Fly your kite at Pattaya beach festival
This year's Pattaya International Kite On The Beach event will kick off tomorrow and run daily from noon to 6pm until Sunday. Measuring 12m in height, the giant Mr. Sun kite will make its first-ever appearance accompanied by the playful Muek Groob kite, the vibrant goodr flamingo kite, the 3m-tall PEA mascot kite and more than 150 uniquely designed international kites from 12 countries around the world. Together, they will paint the summer sky with colour along over 1km of the beach. The festival also features a variety of exciting activities, including the Mr. Sun kite painting workshop and a "Shop, Taste, Chill" experience with over 30 street food vendors in a relaxed beachfront atmosphere. Special privileges are also available for international customers, who will receive a complimentary Premium Tea Ritual when spending 30,000 baht or more.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:55 UTC
Finance ministry, IMF launch video competition
The Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Thailand invite university and college students aged 18-25 to showcase their ideas on Thailand's economic future in a short video contest to vie for cash prizes worth 120,000 baht in total. The challenge is to mark Thailand's prestigious return as host of the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026, the world's leading economic financial and fiscal gathering, which will be held in October. For the first, imagine you are a leader of an international financial institution advising countries on policy choices to navigate new economic horizons. For the second, it has been 35 years since Thailand last hosted the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings. The creators of the top 10 shortlisted entries will be invited to present their video concepts directly to the selection committee.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:54 UTC
Woven in the body
Spanning paintings, sculpture and mixed media, her artwork examines vulnerability and resilience inherited through the female body. A number of her works in "Exploited Body" bring visual and emotional unease. In Untitled No.3, for example, the artist presents a broken torso to convey "suffering with all your body". Nearby, her intimate piece, Untitled No.5, presents a sick woman whose body is inserted with tubes. Good things, bad things.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:53 UTC
Activists call on DNP chief to resign
Wildlife advocates protest at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to demand its director's resignation after the death of wild elephant Seedor Hu Pub earlier this month during a relocation effort. Chanat KatanyuA group of wildlife activists held another protest at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) yesterday, demanding the director's resignation over the death of wild elephant Seedor Hu Pub earlier this month. More than 500 demonstrators from several conservation groups gathered at the department's headquarters for what they termed as seeking justice for Seedor Hu Pub. The male elephant, aged 15 to 20, was pronounced dead on Feb 3 during a DNP relocation operation from Khon Kaen's Si Chomphu district to the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary in Loei. The DNP has carried out about 30 relocation operations in response to court orders.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:47 UTC
Remains of dead tigers in Chiang Mai camp buried
Remains of dead tigers in Chiang Mai camp buriedThe remains of 72 tigers who died at the Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai have been destroyed to ensure none of the parts ends up in the illegal wildlife trade, the Protected Area Regional Office 16 said yesterday. A total of 246 tigers were kept at Tiger Kingdom's facilities in Mae Rim and Mae Taeng districts. As of Feb 18, 72 tigers had died -- the largest incidence of mass deaths of captive tigers ever recorded. The process was carried out entirely by the tiger camp staff, under close supervision from the Department of Livestock Development and conservation officials, he said, adding both facilities in Mae Rim and Mae Taeng districts remain closed to the public. He warned that failing to address systemic weaknesses in disease surveillance could undermine not only animal health and wildlife conservation, but also human health.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:43 UTC
Trump denies top US officer warned of Iran strike risks
Trump denies top US officer warned of Iran strike risksUS President Donald Trump said General Dan Caine would be 'leading the pack' in case of military action against IranWASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - President Donald Trump on Monday denied reports that the top US military officer had flagged the risks of a major operation against Iran, saying Washington would "easily" beat Tehran in any war. US media reported that General Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, had warned of various risks associated with strikes against Iran including a long-term entanglement. But Trump said on his Truth Social network that it was "100 percent incorrect" that Caine was "against us going to war with Iran." And the Wall Street Journal said both the top general and other Pentagon officials have warned of risks such as US and allied casualties as well as the danger of US air defenses being depleted if its forces strike Iran. The Axios news outlet meanwhile said Caine had warned of the United States "becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict."
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:43 UTC
Iran would react 'ferociously' to any US attack, warns of regional conflict
"And any state would react to an act of aggression... ferociously, so that's what we would do," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said. Iran has said it will be ready to deliver a draft proposal for an agreement on its nuclear programme to mediators in the coming days. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for civilian use, but the West believes it is aimed at building an atomic bomb. The United States, meanwhile, ordered non-emergency personnel to leave its embassy in Lebanon, home to the Shiite militia Hezbollah, which maintains close ties to Iran. Authorities acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by "terrorist acts" fuelled by the United States and Israel.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:43 UTC
Diplomacy over silence
Diplomacy over silenceCaretaker Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow is garnering praise for his open diplomacy aimed at re-engaging with Myanmar. It remains to be seen whether this open diplomacy will soften the military's stubborn stance in Nay Pyi Taw. At home, Mr Sihasak's open engagement with Nay Pyi Taw represents a significant departure from the so-called "quiet diplomacy" that Thai governments have traditionally used with their closest neighbour. Beijing has deftly pursued dual diplomacy, maintaining good relations with Nay Pyi Taw while cultivating cooperation with border ethnic groups. Critics and experts have urged the government and military to re-establish connections with ethnic groups, as was done several decades ago.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:27 UTC
Killing the goose that lays the Olympic gold medal
Killing the goose that lays the Olympic gold medalUS-born gold medallist Ailing Eileen Gu of China, middle, celebrates on the podium during the women's freeski halfpipe victory ceremony with silver medallist Li Fanghui of China, left, and bronze medallist Zoe Atkin of Britain. REUTERSThe Olympic Games have always been about more than sports, with the medal count serving as a measure of national vitality. For decades, the US has crowded the podium with the children of immigrants: Michelle Kwan (silver, 1998; bronze, 2002), Sasha Cohen (silver, 2006), Mirai Nagasu (bronze, 2018, team), Nathan Chen (gold, 2022), and, this winter, Ilia Malinin (gold, 2026, team) and Alysa Liu (gold, 2026). For example, the speed skater Apolo Ohno (gold, 2002, 2006; eight medals total) has a Japanese-born father, and the snowboarder Chloe Kim (gold, 2018; gold, 2022; silver, 2026) is the daughter of South Korean immigrants. The list grows longer if one includes champions descended from earlier migration waves, such as Polish-American Tara Lipinski (gold, 1998) and Japanese-American Kristi Yamaguchi (gold, 1992).
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:21 UTC
The fuss about Thailand and the BOP
The main reason local media focused on the BOP was the presence of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, one of the 26 founding members. While Thailand is considering BOP membership, the prospective Anutin 2 government is weighing the broader implications for the country's eastern flank. Needless to say, Thailand seeks to maintain constructive relations with the United States, especially under Mr Trump. Many local commentators, both in mainstream outlets and on social media, feel Hun Manet has diplomatically outmanoeuvred Thailand during his recent foreign visits. Yet Hun Manet has avoided addressing those concerns, instead advancing unhelpful claims about Thailand.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:20 UTC
PTT seeks global LNG player status
PTT seeks global LNG player statusAn LNG receiving terminal operated by PTT in Map Ta Phut, Rayong. National oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc has unveiled plans to transform itself into a global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading firm, marking a major shift from its role as Thailand's LNG importer a decade ago. Southeast Asia alone hosts 14 LNG terminals with a combined capacity of nearly 60 million tonnes, with more facilities under development. According to the International Group of LNG Importers, the US's LNG supply is expected to double by 2031, with Qatar's output projected to rise 1.5 times. Last year, PTT traded 2.3 million tonnes under this model, and expects to reach 3 million tonnes this year.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:07 UTC
Digital lender sees Thai SME loans surge
Digital lender sees Thai SME loans surgeJain: Expects 30% more applicationsFunding Societies, Southeast Asia's largest SME digital financing platform, expects the total value of its loan applications in Thailand to reach 5.4 billion baht this year, with application volume growing 30% year-on-year, as it focuses on underserved SMEs with strong growth potential. Guided by prudent risk management principles, this approach is expected to be a key contributor to driving the company's loan portfolio growth by more than 30% over the assessed period. This disciplined approach is designed to enhance portfolio resilience, strengthen repayment visibility and support sustainable, quality-driven growth. Funding Societies Thailand's outlook is also supported by the group's regional footprint, across five Asean markets -- Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Regionwide, the company has recorded cumulative loan disbursements exceeding 157 billion baht across more than 5.2 million transactions, reflecting its ability to scale a sustainable digital lending platform.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 01:02 UTC
Central Pattana sees net profit surge by 13% in 2025
Central Pattana sees net profit surge by 13% in 2025A twilight view of Central Pinklao. Leading real estate developer Central Pattana Plc (CPN) has announced a strong performance for the 2025 fiscal year, delivering solid growth in revenue, net profit, dividends and foot traffic, reaching a new high for the third consecutive year. Its recent transformation projects, including Central Pinklao and Central Chiangmai Airport, have also received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Furthermore, CPN set a record of over 650 million visits a year to its shopping centres nationwide, attracting over 70 million visits from international tourists annually. Grade-A office space adjacent to Central shopping centres, including Central Park Offices, deliver fully integrated lifestyle solutions, with a portfolio of 11 office buildings across Bangkok situated in prime areas.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2026 00:07 UTC
Robot makers to invest B10bn in EEC
Robot makers to invest B10bn in EECPeople watch as humanoid robot performs a dance during celebrations on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Horse at the Niangniang Temple in Beijing, China, February 17, 2026. Mr Narit added that more companies are already showing an interest in setting up humanoid robot component facilities. Hangzhou Seenpin Electromechanical Transmission will invest 2.12 billion baht in Chon Buri to manufacture planetary roller screws and robot ball screws. Sanhua Intelligent Drives will invest 1.8 billion baht to produce actuators that control robot movement. Xusheng Group will invest 2.7 billion baht in Rayong to produce robot body, joint and bone components using lightweight, high-strength materials.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2026 23:28 UTC
Thai AirAsia to revamp flights to Seoul from May
Thai AirAsia to revamp flights to Seoul from MayMr Phairat (centre right) and TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool (centre left) launch the 'Fly your feelings' campaign covering eight domestic routes. Thai AirAsia will replace Thai AirAsia X in operating direct flights to Seoul from May 1, and aims to increase its domestic market share to 45% from 40% this year, despite intense competition from other low‑cost carriers that are aggressively expanding their fleets. Phairat Pornpathananangoon, chief executive of Asia Aviation PCL and Thai AirAsia, said Thai AirAsia will fly Airbus A320neos from Don Mueang International Airport to Incheon International Airport in Seoul commencing May 1, replacing Thai AirAsia X's operations with two flights a day. He said changing from Thai AirAsia X's wide-body aircraft to the single-aisle aircraft of Thai AirAsia wouldn't impact demand, as several airlines, both Thai and Korean, have been operating with narrow-body aircraft for a significant period. Most airlines might not be able to increase airfares on their domestic flights," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2026 23:03 UTC