PM2.5 haze surges nationwide, govt pushes tighter controlsListen to this articlePM2.5 fine dust pollution has surged this week nationwide, prompting the government to call for stricter controls and work-from-home arrangements. Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana warned that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels have risen sharply since Wednesday and are expected to also rise today. The government is urging stricter controls on pollution sources, a ban on open burning, and expanded work-from-home measures, she said. Ms Lalida said the government has instructed the PCD to work closely with provincial authorities to strengthen communication and coordination in tightening controls on pollution sources. The government has also sent a letter to the Asean secretary-general seeking cooperation from neighbouring countries to address transboundary haze, she said.

Wander around Bangkok’s department stores and lifestyle complexes, and there’s no shortage of high-quality Japanese restaurants. Parts of Dusit Central Park’s top floor look like a Japanese department store, and the same goes with One Bangkok. Bangkok has evolved into something of a “Little Tokyo” in recent years, with Thais seamlessly moving from one new Japanese spot to another, chasing authentic taste. Hikiniku To Come, a Tokyo-based hamburg chain, is now open at Central World and Dusit Central Park. Ginza’s Koubai shabu is also at Dusit Central Park; the list goes on.

Heavy rain 'to arrive earlier this year'Listen to this articleKids play on Oct 9, 2025, in the Masjid Tha-it community in Pak Kret district in Nonthaburi province, which often floods during the rainy season. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)This year’s rainy season is expected to arrive earlier and bring heavier rainfall than usual, Deputy Prime Minister Borwornsak Uwanno has warned, urging agencies to step up preparedness for major flooding. According to the institute’s findings, heavy rainfall is likely to occur earlier this year, increasing the risk of severe flooding. Mr Borwornsak added that the scientific projections coincidentally align with predictions made by the revered monk Luang Pu Maha Sila, as well as astrological forecasts. “Time is running short,” Mr Borwornsak warned.

BMTA to receive B9.1bn cash influxListen to this articleThe cabinet has approved 9.1 billion baht in funding to boost the liquidity of the cash-strapped Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), which is moving ahead with major reforms aimed at cutting costs and improving efficiency. Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the loss-ridden BMTA would shift from owning buses to a rental-based operating model to reduce maintenance and repair costs, which were the agency's main overheads. As part of the reform plan, the procurement of 1,520 electric buses has been completed, Mr Phiphat said. "We will review whether the remaining 400 NGV buses are still necessary once the new fleet is in service. The BMTA currently operates more than 2,800 buses and receives an annual government subsidy of about 885 million baht to maintain affordable fares and support public transport services.

DTV Visa Thailand: Why “letters of acceptance” are changing Muay Thai training enrolmentThailand’s Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), introduced under new visa measures effective July 15, 2024, has made long-stay options clearer for applicants who can show funds and a qualifying purpose. The participation side is where many Muay Thai applicants focus: the letter of acceptance from the organising institute or company and the supporting documents that make that letter credible. What does a “letter of acceptance” mean in practiceA letter of acceptance is not a courtesy note. That is why the “quality” of acceptance documentation matters. For Muay Thai training, that is translating into a more formal pre-arrival relationship between trainee and gym—defined plans, defined periods and acceptance documentation that functions as enrolment evidence.

Cops identify 5 arson, bomb blitz suspectsListen to this articlePATTANI: Police have identified five suspects who investigators believe were behind the coordinated bombing and arson attacks on 11 petrol stations across three southernmost provinces last week, according to officials in charge of the case yesterday. Deputy chief of the Southern Border Provinces Investigation Division, Pol Col Thatpichai Jarnwaranon, said forensic evidence collected from the scene of the attacks in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat led investigators to the five individuals linked to the attacks that took place early on Sunday morning. Three of the five suspects have criminal records relating to a number of violent incidents in Narathiwat and Pattani, he said. On Tuesday, two people -- one from Yala's Muang district and the other from Cho Airong in Narathiwat -- were brought in for questioning at the 41st and 46th Ranger Regiment, as authorities expanded the investigation into the attacks. Col Ekwasrit Chobchupol, deputy spokesman for the Region 4 forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), said the agency is committed to swiftly resolving the case and bringing those responsible to justice.

Thick smog is seen in many areas of Bangkok on Thursday, where higher vehicle emissions have been singled out as the main contributor to pollution in inner areas of the capital city.

Winners Vietnam will lead Group A and Thailand will headline Group B this year. (Photo: Supplied)JAKARTA ‍- Defending champions Vietnam will face four-times winners Singapore as well ‌as Indonesia, Cambodia and ​either Brunei or Timor-Leste in Group A of the 2026 Asean Championship following the draw for the group phase in Jakarta on Thursday. Timor-Leste and Brunei will face off in a home-and-away playoff in June to ‌determine ​the final qualifier for the group phase, which will kick off on July 24. The first legs of ​the semi-finals will be played on Aug 15 and 16 with the returns on Aug 18 and 19. The final will ​be played over two legs on ‍Aug 23 and 26.

SYDNEY - Tech giants have blocked 4.7 million accounts under Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s, the country's online safety watchdog said on Friday. Initial figures showed platforms were taking meaningful action to remove underage users, Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said. Australia has required big platforms including Meta, TikTok and YouTube to stop underage users from holding accounts since the legislation came into force on December 10 last year. Downloads of lesser known platforms such as BlueSky and Lemon8 surged ahead of the implementation of the teen social media ban. But both social media sites recognised that they were covered by the legislation, and they were cooperating with the Australian regulator, Inman Grant said.

Twenty-six charged in latest basketball gambling scandalListen to this articleFormer NBA player Antonio Blakeney - who is named but not charged in the latest indictment - is alleged to have been recruited by conspirators while playing in China. (Photo: AFP)LOS ANGELES - Twenty-six people have been charged with fixing US college and Chinese professional basketball games in an alleged transnational criminal conspiracy, federal prosecutors said on Thursday. It enveloped the world of college basketball," he told a press conference. Defendants allegedly then offered more than 39 US college players bribes of up to $30,000 per game, and made wagers totaling millions of dollars. More than a dozen of the defendants have played college basketball within the past three years.

Thailand bow out, China make historyListen to this articleThailand national football team pose for a group photo at a recent match. "China have done really well, and I congratulate them for advancing for the first time," he said. China, who finished second behind Australia, will now face Uzbekistan in the last eight. China's goalkeeper Li Hao was again central to their progress, producing a string of saves to deny Thailand. Thailand coach Anthony Hudson, who attended the ceremony, on behalf of the Football Association of Thailand, welcomed the challenge.

"The reduction in populism is a positive sign." The third trend concerns elevating debt restructuring to a national agenda item, with all parties focusing on resolving non-performing loans and household debt. Policymakers recognise that without addressing household debt, consumption cannot expand as people remain trapped in debt. He said household debt remains high at around 86% of GDP. Meanwhile, persistently high household debt continues to constrain consumer spending.

Listen to this articleSenior Thai and Cambodian military officials met on Thursday under the Regional Border Committee (RBC) framework to reinforce bilateral cooperation and review commitments made during the third special session of the General Border Committee, a security source said. Discussions focused on strengthening coordination along the shared border, including the appointment of designated liaison officers to facilitate faster and more effective communication between the two sides, the source said. Meanwhile, Thailand's Ministry of Defence on Thursday addressed public debate surrounding plans to return items seized from Cambodian soldiers during recent border clashes. The ministry said on its Facebook that preparations for the handover were underway following inspections by Thai military authorities, an issue that has generated widespread discussion on social media. In clarifying Thailand's legal obligations, the ministry cited Rule 50 of international humanitarian law as outlined by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Anutin touts nation's food, pharma hub potentialListen to this articlePrime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand has strong potential in the food and pharmaceutical sectors and is ready to position itself as a global hub for food and drug security. He said by ensuring quality medicines are available in sufficient quantities at affordable prices, the organisation has demonstrated that pharmaceutical security is key to national health security. During public health crises, he added, the GPO and the Public Health Ministry have shown that access to care matters more than profit. Looking ahead, he said the GPO's push to turn Thailand into a hub for global pharmaceutical innovation would help sharpen the country's competitiveness and support the sustainability of its healthcare system. Thailand, he added, has the potential to present itself to the international community not just as a seller of goods or raw materials, but as a reliable partner in ensuring global food and pharmaceutical security.

Vayupak Fund champions governance to best benchmarksListen to this articleThe Vayupak Fund 1 delivered a return of 6.09% last year, outperforming the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index, which fell by 10%. According to Krungthai Asset Management (KTAM), which manages the state-controlled Vayupak Fund, fewer negative factors are expected this year than last year. Established by the Finance Ministry in 2024, the Vayupak Fund 1 has total assets of 490 billion baht. "As a result, stocks in the Vayupak Fund 1 are less volatile than the SET index, which means the fund's portfolio suffers less downside impact," she said. Despite unfavourable market conditions last year, Vayupak Fund 1 outperformed all benchmarks set by its board, he said.