Lasting legacy of Wanheng enduresListen to this articleChon Buri, July 20, 2022. Ringside, it felt like another familiar Thai world title night, yet it would be the last time Chayaphon Moonsri, better known as Wanheng Menayothin, entered the ring as a professional. Across from him stood Knockout CP Freshmart, the reigning WBA minimumweight champion, in a rare Thai-versus-Thai world title bout promoted by Petchyindee Promotions. He captured his first world title from Mexico's Oswaldo Novoa and went on to reign for more than a decade. He believed every boxer's goal was to become a world champion and admitted he once considered walking away had the opportunity never arrived.

Thai mixed pair march on in India OpenListen to this articleSweet revenge: Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran in action during their mixed doubles semi-final match. ReutersMixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran advanced to the final of the US$950,000 BWF India Open but women's singles hope Ratchanok Intanon bowed out in the last-four stage on Saturday. Their victory ended a run of two successive losses against Feng and Huang, winners of the season-opening Malaysia Open last Sunday. The defending champion will face China's Wang Zhiyi in the title decider -- a rematch of last Sunday's final in the season-opening Malaysia Open, won by the Korean. Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto beat Malaysia's Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan 21-16, 21-13 to reach the women's doubles final.

Listen to this articleBhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul campaigns for votes in Chumphon on Saturday. Bhumjaithai PartyBhumjaithai Party (BJT) leader Anutin Charnvirakul on Saturday campaigned in Chumphon, calling on voters to deliver a clean sweep of three constituency seats for his party in the southern province. Mr Anutin, the prime minister, said the ruling party's candidates understand local needs and have worked closely with residents over the years. Mr Anutin later visited Khao Peep fresh market in Thung Tako district, Don Wa flea market in Sawi district and Muang Chumphon municipality fresh market. Mr Anutin said he had not heard the comments directly and therefore would not respond.

DUP..Schooling in Chon Buri helped forge my identity, says PT's YodchananListen to this articleThe Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat led a major campaign rally in Chon Buri yesterday ahead of the Feb 8 general election, pledging to prioritise economic security and a tougher crackdown on drugs. The 46-year-old biomedical engineer-turned-politician said Pheu Thai was seeking a strong mandate to restore economic security, promote innovation and uphold social dignity. Mr Yodchanan opened his speech with personal reflections on his upbringing in Chon Buri, describing the province as central to his identity and leadership values. If there were no Chon Buri, there would be no Yodchanan," he said, drawing applause from supporters. He cited his early education at Anuban Chon Buri School as the starting point of his journey.

Dept finds 40 Irrawaddy dolphins in Gulf surveyListen to this articlePod pals: A pod of Irrawaddy dolphins swim near the mouth of the Bang Pakong River in Chachoengsao. DMCRAbout 40 Irrawaddy dolphins have been confirmed near the Bang Pakong River in Chachoengsao, with clear signs of feeding and breeding behaviour, according to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR). Director-general Pinsak Suraswadi said the Jan 12–16 survey supports the ministry's policy to protect rare marine species. The department tested acoustic "pingers" to reduce entanglement in fishing gear and used drones to improve monitoring and prevent dolphins straying into freshwater areas. Preliminary results show standards largely met, though low oxygen was detected at the Tha Chin River mouth in Samut Sakhon.

Ministries unite to promote Thai herbs, targeting B2bn in valueListen to this articleFive ministries are creating a strategic plan to promote Thai traditional herbs globally, targeting at least 2 billion baht of economic value. The scheme could bring in 2 billion baht a year: 800 million from turmeric promotion, 500 million from phlai promotion and 702 million from Black Galangal promotion, Mr Phatthana said. Under the 2025 National Herbal Plants Operational Plan, herbal plants and their product markets MADE at least 45 billion baht last year, a 5.1% increase from 2024 revenue. The initiative will expand to Satun and Chiang Mai this year, with a total value of 6 billion baht. "Thai herbal development will be managed to create sustainable revenue for communities while reviving the economy," Mr Phatthana said.

VARUTH HIRUNYATHEBBangkok's overall crime rate declined in 2025, while arrest rates improved, reflecting more proactive policing across the capital, says the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB). MPB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom revealed crime statistics for Bangkok covering Jan 1 to Dec 31 last year, compared with the same period in 2024. He said total criminal cases fell markedly year on year. "Police achieved a high clearance rate, solving nearly 90% of all cases and arresting more than 85% of all suspects," Pol Lt Gen Siam said. Firearms cases fell by over 10%, while drug-related cases rose slightly but remained manageable, Pol Lt Gen Siam said.

Parties silent on temple corruptionListen to this articleThe monk scandals that shocked Thailand in 2025 are not the result of moral lapses among clerics. It has a duty to ensure that public money is not abused by opaque systems that protect the powerful. While addressing financial governance, another crisis also demands attention: the destruction of Thailand's cultural heritage within temple grounds. Good governance protects public faith, public money, and the integrity of institutions supported by the state. The question is whether they will ensure transparency and accountability in temples, or remain silent until the next scandal erupts.

Mr Wasan said the NHRC launched its investigation after receiving complaints from civil society networks in Chiang Mai in July 2025. They also raised concerns about insufficient public participation in consultations organised by Chiang Mai province. The commission agreed the Royal Irrigation Department's Office 1 has not dismantled the weirs, irrigation access remains intact, and traditions and rituals continue as normal. Although Chiang Mai province held three consultations, participation was uneven and did not adequately include communities most directly affected. The commission recommended Chiang Mai province organise additional hearings at the tambon level, ensure balanced representation, provide clear information in advance and allow sufficient time for the expression of views.

Mr Jade made the remarks while canvassing at a public park in Bangkok on Saturday morning with Rak Chart leader and fellow prime ministerial candidate Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn. Such backdoor dealings were designed to allocate cabinet posts and other benefits among parties while abandoning campaign promises made to voters. Mr Jade warned that the push to rewrite the constitution, with its built-in safeguards against crooked types, could be used to protect corrupt politicians. He described the charter amendment effort as a trap to lure the unsuspecting as the campaign heats up. He alleged some politicians wanted to abolish ethical standards and independent agencies to escape legal cases and enable an amnesty for corrupt convicts.

Same-sex couple in adoption fightListen to this articleRights groups are helping a same-sex couple seeking to jointly adopt a child in Thailand after authorities granted parental rights to the Thai partner only. The couple, who registered their marriage at the British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on May 14, 2010, under British marriage law, has been unable to obtain a full custodianship of the boy. The couple decided to adopt the boy -- the son of the Thai partner's relative -- with the agreement of the boy's biological parents. The adoption process was handled by the Children Adoption Center under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. After review, the Children Adoption Committee decided the couple met the necessary qualifications to adopt.

Listen to this articleThe Election Commission conducts a simulation for election officials to prepare them for the upcoming general election and referendum, at Impact Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi. Beyond this, broader public engagement has been limited, and many voters appear yet to fully grasp the significance of the referendum. As a result, current sentiment is being shaped less by the substance of constitutional reform and more by voters' attitudes towards individual political parties. Clearer trends may emerge in the final weeks before polling day if parties step up referendum campaigning. Some of these voters have indicated they may choose the "no opinion" option on the referendum ballot.

Contract remedies not enough after new Rama II accident: PMSafety hazard: A pickup truck plunged into a sinkhole after a section of Rama II Road's inbound lane collapsed near KM 29+300 in Samut Sakhon yesterday morning. The sinkhole — about 1 metre deep — also ruptured a water pipe, sending tap water gushing out and flooding the surrounding area. A launching gantry crane collapsed on Thursday at an elevated expressway project on Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon, killing two people and injuring five others. Mr Anutin said the accidents had severely shaken public confidence and posed serious threats to lives and property, particularly on Rama II Road, a key artery linking Bangkok to southern provinces. The collapse occurred at 6.30am near kilometre marker 29+350 on the inbound parallel lane in Muang district, Samut Sakhon, causing a pickup truck to fall into a sinkhole.

Listen to this articleA room at a warehouse in Lat Phrao Soi 101 in Bangkok is fitted out as a mini-studio for live-streaming sales of illegal CCTV cameras. (Photo supplied)Police have seized thousands of illegal closed-circuit TV cameras and foreign SIM cards from a Chinese-owned warehouse in Bangkok, which was also used to live-stream online sales of the goods. Officials seized about 100,000 illegal CCTV sets along with 21,000 foreign SIM cards, which were linked to applications for transactions designed to evade scrutiny, authorities said. Mr Trairat said such illegal devices posed risks to WiFi signals and government communication systems. He advised people to buy CCTV cameras only from trusted sources with NBTC certification and to avoid cheap online products with unclear origins, adding that operations to eliminate illegal products from e-commerce platforms were continuing.

Suphan Buri police arrest photos get AI makeoverListen to this articleOfficers from the Samchuk police station in Suphan Buri are reimagined as Disney Princesses for an arrest photo. (Photo: policesamchuk Facebook page)SUPHAN BURI - A police station’s creative use of AI-generated images showing investigators as anime characters and Disney princesses has gone viral on social media. The innovative approach to announcing arrests and drawing attention to otherwise routine PR handout photos has drawn praise from those who have seen them. Officers from the Samchuk police station in Suphan Buri are portrayed as the Straw Hat Pirates. (Photo: policesamchuk Facebook page)The post, captioned “The Straw Hat Pirates … help sweep drugs at Samchuk”, generated thousands of shares and comments online.