A landmark triumph for Thai sport 
It was a memorable occasion that will remain etched in Thai sporting history when His Majesty the King bestowed the SSL47 keelboat sailing gold medal on Her Majesty the Queen on the shoreline of Chon Buri province on Thursday.

Regulator eases investment rules for insurance firms
The Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) has eased investment restrictions on insurance companies, lowering equity risk charges to allow insurers to invest more in the Thai stock market.

Have Iran's authorities given up on the mandatory hijab?
PARIS — Women swaying to dance music at a disc jockey (DJ) set, strolling without headscarves through cutting-edge art exhibitions and in coffee shops showing off trendy styles that could have come from the streets of Europe.

Thai army denies Cambodian accusations of destructive warfare
The Royal Thai Army has rejected Cambodia's accusations that Thai forces are waging a war of destruction, insisting that Thailand targets only military objectives and holds Cambodia responsible for any damage to historic sites used as military bases.

Cambodian rockets destroyed, oil and warfare supply blockade intensified
The Thai military has destroyed a Cambodian rocket arsenal near Poipet and intensified the blockade of oil and warfare-related supplies to Cambodia by sea.

Japan demands response from Finland over beauty queen's 'slanted eyes' photos
KYODO — Japan's top government spokesman on Thursday expressed concern over images posted online of the winner of a beauty pageant and some lawmakers in Finland showing them pulling back the corners of their eyes, a gesture widely regarded as racially offensive to Asian people.

US to sell weapons worth over $11 billion to Taiwan
KYODO — The United States said Wednesday it has approved a potential sale of weapons and related equipment worth more than US$11 billion to Taiwan, at a time when the self-governing democratic island faces increased military pressure from China.

Police bust Indian-run online black market in Pattaya
Nineteen Indian nationals have been arrested at a residence in Pattaya, Chon Buri, where they operated a website selling contraband goods, according to the Immigration Bureau.

Renowned war correspondent Peter Arnett dies at 91
Peter Arnett, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who became one of the world’s foremost war correspondents, died on Wednesday at age 91, according to US media reports.

China launches $113 billion free-trade experiment on Hainan island
BEIJING — China on Thursday split off a Belgium-sized island with an economy comparable to a mid-ranked country from the mainland for customs processing, part of a bid to join a major trans-Pacific trade deal and establish a new Hong Kong-style commercial hub.