French ex-senator found guilty of drugging lawmaker
PARIS — A French court Tuesday found a former senator guilty of drugging a woman lawmaker with ecstasy with intent to sexually assault her, and sentenced him to four years in prison, of which 18 months must be behind bars.

Celebrities call for action against US immigration raids
LOS ANGELES — Celebrities from movie stars to pop singers are speaking up with calls to action against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids after two Americans were shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Finnomena bullish on local equities
Finnomena, a Thai investment advisory firm, has turned bullish on Thai equities for the first time in nearly a decade, projecting the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index could reach 1,500 points, supported by improving domestic fundamentals, stabilising capital flows and a shift in global investor appetite towards emerging markets.

SCG Décor invests B599mn in Vietnam plant
SCG Décor Plc (SCGD), a seller of decorative surfaces and bathroom products, is set to invest 599 million baht to expand production of glazed porcelain tiles at its factory in Vietnam, aiming to capture rising global demand despite Thailand's sluggish economy.

Agency to set rules for social commerce
The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) is expected to implement two new measures this year as part of its role in regulating digital platform services.

Central unveils Chinese New Year campaign for Q1
Central Pattana (CPN), the SET-listed retail and property developer, and Central Department Store Co Ltd (CDS) are allocating 600 million baht to roll out a nationwide Chinese New Year campaign to stimulate spending and foot traffic during the first quarter.

Tourism index dips in fourth quarter
The tourism confidence index in the fourth quarter of 2025 dropped year-on-year, marking a sluggish recovery due to southern flooding, the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict and the strong baht, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT).

Anutin touts Thai role for food supply
Amid ongoing global geopolitical challenges, Thailand is ready to serve as part of the world's food supply chain, says caretaker premier Anutin Charnvirakul.

Gold traders seek clarity on new trading rules
The Gold Traders Association (GTA) is asking the Bank of Thailand to clarify all the regulations it is set to enforce regarding gold trading, asking for more time to comply, particularly with the measure for online gold trading using dollar-based transactions.

Local Japanese companies upbeat for the first half
Business sentiment among Japanese companies in Thailand is expected to improve in the first half of this year, yet concerns remain regarding sluggish domestic demand, fierce competition, rising labour costs and fluctuations in exchange rates, according to a survey by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce Bangkok (JCCB).