KUMAMOTO (JAPAN) - A major quake that badly damaged a shopping mall and a factory in Japan killed at least five people, emergency services said on Wednesday.

Two women were confirmed dead and one woman was found unresponsive, local authorities said Wednesday, hours after an explosion rocked a shopping mall on Japan's southwestern main island of Kyushu following a powerful magnitude-7.1 earthquake.

Land prices near Bangkok's expanding mass transit lines are continuing to rise, with eastern and outer suburban locations posting the strongest gains, even as the overall land price index slipped from the previous quarter.

Peace talks between the government and southern insurgent representatives have been postponed indefinitely following the deadly Narathiwat attack that killed five rangers.

No financial losses have been detected after personal information belonging to about 200,000 investors was accessed without authorisation through Thailand Securities Depository Co Ltd's (TSD) Investor Portal website, the Stock Exchange of Thailand's (SET) subsidiary said on Tuesday.

Thai authorities are continuing to coordinate with their Japanese counterparts over the case of a 28-year-old Thai woman arrested at Fukuoka Airport after crystal methamphetamine was found hidden in coffee sachets she was carrying into Japan.

Myanmar’s military has sharply escalated attacks on civilians since a new administration took office in the war-torn country, a conflict monitor said on Monday, even as regional governments ramp up diplomatic engagement.

Commissioners at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) have asked Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to intervene in the case of the NBTC chairman's qualifications to untangle the deadlock at the regulator.

The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry plans to accelerate the development of the national quantum technology roadmap, aiming to leverage advanced supercomputing capabilities to support public services.

People's Party deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun has urged the government to rethink its proposed early retirement scheme for civil servants, arguing that it has put the cart before the horse by prioritising workforce reductions before deciding which state agencies should be merged or abolished.

Investors should begin positioning in sectors that could benefit from a potential "Super El Niño" weather pattern, as climate forecasters warn that intensifying heat and drought later this year may reshape demand across agriculture, energy and consumer industries, according to analysts.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is monitoring Thailand Securities Depository Co (TSD) after the central securities depository detected unauthorised access to personal data stored on its TSD Investor Portal.

A Chinese man and three Thais have been arrested for allegedly skimming the credit card data of 1,200 Chinese visitors to their shops in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and stealing 30-million-baht from them using forged credit cards.

Thailand is positioning itself to become a regional hub for humanoid robotics by leveraging its established automotive and electronics infrastructure.

With the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) selection committee deciding to disqualify chairman Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, there are several legal implications, including the potential impact on the validity of the regulator's past and future resolutions.

Five Italian students were fined after settling a dispute with a Thai woman over their behaviour during a BTS Skytrain confrontation that drew widespread online criticism.

Authorities have warned parents and schools to be vigilant after customs officers intercepted a shipment of LSD blotter paper printed with colourful cartoon designs that was allegedly destined for Thailand.

HONG KONG - Typhoon Noul will dump heavy to ​torrential rain across much ‌of southern China for two days after sweeping the province of Guangdong and neighbouring Hong Kong with gale-force winds, following landfall on Sunday, forecasters said.

The Interior Ministry has seized 126 rai of land worth more than 2.1 billion baht in Krabi after uncovering an alleged foreign nominee scheme involving a British national.

Bangkok will establish environmental inspectors to strengthen law enforcement, reduce pollution risks and improve public health across the city.

PATTAYA - The disassembled motorcycle belonging to two Russian siblings missing since Sunday was found buried in a forest in tambon Huay Yai on Wednesday morning. Four people with digging tools are suspected to have fled the scene.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday pledged to pursue an investigation into alleged corruption in local government recruitment exams until the end.

A weak baht, an incentive offering free domestic flights to foreign travellers, and the reintroduction of visa-free entry for Indian tourists offer upsides for travel demand in Thailand during the second half of the year through to 2027, although conflicts in the Middle East linger, say analysts.

Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday called on senior Interior Ministry officials to turn recent corruption scandals into an opportunity to rebuild public confidence.

Thailand's education system may be rapidly embracing artificial intelligence, with millions of students already using AI-assisted learning and almost all teachers under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) trained to integrate the technology into classrooms.

Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat has insisted that the election for the Social Security Office (SSO) board has not been postponed, but only temporarily halted after the Supreme Administrative Court issued an injunction, which the SSO plans to appeal.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed concerns that allegations of collusion in the Senate election could undermine the coalition government’s stability.

Despite volatile fuel prices and sluggish demand, Vietjet Thailand said the aviation situation remains manageable as it is still ramping up capacity and building a new regional hub in Udon Thani.

Despite rising costs, the Thai restaurant industry is expected to continue expanding this year, according to an executive of Central Restaurants Group Co Ltd (CRG).

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dismissed concerns that allegations of collusion in the Senate election could undermine the coalition government's stability.

Energy authorities and oil traders are preparing to import more crude oil from outside the Middle East as the escalating conflict disrupts two key shipping routes -- the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

Two high-level officials have been summoned to hear police charges in relation to the rigging of results of the civil service recruitment examination for local government bodies nationwide.

Online scammers stole more than 177 million baht from victims across Thailand in a single week, with fake shopping and service offers still the most widespread and costly cybercrime, according to the police Anti Cyber-Scam Centre.

The decision to give Indians 30-day visa-free entry is expected to drive the market to a new record of 2.7 million visitors next year, supported by more flights from second- and third-tier cities to Thailand, say authorities.

Concerns over children's mental health is renewing debate whether excessive use of mobile devices is harming academic performance and learning capability, while boosting social isolation and criminal behaviour influenced by online personalities.

Three months after taking office, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's administration is facing a sceptical public rather than enjoying the customary honeymoon period afforded to new governments.

BERLIN - German police on Sunday were hunting for the prime suspect in a car-ramming attack on the outskirts of Berlin Pride, which left one woman dead and 16 others injured.

NONTHABURI - Police have raided a hotel in Muang district that was providing gambling, drugs and sex services for its exclusively Chinese guests.

Opposition parties have welcomed the government's decision to abandon the Land Bridge megaproject in favour of a scaled-down "Missing Link" transport strategy, saying the new approach is more economically viable and better aligned with existing infrastructure.

For 77-year-old Wimol Suanngam, the state welfare card is more than a monthly benefit. It represents a small measure of security in a life marked by hardship, disability and isolation.

Two women were confirmed dead and one woman was found unresponsive, local authorities said on Wednesday, hours after an explosion rocked a shopping mall on Japan's southwestern main island of Kyushu following a powerful magnitude-7.1 earthquake.

AI-driven identity fraud is emerging as a growing cyberthreat as attackers increasingly exploit synthetic identities, deepfakes and autonomous artificial intelligence agents to target digital systems, according to Ping Identity.

The US tariff of 12.5% imposed on Thailand could weaken export competitiveness and add pressure to economic growth in the second half, with further US trade measures still looming, warns Asia Plus Securities (ASPS).

As the political storm over the Senate election collusion case intensifies, Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) has come under renewed scrutiny after naming several senior politicians in connection with the controversy, prompting threats of legal action.

The family of YouTuber Hlun Solo has appealed for help after he went missing while travelling alone in Georgia to film content, with no contact made for the past two weeks.

TOKYO - An earthquake with a ​preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Kumamoto prefecture in southern Japan on Tuesday, knocking out power to thousands of homes, stopping rail services and triggering warnings for tsunamis and aftershocks.

Commissioners at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) have asked Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to intervene in the case of the NBTC chairman’s qualifications to untangle the deadlock at the regulator.

Thailand is positioning itself as a leading destination for wellness and longevity in Asia within three years, combining modern medical technology, world-class tourism and traditional Thai medicine.

People's Party deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun has urged the government to rethink its proposed early retirement scheme for civil servants, arguing that it has put the cart before the horse by prioritising workforce reductions before deciding which state agencies should be merged or abolished.

Investors should begin positioning in sectors that could benefit from a potential "Super El Niño" weather pattern, as climate forecasters warn that intensifying heat and drought later this year may reshape demand across agriculture, energy and consumer industries, according to analysts.

Thai energy authorities and oil traders are preparing to import more crude oil from outside the Middle East as the escalating conflict disrupts two key shipping routes — the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

A Chinese man and three Thais have been arrested for allegedly skimming the credit card data of 1,200 Chinese visitors to their shops in Bangkok and Chiang Mai and stealing 30-million-baht from them using forged credit cards.

With fast-paced plots, easy-to-digest storylines and attention-grabbing elements, vertical micro-dramas are swiftly captivating smartphone audiences. The Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) has identified this emerging format as a new opportunity for Thai content producers.

For years, Bitkub symbolised Thailand's cryptocurrency boom. It was the country's largest digital asset exchange, the creator of KUB Coin, and the startup that reached unicorn status after Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) announced a landmark acquisition worth 35 billion baht.

The Chinese visitors arrived with cameras, social-media teams and ambitious business plans. They travelled from temple to temple, rented display space, bought sacred objects and promised to introduce Thai spiritual products to millions of followers back home.

The government plans to use data from its latest state welfare card registration to help more than five million working-age low-income people find jobs and improve their skills in a bid to address the root causes of poverty.

A family is seeking help  after their daughter was arrested in Japan on suspicion of drug smuggling after crystal methamphetamine was allegedly discovered hidden inside coffee sachets contained in a parcel she was paid to carry there.

A dispute between a Thai woman and some noisy Italian students that sparked wide debate over public behaviour, cultural respect and online vigilantism has been formally resolved. The students apologised and paid fines imposed by police.

Nearly 1,500 children are suspected of receiving fake birth registrations through a network linked to eight private hospitals to obtain fraudulent Thai citizenship, said deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nualma.

The government plans to reduce the public workforce from three million to two million under civil service reforms.