Innovation drives new era of farming
Innovation drives new era of farmingListen to this articleTen outstanding farmers, including three award winners, strike a pose at the "Rak Ban Kerd Farmers of the Year 2025" awards. Mr Tharaphong (third from right), Mr Santisuk (second from left) and Mr Apichat (third from left) each received an award during the event. A new generation of Thai farmers is harnessing innovation and research to develop high-value, environmentally friendly products, allowing family-owned farms to achieve both profitability and sustainability. Our foundation has developed an e-book featuring 200 successful cases of farmers using technology, with the aim of building a network that helps newcomers reduce risk." According to Peeraphan Korthong, director-general of the Department of Agricultural Extension, there are 558,553 smart farmers registered with the department, of which 252,333 individuals are categorised as young smart farmers.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 06:35 UTC
Bhumjaithai makes poll pledge on B40 electric train fare
Listen to this articleA 40 baht daily fare is already operating successfully on Red and Pur ple lines in Bangkok, says Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Bhumjaithai deputy leader and acting transport minister. A 40 baht daily pass would offer unlimited rides. Under the plan, Bhumjaithai would repurchase concessions through the Mass Rapid Transit Authority to help subsidise fares. Another option would allow private investors to take part in shareholding, which could later be used as collateral for loans. Instead, the party is proposing a zoning-based fare structure to support subsidisation.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 06:34 UTC
England lose Crawley as they battle to save final Ashes Test
England lose Crawley as they battle to save final Ashes TestListen to this articleMitchell Starc, right, celebrates trapping Zak Crawley lbw in the first overSYDNEY - Mitchell Starc removed Zak Crawley before England recovered to reach 80-1 at lunch on day four of the fifth and final Ashes Test, still trailing Australia by 103. The England captain limped off clutching what appeared to be his groin while bowling the third over of the day and did not reappear. Australia lead the series 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes, with England desperate for another morale-boosting win after victory in the previous Test at Melbourne. But the Australian skipper did not last long, nicking a fuller length delivery from Josh Tongue to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. Scott Boland suffered a golden duck, edging Will Jacks to Harry Brook in the slips to leave Webster unbeaten on 71.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 06:31 UTC
Siam Society unveils 10-day Shanxi expedition
Siam Society is holding a study trip to Shanxi, one of China's most historically significant regions, from April 6-15. Owing to its strategic position between China's northern frontiers and the Central Plains, Shanxi province has played a crucial role in Chinese history for more than two millennia. It continues to Mount Wutai (Wutaishan), one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, where participants will study major monasteries, including Foguang Temple and Nanchan Temple, where the earliest surviving Tang-Dynasty wooden temples in China are preserved. The programme then proceeds to Pingyao, a Unesco-listed Ming–Qing city illustrating late-imperial urban planning and the origins of China's early banking system and concludes in Taiyuan, the provincial capital, with visits to Jinci Temple, Shanxi Museum and other key monuments synthesising Shanxi's political, religious and artistic development. The fee is 101,000 baht (96,000 baht for members) excluding air tickets.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 06:30 UTC
Hit, replace, no penalty: rules explained
Hit, replace, no penalty: rules explainedListen to this articleIf your ball hits another player's ball on the fairway, your ball is played as it lies, and the other player replaces their ball to its original spot with no penalty to either player. If your ball, played from off the green, hits another ball on the green and goes in the hole then it counts. You play your ball as it lies (in the hole), and the other player replaces their ball on its original spot with no penalty, as your ball was considered an "outside influence". Mickelson (obviously not too impressed on how he was playing) ran after his ball and hit it while it was still in motion on the green. Mickelson wound up making 8, but was also awarded a 2-stroke penalty for playing a moving ball, which brought his score for the hole to a 10.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 06:05 UTC
Policy standstill key economic risk in 2026
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 05:53 UTC
Agency steps up digital citizen push
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 05:36 UTC
Why does Trump want the US to control Greenland?
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 05:33 UTC
Trump mocks transgender athletes in women's sports
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 05:31 UTC
Flash floods in Indonesia's North Sulawesi leave at least 14 dead
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 04:17 UTC
Fuelling the economy with 'good' jobs
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 01:30 UTC
Adaptation easily covers its cost
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 01:30 UTC
Beyond force in the South
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 01:30 UTC
Trump regime 'overcommitted' outside the US
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 01:30 UTC
Democrats oppose Land Bridge project
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 07, 2026 01:21 UTC