When repressive states choose terror over deathListen to this articleFyodor Dostoevsky -- one of the few writers to survive state terror and return with a psychology sharp enough to indict it. This is why The Idiot dwells on the minute before death rather than death itself. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not imprisoned because she plotted violence. At nearly 80 years old, Aung San Suu Kyi endures conditions calibrated to erode rather than execute. Like Dostoevsky before the firing squad, Aung San Suu Kyi lives inside a sentence that has not yet concluded.

Philanthropy must dive deeperListen to this articleA marine scientist checks the condition of coral reefs in Moo Koh Similan Marine National Park, Phangnga province, on Wednesday. To unlock meaningful progress, philanthropic contributions must align with shared priorities and reinforce one another, rather than operate in isolation. By funding feasibility studies, regulatory groundwork, and initial project preparation, philanthropy acts as risk capital, reducing uncertainty and attracting public and private investment. The real opportunity for philanthropy lies in turning shared objectives into coordinated action through platforms that help clarify priorities and develop investment-ready opportunities. My own organisation, the Philanthropy Asia Alliance, aims to achieve this through our annual Philanthropy Asia Summit and the Blue Oceans Community initiative, which bring funders and partners together to mobilise co-investment for Asia-focused solutions.

This America First agenda has now culminated in and been codified into the United States' National Security Strategy, launched in November 2025 (NSS 2025). To understand where Mr Trump is going with his America First project, it is necessary to digest and take the NSS 2025 seriously. Doing so requires putting aside Mr Trump's blustery self-absorption while focusing on the nativist and nationalistic movement behind him. Figuring out Mr Trump's mindset and manoeuvres requires analysing underpinnings, drivers, and trends the way they are, rather than the way we want them to be. Mr Trump's nativist camp erected barriers to keep out near-abroad migrants and secured borders in a fortress-like fashion.

Board games at SSFListen to this articleAn ongoing public hearing by the Social Security Fund (SSF) board suggests a change of the rules governing how employees' representatives are elected may be on the cards, switching from one vote for seven candidates to one vote per candidate. The SSF board has 20 members. Due to this enormous funding, power struggles are only to be expected between those representing employees and the bureaucrats and employers, making the SSF board of crucial importance. More importantly, the online hearing system is designed in such a way that respondents can submit more than one vote. The board must waste no time in fixing the online public hearing process by limiting it so that respondents can only deliver a single vote.

Pitchamon stuns Miyazaki, Panitchaphon dumps LeeListen to this articleThai star Pitchamon Opatniputh. (Photo supplied)Pitchamon Opatniputh and Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul moved into the quarter-finals of the BWF Indonesia Masters on Thursday. The 19-year-old Pitchamon, ranked 36th in the world, stunned fourth seed and world No.9 Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan 21-10, 21-13 to reach her first Super 500 quarter-final. Lee fought hard to push world No.44 Panitchaphon early on but fell short in the deciding third game in their first meeting. Earlier, women's doubles pair Hathaithip Mijad and Napapakorn Tungkasatan lost to Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti of Indonesia 21-17, 21-14.

Thai travellers warned over rise of visa scamsListen to this articlePassengers make their way through a section of Suvarnabhumi airport. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)Travellers are advised to be alert to visa application scams, such as false appointment letters or requests for additional payment for fast-track visa guarantees, as outbound travel grows. According to VFS Global, a common fraud effort in the region is the promise of fast-track visa processing in exchange for extra fees. VFS Global does not sell visa appointments. In Thailand, VFS Global serves 26 governments, including Germany, Canada, Japan and New Zealand, through 38 visa application centres in three cities: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Gulf Edge Co Ltd, the digital infrastructure arm of Gulf Group, and Google Cloud announced an artificial intelligence (AI) collaboration yesterday. Under the partnership, Gulf Edge leads the effort to transform Gulf Group and its affiliates, including Advanced Info Service (AIS), into an AI-native leader with advanced cloud and AI from Google Cloud. According to Gulf Edge, the collaboration calls for AIS to serve as a model for enterprise-wide AI transformation that can be replicated at scale across organisations and partners. Centre of ExcellenceThis expanded collaboration also establishes Gulf Edge as a strategic go-to market partner driving end-to-end access and adoption of Google Cloud's enterprise-grade agentic AI and sovereign cloud technologies. "AI presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform how we work, run our businesses and what we build for our customers," said Karthik Narain, chief product and business officer at Google Cloud.

Foreign funds have returned to Thai equities as global risk appetite improves. Foreign funds have returned to Thai equities as global risk appetite improves, yet analysts caution about potential downward pressure, noting risks remain regarding trade retaliation and geopolitical spillovers that temporarily receded. "Foreign investors have begun to re-enter the Thai stock market amid a more supportive global backdrop," he said. Asia Plus Securities (ASPS) issued a broadly constructive but cautious view, noting the Thai market is supported by improving global sentiment, but external risks remain elevated. According to Setsmart data, foreign investors were net buyers of Thai equities valued at 5.5 billion baht from Jan 3-21.

Listed bank profits edge up in 2025Listen to this articleLeading banks exhibit at a recent Money Expo event. The banking sector reported marginal net profit growth of 3.6% in 2025, with large banks posting weaker profitability while small lenders delivered strong earnings growth. The 11 SET-listed banks announced combined consolidated net profit of 265 billion baht, up 3.63% year-on-year. In contrast, small banks reported double-digit net profit growth last year. However, large banks posted marginal loan growth or contractions, resulting in an overall year-on-year decline of 0.64% in total outstanding loans across the industry in 2025.

US negotiators meet Putin for high-stakes Ukraine talksListen to this articleThe meeting marks Witkoff's seventh with Putin, according to Russian state media. (Photo: AFP)MOSCOW - Top US negotiators including Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow late Thursday for talks on a US-drafted plan to end the Ukraine war, just as Kyiv announced it had agreed on post-war security guarantees with Washington. Video published by the Kremlin showed a smiling Putin shaking hands with Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House advisor Josh Gruenbaum. Trump repeated on Wednesday his oft-stated belief that Putin and Zelensky were close to a deal. Russia, which launched its Ukraine offensive in February 2022, says its strikes are aimed at energy infrastructure fuelling Ukraine's "military-industrial complex".

The two tourist towns about 200km south of Bangkok have been shocked by the robbery and killing of a hotel receptionist early Monday in downtown Hua Hin. The murder suspect was arrested the following day. In one deserted building, they found a homeless man from the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, also the home province of the Hua Hin murder suspect. “All officials concerned will clear homeless people from tourist destinations along Cha-am beach to prevent the likes of the Hua Hin crime and guarantee safety for visitors,” he said. Meanwhile, the Hua Hin Provincial Court on Thursday extended the detention of the murder suspect for 12 days as police continue to gather evidence in the murder of the female hotel receptionist.

(Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)Six officials, including two deputy district chiefs, have been arrested in Chiang Mai for allegedly falsifying permanent residency documents to grant Thai nationality to foreigners, mostly Chinese. The suspects were identified as Theerawat Suksri and Wiset Phongnok, both deputy district chiefs in Chiang Mai; and four women — Suwanan Worathongchai, Natenapha Khuenphet, Rungarun Sawatsawai and Pornphatchara Thanakan — who worked as municipal officials in Chiang Dao district of the northern province. The charges include performing or neglecting official duties unlawfully, certifying false official documents, and producing, using or supporting the use of falsified population registration documents. Subsequent inquiries uncovered further irregularities involving applications for birth certificates filed with the registration office of tambon Thung Khao Phuang in Chiang Dao district. The arresting team said the investigation would be expanded to identify other members of the network and to review additional civil registration documents that may have been fraudulently issued.

(Photo supplied)SURAT THANI - Tourist police on Koh Phangan have located and assisted a British tourist who was left stranded on the tourist island after his wallet and ATM cards went missing, leaving him with no money and out of contact. The officers began their search for a 45-year-old British man, identified as Michael Nicholas Lee, after the British Embassy in Thailand requested help. Mr Lee had lost his wallet and bank cards, had no cash and could not be contacted, according to the embassy. Mr Lee was later found sitting on a beach, looking exhausted and dazed, said Pol Lt Col Winit Boonchit, an inspector at the local tourist police station. His condition improved, and police informed the British Embassy, Pol Lt Col Winit said.

Listen to this articleA police officer stands guard next to some of the migrant workers detained in Sangkhla Buri district of Kanchanaburi on Wednesday. (Photos: Highway Police)Highway Police arrested 83 illegal migrants from Myanmar along with three drivers — a fourth escaped — after intercepting four suspicious vehicles in Sangkhla Buri district of Kanchanaburi on Wednesday. The smugglers were believed to have been hired by Thai businesses that wanted to bring migrant workers into the country, said Pol Col Phakapol Suchol, chief of Highway Police Division 2. The migrants were being transported in steps, with vehicles being swapped at various spots, Pol Col Phakapol said. Police were expanding the investigation to identify the ringleaders and those responsible for sourcing the migrant workers, he added.

Pattaya police caution Norwegian skinny-dipperListen to this articleA Norwegian man gathers up his things after a conversation with police at Pattaya beach early Thursday morning. (Photo: Amporn Sangkaew)CHON BURI - Police were called to Pattaya beach in the early hours of Thursday after a Norwegian tourist was spotted walking naked along the shore. Officers arrived the scene near Soi 13/3 in tambon Nong Prue at 1am after being alerted by a concerned citizen. Police spoke with the man and warned him that such behaviour is inappropriate and offensive to tourists and local residents alike. After emerging from the water, the man walked towards people sitting on the beach, causing considerable alarm.