Mr Charat says the working capital is to support the liquidity of exporters. The Export-Import (Exim) Bank of Thailand has prepared a 50-billion-baht working capital facility to support exporters amid global economic volatility. According to president Charat Rattanaboonniti, the bank plans to extend the working capital to exporters this year to support their liquidity. Exim Bank approved a total of 54.3 billion baht in new loans in 2025, with outstanding loans of 191 billion baht. According to Mr Charat, the bank is focusing on upgrading Thai industries to high-technology manufacturing and a green economy.

But this Valentine's Day in Thailand goes beyond sentiment, marking over one full year of legal marriage equality. On Jan 23, 2025, Thailand took a bold step by passing the Marriage Equality Law, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to legally recognise marriage for all couples, regardless of gender. The Marriage Equality Law is the clearest affirmation yet of that trajectory. This statistic highlights both great progress and the reality that legal marriage equality is still the exception across nations, not yet the norm. One year on, Thailand's Marriage Equality Law stands as a regional reference point.

But the two are not the same: the global minimum tax applies a country-by-country computation to determine the amount, whereas US rules apply to US-based multinationals' total foreign profits. It also grants US-headquartered multinationals a competitive advantage over other multinationals, all of which are still subject to the 15% global minimum tax. But no country should relinquish its sovereign right to tax multinationals and the super-rich. The text of the tax convention should reflect this. Failing that, the current, deeply flawed rules will become entrenched, and the pursuit of "compatibility" with existing frameworks developed at the OECD will compromise both the ambition and the objectives of the UN Tax Convention.

The global average birth rate has halved since 1960 and is now just above the "replacement" rate of 2.1 children per woman. Only sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East still have the old, high birth rates. In the Americas, Europe, Oceania and above all in Asia birth rates have fallen at an astonishing rate. Such a migration has already been going on for decades at a smaller scale in the rich countries of the West. Rich East Asian countries could easily do it too if they could get past their historical obsession with racial and cultural purity.

Chaturon Chaisang, chairman of the party's referendum communication and people's constitution campaign committee, centre, leads a news conference at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok on Thursday. Pheu Thai says voters' referendum mandate must deliver a democratic constitution. (Photo: Pheu Thai Party)The Pheu Thai Party has called on political parties, lawmakers, civil society groups and the public to work together to ensure that the people's will, expressed in Sunday's national referendum, leads to the drafting of a genuinely democratic constitution. Chaturon Chaisang, chairman of the party's referendum communication and people's constitution campaign committee, said on Thursday that the "yes" vote demonstrated a clear public desire for a new charter. Meanwhile, Pheu Thai leader Julapun Amornvivat apologised on Facebook to supporters who may have felt disappointed by the election outcome, saying the results may not have met expectations.

IT prices soar from rising memory costsPeople visit IT fair Commart Unlimit in 2025. Memory chip prices have increased by 80-90% quarter-on-quarter in 2026, according to the February issue of Memory Price Tracker, marking an unprecedented surge. Combined with the rising prices of some high-bandwidth memory 3 enhanced products, the market is rising full throttle across all segments. He said the impact of rising memory prices has been moderate for retailers because computers have become necessities -- consumers do not wait for prices to drop before purchasing them. Server prices increased 15-20% due to the memory price surge, the source added.

Man Utd's Ratcliffe's apologises for 'language' on immigrationManchester United's co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, centre. (Photo: AFP)LONDON — Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe apologised Thursday for his "choice of language" after saying the "UK has been colonised by immigrants". "My comments were made while answering questions about UK policy at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, where I was discussing the importance of economic growth, jobs, skills and manufacturing in the UK." He added: "My intention was to stress that governments must manage migration alongside investment in skills, industry and jobs so that long-term prosperity is shared by everyone. "It is critical that we maintain an open debate on the challenges facing the UK."

Less glamour, more content, says Wim Wenders of Berlin Film FestGerman director Wim Wenders is the head of the jury at this year's Berlinale film festival. (Photo: AFP)BERLIN - Berlin Film Festival jury president Wim Wenders said Thursday that this year's 76th edition of the festival would have "less glamour" but "more content" in its eclectic selection. The Berlinale is the first major international festival on the annual film calendar, and has a reputation for topical and progressive programming. Later on the red carpet Wenders told AFP that this year's films reflected a trend towards "less glamour, but more content". "It took time until I could put myself together and realise what a big honour it is for me," Sadat told AFP.

Analysts say the election outcome means reduced risk of extreme populist policies, maintaining fiscal discipline and attracting foreign funds into the Thai bourse. (Photo: Bloomberg)Stock market analysts expect foreign funds to keep flowing into Thailand as the decisive general election outcome signals stronger political stability and reduces the risk of extreme populist policies, keeping fiscal discipline intact. The Election Commission (EC) is expected to certify the results within 60 days. FOREIGN INFLOWSThe Thai stock market began gaining traction even before the election, supported by clear signs of foreign inflows. POLICIES IN FOCUSRakpong Chaisuparakul, senior vice-president at KGI Securities (Thailand), said it is possible a new cabinet could be formed by late April.

Trump dismantles legal basis for US climate rulesWhile the Endangerment Finding initially applied only to a section of the Clean Air Act governing vehicle emissions, it was later incorporated into other regulations. (Photo: AFP)WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - President Donald Trump on Thursday revoked a landmark scientific finding that underpins US regulations aimed at curbing planet-warming pollution, marking the administration's most far-reaching rollback of climate policy to date. The 2009 "endangerment finding" was a determination under then-president Barack Obama that six greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare by fueling climate change. While it initially applied only to vehicle emissions, it later became the legal foundation for a broader suite of climate regulations. The Supreme Court has re-affirmed the endangerment finding multiple times -- most recently in 2022, when the court's composition was much the same as today.

Atthapol expresses sorrow for fatal relocation operation, says independent inquiry is under wayAtthapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, is joined by officials involved in the elephant relocation programme, including veterinarian Kittiyaporn Iamasaad (left) at a briefing on Feb 12, 2026. (Photo: Department of National Parks Facebook)The head of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on Thursday defended his agency’s handling of a fatal elephant relocation operation, while protesters continued to demand his resignation. Despite careful planning, Seedor Hu Pub experienced a sudden physiological crisis after the relocation began at 10.50pm on Feb 3. The public outcryMore than 200 activists demonstrated at parks department headquarters on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of director-general Atthapol Charoenchansa over the failed operation. Their five demands include the director-general’s resignation, an independent veterinary ethics investigation, review of stakeholders’ land rights documentation, halting elephant sterilisation and contraception programmes, and ending elephant displacement operations.

Ukrainian racer kicked out of Olympics for ‘statement’ helmetThe helmet worn by Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych featured pictures of people who died because of the Russian invasion. (Photo: AFP)CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy - Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics on Thursday after refusing to back down over his banned helmet, which depicts victims of his country’s war with Russia. The International Olympic Committee said he had been kicked out of the Milan-Cortina Games “after refusing to adhere to the IOC athlete expression guidelines”. The IOC said in statement on Thursday that the skeleton racer’s accreditation for the Games had been withdrawn. “These people that he showed in his helmet, they’re real people that died because of the Russian invasion,” she said.

Prime Minister and Bhumaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul on Wednesday speaks to reporters about calls for a nationwide vote recount, at Government House, Bangkok. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed allegations of election fraud, insisting that any decision on a nationwide recount lies solely with the Election Commission (EC), which remains well within its legal timeframe to certify the results. “The body responsible for conducting the polls is the Election Commission (EC). I follow the rules.”On calls for a nationwide recount, Mr Anutin reiterated that the matter was entirely for the EC to determine. She faces charges under the election law for unlawfully opening, damaging or rendering a ballot box unusable, as well as trespass.

Election Commission denies recount request in Chon BuriThe Election Commission rejects a group of protesters' call for a vote recount in Chon Buri’s constituency 1, saying it found no evidence of irregularities or errors in the ballots count. (Screenshot from Election Commission Facebook)The Election Commission (EC) has rejected protesters’ petition for a recount in Chon Buri’s constituency 1, finding no credible evidence of electoral misconduct or errors in the vote count. They found no indication the election in Chon Buri’s constituency 1 was conducted dishonestly or that the tally was flawed. Many people gather in Chon Buri province on Tuesday, demanding that the Election Commission inspect ballot boxes from Constituency 1 amid concerns about the vote count and the handling of the boxes. The EC chief urged the public to have confidence that the election was conducted fairly and transparently.

Chinese fugitive wanted for child prostitution arrested in BangkokA police officer reads an arrest warrant to a Chinese fugitive (black T-shirt) wanted for child prostitution, at a condominium in Huai Khwang district of Bangkok on Wednesday. (Photo: Central Investigation Bureau)A Chinese national wanted on charges related to child prostitution has been arrested at a luxury condominium in Huai Khwang district of Bangkok. Authorities were informed that while in China, Mr Dai organised prostitution activities and forced minors under age 18 into the sex trade before fleeing the country, said Pol Maj Gen Withaya. The arresting team later traced the suspect to a luxury condominium in Huai Khwang. The suspect would be handed over to prosecutors at the Office of the Attorney-General to proceed with extradition in accordance with the law.