‘Mr Spray’ arrested after Koh Phangan graffiti frenzy
Police question German suspect Tom Heine about his graffiti spree on Koh Phangan after arresting him in a Bangkok hotel. (Photo: Immigration Bureau Facebook)A German man who became the target of public outrage after spray-painting political messages at dozens of locations on Koh Phangan has been arrested in Bangkok. Following the arrest, Mr Heine was transferred back to the Koh Phangan police station for further legal proceedings. (Story continues below)“Mr Spray” left messages at dozens of locations on Koh Phangan. (Photo: @zonesamui X account)Local media reported that Mr Heine said he had visited Koh Phangan many times since 2001 and was dismayed by how the island had changed.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 09:20 UTC
Voter swings raise alarm bells for US Republicans
President Donald Trump’s poll numbers have declined since he took office in January 2025, a worrying sign for the midterm elections coming in November. But the major leftward swing in Texas, following on the heels of other recent Democratic gains, has raised alarm bells among Republicans over what it could mean for national elections in November. ‘Warning light’The Texas election “is certainly a warning light” for Republicans, said Princeton University political history professor Julian Zelizer. The Texas result was the latest evidence of mounting voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s party. While repeatedly noting that the party in power typically loses seats in the midterm elections, Trump has said the historic precedent should be broken due to his accomplishments so far.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 09:11 UTC
Thai inflation negative for 10th straight month
(Photo: Somchai Poomlard)Thailand’s annual headline inflation rate was negative for a 10th straight month in January, driven by lower energy prices and government support measures, but is set to turn positive by April, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday. The reading compared with a forecast decline of 0.4% in a Reuters poll, and remained well below the Bank of Thailand’s inflation target range of 1% to 3%. Bank of Thailand governor Vitai Ratanakorn said earlier that inflation was expected to return to the target range next year. The BoT has said that inflation was below its target range due mainly to supply-side factors, primarily in the manufacturing sector. The ministry expects headline inflation to remain negative in February and March, averaging negative 0.43% for the first quarter, said Natiya Suchinda, deputy head of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 09:02 UTC
Flood recovery lag weighs on Hat Yai
Flood recovery lag weighs on Hat YaiSlow implementation of flood relief measures has led to stagnant tourism recovery in Hat Yai following the flooding in November last year. "The government relief measures for Hat Yai operators were insufficient, resulting in a slow recovery from the flooding," said Sitthipong Sitthiphataraprabha, president of the association. Hat Yai is verifying 17,523 houses ahead of budget disbursement. "Hat Yai is selling its urban charm to tourists, unlike destinations with the sea and natural attractions," he said. The TAT is planning a business‑to‑business matching event in April to connect Hat Yai operators with tourism buyers from across Thailand and Malaysia.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 08:56 UTC
Poll body takes dim view of ‘world-changing’ party
Poll body takes dim view of ‘world-changing’ partyA fascination with space has led Mongkolkit Suksintharanon to propose some novel policies in his role as PM candidate for the New Alternative Party. (Photo: มงคลกิตติ์ สุขสินธารานนท์)The “world-changing” policies of Mongkolkit Suksintharanon and his New Alternative Party have attracted the attention of the Election Commission, which has observed that some of them might break electoral laws for being impossible to fulfill. It is not known exactly which policies the poll body was referring to. Perhaps it was the party’s proposal to allow Thais to marry aliens, or to build a Thai space industry capable of taking tourists to the moon. Phitsanulok-born Mr Mongkolkit, 44, has been involved on the fringes of Thai politics for nearly two decades.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 08:51 UTC
Malaysia imposes ban on e-waste imports
Malaysia imposes ban on e-waste importsA Customs Department official shows electronic waste illegally imported into Thailand, at the Bangkok Port office on May 14, 2025. In Malaysia, imports of e-waste are banned. The task force is also discussing a proposal for a three-month moratorium on the importation of plastic waste, he said. It is unclear how much e-waste is imported illegally into Malaysia. Environmental group Basel Action Network in a report last year estimated that the United States alone exported about 32,947 tonnes of e-waste per month with Malaysia being the primary recipient.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 08:47 UTC
Billionaire clan said to weigh $2bn Thai Summit sale
Billionaire clan said to weigh $2bn Thai Summit sale(Photo: Thai Summit Group)Thai Summit Group, the country’s largest auto-parts manufacturer, is weighing a sale of its business amid mounting pressure from the global shift to electric vehicles, political uncertainty and family succession gaps, according to people familiar with the matter. The firm has yet to appoint a financial adviser, and early-stage talks might not lead to a mandate. Banks have also proposed US funds including CVC Capital Partners, Warburg Pincus and Blackstone, among others, to Thai Summit as potential suitors, without making formal approaches, the people said. Thai Summit didn’t responded to multiple emails seeking comment. Banks see a potential mandate to arrange a deal for Thai Summit as attractive given the rarity of Southeast Asian companies of this size that could come to market, the sources said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 07:50 UTC
'Vietnamese Week' set down for June
'Vietnamese Week' set down for JuneThe Vietnamese Embassy in Bangkok will host a "Vietnamese Week" in June, as part of a series of events to mark the 50th anniversary of Thailand-Vietnam relations. The plan was announced by Pham Viet Hung, the Vietnamese ambassador to Thailand, at the Tet celebration at the Vietnamese Embassy on Tuesday, ahead of the Lunar New Year. Mr Pham said to mark the 50th anniversary of Thailand-Vietnam relations, the embassy has prepared a series of events to celebrate the milestone. At least two events have been approved by the Vietnamese government, he said, including "Vietnamese Week," to be hosted in June by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam at the embassy, to promote various aspects of Vietnamese culture. Another event is planned on Aug 6, the date when Thailand and Vietnam formally established diplomatic ties 50 years ago.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 03:55 UTC
Charter 'pillars' are sacrosanct: TST
Charter 'pillars' are sacrosanct: TSTThe Thai Sang Thai (TST) Party has made its position on constitutional reform clear, saying that any amendments to the charter must serve the interests of the public rather than political elites, while maintaining Chapters 1 and 2 will remain untouched. They are seen as pillars of the charter. The core proposal of the TST is to create a constitution that genuinely belongs to the people, guided by the principle of "Liberate and Empower". In addition, the TST has highlighted the need to restore a robust rule of law. Mr Bhokin said constitutional reform should be used as a safeguard against future coups and as a foundation for enabling citizens to meaningfully scrutinise state power beyond election day.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 03:55 UTC
Thailand and Hungary strengthern relations
Hungary offers the only single-digit corporate tax in Europe, according to Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó. Hungarian Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó says people-to-people relations are the key to strengthening bilateral relations between Thailand and Hungary. It aims to strengthen cooperation between two countries in the field of scholarship, Mr Szijjártó told the Bangkok Post. The second MoU was a cooperation agreement for economic training between the Thailand Chamber of Commerce University and an institution in Hungary. Mr Szijjártó said Hungary offers the most attractive investment environment in Europe.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 03:55 UTC
Food and art come together at Montien Hotel Surawong
Montien Hotel Surawong Bangkok presents "Palace Of Food And Cultures", a first-of-its-kind projection mapping art experience in Thailand's hospitality industry, as part of Bangkok Design Week 2026, until Sunday. As the festival's centrepiece, the digital light projection mapping reimagines the hotel's iconic façade as a radiant canvas of moving imagery. He reinterprets inherited philosophies of art, memory and craftsmanship through a contemporary digital lens. The hotel has also arranged a thoughtfully curated programme that blends design, gastronomy and storytelling into immersive experiences. The lineup includes "Barricades", an art installation exhibition held in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University; "Curartistry: Food Cultures", a multimedia art exhibition by AA Visiting School Bangkok; "Food Cultures In Bang Rak District", a neighbourhood cultural mapping; a public talk on "Food Cultures" today from 1pm to 4pm; and a culinary competition on "Thai Noodles As Culinary Art" on Saturday.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 03:51 UTC
Why NFL coaches are running out of time
Why NFL coaches are running out of timeAaron Glenn. (Photo: AFP)Job security for NFL head coaches has reached an all-time low. A whopping eight of them were pink-slipped during or after the past regular season, the most ever. The result: The mantra of some NFL clubs seems to now be: Why not us? But that's the situation now for head coaches in the NFL, where patience is definitely NOT a virtue.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 03:45 UTC
28 election candidates face possible court bans
Contenders from several parties found ineligible for failing to vote in previous electionsThe Election Commission (EC) is seeking a Supreme Court ruling on the disqualification of 28 MP candidates after investigations found they lacked legal eligibility for failing to vote in previous elections without providing a valid justification. Under the law, if the court does not issue a ruling before election day, the 28 individuals will remain on the ballot. Party leaders who endorsed the candidates’ nominations could also face legal action under the political parties law. The EC declined to provide details on the 28 candidates or the names of the parties. “All of these candidates are party-list candidates from several different parties,” secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee said on Wednesday.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 03:35 UTC
Billionaire clan is said to weigh $2 Billion Thai Summit Sale
Billionaire clan is said to weigh $2 Billion Thai Summit SaleThai Summit Group, the Southeast Asian country’s largest auto-parts manufacturer, is weighing a sale of its business amid mounting pressure from the global shift to electric vehicles, political uncertainty and family succession gaps, according to people familiar with the matter. Multiple global investment banks have recently renewed pitches to the Juangroongruangkit family that owns the company, for a disposal that could fetch between $1.5 billion to $2 billion, the people said, asking to not be identified because the information is private. The firm has yet to appoint a financial adviser, and early-stage talks might not lead to a mandate. Banks have also floated CVC Capital Partners, Warburg Pincus and Blackstone Inc, among others, to Thai Summit as potential suitors, without making formal approaches, the people said. Thai Summit didn’t responded to multiple emails seeking comment.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 03:27 UTC
Call for more inclusive global system
Call for more inclusive global systemUnity, inclusive decision-making and renewed respect for international rules are needed in a volatile world, says the former director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO). "The world should not allow major global powers to dictate the direction of global affairs," he said. Instead, Mr Supachai called for broader and more inclusive participation in global decision-making, stressing that all nations should have a voice in shaping the global future. He emphasised the need for global unity and collective voices to ensure that all countries can participate in global progress. Mr Suthiphand said US protectionism has accelerated a broader reconfiguration of global supply chains and redirected excess Chinese production capacity to Southeast Asia.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 05, 2026 03:19 UTC