Actress 'Nana’, rapper husband indicted in B100m fraud caseActress Rybena 'Nana' Intachai in custody at the Economic Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok after hearing the charges on Dec 3, 2025. (Photo: Wassayos Ngamkham)Prosecutors have laid charges against actress Rybena “Nana” Intachai, her rapper husband Prinya "Way Thaitanium" and two firms in a fraudulent borrowing and document-forgery case allegedly involving more than 100 million baht. They face charges of joint fraud, public fraud through borrowing, and forging and using forged documents. The amounts involved range from 1.5 million baht up to 46.39 million baht. On Dec 12, rapper Prinya reported to police at the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) to acknowledge fraud charges filed against him and his actress wife.

Nigeria paid Boko Haram ransom for kidnapped pupilsSome of the freed children were received by the governor of Niger state Mohammed Umaru Bago. (Photo: AFP)KANO (NIGERIA) - The Nigerian government paid Boko Haram militants a "huge" ransom of millions of dollars to free up to 230 children and staff the jihadists abducted from a Catholic school in November, intelligence sources told AFP. Boko Haram has not been previously linked to the kidnapping, but sources told AFP one of its most feared commanders was behind the mass abduction. However, four intelligence sources familiar with the talks told AFP the government paid a "huge" ransom to get the pupils back. Nigeria's State Security Service flatly denied paying any money, saying: "Government agents don't pay ransoms."

Plan to tax gold imports stokes Thai industry criticismTraders have warned that any import duty collected on gold could damage Thailand's status as a regional gold trading hub, citing the lesson learned by India. The Customs Department has already conducted a study into gold import duties, which found that several developing countries impose taxes on gold. Trading hubAccording to Mr Phantong, Indonesia levies a 0% import duty on pure gold bars, but imposes value-added tax (VAT) at 11%. Thailand currently grants exemptions on gold import duty, VAT, and gold export tax, in order to position Thailand as a trading hub for the regional gold market, Mr Phantong said. “India was once the world’s largest gold market, but when the country levied an import tax on gold the country’s world ranking slipped to No.2,” she told the Bangkok Post.

TPSO chief Nantapong Chiralerspong says that while Thailand's export growth continues, the upward momentum might decelerate by June 2026. Exports of electrical appliances, automobiles and auto parts demonstrated sustained growth at a high level, underscoring Thailand’s strong position as a reliable manufacturing hub in the region. Agricultural and processed food products, such as durian, mangosteen, jasmine rice and frozen shrimp, resumed solid growth during the month. Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the TPSO, an office under the Ministry of Commerce, said that while export growth continues, the upward momentum might slow down by June this year. “Front-loading has contributed to Thailand’s recent export growth.

Scam pressure tied to 14-year-old’s fall from fifth floorEmergency responders administer first aid to a 14‑year‑old student found critically injured after falling from the fifth floor of a school building. (TV screenshot)A 14‑year‑old girl was critically injured after falling from a fifth‑floor window of a school building in Chon Buri province on Sunday, with investigators believing stress from being targeted by a scam gang was the motive. At the scene rescuers found the girl, an eighth-grade student, lying on the ground beside the building. Local media reported that she sustained severe injuries and will need more time before she can speak with investigators. Her friends said she had been deceived by a call‑centre scam gang into transferring about 3,600 baht.

Cambodia warned that border fires could stoke conflictDefence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit. (Photo: Bangkok Post)Thailand has warned Cambodia that uncontrolled bushfires started by Cambodian soldiers could become a new problem in their border conflict. "If the fires expand into Thailand, they could turn into border problems," Gen Nattaphon told reporters on Monday. It alleged that Cambodian soldiers were behind the blazes, which sent polluting smoke into Thailand. The RTA believes Cambodian soldiers intentionally started the fires to provoke Thai soldiers, amid the fragile peace along the border following two rounds of deadly clashes last year.

Iran says would respond 'ferociously' to any US attack, even limited strikesWashington and Tehran have continued to trade threats during the race to cut a deal over Iran's nuclear programme. (Photo: AFP)PARIS — Iran said Monday that a US attack of any scale would spur the Islamic republic to respond "ferociously", after President Donald Trump said he was considering limited strikes against the country. On Monday Iran's foreign ministry reiterated that any strike, even limited, would be "would be regarded as an act of aggression. Further talks, confirmed by Iran and Oman but not by the United States, are scheduled for Thursday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is leading the negotiations for Iran, while the United States is represented by envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Japanese “nude festival” leaves six men hospitalisedMany people take part in the Hadaka Matsuri at Saidaiji Kannon Temple in Okayama, Japan. (Photo: Japan National Tourism Organisation)OKAYAMA — Six men were injured in a crush during this year’s Hadaka Matsuri at Saidaiji Kannon Temple in Okayama, Japanese authorities said. The casualties occurred amid a surge of more than 10,000 nearly naked participants inside the temple grounds. The Hadaka Matsuri, or Saidaiji Eyo, is a 500‑year‑old ritual in which men wearing only a mawashi — a loincloth worn by sumo wrestlers — vie to seize sacred wooden sticks called Shingi. They then pack into the temple awaiting the Shingi, which are thrown from the second floor.

While Chinese travellers still spend heavily overseas, a growing majority of their airport retail spend is taking place within ChinaA duty-free shop at Suvarnabhumi airport, Samut Prakan province. Many Chinese travellers choose to buy confectionary goods at airports to give as gifts back home, according to Baronci. The association found that Chinese spending at domestic airports had risen 20% since 2019. "While Chinese travellers still spend heavily overseas, a growing majority of their airport retail spend is taking place within China domestically," the director general said. The study did not quantify total Chinese airport spending in US dollar terms.

US to stop collecting tariffs ruled illegal by Supreme CourtContainer ships at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California on Friday, Feb 20. President Donald Trump imposed a 10% global tariff on foreign goods, moving quickly to preserve his trade agenda after the US Supreme Court struck down many of the levies he imposed last year. (Photo: Kyle Grillot/ Bloomberg)WASHINGTON - The US Customs ​and Border Protection agency said ‌it will halt collections of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act at 12.01am EST (12.01pm Thai time) on Tuesday, after the US ​Supreme Court ⁠declared the duties illegal. The IEEPA tariff collection halt coincides with Trump's imposition of ⁠a new, 15% global tariff under a different legal authority to replace the ones struck down by the Supreme Court on Friday. Reuters reported on Friday that the Supreme Court decision made more than $175 ⁠billion in US Treasury revenue generated by the ​IEEPA tariffs subject to potential refunds, based on an estimate by Penn-Wharton Budget Model economists.

Blue button jellyfish close Similan beach to swimmersBlue button jellyfish are 2-3cm across, and have tentacles that can deliver a painful sting. (Photo: อุทยานแห่งชาติหมู่เกาะสิมิลัน - Mu Ko Similan National parkPHANG NGA - A public safety warning has been issued after blue button jellyfish were found along parts of the shoreline at Princess beach and in other areas of the Similan Islands National Park. While their venom is less severe than that of the box jellyfish, contact can cause an immediate stinging or burning sensation. They are also smaller, 2-3cm across, and their stings less painful than the bluebottle jellyfish that often appear at Thai beaches. As a precautionary measure, the swimming zone along Princess beach has been temporarily closed until conditions are deemed safe.

Nepal bus crash kills 19, including British touristMap showing the route between Pokhara and Kathmandu, Nepal (Google Maps). KATHMANDU — A passenger bus in Nepal skidded off a mountain road and plunged into an icy river, police said Monday, killing at least 19 people, including a British tourist. "Out of 44, in total 19 people died, and 25 are undergoing treatment," senior local police officer Prakash Dahal told Agence France-Presse (AFP), confirming one British citizen was among the dead. "The injured are undergoing treatment," Neupane said. Road accidents are ⁠common in mostly ​mountainous Nepal where the conditions of roads are poor.

Cause of Chiang Mai mass tiger deaths in questionA regal resident of the Tiger Kingdom tourist attraction in Mae Rim district, Chiang Mai, where visitors were allowed to touch and take photos with the big cats. (Photo: Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai Facebook)The deaths of 72 tigers at a tourist attraction in Chiang Mai last week have been called into question, with the source of the virus and bacteria blamed for the fatalities yet to be clearly identified. (continues below)The sign at the entrance of the Tiger Kingdom, on Mae Rim Road in Chiang Mai, which is currently closed after mass tiger deaths there. Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai is operated by Khum Sue Trakarn Ltd, which also manages Tiger Kingdom Phuket and three Tiger Park attractions — two in Phuket and one in Pattaya. There were 246 tigers at the Chiang Mai facilities.

Malaysia to install more security wire on illegal routes bordering ThailandPeople cross the Golok River by ferry from Tak Bai district in Narathiwat province to Tumpat in Kelantan state, Malaysia. (File photo: Bangkok Post)Malaysian security authorities will seek additional budget from their government to fence the remaining illegal routes opposite Thailand with barbed wire after the completion of the first phase. The move followed the completion of the first step of the barbed wire construction on 27 routes for 1.5 kilometres opposite Thailand’s Sungai Kolok district in Narathiwat province this month. All illegal routes start from jetties built without authorisation along the Golok River. Malaysia has already torn all of them down to combat contraband, human trafficking, illicit drugs and other border-crossing crimes between Kelantan state and Narathiwat.

Thailand sees upside to Trump court ordered US tariff resetFinance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas reacts to attendants during the final political campaign of the Bhumjaithai Party at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on Feb 6. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)A reset of many US tariffs to a uniform 15% will strengthen Thailand’s appeal as a manufacturing and investment hub, according to Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas. Mr Ekniti said on Monday that the shift creates a “more level playing field” for Thai goods. Shifts in global trade patterns are also expected to drive foreign direct investment and manufacturing to Thailand. Applications for investment incentives rose 68% last year, and the government plans to fast-track approvals to speed up capital inflows.