Emotional literacy has shifted from a specialised skill to a social expectation, something quietly folded into the definition of adulthood. The language may feel clinical, but the shift it produces is intimate. Intimacy often involves moments that exceed the tidy perimeter of a boundary, moments of excessive emotion, reliance and unpolished honesty. Research on close relationships increasingly emphasises that emotion regulation is not purely an individual skill but a relational process. As emotional vocabulary continues to shape modern adulthood, the question is not whether it should remain central, but how it is held.

Too soon to predict China tourism reboundDespite early signs of a rebound in Chinese arrivals during the first two months, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is downplaying expectations for a strong recovery, preferring to wait until May to assess whether demand has stabilised. Chinese arrivals rose 0.3% to 991,718 as of Feb 23, up from 988,451 year-on-year. According to the Tourism and Sports Ministry, the total number of Chinese arrivals for the first two months is projected to tally 1.08 million, increasing 4.5% year-on-year. Of the 27.7 billion baht the tourism sector earned from seven Asian markets during the holiday, around 60.3% or 16.7 billion baht came from Chinese expenditure. For 2026, the TAT targets 4.5-4.6 million Chinese tourists, banking on seat capacity of 7.1 million for the year.

The aircraft, a C-130 Hercules transport plane, veered off the runway at El Alto International Airport and crashed into an avenue, destroying multiple cars and damaging trucks, local media footage showed. Mangled parts of the aircraft were seen on the road where the plane came down. Colonel Pavel Tovar of the National Fire Department told reporters that “between 15 and 16 (dead) people have been counted” in the disaster. (Photo: Reuters)Money grab ‘a crime’Fatalities were recorded both at the airport and on the busy avenue where the plane crashed and struck several vehicles. The Ministry of Defense in a statement said that “the money transported in the crashed aircraft has no official serial number … therefore it has no legal or purchasing power”.

A vulnerable species known as the white-shouldered ibis parrot has become surprisingly abundant in Nonthaburi and nearby Pathum Thani, thanks in part to grassroots conservation led by a local gas-strut specialist who began installing artificial nests around a Buddhist temple. Despite growing community support, the birds face threats from escaped pet parrots, loss of old nesting trees and shrinking green spaces, prompting calls to protect urban trees and habitat so the species can persist.

09:55Local action protects critically endangered bird speciesThe vulnerable white‑shouldered ibis parrot has become unexpectedly common in Nonthaburi and nearby Pathum Thani, thanks partly to grassroots conservation by a local gas‑strut specialist who installed artificial nests around a Buddhist temple. Despite growing community support, the birds still face threats from escaped pet parrots, the loss of old nesting trees and shrinking green spaces, prompting calls to protect urban trees and habitat so the species can persist.

'Double standards' in cabinet picksPeople's Party list MP-elect Rukchanok Srinork has accused Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of applying double standards in forming a new cabinet, questioning the possible appointment of Deputy Prime Minister Suchart Chomklin despite what she described as a record of controversies. In a Facebook post, Ms Rukchanok welcomed reports that Mr Anutin intends to introduce stricter criteria for cabinet appointments. She noted that the prime minister had reportedly rejected certain Pheu Thai Party nominees as part of that effort. However, she questioned whether the same standards were being applied within Mr Anutin's own ranks, singling out Mr Suchart, who is widely seen as a potential cabinet pick. Later yesterday, Mr Suchart assigned his legal team to file a complaint against Ms Rukchanok at Bang Phlat police station.

Chula-WEF forum warns of rising systemic risksThailand faces a wave of interconnected systemic risks from 2026 onwards, spanning economic, social and geopolitical dimensions, experts warned at the 5th Chula-WEF Global Future Forum yesterday. Experts cautioned that high household debt, along with rapid expansion of informal lending, is deepening financial woes among vulnerable groups. To counter this, Prof Wilert urged curriculum reform to align academic programmes with shifting labour market demands. Environmental risks, including extreme weather and escalating geopolitical tensions, were also identified as persistent threats to economic productivity. At the macro level, participants at the forum emphasised adopting a more holistic approach, aligning national budget allocations with long-term priorities.

Contactless payments coming to four MRT linesA new connectivity scheme led by the Transport Ministry is set to implement contactless payments across four MRT railway lines to expand the common ticketing system from June 1. This led to the cancellation of the old top-up ticket card, which affected both lines, said Mr Phiphat. Anyone who holds the top-up card can request refunds at ticket booths from tomorrow and throughout this year. They can also register for a Mangmoom EMV card at the booths for a fee waiver. The ministry is set to expand the common ticketing system into other forms of public transport, including metro buses and cross-provincial buses, said Mr Phiphat.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has forwarded a major narcotics-related case to public prosecutors, seeking charges against suspects linked to the possession of 800 tonnes of chemical precursors allegedly capable of producing up to 1 billion methamphetamine pills. The case stems from a joint operation in late 2025 by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), the DSI, and the Department of Industrial Works. Forensic examinations confirmed the substances could be used as precursors or catalysts in the manufacture of illicit drugs. The DSI has recommended prosecutors seek court approval to confiscate the seized chemicals. The case has also been referred to the DSI's Narcotics Crime Division to explore possible drug conspiracy charges.

The vessel, carrying 297 containers, sank at a depth of 61 metres between Phromthep Cape and Koh Kaeo Noi. Authorities confirmed that a substantial volume of heavy fuel oil remained onboard at the time of the sinking, raising serious concerns about leakage and its impact on marine ecosystems and coastal tourism. Officials from the Mu Koh Racha Marine Protected Area Management Centre and the Phuket Marine Resources Conservation Centre reported that, as of Thursday, oil slicks were still surfacing near the wreck site. At Ao Tue, Ao La and Ao Siam bays, tar balls were found scattered in patches across sandy stretches and rocky shorelines. Further traces of pollution were recorded along an 80–100-metre section of Kahang Beach on Coral Island (Koh Hae), affecting local tourism operators and prompting intensified clean-up efforts.

The Civil Court yesterday ordered the confiscation of more than 13 billion baht in assets in four cases linked to scam networks. The largest seizure involves assets worth 12 billion baht belonging to Cambodian businessman Yim Leak, businessman and lobbyist Benjamin Mauerberger, also known as Ben Smith, and three Thai women. Another forfeiture concerns about 345 million baht in assets belonging to Chinese-Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi, founder of the US-sanctioned Prince Group, who was extradited from Cambodia to China for prosecution in early January. The court also ordered the seizure of 560 million baht in assets belonging to Cambodian businessman Kok An and associates, who face charges of participating in a transnational crime syndicate and money laundering, as well as 46 million baht in assets belonging to Eua-angkun Santirakyothin and associates. Dentons Pisut issued a statement on behalf of Yim Leak and Veereenyah Yim in response to reports concerning inquiries and asset-freezing actions by Amlo.

Court orders Greenpeace to pay $345 mn to US oil pipeline companyAt the heart of the North Dakota case against Greenpeace was the Dakota Access Pipeline, where from 2016 to 2017 the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe led one of the largest anti-fossil fuel protests in US history. (Photo: AFP)WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - Greenpeace must pay $345 million in damages to the operator of the US oil pipeline it protested, a North Dakota court ordered Friday. Judge James Gion of North Dakota cut those damages in half, determining some damages had been counted twice. "This legal fight is far from over," Kristin Casper, Greenpeace International general counsel, said in a statement to AFP. Greenpeace International in 2025 announced plans to counter-sue ET in the Netherlands, where the NGO's international headquarters are, accusing the company of using nuisance lawsuits to suppress dissent.

People’s Party MP-elect Rukchanok Srinork, right, speaks to reporters in front of the Social Security Office (SSO) during a visit to the Ministry of Labour on Thursday. The SSO is facing renewed criticism following reports that it spent nearly 70 million baht on its LINE Official Account and sticker campaign. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)The Social Security Office (SSO) is facing renewed criticism following reports that it spent nearly 70 million baht on its LINE Official Account and sticker campaign. LINE Thailand later clarified that the SSO received the best sponsored sticker award in the public sector category. Thirachart Kortrakul, a party-list candidate from the People's Party (PP), questioned the reported 69.5-million-baht expenditure and urged greater public scrutiny.

PM denies cabinet rumoursPheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate and list-MP-elect Yodchanan Wongsawat leads a group of MPs to register with the Secretariat of the House of Representatives on the second day of registration. (Photo: Chanant Katanyu)Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has denied reports that the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) has rejected a list of veteran politicians who could serve in the cabinet from the Pheu Thai Party. Mr Anutin said on Friday no talks have been held yet with any parties, "either on the cabinet posts or anything else". Reports also confirm that the Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat is tipped for the higher education ministerial post, while party leader Julapun Amornvivat is expected to become education minister. After that, the prime minister will submit the list of ministerial candidates for background checks prior to royal endorsement.

(Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)The Election Commission (EC) is facing mounting criticism after filing criminal complaints against six individuals who publicly questioned aspects of the most recent general election, including alleged irregularities involving QR codes and barcodes printed on ballot papers. The EC lodged a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) against a group accused of photographing ballot papers and their counterfoils and attempting to decode QR codes and barcodes printed on both constituency and party-list ballots. Investigators are expected to meet in early March before agreeing with the EC whether to call in the accused. The Democrat Party slammed the EC, arguing that citizens have a constitutional right to scrutinise the electoral process provided they do not obstruct officials. In contrast, Mr Somchai urged the EC not to withdraw its complaint, saying court proceedings could allow judicial scrutiny and compel disclosure of evidence not yet made public.