Archaeologists in Thailand’s Phetchaburi province have discovered two gold rings believed to be between 1,900 and 2,100 years old during an excavation at the Don Yai Thong archaeological site. The rings were found alongside ancient human skeletons and other artifacts, according to local media reports. One of the rings bears an inscription in an ancient Indian script, officials from the Fine Arts Department confirmed.

Experts suggest that the inscription is in the ancient Brahmi script and that the ring may have belonged to a member of an Indian merchant community. The Fine Arts Department noted that similar Brahmi-inscribed ornaments and artifacts had previously been unearthed at the Khlong Thom and Khao Sam Kaeo archaeological sites.

The newly recovered rings are now preserved at the Phra Nakhon Khiri Museum. Authorities are accelerating the collection and preservation of bronze relics and human remains at the site due to rising groundwater levels and rainfall posing risks of damage.

At least eight Buddhist monks were killed and more than 20 others injured when a pickup truck driven by a child rammed into a religious procession in Thailand’s northeastern Mukdahan province. Police and health officials said the incident occurred as 35 monks and five lay followers were walking along a roadside as part of a pilgrimage.

A witness, monk Phra Sompong, said he saw the pickup approaching while chanting and managed to jump aside with another monk. However, several others were struck as the vehicle sped into the group. Police confirmed that five monks died at the scene, while three more succumbed to injuries in hospital.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the pickup was being driven by an 11-year-old boy who had taken his parents’ vehicle without permission. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

At least eight Buddhist monks were killed and 14 others injured when a pickup truck struck a group of pilgrims in northeastern Thailand on Thursday. The accident occurred in Mukdahan province, about 600 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, as 35 monks were walking toward Ubon Ratchathani province on a 260-kilometer pilgrimage. Five monks died at the scene, and three more succumbed to injuries in hospital, according to Mukdahan governor Warayan Bunnarath.

Security footage released by the Ruam Jai Mukdahan Rescue Association showed the monks walking in a line along the roadside when the pickup lost control and veered into them. Police said the vehicle was being driven by an 11-year-old boy, who has been taken into custody. Child protection officials are expected to question him once they arrive.

Authorities said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Some monks reported seeing the truck swerving before it left the road and hit them.

Ten of the eleven Thai commercial ships that had been stranded in the Hormuz Strait since late February have now safely crossed the waterway, according to a statement from Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The vessels, either Thai-flagged or chartered by Thai operators, had been unable to leave the area following the outbreak of military conflict in the region on February 28.

The ministry confirmed that only one Thai ship remains in the high-risk zone. It stated that this remaining vessel is expected to depart the strait as soon as its cargo loading is completed. The release of the ships marks a significant relief for Thailand’s maritime trade operations, which had been disrupted for several months due to the regional instability.

The ministry’s statement did not specify further details about the conflict or the measures taken to secure the ships’ passage, but it emphasized the government’s continued monitoring of the situation to ensure the safety of Thai vessels operating in the area.

A Thai court has sentenced two Uyghur men to death for their involvement in the 2015 bombing at a shrine in Bangkok that killed 20 people. The attack occurred on August 17, 2015, at the Erawan Shrine located in the city’s commercial center. Several Chinese tourists were among the victims, and the incident is considered the deadliest bombing in Thailand’s history.

The convicted men, Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammed, were found guilty of premeditated murder related to the explosion. Both defendants denied the charges brought against them. The court’s decision marks the conclusion of a long-running case tied to one of Thailand’s most shocking acts of violence in recent years.

The ruling underscores Thailand’s continued pursuit of justice for the 2015 attack, though the defendants’ denial of guilt leaves questions about the full circumstances surrounding the bombing.

Scientists have identified a new species of giant, long-necked dinosaur named 'Nagatitan' from fossils discovered in northeastern Thailand. The species, officially called 'Nagatitan chayaphumensis', lived between 100 and 120 million years ago, predating the Tyrannosaurus rex by about 40 million years. Measuring 27 meters in length and weighing around 27 tons, it is the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia and belongs to the herbivorous sauropod family.

The fossils were unearthed a decade ago near a pond in Thailand’s Chaiyaphum province by a team of researchers from the United Kingdom and Thailand. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, was led by Thai PhD researcher Thitiot Sethapanisakul of University College London. Researchers believe Nagatitan may represent Thailand’s “last titan,” as the fossils were found in the youngest rock layers containing dinosaur remains.

The discovery is expected to shed light on how ancient climate changes influenced the evolution of large dinosaurs. Scientists noted that Nagatitan lived during a period of global warming and rising carbon dioxide levels, when giant sauropods adapted to high temperatures and changing vegetation.

Former Thai Prime Minister and influential businessman Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Monday morning from Bangkok’s Klong Prem Prison, where hundreds of supporters greeted him with chants of affection. The 76-year-old leader had returned to Thailand in 2023 after nearly fifteen years in exile and was convicted of abuse of power and conflict of interest charges. Following a period of hospitalization due to illness, he served several months in prison under court order.

Thaksin appeared energetic upon release, dressed in white and welcomed by his daughter and political heir, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. His release came months after Paetongtarn lost the premiership following a court ruling. Thaksin joked that his long absence from public life felt like a long sleep, expressing relief at his freedom.

Analysts believe his release could reinvigorate the Pheu Thai Party, which underperformed in the last election. However, observers caution that Thaksin must act carefully if he chooses to influence politics from behind the scenes. He will remain under electronic monitoring until September.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released on parole after serving eight months of a one-year sentence for corruption-related charges. He walked out of a Bangkok prison at around 7:40 a.m. local time, greeted by hundreds of supporters, family members, and political allies. Among those present was his daughter, Yingluck Shinawatra, who also previously served as Thailand’s prime minister. The Thai national anthem was played as Thaksin exited, and he paid respect to the national flag.

Thaksin, once a dominant figure who reshaped Thai politics, has seen his influence decline following his imprisonment and the poor electoral performance of his Pheu Thai Party. His parole period will continue until September 9, during which he is required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

The release marks a significant moment in Thailand’s political landscape, as Thaksin’s return to public life could influence the country’s political dynamics in the coming months.

Thailand’s cabinet has approved an emergency loan package worth 12.2 billion US dollars to address the economic fallout from the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The decision, announced on May 5, 2026, marks one of the country’s largest borrowing plans in decades, aimed at stabilizing the economy amid external shocks.

According to Thai lawmakers, the funds will be used to boost domestic spending and ease financial hardship among citizens. The Ministry of Finance recently revised its GDP growth forecast downward from 2.4 percent to 1.6 percent, reflecting the strain on the economy. The government stated that the emergency loan will be utilized between June and September under the “Thais Help Thais” program, which will provide direct support to over 20 million low-income residents.

Officials expect the initiative to help reduce living costs and sustain household consumption during the period of global economic uncertainty triggered by the Middle East crisis.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Iran’s ambassador following an attack on a Thai-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Thai News Agency, the meeting was called to discuss details of the incident involving the vessel Mayuri Naree, which came under attack on Wednesday. The ship’s operator reported that three crew members were believed to be trapped in the engine room.

Reports from India Today and AFP indicated that the vessel, en route from Thailand to Gujarat, India, was struck by an unidentified projectile resembling a missile, causing a fire onboard. The Omani Navy conducted a rapid rescue operation, evacuating 20 crew members, while three remained on the ship.

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the region, with recent reports of multiple attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait. The Thai government’s move to summon the Iranian envoy signals concern over maritime security and the safety of its nationals.

At least 72 tigers have died from a viral infection at a zoo in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, according to a statement issued Friday by the provincial livestock department. Tests confirmed that the animals were infected with the highly contagious canine distemper virus and also suffered from bacterial respiratory infections. The zoo, known as Tigers Kingdom, has been temporarily closed following the mass deaths.

Somchuan Rattanamungklanon, director of Thailand’s national livestock department, told local media that detecting illness in tigers is more difficult than in domestic animals such as dogs or cats, and by the time symptoms become apparent, it is often too late. The zoo, a popular tourist attraction, allowed visitors to hug and take photos with tigers.

Animal rights group PETA said in a statement to AFP that the tigers lived and died in distressing, confined, and fearful conditions. The organization added that if tourists stayed away, such facilities would quickly become unprofitable and tragedies like this would not occur.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Friday that his Bhumjaithai Party will form a coalition government with the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai Party, which finished third in the February 8 general election. According to the Election Commission, Bhumjaithai won 193 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives, followed by the reformist People’s Party with 118 seats and Pheu Thai with 74 seats.

The alliance would give Anutin’s party a parliamentary majority, paving the way for a stable coalition after a period of political turbulence. Anutin said after discussions with Pheu Thai leaders that they would work together to govern the country effectively. Pheu Thai, once Thailand’s most successful party, suffered its worst electoral performance this time, raising concerns about its future.

Bhumjaithai previously belonged to a Pheu Thai-led coalition formed after the 2023 election but withdrew in June following a leaked phone call between then-Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Paetongtarn was later dismissed by court order, and Anutin replaced her before dissolving parliament in December, triggering the snap election.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party has secured a decisive victory in the country’s recent general election, winning around 190 seats and moving toward forming a coalition government. The result defied most pre-election surveys that had predicted a lead for the reformist People’s Party. The outcome delivered a major setback to young reformists who had hoped to build on earlier momentum.

The mixed electoral system played a key role in shaping the result. Thai voters cast two ballots—one for local candidates and another for party lists. Although the People’s Party received about 10 million votes nationwide, surpassing Bhumjaithai’s 6 million in the party-list count, only 20 percent of the 500 parliamentary seats are allocated from party lists. The remaining 80 percent are decided through direct local contests, where Bhumjaithai’s long-standing local networks and influential figures proved decisive.

Anutin’s strategy of recruiting experienced politicians and consolidating conservative voters through nationalist and pro-monarchy positions strengthened his party’s dominance, marking an unexpected turn in Thailand’s political landscape.

Thailand’s interim Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party has won the country’s general election, according to preliminary vote counts released on February 9, 2026. Early results show the party leading with a significant margin, securing an estimated 194 of the 500 parliamentary seats. The People’s Party is projected to come second with 116 seats. Following the announcement, Anutin said the victory belongs to the people of Thailand.

The election was called in December after Anutin’s coalition government collapsed just three months into his interim tenure. Despite no party expected to achieve an outright majority, Anutin’s position in power now appears almost certain. The leader of the People’s Party, Nathaphong Ruengpaniyaut, stated that his party is prepared to serve in opposition if Anutin forms the next government.

Thailand’s election outcomes are often unpredictable, and this year’s results have again defied expectations, reinforcing Anutin’s political standing amid a fragmented parliamentary landscape.

A Panama-flagged cargo vessel named MV Siloed ARC sank off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, on Saturday afternoon while en route from Port Klang, Malaysia, to Chattogram port in Bangladesh. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time, approximately four nautical miles from the Phuket coast. All 16 Bangladeshi sailors aboard were rescued safely by a team from the Thai Navy.

According to Borhan Uddin, operational manager of Alvi Lines Bangladesh, the ship tilted 30 degrees before sinking in deep waters. The vessel’s captain declared it abandoned before the rescue operation. The rescued sailors were taken to a hotel in Phuket, where they are reported to be in good health.

Borhan Uddin added that the sailors are expected to return to Bangladesh within a few days following their rescue.