New Mekong riverside road due March next year
New Mekong riverside road due March next yearConstruction of the Naka Vithi Mekong riverside road is now 44% finished. Department of Rural RoadsThe Naka Vithi Mekong riverside road project, aimed at boosting cross-border trade, transport and tourism between Thailand and Laos, is expected to be completed by March next year, the Department of Rural Roads (DRR) said. The project runs from the Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge in Mukdahan to the iconic Phra That Phanom monument in Nakhon Phanom, covering 43.5 km. Once completed, the road will enhance connectivity in Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom, support cross-border commerce, improve transport efficiency, and promote tourism along the Mekong. The road will serve as a scenic route, offering safer travel while boosting the local economy.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 04:21 UTC
MP candidate blames ants for burning his house
MP candidate blames ants for burning his houseFlames engulf the house in Muang district, Chaiyaphum, early on Wednesday morning. Photos: Makkawan WannakulCHAIYAPHUM: An MP candidate in this northeastern province blamed ants for causing a fire that completely razed his house early on Wednesday morning. He said that ants often built nests inside power outlets and he had to frequently clean the sockets. However, lately he was not at home and ants' nests packed wall sockets and possibly caused the fire. Mr Sochoke was an MP candidate of the United Thai Nation.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 04:20 UTC
India look forward to Pakistan 'challenge' after T20 World Cup U-turn
India look forward to Pakistan 'challenge' after T20 World Cup U-turnPakistani and Indian cricket fans. NEW DELHI - India said on Tuesday it would be "a challenge" to face a "quality" Pakistan team in Colombo after Islamabad U-turned and decided to play the blockbuster T20 World Cup clash. It means a quick turnaround for Sunday's match, the biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket. The last time the teams met, at last year's T20 Asian Cup, India beat Pakistan three times on their way to lifting the trophy in Dubai. "We want strong teams to play so that the charm of the World Cup is not lost," he added.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 04:11 UTC
Colombian senator kidnapped, president targeted in election run-up
Colombian senator kidnapped, president targeted in election run-upThis video grab taken from handout footage released by the Colombian Defense Ministry shows Colombian Indigenous senator Aida Quilcue hugging people after being freed from kidnapping in Cauca department, Colombia on February 10, 2026BOGOTá - A Colombian senator was rescued from kidnappers Tuesday as the country's president reported an attempt on his own life in the run-up to elections that observers have warned could be marred by violence. President Gustavo Petro had earlier warned the kidnappers to release Quilcue or risk crossing "a red line." Last week, a Colombian observer group said more than 300 municipalities -- a third of the national territory -- are at risk of electoral violence. There has been a surge in violence in Colombia ahead of this year's presidential elections, with bomb and drone attacks in parts of the country and the assassination of a presidential hopeful. The country is slated to hold legislative elections on March 8 and presidential elections on May 31, with a runoff planned for June if needed.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 04:00 UTC
New York model, carved in a basement, to on display
New York model, carved in a basement, to on displayJoe Macken spent more than two decades creating the scale model of New York City in his basement. NEW YORK - A painstakingly detailed model of New York City will go on display this week after a US truck driver spent 21 years building it in his basement as an evening hobby. The exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York opens on Thursday and runs through the summer. The final display joins together more than 300 of the polystyrene boards to depict the entirety of New York City, including its waterways. The largest model of New York is the Panorama, which is also the world's largest architectural scale model -- spanning more than 836m².
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 03:55 UTC
Export curbs ‘will stop scammers rebuilding’
(Photo: Army Military Force Facebook Page)The cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged updated regulations governing export-controlled goods along Thailand’s eastern border, including construction materials such as cement and steel. The measures are aimed at preventing such materials from being used to repair buildings linked to cyber-scam operations in Cambodia, acting Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit said. The proposal also builds on controls already enforced along the Thailand–Myanmar border, where regulations were strengthened to curb scam-related activities. By contrast, he said, oversight along the Thai–Cambodian border still relied on outdated rules, some of which primarily cover fuel and no longer reflect current conditions. The updated regulations are intended to modernise and standardise enforcement across both borders, ensuring consistency in the control of goods that could be exploited by criminal networks, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 02:01 UTC
Roaring global growth is emerging
Roaring global growth is emergingA pedestrian walks past an electronic quotation board displaying the foreign exchange rate of the Japanese yen against the US dollar in Tokyo, yesterday. AFPThe chaotic newsflow, geopolitical shape-shifting and wild market swings of 2026 have clouded one basic signal: the global economy is racing forward. Financial stocks, too, have risen more than twice that of their global stock benchmarks, and small caps are revving up as well. Meanwhile, the catalysts for a global cyclical upswing are mounting. It's also entirely possible these loose global conditions will eventually come back to haunt the financial world via bond market ructions.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 01:39 UTC
Japanese PM Takaichi comes out on top
Japanese PM Takaichi comes out on topJapanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has just scored an unprecedented victory in the country's general election. Only moments after Ms Takaichi became the LDP's president last October, the party's coalition partner of a quarter-century, Komeito, abruptly defected. Ms Takaichi survived the first shock by forming a new coalition with a smaller party closer to her own policy line. Ms Takaichi wants to abolish this practice and rely on a single budget at the start of the year. Ms Takaichi wants to correct this, and she has made explicit recognition of the constitutionality of Japan's armed forces central to the LDP's identity.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 01:36 UTC
NACC timing questioned
NACC timing questionedAs winning political parties begin forming alliances and the public waits for a new government to address bread-and-butter issues, the National Anti-Corruption Commission's (NACC) decision to move against former MPs from the People's Party is, to say the least, poorly timed. On Monday, the NACC issued a statement announcing its unanimous decision to refer former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat and 43 other former lawmakers to the Supreme Court for alleged serious ethical violations. Regardless of political ideology, the case raises serious questions about the role of independent agencies in relation to parliament and elected lawmakers. Among them are People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, widely tipped to become leader of the opposition in the new House, deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun, and outspoken MP Rangsiman Rome. Leaving political ideology aside, the final court ruling could have far-reaching consequences for the parliamentary system.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 01:36 UTC
Reinvent Thailand to revive growth
Reinvent Thailand to revive growthThe Thai flag is seen against the skyline of the capital, the day after the general election on Monday. The message is simple but urgent: if Thailand is to return to a path of high, inclusive, and sustainable growth, economic reform is unavoidable -- but economic reform alone will not be enough. International indicators show that Thailand delivers relatively solid outcomes in infrastructure provision, macroeconomic management, public health, and poverty reduction. Thailand performs far less well in areas that matter most for future growth -- education and environment quality, innovation, and industrial policy. Especially in industrial policy, which is crucial to reviving economic growth and depends heavily on state capacity, several indicators show that Thailand scores below the global average and behind regional peers.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 01:36 UTC
TFEX to trade carbon credits, digital assets
The cabinet has approved a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) notification to expand the range of underlying assets allowed in the derivatives market. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said this will add carbon credits, greenhouse gas emission allowances, and digital assets as eligible references for trading on the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX). First, carbon credits will be upgraded from a mere reference variable to a "deliverable underlying asset," enabling trading through both physical delivery and cash settlement. Third, digital assets -- including cryptocurrencies and digital tokens -- will be recognised as underlying assets, expanding regulatory coverage and supporting both domestic and international investment in line with the rapid growth of digital asset markets. Many countries, he said, already trade carbon credits, emission allowances, clean energy certificates and digital assets in futures markets.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 00:33 UTC
Brokerages upbeat on investment
Under the proposal, individuals would be allowed to invest up to 500,000 baht per year through the TISA scheme. To accelerate early adoption, an additional special investment allowance of 300,000 baht per year would be granted during the first two years of implementation. Through successive enhancements to investment incentives and savings policies, the index has since climbed beyond 50,000 points, highlighting the long-term impact of structural capital market reforms, he noted. "We will submit the proposal to caretaker finance minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas in the near future on behalf of the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations," said Mr Paiboon. Maybank anticipates the caretaker finance minister to push through his "FastPass" foreign direct investment approval process, which could help unlock 1.9 trillion baht in investment projects.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 11, 2026 00:32 UTC
PTTEP greenlights greenfield project
SET-listed PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) has decided to invest in a new offshore petroleum site in Malaysia, the company's first greenfield development project in the country, in a move to support long-term growth. PTTEP Sarawak Oil Limited, a subsidiary of PTTEP and the operator of the SK405B project, has made a final investment decision (FID) for the Sirung and Chenda fields in the Malaysian SK405B project. "This marks our first FID for greenfield developments in Malaysia, one of our strategic countries," said PTTEP chief executive Montri Rawanchaikul. First oil production is targeted for 2028, with a combined production capacity of approximately 15,000 barrels per day, said Mr Montri. PTTEP Sarawak Oil holds a 49.5% participating interest in the SK405B project, with Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd holding 25% and Mitsui Energy Development Co holding 25.5%.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 23:42 UTC
Govt clears visa revamp
Govt clears visa revampThe cabinet on Tuesday endorsed a comprehensive visa package proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to boost tourism, attract long-stay visitors and stimulate the economy. Deputy government spokeswoman Aiyarin Phanrit said the measures, implemented in phases, aim to enhance Thailand's appeal to tourists, remote workers and long-term residents. With visa-free entry for nationals of 93 countries for up to 60 days, and an expanded Visa on Arrival (VoA) scheme for 31 territories in effect, the new Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) caters to remote workers, while the Non-Immigrant ED Plus visa allows foreign students to work while they study. In the medium term, the MFA will streamline non-immigrant visas, with the target of reducing the categories from 17 to seven by Aug 31 this year. while future plans include adding eight more countries to the VoA scheme and revising the criteria for long-stay retirement visas.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 23:31 UTC
Telecom urges quicker state digital reforms
Telecom urges quicker state digital reformsThe new government is being advised to prioritise regulatory easing to attract greater foreign investment in digital infrastructure, enhance workforce skills, and promote the adoption of new technologies. Col Sanpachai Huvanandana, president of National Telecom (NT), said a one-stop service should be set up to facilitate foreign investment in digital infrastructure. In addition, Thai telecom operators should not compete too aggressively to woo customers, as this leads to overinvestment in infrastructure, said Col Sanpachai. Another technology that has attracted global attention is roadside infrastructure for the development of autonomous vehicles, he said. Mr Suebsak said the development of autonomous vehicles requires expertise in vehicle development, transport infrastructure and telecom.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 10, 2026 23:13 UTC