Court orders Greenpeace to pay $345 million to US oil pipeline company
Court orders Greenpeace to pay $345 million to US oil pipeline companyAt the heart of the North Dakota case against Greenpeace was the Dakota Access Pipeline, where from 2016 to 2017 the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe led one of the largest anti-fossil fuel protests in US history. (Photo: AFP)WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - Greenpeace must pay US$345 million in damages to the operator of the US oil pipeline it protested, a North Dakota court ordered Friday. Judge James Gion of North Dakota cut those damages in half, determining some damages had been counted twice. "This legal fight is far from over," Kristin Casper, Greenpeace International general counsel, said in a statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Greenpeace International in 2025 announced plans to counter-sue ET in the Netherlands, where the non-governmental organisation's (NGO) international headquarters are, accusing the company of using nuisance lawsuits to suppress dissent.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 06:11 UTC
Free SIM scam hits schoolkids
Free SIM scam hits schoolkidsThe Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) has ordered mobile phone operators to clarify their role in a case in which schoolchildren were allegedly deceived into scanning their faces in exchange for free SIM cards. Officers raided eight locations in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Samut Prakan and Prachuap Khiri Khan, uncovering a scheme in which students were lured to join "free SIM giveaway" activities. Their personal data was then allegedly used to register so-called ghost SIM cards, which were later sold to scam networks. Police seized 2,160 SIM cards, two mobile phones and documents related to SIM distribution and advertising. The PDPC stated that facial data significantly affects the rights and freedoms of children, who are considered a vulnerable group under the Personal Data Protection Act.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 06:09 UTC
Panel targets gold bribe case
Panel targets gold bribe caseThe President of the Supreme Court has appointed a nine-member independent inquiry panel to investigate allegations of bribery with gold involving a commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The move follows a petition submitted by Pol Col Phakphum Pismai, a former close aide to Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, a former deputy national police chief widely known as "Big Joke". Pol Col Phakphum lodged a formal complaint with the Senate Speaker, requesting that the matter be referred to the Supreme Court for legal proceedings against Ekawit Watchawalaku, an NACC commissioner. According to the complaint, Mr Ekawit is alleged to have accepted gold bars weighing 246 baht worth 10 million baht in exchange for assisting Pol Gen Surachate in a case related to an online gambling network that remains under investigation. Following formal notification from the president of the Senate indicating reasonable grounds for suspicion, the Supreme Court president appointed a nine-member panel comprising senior judicial figures, prosecutors and legal scholars.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 06:09 UTC
The pink engine
Marriage equality is proof that we are not only the top exporter, but are open to everybody," she said. The event was held by Bangkok Pride to mark the first anniversary of marriage equality at Than Heritage, Nonthaburi, on Feb 14. Growing popularity of queer romance and marriage equality are seen as contributing factors of pink tourism. However, panellists said that media production and consumption, as well as legal protection for LGBTIs, could be further improved to attract international fans. When asked how to expand viewership, Anucha suggested that producers make BL and GL content more appealing to the mass audience.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 05:38 UTC
I'm well adjusted, but I'm also tired
Emotional literacy has shifted from a specialised skill to a social expectation, something quietly folded into the definition of adulthood. The language may feel clinical, but the shift it produces is intimate. Intimacy often involves moments that exceed the tidy perimeter of a boundary, moments of excessive emotion, reliance and unpolished honesty. Research on close relationships increasingly emphasises that emotion regulation is not purely an individual skill but a relational process. As emotional vocabulary continues to shape modern adulthood, the question is not whether it should remain central, but how it is held.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 05:17 UTC
Too soon to predict China tourism rebound
Too soon to predict China tourism reboundDespite early signs of a rebound in Chinese arrivals during the first two months, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is downplaying expectations for a strong recovery, preferring to wait until May to assess whether demand has stabilised. Chinese arrivals rose 0.3% to 991,718 as of Feb 23, up from 988,451 year-on-year. According to the Tourism and Sports Ministry, the total number of Chinese arrivals for the first two months is projected to tally 1.08 million, increasing 4.5% year-on-year. Of the 27.7 billion baht the tourism sector earned from seven Asian markets during the holiday, around 60.3% or 16.7 billion baht came from Chinese expenditure. For 2026, the TAT targets 4.5-4.6 million Chinese tourists, banking on seat capacity of 7.1 million for the year.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 05:02 UTC
15 dead as cash-packed plane crashes in Bolivia
The aircraft, a C-130 Hercules transport plane, veered off the runway at El Alto International Airport and crashed into an avenue, destroying multiple cars and damaging trucks, local media footage showed. Mangled parts of the aircraft were seen on the road where the plane came down. Colonel Pavel Tovar of the National Fire Department told reporters that “between 15 and 16 (dead) people have been counted” in the disaster. (Photo: Reuters)Money grab ‘a crime’Fatalities were recorded both at the airport and on the busy avenue where the plane crashed and struck several vehicles. The Ministry of Defense in a statement said that “the money transported in the crashed aircraft has no official serial number … therefore it has no legal or purchasing power”.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 03:52 UTC
Local action protects vulnerable parrots in Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani
A vulnerable species known as the white-shouldered ibis parrot has become surprisingly abundant in Nonthaburi and nearby Pathum Thani, thanks in part to grassroots conservation led by a local gas-strut specialist who began installing artificial nests around a Buddhist temple. Despite growing community support, the birds face threats from escaped pet parrots, loss of old nesting trees and shrinking green spaces, prompting calls to protect urban trees and habitat so the species can persist.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 03:23 UTC
Local action protects critically endangered bird species
09:55Local action protects critically endangered bird speciesThe vulnerable white‑shouldered ibis parrot has become unexpectedly common in Nonthaburi and nearby Pathum Thani, thanks partly to grassroots conservation by a local gas‑strut specialist who installed artificial nests around a Buddhist temple. Despite growing community support, the birds still face threats from escaped pet parrots, the loss of old nesting trees and shrinking green spaces, prompting calls to protect urban trees and habitat so the species can persist.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 03:22 UTC
'Double standards' in cabinet picks
'Double standards' in cabinet picksPeople's Party list MP-elect Rukchanok Srinork has accused Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of applying double standards in forming a new cabinet, questioning the possible appointment of Deputy Prime Minister Suchart Chomklin despite what she described as a record of controversies. In a Facebook post, Ms Rukchanok welcomed reports that Mr Anutin intends to introduce stricter criteria for cabinet appointments. She noted that the prime minister had reportedly rejected certain Pheu Thai Party nominees as part of that effort. However, she questioned whether the same standards were being applied within Mr Anutin's own ranks, singling out Mr Suchart, who is widely seen as a potential cabinet pick. Later yesterday, Mr Suchart assigned his legal team to file a complaint against Ms Rukchanok at Bang Phlat police station.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 02:00 UTC
Chula-WEF forum warns of rising systemic risks
Chula-WEF forum warns of rising systemic risksThailand faces a wave of interconnected systemic risks from 2026 onwards, spanning economic, social and geopolitical dimensions, experts warned at the 5th Chula-WEF Global Future Forum yesterday. Experts cautioned that high household debt, along with rapid expansion of informal lending, is deepening financial woes among vulnerable groups. To counter this, Prof Wilert urged curriculum reform to align academic programmes with shifting labour market demands. Environmental risks, including extreme weather and escalating geopolitical tensions, were also identified as persistent threats to economic productivity. At the macro level, participants at the forum emphasised adopting a more holistic approach, aligning national budget allocations with long-term priorities.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 00:50 UTC
Contactless payments coming to four MRT lines
Contactless payments coming to four MRT linesA new connectivity scheme led by the Transport Ministry is set to implement contactless payments across four MRT railway lines to expand the common ticketing system from June 1. This led to the cancellation of the old top-up ticket card, which affected both lines, said Mr Phiphat. Anyone who holds the top-up card can request refunds at ticket booths from tomorrow and throughout this year. They can also register for a Mangmoom EMV card at the booths for a fee waiver. The ministry is set to expand the common ticketing system into other forms of public transport, including metro buses and cross-provincial buses, said Mr Phiphat.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 00:50 UTC
DSI seeks charges over drug precursors
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has forwarded a major narcotics-related case to public prosecutors, seeking charges against suspects linked to the possession of 800 tonnes of chemical precursors allegedly capable of producing up to 1 billion methamphetamine pills. The case stems from a joint operation in late 2025 by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), the DSI, and the Department of Industrial Works. Forensic examinations confirmed the substances could be used as precursors or catalysts in the manufacture of illicit drugs. The DSI has recommended prosecutors seek court approval to confiscate the seized chemicals. The case has also been referred to the DSI's Narcotics Crime Division to explore possible drug conspiracy charges.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 00:50 UTC
Oil slick threatens tourism, triggers marine life worries
The vessel, carrying 297 containers, sank at a depth of 61 metres between Phromthep Cape and Koh Kaeo Noi. Authorities confirmed that a substantial volume of heavy fuel oil remained onboard at the time of the sinking, raising serious concerns about leakage and its impact on marine ecosystems and coastal tourism. Officials from the Mu Koh Racha Marine Protected Area Management Centre and the Phuket Marine Resources Conservation Centre reported that, as of Thursday, oil slicks were still surfacing near the wreck site. At Ao Tue, Ao La and Ao Siam bays, tar balls were found scattered in patches across sandy stretches and rocky shorelines. Further traces of pollution were recorded along an 80–100-metre section of Kahang Beach on Coral Island (Koh Hae), affecting local tourism operators and prompting intensified clean-up efforts.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 00:25 UTC
Court orders seizure of B13bn scam assets
The Civil Court yesterday ordered the confiscation of more than 13 billion baht in assets in four cases linked to scam networks. The largest seizure involves assets worth 12 billion baht belonging to Cambodian businessman Yim Leak, businessman and lobbyist Benjamin Mauerberger, also known as Ben Smith, and three Thai women. Another forfeiture concerns about 345 million baht in assets belonging to Chinese-Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi, founder of the US-sanctioned Prince Group, who was extradited from Cambodia to China for prosecution in early January. The court also ordered the seizure of 560 million baht in assets belonging to Cambodian businessman Kok An and associates, who face charges of participating in a transnational crime syndicate and money laundering, as well as 46 million baht in assets belonging to Eua-angkun Santirakyothin and associates. Dentons Pisut issued a statement on behalf of Yim Leak and Veereenyah Yim in response to reports concerning inquiries and asset-freezing actions by Amlo.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2026 00:25 UTC