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Laos has secured its first medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok after athletes Koungking Boudaxay and Mala Chanthalaksa won a joint bronze in the women’s Ju-Jitsu Duo Show on 10 December.
The pair impressed judges with a score of 41 points, earning them a place on the podium alongside Vietnam, who also took bronze.
Host nation Thailand dominated the event, capturing both gold and silver with scores of 50.5 and 48.5 points respectively.
Laos will send a total delegation of 164 members, including 62 women, comprising athletes, coaches, and officials. The Lao team will compete in 12 out of the 19 sports on the official competition program: athletics, swimming, powerlifting, goalball, wheelchair basketball, boccia, football, cycling, shooting, fencing, badminton, and tennis.
An official send-off ceremony for the delegation was held on January 9, 2026, at the Lao National Olympic Committee Club. The event was attended by Ms. Dalavone Kittiphan, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports and Vice President of the National Paralympic Committee of Laos (NPCL), and Ms. Khanthaly Siriphongphanh, President of the NPCL, along with relevant officials.
The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia on Wednesday urged Chinese nationals near the Cambodia–Thailand border to move to safer areas, citing ongoing tensions, and advised those elsewhere in the country to avoid travel to the border region for now.
The Cambodian Ministry of Defense said Monday that the Thai military expanded airstrikes into Siem Reap province, striking an area near a camp for displaced civilians at about 10 a.m. local time, according to Xinhua News Agency.
In case of emergency, individuals should contact local police immediately and seek assistance from the Chinese Embassy, it stated.
“The casualties included 10 civilian fatalities, including one infant, and 60 civilian injuries,” Cambodian Defense Ministry’s Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said in a press briefing.
The Cambodia-Thailand border conflict has reignited since Sunday afternoon and is still going on as of Thursday morning, Socheata said, adding that the Thai army has fired artillery shells at many locations in Cambodian territory.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior released a press release on Wednesday night, saying that more than 56,000 families, with 190,000 civilians, have fled their homes for safe shelters.
With the possibility of drinkers themselves being fined, sales of alcohol may halve during those times, Bob, an assistant manager working on Friday said, declining to give his full name because he is not authorised to speak publicly.
There is also concern the stricter laws present an opportunity for officials to enforce fines on customers, restaurants — or both — for personal gain.
Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, a member of parliament from the opposition People’s Party who has pushed for liquor liberalisation, said alcohol sales should be around the clock. “The amended law aims to serve the purpose of those opposing alcohol,” Mr Taopiphop said.
They also risk confusing foreign tourists who may order a drink before the restricted hours but consume it afterward, he said.
In Thailand, where Buddhism is the main religion, practitioners and monks follow the Five Precepts, which include abstaining from alcohol and intoxicants to promote mindfulness and avoid heedlessness.
Videos circulating on Thai social media show confrontations between locals and Israelis, including one viral exchange where a restaurant worker told an Israeli tourist, “You’re not welcome here,” and she replied, “My money builds your country.”
Local officials confirmed rising concern over Israelis operating illegal businesses, including restaurants and tour agencies. A petition signed by over 200 residents was submitted to Surat Thani’s governor calling for restrictions on “Israeli activities causing distress to local communities.”
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau says Israelis now form the largest foreign group under investigation for unauthorized business operations, with more than 2,600 visa extensions filed on Koh Phangan alone.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 