Bangkok air pollution rises sharplyAir pollution in Bangkok surged overnight, with PM2.5 readings above Thailand’s safety threshold in 57 monitoring areas on Friday morning, as shifting winds, a large grass fire and stagnant nighttime conditions pushed fine-dust levels higher. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Air Quality Information Centre said the city’s average PM2.5 concentration at 7am on Friday was 43.7 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³), exceeding the national guideline of 37.5. The worst readings were logged in Bang Na (109.3), Thung Khru (109), Phra Khanong (107.2), Prawet (107) and Yan Nawa (106.7). The governor added that the city is coordinating with neighbouring provinces to curb open burning and that PM2.5 levels are likely to ease later this month as southerly winds become established. Residents can monitor real-time air quality on the BMA and Gistda platforms and are advised to keep windows closed during high readings, run indoor air purifiers where possible, and avoid strenuous outdoor exercise during peak hours.

Larger developers such as Sansiri and mid-sized developers are entering the resilient self-built home market. The self-built home market in Thailand has shown steady growth, typically expanding at a single-digit rate annually. Broken down by area, Greater Bangkok recorded a sharper decline of nearly 15%, from 51.4 billion baht to 43.7 billion, while upcountry markets fell 8% from 160 billion baht to 146 billion. Greater Bangkok presales fell 17% to 267 billion baht, while upcountry markets declined 14% to 170 billion baht. Valued at roughly 200 billion baht annually, the self-built home market is highly fragmented and dominated by small contractors, which account for about three-quarters of market share.

Top narco trafficker Marset handed to US after Bolivia arrestNotorious Latin American narco trafficker Marset (3rd left) has finally been arrested in Bolivia after eluding police for years. (Photo: AFP)SANTA CRUZ (BOLIVIA) - Notorious Latin American narco trafficker Sebastian Marset, who eluded police for years, was handed over to US authorities after his arrest Friday in Bolivia. Paz has sought to boost ties with the United States since winning office last year in elections that ended two decades of socialist rule begun under Indigenous coca farmer Evo Morales. Marset is the second Latin American narco boss to be killed or captured in under a month. Last month, one of the United States and Mexico's most-wanted men, Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, was killed by the Mexico military during an arrest raid.

Netanyahu's long game ensnares TrumpDonald Trump is caught in the trap that he helped to build, and he is starting to flail against his fate. Mr Trump managed to "decapitate" much of the Iranian regime in the first hour of the American‑Israeli sneak attack. His goal has always been to draw those countries into a direct conflict with Iran, and with Mr Trump, he has finally succeeded. To escape again, Mr Trump would have to accept that he has been wrong, so probably not. The likeliest alternative, unfortunately, is for Mr Trump to decide that the solution is yet more force.

War clouds continue to hover over Thai bourseThe SET index closed at 1,409.35 points, down 20.45 points or 1.43% on Friday. Trading volume also jumped significantly, with two trading days featuring turnover exceeding 100 billion baht. Average daily turnover in February alone rose 57% from January to 72.5 billion baht. The market ended the day down 5.3% with turnover of 159 billion baht, the most in four years. The company targets sales growth this year of 6% year-on-year to 40 billion baht and presales of 49 billion.

Deadly deceptionRe: "US investigation points to likely US responsibility in Iran school strike", (World, March 6). Tomahawk missiles are operated only by the US, the UK, and Australia -- not by "many countries", as Mr Trump claimed. No, Thailand should not join and donate $1 billion (32.2 billion baht) to Mr Trump's get-rich-quick "Board of Peace" scheme. Burin Kantabutra sensibly writes, again, presenting that traditional institution, the Royal Thai Police, in a negative light. This being so, it must be wondered why the Royal Thai Police has been left with its reputation so richly shredded and stained?

State must tackle racismOn the surface, a case involving a group of men assaulting an ethnic Karen worker in Chon Buri may look like an ordinary crime. The beating is racial discrimination and bigotry, a crime that needs to be addressed. By not taking appropriate action, police, like other state authorities, are implicitly condoning racial discrimination. The Bang Kloi ethnic community still cannot return to their ancestral home, even though they have legally proved their community had existed before the forest protection law. We need to eradicate discrimination through education, while the state must be obliged to fix the wrong and ensure that bigotry will not be tolerated.

Stepping up against discriminationAn LGBTQ couple exchange their wedding vows on Jan 23, 2025, the day the Marriage Equality Act took effect. In its current form, it should be translated as the 'Sex Equality Act'. These Thai laws differentiate between "unjust discrimination" and "just discrimination". Internationally, all forms of discrimination are forbidden, and there is no differentiation between just and unjust discrimination. In particular, the committee advised the country to reform the 'Gender Equality' Act with a "comprehensive definition of discrimination against women, including direct and indirect discrimination, formal and substantive equality, and de jure (in law) and de facto (in fact) equality in the public and private spheres, as well as intersecting forms of discrimination".

War on Iran is one 'Taco' too farThe "Trump always chickens out" (Taco) investment strategy -- buying beaten-down stocks on the assumption that the US president will ultimately back down from his more extreme policies -- has, for the most part, been a profitable one. But the Iran war may change that. So far, US equities have been remarkably calm, likely, in part, on the assumption that Mr Trump will pull back if necessary. To varying degrees, markets wobbled in response to each of these episodes, forcing Mr Trump to tone down the rhetoric. Investors may now start asking whether this crisis is one Mr Trump can't relieve, even if he does "chicken out."

The tourism authority plans to propose measures to the cabinetThe TAT is planning new tourism stimulus to boost tourism amid Middle East conflict. To mitigate the tourism impact from the Middle East conflict, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to propose to the cabinet a stimulus measure for the short-haul and domestic markets, as well as setting up a "war room" in collaboration with private operators. The TAT and private operators held a meeting on Friday to assess the tourism impact of the war in Iran, with plans to establish a tourism war room in the future. She said budget remains from its previous "Summer Blast China & Overseas" scheme, which subsidised charter flights from China since last year. The TAT plans to revise this scheme to cover long-haul markets, as there is still demand for direct travel to Thailand.

A path back toward Regian Eersel in ONE Championship. The lightweight Muay Thai contenders now headline ONE Fight Night 41 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok after the scheduled atomweight title fight between Allycia Hellen Rodrigues and Phetjeeja fell through. Sinsamut Klinmee is looking to work his way back to Regian Eersel in ONE ChampionshipFor Sinsamut, the opportunity is a welcome surprise. “It is my dream to face Regian Eersel again,” he said. “But when ONE calls and asks if you want to fight Regian Eersel for the world title, how can you say no?”Jarvis says the experience forced him to reassess everything.

Russian tourist gropes female tattooist in PattayaThe victim defended herself after being assaulted by the Russian tourist. (Photo: คนทำข่าว Pattaya)CHON BURI - A 23-year-old female tattoo artist has filed a complaint with Pattaya City Police after being groped by a Russian tourist outside her shop. The victim, identified only as Kulsirisanjakorn, told police the incident occurred at around 9.30pm on March 11 while she was sitting outside her tattoo parlour in Soi 5, Pattaya Second Road. According to the artist, three Russian-speaking foreign men approached her on Thursday evening asking about tattoo prices. She went straight to Pattaya City Police Station to file a report and handed over CCTV footage as evidence.

Life rafts are seen next to the stricken Thai cargo vessel Mayuree Naree in the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, 2026. (Photo: Royal Thai Navy via Reuters)The Iranian embassy in South Africa has removed a social‑media post about Thai seafarers rescued after their ship was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was meant as humour and not to offend Thai people, following angry backlash in Thailand. The mission’s official account on X on Friday shared an image of a Thai crewman in a rescue boat, with smoke seen from the stern of the Thai‑flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree behind him. “When you crash the car and are too scared to go home because of your dad … Strait of Hormuz,” the now-deleted post said. A furious response quickly followed in Thailand, where three of the 23 Thai crew members from the MV Mayuree Naree remain missing after it was struck by two Iranian missiles on Wednesday.

Thailand prepares defence against US trade probeCommerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun forms a special panel to handle new USTR probes into unfair trade practices between Thailand and the United States. (File photo: Commerce Ministry)The Ministry of Commerce has set up a task force to compile evidence to argue against the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which included Thailand in its new investigations into unfair practices. The US trade office announced on Wednesday it would look into a number of countries accused of unfairly trading with the United States, with Thailand among its targets. Thailand was targeted after the US found a Thai-US trade imbalance of US$51 billion in Thailand’s favour last year, up from $46 billion in 2024. The kingdom is subject to the excess capacity probe, and the USTR named autos, auto parts, machinery and rubber among the sectors under scrutiny.

Refiners assure oil supply adequate amid panic buyingA petrol station in Nang Rong district of Buri Ram province posts a “Diesel out of stock” on Friday. (Photo: Surachai Piragsa)Thailand’s oil refiners have sought to allay public concerns by confirming that the country’s oil reserves remain sufficient despite reports of motorists rushing to filling stations in provincial areas. Proactive shipping operations are under way to secure supply routes from Africa and the Americas, ensuring crude oil continues to flow into the refining system, the statement said. As of Thursday, subsidies stood at 7.86 baht per litre for gasohol 91 and 95, 9.4 baht for gasohol E20, and 15.45 baht for diesel. At present, excise tax rates stand at 6.75 baht per litre for gasohol 91, 6.75 baht for gasohol 95, 6.0 baht for gasohol E20 and 6.92 baht for diesel.