Woman begs to save grandsonListen to this articleA 73-year-old grandmother in Buri Ram seeks help in rescuing and repatriating her grandson, allegedly trafficked and abused by a call-centre gang in Phnom Penh. BURI RAM: Police have stepped up efforts after a 73-year-old grandmother appealed for help to rescue her grandson, who is allegedly being held and abused by a call-centre gang in Cambodia. Pol Col Manasawut Banyong, superintendent of Lahan Sai Police Station, said Ms Buakhai's account was consistent with information gathered during field inquiries. She recalled that in November last year, a well-dressed woman from Nakhon Ratchasima spent three to four days accompanying her grandson. The neighbour, Ms Lawan, said she helped coordinate assistance after seeing the distressing footage.

Govt to name politicians linked to scams, gamblingListen to this articleThe government will soon name politicians suspected of links to "grey capital" after investigations identified about 10 former MPs and election candidates allegedly connected to scam networks and online gambling operations, Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob said yesterday. Mr Chaichanok said the justice minister would provide further updates once evidence has been fully verified, while stressing that authorities already have solid evidence, including financial transaction trails. He said those under scrutiny include current election candidates as well as former MPs, and that they come from more than one political party, adding that the list could grow as investigations expand. Asked whether the probe could affect the election atmosphere, Mr Chaichanok said legal action would be taken based on evidence, regardless of the upcoming election. Sawaeng Boonmee, secretary-general of the Election Commission, said election candidates arrested for gambling or scam links would remain eligible if they are released before polling day on Feb 8.

Anutin's 'four risks' headline capital bidListen to this articleBhumjaithai (BJT) leader and prime ministerial candidate Anutin Charnvirakul launched the party's Bangkok campaign on Thursday, urging voters to hand BJT a majority mandate and outlining what he called a comprehensive "four‑risk" policy framework to safeguard livelihoods and national stability. Campaigning in Huai Khwang district, Mr Anutin surprised residents by travelling between communities on a motorcycle to canvass for constituency candidates. Asked how Bhumjaithai intends to win over Bangkok voters, despite lacking a history of victory in the capital, Mr Anutin said the party is offering a clear "four‑risk" agenda covering economic risks, security risks, natural disaster risks and social risks. He expressed confidence over the party's prospects in Bangkok but stressed that the final decision rests with voters. Rejecting attacks on rival parties' policies, Mr Anutin argued that undermining others does not benefit the public.

RTAF ready for Children's Day air showListen to this articleA rehearsal takes place ahead of the Air Force's National Children's Day air show on Saturday which will feature a host of fighter jets and a display by F-16 fighter jets at the Royal Thai Air Force base, Don Muang. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Don Muang district is expected to attract crowds in the hundreds of thousands for the annual National Children's Day air show on Saturday, with aviation authorities rolling out extensive preparations to ensure safety and minimise disruption to commercial flights. Air Force spokesman Air Marshal Chakkrit Thammavichai said on Friday that the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is fully prepared for the 2026 Children's Day celebrations, which this year fall on Jan 10, describing the occasion as vital for inspiring young people and fostering public pride in the Air Force's capabilities. He urged the public to view them as part of a one-day event dedicated to children and youth. Attendance is difficult to predict, but past events suggest a massive turnout, with last year's Air Force anniversary drawing about 130,000 visitors.

Clerical rule meets public wrath in IranListen to this articleWidespread popular dissent in the Islamic Republic of Iran is often rooted in opposition to its clerical dictatorship and discontent with its draconian religious edicts. Speaking separately, President Donald Trump said, "If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue." Revive funding for RFE/RL/Radio Farda for Iran; restore US government support so it may continue to serve as a credible news source. Keep up the rhetorical political pressure on the regime from the United States, Canada and European states, and importantly, key Asian and Latin American countries. Meanwhile, the recent US actions in Venezuela pose a stark warning to Iran's regime that impunity may be running out.

Thailand's local vote still mattersListen to this articleLocal voters in Or Bor Tor Tah Chang celebrate their mayor's victory on Jan 11, 2019. Without that responsiveness, local government becomes symbolic: present in form but limited in function. Local leaders may be elected, but they are not empowered. Local elections do not fix structural constraints, but they illuminate them. Thailand cannot continue electing local leaders while denying them the tools to lead with purpose and integrity.

Burnout, in this context, is not experienced as failure but as continuity, folded quietly into the everyday business of keeping things moving. People learn to tolerate inefficiency, to move around obstacles, to accept that things rarely settle into clarity, and to treat endurance not as a temporary state but as a stable one. Commitments accumulate without a clear moment of excess, and stopping begins to feel disproportionate to the relief it might offer. Choices are made according to feasibility rather than desire and adjustment begins to feel like the only responsible response to uncertainty. The risk, then, is not burnout as a crisis, but burnout as an accommodation.

Swing voters poised to decide Feb 8 pollListen to this articleThis file photo from Wednesday shows election banners on a street in Bangkok. The swing vote -- particularly in Bangkok, where it hit a record 47.35% -- will be a decisive factor in determining victory for both the People's Party (PP) and Bhumjaithai (BJT). The situation is challenging for the PP, as undecided voters largely comprise those with no clear political affiliation and who are neither strongly left- nor right-leaning. As the survey indicates, pledges to curb grey influence in politics and crack down on corruption are, for now, insufficient to win over undecided voters. After the 2023 election, voters witnessed a dramatic realignment, with Pheu Thai forming a coalition with right-wing, pro-military parties.

EC turns a blind eyeListen to this articleAs the election campaign intensifies ahead of the Feb 8 deadline, some political parties have found themselves the target of organised misinformation and political smearing by their rivals, an act punishable under the election law. Some are trying to take advantage of legal loopholes by not explicitly naming the other party in their smear campaigns. The poll agency must find the culprits. It is unfortunate that the EC is doing quite the opposite -- and moving sluggishly. By not taking a more proactive approach, it creates the impression that the poll agency lacks sincerity, or even neutrality.

Thai Honda debuts local electric motorcycle modelListen to this articleMr Shimizu, second left, and Mr Mihara, third right, launch Thai Honda's first electric motorcycle in Bangkok. The new model, UC3, was designed by a Thai engineer and is scheduled for production at Thai Honda's local factory. To support the rollout, Thai Honda plans to expand charging infrastructure nationwide. According to the company, Thailand's total motorcycle sales tallied 1.73 million units last year, with projections for 2026 ranging between 1.68-1.73 million units. Thai Honda predicts its sales to reach 1.36-1.40 million units this year, slightly down from 1.40 million last year.

Thailand cannot afford to ignore Vietnam's momentum, said Jongjarern Jomjakra, assistant chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (ThaiCham). Vietnam's government set an ambitious target of 10% annual GDP growth by 2030, after recording an estimated 8% expansion in 2025. These moves are designed to draw tourists away from Thailand, which has long been the region's tourism powerhouse, he said. By opening up to private enterprise, foreign investment and global trade, Vietnam set itself on a path to become one of Asia's fastest-growing economies. In 2024, Vietnam attracted US$38 billion in foreign direct investment, compared with $32 billion for Thailand, Mr Jongjarern said.

Mixed duo, Ratchanok fall in Malaysia Open quartersListen to this articleMixed doubles players Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran in action during their quarter-final match. (Badminton Photo)Mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran bowed out in the quarter-finals of the US$1,450,000 (approx 46,400,000 baht) BWF Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. The defending champions lost to Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund of Denmark 12-21, 21-8, 19-21 in the day's huge upset. Women's singles hope Ratchanok Intanon also exited the tournament in the last-eight stage yesterday. Men's second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who beat Koki Watanabe of Japan 21-12, 21-14 on Thursday, was to face France's Alex Lanier in a late match on Friday.

Pheu Thai 'declares war on poverty'Listen to this articlePheu Thai prime ministerial candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat is warmly welcomed as he and key members of the party campaigned in Chiang Mai on Friday. (Photo: Pheu Thai Party)Pheu Thai has unveiled a flagship welfare policy pledging annual cash top-ups of up to 36,000 baht for low-income earners, aiming to lift an estimated 3.4 million people above the national poverty line. Deputy party leader Paopoom Rojanasakul said on Friday the "Thais Without Poverty" policy is based on the country's official poverty threshold of around 3,000 baht per month, or 36,000 baht a year. People earning 20,000 baht would get 16,000 baht, while those earning 30,000 baht would receive 6,000 baht. The subsidy would taper off until it reaches zero for those already earning 36,000 baht or more.

(Photo: Nutthawat Wichienbut)About 168 million ballot papers in three colours will be printed for constituency, party-list and referendum voting, the Election Commission (EC) said, based on voter numbers and contingency reserves. The EC recently issued a detailed clarification regarding the printing and allocation of three types of ballots for the upcoming general election. The printed materials include constituency ballots for MPs, party-list MP ballots and referendum voting cards. In total, 168.3 million ballots and voting cards will be printed: the party-list ballots in pink, the constituency ballots in green and referendum cards in yellow. Last month, the cabinet approved the allocation of the 8.978-billion-baht budget to the EC to support election and referendum operations.

Vets treat two white lions rescued near borderListen to this articleA veterinarian team from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is seen with one of two confiscated white lions suffering from severe digestive illness at Khao Son Wildlife Breeding Station in Ratchaburi. (Photo: DNP)A team of veterinarians has been deployed to care for two confiscated white lions rescued near the Thai–Cambodian border in Trat province, with long-term rehabilitation plans now underway. The lions -- a female named Merry and a male named Christmas -- have been receiving treatment at the Khao Son Wildlife Breeding Station in Ratchaburi since Dec 25. They were rescued with assistance from Thai Marine Corps personnel during an operation near Ban Tha Sen in tambon Chamrak, Muang district. The two lions were among five wild animals abandoned inside a casino on the Cambodian side of the border.