Tourists flock to Thale Bua Daeng, drawn by Lisa promotionListen to this articleVisitors line up before dawn to buy boat tickets for an early‑morning view of the blooming water lilies on Thale Bua Daeng. (Photo: TAT Udon Thani)Visitor numbers have soared at Udon Thani’s Thale Bua Daeng (The Sea of Pink Water Lilies) following the release of a promotional video and photos featuring Thai K‑pop star Lalisa "Lisa" Manobal, some queueing for tickets before 5am. Since early Saturday, streams of Thai and foreign tourists have been arriving at Ban Diam pier on Thale Bua Daeng in Kumphawapi district. TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said many tourists said they were drawn to visit Thale Bua Daeng by the Amazing Thailand x Lisa campaign. About 50,000 tourists had visited Thale Bua Daeng since the blooming season began in December, and the majority were foreign travellers.

Sabalenka, Alcaraz ease into Australian Open quarters, Medvedev crashes outListen to this articleUkraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates after winning her fourth round match against Russia's Mirra Andreeva at the Australian Tennis Open in Melbourne on Sunday. (Photo: Reuters)MELBOURNE - Aryna Sabalenka extended her reign as tiebreak queen to ‌reach the Australian Open quarter-finals for a fourth successive year and Carlos Alcaraz ​joined her as Daniil Medvedev's campaign ended on Sunday. "It's incredible to see these kids coming up on the tour," said the world number one, who has reached 13 successive Grand Slam quarter-finals." - Local hero -Alcaraz next takes on Australian Alex de Minaur, who brushed aside 10th-seeded Kazakh Alexander Bublik 6-4 6-1 6-1 to make his second successive quarter-final at Melbourne Park. Last year's ⁠runner-up Alexander Zverev stayed on trackin his bid for an elusive maiden Grand Slam title, beating Francisco Cerundolo 6-2 6-4 6-4.

Listen to this articleMexican F1 driver Sergio Perez after announcing he was signing with the Cadillac team. (Photo: Reuters)LONDON - Formula One newcomers Cadillac had hoped to be a team everybody would want to ‌join, but even they have been surprised by the response. ​Staff numbers are building up as the General Motors-backed outfit prepare to take to the track with rivals for the first time in a shakedown test at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya from Monday. "In that time we had 143,265 applications, all of which had to be acknowledged," he said at last week's Autosport Business Exchange conference. "Building that whole team spirit and way of working, it's not straightforward.

Listen to this articlePassengers arriving from India are screened for any sign of a fever at Phuket airport on Sunday, part of the strict measures introduced to keep the Nipah virus out of Thailand. (Photo supplied)The government has revived disease control measures earlier imposed to fight the covid-19 pandemic, to prevent a Nipah virus outbreak in Thailand, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Sunday. However, Mr Anutin said, people should not be overly worried about the outbreak of Nipah virus disease in India, or the possibility of it entering Thailand, because the disease is transmitted through bodily fluids. They apply to Rajavithi Hospital, Lerdsin Hospital, Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital, the Neurological Institute of Thailand, the Central Chest Institute of Thailand and the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health. The department also tasked internal and external specialists to prepare guidelines for medical personnel nationwide for use to cope with a possible Nipah virus outbreak, Dr Nattapong said.

Listen to this articleThis Ministry of Labour cafeteria in Din Daeng is at the centre of the debate over a 12-million-baht renovation, funded by the Social Security Office. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)An urgent overhaul of the Social Security Office is needed to enable the 31-year-old agency to match Thailand’s changing social and economic landscape, Labour Minister Treenuch Thienthong said on Sunday. “I have already in place a policy to completely reform the social security system and its administrative structure so that it keeps pace with economic and social changes. Reform would aim at creating a social security system that is both sustainable and fair, with all investment decisions based on reliable data and strong governance, she said. The overhaul follows growing scrutiny of the Social Security Fund over alleged misuse of administrative budgets and controversial investments, prompting acting Prime Minister Anutin to order a review.

Listen to this article(Photo: screenshots from เรารักด่านตรวจ)KHON KAEN - A 29-year-old man was lucky to escape with his life when a heavy crane lifting a prefabricated house toppled over and crushed his family home. A long-boom crane was hoisting a knock-down prefabricated house weighing at least one tonne from the back of a lorry, moving it to a prepared plot of land. Unable to bear the weight, the crane and its load fell onto a two-storey wooden house in the adjoining community. She ran out and saw the crane lying across the house and the prefabricated house it had been lifting now resting amid the debris inside. Witnesses said when lifting such a heavy load across power lines, the load should have been lowered to reduce the strain on the crane.

Tourists flock to Red Lotus Lake, drawn by Lisa promotionListen to this articleVisitors line up before dawn to buy boat tickets for an early‑morning view of the blooming red lotus fields on the lake. (Photo: TAT Udon Thani)Visitor numbers have soared at Udon Thani’s Red Lotus Lake following the release of a promotional video and photos featuring Thai K‑pop star Lalisa "Lisa" Manobal, some queueing for tickets before 5am. Since early Saturday, streams of Thai and foreign tourists have been arriving at Ban Diam pier on Talay Bua Daeng (Red Lotus Lake) in Kumphawapi district. TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said many tourists said they were drawn to visit the Red Lotus Lake by the Amazing Thailand x Lisa campaign. About 50,000 tourists had visited the lake since the lotus blooming season began in December, and the majority were foreign travellers.

One of the most prominent themes emerging in recent weeks has been a surge in nationalist sentiment linked to tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border. The issue has been actively woven into campaign narratives, particularly on national security, with analysts pointing to the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) as the main beneficiary. Nationalism as a campaign toolAsked about the impact of nationalist sentiment tied to the border dispute, Mr Olarn said it is having a tangible effect on voter behaviour. "If we focus purely on nationalist sentiment, BJT has the clearest advantage," Mr Olarn said. BJT, by contrast, has leaned heavily into nationalist sentiment, proposing measures such as border fencing and stressing strong cooperation with the armed forces.

In response, OpenAI announced the activation of safeguards designed to better protect minors, including clearer separation between youth and adult users. Under the new system, ChatGPT estimates a user’s age based on several factors, including how long the account has been active, usage times, patterns of interaction and the age provided by the user during registration. Accounts deemed suspicious or lacking sufficient clarity will be classified as belonging to users under 18 by default. Users who are adults but incorrectly flagged must verify their age by scanning their face or submitting official identification for full review. Youth accounts will be subject to significantly stricter content controls.

Nipah screening at airports, travel warning for IndiaListen to this articleQuarantine officers monitor a thermal camera screen at Suvarnabhumi airport as they check the temperatures of arriving passengers, part of heightened screening measures amid the Nipah virus disease outbreak in India. (Photo: The Department of Disease Control)Disease control has been intensified at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket airports, screening travellers from West Bengal in India where there is a confirmed outbreak of potentially lethal Nipah virus disease. A travel advisory is also in effect for Thais planning trips to India, warning them to take extra precautions. Symptoms linked to the Nipah virus include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, sore throat, cough, breathing difficulty, drowsiness, confusion and seizures. Travel guidance for Thais visiting IndiaThe DDC also issued travel guidance for Thais planning trips to India for tourism or pilgrimage.

Phuket 7-colour lobster gains recognitionListen to this articlePhoto: wiki commonsPHUKET - The tourist island's famed "seven-colour lobster" has received geographical indication (GI) approval, a major milestone for the local seafood industry. The crustacean is a delicacy, prized not just for its coloration but also for its size and firm, sweet meat. Phuket governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn said the Department of Intellectual Property formally granted the GI to "Phuket lobster", recognising its unique identity with its seven colours. The GI shows that the lobster's distinctive characteristics are closely linked to its geographical origin and cannot be replicated elsewhere. Mr Nirat said the recognition would directly benefit the local economy, boosting the incomes of fishermen and local businesses.

Virologist warns of Nipah virus risk from batsListen to this articleFruit bats sleeping in trees during the day along Pattaya-Naklua Road in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri, on Sunday. (Photo: Amporn Sangkaew)Thailand is at risk from the Nipah virus because it is carried by fruit bats, which are found nationwide, according to prominent virologist Yong Poovorawan. Prof Dr Yong, head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University, wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday that Nipah virus disease was first detected in 1998 and 1999. Fruit bats were proved to be the carriers of the virus. He said the Nipah virus occurs naturally in fruit bats, which are found nationwide, “especially in communities, temples and orchards where the risk is relatively higher from the environment and food contaminated with the saliva and urine of bats".

Minnesota governor slams 'another horrific shooting' by federal agentsListen to this articleTear gas is deployed by law enforcement in Minneapolis as demonstrators gather near the site where officials say a man was shot by federal agentsMINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said Saturday that federal agents deployed in Minneapolis as part of a sweeping immigration crackdown had carried out "another horrific shooting," less than three weeks after the fatal shooting of Renee Good. The city government said it was "aware of reports of another shooting involving federal law enforcement in the area of 26th Street W and Nicollet Ave" and seeking more details. "I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minneapolis has been rocked by increasingly tense protests since federal agents shot and killed Good, a US citizen, on January 7. The detention of a five-year-old boy this week, as agents sought to arrest his father, rekindled public outrage.

Trump praises UK troops as row over his NATO comments growsListen to this articleTrump's remarks have sparked outrage among other NATO countriesCOPENHAGEN - US President Donald Trump on Saturday appeared to offer an olive branch to Britain on Saturday in a row over the role of UK soldiers in Afghanistan, calling them "among the greatest of all warriors". But other European countries have also reacted sharply to his comments discounting what NATO troops did in Afghanistan, with French President Emmanuel Macron the latest to comment Saturday. He also repeated his suggestion that the alliance would not come to the aid of the United States if asked to do so. "The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America!" "Denmark has always stood by the United States, and we have shown up in crisis zones around the world when the United States asked us to," said a statement from the association.

Rambolek lands a punch on Abdulla Dayakaev at ONE Fight Night 39“They played a huge role,” said Rambolek, who had both ONE legends in his corner. “This win comes from them training me to be better.”By the time he reached the main event of ONE Fight Night 39, Rambolek had quietly put together a four-fight winning streak – but questions remained. That was the weak spot I talked about.”Rambolek celebrates his stunning second round KO of Abdulla Dayakaev at ONE Fight Night 39When the opening presented itself in the second round, Rambolek did not hesitate. “I knocked out someone who had never been knocked out before.”The eruption inside Lumpinee was unlike anything Rambolek had experienced. Rambolek poses with his coaching team including legends Superbon and Nong-O“If it fits, then yes, of course,” Rambolek said of a title shot.