(Photo: Takraw Association of Thailand)Golden last hurrahThailand’s women’s sepak takraw team delivered the final gold medal of the 33rd SEA Games, just hours before the closing ceremony. As SEA Games winners, Thailand booked a place at the 2026 Asian Volleyball Championship. “This is my second SEA Games singles gold, 10 years after the first in Singapore. Performers dazzle the crowd at Rajamangala National Stadium during the SEA Games closing ceremony on Saturday night. The women’s side had earlier made history, beating Philippines 13-4 to win the first-ever SEA Games gold in the sport.

(Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)BUENG KAN - Recent water quality tests have confirmed the Mekong River is safe, with arsenic levels within acceptable limits, according to a senior local environmental official. The tests in November were undertaken after the regional environmental office in Udon Thani found arsenic levels at one monitoring point in Bueng Kan had reached 0.019 mg/L in August. A subsequent test in September showed arsenic levels had fallen below the standard. He said Bueng Kan has no industrial plants or mining concessions that use arsenic in their production processes. However, there are no arsenic test results from the Lao stretch of the Mekong, making it difficult to verify or determine the origin of the contamination.

Listen to this articleMuch of the Jeffrey Epstein document trove released by the US Justice Department has been blacked out. Even so, the files shed some light on the disgraced financier's intimate ties to the rich, famous and powerful -- Trump among them. But Democrats voiced frustration that the release fell far short of what was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the government's entire case file by Friday, constrained only by legal and victim privacy concerns. "Simply releasing a mountain of blacked-out pages violates the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law. Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year sentence for recruiting underage girls for Epstein, whose death was ruled a suicide.

Heavy fire at key Thai-Cambodian border flashpointsListen to this articleLt Gen Weerayuth Raksilp, the 2nd Army Area Commander, on Saturday supervises operations at Hill 350, a strategically crucial area near Prasat Ta Kwai in Phanom Dong Rak district of Surin province. (Photo: 2nd Army Area)Fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border, particularly in parts of Si Sa Ket province, remains intense, the army said on Saturday. Numerous unmanned aerial vehicles, including FPV attack drones, were also reported over Thai positions throughout Friday night, among the heaviest drone deployments seen so far, it said. The 2nd Army Area also released what it said was evidence showing Cambodian troops violating international humanitarian law over the past 13 days of conflict. The army said earlier that “indiscriminate” firing by Cambodian troops had severely impacted civilians’ homes, hospitals and schools — all non-military targets.

(Photo: Pheu Thai Party)The Pheu Thai Party has called on the Election Commission (EC) and the government to ensure a fair and transparent election, citing reports of intimidation, abuse of authority and political manipulation in several constituencies as the campaign period begins. Mr Prasert added Pheu Thai remains confident about the Feb 8 poll, with 400 constituency candidates and 100 party-list candidates to be formally announced at a party event on Thursday. Pheu Thai deputy leader Chousak Sirinil also expressed concern about the broader political climate, pointing to what he described as widespread party-hopping driven by financial incentives. Mr Chousak said Pheu Thai expects a competitive contest and is setting up monitoring mechanisms, including an anti-cheating coordination centre, to help ensure the election is conducted fairly. In a related development, Pheu Thai on Saturday welcomed former members of the Chart Pattana Party, which has decided not to contest the Feb 8 poll.

Ratchanok roars into SF in HangzhouListen to this articleRatchanok Intanon defeated Han Yue to advance to the semi-finals of the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, on Friday. Pornpawee Chochuwong exited due to a recurring calf injury on Thursday, leaving the group to be contested by the remaining three players. Earlier, South Korea's ‍An ‍Se-Young finished top of Group A after defeating Japan's world champion Akane Yamaguchi 14-21, 21-5, 21-14. With their spots in the semi-finals already confirmed, world No.1 An rallied from a game down to end the group stage with three consecutive wins. Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani beat Tomoka Miyazaki 21-17, 21-9 to pick up her first win in the group.

Trump administration begins release of Epstein filesListen to this articleLawmakers say the public deserves answers in a case with hundreds of alleged victims. The files are expected to shed light on the disgraced financier's connections with high-profile business executives, celebrities, academics and politicians, including President Donald Trump. Trump severed ties with Epstein years before the 2019 arrest and is not accused of wrongdoing in the case. Running for the White House, Trump promised to release all the files. For the public and victims, the release of the files marks the clearest opportunity yet to shed light on the scandal.

Similan sea turtle rescued after swallowing tourist’s wristbandListen to this articleA veterinarian tries to remove a 20cm wristband from a sea turtle that had inadvertently swallowed it, during a rescue operation at Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phangnga province. (Photos: Mu Ko Similan National Park)A sea turtle that unknowingly swallowed a plastic wristband handed to it by a tourist has finally been able to pass the object nearly a month later, according to veterinarians at Mu Ko Similan National Park in southern Thailand. Reports surfaced on Nov 21 that a visitor to the national park in Phangnga province had allowed a sea turtle, an endangered marine animal, to consume their wristband. Upon learning of the incident, park officials urgently located the turtle and transported it to the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Species Rescue Centre. After a period of observation to ensure its safety, the turtle is to be returned to the wild off Koh Miang.

Taipei attacker acted alone, police say after four dieListen to this articleTAIPEI — The ‍man suspected ‍of carrying out an attack in Taiwan with a smoke grenade and knife acted alone, police ‌said on Saturday of ​the incident that killed four, including the attacker. Chang Wen, 27, from the northern city of Taoyuan, died falling from a building during a police chase on Friday evening in a packed shopping district in central Taipei, ‌police said. Violent crime in Taiwan is very rare, and in response to the attack the police presence has been ‌stepped ​up across the island, including in the bustling capital Taipei. "For areas in Taipei city where crowds are expected to gather in various commercial districts, we are upgrading security measures citywide," Mayor Chiang Wan-an told reporters. "We will also ensure that ​rapid-response units can be mobilised immediately when emergencies occur, so ‍as to safeguard public safety," he said.

The Royal Thai Air Force reported that the mission successfully destroyed a Cambodian stronghold in Thmor Da in Veal Veng district. Thai forces also said that Cambodian structures have encroached over the Trat border, necessitating military action. On Thursday, Thai fighter jets bombed a building in Poipet, a Cambodian casino town opposite Sa Kaeo province, destroying a “logistics centre” used to store rockets. Thai security officials said on Friday that the casino buildings targeted were heavily reinforced and could not be collapsed by airstrikes alone. Thai officials have not said whether any of the strikes resulted in casualties.

(Photo: Royal Thai Army)The bodies of two fallen Thai soldiers have now been recovered after Thai troops retook control of the strategic Hill 350 in Surin province from Cambodian forces, the 2nd Army Region reported on Saturday. Thai forces have secured the area but safety inspections were continuing because of the risk of landmines, said Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, the Royal Thai Army spokesman. The two soldiers were believed to have been killed on the night of Dec 16, the day Thai troops recaptured Ta Khwai temple from Cambodian troops. His weapons had been seized by Cambodian soldiers, who placed the body in a visible position. The Thai was unable to retrieve the remains for fear that the body might be used as a lure for an ambush.

US university killer's mystery motive sought after suicideListen to this articleClaudio Neves Valente, the suspect in the Brown University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shootings, at an Alamo rental car location in Boston. No motive has been made public for any of the killings, which cast a long shadow on two of New England's normally genteel elite universities. Investigators struggled to produce viable leads in the days after the incidents, with President Donald Trump attacking Brown University for failing to link its security cameras to police systems. During the protracted manhunt, dozens of names surfaced on social media and elsewhere in connection with the shooting -- almost all false and unlinked to the bloodshed. Officers were directed to a post on the social media forum site that told investigators to probe a grey Nissan SUV.

Indonesia take jumping team title, Kingdom topListen to this articleMedal winners pose on the podium at Thai Polo & Equestrian Club Pattaya. In the final standings, Indonesia secured the gold medal, followed by Malaysia with silver and Singapore with bronze. In the team format, each rider's performance contributes to the overall result, adding an extra layer of intensity to the competition. Despite not adding to the medal count, Thailand continued to lead the overall equestrian medal standings at the Games. The equestrian events of the 2025 SEA Games were hosted at Thai Polo & Equestrian Club Pattaya, supported by B.Grimm Country Club, one of Southeast Asia's leading equestrian venues and a regular host of regional and international competitions.

Iran executes man accused of spying for IsraelListen to this articleIsrael and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken on June 18, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)DUBAI — Iran executed ​a man on Saturday who it said was convicted of spying for Israel and having ties to Iranian opposition ‌groups, the judiciary's Mizan news agency reported. Entangled in a decades-long shadow war with ‌Israel, Iran has executed many people it accused of having links with Israel's intelligence service ⁠and facilitating its operations in the country. Executions of Iranians convicted ​of spying for Israel have significantly increased this year, with multiple death sentences carried out in ​recent months. In September 2025, Iran executed a man accused of killing a security officer during unrest sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini.

Australia four wickets from Ashes glory as England cling onListen to this articleAustralia spinner Nathan Lyon celebrates dismissing England captain Ben Stokes in Adelaide on Saturday. (Photo: AFP)ADELAIDE, Australia - An unrelenting Australia were four wickets from retaining the Ashes at close of play in the third Test on Saturday as England clung to the dying hope that they could chase a record 435 to save the series. Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who made a century in the first innings, had another good day with his quick hands stumping Crawley off Lyon. England took six wickets before lunch to wrap up Australia’s second innings for 349 with Travis Head slamming 170 and Carey 72. Carey was taken at slip by Brook off Stokes, with Josh Inglis (10) following, caught behind by Smith off Tongue.