- Bangkok, 20 Provinces Choke/Crane falls, causing deadly train crash/36 provinces face doctor shortage/One wife, four husbands/Dog guards owner’s body/Cambodian soldier death toll
- ECONOMY: Thailand’s economic challenges/Short-Term Handouts or Long-Term Growth/Pattaya’s EEC-Driven Shift/Price of fresh chillis soars/Thai GI coffee sales
- TOURISM: 1.1 Million Arrivals in 11 Days
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: The Thai Before Thailand
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Third-warmest year on record/Levanta Renewables acquires solar portfolio
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/HUA HIN LINKS
Bangkok, 20 Provinces Choke as PM2.5 Hits Dangerous Red Levels
Seriously harmful levels of PM2.5 pollution were recorded in Bangkok and 20 surrounding provinces this morning, while unsafe air quality affected a total of 54 provinces nationwide.
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported that PM2.5 levels were very high, between 79.2 and 108 micrograms. Thailand’s official safety threshold for PM2.5 is set at 37.5µg/m³. Continued …
Crane falls onto tracks, causing deadly train crash in Nakhon Ratchasima
At least 10 people were killed and more than 40 others injured this morning after a crane used in the construction of a high-speed rail bridge collapsed onto a passenger train, causing it to derail and catch fire, authorities said.
The accident occurred in Ban Thanon Khot, Sikhio district, when a crane fell onto railway tracks as a passenger train traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani was passing through the area. Continued …
36 provinces face doctor shortage
Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Somruek Chungsaman said yesterday that resolving the shortage of medical personnel is one of the ministry’s top priorities, as emphasized by Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat. A three-phase management plan has been set out to address the problem.
In phase 1, the ministry will focus on urgent relief for areas with severe doctor shortages by improving benefits and welfare packages, providing study opportunities, and compiling comprehensive personnel data. Continued …
Candidate proposes women to have four husbands
A Thai prime ministerial candidate has reignited debates on gender equality by proposing that women be allowed to have up to four husbands with mutual consent.
Mongkolkit Suksintharanont, representing the Thai Alternative Party, shared this idea recently on social media, triggering extensive online discussions. Some see the notion as progressive, while others view it as potential satire or merely a tactic meant to spark conversation. Continued …
Dog guards owner’s body after elderly woman dies in Nonthaburi
An elderly woman was found dead Monday at her home in Nonthaburi, with her loyal dog refusing to let anyone near the body, prompting an unusual rescue operation.
The discovery was made after officers from Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station received a report of a death at a two-story wooden and concrete house. Rescue volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation and a medical examiner from the Institute of Forensic Medicine were dispatched to the scene. Continued …
Cambodian soldier death toll in border conflict exceeds 110
More than 110 Cambodian soldiers and police were killed during the December border clashes with Thailand, according to a review of official social media posts and government announcements compiled by Nikkei Asia.
Cambodia has not released an official national death toll for its armed forces following the 21 days of fighting in December. However, Nikkei Asia identified and verified more than 110 names of security personnel reported killed through posts by government officials, provincial authorities, and state-linked organizations. Additional posts from civilians mourning relatives suggest the true number may be higher. Continued …
Thailand’s economic challenges: Soaring private debt, low productivity and rising inequality
Thailand’s economy is facing significant structural challenges that extend beyond short-term issues, according to Vitai Ratanakorn, governor of the Bank of Thailand (BOT). Speaking at the KKP Year Ahead 2026 seminar, Vitai highlighted concerns about low productivity, a lack of new investment, and the rising levels of both household and corporate debt.
He also pointed out the country’s high level of public debt and the growing inequality across various sectors of society. Thailand’s economic competitiveness has been weakened by these issues, compounded by an aging population, which is further reducing the country’s growth potential. Continued …
Government Must Choose Between Short-Term Handouts and Long-Term Growth, Economists Warn
Thailand’s incoming government must abandon populist handout policies and implement radical structural reforms if the country is to escape its low-growth trap, leading economists warned at a major economic forum yesterday.
Speaking at the KKP Year Ahead 2026 seminar, top economic advisers painted a sobering picture of Thailand’s economic predicament and outlined an urgent reform agenda that prioritizes productivity gains and market liberalization over short-term stimulus measures. Continued …
From Party City to Residential Hub: Pattaya’s EEC-Driven Shift
Pattaya is undergoing a metamorphosis, shifting from a party hotspot to a thriving residential hub as part of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development. High-speed rail and industrial growth are beckoning a steady influx of skilled professionals, redefining the city’s identity as a prime living destination.
Historically famed for its short-term tourism appeal, Pattaya’s transformation aligns with the maturation of the EEC. This strategic development sees the region evolving into a permanent home for both local and international talent. Continued …
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Vendors affected as price of fresh chillis soars
Vendors are feeling the heat as the price of fresh chilli peppers has soared to a record high in many parts of the country, reaching 250-350 baht a kilogram. Prices at a market in Khuan Kalong district, Satun province, found bird’s eye chillies being sold at 300-350 baht a kilogram, while Jinda red chillies were going for 250 baht a kilogram.
Vendors explained that chilli prices are unprecedently high right now due to severe flooding in the south last November, as well as the current dry season resulting in lower yields and insufficient supply to meet demand. Continued …
Thai GI coffee sales top Bt1.49 billion in 2025
Thailand’s GI-registered coffee products generated total sales of 1.497 billion baht in 2025, with the top five items alone accounting for 1.318 billion baht, according to the Department of Intellectual Property.
Director-General Oramon Sapthaweetham said Thailand currently has 11 GI coffee registrations across eight provinces: Doi Tung (Chiang Rai), Doi Chang (Chiang Rai), Thep Sadet (Chiang Mai), Doi Suan Ya Luang Nan, Doi Muser Tak, Wang Nam Khiao (Nakhon Ratchasima), Dong Mafai (Nakhon Ratchasima), Ranong, Khao Thalu (Chumphon), Tham Sing Chumphon, and Krabi Town coffee. Continued …
1.1 Million Arrivals in 11 Days, Down 7% from 2025
Thailand has seen over 1.1 million foreign arrivals in the first 11 days, generating about 55.03 billion Thai baht, a 7.02% decrease from last year’s numbers.
The major contributors include: Malaysia: 117,039 visitors; China: 112,204 visitors; Russia: 109,600 visitors; India: 77,455 visitors; South Korea: 55,262 visitors. Continued …
How the Thai Came to Be: The Thai Before Thailand
This morning, I wanted to put something on paper for a future post, and I ended up somewhere I did not plan to be at all. I thought I would jot down a few lines, maybe a loose intro, nothing serious. Instead, I got pulled into the early history of the Thai people in the region we now casually call Thailand, and once you start there, it is hard to stop.
What struck me first is how modern our idea of Thailand really is. Borders, flags, even the name itself are recent layers laid over something far older and far messier. Long before there was a kingdom called Siam, let alone a nation called Thailand, the region was a shifting mosaic of peoples, languages, trade routes, and power centers. The Thai were not “there” in the neat way school maps suggest. They moved, slowly, over generations, blending rather than replacing. Continued …
2025 was the world’s third-warmest year on record
The planet experienced its third-warmest year on record i n 2025, and average temperatures have exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming over three years, the longest period since records began, European Union (EU) scientists said today.
The data from the EU’s European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) found that the last three years were the planet’s three hottest since records began – with 2025 marginally cooler than 2023, by just 0.01°C. Continued …
Levanta Renewables acquires 93 MW solar portfolio in Thailand
Singapore-headquartered Levanta Renewables has acquired a fully operational 93 MW ground-mounted solar portfolio in Thailand. The portfolio spans eight provinces and will generate approximately 140 GWh of electricity annually for the Provincial Electricity Authority and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority under long-term PPAs.
The acquisition increased Levanta’s operational solar capacity in Thailand beyond its existing 330 MW portfolio. In addition, the company has more than 300 MW of solar, onshore wind, and battery storage projects under advanced development in the Philippines, alongside a wider project pipeline across Southeast Asia. Continued …
- Russians Arrested Over Psilocybin Mushrooms Therapy in Phuket – Continued …
- Immigration Police Arrest Alleged Chinese Scam Boss ‘Jack Yang’ – Continued …
- Foreign man assaults train officers, sparking retaliation from Thai passengers – Continued …
- 36 foreigners arrested in Pattaya for illegal work, overstay, and drugs – Continued …
Hua Hin Links
Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers
The body of a Canadian tourist has been found off the coast of Sam Roi Yot, three days after he went missing while swimming in rough sea conditions near Khao Takiab Temple.
A leading luxury drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Hua Hin is set to expand its services with the opening of a new outpatient mental health clinic in the city. Diamond Rehab Thailand, fully licensed by the Thai Ministry of Public Health and founded by Theo de Vries and his wife, Panwadee de Vries, will begin offering outpatient counseling and psychological services at The Hub Hua Hin from January.
The Hua Hin Championship Road Race 2026 will take place on Sunday, March 1, bringing competitive and recreational cyclists to the roads around Huay Mongkol for a full day of racing and touring in the Hua Hin area.
A coordinated wave of bombings and arson attacks struck 11 PTT petrol stations across three southern Thai provinces in the early hours yesterday, causing widespread property damage but no reported casualties.
The Customs Department in Thailand is considering a significant increase in import duty rates on low-value goods. The Customs Department deems the current variable rates, averaging around 10%, insufficient to ensure fair competition with domestically produced goods. There are plans to increase the rate to up to 30% in order to establish a more equitable market.
E-commerce entrepreneurs support the Customs Department’s suggestion to raise the import duty rate on low-value goods to promote fairer competition between domestically produced goods and imported products, according to Paul Srivorakul, group chief executive of aCommerce, a Southeast Asia e-commerce enablement company.
Thailand’s experiment with cannabis liberalization is undergoing a profound and contentious recalibration. The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is advancing a new draft ministerial regulation designed to impose stringent oversight on the sector, a decisive pivot away from the largely unregulated commercial free-for-all that emerged post-2022 and back towards a strictly medical framework.
Effective Jan. 1, the export of fishery products from 12 major Vietnamese fishing grounds to the United States has been officially suspended.
Contractors for rooftop solar installation must register with the Council of Engineers Thailand to enhance consumer confidence on safety, according to the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT).
Thailand needs a new law to help it handle around 400,000 tons of electronic waste a year — including used mobile phones — by recycling the waste for valuable materials, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) said.
A biomass fuel factory in Phrae province has been found to be operating without a required health hazard license, despite ongoing complaints that pollution from the site has caused illness among dozens of nearby residents.
Thai Honda, a leading manufacturer and distributor of motorcycles and multipurpose engines, has unveiled its first electric motorcycle in Thailand, marking a major step in the company’s strategy and positioning the country as a key export hub. The new model, UC3, was designed by a Thai engineer and is scheduled for production at Thai Honda’s local factory.
In 2026, Thailand is expected to complete one of the most significant transformations in its immigration system, the abolition of passport stamping and the full adoption of a 100% digital immigration platform.
International Living magazine has identified the five most affordable places to live or retire in 2026, which scored the highest in the cost-of-living category of its 2026 Global Retirement Index. It evaluated retirement destinations across climate, healthcare, visa and lifestyle, along with cost.
Thailand is tightening its grip on gold trading to curb its impact on the baht. Authorities plan to cap daily online gold trading between 100 million and 200 million baht, as announced by the Bank of Thailand. Additionally, a cap on foreign currency transactions at money changers is set at 800,000 baht daily.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has detailed a high-stakes strategy to revitalize the nation’s economy, appointing global icon Lalisa Manobal — known professionally as LISA — as its ‘Amazing Thailand Ambassador’ for 2026. The partnership is the cornerstone of an ambitious plan to attract an additional five to 10 million ‘high-quality’ international travelers.
A grayscale sky is showing signs of life over slumbering waves, with sunshine breaking through clouds that had earlier brought steamy tropical rain to the northeast coast of Koh Samui.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. will seize control of Greenland “the easy way” or “the hard way” and warned that he won’t miss out on the opportunity to Russia or China. “We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not,” he said. 
Iran is currently cut off from the outside world. The government has severed internet and telephone lines nationwide, hoping to blind and deafen the international community to the brutality of its crackdown. Yet, the screams of frustration from the streets echo far beyond the digital blackout. This nationwide uprising is a clear signal: the 40-year-old theocratic regime is facing its most catastrophic crisis of faith yet. 
Authorities in Bangkok plan to delay enforcement of a regulation requiring pet dogs and cats to be fitted with microchips for a year in order to help all sides prepare and ensure broader adoption.
The leadership of Thailand’s three largest commercial banks have issued a unified warning for 2026, describing the upcoming financial year as a period of “all-around exhaustion.”
Average headline inflation is expected to rise slightly in 2026, driven by increasing prices of agricultural products and the recovery of the tourism sector, according to the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO).
Leading economists have issued a stark warning over the proliferation of short-term populist campaign pledges, asserting that these policies are laying a “fiscal trap” that threatens Thailand’s long-term economic sovereignty and its international credit standing.
Thailand’s property market is facing another major test in 2026, after new figures from the Real Estate Information Center (REIC) of the Government Housing Bank pointed to a clear slowdown in foreign demand in 2025 — long viewed as a key engine of the condominium market.
The outlook for the restaurant industry in 2026 appears grim as there are no new positive factors. A Thai Michelin-starred chef urged restaurant operators to think carefully about business expansion.
Health and wellness are increasingly viewed as a new form of luxury, driving lifestyle changes and fueling rapid growth across global well-being industries this year. Dr. Tanupol Virunhagarun, chief executive of BDMS Wellness Clinic and BDMS Wellness Resort, said the wellness trend will continue expanding over the next five years worldwide.
Tourism has surged beyond pre-pandemic levels, placing pressure on popular cities, islands, and natural landmarks. By charging tourists, governments aim to generate dedicated funding to manage crowds, upgrade infrastructure, and preserve destinations, while allowing tourism to continue.
Southeast Asia is accelerating its energy transition with growing momentum from both policy and capital. Stronger regulatory support and expanding clean-energy financing are creating a more predictable investment environment, enabling governments and developers to move from planning to delivery.
Minor Hotels, a global hospitality group with hotels, resorts, and branded residences across 59 countries, has announced the upcoming launch of NH Hua Hin in Thailand’s royal seaside town. Minor Hotels will assume management of the hotel from Jan. 1.
The Road Safety Operation Center (RSOC) has reported 27 deaths and 174 injuries from 175 road accidents on Jan. , marking day six of the New Year road safety campaign.
Thailand’s New Year road safety crackdown has recorded nearly 4,000 cases entering the probation system over six days, with drink-driving accounting for the vast majority and Nonthaburi, Bangkok, and Samut Prakan topping the provincial rankings.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a fresh weather outlook as another wave of cold air sweeps over upper Thailand, causing temperatures to drop, especially in northern provinces. Meanwhile, strong monsoonal winds are expected to affect the south and coastal areas starting this weekend.
The Thai baht is experiencing a strong rally this week, trading between 31.00 to 31.85 to the US dollar. This strength comes amid a surge in global gold prices, prompted by the US invasion of Venezuela. The move has created a ripple effect in markets, attracting capital inflows to Thailand’s bond sector.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has set out a plan to steer the economy through the transition period before a new government takes office, saying the administration will rely on pre-approved “quick win” measures to sustain momentum and support growth toward 2% in 2026.
Thailand’s exports are expected to keep expanding in 2026, but at a more modest pace of 2%-4%, as the surge seen in 2025 fades and the sector returns to a more “normalized” growth path, the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) said.
The 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.
Thailand has emerged as one of the most popular destinations for medical tourism, attracting millions of international patients every year. Known for its affordable high-quality care, internationally accredited hospitals, and world-class hospitality, Thailand offers a unique combination of healthcare excellence and tourism appeal.
Photographers at Bangkok’s Wat Arun temple have been accused of rudely shooing away tourists to photograph paying customers in rented Thai costumes, leading to social-media complaints and a response from the Tourist Police and temple officials to inspect the site and implement preventive measures for tourist safety and Thailand’s image.
The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration, or DASTA, has launched the “The Soul of Thailand” campaign, inviting visitors to experience the spirit of Thai identity through nine travel routes across nine designated areas for sustainable tourism.
Hidden Bangkok Secrets for an Unforgettable Authentic Adventure
Thailand’s industrial sector has demonstrated resilience in the face of tightening European environmental standards, with exports of carbon-intensive goods to the European Union (EU) surging by nearly 55%.
The solar energy market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period 2025-2031, driven by global commitments to decarbonization, supportive government policies, and significant cost reductions in photovoltaic (PV) technology.
Expat Thailand 2025: Open Doors, Uneven Rules
AIS launches simple SMS scam reporting service via 1185
Tourism still a stalled engine
Indian Boycott Calls Grow After Hindu Statue Damage Near Thai Border
Thailand offers 39 free camping sites for new year holidays
Brigitte Bardot, the French 1960s sex symbol who became one of the greatest screen sirens of the 20th century and later a militant animal rights activist and far-right supporter, has died. She was 91. 
AI, English top skills Thai employers are seeking
Foreign Tourists Cancel 40% of Trat Bookings After Clashes
China remains highest-spending arrivals market
GULF Commences Operation of 2 Solar Farms with 145 MW Capacity
Moon x Moonlight Party at Hua Don Beach tomorrow
Over 10 million Thais affected by PM 2.5 dust, with severe health impacts
Surin Hit by Severe Livestock Disease Outbreak, 900 Animals Dead
Bureau seeks Bt175 million to revive MICE sector in south
Koh Samui Travel Guide
Bangkok Chokes: Dangerous Smog Levels Grip City Again
Deadly Asian floods are no fluke. They’re a climate warning, scientists say
Passenger service charge to increase from 730 to 1,120 baht starting 2026
Thai Power Giant EGAT Unveils ‘Triple S’ Strategy to Hit Net Zero by 2050