Cannabis shops face clampdownListen to this articleThe Ministry of Public Health is pushing to enact a new ministerial regulation on cannabis before the next government takes office, with the draft now under review by the Office of the Council of State. The regulation, recently forwarded for legal scrutiny, would mark a major shift in the cannabis sector by restricting sales to designated venues such as hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, herbal shops and authorised folk‑healer premises. Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said the ministry had submitted the draft for consideration, though it remained unclear whether approval would come in time. "As for the next government, I cannot predict whether cannabis policy will change, but if it stays on the same course, the bill can proceed." According to the department, Thailand currently has 18,433 registered cannabis shops.

"Wellness needs also vary by housing type, with buyers of single detached houses and townhouses placing greater emphasis on residential wellness than condo buyers." For single detached house buyers, wellness ranked highest, reflecting a preference for health-focused, family-oriented living. Townhouse buyers, typically more budget-conscious, also valued wellness, prioritising features that support physical and mental health or deliver practical benefits. Gen X buyers extended the concept of wellness to family well-being, prioritising family-centred living and social interaction within the household rather than broader socialising. DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONSFor single detached house buyers, wellness at home centres on private, family-oriented living.

Cooperation project in limboListen to this articleMap Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong, operated by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand. A general election is scheduled for Feb 8, 2026, followed by weeks of government formation, leaving the project in limbo until a new administration takes office. "This cooperation project needs to wait for the new government to approve, paving the way for the MoU signing," said Mr Rongrit. The proposed industrial estate will span 1,000 rai in the EEC, covering parts of Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao. According to the Board of Investment, South Korean investors submitted 141 projects worth 63 billion baht between 2020 and 2024 under Thailand's investment promotion policy.

Ministry hails successful 'Unseen Thai Thai' initiativeListen to this articleThe Culture Ministry says its key frameworks to boost the creative economy have succeeded in using cultural assets as an economic and social driver, with projected annual revenue circulation of 4.6 billion baht from incentives supporting film productions in Thailand. Culture Minister Sabeeda Thaised said three policies under the current government have produced tangible results: the Unseen Thai Thai initiative, support for digital content production, and incentives for film production. The Unseen Thai Thai programme highlights distinctive cultural events rarely recognised. Meanwhile, film incentives offer rebates of 30% for productions valued at 30 million baht or more, with additional bonuses tied to thematic criteria and higher budgets. Ms Sabeeda said film is among the most powerful tools of soft power, citing South Korea as a clear example.

Major political parties step up campaign pitchesListen to this articleMajor political parties yesterday intensified their campaign pitches, with the Pheu Thai Party promising higher rice profits for farmers and the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) focusing on border security, welfare expansion and cost-of-living relief. Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat led a campaign visit to Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi, accompanied by senior party figures, including Julapun Amornvivat and Visuth Chainaroon, and local constituency candidates. The team met with rice farmers and agricultural groups in Ayutthaya's Lat Bua Luang district to hear firsthand about concerns regarding production costs, flooding, and low crop prices. The party also pledged debt relief measures and improved coordination among state agencies on water management. The conservative party presented its strategy under three pillars: security, recovery and care, backed by 12 flagship policies.

Listen to this articleThe Election Commission (EC) yesterday explained it cannot extend the registration period for out‑of‑constituency and overseas voting in the charter referendum. The clarification followed calls to extend the Jan 3–5 registration window. The EC said the referendum registration period must match the advance registration deadline for the general election, which also closed on Jan 5. That left just 37 days for preparation when a referendum normally requires at least 60 days. Observers agreed that with less than six weeks to prepare, agencies may struggle to inform voters about referendum protocol, adding to concerns over confusion on polling day.

Gripen fighter headlines airshow this yearListen to this articleA Gripen aircraft takes flight during a rehearsal for the Royal Thai Air Force's Children's Day performance, which will be held on Jan 10, at the Royal Thai Air Force base in Bangkok's Don Muang district. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) will stage a wide-ranging air show featuring the Gripen fighter jet at Don Muang on Children's Day. Every child can dream big with discipline, knowledge and integrity, and the air force is ready to help nurture those aspirations," he said. Addressing public interest in the Gripen display, he added: "The Gripen showcased at the event [in Don Muang] is intended purely for learning and inspiration. The air force has requested that visitors avoid flying drones and refrain from bringing balloons, weapons, sharp objects, flammable items or pets into the event zone.

Chamber wary of oil, commodity pricesListen to this articleThe Thai Chamber of Commerce is concerned about the indirect effects of tension between the US and Venezuela on price fluctuations in oil, commodities and agricultural products. Poj Aramwattananont, chairman of the chamber, said it is monitoring developments in the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He said this issue may influence the international political environment and confidence in the global economy, which is already fragile amidst several uncertainties. These uncertainties may also influence the direction of trade and investment in Latin America, as well as global trade, which is pressured by geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation in several areas in the world, said Mr Poj. He urged Thailand to monitor the global economy, especially issues affecting the baht, energy prices and volatility in international money markets.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.