Pheu Thai pledges to curb debtListen to this articlePheu Thai ramped up its campaign in the Northeast yesterday, with party leader and prime ministerial candidate Julapun Amornvivat leading rallies in Nong Bua Lam Phu to promote policies to curb rising household debt and improve living standards. Mr Julapun, accompanied by party executives and local candidates, campaigned for Phitsanu Hatthasongkhro, the eighth candidate in Constituency 1, and Rungphet Srikanchana, the third candidate in Constituency 2. Addressing supporters, Mr Julapun urged voters not to be discouraged by the departure of former MPs, saying Pheu Thai is committed to the province and called on voters to help the party secure a parliamentary majority. "Pheu Thai is not seeking political confrontation. He said Pheu Thai has a proven record of delivering tangible benefits, citing initiatives such as the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme, village funds and SML community funds.

US ambition to take Greenland remains intact, says DenmarkListen to this articleFrance, Sweden, Germany and Norway announced Wednesday that they would deploy military personnel as part of a reconnaissance mission to Greenland's capital Nuuk. (Photo: AFP)NUUK — Washington's ambition to take control of Greenland remained intact, Denmark said on Thursday, as a European military mission arrived on the mineral-rich strategic Arctic island, drawing a sharp rebuke from Russia. The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday. "However, this does not change the fact that there is a fundamental disagreement, because the American ambition to take over Greenland remains intact," Frederiksen said. The head of government's comment came as European military personnel had begun arriving in Greenland.

The fight had been set for ONE Fight Night 39 next week at Lumpinee Stadium, but Filipino-American Climaco suffered a foot injury in camp. There will be no short-notice replacement fight for Ghazali, leaving the 19-year-old Malaysian off the January 24 card entirely. Since that breakout run – four straight wins, three by finish – Ghazali has gone 2–3 across ONE Fight Night and numbered events, with the promotion continuing to take a measured approach to his development. However, that fight is now off the table after Puric was released by ONE Championship earlier this week. Masdor is still fighting for a full-time ONE contract and could yet join Ghazali on the main roster with an impressive finish.

People’s Party’s diplomatic 'elegance' rings hollowListen to this articleNatthaphong Ruengpanyawut, People’s Party leader, during a Jan 11 campaign rally. (Photo: Reuters)On Jan 11, the People’s Party held a high-profile event to showcase its “People’s Government”, offering a glimpse of its proposed executive leadership. Economic growth under a People’s Party government focused on integrating Thailand into high-tech East Asian supply chains. However, I view Mr Pisan’s speech as merely the tip of the iceberg of a deep-seated identity crisis within the People’s Party. In the context of Thai diplomacy, “elegance” is often used to mask a failure to stand by universal principles.

The attacks are clearly symbolic, pressuring the state to pay much more attention to the deep South. The southern violence has been overshadowed by the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, which dominated headlines over the past two to three months. While the Pileng incident was happening, a series of arson attacks were carried out at 20 schools elsewhere across Narathiwat. Most importantly, do not forget that peace in the deep South cannot be achieved through military means alone; sustained and inclusive dialogue on peace is essential to break the cycle of violence and mistrust. Long-term peace needs consistent political commitment, protection of civilians, economic development, promotion of equality, respect for different identities and addressing underlying grievances.

Improved connectivity would not only support tourism but also raise productivity and unlock new business opportunities nationwide, he said. "If there is no economic reform, Thailand's GDP growth is expected to remain persistently low at just 1-2% a year. These industries, which have driven economic growth for more than 30 years, are becoming outdated, leading to factory closures and production cuts. After that, growth could return to 4-5% if economic reform and industrial transformation are successfully implemented," he said. Mr Kobsak said economic stimulus measures that support growth and improve public welfare, such as co-payment schemes and domestic tourism incentives, are acceptable.

The setting echoed the new Planet Ocean itself: architectural, purposeful and inseparable from its marine roots. Regarded as the brand’s first true professional dive watch, it became a favourite of oceanographic pioneers including Jacques Cousteau. The fourth-generation Planet Ocean, launched in 2025, represents the most comprehensive revision in the collection’s history. Once a defining Planet Ocean feature, the valve has been omitted in favour of a cleaner, more symmetrical case profile. “On its 20th anniversary, we have reimagined this iconic timepiece… With the Planet Ocean, we’ve always felt there are no boundaries to what we can achieve.”

Kunlavut, Ratchanok make India quartersListen to this articleDechapol Puavaranukroh plays a shot as Supissara Paewsampran looks on during their last 16 match at the India Open. (Badminton Photo)Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Ratchanok Intanon stormed into the quarter-finals of the US$950,000 (approx 30,400,000 baht) BWF India Open in New Delhi yesterday. Kunlavut is off to a perfect start to the year after winning the season-opening Malaysia Open -- his first-ever Super 1000 title -- on Sunday. Chasing her fourth title in India, the 30-year-old made short work of Mia Blichfeldt, knocking out the Danish player 21-16, 21-11 in 34 minutes. Another Thai women's singles player, Busanan Ongbamrungphan, also exited the tournament after losing to Chen Yufei of China 11-21, 13-21.

Govt asks US to clarify visa suspensionListen to this articleThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally asked the United States to clarify its decision to suspend the processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, including Thailand. According to the explanation provided so far, the suspension applies only to immigrant visas, intended for individuals seeking permanent residence and eventual US citizenship. Mr Sihasak stressed that the measure does not affect non-immigrant visas, including those held by Thai students, businesspeople or tourists. However, Mr Sihasak questioned the inclusion of Thailand in the list, saying the number of illegal Thai immigrants in the US is relatively low compared with some countries which are not included in the suspension. "The US government needs to clarify the policy and ensure coordination across its agencies."

King expresses sorrowListen to this articleHis Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen have expressed deep concern and sorrow over the deadly construction crane collapse in Nakhon Ratchasima province. His Majesty placed all injured victims under royal patronage within the royal medical system. In addition, His Majesty granted financial assistance to support funeral arrangements, with each family of the deceased receiving 20,000 baht. Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a message of condolence to His Majesty the King, conveying his deepest sympathies and support to the families and loved ones of the victims. Mr Putin also extended wishes for a swift recovery to all those injured in the derailment.

Election Commission confident about polling dayListen to this articleThe Election Commission conducts a simulation for election officials to prepare them for the upcoming general election and referendum, at Impact Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)The Election Commission (EC) is confident the upcoming general election and referendum will proceed smoothly following a full-scale simulation exercise, stressing that voters will be required to verify their identity twice to ensure accuracy and prevent confusion. He said this would be the first time election staff handle a general election and a referendum simultaneously within a single voting process, making preparation and coordination especially important. The simulation was conducted to identify potential weaknesses in voting, referendum procedures and vote counting, allowing the EC to refine operations ahead of polling day, Mr Phasakorn said. The EC urged voters to follow polling procedures closely to ensure a smooth voting process on election day.

Listen to this articleYodchanan Wongsawat, prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu Thai Party, right, and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a former premier, are seen during a rally in Bangkok on Jan 8. While the same trend appears in train this time, it is instructive to examine each of the three main contesting parties in view of the broader development in Thailand's political party system. The main reason Thai political parties have been weak is that they have been systematically kept off balance and on the back foot. Along the way, a conventional narrative has been constructed and popularised to paint political parties and elected politicians as electoral scumbags bent on corruption and graft. Leading the incumbent minority government under Mr Anutin, Bhumjaithai has benefited from defectors from other parties, including the entire Chart Thai Pattana and factions of Pheu Thai, Palang Pracharath, United Thai Nation, and the Democrat parties.

Listen to this articleThe Thai General Insurance Association said AI is already deeply embedded in insurance operations, yet the technology introduced a more competitive landscape and new fraud-related risks. Somporn Suebthawilkul, president of the Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA), said AI has already become deeply embedded in insurance operations, with tangible benefits demonstrated over the past year. Insurers have leveraged AI to enhance the customer experience through data collection, premium calculation, claims tracking and operational efficiency. "The industry must prepare for a much more complex competitive landscape driven by technological changes," Mr Somporn said. According to Jarae Sithiwong, a partner at Baker McKenzie, AI technology is expected to transform how businesses operate, make decisions, and interact with customers, shifting AI from a support function to an autonomous digital workforce.

As the nation grieves -- and understandably grows angry -- let us be clear: these incidents were the result of weak law enforcement that has repeatedly failed to improve safety at public construction sites. This is not the first time ITD has been linked to serious accidents, including previous crane-related incidents on Rama II Road. Despite their records, these companies continue to operate at other public construction sites. One can only hope that the next government will finally place public safety at the top of its agenda. What is needed now is leadership that cares enough to make an independent national safety committee a reality.

When infrastructure meets AIListen to this articleA technician works at an Amazon Web Services AI data centre in the US. While generative AI can write code or summarise documents, building real-world assets like bridges and power grids requires what we might call "cognitive infrastructure": difficult-to-access data, human expertise, domain knowledge, and institutions through which to deploy new tools for planning and delivery. Like electricity without a power grid, AI without this foundation will remain a source of untapped potential. The opportunity to improve how we build things comes just as the geopolitics of infrastructure is shifting. Whoever can turn infrastructure from a source of climate risk into a shared, intelligent platform for sustainable prosperity will have something to teach everyone.