Tour showcases southern Thai heritage
Tour showcases southern Thai heritageDiplomats from 45 countries are visiting Surat Thani as part of an official study tour aimed at showcasing the cultural diversity and rich heritage of southern Thailand while strengthening ties between foreign missions and local communities. The annual programme, titled the "Study Tour for the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Representatives and Spouses", began yesterday and runs until tomorrow. While Surat Thani is widely known as the gateway to Koh Samui, the MFA has curated a programme highlighting lesser-known cultural and natural attractions. Diplomats engaged in hands-on cultural experiences such as making traditional salted eggs and observing demonstrations of Muay Chaiya, a distinctive southern Thai martial art. Today, the diplomatic corps is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya during her visit to Surat Thani Rajabhat University.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 21:22 UTC
Lawyer says People's Party knew of rape case pre-poll
Lawyer says People's Party knew of rape case pre-pollA lawyer has alleged that the People's Party (PP) was aware of the rape case against its Maha Sarakham candidate before the Feb 8 election but went ahead and fielded him anyway. The allegation came after the Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed the lower courts' judgements, stemming from an incident that occurred in 2020. The reversal resulted in a PP parliamentary candidate being sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for rape. He said the Supreme Court's decision marked the end of a long legal battle after both the trial court and appeals court had dismissed the case. He said once the Supreme Court's decision was finalised, the individual's status as a candidate and party member ceased.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 19:52 UTC
Unpacking luxury
In a neighbourhood where gold shop signs glow and street food carts putter past century-old shophouses, Louis Vuitton has checked in. As a brand that first made its name producing travel luggage, journeys and travel have always been the heart of Louis Vuitton. Featuring the Keepall travel bag introduced in 1930, the ingenious duffel changed the way people travelled forever. Don't forget to bring your Louis Vuitton passport cover, tags or small leather goods to the Conciergerie, which offers hot-stamping services created exclusively for Louis Vuitton Bangkok Hotel. Speedy Room 1930.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 19:50 UTC
Sovereign technology key to national security, say pundits
Sovereign technology key to national security, say punditsMs Panita, left, and ACM Prapas, centre, who urged Thailand to develop its own innovative technology. Thailand must develop its own sovereign technology and innovative infrastructure to ensure long-term national security and economic growth, say tech researchers and a military official. Using foreign technology means user data is constantly being collected and harvested, said ACM Prapas. By inventing and developing technology locally, the nation can effectively secure its own data, which protects its digital sovereignty and strengthens national security, he said. Technology must be successfully transferred across multiple agencies so the entire national security apparatus becomes more capable and less reliant on external dependencies over time, said ACM Prapas.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 19:32 UTC
Border traders need help
Border traders need helpAfter months of suffering in silence, businesses along the Thai-Cambodian border are finally starting to speak up, saying the security measures implemented in the wake of the armed clashes between the two countries -- including border closures -- have dealt a heavy blow to their livelihoods. With the tension showing no signs of easing, traders along the border are calling on the government to extend more help to affected businesses. Local businesses along the border have been left to struggle largely by themselves from the beginning of the conflict. Most, if not all, business operators know that the ideal solution is to reopen the border, but Bhumjaithai is likely to uphold the border closures. Of course, reopening the border won't solve the problems overnight.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 19:25 UTC
When voters look beyond credentials
The person I'm referring to is Suchatvee "Dr Ae" Suwansawat, leader of the Thai Kao Mai Party. As the total did not reach 150,000 votes, Mr Suchatvee, who was placed first on the party list, will not enter parliament. Until voting day, I believed Thai Kao Mai might win one or two seats. There may be many reasons, but one common explanation could be that some voters want politicians like Mr Mongkolkit -- with his down-to-earth demeanour -- in parliament for entertainment value. Despite championing modern structural reforms, Mr Suchatvee struggled to translate personal popularity into parliamentary representation, especially compared with Mr Mongkolkit.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 19:25 UTC
B2.85bn procurement plan gets SRT board's approval
B2.85bn procurement plan gets SRT board's approvalThe board of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has approved the procurement of 23 new track maintenance vehicles worth 2.85 billion baht to replace ageing machinery. The procurement plan includes 10 utility track vehicles to replace those used for ballast tamping and support new rail grinding operations. Four continuous tamping machines equipped with 32 tamping heads will also be acquired to replace units that have been in operation for over 40 years. The machines are expected to double operational speed and improve accuracy in stabilising track ballast. In addition, the SRT is aiming to procure two ballast regulators and five ballast stabiliser machines to replace deteriorating equipment and meet modern standards.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 19:12 UTC
Fix Thailand's data confusion
Fix Thailand's data confusionThe Personal Data Protection Act is Thailand's first law governing data protection. Thailand has made significant strides in building a data governance framework, most notably through the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) 2019. Thailand's constitution guarantees the right to access public information, and the Official Information Act famously declares that "disclosure is the rule, secrecy the exception." Although the PDPA requires data controllers to notify the Personal Data Protection Committee and affected individuals within 72 hours of a breach, public disclosure has often been minimal. Open, accessible public data is not a threat to governance.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 18:35 UTC
'Barcodes may make poll void'
He said the move could raise the spectre of legal consequences for the Election Commission (EC), similar to those that followed the annulled 2006 poll. Speaking at the National Institute of Development Administration on Wednesday, Mr Wissanu addressed concerns that barcodes printed on ballot papers might allow votes to be traced back to individual electors. Supachai Jaisamut, head of the legal team at the Bhumjaithai Party, yesterday rejected claims that the barcodes compromised secrecy. He urged the EC to use identical ballot papers in by-elections this Sunday and to avoid concealing barcodes during the count. Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman has confirmed receipt of 28 petitions from members of the public concerning the legality of the barcodes and the EC's management of the poll.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 18:35 UTC
Democrat forum talks animal welfare
Democrat forum talks animal welfareThe Democrat Party convened a public forum bringing together animal rights advocates and wildlife experts to push for amendments to the country's anti-animal cruelty law to explicitly cover wild animals. "Regardless of the political climate, political parties must remain attentive to issues arising in society," he said, adding that the forum provided an opportunity to hear perspectives from specialists, particularly on the issue of human-wildlife conflict. Panellists highlighted legal gaps in the current Animal Cruelty Prevention and Welfare Act, arguing that enforcement often focuses on domestic or economic animals, while wild animals fall primarily under conservation laws that centre on state management rather than welfare protections. Among the speakers were Theerapat Trangprakan, former president of the Thai Elephant Alliance Association; animal rights advocate and anchorwoman Narakorn Tiyayon; and Roger Lohanan, secretary-general of the Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They stressed the need for clearer legal standards and scientific protocols, particularly concerning the relocation of wild elephants, warning that poorly planned transfers can cause severe stress, injury or death.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 18:17 UTC
Thamanat warns against pressure on Klatham Party
Klatham Party chief adviser Capt Thamanat Prompow speaks to reporters as the party held its first executive committee meeting at the party's headquarters in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, on Thursday following the Feb 8 general election. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)Klatham Party chief adviser Capt Thamanat Prompow insists he is ready to have his qualifications scrutinised and warns that anyone attempting to pressure his party would face retaliation. Speaking at about 4.30pm on Thursday at the Klatham Party headquarters, Capt Thamnat addressed reports claiming the party could join the new coalition, led by the election-winning Bhumaithai Party, only if he is excluded from the cabinet. “I am confident that this rumour is not a valid excuse,” said the de facto leader of Klatham. On suggestions that the prime minister vote should proceed first, with cabinet portfolios negotiated later, Capt Thamanat dismissed the idea.“Politics doesn’t work like that.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 16:52 UTC
Olympics rev up Milan's renewal but locals fear price to pay
Olympics rev up Milan's renewal but locals fear price to payMilan's new Santagiulia arena was built near a derelict area known for crack cocaine dealing. (Photo: AFP)MILAN - The Winter Olympics are expected to accelerate Milan's transformation into a vibrant international metropolis, but many residents fear the effect will see them priced out. Milan has also seen a huge influx of tourists and capital in recent years, boosted by the 2015 World Expo. At the same time, Milan has experienced a property development boom, accelerated by the Olympic Games. In the south of the city, the Olympic Village has been built on a disused rail yard opposite the Prada Foundation.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 16:16 UTC
Affection-starved son arrested for beating dad, setting house ablaze
Affection-starved son arrested for beating dad, setting house ablaze(Photo: Central Investigation Bureau)Police have arrested a 46-year-old man accused of setting fire to his father’s home and severely assaulting him, allegedly over long-held resentment about unequal parental affection. Arrested this week in Nonthaburi, Mr Songpol was charged with arson and assaulting a parent causing serious injury, Pol Maj Gen Pattanasak said on Thursday. Police said the fire erupted after a heated argument between the father and son at the home of Mr Somkhuan, the suspect’s father, on March 24, 2025. Mr Somkhuan was then beaten after the fire began. During questioning, Mr Songpol confessed to both the assault and the arson.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 15:06 UTC
Former prince Andrew arrested in misconduct probe
The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor marks the first royal arrest in the modern era. (Photo: AFP)LONDON - The inexorable fall from grace of the former prince Andrew has reached an extraordinary new low as he has become the first member of the UK royal family to be arrested in the modern era. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he is now known, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct during his time as a trade envoy, as UK police investigations into allegations emerging from the Jeffrey Epstein files gathered pace. New revelations last week appeared to show Andrew sent convicted US sex offender Epstein potentially confidential documents during his time as a UK trade envoy. Writing in the New Statesman magazine last week, Brown said he had been “told privately that the investigations related to the former Prince Andrew did not properly check vital evidence of flights”.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 15:05 UTC
People’s Party apologises after candidate jailed for rape
People’s Party spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu takes part in a press briefing at the Future Forward Building, the party’s headquarters, on Saturday. The incident is a wake‑up call for the People’s Party to strengthen its candidate selection, he said. “As the party’s representative, I apologise to the victim, now that it has been proven that the offender stood as (a People’s Party) MP candidate,” Mr Parit said. The incident was the third of its kind involving the People's Party. The rape case involved Thirawat Phanna, who ran in Maha Sarakham Constituency 1 and finished in second place, 9,000 votes behind a Bhumjaithai candidate.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 19, 2026 14:51 UTC