Russia slams Western peacekeeping plan for UkraineListen to this articleUkraine's allies said they had agreed key security guarantees for Kyiv at a summit in Paris earlier this week. An initial 28-point plan which largely adhered to Moscow's demands was criticised by Kyiv and Europe, and now Russia has slammed the attempts to beef-up protections for Ukraine should an elusive deal be reached. Ukraine's allies said they had agreed key security guarantees for Kyiv at a summit in Paris earlier this week, including a peacekeeping force. But Moscow has repeatedly warned that it would not accept any North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) members sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. Zelensky said earlier this week he was yet to receive an "unequivocal" answer of what they would do if Russia does attack again after a deal.

Ministry wants to reduce agricultural burning by 15%Listen to this articleThe Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry is committed to promoting agricultural practices that eliminate the need to burn farmland, allocating over 250 million baht to implement 21 no-burn agricultural promotion projects in fiscal 2026. The ministry has worked with relevant agencies to develop prevention and mitigation measures for agricultural burning for the 2025/2026 season. The plan targets a nationwide reduction of agricultural burning by at least 15% for major economic crops, including rice, maize for animal feed and sugar cane. The plan also promotes diverting agricultural residues to biomass energy and industrial plants to reduce open-field burning. According to Ms Airin, the ministry is working jointly to drive the implementation of government operations to deter and reduce all forms of open burning, including the burning of agricultural residues in farming areas.

Syria tells civilians to leave Aleppo's Kurdish areasListen to this articleThousands of people have fled Aleppo's majority-Kurdish areas. (Photo: AFP)ALEPPO — Syria's military warned civilians in two besieged Kurdish neighbourhoods in the city of Aleppo to leave on Thursday, as it prepared to conduct a fresh wave of strikes targeting Kurdish positions. On Wednesday, thousands of civilians fled the two Kurdish neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh via two corridors set up by the army, which then went on to shell the areas after an evacuation deadline. In Qamishli, the main city of Syria's Kurdish areas in the northeast, hundreds of people demonstrated on Thursday against the Aleppo violence, according to AFP correspondents. In Israel, the foreign minister Gideon Saar condemned what he called "serious and dangerous" attacks against the Kurdish minority.

The end of China's one-child policy, 10 years laterListen to this articleWomen push baby strollers as they walk along a street in Beijing on Sunday. A decade since China scrapped its stringent one-child policy and implemented a two-child policy in January 2016, the nation is finding itself dealing with a looming demographic crisis. A two-child policy was also piloted in multiple regions starting in 1985. (Before 2001, not only the one-child policy but the entire family-planning policy, including the two-child and three-child policies of the 1970s, were "illegal".) The government went with their assessment, implementing the two-child policy selectively in 2014.

This research argues that PNG's accession to Asean could enhance regional security cooperation, allowing Asean to expand its strategic reach into the Pacific, and Indonesia to advance its defence interests. However, both PNG and Asean face significant institutional, political, and structural challenges in the path towards full membership. PNG has several motivations driving its pursuit of Asean membership. PNG's strategic position is reinforced by its longstanding policy of remaining outside formal foreign military alliances. Nevertheless, PNG's full membership in Asean would offer strategic benefits to both Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Don't ignore local pollsListen to this articleOn Sunday, 47 million voters across 76 provinces will elect mayors and legislators for 4,994 so-called "Or Bor Tor". Usually located in rural areas, TAOs manage basic public services such as tap water, small local roads, garbage collection, and sanitation. Much of the public's attention is focused on the national election scheduled for Feb 8. These reforms are part of a broader effort by political parties to decentralise administrative power and resources from the central government to local authorities. The hope is that a new government and Lower House in Bangkok will fast-track these four laws and other policies to give local administrations like TAOs and local municipalities more power and resources.

Agency to rectify dairy glutListen to this articleAgriculture and Cooperatives Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow has ordered the Dairy Farming Promotion Organisation of Thailand (DPO) to urgently address a raw milk oversupply crisis after dairy farmers in Lop Buri province dumped more than 40 tonnes of milk in protest on Tuesday. He said yesterday that the incident highlighted the severe hardship faced by dairy farmers and required immediate, practical solutions. DPO Director Watcharee Wannasri explained that raw milk delivered outside MoU terms had not been pre-agreed and was therefore purchased at a reduced price. Ms Watcharee said production lines had also been operating below capacity during the holidays but additional volumes could now be absorbed gradually as a temporary relief measure. The cooperatives, which discarded the milk, she said, would be held responsible to compensate their members.

Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiwphan, Deputy Inspector General and Deputy Spokesperson of the RTP, yesterday at the RTP's headquarters said authorities had elevated anti-trafficking operations through the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Centre. Last year alone, police handled 279 human trafficking cases, arrested 366 suspects and assisted 317 victims, he said. Of particular concern were 15 cases involving child labour exploitation, Pol Lt Gen Trairong said. Minors made up 213 victims, while online-related trafficking cases reached 170, representing more than half of all cases recorded. The Mirror Foundation's Missing Persons Data Centre warned that there is a new trafficking pattern involving teenagers aged 15 to 18.

Strategy aims to woo B2.5tn in semiconductor investmentListen to this articleAn electric vehicle (EV) charges at a recent edition of a Motor Expo. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Thailand has unveiled a national strategy to increase semiconductor investment to 2.5 trillion baht by 2050, aiming to develop more than 230,000 skilled workers and establish a fully integrated semiconductor system. The plan was announced following a meeting of the National Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy Committee, chaired by caretaker finance minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas. The committee reviewed a draft strategy prepared by the Board of Investment (BoI), setting phased development milestones for 2030, 2040 and 2050. Officials said the new strategy will build on this momentum, positioning Thailand as a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain for decades to come.

Last year, the maison turned to cutting-edge 3D sand printing for another innovation capsule -- the Quatre Sand Cuff. The iconic Quatre is characterised by four bands with distinctive motifs from Boucheron's archives. Creative director Claire Choisne continued exploring other technologies for reinventing Boucheron's jewellery, with the 3D sand-printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries for fashioning the Quatre Sand Cuff. The Creative Studio firstly used 3D modelling to achieve the oversized dimensions, while still reproducing the precision edges that characterise the signature Quatre pattern. Each black sand component was then shaped using 3D printing, before being mounted onto the gold structural bangle.

The exclusive dinner further celebrated Boucheron's expansion to Thailand, following the opening of a boutique in Siam Paragon in mid 2025. Like A Queen ring meets Plume de Paon necklace and earrings in this look. The heritage is celebrated by the Histoire De Style collections, annually launched in January. Art Deco motifs characterise Vendôme Lisere earrings, necklace, ring and bracelet from the Architecture collection. In 2018, Choisne designed a collection in his likeness, with the maison's feline muse wearing a necklace with precious stones.

New Quality Productive Forces: Powering the Global Tourism Economy(The 11th Global Tourism Economy Forum · Heilongjiang 2025 Successfully Concludes in Harbin)HARBIN – The 11th Global Tourism Economy Forum · Heilongjiang 2025 (“GTEF” or “the Forum”) successfully concluded in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. Under the theme “New Quality Productive Forces: Powering the Global Tourism Economy,” the Forum served as a premier international exchange platform, fostering the organic integration of Heilongjiang with global tourism industrial chains and innovation ecosystems. In his welcome remarks, Xu Qin said: “The Global Tourism Economy Forum is an international tourism exchange and cooperation platform with far-reaching influence, one that plays a significant role in promoting the development of the world’s tourism economy. About the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) is a world-class exchange and cooperation platform dedicated to advancing the sustainable development of global tourism. By facilitating cross-regional resource integration, the Forum helps global tourism enterprises diversify investment and cooperation channels to further promote high-quality development of the world tourism economy.

Listen to this articleForeign Affairs Ministry's spokesman Nikorndej Balankura speaks to reporters a press briefing on Thursday. (Screenshot)The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday condemned a recent incident involving Cambodian forces in Ubon Ratchathani province and said that Thailand has formally protested to Cambodia, demanding accountability and an official apology while rejecting accusations of territorial encroachment. Thailand has submitted a formal letter of protest calling on Cambodia to take responsibility, issue an apology and comply fully with the joint statement. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow conveyed Thailand’s position directly to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn. Addressing a separate issue, Mr Nikorndej rejected Cambodia’s protest alleging that Thai forces had occupied and conducted military operations in Cambodian territory.

Industrial decline forcing Thais into service jobsListen to this articleA worker cans fish in a factory. An industrial slowdown is pushing workers into the service sector. (File photo)The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has expressed concern over the weakening income outlook in the labour market, as an industrial slowdown continues to push workers into the service sector. Manufacturing wages average 183 baht per hour, up only marginally from 173 baht. Although exports surged by a striking 12.3% in 2025, manufacturing output barely grew.

Sansiri unveils “Zero Dropout” CSR initiative in a single province, scaling up to a national education policy model“Educational equity” is a fundamental concept in driving national progress through the development of human capital from an early age, ensuring the future of the country. The Zero Dropout project, implemented over a three-year period (2022–2025), was piloted in Ratchaburi province in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Equitable Education Fund (EEF). Private-sector participation in supporting and driving provincial education efforts, alongside educational institutions that jointly design seamless transitions across education levels. Rather than being merely a donor, the company co-designed a flexible national education platform that can be practically adopted. Ratchaburi Zero Dropout stands as clear proof that this approach works.