Enrolment opens for debt relief scheme
Enrolment opens for debt relief schemeListen to this articleThe Bank of Thailand has opened registration for its new "Clear Debt, Move Forward" debt relief initiative, designed to help ease the country's household debt burden. In the initial phase, the scheme covers borrowers from commercial banks and non-bank lenders under commercial banking groups. The programme is intended to help small borrowers break out of the NPL cycle and regain access to formal financial services. Under the programme, SAM purchases unsecured NPLs from participating institutions and restructures them under more lenient terms. The central bank said the initiative reflects a coordinated effort to address household debt challenges and support vulnerable borrowers in re-entering the formal financial system.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2026 00:38 UTC
AI remains dominant factor in 2026
AI remains dominant factor in 2026Listen to this articleAI is becoming a full investment ecosystem, influencing energy, manufacturing and national economic strategies, says Mr Yodsakorn. XSpring Asset Management (XSpring AM) sees artificial intelligence (AI) as the dominant investment theme in 2026, continuing to reshape global equity markets and drive long-term capital flows across regions and sectors. Another powerful theme for 2026 is reshoring, as AI adoption enables advanced economies to bring manufacturing back home more efficiently. India remains XSpring AM's top emerging market pick, driven by domestic consumption, government stimulus and earnings recovery. "2026 will be a year of thematic and regional selectivity, where investors should align portfolios with long-term structural trends, led by AI, energy security and reshoring.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2026 00:26 UTC
Global electric vehicle momentum healthy
Listen to this articleAn AI-generated image shows an electric vehicle charging at a charging outlet. China is projected to account for 61% of the global EV total. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are forecast to continue to account for well over half of all EVs, but there is an increasing proportion of customers choosing PHEVs. Meanwhile, demand in the United States has decreased as the government has introduced tariffs on vehicle imports and removed subsidies and incentives for purchasing EVs. Leading EV manufacturers, including BYD, have refocused their offerings on selling PHEV models because of clear demand in many markets.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2026 00:26 UTC
Humanity's alignment problem
Humanity's alignment problemListen to this articleIt's lunchtime on top of the world again. The cover is clever and controversial, with the comedian Jimmy Kimmel describing it as the "eight dorks of the apocalypse". This would be a failure not of intelligence, but of another element in Time's cover-image metaphor: alignment. In architecture, alignment refers to whether a structure's form, function, and values point in the same direction. Likewise, the institutions of climate governance are aligned to a slower, more forgiving world than the one Mr Rockström has described.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2026 00:25 UTC
Bridging the gaps
While Prof Dusadee received the award in Sociology, Assoc Prof Prajak received the award in Political Science and Public Administration. Thus, they should be aware of the risks and prepare to deal with them," said Prof Dusadee. In addition to research about migrant workers, Prof Dusadee also conducted research involving Thai women who married foreigners, especially European nationals. Assoc Prof Prajak Kongkirati. In this case, Assoc Prof Prajak commented that it is possible that these MPs will be banned.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 23:57 UTC
Anutin shrugs off southern poll results
Anutin shrugs off southern poll resultsListen to this articlePrime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrives at Wat Ratchabophit in Bangkok to pay respect to the Supreme Patriarch for the New Year on Monday. (Photo: Government House)Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) leader Anutin Charnvirakul brushed off recent opinion poll results after the party recorded relatively low approval ratings in Songkhla, saying surveys do not dictate how the party works. Mr Anutin came in third with 12.56%. Asked whether the results reflected voter frustration over the government's handling of flooding in Songkhla's Hat Yai, Mr Anutin said he could not draw such a conclusion. BTJ executive Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, who is overseeing the election campaign in the 14-province southern region, admitted he was concerned about the Nida Poll results but remained confident.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 23:35 UTC
Venezuelan parliament swears in interim president after Maduro's ouster
Venezuelan parliament swears in interim president after Maduro's ousterListen to this articleDelcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as Venezuela's interim president. (Photo: AFP)CARACAS - Venezuela's parliament swore in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president on Monday, two days after US forces seized her predecessor Nicolas Maduro to face trial in New York. Members of the National Assembly offered their full backing to Rodriguez -- who had been Maduro's vice president -- and reelected her brother Jorge Rodriguez as parliament speaker. And we will ultimately deploy all our solidarity so that our legitimate president, Nicolas Maduro, returns victorious to Miraflores," the presidential palace, he added. Maduro's lawmaker son Nicolas Maduro Guerra also offered his support for the acting president.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 23:20 UTC
PM urges public to rely on official information
PM urges public to rely on official informationListen to this articleShow of respect: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Privy Councillor and former prime miniter Prayut Chan-o-cha meet at Wat Ratchabophit to pay respect to the Supreme Patriarch for the New Year on Monday. (Photo: Government House)Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul urged the public to rely only on official information following rumours about Cambodian troop movements, warning that unverified claims could fuel unfounded fear of another round of conflict. He said the government relies on information from the armed forces, intelligence units and the National Security Council (NSC). Asked whether bilateral talks could proceed smoothly while Thailand is under a caretaker government, Mr Anutin said that communication with officials on both sides continued, with exchanges of information and ongoing discussions. However, Mr Anutin said that formal actions such as the signing of agreements or convening meetings of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) could not take place at this stage.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 23:20 UTC
Hoaxes 'rife' as poll nears
Listen to this articleCampaign posters of MP candidates and political parties are put up across many areas in Bangkok as the Feb 8 general election draws near. Ms Rukchanok said the issue had rarely been raised by the party itself, but was instead repeatedly attached to it by critics. She also said that information operations had successfully spread misinformation, leading the party to focus only on Section 112 and undermining the military. She acknowledged that some voters lacked time to hear explanations, but maintained that the party would continue engaging calmly. She noted that although fake news caused disruption, many voters had offered support after witnessing candidates being harassed.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 23:06 UTC
French court jails one in Brigitte Macron cyber-bullying trial
French court jails one in Brigitte Macron cyber-bullying trialListen to this articleFrench first lady Brigitte Macron has long been at the centre of intense media attention. (Photo: AFP)PARIS - A Paris court Monday sentenced 10 people accused of cyber-bullying President Emmanuel Macron's wife Brigitte by spreading false information about her gender and insinuations related to the age difference between the first couple. The relationship between Emmanuel Macron, 48, and Brigitte, 72, who met while she was a drama teacher at his school, has been the subject of intense interest since he became president in 2017. Eight defendants were handed suspended terms of four to eight months, while a ninth man was sentenced to six months in jail over his absence from the hearing. The French president and first lady have filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing US podcaster Candace Owens who falsely claimed the spouse of the French president used to be a man.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 22:42 UTC
American invasion likely to shape crude prices, baht
In the short term, he said this may cause some volatility in global oil prices, but there is no significant risk of prices rising sharply as global oil supply this year is expected to exceed demand. Aat Pisanwanich, an international economics academic, said the crisis in Venezuela may affect global oil prices and global geopolitical tensions. Regarding oil prices, he said two scenarios are possible. This shift would cause both upward and downward fluctuations in global oil prices, said Mr Aat. However, after a year global oil prices are likely to trend downward, especially as Opec is already producing more oil than the global market requires, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 22:41 UTC
US invasion adds support to strong local currency
The baht is expected to trade in a range of 31.00-31.85 to the US dollar this week. K-Research expects the baht to trade in a range of 31.00-31.60 to the US dollar this week, she said. KTB expects the baht to trade in a range of 31.15-31.85 per dollar this week. However, baht depreciation was partly capped as geopolitical concerns helped support a rebound in gold prices, which recently rebounded back to US$4,400 per ounce. "This situation could influence global oil prices, especially if the US is able to exert greater influence over Venezuela's political landscape and oil industry."
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 22:41 UTC
Gold set to gain from Venezuelan upheaval
Gold set to gain from Venezuelan upheavalListen to this articleTraders predict gold may return to record-high prices following the US capture of Mr Maduro and threats against other countries, as investors fret about geopolitical risks. "Gold prices seasonally soared 5.6% in January alone without extraordinary events," Ms Siriluck told the Bangkok Post. According to the Gold Traders Association, domestic gold prices surged by 650 baht per baht-weight in early morning trade on Monday. MTS Gold predicts international gold prices could fluctuate by about $100 in short term, potentially hitting $4,450 an ounce as geopolitical risks have intensified. The Stock Exchange of Thailand shrugged off geopolitical risk, rising by more than 1.8% to finish at 1,282.73 points at midday on Monday.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 22:41 UTC
Oil markets shrug off US military intervention in Caracas
Oil markets shrug off US military intervention in CaracasListen to this articleFuel dispensers for different kinds of fuel at a Bangkok filling station. The US attack on Venezuela has yet to affect global crude oil prices. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)Global crude oil markets revealed little reaction in the immediate aftermath of the US military operation in Venezuela to detain President Nicolás Maduro on Jan 3, says the Thai Energy Ministry. Saudi Arabia was second with 267 billion barrels, followed by Iran with 209 billion barrels. However, US sanctions imposed prior to the pandemic restricted exports from Petróleos de Venezuela, Venezuela's state-owned oil company.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 22:41 UTC
Cane farmers win support
Cane farmers win supportListen to this articleAn agricultural worker harvests sugar cane in Surin province. The Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB) has announced measures to support sugar cane farmers affected by the ongoing border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia that have disrupted farming activities in five provinces. "The Industry Ministry, sugar factories and cane farmers met in late December to closely monitor the situation and agreed to provide assistance," Mr Bainoy said. Provincial governors will be asked to permit the controlled burning of fields of sugar cane to help enable farmers to detect unexploded devices. The OCSB forecasts sugar cane output at around 90 million tonnes, with sugar production expected to reach 11 million tonnes.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 22:38 UTC