Listen to this articlePeople’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruangpanyawut addresses a press conference on Thursday morning following the arrest of one of its candidates. (Photo: People’s Party Facebook)The People’s Party has suspended a candidate for the Feb 8 election in Tak province after he was arrested for alleged involvement in online gambling. Mr Natthaphong said the People’s Party learned on Wednesday night that Mr Ratchapong had previously faced complaints, although none were directly connected to the present case. The People’s Party has positioned itself at the forefront of the campaign to rid Thailand of the influence of grey capital and corruption. Mr Natthaphong said background checks for candidates include police criminal record requests, local public consultations and interviews with party members.

Listen to this articleSecurity officials inspect the damage at one of the 11 PTT petrol stations hit by bombs in the far South on Jan 11, 2026. (Photo supplied)PATTANI: Five suspects linked to coordinated bombings and arson attacks on 11 petrol stations in the three southern border provinces last week have been identified, police in charge of the case said on Thursday. “Three of the suspects have prior records linked to multiple violent incidents in the Pattani and Narathiwat areas,” Pol Col Thatpichai said. Col Ekwasrit Chobchupol, deputy spokesman for the Region 4 forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), said the agency remained committed to swiftly resolving the case and bringing those responsible to justice. He urged the public to report useful information via the Isoc Region 4 hotline 1341 or to local security units around the clock.

Last-minute Cambodian pullout won't affect eventListen to this articleCambodia on Wednesday withdrew from the 13th Asean Para Games, which will take place in Nakhon Ratchasima between Jan 20-26. Maj Gen Osoth Bhavilai, president of the Asean Para Sports Federation (APSF), said an official letter has been sent to the tournament organisers to confirm the country's decision. "APSF officially acknowledges the content of the letter and NPC Cambodia's position. "We are confident that the Games will be successful, safe, inclusive, and of high standards for para-athletes in Southeast Asia," said Maj Gen Osoth. Cambodia also pulled out of the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in December, citing safety concerns arising from the border conflict with hosts Thailand.

Listen to this articleA drone view shows Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy ahead of Winter Olympic Games 2026. (Photo: Reuters)ROME - As Italy prepares to host the Winter Olympics next month, Alpine communities are sounding the alarm over social media-driven tourism that is transforming sacred landscapes into selfie backdrops and ‌straining the fragile mountain ecosystem. They warn that once-quiet destinations such as the Seceda summit and Lake Sorapis have already been transformed into ‌viral hotspots overwhelmed by visitors. Geotagging has similarly transformed Lake Sorapis, whose turquoise glacial waters now make it one of the most photographed sites in the Dolomites. The 1956 Winter Olympics, the first ever to be broadcast internationally on television, had a lasting economic impact on the town.

Listen to this articleDeploying AI in political messaging could appeal to younger US voters, political strategists say. Another AI post features Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sunbathing at a lavish resort, with “Trump Gaza” emblazoned on a sign in the background. Last year, he posted an AI video of former president Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office and appearing behind bars in an orange jumpsuit. In a sign of its potency, Trump’s AI strategy has been mimicked by other departments of his administration and his critics. Last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, trolled the president by posting an AI video on X depicting Trump and two senior administration officials in handcuffs.

Listen to this articleA store burns fiercely at a PTT petrol station in the far South, one of 11 attacked by bombers and arsonists in three border provinces early Sunday morning. (Photo supplied)Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) to urgently provide relief and compensation following coordinated bomb and arson attacks on 11 PTT petrol stations in the deep South. The attacks took place on Sunday, when assailants planted bombs and set fires at petrol stations in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, with five of the 11 stations located in Narathiwat. Other SBPAC officials also visited petrol station owners in Chanae, Cho Airong, Waeng and Sungai Kolok districts, as well as two injured civilians receiving treatment at Waeng Hospital. In addition to the 11 petrol stations, nearby convenience stores, restaurants, offices, vehicles and other property were damaged.

Listen to this articleMorocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou celebrates with Brahim Diaz after the Afcon hosts beat Nigeria on penalties in their semi-final. As well as joy there was relief for Hamza Igamane, who had appeared distraught after his kick — Morocco’s second in the shoot-out — was saved by Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Morocco have been under enormous pressure to deliver a first Afcon title for their country in half a century and just their second overall. Senegal, champions in 2022, dominated possession against cautious Egypt as the Cup of Nations title continues to elude Liverpool superstar Salah. All the teams are evenly matched.”Referring to his former Liverpool teammate Salah, Mane said the Egyptian is “one of the best players in the world”.

(Photo Pornprom Satrabhaya)Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to be granted parole in May, when he will have served two-thirds of his one-year prison term, according to a source at the Department of Corrections. However, this was not a major concern, as Thaksin met the criteria for general parole, said the source. For inmates serving a one-year sentence, eligibility for parole requires completion of two-thirds of the term, or eight months. Thaksin is therefore expected to qualify for parole in May this year, said the source. The former prime minister asked him to convey encouragement to all Pheu Thai Party candidates contesting the Feb 8 general election.

Central announces new board leadersListen to this articleCentral Group announces the appointment of Prof Suthiphand, centre, as chairman, and Mrs Yuwadee and Mr Kobchai as vice-chairs. Central Group has announced the appointment of a chairman, vice-chairs and a new board of directors, seeking to reinforce its growth strategy anchored in strong governance principles and sustainability. This transition aims to strengthen corporate governance, enhance the effectiveness of organisational oversight and support the group's long-term strategic direction, noted the business. Following the completion of the shareholder appointment process, the newly appointed board convened a special meeting and passed resolutions to appoint Prof Suthiphand Chirathivat as chairman and Yuwadee Chirathivat and Kobchai Chirathivat as vice-chairs. In addition, the board appointed Suthikiati Chirathivat as honorary chairman.

(Photo supplied)SAMUT SAKHON – Two people were killed and five injured when parts of a construction crane collapsed onto Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon on Thursday morning, reportedly hitting two vehicles travelling below, police said. Two people were found dead and five injured, according to Pol Lt Pirote Pinthip, traffic inspector at the Muang Samut Sakhon police station, FM91 Trafficpro reported at 10am. Local news reports said the collapsed parts of the crane, which was being used for the expressway bridge construction, struck two vehicles travelling below. Rama II Road is the main and most direct route connecting Bangkok with the southern region and is known for frequent accidents related to the prolonged construction of an expressway above it. The accident comes just a day after a construction crane fell onto a moving train in Sikhiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, killing at least 32 people and inuring 64 others.

US pulls some personnel from Qatar as Iran warns of response to attackListen to this articleIranian women hold portraits of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the funerals of security forces personnel killed in protests. (Photo: AFP)PARIS (FRANCE) - Iran warned the United States on Wednesday that it was capable of responding to any attack, as Washington appeared to be pulling personnel out of a base that Iran targeted in a strike last year. In June, Iran targeted the Al Udeid base in response to American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. According to state media, hundreds of people have been arrested. State media has also reported on the arrest of a foreign national for espionage in connection with the protests.

Astronauts set to leave ISS in first-ever medical evacuationListen to this articleThe four members of the SpaceX Crew-11 are evacuating from the International Space Station due to a medical problem affecting one of them. (Photo: AFP)WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - Four crewmembers aboard the International Space Station were set to depart Wednesday after a medical issue prompted their mission to be cut a month short -- a first for the orbiting laboratory. American astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui were set to undock from the ISS at 2205 GMT on Wednesday, after five months in space. - Ready for the unexpected -Continuously inhabited since 2000, the International Space Station seeks to showcase multinational cooperation, bringing together Europe, Japan, the United States, and Russia. The four astronauts being evacuated had been trained to handle unexpected medical situations, said Amit Kshatriya, a senior NASA official, praising how they have dealt with the situation.

Air unhealthy in many parts of ThailandListen to this articleThick smog is seen on Thursday morning in Bangkok, where higher vehicle emissions have been singled out as the main contributor to pollution in inner areas of the city. (Photo: Jetjaras Na Ranong)Air pollution is worsening in Thailand, with Bangkok and numerous other provinces blanketed with unsafe levels of PM2.5 on Thursday morning. Of the capital’s 50 districts, five reported red (seriously harmful) readings: Prawet (83.3), Bang Rak (81.8), Lat Krabang (78.9), Bang Na (77.2) and Chatuchak (76.6). Forty-five others were all at orange levels, which start to affect health. As of 8am, red levels were also measured in 41 other provinces and orange levels in 19 provinces, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda).

Listen to this articleA man takes video at the site where a crane collapse killed two people on Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon on Thursday. Two people were killed and five injured when parts of a construction crane collapsed onto Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon on Thursday morning. A day earlier, a crane collapsed onto a moving train in Nakhon Ratchasima, killing 32 and injuring dozens. It’s a crane collapse again in front of me.”“That was close,” the first person says. A crane collapse in November 2024 killed at least three workers, while local media reported two more deadly accidents in May 2023 and January 2024.

Tisco introduces 3-year strategic planListen to this articleTisco Financial Group sees selective business expansion, greater operational efficiency through artificial intelligence (AI) and digital solutions, and disciplined risk management as critical for it to deliver sustainable growth from 2026-2028 amid a challenging economic backdrop. The parent of Tisco Bank revealed its three-year strategic plan yesterday, aiming to strengthen its resilience and enhance competitiveness in the digital era. Under the plan, Tisco focuses on businesses where it has strong expertise and clear growth potential, while leveraging AI, automation and data analytics to streamline processes, enhance accuracy and improve agility. Tisco targets total loan growth of 0-5% this year, in line with a modest GDP growth outlook of 1.6%. In 2025, Tisco reported net profit of 6.7 billion baht, down 3.5% year-on-year, reflecting higher credit loss provisions amid elevated economic risks.