Tisco AM recommends equities account for 50% of portfolios, with 15-20% in Thai equities and around 30% in foreign equities. The remainder is allocated to fixed-income instruments and gold, with gold exposure set at 5-10% to enhance diversification. The company flagged rising refinancing risks this year, with more than 87 billion baht worth of lower investment-grade bonds due for rollover, up from about 60 billion baht in 2025. In 2025, the firm's assets under management (AUM) rose by 10.2% to nearly 450 billion baht. Tisco AM targets AUM of 470 billion baht in 2026, rising to 500 billion within three years.

Listen to this articleAt its first board meeting this year on Jan 15, the BoI approved seven significant data centre and data hosting projects, representing investment of more than $3.1 billion. Thailand's ambition to become Southeast Asia's data centre hub should not be directly affected by India's plan to offer a 20-year tax holiday to foreign firms using local data centres, as India is not a major rival to Thailand in attracting data centre investment, say local executives. "Implementing government policies to promote cloud-first and AI-native initiatives would ensure continuous demand and sustainable growth of the data centre sector," said the source. At its first board meeting this year on Jan 15, the BoI approved seven significant data centre and data hosting projects, with investment of more than US$3.1 billion. In 2025, the BoI received applications for 36 data centre projects with a combined investment of $23.1 billion.

As government policy plays a crucial role in shaping the direction of the country's international trade, key political parties have outlined policies such as accelerating free trade agreement negotiations, developing value-added products and integrating into the global supply chain. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPBhumjaithai Party's trade policies are centred around the "Trade Plus-Thailand Plus" strategy, which highlights global connectivity and mutual benefits. She referred to supply chain integration, which aims to embed Thai products into the global supply chains of trading partners. When the new government is formed, the council is hopeful that the minister responsible for international trade should understand the global trade dynamics and real business conditions. "There must be a war room to respond to US trade policies, as more measures are likely to emerge, with nations increasingly prioritising their own interests.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ministers on Tuesday the ‌alleged passing on ​of sensitive government information was “disgraceful”. “The prime minister said he was appalled by the information that had emerged over the weekend in the Epstein files,” his spokesman said. The prime minister in September sacked Mandelson as ambassador to the United States following the release of an earlier trove of Epstein-related documents. In another email, Mandelson appeared to tip Epstein off that Brown planned to resign as Labour leader and prime minister hours before he actually did so. The latest round of Epstein material — totalling about 3 million pages — includes a slew of financial and travel records, along with email correspondence.

BJT vows to respect voters' wishes and bow to winnerListen to this articleAdvance voting in Bang Bua Thong district, Nonthaburi, on Feb 1. Pattarapong ChatpattarasillThe Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party has signalled it would respect parliamentary convention by allowing the party that wins the most seats in the upcoming general election to take the first shot at forming a government. Asked whether any parties had approached the BJT about the formation of a post-election government, Mr Anutin replied: "Let's get past Sunday first." He insisted political negotiations should only begin once the results were clear, out of respect for voters. If BJT does not emerge as the top party, Mr Anutin said it would carefully assess whether any prospective coalition leader was genuinely committed to implementing its policies.

Suvarnabhumi airport managementThe Ministry of Public Health has intensified preventive and surveillance measures against the Nipah virus, even as authorities stress that the risk of infection in the country remains very low. The heightened vigilance follows recent reports of Nipah cases in India's eastern state of West Bengal, prompting health authorities here to strengthen monitoring across healthcare and transport sectors. From 2015 to 2025, Thailand tested 478 encephalitis patients for the Nipah virus, with no positive cases detected. "The Nipah virus is a reminder that we must remain prepared for future outbreaks," Dr Tawee said. Currently, no antiviral treatment has been definitively proven effective against Nipah virus infection.

VARUTH HIRUNYATHEBAnalysts are mapping coalition scenarios for the next government, depending on whether the People's Party (PP) or Bhumjaithai finishes first, with no party expected to govern alone. Ultimately, coalition talks are expected to hinge on cabinet negotiations, with Pheu Thai emerging as the key variable in forming a government. He outlines three possibilities: a PP-Pheu Thai coalition, a Bhumjaithai-Pheu Thai alliance with the PP in opposition, or a less likely partnership between the PP and Bhumjaithai. Mr Chaiyan considers the first scenario most probable, followed by a later realignment returning Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai to power. Wanwichit Boonprong, a political science lecturer at Rangsit University, argues that the most likely coalition would involve Bhumjaithai, Pheu Thai and Klatham, citing their prior experience working together.

UN panel taps Gistda execListen to this articlePakorn: Named new STSC chairThailand has assumed a significant leadership role in international space affairs after the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN Copuos) appointed Pakorn Apaphant, director of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), as chair of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC) for 2026. The STSC is one of two major subcommittees under UN Copuos, alongside the Legal Subcommittee. It serves as the UN's highest technical forum for shaping global space policy and governance. It addresses critical issues such as space debris, space weather, long-term sustainability of space activities, and space traffic management, providing the foundation for future international cooperation frameworks. Out of 110 UN Copuos member countries, only 14 nations have previously chaired the STSC.

Finland building icebreakers for US amid Arctic tensionsListen to this articleMost of the world's icebreakers are built in Finland - like the Urho, Kontio and Sisu, moored in HelsinkiHELSINKI - Finland is building a new fleet of icebreakers for the US but President Donald Trump's plans for Greenland, which he covets, and tense US-EU ties have raised concerns over the deal. In October, Trump and Helsinki announced that the United States coast guard will procure 11 icebreakers. "It is not possible to sail through the Arctic Sea without icebreakers and many big nations have interests in the Arctic right now," Viitanen said. In December, Finland's Rauma shipyard confirmed a contract from the US coast guard to build two icebreakers, to be completed in 2028. Managing director Kim Salmi told AFP they expected to sign a contract with the US coast guard for two icebreakers shortly.

US-Iran talks 'still scheduled' after drone shot down: White HouseListen to this articleWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump was keeping military options open against IranWASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - The United States is still planning talks with Iranian officials this week, the White House said Tuesday, even after a US warplane shot down an Iranian drone that approached an American aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. "I just spoke with special envoy (Steve) Witkoff, and these talks as of right now are still scheduled," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, adding that they were due to happen "later this week." "President Trump is always wanting to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango," Leavitt said outside the West Wing. The US military said earlier that an F-35C stealth fighter jet shot down the Iranian drone that "aggressively" drew near to the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on Tuesday. "Of course, the president has always a range of options on the table, and that includes the use of military force," Leavitt told Fox News in a separate interview.

(Photo: AFP)PARIS - France summoned billionaire Elon Musk to a “voluntary interview” as cybercrime authorities on Tuesday searched the French offices of his social media network X, the Paris public prosecutor’s office said. “A search is being conducted today at the French premises of the X platform,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement. The investigation was then broadened after additional reports criticised the AI chatbot Grok’s role in disseminating Holocaust denials and sexual deepfakes on X, the prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday. The social media platform, which has denied the allegations, also in July called the investigation “politically motivated”. In late January, the European Union hit X with an investigation over Grok’s generation of sexualised deepfake images of women and minors.

Chinese 'zombie pods' dealer arrested in PattayaListen to this articleChinese suspect Yu Kun, 34, centre, is arrested in front of a condominium in Pattaya. (Photo: Amporn Sangkaew)PATTAYA - A Chinese national has been arrested for illegally selling ketamine-laced vape pods, known as zombie pods, to partygoers in Pattaya beach town. The arresting officers also impounded 12,000 baht and many ketamine pods found in his possession. Mr Yu's detention followed a tip-off that a Chinese tourist was selling ketamine-filled vape pods to other tourists attending parties in Pattaya, police said. The suspect was arrested in possession of 10 ketamine pods and the 12,000 baht in marked banknotes used in the sting operation.

Thailand trains new generation of reporters to tackle AI-era misinformationListen to this articleThailand’s major media organisations have launched an intensive training camp to equip 60 university students with AI literacy and strong newsroom ethics, aiming to prepare a new generation of journalists capable of countering misinformation in the digital age. Thai Media Fund deputy manager Dr. Chamnan Ngammaneeudom added that digital platforms have blurred the line between professional journalists and everyday smartphone users. He hopes the workshop will spark a new generation of creators who can bring evidence‑based reporting to the public. The programme concluded with hands‑on group work, where mixed teams created digital content addressing AI‑related cyber threats without violating privacy or ethical standards. This year’s Young Digital News Providers programme is supported by the Thai Media Fund, NSTDA, True Corporation, Thai Oil, the Bank of Thailand, Boonrawd Trading and the SCG Foundation.

Italy's spread-out Olympics face transport challengeListen to this articleTwo small tunnels were opened on Jan 26 after many delays, to access Cortina from the plains by bypassing villages. The Games are being organised at seven sites -- the most spread-out Olympics ever. "With these spread-out Olympic Games, the first instinct is to say: 'I'll go by car,'" he said. But getting to the mountain sites will be more difficult as there is no high-speed Olympic train as there was for Beijing in 2022. Two small tunnels were inaugurated on January 26 after many delays, to access Cortina from the plains by bypassing villages.

An outpouring of condolences has swept across social media following the passing of “Khai Kaow”, a much-loved celebrity cat and social media star. The news was shared on Monday via the cat’s official social media page, which revealed that Khai Kaow had died peacefully. The post used a familiar phrase among pet owners, saying the cat had “gone to the cat star”, prompting an emotional response from followers. Khai Kaow, widely known online as “Khai Kaow Look Mae”, (my beloved child Khai Kaow) rose to fame after being rescued from life as a stray. Jeff Satur in an ad campaign for Pramy with Khai Kaow (Photo: @Pramycat)Through short-form videos and posts shared on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, Khai Khao’s playful personality brought smiles and laughter to a large and devoted fanbase.