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Thailand ‘Not Too Expensive’ for Korean travelers, TAT insists

Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has dismissed concerns that Thailand is becoming too expensive for South Korean travelers, saying domestic prices remain stable despite complaints about rising costs.

At a media briefing in Seoul, TAT officials said they are monitoring sentiment in the Korean market, which sent about 1.55 million visitors to Thailand in 2025, making it the country’s fifth-largest source market globally.

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, TAT executives attributed perceptions of higher prices largely to exchange rate movements rather than inflation in Thailand. Officials cited recent data showing Thailand’s consumer price index declined year-on-year in January.

The agency is promoting a new slogan, “Healing is the New Luxury,” aimed at repositioning Thailand as a destination focused on rest, wellness and experiential travel.

Korea JoongAng Daily reported that TAT is also highlighting safety standards through its “Trusted Thailand” certification program and targeting niche segments including independent travelers, sports training groups and older golf tourists from South Korea.

 

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Online sting leads to cross-border arms ring dismantling

Online sting leads to cross-border arms ring dismantled

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT — 12 February 2026, Thai police have dismantled an alleged transnational arms trafficking network, arresting three men accused of selling military-style weapons, including M16 rifles and grenades to buyers across the country and along Thailand’s western border, officials said on Thursday.

Senior officers announced the arrests at Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Police headquarters, alongside investigators from the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Provincial Police Region 8, provincial investigators and officers from Kapang Police Station.

The three suspects, aged between 23 and 26 and all from Thung Song district in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, were described by police as operating an online arms trading network.

The arrests followed an investigation by metropolitan police, who conducted an undercover operation to purchase weapons online. After confirming the suspects’ alleged involvement, officers obtained a search warrant and raided properties in the Kapang area.

Police seized a cache of weapons including two M16A1 assault rifles, one MK12 shotgun, one .22 calibre rifle, two locally made shotguns, one .38 calibre handgun, one .22 calibre handgun and a double-barrelled shotgun. Officers also confiscated two M67 fragmentation grenades and nearly 300 rounds of various types of ammunition. Authorities said drugs were also found during the raid.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Pornchai Khajonkliang, acting commander of Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Police and deputy commander of Provincial Police Region 8, said investigators found that the suspects allegedly sold weapons nationwide and had also supplied buyers along Thailand’s western border.

He said police were expanding the investigation to trace the origin of the war-grade weapons, firearms, ammunition and grenades, as well as to follow financial trails linked to the network.

The suspects were charged with possessing firearms and ammunition that cannot be licensed by authorities, possessing firearms and ammunition for trade without permission, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and carrying firearms in public without a licence or reasonable cause, police said.

They remain in custody for further legal proceedings.

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Phuket police raid Russian poker den in villa

Phuket police raid Russian poker den in villa

PHUKET — 12 February 2026, Police on the southern Thai island of Phuket have raided an alleged illegal Russian-run poker den operating from a luxury villa and arrested nine foreign nationals, officials said.

Investigators from Chalong Police Station said they discovered an online advertisement on Instagram under the account name “Poker Level”, written in Russian, inviting foreigners to join poker games in Rawai subdistrict of Muang district, Phuket.

Police said those interested were required to follow a link on Instagram and make contact via WhatsApp. Only foreign nationals were accepted, authorities said. The games involved gambling for property, with bets placed in Thai baht and cryptocurrency.

Participants were required to pay an entry fee of 20,000 baht per session before joining the games, which were allegedly held clandestinely inside a luxury villa in Rawai.

On 11 February, police received information that another gambling session was due to take place. Officers conducted surveillance around the property and reported seeing lights on inside and a group of people clearly engaged in playing poker.

Police then entered the premises, searched the property and arrested nine suspects — seven Russian nationals, one Ukrainian national and one Kazakh national.

Authorities seized cash, a gambling table, playing cards, cash-value chips and electronic devices including mobile phones and computers. Police said the devices would be examined to expand the investigation, including tracing financial transactions and gathering digital evidence.

The suspects were charged with organising gambling (poker) for property without permission under Section 12 of the Gambling Act, and with jointly participating in illegal gambling for property.

All nine suspects were handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings, police said.

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Mekong meth smuggling foiled in Nong Khai

Mekong meth smuggling foiled in Nong Khai

NONG KHAI — 12 February 2026, Thai authorities have seized 2.37 million methamphetamine pills allegedly smuggled across the Mekong River from Laos, officials said.

The drugs, packed in seven sacks, were discovered during a late-night operation in Muang district of Nong Khai province. Suspects fled the scene, with one jumping into the Mekong River and others escaping into nearby farmland, authorities said.

Rear Adm. Narong Aemdee, commander of the Mekong Riverine Unit, told a news conference at 11:00 on 12 February 2026 at the Phon Phisai boat unit that officials had received a tip-off about a planned cross-border drug shipment near Ban Duea subdistrict.

He said officers were deployed to the riverbank area behind the Pak Suai tobacco station, where they observed a long-tail boat approaching from midstream at about 00:45 on 11 February 2026. The boat’s engine was cut before it was paddled to shore.

Two men were seen meeting the boat. A motorcycle arrived at the scene, followed by a white Mitsubishi box truck bearing Bangkok registration plates. Officers saw two suspects carrying suspicious sacks from the boat to the truck before moving in to make arrests.

One suspect jumped into the Mekong River, while another ran into a nearby agricultural area. The individual on the boat restarted the engine and sped back across the river. Officers gave chase but were unable to apprehend the suspects in the darkness.

A search of the area uncovered seven sacks containing 237 packages of methamphetamine pills, each stamped with the number “999” in blue ink. Authorities said the haul totalled about 2.37 million pills.

The seized drugs, along with the truck and a motorcycle found at the scene, will be handed over to investigators at Ban Duea police station for further legal proceedings, officials said.

Deputy Nong Khai Governor Paitoon Mahachuenjai, Nong Khai Customs chief Wanna Phu-utsa and military and police officers also attended the news conference.

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Best Thai dishes: TasteAtlas reveals Thailand’s top 100 rated foods

TasteAtlas has served up a delicious verdict on Thai cuisine, ranking the kingdom’s best-rated dishes and shining a global spotlight on the flavours that keep food lovers coming back for more.

Top 10 Rated Thai Foods You Have to Taste

Take a whirlwind tour through the 10 highest-rated Thai dishes that have diners around the world coming back for more.

  1. Roti — Crispy, flaky and endlessly fun to tear apart, this pan-fried flatbread tops the list. Though it has roots in Indian cuisine, roti has been fully embraced on Thai streets, served with curries or dipped in sweet sauces for a playful start to any feast.

  2. Phanaeng Curry  — Rich, creamy and laced with salty-sweet peanut flavour, this thick curry has earned global admiration. Imagine succulent meat swimming in coconut-infused sauce — one spoon, and you’ll be hooked.

  3. Tom kha gai — This comforting coconut chicken soup is fragrant with galangal and kaffir lime leaves. It’s like a warm hug in a bowl when you need something soothing yet deeply flavourful.

  4. Phat kaphrao — Often called Thai Holy basil stir-fry, this fiery plate of minced meat (or seafood) with Thai holy basil and chilies is the ultimate Thai comfort food — best enjoyed with rice and a fried egg.

  5. Khanom khrok — Bite-sized, sweet, and just the right amount of coconutty, these little pancake-like treats are street food royalty.

  6. Khao niao mamuang — Mango sticky rice. A dessert so iconic and satisfying that every visit to Thailand deserves one.

  7. Kai yang — Juicy, marinated grilled chicken with smoky goodness. Pair it with som tam (papaya salad) and sticky rice, and you’ve got a classic Isaan feast.

  8. Pad Thai — Love it abroad? You’ll adore it in Thailand. Tangy, sweet, nutty, and packed with noodles and prawns, this stir-fry remains a global favourite.

  9. Khao phat — Thai fried rice done right — fragrant jasmine rice wok-fried to perfection with veggies and your choice of protein.

  10. Phat si-io — Chewy wide noodles kissed by soy sauce and garlic make this stir-fry a crowd-pleaser on busy Bangkok streets.

If this list doesn’t make you crave crispy roti or a steaming bowl of tom kha gai, check your pulse. According to TasteAtlas, Thailand’s best dishes aren’t just popular — they’re unforgettable.

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Drunk Russian held after assault on Thai woman

Drunk Russian held after assault on Thai woman

PATTAYA — 11 February 2026, A Russian man was detained after allegedly assaulting a Thai woman while heavily intoxicated, prompting bystanders and tourists to restrain him in Pattaya on Wednesday night, police said.

Pol. Lt. Jittisuk Suthinitthawong, deputy inspector for patrol at Pattaya City police station, said officers were alerted at 21:15 to an incident outside a shopping centre on Pattaya Second Road in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province. Callers reported that a drunken foreign man had attacked a Thai woman, leaving her injured.

Officers and rescue workers arrived to find a group of residents, motorcycle taxi riders and tourists restraining a Russian man, believed to be about 30. He was pinned to the ground to calm him down. Police said he appeared heavily intoxicated, incoherent and shouting. He had minor abrasions on his face and body and was taken into custody at Pattaya City police station.

A motorcycle taxi rider, 20-year-old Prawanwit Somanat, said he had arrived to pick up a Thai female passenger when he saw the Russian man arguing with another foreigner. He said he did not initially suspect trouble.

As his passenger left a convenience store to get on his motorcycle, the Russian man staggered towards her and punched her forcefully, knocking her to the ground where her head struck the pavement, he said.

After the assault, the man reportedly stood in the middle of the road shouting and attempted to punch anyone who tried to intervene. Witnesses, angered by his behaviour, subdued him.

An employee at a nearby traditional massage shop said the man had earlier been seen heavily drunk and harassing people in the area. She said he had chased and tried to hit Thai women from the beach area to Pattaya Second Road before bystanders stepped in.

Police initially charged the man with public intoxication and disorderly conduct. They said they were awaiting a formal complaint from the injured woman to proceed with further legal action.

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In Cambodia, thousands flood out of scam compounds and find increasingly little help

Youga stands at an undisclosed location in Cambodia, on Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo)

BANGKOK (AP) — One recent night, Youga was grateful when he finally slept in a bed, even though it had neither pillow nor blanket.

For two days, the African man said, he slept on the street after he reached Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, following his escape from a scam compound in O’Smach, which borders Thailand in the north. He had only $100 left to his name and wanted to save the money. So the Caritas shelter took him in.

The shelter, the only one of its kind that helps victims escaping from scam compounds, was funded previously by the United States. Today, it is stretched at the seams, working with a third of the staff and a fraction of the budget it previously had as the country faces an unprecedented surge of workers leaving scam compounds.

Now, overwhelmed, the shelter has had to turn away people in need, more than 300 of them. Mark Taylor, who works on human trafficking issues in Cambodia, said, “It’s become triage.”

As of last week, the shelter had about 150 people. Many of the newest arrivals were sleeping in a common room and didn’t have more than the clothes on their backs. The shelter didn’t have enough pillows and blankets, said Youga, who spoke on condition that only his first name be used out of fear of his former bosses.

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FILE – A Thai soldier keeps guard outside a scam center in O’Smach, Cambodia, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

A flood of people are leaving scam compounds

Cambodia is facing an unprecedented flood of workers leaving scam compounds. It comes weeks after the country extradited a suspected kingpin of the scam business who had played a prominent role in Cambodian society to China in January.

In recent years, online-based scams have become endemic to the region in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. Inside these buildings, scammers have built sophisticated operations, utilizing phone booths lined with foam for soundproofing, scripts in multiple languages, and even fake police booths of countries ranging from Brazil to China. In Cambodia, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights estimated that there were up to 100,000 workers alone in 2023.

After growing international pressure from countries like South Korea, the U.S. and China built up over the past several months, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet announced last month that “combating crime is a deliberate political priority” and specifically named cyberfraud. The Cambodian government said it deported 1,620 foreign nationals from 21 countries linked to scam operations in January.

Compounds have been letting people go en masse in recent days, according to 15 videos and images on social media verified by Amnesty International. The organization also interviewed 35 victims, who described a “chaotic and dangerous” situation in trying to leave, although many noted a lack of involvement from Cambodian authorities in the mass exodus.

The departures from scamming compounds have created a humanitarian crisis on the streets that, activists say, is being ignored by the Cambodian government. In scenes of chaos and suffering, thousands of traumatized survivors are being left to fend for themselves with no state support,” Montse Ferrer, regional research director for Amnesty International, said in a statement.

“The Royal Government of Cambodia rejects claims that it is failing trafficking victims or tolerating abuse linked to scam compounds,” said Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information Cambodia in response to the claims. “All individuals are screened to separate victims from perpetrators, with victims receiving protection, shelter, medical care, and assistance for safe return.”

Li Ling, a rescuer, said she had a list of 223 people, mostly from Uganda and Kenya who had come out from compounds in Cambodia asking for help to get home. She and her partner had spent at least $1000 of their own money to shelter some of the most desperate cases, but cannot sustain that beyond another week.

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FILE – A Thai soldier inspects a work station with wooden phone booths lined with foam for soundproofing, inside a scam compound in O’Smach, Cambodia, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

As of last week, some had gone back to work in the compounds, she added. It was that or face sleeping on the streets.

“When international organizations based in Cambodia are continuing to tell victims to go to their embassies, but the embassies tell us frankly, they don’t have a clear path or process, the responsibility is being shoved back and forth, creating a closed loop with no exit,” she said. “This is not a one-off failure, but a systemic breakdown.”

Those victims waited for hours outside the Phnom Penh office of the International Organization for Migration, a U.N. agency, she said, but were told the Caritas shelter, which IOM works, with is full.

Youga, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said he was beaten often while inside a compound because he refused to work. He was determined to get out and escaped on his own as the mass releases began.

The Associated Press was not able to independently verify all of his journey but saw messages of his pleas for help to IOM. The agency said they could not comment on individual cases.

Hand to mouth

While the shelter is still operating, of most immediate concern in the coming weeks is the budget for food, Taylor said. “It’s hand to mouth.”

The Caritas shelter received financial support from Winrock International, USAID’s partner in Cambodia, according to Taylor who oversaw the funding. It was due to receive $1.4 million from USAID from September 2023 through the first part of 2026. That source of funding went away after U.S. foreign assistance was suspended and USAID was dismantled in early 2025.

The shelter was also partially funded by IOM, which was largely funded by the U.S. and has also seen its funding cut.

Although many anti-trafficking organizations are registered in Cambodia, the Caritas shelter is the only one who takes in victims of scam compounds in an increasingly repressive environment. Under government pressure, independent media have shut down and a prominent journalist known for reporting on scam compounds was arrested and detained for a month.

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FILE – South Koreans, walking in the line at center, who are allegedly involved in online scams in Cambodia, arrive at the Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

“Given the deeply repressive environment in Cambodia that emerges from the scam industry’s role as a dominant source of ruling party elite rent seeking, there are an extremely small number of formal organizations willing to respond to the issue on the ground,” said Jacob Daniel Sims, a visiting fellow at the Harvard University Asia Center who has worked in countertrafficking in Cambodia.

Rescuers say many who do not make it to the shelter can end up in immigration detention, stuck and pushed for bribes from officials. Others are now booking hotel rooms in groups if they have the funds. Those with embassies in the country are able to get help, such as Indonesians or Filipinos.

Youga cannot return home. He is from the Banyamulenge ethnic group, which has been the target of attacks by armed groups. Nor does he have an embassy in the region that can assist him.

He was lured into a scam compound in Cambodia in November after his family sent him to neighboring Burundi. He said he wasn’t looking for a job, but someone he didn’t know messaged him on his phone and then emailed him about a job, all expenses paid. He said no, but the recruiter still went ahead.

Youga said he was a university student before and wanted to continue. For now, he only hopes for a safe place. “I want,” he said, “to rebuild my life with dignity.”

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Buddhist monks draw thousands to Lincoln Memorial on final day of their 15-week journey from Texas

Buddhist monks who are participating in a Walk for Peace, walk near the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington, Wednesday, Feb., 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

A group of Buddhist monks ended their 108-day Walk for Peace from Texas to Washington with a ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the Lincoln Memorial, where thousands gathered to hear them speak.

The 19 monks — led by the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara and joined by his dog, Aloka — walked 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) across several Southern states — sometimes in frigid conditions — drawing large crowds in churchyards, city halls and town squares. The group, with its message of peace, has captured hearts across the nation and globe, earning it millions of online followers.

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Bhikkhu Pannakara walks near the Peace Monument on Capitol Hill, during the Walk For Peace, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Pannakara urged everyone to practice mindfulness and to always choose kindness, compassion, love, harmony and hope.

“The Walk for Peace is not a protest, it is not to convert,” the monk said, his words ringing out in pin-drop silence. “It’s a reminder that hope still exists when people are willing to care. Hope is the final light that must never go out.”

On Wednesday morning, the monks walked single file under bright blue skies, on the warmest day since a snowstorm hit the region more than two weeks ago. The group was followed by about 100 other monks and nuns who had joined them in Washington.

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Buddhist monks arrive at the Lincoln Memorial during their Walk for Peace, in Washington, Wednesday, Feb., 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Behind them was a sea of people marching silently, some carrying peace signs. More than 21,000 people followed the livestream online from around the globe, posting messages in Spanish, Hindi, Thai, Portuguese, Sinhalese and many more.

Several monks representing Buddhists in Canada, Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand commended the monks’ effort. The Venerable Ratanaguna, abbot of the Fort Worth temple and Pannakara’s teacher, said he was happy to see the walk bring together such a diverse group of people in Washington.

Monks receive message from the Dalai Lama

Tencho Gyatso, niece of the 14th Dalai Lama and president of the International Campaign for Tibet, read a commendation from the 90-year-old monk appreciating the monks’ commitment to “promote national healing, unity and compassion.”

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Buddhist monks reach the Lincoln Memorial during their Walk for Peace, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

“Their initiative illustrates how religious practitioners can contribute in a constructive way to social harmony and public dialogue,” the Dalai Lama said in the statement.

Crowds cheered and thanked the monks from sidewalks as they walked from George Washington University, where they stopped for the night, to Capitol Hill. The monks were greeted by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as they walked near the Peace Monument on Capitol Hill.

Pannakara walked barefoot on Wednesday, holding his staff in one hand and a long-stemmed yellow rose in another. His robe was covered in pins given by municipal and law enforcement officials the monks met and interacted with along the way.

People crowded on sidewalks trying to capture a shot of the monks on their cellphones. Many shouted out “thank you” and “we love you,” which the monks acknowledged with smiles and waves.

On Tuesday, they made stops at American University and the Washington National Cathedral for an interfaith conversation where thousands thronged to hear Pannakara speak about mindfulness and loving kindness.

The group left from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center, a Buddhist temple in Fort Worth. Long Si Dong, a temple spokesperson, said Wednesday that approaching the U.S. Capitol, he felt “deeply humbled and grateful to witness the large crowd walking quietly behind the monks.”

“Seeing so many people move together in respect, calm and shared purpose was a powerful reminder that peace is not a solitary act — it is something we create together,” he said.

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People are seen at the Lincoln Memorial during the Buddhist monks walk For Peace, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Washington. The Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol are seen in the background. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Challenges on the walk to Washington

The monks’ trek has had its perils. In November, outside Houston, the group was walking on the side of a highway when their escort vehicle was hit by a truck. Two monks were injured; Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan had his leg amputated. Phommasan, abbot of a temple in Snellville, Georgia, rejoined the monks near Washington and entered American University’s arena in a wheelchair and joined the group on their walk to the Capitol.

Pannakara gave Phommasan the floor before he spoke during Wednesday’s closing ceremony. Phommasan told the crowd he was feeling cold, “but you all make my heart warm.” He said practicing mindfulness made him face the difficult moments after the accident and his amputation with equanimity.

He thanked Pannakara, who he said taught him to be strong.

“He walks like how I run,” Phommasan said as the crowd laughed. “When we walked together, we were very tired, we were cold and we were hot. But, we never gave up.”

Peace walks are a cherished tradition in Theravada Buddhism. Some of the monks have walked barefoot or in socks during parts of the journey to feel the ground directly and help them be present in the moment.

The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha that focuses on breath and the mind-body connection. Pannakara’s peace talks, given at stops along the way, have urged listeners to put down their phones and find peace within themselves.

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Buddhist monks reach the Lincoln Memorial, during their Walk for Peace, in Washington, Wednesday, Feb., 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Their return trip should be less arduous. After an appearance at the Maryland State House, a bus will take them back to Texas, where they expect to arrive in downtown Fort Worth early on Saturday.

From there, the monks will walk together again, traversing 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) to the temple where their trip began.

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Thai coffee chains cut default sugar content in coffee and tea drinks in a new health push

Porwares Tantikanpanit, left, drinks coffee in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

BANGKOK (AP) — For many Thais, a meal doesn’t feel complete without an iced coffee or tea so sugary it could pass for dessert. The government, concerned about the health consequences, wants them to dial it back.

Starting Wednesday, nine major coffee chains across the country have pledged to cut the default sugar content in some of their drinks by half in a government initiative aimed at tackling excessive sugar consumption.

According to the Health Department, Thais consume an average of 21 teaspoons of sugar per day, more than three times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of six teaspoons. Health officials warn that such high intake increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and other diseases.

The initiative is the first significant step to change consumers’ sugar consumption behavior, said Amporn Benjaponpitak, the director general of the department.

Pakorn Tungkasereerak, the department’s deputy, said 2025 data show that about 45% of Thais aged 15 and older are obese, while 10% of the population has diabetes.

A survey by the Bureau of Nutrition found that a 22-ounce (650-milliliter) iced coffee contains an average of nine teaspoons of sugar, while a 10-ounce (300-milliliter) serving of bubble milk tea — an iced milk tea with tapioca pearls known as boba — can contain as much as 12 teaspoons.

Sirinya Kuiklang, an office worker, said she approves of the changes. She already orders her drinks at just 25% of the standard sugar level, but she is aware that many others consume too much sugar.

“It’s good for Thai people,” she said.

Another office worker, Porwares Tantikanpanit, said he has enjoyed his non-coffee beverages at their current sugar levels but is willing to adjust if shops reduce the sweetness.

However, putting the policy into practice may prove challenging. Officials have said each brand can apply the initiative as they see fit.

Some customers have expressed confusion in response to social media posts promoting the initiative, asking how to order drinks with the level of sweetness that they prefer. Several brands said that the reduction applies only to certain menu items.

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Nonthaburi motorcycle crash kills man, Valentine’s gift found at scene

The cup found on the victim’s motorcycle shows a portrait of the deceased with “Happy Valentine” inscribed beneath it

NONTHABURI — 12 February 2026, A 26-year-old man died after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing on Kanchanaphisek Road in Bang Bua Thong district in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police from Bang Bua Thong station were alerted at 01:00 to a single-vehicle accident on the outbound side of Kanchanaphisek Road, near the bridge over Khlong Bang Phraek in Bang Rak Phatthana subdistrict. Rescue workers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation and a duty doctor from the Institute of Forensic Science also attended the scene.

Officers found the body of Narin Suksusom, 26, lying near the central reservation. A short distance away was a black Yamaha Grand Filano motorcycle with damage to the front.

Police also found a gift tumbler in a bag hanging from the motorcycle. The cup was laser-engraved with the victim’s portrait and the message “Happy Valentine”.

The victim’s girlfriend arrived at the scene shortly after the crash and was overcome with grief. Rescue workers stayed by her side to provide support.

A witness told police he had been riding behind the victim for some distance. He said the motorcycle appeared to hit a pothole, causing it to wobble and lose control before sliding along the road. He insisted no other vehicle was involved.

The girlfriend of Narin, 32, said she and her boyfriend had just left an entertainment venue in Bang Yai district. Before leaving, she had given him an early Valentine’s Day gift — the engraved tumbler. They then travelled home separately. She later learned he had died in the accident and rushed to the scene.

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The girlfriend of the deceased is overcome with grief at the scene

Police have questioned the witness and said initial findings indicate the victim lost control after hitting a pothole, with no other vehicles involved. Officers will review nearby CCTV footage to confirm the circumstances.

The body was released to Ruamkatanyu Foundation rescue workers for transfer to the Institute of Forensic Science for further examination.

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