Oil leak from sunken cargo ship not seen as serious
Oil leak from sunken cargo ship not seen as seriousThe Panama-flagged cargo ship Sealloyd Arc is seen sinking in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Phuket on Saturday evening. (Photo: supplied/ Achadthaya Chuenniran)Refined petroleum leaking from a cargo ship that sank in the Andaman Sea off Phuket on Saturday is not expected to affect nearby islands, according to the Pollution Control Department. The assessment is based on the latest oil spill modelling results, Chanan Tiranarat, chief of the department’s Water Quality Management Division, said on Tuesday. “Based on the current situation, all islands remain safe from the oil leakage,” he said. Discussions are also under way regarding the possibility of salvaging the sunken vessel, although strong sea currents remain a challenge.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 15:14 UTC
Hong Kong Airlines plane issues mayday call amid runway closure in Taipei
Hong Kong Airlines plane issues mayday call amid runway closure in TaipeiHong Kong Airlines planes at Hong Kong International Airport. (Photo: @hkairlines X account)A Hong Kong Airlines flight was among three aircraft forced to circle above Taoyuan Airport in Taiwan and issue mayday distress calls over fuel concerns after a runway closure disrupted arrivals. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Airlines aircraft declared a fuel emergency, issuing a "mayday, mayday, mayday" call to air traffic control. At the time, the runway was closed following an earlier incident involving T'way Airlines flight TW687 from Jeju, South Korea. A Hong Kong Airlines spokeswoman said its aircraft was instructed to enter a holding pattern due to the runway incident.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 15:07 UTC
Bangladesh PM candidate warns of ‘huge’ challenges
(Photo: AFP)DHAKA - Bangladesh’s leading prime ministerial candidate Tarique Rahman says he faces “huge” challenges if he wins elections this week, vowing to repair a country he said was looted under the previous ousted government. “We need to ensure a normal situation in the country, so that people are safe,” Rahman told AFP. “There are serious challenges ahead of us — we need to tackle the economic situation,” he added. We need to create businesses for these young people to have jobs,” he said, adding he was particularly worried about the economic situation faced by women. ‘Neighbourly relationship’With relations between Bangladesh and neighbouring India strained, Rahman struck a careful note on foreign ties.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 15:05 UTC
AI helps scam centres evade crackdown in Asia, dupe more victims
AI helps scam centres evade crackdown in Asia, dupe more victimsComputers inside a compound in O'Smach in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia, used for scam operations, at the Chong Chom-O'Smach border crossing, on Feb 2. “You can see the efficiency with AI being utilised in scam centres,” said Neal Jetton, who leads the Cybercrime Directorate at Interpol in Singapore. Beijing also recently announced it had executed 11 people linked to scam centres in Myanmar. Whereas you could just bring in fewer people and use AI to increase efficiency.”Even with AI, scam operators will need recruiters and coordinators, he added. You’ll probably need those who coordinate with the money mules at the end, and you’ll need some engineers to get started,” he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 14:50 UTC
Fire destroys 28 stalls at Chatuchak Weekend Market
Fire destroys 28 stalls at Chatuchak Weekend MarketThe ruins of Chatuchak Weekend Market after fire on Monday. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)A fire destroyed 28 stalls at Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok on Monday night and an initial assessment blamed it on an electrical short circuit - the second such fire in just a few days. (continues below)(Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut) (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)The market's head of security, Kiattisak Sukraj, said staff first noticed a smell of something burning and followed it to a shop on soi 9/2. The 28 burned-out stalls cover about 240 square metres along three streets at Market Project 17, soi 9/2–4. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut) (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)An initial assessment pointed to the blaze being caused by a short circuit.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 14:49 UTC
Tearful Natthaphong vows to fight on
People’s Party leader says now is not the right time to step downPeople’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut takes a moment to compose himself after telling an interviewer that he deeply regretted the setbacks the party suffered in the Feb 8 election. He said he personally messaged each defeated candidate to express his regret, admitting he felt a heavy sense of responsibility as party leader. “It is not the time for a party leader to come out and announce their resignation or create uncertainty within the party,” he said. Mr Natthaphong said the party would now conduct a thorough review of its strategy, especially its ground operations and constituency-level engagement. Sarayut Jailak, the secretary-general of the People’s Party, said on Monday that he would resign after its election performance fell below expectations.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 14:47 UTC
Warming climate threatens Greenland's ancestral way of life
Warming climate threatens Greenland's ancestral way of lifeMusher Nukaaraq Lennert Olsen rides with his sled dogs near the 'dog town' of Sisimiut, GreenlandSISIMIUT (DENMARK) - Standing in his boat with binoculars in hand, hunter Malik Kleist scans the horizon for seals. But this February, the sea ice in southwestern Greenland has yet to freeze, threatening traditional livelihoods like his. But today we had to sail all the way into the fjords to find them," the 37-year-old tells AFP. The shorter winter season has also impacted another key activity in Greenland, one that has become increasingly important to the tourism sector: dogsled tours. - Dehydrated dogs -The dogs' health is also affected by the changing climate.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 14:37 UTC
Global solar and wind capacity growth ‘slowed in 2025’
(Photo: AFP)Planned or under-construction solar and wind projects slowed last year, analysis showed on Tuesday, casting doubts on whether countries will hit a goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030. But announcements and construction starts of new wind and solar projects grew 11% in 2025 — down from 22% in the previous year, as wind development projects faced hurdles, Global Energy Monitor (GEM) said. As has been the case for years, China is expanding renewable capacity on a scale unmatched elsewhere. It accounted for around a third of global capacity growth in 2025 — 1.5 terawatts — more than growth in the next six countries combined. Some wealthy countries are supporting renewable growth, with Japan seeking to revise wind auction guidelines and Britain boosting investment.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 14:31 UTC
Contractor blames whirlwind for dome's collapse
Contractor blames whirlwind for dome's collapseJarunat Jiraratsatit, director of Stecon Group, explains why the domed structure collapsed in Samut Prakan on Monday. The project was contracted to the ST-TC joint venture, which comprises Sino‑Thai and Transcode Co Ltd, Stecon director Jarunat Jiraratsatit said in the video. The collapsed structure was valued at 1.5 million baht, Mr Jarunant said. “A whirlwind occurred in the area at the time of the incident, with unusually strong gusty wind never seen there before,” Mr Jarunant said. “The company is fully committed to cooperating in identifying the cause and implementing corrective measures,” Mr Jarunant said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 14:30 UTC
Man sentenced to 30 years for lese-majeste
Defendant now facing a total of 50 years in jail a no-show at hearing(Illustration: Thai Lawyers for Human Rights)A man convicted of posting 10 anti-monarchy comments on social media has been sentenced to 30 years in prison — three years for each post — under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, Thailand’s lese-majeste law. The Criminal Court in Bangkok handed down the sentence on Tuesday against Pruttikorn “Ton Pai” Sarakul, 43, a former company employee. The defendant was not present in court for the reading and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Pruttikorn was sentenced on Dec 18, 2025 to 30 years in prison in connection with 10 posts made on a Facebook page that carried critical comments about the Thai monarchy. Mr Arnon has been in detention since Sept 26, 2023 pending appeals against several lese-majeste convictions and sentences totalling 29 years.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 14:30 UTC
PTTEP Approves FID for First Malaysia Greenfield Project
PTTEP Approves FID for First Malaysia Greenfield ProjectBangkok, February 10, 2026 – PTTEP has reached FID for the Malaysia SK405B Project, offshore Malaysia, marking a milestone of the company’s first greenfield development project in the country to support long-term growth. Montri Rawanchaikul, Chief Executive Officer, PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), said PTTEP Sarawak Oil Limited, a subsidiary of PTTEP, the operator of SK405B PSC, had made the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Sirung and Chenda fields in the Malaysia SK405B Project. This marks PTTEP’s first FID for greenfield development in Malaysia, one of its strategic countries. First oil production is targeted for 2028 with a combined production capacity of approximately 15,000 barrels per day. The Malaysia SK405B Project is operated by PTTEP Sarawak Oil Limited, a subsidiary of PTTEP, holding a 49.5% participating interest, with PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd holding 25%, and Mitsui Energy Development Co, Ltd holding 25.5%.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 14:26 UTC
South Korea police raid spy agency over drone flights into North
South Korea police raid spy agency over drone flights into NorthNorth Korea has accused Seoul of dispatching the drone across the border, releasing images in January that purportedly showed the downed aircraft. SEOUL - Investigators raided South Korea's spy agency on Tuesday as they probed possible government links to a drone shot down over North Korea earlier this year. North Korea said last year it had proven that the South flew drones to drop propaganda leaflets over its capital. Lee said in December that he felt an apology was due to North Korea over his predecessor's alleged order to send drones. North Korea has previously sent trash-filled balloons over the South in what it called retaliation for activists in the South floating anti-regime propaganda missives northwards.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 14:06 UTC
Three-year heatwave ‘bleached half the planet’s coral reefs’
(Photo: AFP)PARIS - A study published on Tuesday showed that more than half of the world’s coral reefs were bleached between 2014 and 2017 — a record-setting episode now being eclipsed by another series of devastating heatwaves. The analysis concluded that 51% of the world’s reefs endured moderate or worse bleaching while 15% experienced significant mortality over the three-year period known as the “Third Global Bleaching Event”. It was “by far the most severe and widespread coral bleaching event on record”, said Sean Connolly, one the study’s authors and a senior scientist at the Panama-based Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. “2014-17 was the first record of a global coral bleaching event lasting much beyond a single year,” the study said. “We are only just beginning to analyse bleaching and mortality observations from the current bleaching event,” Connolly told AFP.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 14:04 UTC
Foreigners buy most Thai stocks in 4 years after election
Foreigners buy most Thai stocks in 4 years after electionCaretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul looks on before he attends a cabinet meeting at Government House, after the Bhumjaithai Party won the general election, on Tuesday. (Photo: Reuters)Global funds piled back into Thai equities as a convincing win by the incumbent Bhumjaithai Party in Sunday’s election paved the way for policy continuity. Foreigners bought $531.3 million of the nation’s stocks on a net basis on Monday, the most since February 2022, according to Bloomberg-compiled data. The inflows helped push the benchmark index 3.5% higher on Monday, making the gauge the best performer in Southeast Asia. The baht climbed for a third day on Tuesday, putting it closer to the highest since 2021.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 14:02 UTC
Israeli PM to press Trump for harder line on Iranian missiles
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing for his sixth trip to Washington since Donald Trump took office in January last year. (Photo: AFP)JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington Wednesday, seeking to press him to adopt a tougher line on Iran’s ballistic missile programme in the next round of talks. Netanyahu’s office said he will highlight Israel’s concerns over Iran’s missile arsenal in discussions with Trump, and not just the nuclear programme. During the June war, Iran launched waves of ballistic missiles and other projectiles at Israeli territory, striking both military and civilian areas. “He wants to first convince President Trump that Iran’s ballistic missiles, which he sees as a major threat to Israel, must be included in any agreement over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 13:52 UTC