Phuket set for bumper Chinese New YearListen to this articlePhuket: Chinese New Year celebrations in the island province are expected to be particularly vibrant this year. The upbeat outlook is driven by a strong rebound in the Chinese tourism market and an increase in direct flights from China, according to the Phuket Tourist Business Association (PTBA). Thanet Tantipiriyakit, president of the PTBA, said the Chinese New Year in Phuket this year is highly active, with Chinese tourists forming the core market. Following the visit, from late November through January, online searches by Chinese travellers for Thai destinations -- particularly Phuket -- rose by more than 100% on Chinese digital platforms, indicating renewed interest in Thailand as a preferred destination. The combined factors are contributing to a notably livelier Chinese New Year for Phuket.

Ling Ling Kwong fronts Calvin Klein's underwear campaignThai-Hong Kong actress Ling Ling Kwong named the 'Face Of Calvin Klein' for the Asia-Pacific region. (Photos: Calvin Klein)Sirilak "Ling Ling" Kwong, a popular Thai-Hong Kong actress, has surprised fans worldwide with her appearance in Calvin Klein's Spring 2026 underwear campaign, following her recent appointment as the "Face Of Calvin Klein" for the Asia-Pacific region. Ling Ling models two distinct looks from the range. The look offers relaxed comfort whilst maintaining the distinctive character of Calvin Klein, best known for its underwear, jeans and perfumes. The campaign marks a significant milestone for Ling Ling and underscores Calvin Klein's continued investment in the Asian market, leveraging regional talent to connect with local audiences whilst staying true to the brand's minimalist design philosophy.

(Photo: AFP)GLEN ALLEN (UNITED STATES) — Buddhist monks walking from Texas to Washington to promote peace have become a surprise popular hit as they near the US capital -- attracting crowds of thousands who line the route or join in for a few miles. Since launching their ambitious trek 101 days ago from a Buddhist centre in Fort Worth, Texas, the group of about 20 monks have spread a message of unity, compassion, mindfulness, healing and peace. "Our walking itself cannot create peace," the monks wrote in an early blog post. Will the "Walk for Peace" change much? "If it takes 20 monks walking from Texas to DC," she'd be thrilled, she said.

Foreign tourists mistake Thai funeral for food festivalListen to this articleScreenshots from Charantorn Chaloemkiad Facebook. NAKHON SI THAMMARAT — A heart-warming video highlighting the famed generosity of Thais has gone viral on social media after foreign tourists accidentally wandered into a funeral, mistaking it for a food festival, and were warmly welcomed by the grieving family as honoured guests. The feel-good story was widely shared online on Jan 31 after a Facebook user posted footage captured at a funeral where several foreign visitors entered the venue, mistaking it for a food festival. Upon realising that the gathering was a funeral, the tourists were visibly shocked and immediately apologised, preparing to leave out of respect. Reports later revealed that a second group of foreign tourists had also made the same mistake and were received with the same hospitality.

(Photo: Reuters)MADRID — Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain would block children from using social media platforms including Instagram and TikTok in a new European push to regulate digital platforms. To enforce the ban, the government will seek to order platforms to put age verification methods in place. The announcement comes as part of a growing global trend aimed at limiting children and teenagers from accessing social media. French lawmakers voted in January to ban children under 15 from accessing media apps including Meta Platforms Inc’s Facebook and Instagram, ByteDance Ltd’s TikTok and Snap Inc’s Snapchat. Greece is considering banning social media for children under 15 years old, a government official said Tuesday.

New products and meaningful travel experiences aligned with global trends aim to drive sustainable growth toward 3 trillion baht in revenue. On Feb 2, 2026, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) held a press briefing for “Tourism Product Highlight 2026” at Neilson Hays Library to showcase the readiness and potential of Thailand’s tourism products and services for the year ahead. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said TAT is focused on creating greater value for Thailand’s tourism industry through quality product development, ensuring every journey becomes more meaningful and memorable. Worth-Life Balance: Travel experiences promoting physical and mental wellness, such as The Barai in Hua Hin and Klai Spa in Bangkok. More details on “Tourism Product Highlight 2026” are available at tourismproduct.tourismthailand.org or via the 1672 Travel Buddy hotline.

What we know about Iran-US talksListen to this articleIran has vowed to hit back against any American military intervention. Trump has not ruled out new military action against Iran should the talks fail, to follow the US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites during Israel's June war against the Islamic republic. But his focus has shifted to agreeing a new deal on the Iranian nuclear programme which the US and its allies believe is aimed at making an atomic bomb. Iran has repeatedly stressed that any talks should focus solely on the nuclear issue and not its missile programme or defence capabilities. Another regional source with knowledge of the talks said Iran wanted the talks to be "exclusively" with the United States without the involvement of regional powers and solely focused on the nuclear issue.

(Photo supplied)UBON RATCHATHANI — Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police arrested a 15-year-old Songkhla native at the Ubon Ratchathani bus terminal on Wednesday evening, one day after he allegedly stole about 2.43 million baht in gold from a Hat Yai mall shop. Investigators say he left the stolen gold with a friend, flew from Hat Yai to Don Mueang, then waited until dawn to catch a bus from Mo Chit to Ubon Ratchathani. He reportedly confessed and was later taken for further interrogation at the Ubon Ratchathani Highway Police unit. The theft occurred at Burapa Gold Shop in the Hat Yai branch of Lotus’s in tambon Kho Hong at 6.30pm Tuesday. A security guard said that the robber hurriedly put the stolen gold ornaments into his pockets and a shoulder bag, while dropping the gold necklace.

Listen to this articleElection Commission officials count ballots at a polling station during Myanmar's general election in Yangon, Myanmar, on Dec 28, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)NAY PYI TAW — A proxy party for Myanmar’s junta was declared the “landslide” winner of elections that were derided as illegitimate by the United Nations (UN) and others, helping the military keep its grip on the war-ravaged country. The junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won 739 of 1,025 seats in the election, which was held in three phases from Dec 28 to Jan 25. The National Unity Party won 68 seats and the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party (White Tiger Party) won 39 seats, according to official results from the Union Election Commission. Party spokesman Hla Thein said the “national interest will be taken into serious consideration” in every step it takes.

Who are the contenders to be Thailand's next prime minister? Here are contenders from among 93 eligible names parties have submitted as potential candidates for prime minister. Staying on as prime minister will depend on his bargaining power as much as it will the ballot box. He was elected to parliament in 2019 with the progressive Future Forward Party, a forerunner for the Move Forward Party and its latest incarnation, People's Party. He has recently been a more neutral figure in politics and a return as prime minister should not be ruled out if crisis and deadlock ensue.

Spain will ban access to social media for minors under 16 and hold company CEOs criminally liable for illegal content, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday (February 3), as he announced several measures to guarantee a safe digital environment.

The last Russia-U.S. nuclear arms control treaty, known as New START, is due to expire on February 5. We look at what the treaty does, what its expiration would mean and what it may take to establish a new treaty.

Hunt for thief who stole B2.4m in gold in Hat YaiListen to this articleA photo taken while the robbery was in progress shows the robber snatching gold ornaments while staffers look on from outside. Photo suppliedSONGKHLA: Police hunt for the thief who stole gold ornaments worth about 2.4 million baht from a shop in a shopping mall in Hat Yai district on Tuesday evening. The theft took place at Burapa Gold Shop in the Hat Yai branch of Lotus’s store in tambon Kho Hong at 6.30pm on Tuesday. He jumped across the counter and snatched trays of gold ornaments displayed on the wall. A security guard said that the robber hurriedly put the stolen gold ornaments into his pockets and a shoulder bag, while dropping the gold necklace.

Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA's workers and retirees in and around Maracaibo are hoping oil-industry reform sparked by U.S. intervention last month will increase the purchasing power of their eroding wages and pension payments, but their confidence is measured.

From a Dalek to a Tardis, a range of memorabilia from British sci-fi show "Doctor Who” is being offered up for auction this month. More than 300 lots spanning different series over the past 20 years, and featuring Doctors played by various actors, are on offer in Propstore’s online auction, which runs from February 3 to 19. Sian Taylor from Propstore said, "If you're a fan of doctors, we have Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, we've even got a pair of David Tennant's trousers."