400kg of 'ice' seized in Northeast
400kg of 'ice' seized in NortheastListen to this articleThe sidecar of this motorcycle parked beside the Mekong River has six packages of crystal meth, seized in Bueng Kan early Saturday morning. (Photo: Royal Thai Navy)NONG KHAI - Border patrols have seized a total of 400 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, known as “ice”, left for collection on the bank of the Mekong River by smugglers. The seized drugs were worth about 200 million baht, R/Adm Paraj Ratanajaipan, spokesman for the Royal Thai Navy, said on Monday. On closer inspection, they found three abandoned bags containing 100kg of crystal meth in total, R/Adm Paraj said. (Photo: Royal Thai Navy)Officials said the smugglers escaped, using the darkness and their familiarity with the area.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 08:02 UTC
Gold near 2-week low ahead of CME increase in margins
US gold futures for April delivery were down 0.3% at $4,729.20 per ounce. CME Group announced hikes in margins on its metal futures on Saturday and the changes are set to take effect after market close on Monday. COMEX gold futures margins (1oz) are raised from 6% to 8%, while COMEX 5000 silver futures (SI) are set to increase to 15% from 11%. It hit a record high of $121.64 on Thursday before touching a near one-month low on Friday. Spot platinum lost 4.1% to $2,074.70 per ounce after hitting a record $2,918.80 on January 26, while palladium shed 3.3% to $1,642.35.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 06:56 UTC
A trader’s guide to Thai elections as leaders promise stimulus
A trader’s guide to Thai elections as leaders promise stimulusListen to this articleCitizens flock to a polling station in Constituency 14 of Bang Kapi district on Sunday for advance voting. Financial and retail shares are seen as key beneficiaries of prospective stimulus and faster budget disbursement once the new government is formed. Healthcare, telecommunications and tourism firms may also be supported as political uncertainty eases. Still, the country’s high household debt may limit increases in consumer spending, according to Maybank Securities. Any initiatives to bolster arrivals may help some of the sector’s largest players including Central Plaza Hotel Plc, Minor International Plc and Erawan Group Plc.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 06:28 UTC
Tiiny AI unveils pocket-sized device
Tiiny AI unveils pocket-sized deviceListen to this articleMr Bhoj displays the Tiiny AI Pocket Lab device. Tiiny AI Inc, a US-based deep-tech startup, has launched the world's smallest personal artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputer -- the Tiiny AI Pocket Lab. The Tiiny AI Pocket Lab was verified by Guinness World Records as being the "smallest Mini PC [100bn LLM locally]". Samar Bhoj, the go-to-market director of Tiiny AI, said the device represents a major shift in the trajectory of the AI industry. Tiiny AI Pocket Lab operates as a personal AI (10 billion to 100 billion parameters), which satisfies more than 80% of real-world needs.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 01:59 UTC
TikTok touts success of logistics strategy
TikTok touts success of logistics strategyListen to this articleMs Chanida says the platform continues to offer services through multiple delivery service providers in Thailand. TikTok Thailand, the global short-form video platform, says its multi-logistics approach has expanded consumer choice for both products and delivery services. Chanida Klyphun, director of public policy for Southeast Asia at TikTok, said the company does not have a policy to monopolise logistics services for the transport of products and services. The draft guidelines call for providing online sellers with greater freedom in selecting their logistics providers. Ms Chanida said these cases cannot be judged solely on an e-commerce operator's selection of specific logistics providers.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 01:59 UTC
AI reinventing business models in Asia-Pacific
AI reinventing business models in Asia-PacificListen to this articleThe 2026 trends show enterprises embedding AI directly into their core business models, says Ms McClelland. Asia-Pacific organisations are pivoting artificial intelligence (AI) from defensive cost-cutting pilots to offensive strategic revenue engines, reinventing business models and unlocking growth far beyond simple efficiency gains. Recent studies indicate organisations are redirecting 64% of AI investments towards core business functions where AI delivers the strongest measurable returns. SHAPING SECTORSThe report found banking AI is reshaping banking business models and enabling new revenue streams. Though ethics accounts for a modest portion of total AI value, its effect is statistically significant, reflecting the maturity of an organisation's AI practices.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 01:59 UTC
Future of AI will be written in nuts and bolts
Future of AI will be written in nuts and boltsListen to this articleA Sharpa robot deals cards for a game of blackjack during the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan 7. For that investment to pay off, trillions of dollars of productivity gains need to show up in traditional industrial businesses. In this context, AI isn't a science experiment. The key is helping these companies invest through complexity, build talent, modernise data infrastructure, and embed AI into decision-making. AI isn't just another technology cycle.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 01:51 UTC
No easy road ahead for PP greenhorns
No easy road ahead for PP greenhornsListen to this articleAn advance voting booth in Bangkok yesterday. The PP needs a landslide victory (winning more than 250 seats) to enable it to form a single-party government. and "If there is a war, the Thai military will be defeated anyway." Trailing after the PP in opinion polls are the Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai parties. Its disadvantage is that Mr Anutin, the party leader, does not have full control of his factions.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 01:51 UTC
EC must act, not observe
EC must act, not observeListen to this articleWith less than a week to go before the national election, reports of vote-buying are growing louder -- and more brazen. The question, then, is what the Election Commission (EC) has been doing about all this. As in previous elections, the EC has relied on its standard mechanisms, appointing its own staff to monitor alleged vote-buying and gather information. Yet the app remains little used, and the EC has released no meaningful data on reports or investigations arising from it. It is therefore encouraging that the EC has at least announced it will look into the 450-million-baht withdrawals flagged by the Bank of Thailand.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 01:46 UTC
Minister's 'stress' theory misses the point
Minister's 'stress' theory misses the pointListen to this articleMalaysia's Minister for Religious Affairs, Datuk Zulkifli Hasan, has grabbed global media headlines with his remarks on the LGBTQ+ community. While his quote narrowly reducing LGBTQ+ identity to an outcome of being "stress-induced" has caused far and wide criticism, his statement is deeply worrying. While he tried to engage with a constructionist argument by saying that the environment could affect people's sexual orientation, the question arises: what determines sexual orientation? It is debatable, or even dismissible, to suggest that workplace stress serves as a catalyst for shifting sexual orientation. Furthermore, endorsed on May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder and recognised sexual orientation as diversity.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 01:46 UTC
Middle powers can do their bit
Middle powers can do their bitListen to this articleCanada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks about middle powers during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan 20. In the absence of meaningful resistance, both are likely to remain on this course, leaving middle powers to comply with their demands or face retaliation. First, middle powers should develop a new network of free-trade agreements, building on initiatives such as the recent EU–India deal. With the Trump administration openly denying climate change and campaigning against clean energy, middle powers have a responsibility to lead the green transition. But if middle powers act decisively, today's fractures could yet lay the foundations for a new order in which liberal values and institutions are able to endure.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 01:46 UTC
Police seek gold shop heist suspect
The robbery occurred about 11.30pm on Friday at the Aurora gold shop in a Lotus's hypermarket in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok's Klong Toey district. There were four female staff members preparing to close the gold shop at the time of the robbery. The gold shop had closed at 8pm and staff were checking stock. Phra Khanong police have questioned the shop employees and verified the stolen items: 179 baht weight of the shop's gold jewellery and 19 baht weight of second-hand gold previously purchased by the shop -- worth about 14.8 million baht -- as well as 170,000 baht in cash. Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch, national police chief, has ordered units to strengthen crime prevention measures at gold shops nationwide, particularly as gold prices remain high and may attract criminals.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 01:06 UTC
Thais target Asian Games glory after 2025 success
Thais target Asian Games glory after 2025 successListen to this articleTGA president Rangsarit Laksitanont with the national team golfers. It reflects the strength and depth of our players, and it gives us confidence as we look ahead to the Asian Games in Japan later this year." They were supported by Thanawin Lee, Warut Boonrod and Prin Sarnsamut in the men's team, and Pimpisa Rubrong and Kritchaya Kaopattanasakul in the women's team. The 10 titles collected by Thai golfers last year included victories at the Asian Junior Golf Team Championship in South Korea, the Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World Championship in Indonesia, the Singapore Junior Golf Championship, and the Malaysian International Junior Open. Rangsarit has set ambitious targets for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya Sept 19-Oct 4.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 00:50 UTC
Line BK targets 30% loan growth this year
Line BK targets 30% loan growth this yearListen to this articleLine BK, an early digital banking platform in Thailand, has set an ambitious double-digit loan growth target for this year despite the sluggish economic outlook. Despite the aggressive loan expansion, Line BK expects to keep its non-performing loan (NPL) ratio below 3% this year. Mr Tana said Line BK plans to maintain strong growth in its insurance and brokerage businesses after recording a 30% increase in first-year premiums last year. Driven by expansion across all business lines, Line BK posted a 35% year-on-year increase in total revenue in 2025. Although we expect Thai GDP growth of around 1.5% this year, we are still targeting double-digit loan growth, driven by healthy demand and our enhanced business capabilities," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 00:13 UTC
FTI eyes new export markets for growth
Thailand needs new export destinations in order to boost its economy. Nutthawat WichieanbutThe Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is calling for Thailand to expand into new high-potential markets to support the country's export and manufacturing sectors, as key trading partners face economic weakness amid a global slowdown. FTI vice-chairman Apichit Prasoprat said Thailand must diversify its export destinations to sustain growth, as traditional partners such as China and Japan are struggling with sluggish economies. The FTI, which is a member of JSCCIB, has urged the government to support entry into new markets including Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Central Asia. Under the BCG model, entrepreneurs are encouraged to adopt technologies that add value to products while reducing environmental impact.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 02, 2026 00:13 UTC