,” Trump said of the U.S. and China.
Trump embarked on Air Force One for the big meeting with a coterie of aides, family members and business world titans, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Tesla and SpaceX’s Elon Musk. While en route to Beijing, he posted on social media that his “first request” to Xi during the visit will be to ask the Chinese leader to bolster the presence of U.S. firms in China.
“I will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to ‘open up’ China so that these brilliant people can work their magic, and help bring the People’s Republic to an even higher level!” wrote Trump, who is expected to receive a formal ceremonial greeting when he arrives in the Chinese capital on Wednesday evening.
Despite Trump’s outward confidence, China appears to be entering the meeting from “a much stronger place,” said Scott Kennedy, a senior adviser on Chinese business and economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.
China would like to reduce tech restrictions on accessing computer chips and find ways to reduce tariffs, among other goals.
“But even if they don’t get much on any of those things, as long as there’s not a blow-up in the meeting and President Trump doesn’t go away and look to re-escalate, China basically comes out stronger,” Kennedy said.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met on Wednesday to discuss economic and trade issues at Incheon International Airport, just west of the South Korean capital Seoul, according to the Chinese state run Xinhua News Agency.
Trump wants 3-way nuclear arms deal
Trump also intends to raise the idea of the U.S., China and Russia signing a pact that would set limits on the nuclear weapons each nation keeps in its arsenal, according to a senior Trump administration official who briefed reporters ahead of the trip. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House.
President Donald Trump talks with Elon Musk, right, during and arrival ceremony Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
China has previously been cool to entering such a pact. Beijing’s arsenal, according to Pentagon estimates, exceeds more than 600 operational nuclear warheads and is far from parity with the U.S. and Russia, which each are estimated to have more than 5,000 nuclear warheads.
The last nuclear arms pact, known as the New START treaty, between Russia and the United States expired in February, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century. As the treaty was set to expire, Trump rejected a call by Russia to extend the two-country deal for another year and called for “a new, improved, and modernized” deal that includes China.
The Pentagon estimates China has more than 600 operational nuclear warheads and will have over 1,000 by 2030.
BANGKOK — Thailand has introduced new alcohol control regulations banning the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in several public areas nationwide, with the measures taking effect from 12 May.
The eight announcements, published in the Royal Gazette, update regulations originally introduced in 2008 to better reflect current conditions. The measures were signed by the public health minister as chair of the Alcohol Beverage Control Committee.
Under the new rules:
The sale of alcohol is prohibited on roads, in vehicles or on vehicles located on public roads.
The sale of alcohol is prohibited at railway stations and on trains, except during special events held inside the air-conditioned hall at Bangkok railway station.
The sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited at public piers and on public passenger boats.
The sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited at all passenger bus terminals nationwide.
The sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited inside factory premises, except at liquor factories where sales or tasting are part of the production process.
The sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited in areas under the supervision or use of government agencies, state enterprises or other state organisations, except in private residential areas, clubs or traditional banquet events.
The sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited in public parks managed by state enterprises or government agencies.
The sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited inside state enterprises and other state agencies.
The updated regulations officially came into force on 12 May.
BANGKOK — Football legends including Steven Gerrard, Steve McManaman, Michel Salgado, Claude Makelele and Quinton Fortune visited Rajadamnern Stadium to experience Muay Thai culture during their trip to Thailand.
The former football stars travelled to Bangkok for the Living Legends Football Festival held on 9-10 May before making a stop at Rajadamnern Stadium, widely regarded as one of Thailand’s most iconic Muay Thai venues.
They were welcomed by Muay Thai superstar Buakaw Banchamek and Rajadamnern Stadium champion Daniel Rodriguez, who guided the group through the history of the stadium and exchanged souvenirs with the visitors.
Buakaw and Daniel also introduced the football legends to basic Muay Thai techniques and the traditional wai kru ritual during a special training session.
SURIN — Thailand’s 2nd Army Region on Wednesday confirmed that a 58-year-old Thai man who went missing near the Thai-Cambodian border last month is currently being detained in Cambodia.
The man, identified as Yot Sainoi from Surin province, was reported missing after entering a forest area near the border in Kap Choeng district on 25 April to collect forest products. His family later filed a missing person report with Kap Choeng police after they were unable to contact him.
Authorities later found his motorcycle parked near the forest edge and launched a joint search operation with local administrative and security agencies.
Following coordination with Cambodian authorities, Col. Pov Peng, head of the O’Smach border coordination unit, informed Thai officials that Cambodian authorities had detained Yot and transferred him to Oddar Meanchey province for legal proceedings.
According to the Cambodian side, Yot is facing charges related to illegal entry and trespassing into a military area. He is currently being held at Oddar Meanchey provincial prison.
The 2nd Army Region said it is working closely with Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thai Consulate-General in Siem Reap to provide consular assistance and ensure the man receives humanitarian care and legal support. Officials said he remains safe while in custody.
The army also urged residents living near border areas to exercise caution when entering forests or conducting activities near the frontier, advising them to inform local officials in advance to reduce the risk of getting lost or facing legal issues in neighbouring countries.
SURAT THANI — 13 May 2026, Thai Prime Minister on Wednesday ordered an investigation into suspected nominee business arrangements involving foreign investoAdd Postrs on Koh Phangan, after authorities found allegedly illegal luxury pool villas linked to Israeli nationals.
At 14:10 on 13 May, Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, along with his delegation, conducted a field visit to monitor and expedite solutions for issues affecting local residents and businesses in major tourist destinations. The visit focused on the illegal use of Thai nationals as legal fronts (nominees) for foreign-owned businesses and the problem of unauthorized encroachment on public beachfront areas.
Anutin visited a property connected to a company under investigation and held discussions with ministers and local officials in front of a pool villa allegedly constructed without proper permits. Deputy national police chief Samran Nuanma, reported on the unauthorized construction of these villas owned by Israeli nationals, following the policy to dismantle foreign nominee networks on Koh Phangan.
Anutin asked Samran to prove whether the shareholders are indeed foreigners. He also ordered the authorities to examine the company’s financial transactions and source of funds.
Next, Anutin addressed controversy surrounding a cabinet resolution approved to ease procedures for foreign investors in eight business sectors, allowing foreign investors to operate without needing a license. He apologized for confusion on 12 May caused by comments from a newly appointed deputy government spokesperson, who had suggested foreigners would no longer need licenses to operate businesses in Thailand. In his eagerness to see the new appointee begin working promptly, he had instructed them to announce this specific matter immediately.
He has already reprimanded the Government Spokesperson, noting that each coalition party is already responsible for specific ministries—for example, the Pheu Thai Party oversees the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Labor. Each individual should focus on their assigned responsibilities. Therefore, I must apologize for the mistake in assigning a Deputy Government Spokesperson to announce such a critical matter. He sincerely apologizes for this error.
When asked to confirm that the resolution was not a move toward full liberalization of foreign business, he clarified that the policy was intended only to reduce duplicated administrative procedures. For instance, if a foreign national wishes to operate a business in Thailand, they must already obtain permits from the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning, the Department of Industrial Works, or the Ministry of Interior. This change means they will no longer need to file a redundant application with the Ministry of Commerce. This was the initiative of the Minister of Commerce, aimed at eliminating unnecessary overlap.
The Ministry of Commerce is responsible for business registration and issuing licenses for various operations. Once the primary regulatory agency grants permission, the business can proceed. However, on 12 May, the Deputy Government Spokesperson likely gave a brief and summarized statement that foreigners can operate in Thailand without a license, which is incorrect.
Anutin emphasized that it is not true at all. Foreigners must still obtain permission from the relevant authorities. They simply no longer need to file a redundant request with the Ministry of Commerce. The government is striving to reduce redundant steps and transition toward a One-Stop Service as much as possible, in line with our ease-of-doing-business policy.
Asked about the nominee issue in Koh Phangan, Anutin said he was here today specifically to address the nominee problem. More importantly, let his team not yet focus on whether there is land encroachment, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Lands will handle that. Today, authorities are looking at the practice of setting up companies to sell them to foreigners. Foreign shareholding must not exceed 49%.
However, authorities are currently seeing multiple companies established with cross-shareholding structures. This makes a company appear Thai on paper, but in reality, the control and direction of the firm are 100% foreign-owned. This violates the spirit of Thai law.
To own land, a Thai company must maintain at least 51% Thai shareholding. In these cases, it is effectively 100% foreign; the company exists as a shell, but its Thainess is gradually dissolved. To put it simply, it is like putting a black wig on a foreigner to make them look Thai, but ultimately, the foreigner is still the one in control. That must be fixed.
Regarding the involvement of lawyers and legal advisors, Anutin noted that companies have legal and accounting advisors. Normally, with seven founders where Thais hold more than 50% capital, the Ministry of Commerce would approve the registration. But when the intent is to circumvent the law, such as one individual holding shares in over 200 shell companies to sell them as legal fronts for foreign businesses, this violates the spirit of our major laws. Therefore, he believed legal action can be taken.
In addition, the police must investigate the source of funds to see if money is being laundered into land ownership, granting foreigners the power to do as they please. These activities need to be blocked from happening.
He explained that the policy was intended only to reduce duplicated administrative procedures by removing the need for investors to obtain additional approvals from the Commerce Ministry after already securing licenses from sector-specific agencies.
Following the inspection, Anutin met local residents along the beach and urged the community to help preserve the island’s environment. “Please help keep the beaches clean and the water clear,” he said.
The prime minister later exchanged jokes with fishermen and residents who invited him squid fishing before he departed for neighboring Phuket province.
Thailand’s first Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighter jet has officially entered the production line at SAAB in Sweden, while Air Force Commander-in-Chief Seksan Kanta travelled to Stockholm to monitor progress on the programme and discuss future cooperation.
The Royal Thai Air Force signed a contract in August 2025 to procure four Gripen E/F fighter jets under the first phase of the “Peace Burapha 1” programme, valued at 19.5 billion baht. The agreement was signed with Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and SAAB.
On 13 May, Seksan, who also chairs the Thai-Swedish joint government project committee, attended a progress meeting at the FMV headquarters in Stockholm alongside members of the fighter procurement committee. The Thai delegation also held talks with FMV Deputy Director General Eva Hagwall regarding continued defence cooperation.
According to reports, the first Thai Gripen E/F aircraft has now entered the production line at SAAB’s facility in Linköping, Sweden.
The first phase of the procurement programme runs from fiscal years 2025 to 2029, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029. Thailand also plans a second phase in fiscal year 2028 for an additional four aircraft as part of a long-term plan to acquire a full squadron of 12 Gripen E/F jets.
The new aircraft will replace ageing F-16 A/B fighters currently stationed at Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
