Snow fell over parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas on Friday (January 23) in a frosty prelude to a monster winter storm expected to converge with bitter Arctic cold and engulf much of the United States over the weekend from the Rockies to the Eastern Seaboard. Residents across the U.S. prepared for the storm, buying generators, firewood, and groceries, while outreach workers raced time to offer help to those who are unhoused.

Poll: People’s Party and candidates favourites in Samut PrakanListen to this articlePeople's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut during a photo opp with supporters in Chiang Mai province on Jan 18. (Photo: People's Party)The People's Party, its constituency and prime ministerial candidates are most favoured by voters in Samut Prakan province, according to an opinion poll published just two weeks before the general election by the National Institute of Development Administration. Nida polled 1,067 respondents in Samut Prakan from Jan 15-19 to gauge the popularity of political parties and their prime ministerial candidates ahead of the Feb 8 elections. Asked which prime ministerial candidate they preferred:31.96% of the respondents said People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut20.15% Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul16.31% undecided9.00% Pheu Thai Party’s Yodchanan Wongsawat6.09% Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva4.69% Economic Party leader Rangsee Kitiyanasap2.06% Sirikanya Tansakul from the People’s Party1.87% Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan from the Thai Sang Thai Party1.50% Pheu Thai Party leader Julapun Amornvivat1.03% United Thai Nation Party leader Pirapan SalirathavibhagaAsked which political party's constituency MP candidates they favoured:42.46% of the respondents said the People’s Party18.18% the Bhumjaithai Party14.62% the Pheu Thai Party7.69% undecided6.09% the Democrat Party3.94% the Economic Party1.59% the United Thai Nation PartyWhen asked which party-list they would vote for:

SRTTrain services on the northeastern line affected by the fatal crane collapse in Sikhiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima resumed on Saturday, following safety inspections and certification by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). Many insist that while trains may begin running again, the compensation provided so far does not reflect the scale of loss suffered by victims' families, both emotionally and economically. Scrutiny steps upThe section between Kaeng Khoi, Pak Chong and Nakhon Ratchasima reopened at 5am on Saturday after final safety checks were completed. Despite these assurances, the decision to resume services has drawn mixed reactions from communities near the site, where memories of the tragedy remain raw. Kroekrit Chotthaphiphat, vice-president of the Volunteer Lawyers Unit of Nakhon Ratchasima Lawyers Council, said families could still pursue additional compensation through civil claims.

Klatham MP candidate seeks fairness after EC ban rowListen to this articleA Klatham Party MP candidate in Chaiyaphum is calling for fairness after being disqualified for failing to vote in a previous local election. "When I submitted my application for verification of my eligibility to stand as an MP, I should have been informed much earlier. It should not have taken almost a month, and certainly no more than seven days," he said. During the briefing, Mr Pasit broke down in tears, saying the ruling had cost him time, money and hope after a significant campaign spending. The EC has referred the matter to court, with a ruling due on Monday.

Rapper Eakapan rocks Para Games with 5th goldListen to this articleStellar show: Eakapan Songwichean celebrates after winning the men's 200m individual medley SM5 final. Para swimmer Eakapan Songwichean continued his remarkable campaign at the 13th Asean Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima on Saturday, taking his personal tally to five gold medals after securing two more titles. The 24‑year‑old, who also performs as rapper EarthSN, produced a superb swim in the men's 200m individual medley SM5 final, clocking 3:32.33min to set a new Games record. Eakapan had already claimed gold in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly earlier in the tournament. Archery added further success as Phannibha Srathongmaew and Wasana Kuthawisap edged Vietnam 142‑141 in a tense women's doubles compound open final to secure gold.

Pitchamon, a former world junior champion, has two Super 100 titles -- the 2023 Malaysia Super 100 and the 2025 Baoji China Masters. Like Pitchamon, Panitchaphon is targeting his biggest career win. Panitchaphon had a breakthrough season last year, winning his first World Tour title at the Super 100 Vietnam Open. He was a runner-up at the Kaohsiung Masters, also a Super 100 event. Christiansen and Boje were runners-up to Thai duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran at the India Open last Sunday.

Statue rivalry sows conflictListen to this articleThe destruction of a Hindu god statue on contested land between Thailand and Cambodia by the Thai military last month was appalling. Yet just as the issue began to subside, the authorities created fresh controversy by replacing the ruined statue with a Buddha image -- a move that is unforgivably thoughtless by any measure. The new image, Buddha under Naga's Protection, was erected at Ban Chom Kasan in Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani, directly opposite Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, supposedly to boost morale. Near the Chong An Ma crossing, the Thai military bulldozed the towering Vishnu statue on Dec 22, shortly before both sides declared a truce. Placing a Buddha image atop the ruins of a Vishnu statue crosses a line.

Julian's wonderful way with wordsListen to this articleThis week's column is being written with much sadness after learning my old friend and colleague Julian Spindler has passed away in Bangkok from cancer at the age of 80. Below are my memories of Julian in his early days in Thailand. I think it was 1971 when I first met Julian at the Bangkok Post when he became a writer for the Financial Post. He had a wonderful way with words and I was envious of his extensive vocabulary. GapIn his early days at the Post Julian met his wife-to-be Kanjana (Gap) and they went on to have a son Chris.

Kingdom's futsal stars ready for Asian Cup challengeListen to this articleThailand's national futsal squad have departed for Indonesia for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026, where they will contest in Group B alongside Vietnam, Kuwait and Lebanon. The squad, trimmed to 14 players under new head coach Rakpol Sainetngarm, left Bangkok on Saturday following a three‑week training camp. Rakpol, appointed earlier this month, said the group had responded well to the limited preparation time and was ready to compete. Selection was complicated by injuries to Apiwat Chamjaroen, Teerapat Muansri and Thanachote Saosawang, reducing the training group to 18 before the final cut. "It was difficult to reduce from 21 to 14," Rakpol admitted.

Troops finish clearance of deadly landminesListen to this articleFootage from a mobile phone, recovered by the Royal Thai Navy’s Humanitarian Mine Action Unit near Phu Makua in Si Sa Ket in August last year, purportedly shows Cambodian troops laying PMN-2 landmines in the area. Armed forces have finished clearing landmines along the Thai-Cambodian border in Si Sa Ket, opening safe access after all explosive threats were removed. The Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters' Thailand Mine Action Center (TMAC) on Saturday reported progress in mine clearance operations in the area. Meanwhile, another EOD team cleared 1,485m² at the Ma Lekoperational base in Kantharalak district and found four PMN-2 landmines and one unexploded 100-millimetre mortar round. He rejected allegations from Cambodia regarding Thai forces' damage to heritage sites and Cambodian civilians' properties, stressing respect for human rights, cultural heritage.

Mr Pita is the former leader of the Move Forward Party, the PP's defunct predecessor. Mr Anutin, also prime minister, brushed aside criticism on social media against his party as an attempt to dent his party's rising popularity in some constituencies. On Mr Pita's return and the resurfacing of his controversial and dismissive remarks about the role of the military, Mr Anutin responded cautiously, saying it was possible such rhetoric could re-emerge but declined to comment further. Mr Pita on Jan 23 posted a photo on Facebook showing him on a flight back to Thailand with the caption "Okay, see you" with a flame emoji. Earlier, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, chair of the Progressive Movement, said Mr Pita's return was planned for the campaign's final stretch, following an outreach to Thai voters overseas.

Lobster gains recognitionListen to this articlePHUKET: The tourist island's famed "seven-colour lobster" has received a geographical indication (GI), marking a major milestone for the local seafood industry. Phuket governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn said the Department of Intellectual Property formally granted the GI to "Phuket lobster", recognising its unique identity with its seven colours. The GI shows that the lobster's distinctive characteristics are closely linked to its geographical origin and cannot be replicated elsewhere. The designation is expected to enhance consumer confidence while adding value. Mr Nirat said the recognition would directly benefit the community economy, boosting incomes for fishermen and local entrepreneurs.

6 held in retiree scamListen to this articlePattaya: A British man and five Thai women have been arrested for allegedly running an investment scam that deceived more than 400 victims, many of them retirees, police said. The suspects were detained in Chon Buri and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces by police from the Economic Crime Suppression Division. Investigators said the group was led by a woman identified only as Pornparuehat, who ran a restaurant and bar in South Pattaya used to approach victims, particularly retired foreigners. The suspects organised fundraising events in Pattaya, police said, adding victims were added to chat groups and sent fabricated financial records. The suspects were charged with public fraud and inputting false information into a computer system, which they deny.

Five linked to card fraudListen to this articlePolice have arrested five people in a credit card fraud case that caused losses of about 18.4 million baht. Investigators said the group advertised on Facebook, claiming they could increase credit limits in exchange for a 10% share from interested victims. The suspects used the credit card information to contact banks and request higher limits by issuing fake cheques as guarantees, depositing them on Fridays to exploit banking holidays before funds could be cleared. During this window, the credit cards were used to purchase assets such as gold, causing a total damage of 18.4 million baht, police said. Officers seized cash, gold, forged cheques, electronic cards and mobile phones, police said.

Listen to this articlePheu Thai prime ministerial candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat campaigns for votes in Bang Na district, Bangkok, on Saturday. Pheu Thai PartyThe Pheu Thai Party's (PT) proposal to distribute nine million baht a day has provoked a fierce backlash, with critics condemning it as an extravagant populist measure and an unethical use of taxpayers' money. The initiative, dubbed "Creating Nine Millionaires a Day", would award one million baht each to nine people every day, said PT prime ministerial candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat. Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader and prime ministerial candidate of the Democrat Party, said the scheme would deliver little sustainable benefit. Korn Chatikavanij, deputy leader and another Democrat prime ministerial candidate, criticised the policy as a wasteful redistribution of taxpayers' money with negligible economic or social impact.