(Photo: Reuters)OTTAWA - Canadian ‍Prime Minister Mark Carney ​said on Tuesday that he spoke to US President Donald Trump ‌on Monday but denied he had retracted ‌comments last week that had irritated the US President. “To be absolutely clear, and I said this to the president, I meant what I said in Davos,” Carney told reporters in Ottawa. However, the prime minister said “middle powers must act together because if you are not at the table, you are on the menu”. After Carney’s speech, Trump revoked Canada’s invitation to join a so-called Board of Peace that the US president says aims to resolve global conflicts. Trump also threatened on Saturday to impose a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if Ottawa followed through on a trade deal with China.

Many modes of transport to and from Bangkok and beyond are available for all budgetsListen to this articleCars, buses and taxis outside Suvarnabhumi Airport. Airport Rail LinkThe Airport Rail Link offers a budget-friendly, traffic-free option. Transferring Between Suvarnabhumi and Don MueangA free Airport Shuttle Bus transferring between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang is available at the second floor, Gate 3. At Suvarnabhumi, board at the second floor, Gate 3 (inner kerb). How early to arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport(Photo: Suvarnabhumi airport)It's recommended to arrive three hours before international departures and two hours for domestic flights.

(Photo: AFP)A US naval strike force led by an aircraft carrier was in Middle Eastern waters on Tuesday as Iran vowed to hit back against any strike and President Donald Trump said he believed the Islamic republic still wanted talks. A strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has now arrived in Middle Eastern waters, US Central Command said, without revealing its precise location. They want to talk.”Axios said Trump declined to discuss the options presented to him by his national security team, or which one he prefers. US Senator Lindsey Graham told the paper he had spoken with Trump in recent days about Iran and that “the goal is to end the regime”. Over the weekend, Persian-language TV channel Iran International, which is based outside Iran, said more than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces between January 8 and 9, citing reports, documents and sources.

Thai gold traders with at least B10bn in annual transactions must report to central bankListen to this articleTraders queue at a gold shop in Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown, Thailand, on Monday. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Thai gold traders with average annual transactions of ‌at least ​10 billion baht (US$320.72 million) over the past five years must report their activities to the central bank, according ‌to the official Royal Gazette. Bank of Thailand (BoT) Governor Vitai Ratanakorn said earlier that Thailand would ‌also ‍introduce a cap on gold trading this week, with daily volumes ‌through ​online platforms likely be capped at 50 million baht or 100 million baht. On Tuesday morning, gold prices in Thailand fell 100 baht from the previous day. The buying and selling prices were 74,600 and 74,700 baht for bullion, and 73,101.52 and 75,500 baht for gold ornaments.

By the time the warplane swooped over Vanha and bombed the school, Myanmar’s air force had already received huge quantities of Iranian jet fuel. Reuters could not confirm whether the warplane that struck Vanha was flying on Iranian jet fuel. An analyst who tracks Iranian shipping also confirmed some jet fuel deliveries. “The UK condemns human rights violations by the Myanmar military, including airstrikes on civilian infrastructure,” the Foreign Office spokesman said. Only days earlier, Reef had made another covert delivery to Myanmar, unloading nearly 15,000 metric tons ​of jet fuel, according to the documents and satellite images.

(Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Political parties have put trillions of baht on the table as the Election Commission released details of 527 campaign policies submitted by 51 parties contesting Thailand’s general election on Feb 8. They focus largely on water management, estimated at 400 billion to 550 billion baht, land reform, estimated at 35-48 billion, and agricultural development, estimated at 120 billion baht. They include the drafting of a new constitution, quality-of-life improvement projects worth 130 billion baht a year, and labour reskilling programmes estimated at 20 billion baht per year. Its proposals include the Khon La Krueng Plus co-payment scheme, an electricity subsidy scheme estimated at 63.4 billion baht and a defence volunteer force estimated at 22.7 billion baht per year. Other parties submitted fewer policies including the United Thai Nation Party with 21 and the Palang Pracharath Party with three.

AI and the future of educationListen to this articlePupils attend a class at a children's computer coding training centre in Beijing, China, on Nov 8, 2019. From this perspective, education -- and especially higher education -- plays a more important role than ever. Students need to understand the underlying concepts and logic, rather than mastering every step of the execution. Some argue that AI itself will reduce the need for formal education by providing information and personalised guidance on demand. If AI is to benefit society, we will need more, not less, investment in education.

Vietnam auto manufacturer to set up $130m EV battery plant with China's BYDListen to this articleA battery is about to be installed on a electric car at a BYD assembly line in Shenzhen, China, on May 25, 2016. (File photo: Reuters)HANOI — Vietnam auto manufacturer Kim Long Motor said on Tuesday that ‌it was partnering ​with China's BYD (Build Your Dreams) to develop a US$130 million plant to produce batteries for commercial electric vehicles (EVs) in central Vietnam. Under the agreement, Kim Long ‌Motor will fund the construction of the facility, while BYD will provide comprehensive technical and technological ‌support, the company said in a statement. The plant will be on a 4.4 hectare plot of land ⁠and will have a capacity of 3 gigawatt-hours per year, Kim Long Motor said in a statement. The plant will produce batteries for commercial vehicles, including buses, trucks and minibuses.

Bangkok cat cafe accused of animal crueltyListen to this articleSome of the cats at the now-closed Just Cat Cafe in Bang Khen district of Bangkok where the owner is accused of animal cruelty. (Photo: Bang Khen district office)The owner of a cat cafe in Bang Khen district of Bangkok has been accused of animal cruelty after a video shared online showed him hitting the felines and throwing one against a wall. The man has since closed the business, the Just Cat Cafe, and agreed to go through legal procedures, according to district officials who inspected the premises on Monday. Netizens who said they had been to the Just Cat Cafe attested that many cats there suffered from a skin fungus, ringworm, which is encouraged by poor hygiene. The Watchdog Thailand Foundation said on Facebook on Monday that it had filed a complaint with Bang Khen police against the business.

US formally withdraws from Paris climate accordListen to this articleUS President Donald Trump visits a Ford production center in Dearborn, Michigan, on Jan 13. (Photo: Reuters)The United States on Tuesday formally withdrew from the Paris climate accord, the key international framework for combating global warming, in line with President Donald Trump's declaration a year ago. Earlier this month, Trump said the US plans to withdraw from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, adopted in 1992, which has provided the legal foundation for the Paris accord. Trump's retreat on climate cooperation and multilateralism will likely mean considerable time would be needed for the US to rejoin the accord under a new US administration. The accord, adopted in 2015 and entering into force the following year, has been ratified by nearly 200 countries and regions.

A recent analysis of global infidelity rates shows marked differences between countries, with some nations reporting significantly higher proportions of married individuals admitting to having been unfaithful to their partners - and Thailand tops the list. Across Europe, several countries also record notable infidelity rates. France, Norway and Belgium are among other countries with relatively high proportions of respondents reporting infidelity, with figures above 40% in many cases. Rates decline gradually in other nations, including Spain, Finland, the United Kingdom and Canada, all around mid-30%. Experts note that such statistics reflect self-reported behaviour and should be interpreted with caution, as definitions of infidelity can vary widely across cultures and surveys.

(Photo: Kanana Katharangsiporn)Thailand's economy is expected to grow 2.0% this year, the ‌Finance Ministry reported on Tuesday, maintaining ​its previous forecast. The Thai economy has been struggling with the appreciating baht, US tariffs, high household debt, a border conflict with Cambodia and political uncertainty ahead of elections in early February. Foreign ‍tourist arrivals are expected to reach 35.5 million this year, the ministry said, maintaining a previous forecast. The ministry also forecast headline inflation at 0.3% this year, compared with a previous forecast of 0.5%. Headline consumer prices dipped 0.14% in ​2025 compared to a year earlier.

Commerce Minister Suphajee declares assets of B307 millionListen to this articleCaretaker Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun delivers a keynote speech at a seminar "Mission to Win for the Game Changer" in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)Caretaker Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun and her husband reported combined assets worth 307.7 million baht when she took office in September last year, according to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). She reported annual income of 40.1 million baht, comprising salary and bonuses of 13.4 million baht, board meeting allowances of 8.9 million baht and, and retirement-related income of 17.7 million baht. Her annual expenditure totalled 9.07 million baht, including living expenses of 1.1 million baht, support for her mother amounting to 1.5 million baht, child-related expenses of 360,000 baht, salaries for a personal secretary and driver totalling 1.8 million baht, donations and merit-making of 3 million baht, and annual family travel expenses of 1 million baht. As for her husband, Mr Preethayut, who serves as chief executive officer of Lifespan Care Co, declared assets worth 27.6 million baht.

(Photo: Abhisit Vejjajiva Facebook account)The Democrat Party will cement its dominance in Nakhon Si Thammarat at the general election, leaving major rivals Bhumjaithai and the People's Party far behind in the battle for second place, according to a Nida Poll released on Tuesday. The Pheu Thai Party was well behind with a mere 2.25%. Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva came first with a 51.45% approval, far ahead of Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Chanvirakul, with only 16.40%, and People’s Party chief Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, 14.34%. Pheu Thai candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat was left in the laggard group of "other choices" which also comprised Klatham Party frontman Capt Thamanat Prompow and Thai Sang Thai Party chief Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan. One-horse race in Nakhon Si Thammarat?

Fever is an initial symptom of Nipah virus infection, which has a high fatality rate as there is no effective treatment method or vaccine yet. “The transmission of Nipah virus is not like that of Covid-19. Health authorities have earlier stressed that unlike Covid, Nipah virus is not airborne but can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids. Nipah virus was first discovered in Malaysia in 1998 and there have been small outbreaks in Bangladesh and India. Thailand has never found a Nipah virus case, the health minister said.