Minister seeks answers from Mae Hong Son within three daysOfficials inspect a section of the controversial road created in the Mae Yuam Wildlife Sanctuary in Mae Hong Son. Mr Suchart instructed ministry officials on Wednesday to verify social media reports claiming that new roads were illegally cut through forest areas within the sanctuary. However, authorities later determined the road construction was used as a cover for illegal logging allegedly carried out by Mr Kritsada. Police complaints have been filed seeking criminal prosecution against Mr Kritsada for illegal logging, forest destruction and unauthorised activities within a wildlife sanctuary. He said forest resources are national assets and vowed to prevent investors or influential figures from exploiting them unlawfully, while urging the public to report suspected encroachment.

Visitors enjoy a sprinkler installed at Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) in Bangkok to cool them down during the hot season in 2024. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Thailand will enter its hot season on Sunday. Prevailing weather conditions in the country meet the criteria for the hot season to start on Feb 22, Sugunyanee Yavinchan, the director-general of the department, said on Thursday. Ms Sugunyanee said summer storms as well as hailstorms will be possible in the upper half of Thailand at the beginning of the hot season, from Monday to Wednesday, because cold and hot air masses will collide during the transitional period. She expects the hot season to last until mid-May.

Senators push to halt approval of Election Commission candidatesA group of senators called for the postponement of the Senate's approval of two Election Commission (EC) nominees, citing concerns about potential conflicts of interest and waning public confidence in independent bodies. The move came after the Royal Gazette published a royal command convening an extraordinary Senate session on Feb 26 to consider nominations for the EC following a petition by the Senate speaker. Although the House of Representatives has been dissolved, the Senate is required to meet to perform its duties. Speaking at a press briefing, Mr Thewarit said many senators are currently under investigation by the EC for alleged collusion in the Senate election, the very agency they are about to appoint members to, which presents a conflict of interest. So, he proposed suspending the endorsement of the two EC candidates until there is a clear ruling on cases related to the Senate's selection process.

Navy officers provide meals and drinking water to foreign nationals who were arrested after fleeing from the Thmor Da area in Cambodia. They told Thai authorities that they had been forced into working for a cyber scam syndicate. (Photo: Naval spokesperson team)The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) says it has uncovered a Chinese grey business network operating near the Cambodian border district of Thmor Da, where foreign nationals have been forced to work in online scam operations. They told officers that they had been forced into working for a cyber scam syndicate, said Rear Adm Parach. The navy will intensify surveillance operations and integrate efforts with all relevant agencies to disrupt and dismantle these transnational criminal network, said Rear Adm Parach.

Moments after submitting Japan’s Ryugo Takeuchi in the first round at ONE Fight Night 40, the 32-year-old Canadian made clear he believes champion Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane must defend his belt – or step aside. “He’s got to fight,” Tynan told the Bangkok Post. Reug Reug has not fought since claiming the heavyweight MMA title from Anatoly Malykhin in November 2024. Tokyo, baby.”Kane recently fired back at Tynan’s ambitions on social media, claiming he would beat both Tynan and Malykhin “in one night”. Ben Tynan_s arm is raised by referee Olivier Coste at ONE Fight Night 40“Let’s do it,” he said.

Waters around Norwegian archipelago of interest to Russia and USPeople on Svalbard (population 3,000) are going about their daily lives despite speculation the Norwegian archipelago could be the next Arctic territory coveted by Washington. “Today Greenland, tomorrow Svalbard?” — Terje Aunevik, mayor of Svalbard’s main town Longyearbyen, says he has been asked the question many times. US President Donald Trump’s expansionist ambitions have turned the global spotlight on the Arctic, where geo-strategic and financial stakes are mounting. “The Arctic is no longer a quiet corner on the map,” the European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas told a conference in Tromso in northern Norway in early February. Moscow has argued that Oslo is not respecting the Svalbard treaty and has increased its provocations in recent years.

Thailand rebuts Hun Manet’s border claimsCambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is interviewed by Reuters during a visit to Washington to take part in the first meeting of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace in Washington, DC, on Feb 17, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pushed back against remarks by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, after he alleged that Thai troops continued to occupy disputed areas despite ceasefire mediation efforts by US President Donald Trump. In Washington where he is attending a meeting of President Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace, which Cambodia has joined, Hun Manet told Reuters that Thai forces were still occupying Cambodian territory. Panidone Pachimsawat, acting head of the ministry's department of information, said Thailand has strictly adhered to the joint statement issued bilaterally on Dec 27 last year. He also said the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) would resume its work once Thailand forms a new government.

Arteta urges Arsenal to 'stand up' after title bid rocked by Wolves drawFor a second successive league game, Arsenal had failed to hold onto a lead. (Photo: AFP)WOLVERHAMPTON — Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal deserve criticism for the self-inflicted wounds that threaten to ruin their Premier League title bid after the leaders blew a two-goal lead in Wednesday's 2-2 draw at rock-bottom Wolves. But Arteta's side were caught cold in the closing stages at snowy Molineux, giving second-placed Manchester City renewed hope in the title race. For a second successive league game, the Gunners had failed to hold onto a lead following their 1-1 draw at Brentford last Thursday. City are just five points behind Arsenal and have a game in hand on their rivals, as well as a home game against the Gunners in April.

Jail, disgrace and death: the dark fates of South Korean leadersA picture of former South Korean president Park Chung-Hee and his wife is displayed in Seoul at a photo exhibit on the dictator's 1979 assassination. The 65-year-old hardline conservative is far from the first South Korean leader to have his term end in tatters. 2016: Park impeached, jailedThe daughter of former dictator Park Chung-hee, Park Geun-hye was the first woman president of South Korea and had presented herself as incorruptible. Roh and Chun had been close for decades, first meeting as classmates at military academy during the Korean War. Roh was sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in jail, later reduced to 17 years, while Chun was sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison.

LONDON — Irish rockers U2 released their first collection of new songs in nearly a decade on Wednesday, featuring a collaboration with singer Ed Sheeran and a Ukrainian musician and soldier. "These EP tracks couldn't wait; these songs were impatient to be out in the world. They are songs of defiance and dismay," frontman Bono said in a statement. "Ask anyone in East Germany or Poland or Latvia if they think Putin will stop at Ukraine," Bono told "Propaganda", the band's fan magazine. The latest EP builds on U2's 2017 album "Songs of Experience", which included tracks urging activism and tolerance, released after Donald Trump's first election as US president.

The Government Pension Fund (GPF), the Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC), and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) have coordinated strategy to align the capital market with the country’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. The scope will expand to 200 listed firms during 2027-28, and from 2029 ESG and climate considerations will be applied across the broader market. By 2031, the Thai capital market aims to showcase tangible progress in climate-linked investments, including carbon credit-related themes, she said. “Setting clear frameworks creates investment opportunities,” said Mr Songpol, emphasising that climate performance will be assessed alongside growth prospects and industry fundamentals. SET president Asadej Kongsiri highlighted the exchange’s long-standing ESG initiatives, including waste management programmes and collaboration under the Sustainable Thai Capital Market Initiative to advance net-zero practices among listed firms.

(Photo: The iCon Group Facebook Page)The Attorney General has indicted celebrities Yuranunt “Sam” Pamornmontri and Pechaya “Min” Wattanamontree on charges of fraud and running a pyramid scheme in connection with the iCon Group scandal, saying their actions as “bosses” clearly indicated a position beyond mere presenters. Seventeen suspects, including Warathaphon “Boss Paul” Waratyaworrakul, were indicted in January 2025 and remanded in custody on fraud and other charges. Many victims have invested in the iCon Group because they trusted the public figures, especially as the two celebrities held executive “boss” ranks as presented, the DSI alleges. Mr Yuranunt was also a member in the House of Representatives during the Thaksin Shinawatra government from 2005-06. If they fail to appear, prosecutors and with the DSI will seek to detain and bring them to court.

The Association of Siamese Architects has launched the ASA Experimental Design Competition 2026 with prizes worth more than 280,000 baht. Held under the theme "Hybridized Wisdoms: Architecture Across Multiple Intelligences", the competition is accepting creative design proposals that address the question of how architecture can respond when design emerges from collaboration between humans and machines, as well as interactions with nature and materials. Design proposals should emerge from "negotiation" rather than "domination", embracing multiple intelligences to jointly create spaces that are ethical, flexible and rich in imagination for the future. The competition is open to students, professionals and the general public of any age, gender and nationality. Selected works from the competition will be exhibited at Architect'69 which will take place at Impact's Challenger Hall, Muang Thong Thani, from April 28 to May 3.

Officials believe a medical centre located near the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bang Sue would attract more users of transport services to the area. The Ministry of Transport has ordered a review of the land development plan in the Bang Sue area of Bangkok to develop a “vertical” medical centre equipped with transport connectivity and a railway system. Officials believe a medical centre located near the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bang Sue would attract more users of transport services to the area. The project will be a collaboration between the public health and transport ministries to provide public access to medical services through vertical asset development at a convenient location. The project would be developed under a public-private partnership model, said Panya Chupanitch, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Transport.

Archaeologists uncover war drums in PhetchaburiAn official measures a bronze drum unearthed at Ban Don Phlap, Phetchaburi province. This archaeological site is believed to be over 1,500 years old. (Photo courtesy of Fine Arts Department)The Fine Arts Department has announced new archaeological findings following the discovery of two bronze war drums, known as Mahoratuek drums, in Ban Don Phlap in Ban Lat district of Phetchaburi, marking the first such find in the province. Department director-general Phanombutr Chantharachote said the drums were uncovered in a rice field and the site has been assigned to the Ratchaburi Archaeology Office for excavation. The drums closely resemble artefacts discovered at the Kubua archaeological site in nearby Ratchaburi, suggesting cultural links between communities in western and southern Thailand.