Cabinet okays revision of public debt plan
Cabinet okays revision of public debt planThe cabinet has approved the first revision of the public debt management plan for fiscal 2026, increasing the new borrowing amount by 52 billion baht. According to deputy government spokeswoman Airin Phanrit, the revision raises the amount of new borrowing in the fiscal 2026 budget to 1.259 trillion baht, up from 1.207 trillion. In addition, the cabinet yesterday approved an increase of 30.4 billion baht in the government's debt repayment, bringing the total debt repayment allocation in this budget to 533 billion baht. Moreover, the government increased the debt repayment plan of the Financial Institutions Development Fund by 35.5 billion baht. The Public Debt Management Policy and Supervision Committee expects following revision, the ratio of outstanding public debt to GDP will tally 68.5% (within the ceiling of 70%), complying with the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 18:32 UTC
Chiang Mai livestock mauling a mystery
Initial reports pointed to stray tiger but parks officials no longer sureOne of the cow carcasses found near Doi Inthanon in tambon Ban Luang of Chom Thong district in Chiang Mai. (Photo: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conversation)Wildlife rangers in Chiang Mai have set up camera traps in the hope of discovering what kind of animal killed three cows belonging to a local resident near Doi Inthanon. The attacks reportedly took place in tambon Ban Luang of Chom Thong district in the northern province (see map below). It also alerted all units, especially those in Chom Thong, to inspect enclosures in the communities under their jurisdiction. Local rangers have already checked all registered pet tigers in Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces and found that all of them remained in their cages, he added.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 18:15 UTC
Iran set to buy anti-ship missiles from China
The deal for the Chinese-made CM-302 missiles is near completion, though no delivery date has been agreed, the people said. The White House did not directly address the negotiations between Iran and China over the missile system when asked by Reuters. “China does not want to see a pro-Western regime in Iran,” said Citrinowicz, the Israeli specialist on Iran. Iran is also in discussions to acquire Chinese shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile systems, anti-ballistic weapons and anti-satellite weapons, the six people said. China was a major arms supplier to Iran in the 1980s, but large-scale weapons transfers dwindled by the late 1990s under international pressure.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 16:54 UTC
Panama takes over canal ports after court ruling
A drone view shows the container terminal formerly operated by Panama Ports Company (PPC), the local subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings. The Panamanian government’s Official Gazette on Monday published a court ruling formally annulling Hutchison’s concessions for two ports along the strategic canal, after ruling that the contracts violated the constitution. Mulino said on Monday that the administration and operation of the two ports on the strategic Panama Canal would revert to the Panama Maritime Authority to ensure their uninterrupted, safe and efficient operation. To win Beijing’s approval, CK Hutchison also earlier invited state-owned China Cosco Shipping Corp to join the buyer consortium. CK Hutchison said it was talking with its legal counsel about pursuing national and international legal action against Panama and third parties.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 15:43 UTC
Poll: Most Americans say Trump growing ‘erratic with age’
(Photo: Reuters)WASHINGTON — Six in ten Americans, including a significant proportion of Republicans, think President Donald Trump has become more erratic as he ages, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. Overall, 61% of respondents in the poll said they would describe Trump as having “become erratic with age”. Some 40% of respondents in the latest poll approved of Trump’s performance as president, up two percentage points from earlier this month. Some 79% of poll respondents agreed with a statement that “elected officials in Washington, DC, are too old to represent most Americans”. The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, which was conducted online, surveyed 4,638 US adults nationwide and had a margin of error of two percentage points.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 14:40 UTC
Thailand blames Cambodia after brief border exchange
Army chief says no need for escalation after Cambodian troops fire grenade launcher roundParamilitary rangers patrol a border area in Si Sa Ket province in September last year. Thai troops were conducting a routine patrol when a single grenade round was fired from the Cambodian side, landing close to their position. A handful of minor incidents have occurred since the truce was signed, with most put down to indiscipline by new Cambodian troops manning border positions. The century-old border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia stems from a dispute over the French colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometre frontier. (Story continues below)Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow holds discussions with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, on Monday in Paris.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 13:50 UTC
Mexico's violence-hit Guadalajara to host World Cup games
Mexico's violence-hit Guadalajara to host World Cup gamesGuadalajara is looking ahead nervously to the World Cup this summer, in which it will host four games. Now, Guadalajara is looking ahead nervously to the World Cup this summer, in which it will host four games. People are also jittery about hosting World Cup games in a city that has been through so much. Authorities have discovered properties used by criminal groups just a few kilometers from the Akron stadium which is due to host World Cup games. "If he were here, he would be happy about the World Cup," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 12:52 UTC
Thai police linked to kidnap claims
One of the suspects was clearly identified as a police lance corporal attached to Muang district. The incidents reportedly occurred between Feb 2 and 3 across several locations in Moo 3 and Moo 11 of tambon Chumtabong, extending into Muang district. Pol Col Ruangyot said the matter was referred to senior officials, including the national police chief and Provincial Police Region 6 commander. Investigators have documented additional individuals linked to the case, along with bank transfer evidence. Pol Maj Gen Narewit Sukonthawit, commander of Nakhon Sawan provincial police, confirmed sufficient evidence had been gathered and that the case would be forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 11:44 UTC
Cobra Gold military exercises kick off in Thailand
The opening ceremony of Cobra Gold, Asia's largest annual multilateral military exercise, in Rayong province, on Tuesday. (Photo: Reuters)One of the largest and longest-running multinational military exercises in Southeast Asia, Cobra Gold, began on Tuesday in Thailand with more than 8,000 personnel from 30 countries participating. At the opening ceremony at U-Tapao Royal Thai Airfield in Rayong province, US ambassador to Thailand Sean O'Neill emphasised that Cobra Gold remains necessary to address emerging threats. "As the world changes, so must Cobra Gold. We must always ensure Cobra Gold adapts to meet new challenges and improves the interoperability we need to defend our sovereignty and prosperity now, and in the future," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 09:52 UTC
Miss Tiffany 2026 swimsuit round
Meet Wasita "Meepooh" Chaikunchensakun, a Thai transgender model and actress competing in the Miss Tiffany's Universe 2026 beauty pageant. The Miss Tiffany 2026 pageant (MTU2026) Final Night is scheduled to take place at the Tiffany's Show Pattaya Theatre in Pattaya, Thailand, on Saturday (Feb 28).
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 09:50 UTC
Tigers killed by canine distemper virus, not bird flu
Tigers killed by canine distemper virus, not bird fluA poster with hygiene instructions, telling staff to wash their hands with alcohol gel, outside a cage at one of the tiger zoos in Chiang Mai where the mass deaths occurred. Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director-general of the Department of Livestock Development, said the lab tests showed the tigers died from canine distemper, which is a viral disease. He also said the tigers did not die from bird flu, as had earlier been speculated. In the wake of the mass deaths, the carcasses were either incinerated or buried to contain the disease. Prof Yong Poovorawan, of the Centre for Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday of a previous case of mass tiger deaths in 2004.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 09:45 UTC
The fuss about Thailand and Trump's Board of Peace
Permanent membership would reportedly cost US$1 billion (31 billion baht), with Mr Trump as permanent chief. Needless to say, Thailand seeks to maintain constructive relations with the United States, especially under Mr Trump. Being part of a high-profile initiative championed by Mr Trump enhances his international standing. During the meeting, Mr Trump even mentioned him by name. It remains to be seen what decision the new Thai cabinet will make regarding Mr Trump's board.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 09:23 UTC
Fake scam busters steal students’ data
Fake scam busters steal students’ dataPolice examine boxes of SIM cards at a raided house in Fang district of Chiang Mai on Tuesday morning. They claimed to represent a big mobile phone company and offered to provide anti-scam training and free SIM cards for students. In exchange for the SIM handouts, they collected the young students' personal data and scanned their faces several times. The four "trainers" gave SIM cards to the students and scanned the students’ ID cards and faces, claiming the data would be used activate the free SIM cards. Police detectives said more than 200 students at the two schools were deceived by the villains into handing over their personal data.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 09:14 UTC
Travel warning for Thais visiting war-torn Mexico
The travel warning was issued by the Royal Thai Embassy in Mexico City. His death triggered a wave of violence by drug cartel members that has claimed many lives, including 25 National Guard members, AFP reported on Tuesday. The embassy advised Thai residents and intending visitors to closely monitor the news, assess the situation, follow local authorities’ instructions and avoid crowded places. The unrest has included the burning of community property, vehicle arson, armed assaults on government officials and road blockades, it said. Emergency assistance for Thai nationals is available via telephone 55-2564-2662 or LINE ID: thaiconsulate.mx
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 08:21 UTC
France demands explanation from US envoy over no-show
Paris angered over comments posted by US embassy after slaying of far-right activistUS Ambassador to France Charles Kushner failed to show up to explain comments about a slain far-right activist. Barrot summoned Kushner after the US embassy in Paris reposted comments by the administration of Donald Trump which denounced “terrorism” and left-wing violence in France after the killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque, 23. “It’s a surprise,” Barrot told broadcaster France Info. “It’s not optional.”In December 2024, Trump defended the choice of Kushner as France’s envoy. “It’s a great thing because he’s in our family,” Trump told the French magazine Paris Match.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 08:17 UTC