A cousin of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has acknowledged holding a 30 per cent stake in a payment platform linked by US authorities to cyber scams and money laundering operations across Southeast Asia.

Businessman Hun To, a nephew of former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, said in a statement on Wednesday that he owned shares in Huione Pay but was not involved in its management and received no profits from the company. His statement came after renewed scrutiny surrounding Phnom Penh-based Huione Group, which was designated by the US Treasury last year as a "primary money-laundering concern".

US authorities accused the group of helping transnational criminal networks move billions of dollars tied to online scams, stolen funds and illicit cyber activities. Cambodian business records previously listed Hun To as a director of Huione Pay. According to a liquidation report, Chinese national Li Xiong held a 62 per cent stake in the company, while Hun To owned 30 per cent. Li was extradited to China last month over alleged links to a major gambling and fraud syndicate.

Huione Pay completed its liquidation process in October 2025. Liquidators said the company still held more than US$1.1 million in cash after paying creditors, with the remaining funds distributed to shareholders involved in its previous operations. Hun To denied receiving any portion of the remaining assets.

The controversy comes as Cambodia faces increasing international pressure over its role as a regional hub for cyber scam operations. Criminal syndicates based in casinos, hotels and heavily guarded compounds have been accused of running online romance and cryptocurrency investment scams targeting victims worldwide.

PHUKET — 6 May 2026, A foreign tourist was caught on camera vandalising parked motorcycles and acting erratically in a residential area of Phuket, according to local media reports and viral social media footage. The incident took place in Chalong subdistrict, Mueang district. Images shared by local Facebook pages showed a shirtless man wearing black shorts and carrying bags, wielding a knife and slashing motorcycle seats while shouting loudly in the street. Witnesses described his behaviour as consistent with someone under the influence of drugs. The post identified the man as a British national and noted that he also damaged shop signage in the area. The footage sparked significant online outrage, with many users condemning the man's actions and voicing concerns about the conduct of certain foreign visitors. Authorities have not yet released additional details about the suspect or any potential charges.

At 7:20 a.m. on May 6, 2025, Radio 191 received reports of a disturbance at the drug rehabilitation center in Kaew Saen subdistrict, Na Bon district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, with approximately 500 patients attempting to escape. Police and officials from various agencies were dispatched to the scene, with Deputy Region 8 Police Commander Ponchai Khachakl and Na Bon District Police Commander's deputy Khajit Kongprab arriving to oversee the situation personally.

Initial investigations revealed no injuries or clear property damage. Officers were actively pursuing escapees while monitoring the surrounding area to prevent harm to local residents. Deputy Na Bon Police Commander Kasamsit Champathong confirmed that authorities were urgently resolving the situation and called on local residents to report any suspicious individuals.

By 1:00 p.m., Na Bon District Chief Virapan Sukawalli reported the situation had returned to normal, with all rehabilitation patients accounted for. Thirty had safely returned home, while others were being reunited with their families.

Investigations determined that approximately 10 core leaders, placed in the program for nearly a year by family members who refused to pick them up, had planned the escape. When the power went out in the early morning, they forced open the door seeking to leave and go home—not causing serious damage or destruction. When others saw the open door, they also exited. Authorities concluded the incident stemmed from stress related to confinement rather than violence.

GC opens new NatureWorks plant producing full-cycle PLA bioplastic in Asia, advancing Thailand toward becoming a bioplastic manufacturing base and providing fossil-fuel-free plastic alternatives.

Saroj Puddhathammawong, Chief Operating Officer of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), a chemical products leader, announced the company's expansion into low-carbon business under a strategy balancing business growth with sustainability. This is achieved through investment in NatureWorks, the world's largest polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic producer. The second plant has officially opened at the Nakhon Sawan Bio Complex in Nakhon Sawan Province, marking a major step for Thailand's bioplastic industry and aligning with global sustainability trends.

The new facility opening reflects the company's vision for sustainable growth through developing products that meet innovation, performance, and environmental impact reduction standards. NatureWorks, a joint venture between PTT Global Chemical and Cargill, serves as a key mechanism driving the bioplastic industry while responding to market demand for alternative materials and enhancing supply chain flexibility, particularly as the world prioritizes managing raw material diversity risks amid geopolitical volatility.

This is NatureWorks' second PLA bioplastic facility under the Ingeo brand, utilizing world-class bioplastic technology and 100% Thai sugarcane as feedstock to produce environmentally friendly PLA bioplastic with a production capacity of 75,000 tons annually. This demonstrates Thailand's potential to develop a complete value chain industry from upstream to downstream, adding value to the agricultural sector and connecting to other industries.

Ingeo PLA biodegrades under appropriate conditions, has a low carbon footprint, and reduces environmental impact. Applications include tea bags, coffee capsules, food packaging, household items such as electrical appliance components, office equipment, phone cases, cosmetic cases, diapers, cleaning cloths, face masks, and 3D printing filaments.

Ingeo PLA holds international certifications across multiple dimensions, including USDA BioPreferred for biopreferred raw materials and circular carbon, and ISCC PLUS for sustainable raw materials.

"This plant represents another significant step for NatureWorks, reflecting the global growth trajectory of low-carbon materials amid high-volatility conditions. Biomaterials are playing an increasingly important role in providing industrial flexibility. We are confident NatureWorks will be a powerful force driving our Sustainable Portfolio strategy and elevating Thailand's bioplastic industry to the regional Asian level," said an NatureWorks representative.

Thattaphol Rangsitphol, Permanent Secretary of the Industry Ministry, noted that this bioplastic facility represents a meaningful investment for Thailand, as it leverages and adds value to the country's agricultural raw materials, particularly the sugarcane and sugar industries, enhancing competitiveness and resilience.

In an interview on Let's Talk, Ice Sarunyu opened up about her 20-year career in the music industry, revealing that she has never felt adequate despite her nationwide hit songs. She acknowledges that no one stays famous forever and has now matured in her thinking, choosing to create a new balance in her life.

Reflecting on her childhood, Sarunyu explained that she was drawn to singing from a young age, captivated by the sound of music. While other children had varied career aspirations, she had one unwavering dream: to become a singer. As she grew older, she briefly considered other careers like being a flight attendant or pilot, but music remained the central pillar of her life. By second grade, she was already volunteering to sing at school events—from flag ceremonies to Christmas celebrations and teacher appreciation days.

When asked what music gave her as a child, Sarunyu reflected that it provided every emotion. Even during difficult moments—when scolded or beaten by her father—songs would spontaneously come to mind. She grew up listening to diverse genres: her grandmother enjoyed traditional Thai music, her neighbors played country songs, and her parents favored classic hits like "Yesterday Once More."

Comparing her childhood vision of being an artist to the reality, Sarunyu noted similarities and differences. As a child, she imagined standing on stage entertaining people, making them sing and dance along. However, she hadn't anticipated the industry's pressures, expectations, or the unseen challenges. The dream of performing has come true, but the reality includes pressure from expectations—both from fans and herself—concerns about whether releases will succeed, competition for visibility, and the disappointment when new work doesn't match previous successes.

On the pressures of professional performance, she explained that being in this industry means dealing with expectations beyond oneself. The work behind each release is extensive, with numerous uncertainties: whether it will succeed, meeting audience expectations, ensuring the work meets her standards, dealing with release delays, and experiencing visibility barriers. She has experienced both emotional strength and vulnerability, with periods where casual encounters with people asking what she's been working on become reminders of her presence.