Operators of major coffee chains in Thailand have agreed to adjust sweetness standards for beverages as part of a campaign by health officials to reduce sugar consumption. The Department of Health is spearheading the campaign under the theme “Normal Sweetness Equals 50% Sweetness”. Most beverage outlets in Thailand offer four sweetness levels: 25% (least sweet), 50%, 75% and 100%. In many, 100% is considered the standard, representing what customers consider “normal sweetness”. The beverage chains won’t be changing their recipes, he added — only the “normal” sweetness level will be redefined as equivalent to 50%.

‘Massive’ Russian attackThousands of people in Kyiv went without heating in sub-zero temperatures due to Russian strikes. Meanwhile, the head of the northern Chernigiv region, Vyacheslav Chaus, said “hundreds of thousands” were without electricity after Russian strikes on a critical energy facility in the Nizhyn district. Zelensky last week declared a “state of emergency” in the energy sector, battered by relentless Russian strikes on heat and electricity supplies. “Russia’s position is well known on the fact that Ukraine, Ukrainian armed forces, have to leave the territory of the Donbas,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Putin has repeatedly said Moscow intends to get full control of eastern Ukraine by force if talks fail.

(Photo: AFP)A US warship on Saturday made a port call at a Cambodian naval base for the first time since Chinese-funded renovations that have raised concerns in Washington, AFP journalists saw. “It is our privilege and our honour to be here as the first US naval vessel to moor pierside at Ream Naval Base, and we hope this is the beginning of a longstanding tradition and friendship,” Lieut Cmdr Andrew J Recame, the ship’s commanding officer, told reporters. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and a delegation from China’s People’s Liberation Army inaugurated the base in April last year. Beijing has since 2022 been contributing to a revamp of the Ream Naval Base, which was originally built partly using US funds. On Saturday morning, AFP journalists saw two Chinese warships still docked at the base.

Djokovic ‘hanging in there’ after 400th Slam winListen to this articleNovak Djokovic takes a tumble during his Australian Open third round win over Botic van de Zandschulp in Melbourne on Jan 24, 2026. (Photo: AFP)MELBOURNE - Record-shattering Novak Djokovic said he was “hanging in there” after becoming the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches Saturday on his way into the last 16 at the Australian Open. The 24-time Slam winner is in good form so far as he bids to shatter the recent dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money,” said Djokovic. Djokovic had work on his foot during a medical timeout in set three after a tumble.

Ex-Canadian Olympian turned drug lord arrested: FBI chiefListen to this articleRyan Wedding was wanted by the United States on drug and murder charges and was on the FBI's 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list. (Photo: AFP)LOS ANGELES (UNITED STATES) - Ryan Wedding, a Canadian former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin, has been arrested in Mexico and brought to the United States to face cocaine trafficking and murder charges, FBI chief Kash Patel announced Friday. Patel said Wedding -- whose aliases include "El Jefe," "Giant" and "Public Enemy" -- was arrested in Mexico City on Thursday night. Davis said 36 people connected to Wedding's alleged drug trafficking ring have been arrested and assets worth tens of millions of dollars have been seized including luxury vehicles, valuable artwork and jewelry. Seven people allegedly connected to Wedding's cocaine smuggling operation were arrested in Canada in November, including his lawyer, Deepak Paradkar, and the United States is seeking their extradition.

Populist policies such as Khon La Khrueng place an increasing burden on the government's fiscal position. The plan emphasises fiscal consolidation under a framework of fiscal discipline, transparency and concrete implementation of management. Public debt, which tallies 64.8% of GDP, may not be reduced rapidly as this depends not only on fiscal discipline, but also on economic conditions. State agencies are required to avoid approving grant-type subsidy projects that do not contribute to productivity improvements in the agricultural sector. All of these measures are intended to signal to the public and credit rating agencies the government's commitment to enforcing stricter fiscal discipline.

Listen to this articleA 12-million-baht canteen renovation is one of many instances of questionable spending by the civil servants overseeing the Social Security Fund. Confidence in the Social Security Fund (SSF) has been shaken by controversial investments, prompting acting Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to instruct the Ministry of Labour to take charge of the issue. Many of the issues are detailed on the Facebook page of the Progressive Social Security group, which had 84,000 followers. Official data show that as of Dec 31, 2025, the SSF’s overall financial position remained strong, with total accumulated investments exceeding 2.9 trillion baht. Since the fund’s establishment, contributions have totalled 1.72 trillion baht, while cumulative investment returns reached 1.13 trillion baht.

The former deputy chief is also facing new allegations of mistreating subordinates. He said all witnesses would be questioned, noting that some directly observed the alleged incidents, while others learned of them through firsthand accounts from those involved. All of the witnesses are police officers who worked closely with Pol Gen Surachate at his residence, performing duties such as chauffeuring, guarding the premises and maintaining the property, said Pol Maj Gen Jruykiat. Pol Gen Surachate was ordered dismissed from the force in 2024, because of alleged links to online gambling. The former deputy chief has consistently denied the allegations against him, saying they were concocted by rivals on the force to block his path to the police chief’s position.

Israelis caught with dangerous ‘Labubu’ drugs on Koh PhanganListen to this articleA police officer in a black shirt confronts an Israeli drug suspect who was attempting to flee after police caught him and three others using drugs inside a house on Koh Phangan on Friday. (Photo: Koh Phangan Tourist Police)SURAT THANI - Four Israelis have been arrested on Koh Phangan after police raided a party at a luxury villa, where the occupants were discovered using a potentially deadly polydrug in pills shaped like Labubu dolls. The “candy” drug contained high concentrations of MDMA mixed with other substances such as ketamine, cocaine and caffeine, Koh Phangan district chief Paisit Thongcherm said. Thai authorities first alerted the public to the Labubu- and Doraemon-shaped combination pills last year, saying they were particularly concerned that children might try them. Some of the combination drugs, they said, contained MDMA and ketamine mixed with diazepam, making them potentially lethal.

Search called off and focus shifts to recovery after human remains foundListen to this articleA rescue worker walks near a section of a cliff that gave way at the scene of a landslide triggered by heavy rains on Jan 22 near Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. (Photo: Reuters)There ‌will probably be no survivors of ​a landslide that struck a busy campground on the North Island of New Zealand, police said on Saturday after human remains were found overnight. Thirty-five crew, assisted by heavy machinery, were removing debris on Saturday after a partial slip in a section of the search area on Friday evening, Fire and Emergency New ⁠Zealand said. Heavy rain forecast for the area on Saturday ​could present further challenges, including having “to withdraw from the slip area for their safety”, Fire and Emergency official Megan Stiffler said in a statement. The heavy rain this week ​unleashed another landslide in the neighbouring suburb of Papamoa, killing two.

Think-tank expects new Thai government by MayListen to this articleThe Economic Intelligence Center (EIC) at Siam Commercial Bank expects the formation of a new government to take as long as five months, which could weigh on the economy, with growth projected at less than 1% in the first half of this year. EIC forecasts the new government could take office in May following the general election scheduled for Feb 8. However, several risk factors could prolong the process, including renewed instability along the Cambodian border and election-related litigation. As a result, the enactment of the fiscal 2027 budget bill is expected to be delayed by 1-2 months, prolonging budget disbursement and public spending this year. These reforms span multiple areas, including household debt, competitiveness, infrastructure investment, environmental risks, demographic challenges, labour quality, inequality, social welfare and public sector governance.

TikTok parent company ByteDance says it has finalized a deal to create a new, majority American‑owned joint venture aimed at protecting U.S. user data, and avoiding a potential U.S. ban on the app, which reaches over 200 million Americans.

Listen to this articleHealth surveillance measures have been stepped up at Phuket International Airport following reports of a Nipah virus outbreak in India. Airport director Monchai Tanod said on Saturday that he had been briefed by the airport’s quarantine checkpoint staff about the Nipah virus situation in India. Tourists use hired motorcycle taxi services in Pattaya, is a major tourist destination popular with Indian visitors. He was alarmed by news of lockdown measures in India as Pattaya hosted a large number of Indian tourists. Health experts have emphasised that Nipah virus does not spread through respiratory droplets like Covid-19.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called U.S. President Donald Trump's comments about European troops staying off the front lines in Afghanistan insulting and appalling, joining a chorus of criticism from other European officials and veterans.

Listen to this articlePolice search one of several targeted locations in Muang district of Udon Thani on Friday as part of a crackdown on mule account networks linked to online fraud syndicates. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)The accused ringleader of a mule account gang and three accomplices working for an online scam network have been arrested following police raids in Muang district of Udon Thani province. The four suspects were involved in withdrawing cash and delivering it to an online scam network, said Pol Maj Gen Chanannat. Police pose with a 24-year-old suspect accused of organising the opening of mule accounts to handle cash from scam activities in Udon Thai. During questioning, all four confessed to being hired by an online scam gang to open mule accounts and withdraw cash obtained from defrauding victims.