Pheu Thai makes poll pledge on B40 flat electric rail fareListen to this articlePhiphat: Policy has proved successfulThe Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) on Tuesday pledged to implement its 40-baht flat fare for electric railways within three months of taking office if elected. Party leader and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the policy had already proved successful and is currently in effect on the Red and Purple lines. Building on this, the party plans to introduce its own version of a common ticket system, using EMV credit cards across all rail lines at a uniform fare. Another option would allow private investors to take part in shareholding, which could later be used as collateral for loans. He added that, if elected, the Transport Ministry would instruct the Department of Land Transport to take over management of bus routes, while capping fares for air-conditioned buses at no more than 15 baht.

Listen to this articlePisan Manawapat (photo: People's Party)The People's Party (PP) has officially unveiled the second member of its "people's government" management team, naming veteran diplomat and former senator Pisan Manawapat as its foreign affairs minister candidate. On its Facebook page, the party said the appointment reflects its ambition to unlock bureaucratic reform and head towards "consumable diplomacy". Mr Pisan was among the 13 senators who voted to endorse Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister following the 2023 general election, said the party. Mr Pisan previously served as one of the 250 senators and held ambassadorial posts in the United States, Canada and India. Mr Pisan proposed the concept of "consumable diplomacy" where international relations are linked to the economy, technology, security and people's quality of life, rather than ceremonial gestures.

Ex-Bhumjaithai MP to file DES iris‑scan complaintListen to this articleSupachai: 'Data sold to scammers'Supachai Jaisamut, party-list MP candidate and key Bhumjaithai Party figure, said he will file complaints with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) against former digital economy and society (DES) minister Prasert Jantararuangtong and the ministry's former permanent secretary for allegedly allowing scam networks to obtain iris-scan data of 1.2 million Thai people. At the time, the DES Ministry's Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) and Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) declined to grant permission, citing data-security concerns. However, on June 11 last year, the PDPC discovered that the project was already running, with over 1.2 million participants. The findings were forwarded to Mr Prasert, but he allegedly ignored them and issued no order to suspend the project, nor did he initiate an investigation. Mr Supachai emphasised that this omission has placed highly sensitive data on Thai citizens at serious risk, potentially enabling criminal misuse, such as the creation of mule accounts or facilitating technology-driven crimes.

PM to discuss inter-agency data bureau systemListen to this articlePrime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will attend a Finance Ministry subcommittee meeting Friday under the "Connect the Dots" initiative, aimed at establishing a data bureau system to tackle money laundering and illicit financial flows linked to grey capital. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, who chairs the subcommittee, likened the current system to "blind men touching an elephant". noting that while each agency holds critical data, legal restrictions prevent them from sharing information across institutions. To resolve this, the committee will propose creating an Open API system, allowing agencies to transmit financial data digitally while retaining authority under their own legal frameworks. This would raise Thailand's overall growth above the 2% forecast by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).

Yodchanan hears fishery concernsListen to this articleThe Pheu Thai Party’s main prime ministerial candidate, Yodchanan Wongsawat, visits Samut Sakhon on Tuesday to meet with local fishermen. Pheu Thai PartyPheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat visited Samut Sakhon on Tuesday to meet with local fishing operators and to listen to their concerns on matters affecting Thailand's fishing industry. Mr Yodchanan, together with key Pheu Thai figures and MP candidates, visited the Samut Sakhon Fisheries Association in Muang disitrict. The party acknowledged that Samut Sakhon faces challenges beyond fisheries, including infrastructure, traffic congestion, wages and rising cost of living. One supporter shook his hand and said she had consistently voted for Pheu Thai, urging the party not to disappoint its loyal base.

Western allies agree Ukraine guarantees after Paris 'progress'Listen to this articleThe three leaders signed a declaration on deploying troops to UkrainePARIS (FRANCE) - Ukraine's Western allies on Tuesday agreed key security guarantees for Kyiv including a US-led monitoring mechanism and a European multinational force that would be deployed after a ceasefire in Russia's war against its neighbour. But the security guarantees for Ukraine would only come into force once a ceasefire is agreed to end the almost four-year war sparked by Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of its neighbour. Macron said that Paris could deploy "several thousand" French troops to Ukraine after the war. Allies have "largely finished" agreeing security guarantees for Ukraine "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this ends, it ends forever," he said, flanked by President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Kushner added: "This does not mean that we will make peace, but peace would not be possible without the progress that was made here today."

Thamanat admits Pathum Thani talksListen to this articleCapt Thamanat PrompowCapt Thamanat Prompow, chief adviser to the Klatham Party and its prime ministerial candidate, has confirmed he held political discussions with Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit Toopkrajang, president of the Pathum Thani Provincial Administrative Organisation, as the party steps up efforts to secure parliamentary seats in the province. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Capt Thamanat said the Klatham Party is increasingly confident about its prospects in Pathum Thani and is aiming to win four constituencies, with hopes of possibly securing a fifth. "Frankly, we do have expectations, and those expectations are beginning to take shape," he said, adding a major campaign rally will soon be organised in Pathum Thani. On outreach to younger voters, Capt Thamanat expressed confidence that older voters would play a decisive role. While warning rivals against using "dirty tricks", Capt Thamanat insisted he would not attack opponents on stage.

2.4m register for early poll votingListen to this articleThe Election Commission (EC) has announced that 2,410,425 voters registered to cast their ballots ahead of polling day during the 17-day registration period from Dec 20 to Jan 5. Of this number, 8,247 people registered to vote in advance within their constituencies, while 2,262,643 registered to vote from outside. Advance voting registrations in 2023 were considered record-breaking at the time. EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee said calls to extend the period for out-of-area referendum voting could not be accommodated. Mr Sawaeng noted that the three-day registration window for out-of-area referendum voting provides each eligible voter with 4,320 minutes over that period to register.

(Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters)At least 25 people have ‌been killed in Iran during the first nine days ​of protests that started in the bazaar of Tehran over the plunging value of the currency and soaring inflation, according to rights groups. However, even though smaller, these protests have quickly expanded from an economic focus to broader frustrations, with some protesters chanting against the country’s clerical rulers. Hengaw, a ⁠Kurdish Iranian rights group, put the death toll at 25, including four people under 18. Authorities have acknowledged economic hardships but accused networks linked to ⁠foreign powers of “pushing economic protests toward chaos and disorder”, with the judiciary chief pledging to have no ​mercy toward “rioters”. The rial fell further to 1,489,500 on Tuesday, representing a 4% fall since the protests started.

All domestic rail services in the Netherlands were suspended early on Tuesday after an IT outage compounded disruption across the country’s rail network. Trains began running in parts of the country after 0900 GMT, ‌but problems persisted in the region around Amsterdam, a popular tourist destination. “We haven’t experienced such extreme weather conditions in years,” KLM spokesperson Anoesjka Aspeslagh told Reuters. Parts of Europe, including Britain, France and Germany were bracing for another snow-carrying storm to hit on Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, in the UK, the Meteorological Office on Monday said winter weather hazards could continue throughout the week for most ⁠of the country.

Listen to this articleFrench President Emmanuel Macron greets Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky prior to talks involving allies of Ukraine in Paris on Tuesday. Washington would also commit to “support” a European-led multinational force — deployed in Ukraine after any ceasefire — “in case of” a new attack by Russia, it added. The multinational force to be deployed after a ceasefire would provide “reassurance measures in the air, at sea and on land” for Ukraine and ensure the “regeneration of the armed forces of Ukraine”, it added. There would be US participation in the force “including US capabilities such as intelligence and logistics”, and “a US commitment to support the force in case of attack” by Russia, it said. The draft statement said there would be “binding commitments to support Ukraine in the case of a future armed attack by Russia in order to restore peace”.

Landmines destroy limbs, lives on Bangladesh-Myanmar borderListen to this articleLandmine victim Hossain walks with an artificial leg and crutches and cannot return to his job on a rubber plantation. In the dense hill forests along Bangladesh's border with war-torn Myanmar, villagers are losing limbs to landmines in increasing numbers. (afp)BANDARBAN, Bangladesh - In the dense hill forests along Bangladesh's border with war-torn Myanmar, villagers are losing limbs to landmines, casualties of a conflict not of their making. Bangladesh's 271 kilometre eastern border with Myanmar cuts through forests, much of it unmarked, as well as rivers. In November, a Bangladesh border guard was killed when a landmine tore off both his legs.

Australian Open winners to get $2.79m as prize money hits new highListen to this articleThe Australian Open will offer record prize money in 2026. (Photo: AFP)MELBOURNE - Players at this month's Australian Open will be competing for a record prize pool with organisers on Tuesday announcing a 16 percent increase in the total purse to A$111.5 million (US$75 million). Tournament director Craig Tiley said it reflected Tennis Australia's commitment to supporting tennis careers at every level, from rising stars to Grand Slam champions. "From boosting qualifying prize money by 55% since 2023 to enhancing player benefits, we're ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for all competitors," he said. The tournament gets under way at Melbourne Park on Jan 18, with Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys defending their titles.

Though the Bank of Thailand has tightened oversight of the gold trade, Mr Kritcharat said gold traders are against the regulator’s proposal to impose a tax on gold trade. “Gold traders are willing to cooperate as the central bank steps up controls on gold transactions, but we oppose collecting any kind of tax on gold trading because it could have negative consequences, similar to imposing a capital gains tax on stock trading,” he said. Fourteen major gold traders proposed allowing dollar-denominated trading as a way for the central bank to curb the baht’s rise, said Mr Kritcharat. Gold trading in Thailand currently involves a 15% withholding tax on capital gains for 99.99% purity gold bar forward contracts on the Thailand Futures Exchange. While physical gold sales are generally exempt from value-added tax (VAT), excise tax of 10% may apply to jewellery.

Listen to this articleExplosive ordnance disposal officers and a Thailand Mine Action Center team work at a rubber plantation in Ban Kruat district of Buri Ram on Tuesday. A total of 121 shells have so far been discovered in the border district. In one plantation alone, five shells were discovered on Tuesday in tambon Chanthobphet of Ban Kruat district. Artillery shells are removed from a rubber plantation in Ban Kruat district of Buri Ram on Tuesday. In the tambon, shells were found mainly in rubber and cassava fields, with no reports of impacts on residential areas.