Rak Chart pledges relief for low-income earnersListen to this articleThe Rak Chart Party yesterday canvassed in Samut Sakhon, pledging to ease economic hardship by tackling informal debt, which it described as a major burden on low-income earners. The campaign was led by party leader and former digital economy and society minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn and its prime ministerial candidate Jade Donavanik. Some of them said they have borrowed from loan sharks who charge 20% interest over a 40-day cycle, with repayments demanded daily. Meanwhile, Kannavee Suebsang, the Movement Party leader, campaigned in Suphan Buri's Song Phi Nong to support MP candidate Napatsaran Chatchawalanon in Constituency 2. He said this approach would help create sustainable local income and reduce reliance on national-level economic policies.

Exports set to expand by 4%Listen to this articlePhoto: 123RFThai exports are expected to grow by 2-4% this year due to foreign investment, particularly in the electronics sector, according to the Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC). Dhanakorn Kasetrsuwan, chairman of the TNSC, said exports would reach roughly US$340 billion in 2026, with the electronics sector estimated to grow by 20-25%. The council expects geopolitical conflict and climate change to benefit finished food exports, while rice exports may decline due to India's resumption of shipments. A focal point is the US Supreme Court's ruling on President Donald Trump's tariffs, expected to be announced on Jan 14, he said. Moreover, without the tariffs, businesses may not choose to relocate their production bases to Thailand, which could affect Thai exports in the longer term," Mr Sompol said.

Green energy's unseen toll on our river systemsListen to this articleAt global climate forums, the clean energy transition is framed as progress --necessary, urgent, and inevitable. As minerals move downstream for processing and refining, their origins become harder to trace, while pollution remains embedded in shared river systems that downstream communities must live with. This spending does not restore rivers or stop pollution upstream. This creates layered transboundary harm: pollution originating upstream, compounded by domestic risks from processing and residual waste. Under the polluter pays principle, responsibility must extend to remediation -- restoring river systems, rehabilitating abandoned mines, and supporting affected people.

Coast pays the priceListen to this articleThe flooding caused by high seas that battered coastal communities in Bang Khunthian, Bangkok, last week is a reminder that coastal erosion remains inadequately addressed. Every year, coastal communities such as Bang Khunthian and others along the southern shoreline and the Eastern Seaboard suffer from rising sea levels that not only flood homes but also erode shorelines and coastal land. According to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) under the Ministry of Environment, coastal erosion consumes up to five metres of land, measured from the shoreline, each year. Each year, national and local governments invest hundreds of millions of baht in hard structures such as seawalls to brace against rising seas. Nature-based solutions are also already being tested, such as beach nourishment projects in Pattaya and mangrove reforestation in several coastal communities.

America's new age of empire dawnsListen to this articleA demonstrator wears a mask depicting US President Donald Trump during a protest on Jan 10 in Mexico City against the US strike on Venezuela and the capture of its president. We still remember US president Dwight Eisenhower's valedictory warning about the industrial-military complex that had emerged from World War II. But Mr Trump has never shown much concern for the will of the American people. If most other countries cooperate in the face of this new American imperialism -- as they should -- the long-term prospects for the US could be even worse. But Mr Trump has shown that one does not need absolute power to engage in unprecedented corruption.

Veteran Thai diplomat Tej Bunnag famously says that Thai diplomacy even "bends before the wind blows". Mr Tej -- a former foreign minister -- is also a historian and one of the country's most knowledgeable observers of Thai diplomacy. Yet over the past two years, Thai foreign policy has been "put under the bus", both domestically and internationally. Frequent leadership changes, political instability, and the powerful influence of social media have left Thai foreign policy stagnant. Indeed, under the Anutin government, Thai diplomacy has been more assertive and less ambiguous.

BLS expects equities to lead financial marketsListen to this articlePhoto: 123RFGlobal financial markets are expected to continue gains in 2026, led by global equities as the earnings cycle and artificial intelligence (AI) investment reshape portfolio strategies, according to Bualuang Securities (BLS). Global equities also performed strongly, with the MSCI All Country World Index rising about 20%, while long-term global bonds gained around 7% as interest rates began to decline. Looking ahead, BLS expects positive returns to persist across most asset classes in 2026, though leadership is set to shift. Any move by Europe towards additional tariff measures would have implications for global trade flows, stated Mr Channarong. Several equity markets, led by the US and India, are projected to reach new highs in 2026, underpinned by easing financial conditions and resilient corporate earnings, he said.

Call to reform outdated oil laws to protect energy securityListen to this articlePTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP), Thailand's leading oil and gas company, has warned that outdated petroleum laws could threaten the country's energy security if they are not revised soon. The slowdown forced Thailand to import more liquefied natural gas, which is significantly more expensive than domestic supply. Current rules limit production licences to 30 years, with a possible 10-year extension. Gas production at Bongkot and Erawan has since recovered, but remains below previous levels, producing about 1.2 billion cubic feet per day compared with 2 billion cubic feet before the licence disputes. Mr Montri said reforming petroleum laws is essential to ensure an uninterrupted energy supply and to shield Thai consumers from future price shocks.

Bad debt scheme sees 100,000 sign upListen to this articleA grilled chicken vendor near Chao Pho Suea Shrine at Phra Nakhon, Bangkok. The new debt relief programme recorded more than 100,000 applicants in its first week. Apichart JinakulMore than 100,000 people have applied to be part of the debt restructuring scheme "Clear Debt, Move Forward" during its first week, while 1.2 million borrowers are targeted for the first phase of implementation. The programme is for retail non-performing loans and is jointly implemented by the central bank and SAM. As this type of debt is not yet recorded in NCB databases, it is not included in this assistance programme.

Listen to this articleThe Student Loan Fund (SLF) is preparing to file lawsuits against around 100,000 SLF borrowers to enforce repayment of more than 10 billion baht in unpaid debt. In the past academic year, total repayments amounted to around 27 billion baht, slightly higher than the previous year by 1-2 billion baht. Debts of 1 million baht or more are typically associated with fields that have shortages such as medicine. The fund aims to extend loans to around 800,000 students, with a total loan value of 50 billion baht. As of Oct 31, 2025, more than 7.30 million SLF accounts had been issued.

New SCB chief likely to move over from card divisionListen to this articleSources say Mr Sarut is the next chief. Sarut Ruttanaporn, chief executive of Card X, a subsidiary of SCB X, is expected to be appointed as the next chief executive of SCB, replacing Kris Chantanotoke, whose tenure ends on July 31, 2026, according to bankers familiar with the matter who requested anonymity. Card X is SCB's credit card business. On Friday, SCB X announced Mr Kris will not seek a renewal of his term. Mr Arak is currently deputy chief executive and chief financial officer at SCB X.

The private sector has raised concerns that these moves may underestimate the structural challenges that continue to impede sustainable growth of the Thai tourism industry. The party's tourism policies aim to directly address challenges and offer solutions to long-standing obstacles. Tourism development is also to be prioritised in at least 25 secondary provinces, with an allocation of 200 million baht per province, he said. "In the past, Thai development projects have often suffered from inefficiency and tailored specifications to benefit cronies," said Mr Sittiphol. "It may be difficult for Thai tourism to regain 40 million foreign visitors amid intensifying competition," said Mr Sittiphol.

Boat crash prompts new safety rulesListen to this articleA strict quota on tour guides is among the measures imposed on boat tours at the 'Floating Rain Tree' attraction at Mae Ngat Somboon Chon dam in Sri Lanna National Park. The park has introduced 13 mandatory rules, limited the number of licensed boat guides to 66, and set a Jan 17 registration deadline to promote sustainable and safe tourism. Around the rain tree itself, strict navigation rules apply: boats must keep right, overtake on the left, and reduce speed. Engines can only be restarted after leaving the vicinity to boost safety and reduce pollution. Mr Anon said the measures will help raise Chiang Mai's tourism standards to international safety levels while balancing natural resource use with sustainable conservation.

Napat, Wichayada reign at mixed tourneyListen to this articleNapat Chaipanich and Wichayada Rammuang pose with the winners' trophy. Napat Chaipanich and Wichayada Rammuang won the inaugural Singha Thailand Mixed Team Championship 2026 at Grand Prix Golf Club in Kanchanaburi on Sunday. Napat and Wichayada of Team Dekdong scored a seven-under-par 281 to win the championship. The three-day event, hosted by the Thailand Golf Association, featured 72 men and women golfers from 36 teams, with the winning pair joining the Thailand national team development for 2026. The runners-up and the third-placed team will participate in a match play competition in April.

The TAT targets 3 trillion baht in revenue this year. TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said Thailand's tourism sector needs to act quickly after falling short of targets last year, recording more than 32.9 million arrivals and 2.7 trillion baht. Regarding this year's target of 3 trillion baht, she said domestic tourism is expected to contribute 1 trillion baht from 210 million trips, while foreign income should tally 2 trillion baht from 36.7 million arrivals. Among foreign visitors, short-haul tourists are projected to comprise 70%, with long-haul visitors making up 30%. To position Thailand as a festival hub, the TAT planned events and festivals for every month, including the global electronic dance music festival Tomorrowland.