West Bank Bedouin community driven out by Israeli settler violenceListen to this articleA Bedouin man gathers plastic sheeting as families begin to collect their belongings to leave their homes after harassment from Israeli settlers in Ras Ein al-Auja. (Photo: AFP)RAS 'EIN AL 'AUJA (PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES) - With heavy hearts, Bedouins in a West Bank village dismantle their sheep pens and load belongings onto trucks, forced from their homes in the Israeli-occupied territory by rising settler violence. Most Palestinian Bedouins are herders, which leaves them particularly exposed to violence when Israeli settlers bring their own herds that compete for grazing land in isolated rural areas. Slogans spray-painted in Arabic have appeared along major roads in the West Bank in recent months that read: "No future in Palestine". For Jahaleen, whose family has lived in Ras Ein al-Auja since 1991, the message sums up his feelings.

Japan, South Korea leaders drum up viral moment with K-pop jamListen to this articleSouth Korea's President Lee Jae Myung, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi playing drums, in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. "Following the summit I played drums with President Lee Jae Myung," Takaichi, who used to drum in a student heavy metal band, said in her X post. "We will work together with one heart to build a future-oriented relationship between South Korea and Japan." The leaders visited one of Japan's oldest temples in Nara on Wednesday morning. Lee, relatively more dovish towards North Korea than was Yoon, has said that South Korea and Japan are like "neighbours sharing a front yard".

Of the total assets, 11.23 billion baht belong to Ms Paetongtarn, 86.7 million baht to her husband Pitaka Suksawat, and 130,693 baht to their two children aged 5 and 2, the declaration showed. The declaration showed that Ms Paetongtarn’s assets include 7.2 million baht in cash, deposits totalling 1.06 billion baht across 26 bank accounts, investments worth 8.35 billion, and 12 land plots valued at 725 million baht. She also declared buildings and structures valued at 168.6 million baht, 23 vehicles valued at 66.8 million baht, and six rights and concessions valued at 425 million baht, including long-term apartment leases in London. Ms Paetongtarn and her spouse also reported liabilities of 4.4 billion baht, unchanged from her earlier filing. Mr Pitaka reported assets of 86.7 million baht, liabilities of 1.18 million and annual income of 4.9 million baht.

Iran vows fast trials over protests after Trump threatListen to this articleIranian authorities have sought to regain control of the streets by staging mass rallies of their own after days of protests in which hundreds of people are said to have died. (Photo: AFP)PARIS — Iran on Wednesday vowed fast-track trials for people arrested over a massive wave of protests, after US President Donald Trump threatened "very strong action" if the Islamic republic goes ahead with hangings. Trump on Tuesday said in a CBS News interview that the United States would act if Iran began hanging protesters. Iranian state media has said dozens of members of the security forces have been killed, with their funerals turning into large pro-government rallies. “You are the national military of Iran, not the military of the Islamic Republic,” he said in a statement.

In an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, Trump vowed "very strong action" if Iran started hanging protesters but did not elaborate. US-based HRANA rights group said it had so far verified the deaths of 2,403 protesters and 147 government-affiliated individuals. Asked what he meant by "help is on its way", Trump told reporters on Tuesday they would have to figure that out. Trump on Monday announced 25% import tariffs on products from any country doing business with Iran - a major oil exporter. The US State Department on Tuesday urged American citizens to leave Iran now, including by land through Turkey or Armenia.

Listen to this articleA drone view taken in October 2025 shows a compound in Takeo province that is said to be one of many scam centres operating in Cambodia. (Photo: Reuters)CHANTHABURI - Twenty-nine Thai nationals — 14 women and 15 men — have been rescued from illegal scam operations in Cambodia and returned safely to Thailand to emotional reunions with their families following joint coordination between Thai and Cambodian authorities. According to Pol Maj Gen Padungsak, the 29 Thais had contacted the embassy between Nov 27, 2025 and Jan 9 this year. Officials said the victims had been deceived into taking jobs linked to scam centres operating in several locations across Cambodia. “I would like to warn the public, especially young people, to be extremely cautious when seeking jobs online,” Mr Panyapong said.

Danish minister heads to White House for high-stakes Greenland talksListen to this articleUS Vice President JD Vance, right, walks with Colonel Susan Meyers, commander of the US military's Pituffik Space Base, during his controversial visit to Greenland in March 2025. The meeting will take place at the White House, after Vice President JD Vance requested to join. It has not been announced if the Greenland meeting will be open to the press. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States," Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said at a press conference ahead of the White House talks. Shortly after the White House talks, a senior delegation from the US Congress -- mostly Democrats, but with one Republican -- will visit Copenhagen to offer solidarity.

Accident-prone Thailand: Construction mishaps pile upListen to this articleWorkers from the Expressway Authority of Thailand remove debris left by a collapsed beam from the new elevated expressway above Rama II Road in Bangkok, on March 16, 2025, a day after the accident that killed five workers. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)Dozens of people were killed on Wednesday after a crane collapsed onto a moving train in northeastern Thailand, the ‌latest in a series of construction accidents ​in recent years. November 29, 2024: Six workers — 4 Myanmar nationals and 2 Thais — were killed in Samut Sakhon province in an accident at a ⁠construction site for the elevated motorway. Six people were also ​injured in the incident when a concrete segment and crane collapsed during construction. March 29, 2024: Seven people were killed and several injured, including one who lost a limb, after ​a crane collapsed at a construction site of a Chinese-run steel factory in Rayong province.

Luxury retailer Saks Global files for bankruptcyListen to this articleLuxury retailer Saks Global, which operates Saks Fifth Avenue, has filed for bankruptcy but says its stores will remain open for now after securing $1.75 billion financingNEW YORK - US luxury retail group Saks Global, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, said Wednesday it had filed for bankruptcy. Saks Global said it had appointed former Neiman Marcus Group head Geoffroy van Raemdonck as its new CEO with immediate effect, replacing Richard Baker. The retailer noted its stores, which include Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks OFF 5TH, Last Call and Horchow, will remain open after it received a fundraising commitment. Saks Global had defaulted on a $100 million interest payment related to its nearly $2.7 billion acquisition of Neiman Marcus in 2024. According to court documents, Saks Global estimated it had assets and liabilities of between $1 billion and $10 billion.

Defence seeks confidential 2026 budgetListen to this articleThe cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged the Ministry of Defence's request to convert its 2026 fiscal budget, as well as that of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, into a confidential budget, according to a Government House source. The request was forwarded to the cabinet at its weekly meeting on Tuesday. During the meeting, Natjaree Anuntasilpa, secretary-general to the cabinet, informed ministers of the agenda item concerning the proposed budget conversion. No further details of the request could be disclosed due to its confidential nature, Ms Natjaree told the cabinet. The cabinet subsequently acknowledged the request, with no ministers raising questions.

Ratchanok, mixed duo reach last 16Listen to this articleDechapol Puavaranukroh in action with Supissara Paewsampran during their first round mixed doubles match. (Photo: Reuters)Ratchanok Intanon and mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Supissara Paewsampran moved into the last 16 of the US$950,000 (approx 30,400,000 baht) India Open in New Delhi on Tuesday. They will face Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Gonzales Chan of Taiwan in the last 16. Dechapol won the mixed title in 2024 with his then playing partner Sapsiree Taerattanachai. Another Thai mixed doubles pair Ruttanapak Oupthong and Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat also progressed, beating Chen Cheng-kuan and Hsu Yin-hui of Taiwan 21-16, 21-17.

Davos braces for Trump's 'America First' onslaughtListen to this articleDonald Trump addressing last year's World Economic Forum in Davos via a giant video screenPARIS (FRANCE) - All eyes will be on Donald Trump next week as politicians and business leaders head to the World Economic Forum, wondering how to square the mercurial US leader with the Davos creed of open markets and multilateralism. "We're pleased to welcome back President Trump," Borge Brende, the forum's chief executive, told an online press conference ahead of the Davos summit, six years after Trump's previous in-person appearance during his first term. China is sending Vice Premier He Lifeng to Davos, while EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will also attend. With his tariffs, trade "is a subject where Trump has made a lot of noise", Pascal Lamy, former head of the World Trade Organization, told AFP. Among the 850 CEOs or board chairs set to attend are Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Microsoft's Satya Nadella.

Moving train hits collapsed crane, 22 killedRescuers extricate trapped passengers after a construction crane fell across a rail track, which collided with an approaching train in Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday morning. (Photo: supplied)A Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani train collided with a collapsed construction crane in Nakhon Ratchasima, killing 22 passengers and injuring 55 others. Initial reports said that a crane, being used in the construction of a high-speed rail bridge, fell across the train tracks, blocking the track. An approaching passenger train hit the collapsed crane and derailed, which also caused additional construction materials to fall onto the train. The collision caused a fire and rescuers had to use hydraulic cutters to free trapped passengers from the wreckage.

Thai sergeant gets 45 days’ detention for assaulting conscriptListen to this articleA young man receives a physical check-up during a military conscription call-up in this file photo taken on April 1, 2024 at a temple in Bangkok’s Wang Thonglang district. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)A Thai army sergeant has been sentenced to 45 days’ detention in a military prison and stripped of his gratuity after being found guilty of assaulting a conscript. One of them — who was personally acquainted with Sgt Pitpiboon Wiang-in — later reported the dispute to the sergeant, according to the army’s statement released on Tuesday. When Sgt Pitpiboon attempted to question both men and mediate the situation, tensions escalated. A probe committee ordered 45 days detention and the forfeiture of his gratuity in line with army regulations.

The app called Sileme in Chinese, which translates to "Are you dead?" The app ‌requires setting up one emergency contact and sends automatic notifications if the user has not checked in via the app for consecutive days. China may have up ⁠to 200 million one-person households, with a solo living rate exceeding 30%, state newspaper the Global Times said. Netizens on social media platforms, including Weibo, called on Sileme ⁠not to change its name, while others suggested ​options like "Are you alive", "Are you online" or "Are you there." "Maybe some conservative people can't accept it," said one user, but it is helpful for safety purposes.