Thailand, Peru Push to Finalise Free Trade Deal in 2026

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18 May 2026, 12:55

BANGKOK — 18 May 2026, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Peru’s ambassador agreed Monday to accelerate free trade negotiations between the two countries, with both sides expressing hope a deal could be signed before the end of 2026.

The commitment came during a farewell visit to Government House by Ambassador Cecilia Zunilda Galarreta Bazán, who is completing her diplomatic posting in Bangkok. The two held informal talks covering trade, food security, and logistics.

The two held informal discussions, during which the ambassador expressed appreciation for Thailand and praised the long-standing co-operation between the two countries. Galarreta Bazán said Thailand and Peru had maintained close relations and strong co-operation for many years, adding that she felt honored to have contributed to elevating bilateral ties between the two nations across multiple dimensions during her tenure.

On economic matters, both sides welcomed progress in negotiations for the Thailand-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and expressed hope that talks could be accelerated to allow the pact to be signed within this year.

Regarding food security, both sides recognized the high agricultural potential of their respective countries and agreed there remained significant opportunities to expand co-operation in the sector. Anutin affirmed that Thailand is ready to serve as a primary food source for Peru and the broader South American region.

The ambassador also raised the Chancay Port project — a deepwater Pacific hub currently under development in Peru — noting Thailand could play a meaningful role in the initiative. The port is expected to significantly improve supply chain links between South America and ASEAN, with Thailand serving as a key entry point into the region.

Anutin also thanked the ambassador for her dedication to fostering Thai-Peruvian relations and wished her success in her future endeavors, emphasizing she would always be welcomed back to Thailand as a close friend of the nation.

Thai abbot wounded in shotgun attack at temple

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Khaosod English

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18 May 2026, 12:43

Thai abbot wounded in shotgun attack at temple

KAMPHAENG PHET — 18 May 2026, An abbot was seriously injured after unidentified attackers opened fire on him inside his temple residence in Kamphaeng Phet province, leaving him with 16 gunshot wounds, police said.

The attack took place at about 21:00 on 17 May 2026 at Wat Krajom Thong in Ang Thong subdistrict, Muang district, Kamphaeng Phet province.

Phra Athikan Boonlert Akapunyo, abbot of the temple, was inside his quarters performing routine religious duties when an unknown assailant entered through a rear door and opened fire, according to his account from his hospital bed.

The abbot said he did not know the identity of the attacker or the motive behind the shooting. He believed the weapon may have been a homemade firearm.

After being shot, he managed to walk outside his quarters and call for help before fellow monks and villagers rushed him to hospital for emergency treatment.

Doctors found bullet wounds across his body, including near his right ear, shoulder blade, shoulder and right hip, with a total of 16 entry marks. He remains under close medical supervision.

The abbot said he could not think of anyone who might wish to harm him, saying he had no known disputes or serious conflicts. While some people had occasionally borrowed small amounts of money from him, he said the sums involved were minor and unlikely to have led to a violent attack.

The shooting has shocked monks and residents, who described the abbot as a respected community figure who lived simply and had no known quarrels.

Investigators from Muang Kamphaeng Phet Police Station noted that a pit bull kept by the abbot near the entrance to his quarters did not bark during the attack. Police also found that CCTV cameras inside the quarters and around the temple grounds were out of order.

Police have gathered evidence, questioned witnesses and are reviewing nearby surveillance footage as they search for the suspects.

In the latest development, investigators summoned all monks from Wat Krajom Thong for detailed questioning to examine possible leads, including whether the attacker had entered or surveyed the temple beforehand, or whether internal disputes or other grievances may have played a role.

The temple remained quiet on 18 May 2026, with the abbot’s quarters sealed off behind police tape as monks and devotees visited the site.

A 60-year-old lay caretaker, identified only as Chalo, or “Odd”, said he was shocked to learn of the attack. He described the abbot as kind to both monks and villagers, adding that while people occasionally borrowed money from him, he did not involve himself in others’ personal affairs.

The caretaker said the temple’s CCTV system had previously functioned but could no longer record because its memory device had expired. He also said the pit bull remained calm when close to the abbot but would bark and behave aggressively when separated from him.

5.3 Magnitude Myanmar Earthquake Rattles Bangkok High-Rises

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Khaosod English

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18 May 2026, 11:49

BANGKOK — 18 May 2026, A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Myanmar on Monday morning, sending distinct tremors across Bangkok and prompting evacuations of high-rise buildings in the Thai capital.

Thailand’s Earthquake Observation Division (TMD) said the quake struck at 09:05 local time near the southern coast of Myanmar. The epicenter was located at a depth of 10 kilometers, about 247 kilometers southwest of Mae Sot District in Tak Province.

The tremor posed no immediate threat to structures in Thailand, and no damage has been reported so far. Updates will follow if further details emerge.

18 ไหว2 — Workers gathered at designated safety points outside several high-rise buildings across the city following the tremors.

Comments posted on the Earthquake TMD Facebook page showed residents on upper floors of skyscrapers in major Bangkok districts including Don Mueang, Phaya Thai, Bang Rak, Huai Khwang, Pathum Wan, Khlong Toei, and Chatuchak reporting noticeable tremors.

Selected comments from residents reporting the tremors online:
• “19th floor, Gems Tower. Strongly felt!”
• “5th floor at Lam Sali Intersection, Ramkhamhaeng. Felt it slightly twice.”
• “Felt it here in Chiang Mai. 6th floor, felt the building swaying.”
• “10th floor in Asoke. Felt it.”
• “Strongly felt in Phra Pradaeng. We’re at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi and have already evacuated the building.”

Tremors were felt across Bangkok Metropolitan Region, especially on upper floors of tall buildings where people noticed structures swaying and light fixtures swinging. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) building in Bangkok experienced significant swaying, with hanging lights visibly moving.

Officials quickly evacuated staff from the building as a precaution and inspected the structure and internal systems.

Although the quake’s epicenter was outside Thailand, experts said Bangkok’s soft clay soil can amplify seismic waves, allowing tremors from distant earthquakes to be felt across the capital.

Khao Kheow zoo hatches Greater Adjutant chick for first time

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Khaosod English

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18 May 2026, 10:25

Khao Kheow zoo hatches Greater Adjutant chick for first time

CHONBURI — 17 May 2026, Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo has successfully hatched a Greater Adjutant chick for the first time in the country, marking a major milestone in wildlife conservation after the species disappeared from Thailand’s natural habitats more than 40 years ago, officials said.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin said the successful hatching reflected the dedication and expertise of Thai wildlife conservation staff, veterinarians and animal keepers working under the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand and Khao Kheow Open Zoo.

Narongwit Chotchoy, director of the zoo in Si Racha district, said the chick was hatched from eggs laid by the only remaining breeding pair held at the facility.

Because the species typically lays only one or two eggs each year and has a low hatching success rate, zoo staff removed the egg for artificial incubation and hand-rearing in what officials described as a “life-saving operation” to improve the chick’s chances of survival.

Officials said the chick was the first Greater Adjutant successfully bred by Khao Kheow Open Zoo under the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand. It was also described as the first successful hatching by a member zoo of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the South East Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association.

The zoo is now the fourth facility in the world officially recognised for successfully breeding the species in captivity, following Bang Phra Waterbird Breeding Station in Thailand, Assam State Zoo in India and Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity in Cambodia.

Suchart said the achievement represented an important step in Thailand’s efforts to conserve endangered wildlife and restore threatened animal populations through long-term research and breeding programmes.

Thai authorities seize 130 kg of ivory near Lao border

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Khaosod English

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18 May 2026, 09:51

NONG KHAI — 18 May 2026 — Thai authorities seized more than 150 kilograms of ivory and animal remains along the Mekong River in Nong Khai province and are co-operating with Laos to expand an investigation into a suspected transnational wildlife trafficking network, officials said on Sunday.

Sadudee Phanphakdee, Director of the Wildlife and Flora Protection Division under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), revealed officials received a tip-off about an attempt to smuggle illegal goods across the border into Laos. Authorities then deployed officers to inspect a riverside stairway along the Mekong River in Ban Mueang Mi Yai, Mueang Mi Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nong Khai Province.

Upon arriving at the scene, the suspects reportedly used the cover of darkness and their familiarity with the area to narrowly evade arrest. A search of the surrounding area uncovered abandoned suspicious items. Officials seized 22 cut sections of ivory weighing a combined 130.9 kilograms, along with two sacks containing unidentified animal remains resembling skeletal fragments, weighing a total of 29 kilograms.

4web 1 — Other animal remains seized at the scene were laid out for inspection but could not immediately be identified.

Initially, authorities recorded and confiscated all evidence before transferring the case to local investigators for further legal proceedings. Officials are also working to trace and apprehend other members of the trafficking operation.

Meanwhile, the Wild Fauna and Flora Protection Division under the CITES had already shared details of the seizure and related cases with representatives of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR). Thai and Lao authorities are now coordinating investigations, expanding intelligence-sharing efforts and strengthening joint law enforcement operations aimed at dismantling cross-border wildlife trafficking networks along the frontier.

North Korean women’s soccer team arrives in South Korea for regional tournament

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Associated Press

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17 May 2026, 19:14

APTOPIX South Korea Koreas Women's Soccer — Members of North Korea's soccer club Naegohyang Women's FC team arrives at Incheon International Airpot in Incheon, South Korea, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A North Korean women’s soccer team arrived in South Korea on Sunday to compete in a regional tournament, the first visit by North Korean athletes in eight years amid political tensions between the two nations.

A total of 39 players and staff with North Korea’s Naegohyang Women’s FC arrived at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, aboard a plane from China. They didn’t make any comments, though some activists shouted “Welcome! Welcome!” and citizens used their mobile phones to film their arrival.

The North Korean team will face South Korea’s Suwon FC Women on Wednesday in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League in Suwon, a city south of Seoul.

AP26137235875845 — North Korean soccer club Naegohyang Women’s FC team arrives for the semifinals of the AFC Women’s Champions League at Incheon International Airpot in Incheon, South Korea Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

The two Koreas have occasionally used sports events to create feel-good moments when relations were amicable. But the latest soccer event won’t likely signal any thaw in their long-strained ties, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un maintaining his confrontational stance against South Korea.

“We should be cautious about interpreting their visit to South Korea as a sign of an improvement in South-North relations,” Lee Wootae, a senior research fellow at Seoul’s Korea Institute for National Unification, said in a recent report. “It would be more accurate to view this as a limited South-North Korean contact within the framework of international sports.”

In recent years, Kim has repeatedly called South Korea his country’s principal enemy and taken steps to eliminate the idea of shared statehood and establish a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula. Observers say such a move likely stems from Kim’s wariness of South Korea’s cultural influence and his purported perception that South Korea is no longer useful in dealings with the U.S.

North Korea last sent its athletes to South Korea in December 2018 for a table tennis event. At the time, North and South Korea were engaged in a flurry of exchange and cooperation programs following the North’s participation in the Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea earlier in 2018.

The brief period of inter-Korean detente came to an end after a U.S.-led diplomacy on ending North Korea’s nuclear program collapsed in 2019 due to disputes over international sanctions on the North. North Korea has since performed a provocative run of weapons tests to expand its nuclear arsenal and rebuffed South Korean and U.S. offers to restore diplomacy.

AP26137236428952 — North Korean women’s soccer players prepare to get into a bus after arriving for the semifinals of the AFC Women’s Champions League at Incheon International Airpot in Incheon, South Korea Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korea’s current liberal government, led by President Lee Jae Myung, espouses rapprochement with North Korea. The government said it will provide financial support to civic groups planning to organize a 3,000-member squad to cheer for both North and South Korean teams at Wednesday’s match.

“We will enthusiastically cheer for them by chanting the names of both teams and their players, while faithfully adhering to AFC guidelines,” the civic groups said in a joint statement.

North Korea is a powerhouse in women’s soccer, particularly at the youth level. It has won the Under-17 Women’s World Cup four times and the Under-20 Women’s World Cup three times. Naegohyang Women’s FC defeated Suwon FC Women 3-0 in the group stage in Myanmar last November.

Melbourne City FC and Tokyo Verdy Beleza are to face off in the other semifinal on Wednesday. The final is set for Saturday at a stadium in Suwon.

Saab eyes Thailand as regional defence production hub after Gripen deal

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Khaosod English

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17 May 2026, 17:52

SAAB01 — Fredrik Lindblom, vice president and country manager of Saab Thailand

BANGKOK — Swedish defence company Saab plans to expand investment in Thailand following the Royal Thai Air Force’s decision to procure Gripen E/F fighter jets, with ambitions to develop the country into a regional defence technology and production hub.

Fredrik Lindblom, vice president and country manager of Saab Thailand, said the company was seeking Thai industrial partners to jointly manufacture certain Gripen aircraft components locally under Thailand’s offset policy framework.

Thailand recently approved the first phase of a procurement project for four Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighter jets valued at around 19.5 billion baht.

Lindblom said Saab’s plans extended beyond aircraft delivery and focused on long-term industrial cooperation, including local production of selected parts, electronics and defence technologies. However, he said the company currently had no plans to establish a full aircraft assembly line in Thailand.

Instead, Saab intends to cooperate with capable Thai manufacturers through OEM partnerships while exploring opportunities to strengthen Thailand’s aviation and defence industries.

The company also plans to establish a research and development centre in Thailand as part of the new Gripen offset programme to support technology transfer and workforce development.

Lindblom said personnel development would be a key part of the cooperation, including technical training for military personnel and support for educational institutions to help prepare a future high-tech workforce.

Saab also highlighted plans to support network-centric warfare systems by integrating real-time data sharing between military branches. The company pointed to Thailand’s domestically developed Link TH tactical data link system as a strong foundation for future integrated defence operations.

Beyond fighter aircraft, Saab said it was also interested in expanding into radar systems, command-and-control technologies and counter-drone defence systems in Thailand, citing the growing importance of unmanned aerial threats in modern warfare.

The company said Thailand had the potential to become a regional centre for security and defence technology in the Asia-Pacific region.

Saab has operated in Thailand for more than 40 years and currently serves customers in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Authorities identify two victims in deadly Bangkok train-bus crash

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Khaosod English

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17 May 2026, 17:30

3280 — Tiam Phuangyod and Teekha Teekha-Utmakorn.

BANGKOK — Authorities have identified two of the eight people killed in the deadly train-bus collision near Makkasan Airport Rail Link station, as officials continue efforts to locate relatives of the remaining victims.

The crash occurred on 16 May when a freight train slammed into an air-conditioned public bus operating on route 23 between Bang Na and Thewet. The collision triggered a major fire that engulfed the bus.

The incident left eight people dead and more than 30 injured.

Officials on 17 May released the names of two confirmed victims as 34-year-old Teekha Teekha-Utmakorn and 57-year-old Tiam Phuangyod.

The remaining six victims are still undergoing forensic identification at the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Authorities have also appealed for relatives of missing passengers to urgently contact officials if they believe family members may have been travelling on the bus and remain unaccounted for.

A disaster assistance centre has been set up beneath Makkasan Airport Rail Link station in Ratchathewi district.

Of the 33 injured victims admitted to hospital, 15 have since been discharged while 18 remain under medical treatment.

Mother recounts desperate search after train-bus crash near Makkasan

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Khaosod English

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17 May 2026, 16:04

BANGKOK — The adoptive mother of a missing woman broke down in tears while recounting the final moments before learning her daughter may have been involved in the deadly train-bus collision near Makkasan Airport Rail Link station that killed eight people.

The crash occurred on 16 May and left several others injured after a train collided with a bus near the railway crossing.

On 17 May, 59-year-old Wipada Jantham travelled from Ubon Ratchathani to Bangkok in search of her 25-year-old adopted daughter, known as “Rose”, who has remained unreachable since the accident.

Wipada said she became alarmed after her daughter’s Apple Watch repeatedly sent notifications shortly after news of the crash emerged.

“At first I was still at home in Ubon Ratchathani, but the watch kept alerting non-stop. I tried calling her dozens of times but couldn’t reach her,” she said.

Eventually, a rescue worker answered the phone and informed her that her daughter had been involved in an accident.

Wipada said she later checked her daughter’s final social media story and saw a photo appearing to show her sitting on a bus with a bag on her lap.

“The moment a mother hears something like this, you can’t sit still. I kept searching online to see which hospitals victims were sent to before deciding to fly to Bangkok immediately,” she said.

Despite fearing the worst, Wipada said she was still hoping for a miracle and believed her daughter could still be alive somewhere in hospital.

She described Rose as a talented and careful young woman who graduated with second-class honours from Kasetsart University before securing a job in Bangkok after completing an internship.

Rose had dreamed of saving enough money to return home and care for her family, Wipada said.

“This tragedy is cruel. I just hope my daughter was not on that bus,” she said, while calling on authorities to improve safety measures at the crossing, which locals say has seen repeated accidents.

Wipada also urged the government to ensure the fatal crash becomes the last tragedy of its kind.

Khon Kaen monk wins 12 million baht lottery jackpot

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Khaosod English

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17 May 2026, 15:23

KHON KAEN — A monk in northeastern Thailand became an online sensation after winning 12 million baht in the government lottery draw on 16 May.

Photos shared on social media showed Phra Khru Amnuay, a monk at Pa Nong Du Thammaram temple in Waeng Noi district, smiling while holding two winning lottery tickets bearing the number 107387, which matched the first-prize result.

The two-ticket set carried a combined prize value of 12 million baht.

The news quickly spread online, with many social media users congratulating the monk and posting messages of admiration and blessing. Some also jokingly expressed hope that they might be the next first-prize winner in a future draw.

Initial reports said the monk had already filed a police record regarding the winning tickets at Waeng Noi Police Station.

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