Thai soldier loses leg to landmine near Cambodian borderPvt Detsak Trikham is rushed to Kap Choeng Hospital after stepping on a landmine while performing his duty at the Erawan operations base in Kap Choeng district of Surin province on Friday. (Photo: Army Military Force Facebook page)A Thai soldier was critically injured after stepping on an anti‑personnel landmine inside a military outpost in Surin province near the Cambodian border on Friday morning. Fellow soldiers administered first aid at the scene before rushing him to Kap Choeng Hospital, where he is under close medical supervision. He ordered a comprehensive re‑inspection of the entire base area to ensure maximum safety. Since tensions began to escalate between Thailand and Cambodia in May last year, a total of 23 Thai soldiers have been injured by landmines, with 13 losing limbs.

Social Security Office to release board poll dataLunch inspection: People’s Party MP-elect Rukchanok Srinork stops for a meal at the Social Security Office canteen during a visit to the Ministry of Labour on Thursday. The facility is under scrutiny as it is said to have been renovated using money from the Social Security Fund. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)The Social Security Office (SSO) has agreed to release the raw data gathered from its recent public consultation on the draft regulations governing the election of the Social Security Board. Second, she noted the Social Security Board's term expired on Feb 13. She described the Social Security law as containing loopholes and urged the minister to organise fresh board elections without delay.

Iran urges US to drop 'excessive demands' to reach dealIran has asked the US to lower its demands during a last-ditch bid to avert fresh war. (Photo: AFP)PARIS (FRANCE) - Iran said Friday that in order to reach a deal, the United States will have to drop its "excessive demands", tempering the optimism expressed after talks seen as a last-ditch bid to avert war. Trump on Feb 19 gave Iran 15 days to reach a deal, and while Iran has insisted the discussions focus solely on its nuclear programme, the US wants Tehran's missile programme and its support for militant groups curtailed. "We have finished the day after significant progress in the negotiation between the United States and Iran," he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. However, the US Congressional Research Service estimates they top out at about 3,000 kilometres -- less than a third of the distance to the continental United States.

Pundits upbeat on monetary-fiscal fusingThe Monetary Policy Committee's decision to trim the policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.00% is aimed at supporting the new government's fiscal policy-led investment, says Suwat Wattanapornprom, head of the research division at Krungsri Securities. "The MPC's decision also implies that monetary policies will work coherently with fiscal policies from now on. Without support from monetary policies, fiscal policies cannot yield efficient results." Kuala Lumpur-based Maybank shared a similar view, stating the unexpected rate cut will dovetail with the strategies of the incoming Bhumjaithai-led government to stimulate fixed investment and anchor new industries. "Policy attention will likely focus on enhancing the pass-through of low policy rates to retail and corporate borrowing costs," added the bank.

Ariya stays in hunt after a solid 69 in SingaporeAriya Jutanugarn tees off at the 10th hole at Sentosa Golf Club. Singapore: Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn shot a three-under-par 69 to trail leader Auston Kim of the United States by three strokes after the first round of the Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club (Tanjong Course) in Singapore yesterday. Ariya shot four birdies and only one bogey to tie for eighth place with France's Celine Boutier and four other players. Ariya, a 12-time LPGA champion, said: "The course conditions today were quite difficult, harder than in previous years. There are still three more rounds to play, so I'll try my best and try to beat myself each day."

Emails to Chinese dancers allegedly threatened Australian PMA security scare at the Australian prime minister's residence this week was allegedly sparked by a bomb threat against Chinese dancers. (Photo: AFP)SYDNEY — A security scare at the Australian prime minister's residence this week was sparked by a bomb threat against an anti-Beijing Chinese dance troupe, the act's hosts said Friday. A copy of the Chinese-language email provided to AFP said "large quantities of nitroglycerin explosives" had been placed in the prime minister's residence. "If the Shen Yun performance proceeds anyway, the prime minister's residence will be blown into bloody ruins," the email warned. China banned Falun Gong, which it calls an "evil cult", in 1999 after 10,000 members peacefully demonstrated outside a government building in Beijing.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has released a statement regarding the death of Private Phrusapa Wimuttithamchai, stating medical examiners have determined the cause of death to be brain death, resulting from complications from an abscess in the brain. Air Vice Marshal Jakkrit Thammawichai, RTAF spokesperson, said the force deeply regrets the loss and extends condolences to the family. According to the statement, Private Phrusapa, 21, enlisted in the first intake of 2025 on May 1 and was assigned to the 1st Air Force Security Battalion in Don Muang district, Bangkok. He was sent to the Air Force Medical Department on May 6 and received medication, with follow-up appointments scheduled. Doctors concluded the cause of death was brain death resulting from a brain abscess linked to an infection.

TRAT: Businesses along the border are calling for urgent government intervention as they struggle to survive in the face of prolonged closures of key checkpoints as a result of ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. Previously, Trat Mankong Co generated millions of baht each month from exporting construction materials, but revenues have now fallen to zero. He said there has been no concrete government assistance, while businesses continue to struggle with fixed costs such as salaries and loan repayments. In the short term, he urged the government to allocate special budgets directly to border tambon administrative organisations, suggesting 100 million baht annually for each border tambon from Ubon Ratchathani to Trat, excluding Sa Kaeo. In the long term, he urged the government to accelerate diplomatic negotiations and coordinate with provincial authorities and the Ministry of Interior to draft economic recovery plans, stressing that border communities should not bear the economic burden alone.

Zulj hat-trick blitz as Buriram smash sixBuriram United's Robert Zulj, right, celebrates his goal with teammate Phitiwat Sookjitthammakul. Defending champions Buriram United moved into the semi-finals of the FA Cup after they hammered League 2 side Khon Kaen United 6-0 at Chang Arena on Wednesday night. Austrian midfielder Robert Zulj scored a hat-trick for the Thunder Castle (39, 45+4, 60) while the other three goals came from Emmanuel Toku (45+5, 89) and Nathakorn Ratthanasuwan (67). Mlapa fired home the winning goal for Lamphun in the 102nd minute to send his team through to the last four. The Brazilian struck again in the 74th minute to help the team capture three important points.

Voters believe election not clean, EC fails to fight cheatingAn electoral official shows a ballot during the vote count on the day of the general election at a polling station tent in Bangkok on Feb 8. (Photo: Reuters)Voters overwhelmingly felt the general election was unfair, a poll showed on Friday, with the organisers criticised for their lackluster performance in making it clean. King Prachadhipok's Institute's latest survey said 87.7% of people believed the Feb 8 election was either somewhat or totally unfair and only 12.3% were satisfied with the results. The survey also showed 67.6% of respondents were not satisfied with the performance of the Election Commission in preventing and tackling vote-buying, although the poll organisers were commended for selecting ballot-dropping stations and election facilities for voters. The survey was carried out from Feb 13-16 by asking 2,000 people above the age of 18 across all regions.

(Illustration: Meanwell Packaging via Wikimedia Commons)Thailand needs a sustainable digital infrastructure to guarantee continued health of the industry, according to the Thai Digital Platform Trade Association (TDPA), a new trade group founded by major operators Grab, Lazada, Line Man Wongnai and Shopee. In light of this momentum, leading players recognised the importance of joining forces to sustainably elevate Thailand’s platform economy to global standards, said Lt Col Thamakorn Supatanarangsi, the president of the association. “We believe that precise, internationally aligned regulation will be a critical foundation for strengthening trust and ensuring the long-term, sustainable growth of Thailand’s platform economy,” she said. She cautioned against over-regulation, citing Europe’s loss of innovation to the United States, and called for balanced rules that allow the platform economy to grow. Lt Col Thamakorn denied a rumour that the platforms have lobbied the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand to delay finishing draft guidelines to regulate unfair trade practices on multi-sided digital platforms.

Australian supermarket giant reins in AI assistant claiming to be humanWoolworths is one of Australia's largest supermarket chains and is far from the only company to have employed AI-powered customer service assistants. SYDNEY - Australian supermarket giant Woolworths has been forced to rein in an AI-powered customer service assistant after users reported it had been rambling about its mother. But users online reported Olive has in recent weeks gone slightly off-message while on the phone. Another user reported Olive had attempted "fake banter", talked about its relatives and made "fake typing sounds" while looking something up. Woolworths is one of Australia's largest supermarket chains and is far from the only company to have employed AI-powered customer service assistants.

Pakistan bombs Kabul after Afghanistan attacks borderTaliban security personnel stand guard at a checkpoint in Kabul. ISLAMABAD (PAKISTAN) - Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad's defence minister declaring the neighbours at "open war" following months of tit-for-tat clashes. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies. An Afghan official reported multiple civilians wounded near the Torkham border crossing, at a camp for people returning from Pakistan. After repeated breaches of the initial ceasefire, Saudi Arabia intervened this month, mediating the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured by Afghanistan in October.

Analysts see buoyant SET following rate cutThe Monetary Policy Committee's policy rate cut gives a strong psychological boost to the SET index, says Koraphat Vorachet, assistant managing director and head of research at KSS. The upgrade adds 60 index points as a result of the unexpected rate cut and 80 points from upgrading its 2026 earnings per share forecast to 95 baht from 90 baht. Another cut possibleInnovestX Securities said policy space remains available for another rate cut in August, potentially bringing the policy rate to 0.75% by year-end amid sub-potential growth and negative inflation. "In our view, the policy rate remains on a downward trajectory. BMI, a British multinational research firm, also believes another rate cut is possible this year as the baht's strength adds further impetus for easing.

Arsenal face Chelsea title test, troubled Spurs in spotlightArsenal and Chelsea face off on Sunday. (Photo: AFP)LONDON - Premier League leaders Arsenal face a title test from London rivals Chelsea on Sunday. Manchester City can keep the pressure on Arsenal with a win at Leeds, while troubled Tottenham cannot afford another damaging defeat. Although Arsenal are five points ahead, City have a game in hand and host the Gunners in April. If City win their last 11 matches they guaranteed to win the title no matter what Arsenal do in their remaining 10 games.