On Monday, police officers raided two apartments in Soi Sukhumvit 13 in Bangkok, arresting another Chinese national and confiscating 552 Zombie Pods and related paraphernalia. A recent survey by Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine found that Thailand now has 1.7 million e‑cigarette users, up from just 500,000 in 2020. The study found that peer pressure and social media portrayals of vaping as a "cool" lifestyle strongly influence experimentation. Opponents of e-cigarette and vaping, including the World Health Organization and medical communities, warn that recent research links vape liquids to cardiovascular risks and ischaemic stroke. With the spread of Zombie Pods, young users face heightened exposure to recreational drugs and narcotics.

Bus industry loses 'Jeh Kiew', its leading voiceListen to this article2025 was a big loss for all interprovincial bus operators as it was the end of the road for a woman who staunchly protected their business. Suchinda Cherdchai, best remembered by her colleagues and officials as "Jeh Kiew", died of natural causes on Sept 27, aged 88. Jeh Kiew, which means big sister Kiew, could not be blamed for what she did. Born into a poor family that forced her to drop out of school, Jeh Kiew fought to become a billionaire. Had she been alive, Jeh Kiew would have prepared for another fight against this challenge.

Three shocks that shook us in 2025Listen to this articleVisitors ride on spinning tea cups in Kyiv on Sunday. The contradiction was fatal: If the Ukraine war ended with a peace deal, it would be hard to sustain this economic pump-priming. In 2025, this strategy met its Waterloo, and Europe was again the primary collateral damage. In 2025, the US proved incapable of slowing China's rise and, instead, unwittingly propelled its tech sector towards full independence. Mr Trump's acquiescence to Chinese President Xi Jinping has triggered a flood of Chinese exports to the EU.

New import duty a double-edged swordListen to this articleThe Customs Department's imposition of import duties on goods valued less than 1,500 baht starting on Jan 1, 2026 will have both positive and negative impacts for Thailand. They will have to bear higher import costs, either by absorbing them or passing them on to consumers through higher retail prices. Industry leaders also called for the Customs Department to operate with greater transparency, as well as creating a unified digital customs system linked directly with e-commerce platforms. Thailand retained its position as Southeast Asia's No.2 digital economy, projected to be worth between $90-160 billion by 2030. The number of video sellers surged by 175% year-on-year to 850,000, making Thailand home to the region's largest and fastest-growing population of video commerce sellers.

Finance summit thrusts Thailand onto global stageListen to this articleThailand's promotional booth at the IMF-WBG Annual Meeting 2025. Thai leaders hope the global event will enhance foreign confidence in the country's economic fundamentals. The country will become one of only three nations to host the event twice, following its first hosting in 1991. Thailand introduced a country theme for the event -- "Thailand's New Horizons: Empowering People, Building Resilience" -- emphasising a people-centred development vision that aims to strengthen its economic resilience amid rising global uncertainty. Founded in 1944, the IMF has 191 member countries and focuses on safeguarding global financial stability, supporting economic growth, and assisting members facing economic crises.

Thais aim to bounce back at Asian CupListen to this articleThailand U23 team coach Thawatchai Damrong-ongtrakul presents his report. Thailand's football authorities and coaching staff have moved swiftly to regroup following the disappointment of the SEA Games, turning their focus to the AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next month. Coach Thawatchai, still smarting from the SEA Games exit, outlined the challenges of assembling a competitive squad for Saudi Arabia. He added: "We may have been disappointed at the SEA Games, but the commitment and spirit remain. This tournament is a crucial step towards future campaigns, including the Asian Games and the next SEA Games."

The wreckage of their Falcon 50 aircraft was located by Turkish security personnel in the Haymana district near Ankara, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. Libya's Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah said on his Facebook page: "It is with deep sadness and great sorrow that we learnt of the death of the Libyan army's chief of general staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad." Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said the Ankara chief prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the incident. The minister said the others on the aircraft were Haddad's advisor, Mohammed Al-Assawi, as well as Major General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, Major General Mohammed Jumaa, and their escort, Mohammed Al-Mahjoub. Haddad had been the army's chief of general staff since August 2020 and was appointed by then-prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj.

Thailand, Laos hail new friendship bridgeListen to this articleThe Fifth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (photo: Ministry of Transport)Thailand and Laos welcome the inauguration ceremony of the Fifth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (Bueng Kan–Bolikhamsai), which will be held on Thursday. Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday welcomed the ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to Thailand, HE Mr Sisavath Inphachanh, at Government House to mark the ambassador's assumption of office. According to government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Mr Anutin congratulated Mr Sisavath on his official appointment and expressed confidence that, with his extensive experience and strong understanding of Thailand, he would play a key role in advancing cooperation. Both sides also welcomed the opening ceremony of the Fifth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge. Mr Anutin reiterated Thailand's support for Laos's "Land-Locked-to-Land-Linked" policy and expressed hope for tangible progress on a new Mekong railway bridge linking Thailand's Nong Khai province and Laos's capital of Vientiane.

15 royal aides-de-camp receive special ranksListen to this articleBoonsin: Becomes a full generalA royal command has been issued granting special military ranks and decorations to 15 officers serving as royal aides-de-camp. Among those honoured is Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, former commander of the Second Army Area, who will be elevated to the rank of general. Adm Weerasak Oakkangwan, commander of the Office of the Aide-de-Camp Department at the Amphon Sathan Residential Hall, issued an official letter to the permanent secretary for defence on Tuesday concerning the royal command bestowing military ranks and royal decorations on the 15 officers. An Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence list shows that the 15th individual on it is Lt Gen Boonsin, who has been promoted to the rank of general. Lt Gen Boonsin was appointed as a special royal aide-de-camp on Sept 26, along with 37 other commissioned military officers and police officers.

Court accepts case against EC membersListen to this articleThe Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases has accepted a lawsuit filed against seven members of the Election Commission (EC) and its secretary-general over alleged abuse of power and collusion in connection with the controversial way in which the previous Senate election was processed. The court ordered the defendants to submit written statements within 30 days. He also insisted there was no need to wait for pending EC deliberations on 138 senators, saying any wrongdoing must ultimately be examined by the court. Mr Akkharawat expressed hope that the case would restore faith in the system and demonstrate that Thailand still has a judicial process people can rely on. The EC said it had evidence confirming a 10,000-baht cash payment was offered in exchange for voting in line with predetermined candidate numbers.

On December 11th, at the National Gallery of Thailand, the Gallery and the Mexican Embassy launched the #BuscandoMéxico art exhibition to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Mexico-Thailand bilateral relationship while strengthening the ties between two countries through arts. The exhibition showcased the work of Diego Rodarte Planter, the Mexican artist whose his works focus on visual practice through various technical mediums, with a notable emphasis on exploring painting. Furthermore, his works question the veracity of images on the internet, casting doubt on the authenticity of the works he came across. He believes that art does not affirm anything; rather, it seeks to make the viewer question something, for instance, "How real is what I find on the social media? The exhibition will be arranged at the the Temporary Exhibition Room of Thailand National Gallery from December 3-26, 2025 at 9 am - 4pm.

(Photo: Myanmar ITV)In August 2024, Myanmar’s ruling military junta was losing ground fast. It hopes the phased elections that begin on Sunday will give it a veneer of legitimacy and help it return to the global stage. After years of US-led condemnation, Trump has refrained from criticising the junta or denouncing the elections, despite bipartisan pressure. China provided key military and diplomatic backing when the junta risked losing control to rebels last year. Within months, captured territory was being returned to a Myanmar military, which was boosted by mandatory conscription, allowing the junta to lift a nationwide state of emergency that had been in place since the coup.

Trophies over tears -- the high price children pay for adults’ ambitionsListen to this articleKids race in a balance bike competition in Bangkok early this year. At its core lies a troubling question: when victory becomes the goal, what happens to a child's right to be a child? In that moment, society was left to wonder whether a child’s tears are considered less valuable than an object called a trophy. Once the child outgrows the toddler stage, there is no professional league or future career for balance bikes. Cultivating a child's potential is not wrong, but parents should realise that a child’s readiness and happiness must come before trophies.

Listen to this articleYod-IQ reacts after being told he has earned aUS$100,000 ONE Championship contractYod-IQ Or Pimolsri says the public criticism from ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong helped fuel the performance that finally earned him a full-time US$100,000 contract. “I actually did not expect the contract today,” Yod-IQ told the Bangkok Post backstage at Lumpinee Stadium. Yod-IQ, still processing the biggest moment of his career, went to see his teammate in hospital over the weekend. I did not expect this surprise.”As for what comes next, Yod-IQ is keeping his focus simple. Right now I just got the contract – and I don’t want to lose to anyone ever again.”

Three collections: Messi x Stanley 1913 GOAT Black, Stanley 1913 x Arsenal. This is Homage and Stanley 1913 x Paris Saint-Germain; embody the identity, passion and legacy of their collaborators. Stanley 1913 x Paris Saint-Germain CollectionInspired by the remarkable journey of Paris Saint-Germain; Paris’ oldest, most successful and most popular football club. The Stanley 1913 x Paris Saint-Germain Collection reflects the shared momentum of players and fans moving forward together towards triumph. This landmark collaboration between Stanley 1913, football legend Lionel Messi, and the two world-renowned football clubs seamlessly merges lifestyle products with football culture.