(Photo: Reuters)A Hong Kong court has overturned former media mogul Jimmy Lai’s conviction in a fraud case, in a rare win for the pro-democracy advocate serving a 20-year sentence for national security charges. The city’s Court of Appeal on Thursday quashed the prison term of five years and nine months for the separate 2022 fraud case. The Hong Kong government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Hong Kong government can still escalate the case to the Court of Final Appeal, though it has not said whether it intends to do so. During the sentencing last month, the judges ordered 18 years of the new term to run consecutively to Lai’s fraud sentence.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet conceded online scam centres had indirectly boosted some business activities and provided jobs in the country, but denied Cambodia had profited from the crime rings. (Photo: AFP)BRUSSELS - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Wednesday that scam centres were destroying his country’s economy and giving the nation a bad name — pushing back on allegations of government connivance. “The scam network, what we call the black economy, is destroying our honest economy. It has put a bad reputation on Cambodia,” Hun Manet told AFP in a rare interview with international media, saying this was harming tourism and investment. Cambodia hosts dozens of the scam centres with an estimated 100,000 people — many victims of human trafficking — perpetrating online scams, experts say.

The domestic housing market has already passed its trough, with supply and demand moving towards a more balanced level, says a property researcher. The fourth quarter of 2025 reflected clear signs of a recovery in Thailand's real estate sector, and he said the domestic property market has passed its nadir. New mortgage extensions are estimated at 539 billion baht, broadly unchanged from last year, noted REIC. Foreign buyers accounted for 14.7% of the total condo transfers last year and 25% of the total value. Of the 316,000 residential units transferred last year, 36% were new homes and 64% were second-hand homes.

6 million tourists boost economyThailand welcomed nearly six million foreign tourists since the start of this year, generating almost 300 billion baht in revenue, with Chinese, Malaysians and Russians among the top visitors, the government says. Deputy government spokeswoman Aiyarin Phanrit on Wednesday said the government was pleased with the overall tourism performance between Jan 1 and Feb 22, which saw 5.94 million foreign visitors enter the country, generating 293 billion baht in tourism income. During Feb 16-22, Thailand welcomed 879,587 foreign tourists, a slight decrease of 2,969 people, or 0.34%, from the previous week, averaging 125,655 arrivals per day. In contrast, arrivals from South Korea, India, and China declined by 18.19%, 10.78%, and 0.68%, respectively. Other initiatives to ease travel, including the TM6 immigration card waiver and support for airlines to increase flight frequency, will help boost tourism this week, Ms Aiyarin said.

Thai foreign minister rebuts Cambodian claimsForeign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow highlighted transnational online scams as a global human rights crisis while addressing the High-Level Segment of the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council at UN Headquarters in Geneva. (Photo courtesy of Foreign Affairs Ministry)Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow on Tuesday rejected accusations from his Cambodian counterpart about border tensions during a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. In response, Mr Sihasak said: “I intended to talk more about human rights challenges and the important work of this council. Yet instead of prioritising reconciliation, he said Cambodia continues to internationalise the issue and undermine the prospects for peace. Do you choose the path of peace or the path of continued tensions and conflict, which unfortunately leads to more losses and suffering?”

'Lawyer Tum' asset grab bid under reviewLawyer Sittra Biabungkerd greets reporters as he is escorted to the Criminal Court in 2024. The assets had been linked to a fraud case involving over 100 million baht allegedly taken from businesswoman Jatuporn Ubonlert, known as "Je Aoy". He noted the civil ruling does not bind the criminal case, which remains active. The OAG said the civil ruling is one part of the legal process. The criminal case will continue independently.

Jeeno, top guns take aim at big purse in SingaporeJeeno Thitikul attends a press conference at Sentosa on Wednesday. (Photo supplied)Thai world No.1 Jeeno Thitikul leads a contingent of top golfers at this week's Women's World Championship 2026, with New Zealand's Lydia Ko returning as defending champion at Sentosa Golf Club (Tanjong Course) in Singapore. The first round of the US$3 million (approx 93 million baht) tournament begins on Thursday, with the winner receiving $450,000 (14 million baht). Apart from Jeeno and sixth-ranked Ko, seven other top-10 players will compete in the world-class field of 72 participants. Jeeno, who is paired with Ko and Hull in the penultimate group, will tee off at 9.21am (Thai time).

Geely Riddara Thailand, the local arm of Chinese automaker Geely's electric pickup brand Riddara, is exploring plans to establish an electric vehicle (EV) factory in Thailand, aiming to capitalise on the country's growing EV market. Cao Feng, general manager of Geely Riddara Thailand, said the pickup segment in Thailand offers strong potential for battery-powered vehicles, despite a slowdown in overall pickup sales. To achieve this, Riddara plans to introduce new models, including single-cab pickups, aimed at fleet buyers and families. The company plans to increase the number of showrooms and service centres to 38 this year, up from 12 last year. In Thailand, Riddara was initially the sole player in the electric pickup market.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks at a military parade marking a rare congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, on Feb 25, 2026 in Pyongyang. (Photo: Korea Central News Agency via AFP)SEOUL - Kim Jong Un says North Korea could “get along well” with the United States if Washington acknowledges its nuclear status, but has dashed hopes of a diplomatic thaw with Seoul, state media reported on Thursday. Kim made a direct appeal to the United States as a landmark congress of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party drew to a close on Wednesday evening. But Kim struck a far more combative tone when he addressed South Korea. North Korea has “absolutely no business dealing with South Korea, its most hostile entity, and will permanently exclude South Korea from the category of compatriots”, Kim said.

US women's ice hockey captain responds to 'distasteful' Trump remarkUSA's Kendall Coyne (L) and Hilary Knight (R) celebrate after winning Olympic women's ice hockey gold in MilanLOS ANGELES (UNITED STATES) - Hilary Knight, captain of the victorious US women's Olympic ice hockey team, said Wednesday it was unfortunate that a "distasteful joke" by President Donald Trump had overshadowed the achievements of US athletes at the Milan-Cortina Games. The US men's ice hockey team took a congratulatory call from Trump as they celebrated their gold medal victory over Canada. The president invited them to his State of the Union address and added he would have to ask the triumphant women's team as well or risk being "impeached". Several players on the men's team appeared to laugh at Trump's comment, sparking criticism. The women's team declined an invitation to Trump's big speech in Washington, with USA Hockey saying they had had prior commitments.

US Democrats allege ‘cover-up' over Trump sex abuse claimsAn undated photo released by the US Justice Department on Jan 30, 2026 as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files shows Epstein with Donald Trump in an unidentified location. The Justice Department has released millions of pages from files connected to notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein under a transparency law enacted last year. But the public broadcaster NPR found gaps in the files tied to one woman’s 2019 assault complaint against Trump. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the DOJ’s so-called “Epstein Files” release exonerated him. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said he reviewed unredacted evidence logs at the Justice Department and reached the same conclusion.

US presses missile issue as new Iran talks to open in GenevaIran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called the Geneva talks with the US 'a historic opportunity'GENEVA - The United States and Iran are set to hold indirect talks in Switzerland on Thursday aiming to strike a deal to avert fresh conflict and bring an end to weeks of threats. In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of "pursuing sinister nuclear ambitions". Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran must also negotiate on its missile programme, calling Tehran's refusal to discuss ballistic weapons "a big, big problem" on the eve of the talks. The two countries held talks earlier this month in Oman, which is mediating the negotiations, then gathered for a second round in Geneva last week. Homemaker Tayebeh noted that Trump had "said that war would be very bad for Iran".

With its abilities to disperse large seeds further away from parent trees, hornbills are irreplaceable forces that also deposit seeds individually to increase survival and connect fragmented forests through their long-distance flights. Cavities, homes for hornbills, usually form over decades due to slow processes like branch breakage, fungal decay, or damage from animals. Commitments beneath their wingsBy extending her efforts, Yanin is on her mission with a side-project for fundraising to build more homes for hornbills. Join Yanin in supporting a youth-led social impact project to create homes for hornbills on the Taejai platform: https://taejai.com/th/project/anm-homes-for-Hornbills-2026. Yanin’s international award-winning Homes for Hornbills documentary is now available at https://play.vipa.me/e5lhkvpfS0b

Photographing ballots draws EC complaintThe vote recount in Kannayao on Feb 22. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday filed a police complaint against members of the public who observed a vote recount at a polling unit in Kannayao district of Bangkok, alleging their actions compromised the secrecy of the ballot. EC deputy secretary-general Khanchit Charoen-in, accompanied by acting Sub-Lt Samphan Saengdamlert, director of the Bangkok election office, lodged a complaint with the police Central Investigation Bureau, after evidence emerged that ballot papers had been photographed. Mr Khanchit said the EC asked him to submit video clips circulated online, together with press photographs, relating to an incident during the Feb 22 recount. He added that anyone was entitled to file complaints through the proper channels, and confirmed he was not concerned about potential counteraction.

Scam centres 'destroying' Cambodia's economy, PM tells AFPCambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet conceded online scam centres had indirectly boosted some business activities and provided jobs in the country, but denied Cambodia had profited from the crime ringsBRUSSELS (BELGIUM) - Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Wednesday that scam centres were destroying his country's economy and giving the nation a bad name -- pushing back on allegations of government connivance. "The scam network, what we call the black economy, is destroying our honest economy. It has put a bad reputation on Cambodia," Hun Manet told AFP in a rare interview with international media, saying this was harming tourism and investment. Cambodia hosts dozens of the scam centres with an estimated 100,000 people -- many victims of human trafficking -- perpetrating online scams, experts say. Hun Manet said his former advisor was extradited to China rather than the US due to his citizenship.