Kuala Lumpur hopes talks on connection to Narathiwat can resume soonListen to this articleA train prepares to depart from Sungai Kolok station in Narathiwat province. Malaysia hopes to see its trains crossing the border to the southern Thai province again. "Malaysia also welcomes Thailand's intention to extend its rail network to Rantau Panjang,” Bernama quoted him as saying n Thursday. "The Malaysian government is ready and hopes that this connection project can be implemented once again,” he added. The two countries for years have been considering the revival of train links between Narathiwat and Kelantan, which were terminated decades ago.

Listen to this articleThe Bank of Thailand says it remains confident in its ability to manage baht volatility against the US dollar after Thailand was added to a US Treasury watchlist for currency practices. She said the central bank typically manages baht volatility against the US dollar in both directions and does not pursue any objective of currency manipulation. The recent designation was based mainly on Thailand’s trade and current account surpluses with the US, Ms Chayawadee said. Exporters are advised to be cautious about baht volatility, the source noted. The TNSC reiterated that Thailand’s exchange rate policy is determined by market mechanisms and is not intended to create unfair trade advantages.

Trump in August named White House adviser Stephen Miran to the Fed, where he has become a leading proponent of the aggressive rate cuts that Trump has long sought. He has also called for a broad overhaul of the central bank that would slim its balance sheet and ease bank regulations. It is not clear how the pick may affect the trajectory of rates in the short term. The Fed’s three rate cuts in 2025 brought short-term borrowing costs to the 3.50%-3.75% range. Warsh’s inflation concerns proved misplaced, but the ​large size of the Fed’s balance sheet, and the role it plays in managing interest rates, have remained a concern.

One killed, three injured in fireworks factory explosion in Suphan BuriListen to this articleRescue personnel and firefighters clear the site of a firework explosion in Don Chedi district, Suphan Buri on Friday. (Photo: Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation)A fireworks factory explosion in Don Chedi district of Suphan Buri on Friday morning left one person dead and three others injured. The explosion, which was reported at around 7am, occurred at a fireworks factory in village Moo 6 in tambon Rai Rot of Don Chedi district, said Pol Lt Col Sukhon Songsakun, investigation chief at Don Chedi police station. At around 9am, Suphan Buri Governor Natthaphong Sa-nguanjit and provincial police chief Pol Maj Gen Watcharin Prasopdee, led police and other officials to inspect the scene. The factory, a single-storey structure, was completely gutted in the explosion.

Truck topples 70 power poles in Samut PrakanListen to this articleMEA technicians work to repair one of the collapsed electricity poles as they rush to restore power along old Sukhumvit Road in Samut Prakan on Friday. The incident occurred around 1am near Muang Samut Bang Pu Hospital and continued towards the entrance of Bang Pu Industrial Estate. The force of the pull caused a long line of medium‑sized 12‑metre poles to collapse in succession, causing extensive damage to the power distribution system. Traffic at the entrance to Bang Pu Industrial Estate was initially a concern, though police later confirmed that vehicles could still enter and exit the area without disruption. Pol Col Watchara Thepsane, chief of Bang Pu police station, said the truck driver tested negative for alcohol.

China renews call to avoid traveling to Japan after robbery in TokyoListen to this articleA woman walks on a beach as Japan Coast Guard ships are docked at a port in the background in Ishigaki, Okinawa prefecture, Japan, on Jan 13, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)The Chinese embassy in Tokyo on Friday renewed its advice for Chinese citizens to avoid travelling to Japan after a hefty cash robbery took place on the streets of the Japanese capital the day before. The call, made on the official WeChat account, came after a group of two Chinese and three Japanese nationals was allegedly robbed of suitcases containing some 420 million yen (85 million baht) in Tokyo's Ueno district, with one of the Chinese pepper-sprayed. The embassy has asked Japanese police to swiftly solve the robbery case and take effective measures to protect the lives and property of Chinese nationals in Japan, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. It urged those already in the country to closely monitor local public security conditions and strengthen personal safety precautions, according to the news agency.

Listen to this articleKindergarten students at Wat Wimuttayaram School in the Bang Phlat area of Bangkok learn in classrooms equipped with air purifiers. (File photo)The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is accelerating its programme to convert all kindergarten classrooms in its school network into dust‑free learning spaces by year-end, as the capital continues to battle hazardous air pollution. The city is prioritising young children and vulnerable groups, who face the highest health risks from exposure to PM2.5 fine dust pollution, BMA spokesman Eakwaranyu Amrapal said on Friday. Meanwhile, Kosol Singhanat, deputy director of the BMA’s Education Department, and City Hall staff inspected Wat Wimuttayaram School in Bang Phlat district, one of the model schools for PM2.5 preparedness. At 7am Friday, unsafe levels of ultrafine dust at the orange level (starting to harm health) were reported in 45 areas across the capital, according to the Bangkok Air Quality Information Centre.

Malaysian Minister claims work stress can ‘turn people gay’Listen to this articleDr Zulkifli Hasan. (official Facebook page)Malaysia’s Minister for Religious Affairs has been criticised after saying work stress can cause people to adopt an LGBTQ+ identity, with human rights advocates at home and abroad condemning the remarks as 'dehumanising'. He was quoted as saying that when individuals become exhausted from overwork, stress can dominate both the mind and mental state, potentially leading to changes in sexual orientation. LGBTQ+ communities, civil rights activists and human rights organisations criticised the statements as unscientific, overly generalised and dehumanising. They argued that they reduce sexual orientation and gender identity to a supposed by-product of fatigue or a lack of religious devotion.

(Photo: AFP)KYIV - Ukraine will halt long-range strikes on Russian energy facilities if Russia does the same, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in remarks released Friday, after Donald Trump raised hopes for a pause in attacks during freezing temperatures. Trump said on Thursday that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other cities because of a cold snap across Ukraine. Despite Trump’s claim, Moscow’s forces launched dozens of drones and one missile at Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force. “So far, we have been unable to find a compromise on the territorial issue, specifically regarding part of eastern Ukraine,” Zelensky said. The Kremlin is demanding that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the region, where Ukrainian troops still control large population centres.

Crypto-backed loans allowed on novel Thai platformListen to this articleMr Vorapat says Liberix is open to oversight. The platform supports 10 major digital assets and targets 1 billion baht in outstanding loans this year, said chief executive Vorapat Pruecksamars. Interest rates, fees and charges are set strictly within legal limits, while operations are conducted in partnership with licensed entities," Mr Vorapat said. "Our vision is to make digital assets usable like traditional financial assets," noted Mr Vorapat. "Bitcoin should not be limited to speculation," Mr Vorapat said.

Hong Kong travellers continue to favour Japan despite geopolitical tensionsListen to this articlePeople walk along Takeshita Street in the Harajuku shopping area in Tokyo on Aug 10, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)Hong Kong travellers continue to favour Japan as a holiday destination despite ongoing geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, thanks to unaffected flight routes and a weaker yen, local industry operators have said. Yau was speaking while attending the Hong Kong Holiday and Travel Expo, which runs from Thursday to Sunday. "With the opening of the third runway of the Hong Kong airport, our flights have recovered to 81% of the 2018-19 level. "This will not only attract more travellers to Hong Kong, but will also bring more choices to our travel-loving residents."

Your spot-on horoscope for work, money and relationship from Guru by the Bangkok Post's famously accurate fortune teller. You'll discover you're better than you think and might uncover a hidden talent. A friend of a friend may confidently shoot their shot at you. ♍ VirgoAug 23 – Sept 22(⏰) This week you're a productivity powerhouse. Work will feel less like a chore and more like your main stage.

The premise of Human Resource does not come as a surprise. Human Resource is designed to let viewers observe rather than be guided. Despite Fren being the central figure, Human Resource remains a slice-of-life portrait with no backstories and no narrative closure. The film's underlying message appears to be a critique of class inequality: those born into wealth tend to remain wealthy, while those from middle or lower classes are trapped in cycles of survival, regardless of effort. Ultimately, Human Resource works more effectively as a conceptual reflection of working-class struggle than as a fully lived human drama.

People's Party leader Natthaphong's lead in the major opinion polls highlighted ‌the stiff challenge facing caretaker Prime Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul's bid to stay in power ahead of the Feb 8 general election. Earlier, the second round nationwide survey by Rajabhat Poll also showed similar results, with the People’s Party and Mr Natthaphong holding a commanding lead. The People's Party is the successor to the Move Forward Party, which won the 2023 elections but was subsequently blocked by conservative lawmakers from forming a government and was later dissolved by court order. The People's Party launches eight campaign caravans covering all provinces on Friday. Mr Natthaphong is scheduled to address a major rally at the football field of Kathu district office in Phuket province on Friday evening.

The initiative aims to support approximately 40,000 Thai rice farmers in transitioning to climate-smart rice farming practices, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change mitigation. Paisan Hongtong, Senior Executive Vice President of BAAC, announced the official launch of subsidy schemes and low-interest loan programmes under the Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming (Thai Rice GCF) Project, at the event Driving Climate-Smart Rice by BAAC’s Financial Mechanism under the Thai Rice GCF Project, co-organised with GIZ. The initiative aims to shift farmers’ rice farming practices towards climate-smart and low-greenhouse-gas-emission approaches by promoting the adoption of climate-smart technologies (CST). Based on this background, BAAC places strong emphasis on promoting an integrated transition towards climate-smart rice farming. Climate-Smart Incentive (CSI)Under the Thai Rice GCF Project, a Climate-Smart Incentive (CSI) fund of approximately THB 300 million (EUR 7.6 million) has been allocated to support around 40,000 rice farmers in piloting climate-smart rice farming practices.