Rio to kick off Carnival parade with ode to Lula in election yearRevelers from the Academicos de Niteroi samba school wave flags depicting Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during a technical rehearsalRIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL) - Rio de Janeiro on Sunday kicks off three days of dazzling carnival parades with a tribute to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that the opposition has criticized as early election campaigning ahead of October polls. - Warnings against election propaganda -On Friday, the presidency warned officials attending carnival events to "refrain from making statements that could be characterized as early electoral propaganda." Lula's Worker's Party (PT) on Saturday said the Academicos tribute to Lula was "a cultural manifestation, and any activity of an electoral nature is prohibited at this time." The Academicos parade will involve 3,000 people and feature different scenes from Lula's life, from his poor beginnings in Brazil's northeast, to his time as a factory worker and union leader. The accompanying samba song chants out "Ole, ole, ole, ola; Lula, Lula!

The Thailand Choreography Symposium 2026 -- which will take place from Saturday until Feb 24 at Bangkok Kunsthalle and Chulalongkorn University -- responds to this long-standing condition. Building Through Collaboration, Not ReplicationThe Thailand Choreography Symposium 2026 has been realised through unprecedented international and institutional collaboration focused on long-term cultural development. A Living Laboratory, Not a Conventional ConferenceRejecting the format of a traditional academic symposium, the Thailand Choreography Symposium 2026 is conceived as a living laboratory. Tradition as a Living Force, Not a Museum ObjectAt the heart of the symposium lies a fundamental rethinking of tradition -- not as heritage to be preserved behind glass but as material for living creation. Tradition as a Progressive ToolBesides these exchanges, the symposium places emphasis on methodologies that critically interrogate tradition, identity and cultural norms.

At a time when climate change, food waste and rural inequality are converging into a single, complex crisis, Thailand's agricultural debate can no longer be confined to yields, prices or exports alone. In Bang Len district in Nakhon Pathom, a modest organic farm offers a compelling answer. For Tan Khun, soil is not just a medium for crops; it is the origin of all fertility, the living foundation of sustainable farming. Organic chicken produced by Tan Khun Organic Farm. Food waste generated in the city becomes a resource for farms, while farms supply clean, traceable food back to consumers.

The wild elephant was moved after it wandered into human settlements, leading to the deaths of two people. Since 2015, wild elephants have attacked and killed 270 people, the DNP says. In their search for food and water, elephants like Seedor Hu Pab stray into farming communities, and that is when encounters turn deadly. Last month, the DNP administered the contraceptive vaccine SpayVac to three wild elephants in Trat for the first time. What elephants need is not sympathy, but space.

Region must not abandon MyanmarMembers of Myanmar's Union Election commission (UEC) count ballots last month in the third phase of Myanmar's general election in Yangon. It was then that Barack Obama made a historic first and, so far, only visit by a sitting US president to Myanmar. The US ended humanitarian aid to Myanmar when President Donald Trump eliminated the Agency for International Development upon his return to power. The degree to which political entities in Myanmar fund themselves through the production of meth and fentanyl will continue to create legions of addicts in Thailand and throughout the region. Asean participants have historically seemed divided between isolation and engagement when it comes to Myanmar, so neither approach has been adopted wholeheartedly.

Asean's role in a new world orderFile photo shows a woman walking past the national flags of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries at an Asean trade meeting. Roslan RAHMAN / AFPProfound shifts are reshaping the global economy as political uncertainty, geopolitical rivalry and changing trade patterns disrupt the old world order, while a new one has yet to fully emerge. Through its regional network, Bangkok Bank has connected investors with opportunities in Asean, helping companies expand both regionally and internationally. There are significant synergies between Indonesia and Thailand, particularly in emerging industries such as EVs, energy and agriculture. Thailand, meanwhile, has become Asean's leading EV production hub, accounting for around half of the region's output.

In the future, digital technology may need to be adapted to suit urban contexts, enhancing city efficiency and solving urban problems, which benefits residents and digital entrepreneurs, he said. Such projects include One Tambon, One Digital, which promotes digital technology usage by farmers, community groups and community artisans. For example, the Digital Durian project promotes Thai durian farmers in adopting digital applications, while a smart living project upgrades digital skills for community groups and farmers nationwide. DIGITAL VALLEYRegarding digital infrastructure development, Mr Nuttapon said the Thailand Digital Valley project is slated for completion in the third quarter of this year. Thailand Digital Valley is to serve as the regional centre for designing, developing, analysing and experimenting with advanced digital technology and innovation in Southeast Asia.

Lopia opens first Thai supermarketThe front of the first Lopia Japan supermarket in Thailand at Central Chaengwattana. Lopia Japan, operated by Lopia Co Ltd under the OIC Group, has launched its first supermarket in Thailand at Central Chaengwattana, marking the brand's debut in Southeast Asia and signalling broader regional ambitions. "Thailand has mixed nationalities, from which we can learn consumer behaviour before expanding our stores in Southeast Asia," he said. The Japanese supermarket chain was founded in 1971 and now operates 139 branches across Japan, nine in Taiwan, and one in Thailand. Thailand is the second country outside Japan and the first in Southeast Asia to host a Lopia store.

Baht to remain volatile despite foreign fund flowsPhoto: 123RFAlthough positive domestic sentiment has supported baht appreciation against the US dollar, the local currency is expected to remain highly volatile amid persistent external uncertainties. After the election on Feb 8, the baht has been volatile, appreciating somewhat against the US dollar. According to K-Research, foreign capital flows in the run-up to Thailand's past four general elections -- in 2011, 2019, 2023 and 2026 -- reflected investor sentiment regarding domestic political developments. The research house said the direction of foreign fund flows will depend on several factors, especially Thailand's economy and investor confidence. Under this scenario, the currency is expected to gradually appreciate, likely trading sideways in a range of 30.90 to 31.20 baht per dollar, noted the think tank.

Office highlights significant shift in population structureThailand is facing a significant shift in population structure as the growth rate has decelerated to only 0.42%, according to the National Statistical Office. The figure represents the lowest growth rate since the census began in Thailand, according to the office's preliminary results of the 2025 population and household census. This is the 12th population census and the sixth household census. Thailand's resident population is increasing, but the growth rate is declining. Furthermore, the census shows a change in the Thai household structure.

Authorities expect the SME Credit Boost programme, which offers credit guarantees, to generate 100 billion baht in new SME loans over 1-2 years. Kanjana Chockpisarnsin, head of research for the banking and financial sector at Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research), said the SME Credit Boost scheme would support SME loans for 1-2 years, in line with the programme's time frame. K-Research forecasts SME loans in the banking system will contract by 4% year-on-year in 2026, which includes the impact of SME Credit Boost. K-Research forecasts total loans in the banking sector to decline by 0.7% this year, driven by an 8% contraction in hire-purchase loans, a 4% dip in SME loans and a 0.5% decline in mortgages. She said while SME Credit Boost would not be sufficient to drive SME loan growth among banks, it would encourage banks to expand SME lending by lowering credit costs through guarantees.

Buriram underline title credentials with big victoryBuriram United's Suphanat Mueanta celebrates his goal with Guilherme Bissoli. PRDefending champions Buriram United reinforced their Thai League 1 ambitions with a commanding 3-1 away victory over BG Pathum United in Saturday's headline clash. However, Buriram quickly reasserted control as four minutes later, Suphanat rose to meet Phitiwat Sookjitthammakul's delivery, restoring the visitors' advantage before the interval. BG Pathum pressed hard in the second half and thought they had equalised in the 75th minute when Surachart Sareepim chipped past Neil Etheridge. Saharat Kanyarot gave the visitors the lead in the 34th minute, but Denilson Junior equalised early in the second half to ensure the points were shared.

Egat makes B31bn investment to upgrade EEC power systemMr Prasert, right, visits the Phan Thong substation in Chon Buri, which is to supply electricity to new data centre projects. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) is spending 31 billion baht to upgrade the power transmission system in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), in a bid to ease a bottleneck for electricity supply to data centre development projects. He was speaking while leading an entourage to visit Egat-owned Phan Thong substation in Amata City Chon Buri, an industrial estate in Chon Buri which, together with Rayong and Chachoengsao, forms the EEC. According to the Board of Investment, 16 new data centres will be developed in the EEC between 2026 and 2030, demanding 3,600MW of electricity. This means the country's electricity capacity in reserve was greater than 30%, easing concerns over insufficient power supply, Mr Prasert said.

Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and other key figures of the Pheu Thai Party are at the headquarters of the Bhumjaithai Party in Bangkok on Feb 13 to announce their participation in the next coalition government with Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, centre right. "The key question was not which parties joined hands, but what the public would gain from the decision," he wrote. He said the election results showed Pheu Thai did not win enough support, a reality the party respected. He said joining the government coalition does not mean losing independence or abandoning party principles. Pheu Thai aims to tackle various issues, such as alleged Senate collusion and the Khao Kradong case, despite lacking a majority.

Gold fever to result in new futuresThe TFEX expects to unveil small-lot gold futures contracts in the near future. BloombergThailand's derivatives market plans to introduce smaller-sized gold futures contracts within the next few months, aiming to broaden retail participation as gold prices continue their historic rally. The sharp rise has turbo-boosted trading demand of gold futures contracts on the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX), prompting it to develop more accessible products for smaller investors. Triwit Wangvorawudhi, the new managing director of TFEX, said the exchange is finalising plans to introduce small-lot gold futures contracts, potentially sized at one baht-weight of gold. TFEX offers two gold futures products: Gold Futures (50 baht-weight or 762.20 grammes) and Mini Gold Futures (10 baht-weight or 152.44 grammes).