'Game changers' headline city summitListen to this articleBangkok will host a landmark financial summit, "The Game Changer: Outlook 2026 & Beyond," scheduled for Feb 3-4 at The Glasshouse, Nai Lert Park. The event aims to raise funds to launch a new initiative to promote financial literacy across Thailand by Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, former director-general of the World Trade Organization and former Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. On Feb 4, Dr Supachai will give a keynote address titled "International game changers impacting Asia & Thailand", followed by an address on investment trends by legendary investor Marc Faber. Other notable speakers include Dr Harald Link, founder and family owner of the B Grimm Group on environmental imperatives in the future; Ramesh Raju, Founder of Kaizen Institute; Paruey Anadirekkul, Founder of Spacely Ai, and David Thompson, a Michelin-star chef at Nahm and Aksorn. For tickets and further details, please contact: +668-6353-9999.

Communities join hands to save nation's wetlandsListen to this articleThailand's wetlands are under increasing pressure from climate change and accelerating human activity, mirroring a global crisis that has already wiped out 22% of wetlands worldwide since 1970. Speaking on Friday at a seminar titled "Urban Expansion, Global Warming, and the Fate of Wetlands", DWR director-general Theerachun Boonyasit stressed the ecological and social importance of wetlands, particularly for communities whose livelihoods depend on natural resources. "Wetlands are critical ecosystems, yet they are being seriously degraded by climate change and land-use change," he said. "Our approach is to protect and conserve them sustainably by working with partners and empowering local communities to play a central role." The data will be used to design targeted conservation measures and prevent further losses.

'Lisa effect' fuels lily lake rushListen to this articleThe Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has reported a sharp rise in visitors to Udon Thani's famed pink water lily lake, driven by the "Lisa effect" and viral online memes. A promotional poster of Thai superstar Lalisa "Lisa" Manobal at the pink water lily lake. TOURISM AUTHORITYTAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said tourist numbers at Thale Bua Daeng in Kumphawapi district have increased steadily since images of Lalisa "Lisa" Manobal visiting the site circulated online. The pink water lilies are now in full bloom across the 25,500-rai (4,080-hectare) Nong Han reservoir, creating peak-season conditions that have attracted large crowds, particularly foreign tourists. Thale Bua Daeng, named after the pink water lilies blanketing the lake's surface, blooms during the cool season from December to February.

Pavena pulls crowds at Klatham rally in NorthListen to this articlePavena Hongsakul used a Klatham rally in Chiang Rai to call for firm policies tackling drugs and domestic violence. The rally was held at Phanphitthayakhom School in Phan district on Saturday evening and drew a large crowd from across the area and nearby communities. Klatham's senior figures took the stage to support the party's Chiang Rai parliamentary candidates and outline policy priorities. She said Klatham had put forward Capt Thamanat Prompow, a party's chief adviser, as its sole prime ministerial candidate to ensure responsibility was clear and direct. Capt Thamanat said his Chiang Rai visits revealed strong calls for development in economic opportunities, tourism, infrastructure and quality of life.

Reflect, respect and celebrateListen to this articleAustralian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Oct 26, 2025. Australian Embassy ThailandAustralia Day 2026 is an opportunity to reflect on our nation, history and achievements. This year, we reflect on the Bondi Beach terrorist attack that killed 15 innocent people. Around 100,000 Thai Australians play an important role in modern, multicultural Australia. Under the Mekong-Australia Partnership, Australia continues to invest in the next generation of leaders, offering Master's scholarships for 10 outstanding Thais each year.

The Pheu Thai Party, Democrat Party, People's Party and Thai Sang Thai Party pitched gender-related campaigns at an event titled "Pride Vote: Vote Me If You Can", at SCBX Next Tech, Siam Paragon, earlier this month. "In 2019, we invited political parties to this event to see if they would support marriage equality and civil partnership. Following the legalisation of marriage equality, other laws are still in the pipeline, for example gender recognition and sex work," said Ann "Waaddao" Chumaporn, co-founder of Bangkok Pride. While marriage equality marks the first step towards family building, we want to create a rainbow economy to allow everybody to stand on their own feet," he said. Its campaign for marriage equality paves the way for family building.

A collection of hand-embroidered copes will take viewers to immerse in a haunting world during "Minsterwood", which is running at RCB Galleria 5 of River City Bangkok, Charoen Krung 24, until March 8. This is a visionary exhibition by Belgian artist Wayn Traub, aka Director Jacq, marking a powerful culmination of his over 26-year practice in art, film, music and theatre. Drawing on a lifelong engagement with fabric and narrative, Traub has, since relocating to Thailand in 2012, meticulously developed a series of 25 hand-embroidered copes, inspired by the liturgical stoles of high Catholic clergy. The experience is further deepened by an original soundtrack composed by the artist for the film. Presented alongside the central textile works are a symbolic life-sized red horse and painted religious triptychs by invited contemporary Thai and international artists.

They will be performed by Beijing violinist Min Yang, with piano accompaniment by Usa Napawan from Thailand. Min Yang formerly held the No.4 first violin position with the London Symphony Orchestra. Usa, meanwhile, is a sought-after educator and collaborative pianist who performs regularly with both Thai and international artists in recitals and festivals. She's currently a piano faculty member at international schools and the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music. Funds raised will complete the essential renovations and furnishing of the iCare Children's Home, scheduled for completion by April this year.

An installation by Vietnamese-American artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen transforms remnants of the Vietnam War into healing. Currently running at National Gallery Singapore, Temple invites visitors to strike percussive instruments, including suspended shells, gongs and chimes, to create meditative sound. Water hyacinth mats are also provided for sitting within the installation, creating space for moments of reflection. This interplay of form and colour shows how the artist transforms remnants of conflict into healing. Nguyen said he wants to highlight the residual effects of the Vietnam War that continue to affect the community today.

BLS eyes Q4 earnings growth for SETListen to this articleListed Thai companies are expected to post solid year-on-year earnings growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, with momentum likely to continue into the first quarter of 2026, even as political uncertainty weighs on market sentiment, says Bualuang Securities (BLS). Excluding one-off items, BLS estimates core profit for the SET to increase 11% year-on-year and 1% quarter-on-quarter during the period. Packaging companies are expected to post earnings growth, supported by sales expansion and lower raw material costs. In the hotel sector, earnings momentum is expected to diverge by operator, reflecting variations in revenue per available room. A buy-on-dips strategy with selective sector rotation is recommended by BLS, focusing on stocks with clear earnings visibility from the fourth quarter to the first quarter of 2026.

Listen to this articlePolitical parties are urged to focus on bolstering digital infrastructure to ensure sustainable national development. Political parties need to pay more attention to restructuring the digital economy and bolstering digital infrastructure to ensure sustainable national development, say state executives overseeing digital policies. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president and chief executive of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency, said the digital policies of Bhumjaithai Party, Pheu Thai Party and the People's Party are "not bad", rating them 3.5 out of 5, but they lack focus on how to restructure the digital economy. Although the parties have discussed how to develop the digital economy, Mr Nuttapon said none of them have addressed the fundamental infrastructure needed to ensure national sustainable development. She said the major parties should develop their digital policies to address obstacles in many industries, especially the agriculture sector as farmers have low incomes and high debt.

'Heartbroken' Timberwolves resume NBA play amid Minneapolis turmoilListen to this articleMinnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch talks to reporters before a game in Minneapolis, where a second US citizen was shot and killed by federal agents amid a Trump administration immigration crackdownMINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said the NBA team was "heartbroken" by events unfolding in Minneapolis, where federal agents shot dead a second US citizen amid the Trump administration's mass immigration crackdown. "As an organization, we are heartbroken for what we are having to witness and endure and watch. Both coaches praised the decision to postpone the game, with Timberwolves players especially "uneasy" on Saturday amid the uproar in their city. "Following the news of yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, a city that has been on the forefront of the fight against injustices, NBA players can no longer remain silent," the union said. Two-time NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, who plays for the Indiana Pacers, posted on X: "Alex Pretti was murdered."

Lawyer gets off lightlyListen to this articleA recent high profile case involving a well known Thai lawyer has ignited a fierce public debate, not only about alleged sexual misconduct but about how society responds to such allegations. What is startling is that public comments and questions went beyond the sexual misconduct of the lawyer, who is a member of the Lawyers Council of Thailand board. In this case, netizens seem to have reached the conclusion that consent is equal to willingness. In this case, netizens have given leeway to the accused. When the collective response to an allegation is to dissect a victim's timeline or demeanour, others sexual victims might think twice before going public.

Future will be decided in classroomsListen to this articleStudents at a state school in Thailand. Preparation for the future must begin with education, and currently it is failing far too many children. Education is not just one policy issue among many, it's the foundation on which all successful policies for Thailand's future rest. We hope leaders who care about Thailand's future will see young people as equal partners they can trust and work with us through meaningful, continuous collaboration." Thailand's future will be written by its young people.

Asian defence firms eye win amid global tensionListen to this articleA Dec 8, 2022, photo shows people looking at weapons kept on display at the Vietnam International Defence Expo 2022, in Hanoi, Vietnam. One surprising market winner from all this could be Asian defence firms. Europe's armaments demand is increasingly being met by Asian defence companies, with South Korean firms taking the lead. The Asian defence story is also rooted in the rising "insourcing" of defence manufacturing. While Asian defence firms appear well positioned to outperform this year, significant headwinds remain.