Corruption can reduce real GDP per capita growth by 3% for up to two years, while money laundering amounts to as much as US$6 trillion annually worldwide, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Swiss President Guy Parmelin will visit Thailand from Thursday until Saturday to strengthen bilateral ties, promote trade and investment, and discuss regional and international cooperation.

Cooler winds signal Thailand’s transition into the cold season, but heavy rain and possible flash floods remain a concern along the southern Gulf coast, particularly from Oct 23-27, forecasters say.

The International Monetary Fund has urged Southeast Asian governments to protect vulnerable households, pursue economic reforms and deepen regional cooperation to strengthen resilience against global economic shocks.

The International Monetary Fund and World Bank have unveiled a global roadmap to help countries prevent, detect and tackle the growing threat of cyber-enabled fraud in digital financial services.

The State Audit Office (SAO) has expressed suspicions about the way Thai Public Broadcasting Service hires and pays programme producers, saying it is evading payment rules.

Residents living along Khlong Luang Phaeng in eastern Bangkok have been urged to monitor water levels closely after the Royal Irrigation Department agreed to open the canal’s sluice gate, with levels expected to rise starting from 3.30pm on Wednesday.

Thai Airways International is stepping up compensation to restore passenger confidence after major flooding disrupted services, leaving 25,000 bags stranded and forcing more than 200 flight cancellations.

The family of a seven-year-old girl from Trang who died in an accident has donated her organs and corneas to help others waiting for transplants, the Thai Red Cross Society said on Wednesday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has played down concerns over a Chinese airport project in Laos, about 50km from the Thai border, saying it has not raised any immediate concerns for Thailand.

Three factories in Prachin Buri have been ordered to suspend operations following suspected toxic chemical leaks that caused water pollution during flooding, while investigations into alleged nominee ownership and “a prominent surname” involved are also under way.

AYUTTHAYA - Stilt houses in villages north of Bangkok are no longer high enough to stay dry as Thai authorities deliberately flood riverside communities to spare the capital.

Police have reported they arrested 587 criminal suspects in provinces beyond Bangkok in the interest of securing the 2026 International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group meetings in the capital.

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has announced a gradual reduction in water discharge from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat from 1,900 to 1,800 cubic metres per second by 7pm on Wednesday, before maintaining the lower rate.

A gradual reduction in the water discharge rate from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat from 1,900 to 1,800 cubic metres per second will be completed by 7pm on Wednesday, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) said.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Wednesday that floods continued in Bangkok and 20 provinces, mostly in the Central Plains, but their levels were declining.

Bhumjaithai MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap must explain suspected discrepancies in her asset declarations and will receive no legal assistance from the party, its secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has criticised the wording of the opposition's no-confidence motion, suggesting it may be why the House speaker has yet to formally notify the government and saying the language may need to be polished to make it more "civilised".

Interior permanent secretary Unsit Sampuntharat on Tuesday defended the ministry's handling of alleged fraud in local recruitment exams, hitting back at criticism from his predecessor.

Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee on Tuesday vowed legal action against those responsible for a chemical leak from industrial waste that worsened flooding in Si Maha Phot district of Prachin Buri.

Police arrested 39 suspects and seized assets worth more than 500 million baht in raids across 11 provinces targeting a transnational scam and money-laundering network.

Interior permanent secretary Unsit Sampuntharat on Tuesday assured that the government had sufficient funds to compensate flood victims, with payments already made to nearly 300,000 households.

Authorities in Chon Buri have seized hundreds of tonnes of suspected industrial waste at two sites in the province and detained four people as part of a crackdown on the illegal storage and processing of industrial refuse.

Authorities have arrested four suspects and rescued children from Myanmar allegedly forced to sell flowers and other goods to tourists in Bangkok.

CHON BURI - A Thai-German pilot was injured when a single-engine light aircraft crashed in Bang Lamung district on Tuesday.

Suvarnabhumi airport has advised car owners with flooded homes who parked their vehicles there to remove them immediately, or start paying.

The Supreme Administrative Court has agreed to rule on an appeal by National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) chairman Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck in a dispute over his eligibility to hold the post.

Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat said on Tuesday he was unaware of the details of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s petition seeking an amnesty under the Peaceful Society Promotion Act, and would not be involved.

Investigators in Georgia say they have so far found no trace of dangerous substances or evidence suggesting violence in the death of popular Thai travel vlogger Hlun Solo in the capital, Tbilisi, in July.

Reforms to boost growth, alongside credible tax and spending plans, could help governments avoid a new wave of financial repression, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) official said on Monday.