Visitors to Japan, including Thai nationals, will be required to secure an online immigration approval first before travelling to the East Asian country as it tightens security and screens overstayers and illegal migrants. "Starting by the end of fiscal year 2028, travellers will need to apply for Jesta Japan approval before boarding flights to Japan," it added. Normally, visitors from visa-exempt countries can apply online for a free immigration QR code or fill in an immigration card once they arrive at Japanese ports or airports. "Without a valid Jesta Japan approval, boarding a flight to Japan could be denied," Japanese media stated. Japan follows other countries such as the United States for visitors to adopt immigration approval from the electronic system.

EVA Air will start a new route from Taipei to Washington, D.C. on June 26, offering four flights each week. This makes EVA Air the airline with the most destinations and the largest flight network from Taiwan to North America. “North America has long been a key strategic market for EVA Air,” said EVA Air President Clay Sun. “This new nonstop flight will significantly reduce existing travel times between Taipei and Washington, D.C. In addition, EVA Air will offer travellers seamless connections across Asia from their global hub at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.

How to prepare for the wars of tomorrowWe are living through a pivotal moment for global security. The norms, assumptions, and systems that underpinned relative global stability since the Cold War's end are reaching an inflection point. Meanwhile, the relationship between the US and some of its traditional allies has faced turbulence, prompting many of those allies to increase their defence spending. Across the democratic world, governments are recognising that they must prepare for a new era defined by heightened security risks. If they squander it, they will quickly lose ground against adversaries that are preparing for the wars of tomorrow.

The incident also highlights a broader, more troubling culture of mockery, in which personal harassment is used to bypass substantive debate. In this particular case, an old photograph of Mr Parit resurfaced to mock his appearance. The data serve as a stark reminder that many Thai online users remain unaware of media literacy and basic digital etiquette. While Mr Parit was forced to respond under public pressure, his statement carries significant merit. However, laws alone cannot fix a broken culture that treats mockery as acceptable in anonymous digital spaces.

Keeping Asia's growth engine on trackThis file photo, dated July 23, 2022, shows visitors hanging ribbons with messages calling for peace and reunification at a park near the DMZ, in Imjingak, South Korea. Strong domestic demand, rising middle classes, and rapid technological adoption continue to propel the region forward, cementing its role as the central driver of global economic growth. Geopolitical and geoeconomic pressures are accumulating in ways that threaten trade, investment, and regional stability. What were once treated as episodic shocks -- tariff disputes, political crises, or supply-chain disruptions -- are now hardening into structural challenges capable of reshaping Asia's economic trajectory. In this high-stakes environment, security and economic resilience are two sides of the same coin -- each indispensable to keeping Asia's growth engine from grinding to a halt.

Mr Kongkrapan has stressed the need for PTT to find new partners to strengthen its businesses. National oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc is seeking new business partners, hoping to secure additional funding to strengthen businesses within the PTT Group and create synergies to enhance long-term performance. PTT is planning to sell shares in its oil refining and petrochemical subsidiaries -- Thai Oil Plc, PTT Global Chemical Plc (GC) and IRPC Plc -- to global petrochemical companies seeking to expand in Southeast Asia. PTT will also approach investors about its electric vehicle (EV) charging business, operated by PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR), he said. In the oil and retail business, PTT recorded an improvement in the non-oil segment, with net profit at OR rising by 47.8% year-on-year to 11.3 billion baht.

After the Supreme Court swatted away Trump's initial tariff attempt, he is expected to explore other avenuesGlobal trade is grappling with uncertainties stemming from unpredictable US trade policy regarding tariffs. The Explainer explores the implications of the recent tariff announcement on US trading partners and anticipates possible new measures. The new baseline duty is imposed under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which allows the president to impose tariffs unilaterally. Most of these suits were already in progress before the Supreme Court decision. One concern for regional economies is the potential end of product-specific tariff exemptions once Section 232 investigations related to national security conclude.

Oakwood to debut in Hat Yai with CPN ventureAn artist's rendering of Oakwood Central Hat Yai, which is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. The development marks the debut of the Oakwood brand in Hat Yai, reflecting strong hospitality demand in one of southern Thailand's economic hubs. Just 20 minutes from Hat Yai airport, the property is designed to cater to both leisure and urban living needs. Oakwood Central Hat Yai is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, offering 182 rooms and suites to capture growing cross-border travel demand from regional markets. Phoom Chirathivat, head of hotel business at CPN, said Hat Yai has strong year-round demand from both business and leisure travellers.

Asian shares poised for best February on recordRECAP: Asian shares were mixed yesterday as concerns ‌about technology company valuations and geopolitical hotspots weighed on sentiment. But the MSCI Asia Pacific Index has gained 7.1% this month, making it the best February performance on record. After solid market gains since beginning of the week, the Thai index slid Friday on profit taking. Retail investors were net buyers of 3.54 billion baht, followed by brokerage firms at 1.25 billion and foreign investors at 430.37 million. Export value plunged 30.7% to 9.7 billion baht.

Tech-led correction unlikely to be the lastPhoto: 123RFFollowing a correction in the US stock market prompted by concerns over high valuations of technology stocks and the potential disruption artificial intelligence (AI) could bring to various businesses, market concerns about a technology and AI bubble have begun to ease. However, we believe concerns about AI disruption in the technology and transport sectors will persist for some time. Elsewhere, a lower US inflation figure than expected for January improved the prospects for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut, positively impacting the stock market. We expect global stock markets to remain volatile due to concerns about AI disruption until related stocks return to more attractive levels. We expect earnings to grow year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter in the next four quarters, thanks to the lower credit and funding costs.

Regulator devises plan to secure LNG supplyPTT's LNG receiving terminal in Map Ta Phut, Rayong. PTT PlcThe Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is preparing contingency measures to secure liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply as tensions between the US and Iran raise concerns over shipping routes in the Middle East. Natural gas, including LNG, fuels about 60% of Thailand's electricity generation. Measures include increasing piped natural gas from domestic and regional sources, securing additional LNG through long-term contracts (term LNG) and short-term purchases (spot LNG). Term LNG contracts provide stable supply over many years, while spot LNG allows buyers to purchase cargoes on the open market at current prices, offering flexibility but exposing them to volatility.

Suphachai Chearavanont says policymakers need to strengthen country's local digital capabilitiesMr Suphachai says Thailand urgently needs a comprehensive master plan and governance framework for AI. Policymakers should advance data localisation frameworks and strengthen local digital capabilities to enhance Thailand's long-term competitiveness in the global digital economy, he said. "Thailand urgently needs a comprehensive master plan and governance framework for AI," said Mr Suphachai. Global tech giants from the US and China, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Alibaba and Huawei, are seeking to invest in Thailand rather than taking sides. Most Thai digital businesses operate merely as original equipment manufacturers and do not own their own brands or intellectual property.

Experienced Tasana shows class in ninth WBC Asia defenceTasana Salapat, right, and Mark Antonio fight during the WBC Asia bantamweight title bout. Both losses came in world title challenges, most recently against three division world champion Junto Nakatani in 2024. In the sixth round, a clash of heads resulted in a deep cut over Tasana's right eye, a common risk when a left handed fighter faces an orthodox opponent. The victory marked his ninth defence of the WBC Asia bantamweight title and kept him firmly positioned at No.12 in the WBC world rankings. What is clear is that Tasana remains within striking distance of world title contention.

Ariya charges into contentionAriya Jutanugarn tees off at the first hole during the second round yesterday. The Thai world No.21 is just one stroke behind American Auston Kim, who shot a three-under-par 69 for a nine-under 135 total to sit atop the leaderboard for the second successive day. She finished the second round on eight-under 136 alongside Ariya and South Korea's Ryu Hae-Ran, who hit her second successive four-under 68. "Today I made some mistakes on my tee shots and approach shots, but my putting was very good. The weight of my putts was not perfect, but I managed to make the shots," said Ariya.

UK Labour party loses parliamentary seat to left-wing GreensLeft-wing Greens beat the Britain's ruling Labour party in crunch local polls. Labour also finished behind the hard-right Reform UK party in the by-election for the parliamentary seat of Gorton and Denton in Manchester, as the country’s traditional two-party system fractures. Reform candidate Matt Goodwin, a 44-year-old political scientist registered some 10,500 votes, while Labour won just over 9,300. Anti-immigration Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, have led national surveys for over a year. Labour's candidate, Angeliki Stogia, was selected to run after the party's ruling body blocked the candidacy of popular Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.