Rattanakosin fete set to be held in April
Rattanakosin fete set to be held in AprilListen to this articleThe Ministry of Culture will organise a large-scale celebration in April to mark the 244th anniversary of the Rattanakosin Era, with events planned to take place at three Bangkok sites. Culture permanent secretary Prasop Riangngoen said celebrations will run from April 22–26 at Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park, the National Museum Bangkok and Wat Prayurawongsawat. The programme will begin with religious rites on April 20 including merit-making ceremonies dedicated to past monarchs, alms-giving to 99 monks and worship rituals at the City Pillar Shrine. Highlights at the venues include a multimedia exhibition at the park, a "Rattanakosin Royal Night" museum tour, and a cultural walk at the temple.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 31, 2026 01:25 UTC
PP candidate says 'flawed' app points to SSO graft
PP candidate says 'flawed' app points to SSO graftListen to this articleRukchanok Srinork, a party-list MP candidate from the People's Party (PP), has accused the Social Security Office (SSO) of corruption and mismanagement in connection with the 850-million-baht SSO+ web application, saying the flawed project has left insured persons unable to access their benefits. Her remarks come amid mounting criticism of the SSO+ app, which has repeatedly been taken offline for "maintenance". That case took nearly two decades to conclude, with the former SSO secretary-general ultimately sentenced to prison by the Court of Appeal in 2023. She said the 850-million-baht SSO+ web app project showed signs of corruption from the bidding stage onward, resulting in an outdated system that cannot function as intended. Insured persons paid a high price for a system that is unusable in practice, forcing the SSO to shut it down and delaying benefit disbursements, she claimed.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 31, 2026 01:24 UTC
The election's last-mile test
Its leaders have insisted on clean politics and voter awareness, arguing that long-term change requires breaking the cycle of money-driven elections. According to reports, Pheu Thai has submitted 57 campaign policies to the EC, with a combined budget estimate of 243.3 billion baht. According to Pheu Thai, beneficiaries of the cash giveaway would be drawn from five groups. It lacks the appeal needed to persuade voters to shift their support to Pheu Thai," Mr Suvicha said. I wouldn't be surprised if those who end up receiving the money are party canvassers or political allies of Pheu Thai," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 31, 2026 01:22 UTC
Adjusting rules to make Thai skies safer
New aviation regulations are meant to make operations more systematicListen to this articleThe Thai aviation industry is scheduled to adopt new rules that will affect pilots, crew and instructors. In Thailand, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is being urged by stakeholders to prepare for the implementation of the new Thailand Civil Aviation Regulation (TCAR) rules to avoid similar issues. ACM Manat Chavanaprayoon, director-general of CAAT, said while previous rules were safe, adjustment was needed to align with international standards. Teerawat Angkasakulkiat, president of the Thai Pilots Association, said the new rule allows pilots and crews to have more rest periods, reducing their fatigue, and requires more effective roster planning. These changes not only ensure safety for both employees and passengers, but also result in more pilot recruitment as many Thai airlines are expending their fleets, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 31, 2026 01:21 UTC
Panama Supreme Court voids CK Hutchison port contracts
Panama Supreme Court voids CK Hutchison port contractsListen to this articleA ship sails through the Panama Canal last March. CK Hutchison did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters on the court's decision. CK Hutchison had been waiting for the Supreme Court to make a final ruling about the legal status of its contracts after the local attorney general determined the contracts "unconstitutional". In July, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said public-private partnerships could take over the two ports if the court invalidated the contracts with CK Hutchison. Analysts have flagged the likelihood that the Panama Ports Co will lodge an arbitration complaint after losing the case.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 31, 2026 01:14 UTC
Overseas ballots 'on time': MFA
Overseas ballots 'on time': MFAListen to this articleElection-related documents and ballots are prepared for overseas voting, as the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT), Thailand Post Co Ltd, the Department of Consular Affairs and the Royal Thai Police announced their readiness on Jan 9 to handle the transport. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has reaffirmed that all overseas ballots for the 2026 election and referendum will arrive in Thailand by Feb 5, allowing them to be counted together with domestic votes. The Department of Consular Affairs on Friday released updated statistics on overseas voting, reporting 139,810 registered overseas voters and 95,975 registered overseas referendum voters. Australia recorded the highest number of registrants, followed by the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and Germany. For the overseas referendum, Australia again leads with 19,802 registrants, followed by the United States with 11,114 and Japan with 9,453.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 31, 2026 01:14 UTC
Fetco pushes for overhaul of SSF
Fetco pushes for overhaul of SSFListen to this articleThe Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (Fetco) has urged a comprehensive reform of the Social Security Fund (SSF), warning that without urgent structural and investment changes, the system could face severe sustainability risks as the country transitions to a fully aged society. Fetco chairman Kobsak Pootrakool said although the SSF holds assets worth trillions of baht, Thailand's rapidly ageing demographics pose a serious long-term challenge. A pillar of reform must be a fundamental overhaul of the fund's investment strategy, he said. Investment returns will ultimately determine how long the fund can support retirees. Fetco also called for the establishment of a dedicated, expert-led body to oversee contributors' funds directly, ensuring contributions are managed prudently and transparently.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 31, 2026 01:14 UTC
Rising star enters the semi-finals
Rising star enters the semi-finalsListen to this articlePanitchaphon Teeraratsakul advanced to the men's singles semi-finals of the BWF Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters 2026 at Nimibutr Stadium yesterday. The 21-year-old world No.36 continued his impressive run in the home tournament, defeating world No.48 Prahdiska Bagas Shujiwo of Indonesia 21-17, 21-17 in the 47-minute quarter-final. The other semi-final match today will be an all-Indonesian clash between second seed and Jakarta winner Alwi Farhan and Moh Zaki Ubaidillah. Farhan moved a step closer to his second win in two weeks after Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia retired with an injury during their quarter-final match. Ubaidillah survived a test against fourth seed Brian Yang, rallying to overcome the Canadian player in three games, 16-21, 21-18, 21-15.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 31, 2026 00:31 UTC
Politics through the urban lens
I remember when politics was a divided issue, an ideological clash of the two colours and what each association stood for. A decade on, I feel that Thais have become more of a united front but against politics and politicians in general. you ask, and the common answer among peers is: "I really don't know, I feel like Thailand will never change." You can tell a lot about a generation in how they discuss politics. Then we each take a collective sigh, go about our day and talk to our colleagues about what we hope will change someday.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 31, 2026 00:16 UTC
'Big Joke's' fall from power
'Big Joke's' fall from powerListen to this articleSurachate: Ready to fightFrom deputy police chief to a man facing arrest warrants, the downfall of Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn has become one of the country's most dramatic policing sagas. Pol Gen Surachate, 55, once among the most recognisable faces in the Royal Thai Police (RTP), has now been dismissed from the RTP. On the same day as the raid, courts issued arrest warrants for eight senior police officers under Pol Gen Surachate's command. In response, Pol Gen Surachate authorised his lawyer to file counter-complaints against Pol Gen Torsak at Tao Poon Police Station, alleging his rival also had financial links to mule accounts. The cases of Pol Gen Surachate have already reshaped public trust in the police, and its final chapter is still unwritten.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 31, 2026 00:09 UTC
Young voters poised to reshape politics
Young voters poised to reshape politicsListen to this articleA student activist flashes the three-finger anti-dictatorship salute during a rally, in this file photo taken on Aug 14. Although first-time voters account for just 4.5% of the country's 53.2 million eligible voters, their participation carries strong symbolic weight and could prove consequential for Thailand's democratic development. From my observations and interviews with first-time voters, this generation differs markedly from its predecessors. These politicians clearly recognise that young voters represent a crucial constituency that could help propel them into parliament. Beyond the numbers, however, the result will show how first-time voters are beginning to shape Thailand's democratic journey.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 30, 2026 23:23 UTC
Is China's economic policy a little too cautious?
Is China's economic policy a little too cautious? Likewise, the tension between balance and dynamism will define Chinese economic policy in the year ahead. But resilience is not the same as momentum, and China remains beset by acute imbalances that are constraining economic growth. Fiscal and monetary expansion will occur within strict boundaries, resulting in policy-supported (not self-sustaining) GDP growth of around 4.5% this year. China's leaders also recognise the deeper structural constraints on the economy, though these will be more difficult to address.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 30, 2026 23:05 UTC
Rise of world's 'middle powers'
Rise of world's 'middle powers'Listen to this articleDonald Trump's Greenland tariff threat and U-turn last week may have been a watershed for the world's "middle powers". If Mr Trump's aim is to extricate the US from a multilateral rules-based trade system and replace it with a purely transactional one, few now believe they can dissuade him. He said that even if a rules-based global order is now over, Canada and other "middle powers" can act together to avoid being victimised by American hegemony. That seems like a looser construct than a new multilateral rules-based world order "ex-USA". "Its collective bargaining power would far exceed that of the United States, rendering Trump's divide-and-rule tactics ineffective," Ms Krueger wrote for Project Syndicate.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 30, 2026 22:54 UTC
Democrat Party launches southern campaign blitz
(Photo: Democrat party)The Democrat Party has launched a major campaign tour across the southern provinces, advocating clean elections, anti-corruption politics and safer tourism. Starting in Krabi, Phangnga and Phuket, party leader and prime ministerial candidate Abhisit Vejjajiva called on long-time supporters who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the party for decades to help restore honesty and integrity in Thai politics. Mr Abhisit said meaningful change must begin with restoring political integrity, adding that the Democrat Party is positioning itself as a representative of clean politics to help rebuild economic confidence. Meanwhile, Economic Party leader Gen Rangsi Kitiyansap has clarified the party's internal structure, saying key decisions are delegated to party chairman Chris Potranandana as part of a deliberate strategy to ensure management clarity. Despite being party leader, Gen Rangsi is placed 10th on his party's list.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 30, 2026 22:49 UTC
Yodchanan vows drug crackdown
Listen to this articlePhjeu Thai Party prime ministerial candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat on Friday holds a rally in Chiang Mai, his birthplace and the Shinawatra family's hometown. In his campaign speech, Mr Yodchanan, a Chiang Mai native, said he would launch a nationwide drug suppression campaign if elected, with the goal of eradicating narcotics within the first six months of his administration. Mr Yodchanan further pledged to realise the long-discussed Lanna Airport project, noting that a feasibility study has already begun. I, Chain, from Chiang Mai, will make sure everyone has more money," Mr Yodchanan said, referring to himself by his nickname. Mr Yodchanan also addressed the recently floated "nine millionaires every day" proposal, a prize-draw-style initiative that would award one million baht each to nine people daily.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 30, 2026 22:49 UTC