German carnival revellers take swipes at Putin, Trump, EpsteinUS President Donald Trump (L) features in a German carnival float as a heavy-handed ICE immigration agentDüSSELDORF (GERMANY) - From Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin, no one is safe when Germans celebrate carnival with floats that satirise politicians. But the Russian president is not laughing. Tilly's previous work for carnival includes floats depicting Putin taking a bath in blood, as well as the Russian leader behind bars. As usual, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the polarising US president are sure to be lampooned across the country. One of Tilly's designs for the Duesseldorf carnival features Trump and Putin together feasting on a small blonde woman marked "Europe".

On Feb 10, Klatham Party chief adviser, Capt Thamanat Prompow, denies rumours which claim his party is being blocked from talks on joining the new government led by the Bhumjaithai Party. Chanat KatanyuThe Klatham Party has confirmed it will lend full support to the Bhumjaithai Party in forming a new government, without attaching any political conditions or demands. Sources indicated that Capt Thamanat was believed to be engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations yes­- terday. Pheu Thai is likely to assume responsibility for education, higher education, science, research and innovation, and labour -- aligning with its campaign pledges. However, Pheu Thai is also understood to be negotiating for the Public Health Ministry, possibly in exchange for labour, social development, and human security portfolios.

PP leader Natthaphong RuengpanyawutThe People's Party (PP) has no objection to the Klatham Party joining the opposition bloc, amid reports that the Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party is pressuring Klatham to take an opposition role, said PP leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut. Mr Natthaphong said it would not pose any difficulty if Klatham became part of the opposition, noting that any party not participating in government automatically assumes such a role. He added that opposition parties are not required to work in complete unity, as parliamentary mechanisms -- such as the opposition whip -- already exist to coordinate joint efforts. During the election campaign, PP raised suspicions that some Klatham politicians may be implicated in "grey capital" business dealings, prompting speculation that the two parties may have trouble working together in the opposition. 2560 (2017) against members of the public and polling officials who blew the whistle on alleged ballot irregularities.

Molpasorn ShoowongThe Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) expects the tourism industry to be a major driver of GDP growth this year as flights and arrivals continue to rebound, though rising untaxed online travel agents and illegal foreign operators continue to limit the full benefits of the rebound. The National Economic and Social Development Council forecasts economic growth of between 1.5–2.5% this year, after GDP grew by 2.4% last year. He said tourism should continue to serve as an important sector this year, driving the country's GDP, which typically accounts for 10–20% of GDP. Tourism operators also have to consistently monitor risks and adjust tactics after this robust holiday period, such as geopolitical tensions, which could immediately disrupt flights and inbound flows. In the past year, many tourism operators in Phuket have been complaining about receiving non-quality tourists who take advantage of locals.

Samsen Road sinkhole repairs to finish in 2027Repairs to the Samsen Road section between Vajira Hospital and Samsen police station are expected to be completed before the road reopens in October 2027, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt told a City Council meeting. Jom Thong council member Suthichai Wirakulsunthorn said the sinkhole had caused particular hardship for patients of Vajira Hospital and nearby businesses. A major water pipe linked to the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority's Samsen Waterworks was also partially damaged by the collapse. To manage traffic, City Hall closed the stretch between Sangkhalok Road and Sukhothai Road entirely, rather than allowing a single lane, due to the use of heavy machinery. The work is scheduled for completion in May 2027, with the road expected to reopen in October that year, Mr Chadchart said.

NBTC starts Yaowarat cable workOverhead cables in the Yaowarat area are being moved underground. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), in cooperation with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and licensed telecom operators, has begun the work. The work covers sections of Charoen Krung, Chak Phet and Maha Chai roads under the 2025–2026 national plan to place communication lines underground through a shared last-mile network model. Suttisak Tantayothin, deputy secretary-general of the NBTC, said the first phase began on Feb 10, covering a 0.32-kilometre stretch from Yaowarat Soi 3 to the intersection with Songsawat Road on both sides of Yaowarat Road. Priority areas include routes undergoing public utility upgrades, locations with dense overhead wiring, key tourist districts and historic sites.

Nato 1.0 is dead. Long live Nato 2.0Every year about this time, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), the world's most powerful alliance for the past 77 years, holds a conference in Munich to examine its state of health. The one just past (Feb 13-15) was really a wake, but it played out more like the immortal Dead Parrot sketch from Monty Python, in which a customer (John Cleese) enters a pet shop with a cage containing a dead parrot (a Norwegian Blue) and says:

The campaign was introduced last week ahead of International Condom Day, observed annually on Feb 13, at Yupparaj Wittayalai School in Chiang Mai. It aims to promote condom use and safer sexual practices among youth to prevent HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies. Songyos Khamchai, head of the Infectious Disease Control Department at the Chiang Mai Public Health Office, said HIV infections among adolescents and young adults remain a pressing concern. The province has 22,387 people living with HIV, of whom 21,576 are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) through the public healthcare system. Between October 2025 and January 2026, authorities projected around 173 additional HIV diagnoses in Chiang Mai, averaging 44 new cases per month.

City Hall gathers feedback on Silom Line extensionCity Hall has launched a market sounding exercise for the Silom Line extension from Bang Wa to Taling Chan, a 14–15 billion baht mass transit project. The consultation, held under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act, aims to gather private-sector feedback to refine the investment model in line with projected passenger demand and economic conditions. This would allow authorities to maintain direct control over fare levels, in line with the government's single-fare policy aimed at easing commuters' cost-of-living pressure. Six stations are planned: Bang Waek, Bang Chueak Nang, Bang Phrom, Intharawat, Borommaratchachonnani and Taling Chan. The line is expected to ease congestion on Ratchaphruek Road and surrounding areas while boosting network connectivity.

DLT to allow online licence renewalsThe Department of Land Transport (DLT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), is upgrading its service standards to allow motorists aged under 55 to renew their driving licences online from June. Applicants aged under 55 whose licences have not expired for more than one year will be able to apply electronically without travelling to a transport office for a physical fitness test. However, during the initial phase, medical documents may be shared only among hospitals operated by the MOPH, rather than local clinics. Mr Sorapong said those renewing their licences online will still be required to undergo a visual aptitude test, particularly for eyesight, but will not need to visit a transport office to do so. The DLT is also working with medical professionals to revise guidelines for physical fitness testing under the scheme to ensure all drivers meet standardised physical and visual fitness requirements, he said.

Trat businesses brace for lengthy closuresBusiness operators along the Thai–Cambodian frontier in Trat province are bracing for a prolonged border shutdown, urging authorities to reopen checkpoints while rapidly pivoting toward domestic markets to survive. He credited local tourism events, such as the annual Khlong Yai Goddess Tubtim Shrine festival, with providing a temporary boost to income. Wiyada Suang, adviser to the president of the Trat Tourism Industry Council, meanwhile, warns that the broader impact is deepening. Ms Wiyada, who also owns a hotel in Khlong Yai, said visitor numbers have plunged. "In this situation, it's understandable that tourists don't want to come," she said, adding that cross-border tourism is also unlikely to resume soon.

Party leader vows to fight libel casePeople's Party leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut. People's Party leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, yesterday denied all allegations in a defamation case filed against him by Gulf Development, as the court ordered witness hearings to begin in October. Speaking after submitting a written statement and evidence to the Criminal Court yesterday, Mr Natthaphong insisted on his innocence and pledged to fight the allegations. Mr Natthaphong, accompanied by his legal team, arrived at the Criminal Court at about 9am. He was accompanied by fellow People's Party MPs-elect Supachot Chaiyasat and Woraphop Viriyaroj.

BJT targets economy, security rolesPrime Minister Anutin CharnvirakulPrime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, as the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), said his party would take responsibility for the security and economic portfolios in the coalition government he is seeking to form, pledging firm measures to protect the border and revive the economy. He said BJT would oversee national security through diplomatic and military channels, with priority given to safeguarding Thailand's territory, sovereignty and public safety. The party would maintain and intensify current border-closure policies, including the construction of what he called "security walls" along frontier areas. On the economic front, he said BJT would lead efforts to revive the economy and address long-standing structural constraints. Economic management would be handled by what he called a "Thailand team", comprising himself, Caretaker Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Caretaker Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumphun and Mr Sihasak.

Petition urges court to invalidate pollsPoliticians, civil society groups, and student representatives from nine universities have filed a petition with the Central Administrative Court seeking to invalidate the Feb 8 election. They said that the Election Commission (EC) violated constitutional principles by issuing ballots containing barcodes and QR codes, which they claim could compromise voter anonymity. They asked the court to declare the Feb 8 election unlawful and order the EC to organise a new election in compliance with the law. The petition also seeks to prohibit the EC and related agencies from using QR codes or any technology capable of linking ballots to individual voters in future polls. The petition requested an urgent review and a temporary suspension of the certification of the election results pending a final ruling.

Maya Bay 'a haven' for blacktip reef sharksBlacktip reef sharks swim at Maya Bay in Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Marine National Park Operations Centre 3The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has confirmed that Maya Bay is a vital nursery ground for blacktip reef sharks after a recent survey recorded an unusually high concentration of the species. The DNP's Marine National Park Education and Research Centre 3 (Trang) conducted a population and behaviour survey of blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) under the Shark Watch Project from Jan 31 to Feb 6 at Maya Bay, inside Krabi's Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Officials spotted as many as 118 sharks at one time, confirming the bay's role as a key breeding habitat. As apex predators, blacktip reef sharks play a crucial role in maintaining an ecological balance, and their healthy population signals a thriving marine ecosystem in Maya Bay.