Amid all the uncertainty in politics and policy, growth disappointed in the third quarter of 2025, falling by 0.6% from the previous quarter. At its December meeting, the Bank of Thailand kept a neutral tone even as it cut the policy rate to 1.25%. Similar to the May 2023 election, the largest risk to Thailand's economic outlook in 2026 is a policy standstill. Further de-escalation of US-China trade relations could also pose a downside risk to the economy in 2026. The real policy rate would likely remain positive, mitigating any potential build-up in household debt.

Agency steps up digital citizen pushListen to this articleThe Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) is rolling out its ETDA Digital Citizen (EDC) network across 15 provinces nationwide to create a regional trainer network that will include at least 2,000 additional trainers. The project aims to disseminate digital knowledge to 60,000 people in communities by the end of 2026. According to the 2026 budget, ETDA's roadmap under the Regional Digital Trainers Network model aims to add 2,000 more digital trainers to the system, expanding the network to organisations in all regions. Mr Chaichana said the project aims to transfer knowledge to a target group of up to 60,000 people this year. The project's four training courses this year include the ETDA Digital Citizen Plus, aimed at building digital literacy in many key areas such as digital identity, digital communication and security.

U.S. President Donald Trump reasserted on Monday (January 5) that his country needs Greenland for national security reasons, and said a newly appointed special envoy would "lead the charge," drawing sharp criticism from Denmark and Greenland. Why is he pushing to take control of Greenland? Diane To takes a look.

U.S. President Donald Trump mocked transgender athletes on Tuesday (January 6) while addressing Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives, using examples from weightlifting and boxing as he argued against transgender participation in women’s sports.

At least 14 people were killed after being swept away by flash floods in Indonesia's North Sulawesi, an official said on Tuesday (January 6) as the search for the missing continued. Heavy rain early on Monday (January 5) triggered flash floods on the island of Siau, located in the region of Siau Tagulandang Biaro, a spokesperson for the local rescue agency said.

With outdated engines, Thailand has slipped to the bottom of Asia; only Japan grows more slowly. Reviving the economy requires real growth engines. One wing carries four "spending engines": consumption, private investment, public spending, and exports. Public investment is limited by tight budgets and low tax revenue, much of which goes to fixed expenses such as salaries. Our task now is to build new engines -- ones that create "good" jobs.

Adaptation easily covers its costListen to this articleRescuers navigate their boats along a flooded street in Hat Yai district on Nov 26, 2025. Much of the Netherlands would be under water were it not for centuries of ingenious adaptation to the constant threat of flooding. That may sound expensive, but the benefits of that adaptation would exceed the cost by roughly seven times. The good news is that many households can implement some adaptation measures on their own, particularly for heat. And they can deploy targeted subsidies or procurement programmes to make adaptation more affordable for households and small firms.

More than 20 years later, law enforcement authorities have yet to identify or implicate those responsible for that 2004 raid. Regardless of who they were, the 2004 raid marked the beginning of systematic sabotage efforts by militant and separatist groups in the Deep South -- Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla. Over the past 22 years, 12 governments under 10 prime ministers have attempted, with limited success, to extinguish the violence in the Deep South. As the country prepares to form a new government, a serious question arises: what will it do about the violence in the Deep South? Decades after the Jan 4 arms robbery, one conclusion is clear -- force alone is not a sustainable solution.

Trump regime 'overcommitted' outside the USListen to this articleHere's what's probably happening in Venezuela today. Without them, Mr Trump has extremely limited leverage on the Venezuelan regime, which has not been decapitated or even seriously crippled by the kidnapping of former bus-driver Nicolás Maduro and his wife. And even there, he's wrong, because no American oil company will want to get involved in reviving the moribund Venezuelan oil industry. Does Mr Trump understand this? Mr Trump says that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is terrified of the drug cartels, which he alleges are running Mexico.

Democrats oppose Land Bridge projectListen to this articleChaichana DetdachoThe Democrat Party said it opposes the Land Bridge megaproject, insisting that local residents in the affected areas must first approve any development. Chaichana Detdacho, deputy leader of the Democrat Party overseeing the southern region, together with Meesak Pakdikong, the party's MP candidate for Chumphon Constituency 3, on Tuesday met with locals to discuss economic development issues, particularly the Land Bridge megaproject. Representatives from local environment groups Rak Phato Network and the Rak Ranong Network joined the discussion, reaffirming their opposition to the project. They also submitted a letter to the Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva calling for a clear policy on sustainable southern development. Mr Abhisit commented on the candidates' objection to the Land Bridge, stating that the project is not economically justifiable.

Trump considering military options to acquire GreenlandListen to this articlePresident Donald Trump has long spoken about his desire for the United States to acquire GreenlandWASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - President Donald Trump is exploring how to take control of Greenland and using the US military is "always an option," the White House said Tuesday, further upping tensions with NATO ally Denmark. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen again insisted that the island was not for sale and only Greenlanders should decide its future. The statement was signed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland," the statement said. Trump has claimed that Denmark cannot ensure the security of Greenland, saying it had bought just one dog sled recently.

Nine dead in clashes between Syria govt, Kurdish forces in AleppoListen to this articleFlights have been suspended for 24 hours at Aleppo's international airport, seen in March 2025, due to the clashesDAMASCUS - Clashes between government troops and Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria's Aleppo killed at least nine people on Tuesday, mostly civilians, in one of the worst flare-ups between the sides in months. Both sides traded blame over who started Tuesday's fighting, which continued into the night and is among the deadliest violence between the government and Kurdish forces since the toppling of Bashar al-Assad more than a year ago. On Tuesday morning, the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said factions affiliated with the government "targeted the Sheikh Maqsud neighbourhood". A close ally of the new authorities, Turkey shares a 900-kilometre (550-mile) border with Syria and has launched successive offensives to push Kurdish forces from its frontier. On Sunday, SDF chief Mazloum Abdi held further talks with officials in Damascus on integrating the Kurdish-led forces, but state media reported no tangible results.

New cave-dwelling springtail identifiedListen to this articleResearchers at Thaksin University have identified a previously unknown cave-dwelling springtail, marking a significant addition to global biodiversity records. It has been identified as a new species of insect from southern Thailand. Their findings confirmed that Lepidonella sirindhornae is the first springtail species of its kind recorded from a Thai cave. "Their presence reflects the stability and fertility of underground ecosystems due to their responsiveness to environmental disturbances," she said. Its elongated appendages and reduced eyes demonstrate clear adaptation to life in total darkness, offering valuable evidence of evolutionary processes in cave environments.

The move marks the first visible progress since the Supreme Administrative Court issued its final ruling ordering the demolition in November 2025. But in 2012, a lower Administrative Court first ordered the demolition of the building, and in 2016, the BMA posted a demolition order at the site. In 2021, Larppratharn Co Ltd, the owner of the Aetas hotel, filed a lawsuit against the district director for gross negligence for issuing an incorrect certification. In November 2025, the Supreme Administrative Court dismissed Larppratharn's case and upheld the demolition order. The court determined that the plaintiffs were deemed to have acknowledged the original demolition order on Nov 4, 2016, when it was publicly posted at the site.

Listen to this articleThe government has greenlighted a new expressway linking Bang Bua Thong district in Nonthaburi province to Ayutthaya's Bang Pa-in district. He said the M9 construction had been reviewed before being included in the 2026 budget. The Ministry of Transport has already consulted with the Council of State regarding the approval process and has been informed that it can be submitted to the cabinet for consideration. He said the government was trying to secure budget approval during the election season and that the project has been in place for quite some time. There should be no concern that a complaint will be raised with the Election Commission regarding the approval, since the M9 motorway was earlier planned, he said.