- Turning point for expats in Thailand/PKK prepares for drought/Hua Hin Racer Marina Jazz Festival/Princess coming to Hua Hin/Mutating influenza is spreading/Microplastics: Bottled Water Is a Problem
- ECONOMY: Thailand enters technical deflation/Thai Exports Face Double Threat/Industrial decline forcing Thais into service jobs/Consumer confidence hit by turbulence
- TOURISM: Disneyland to Thailand?/Phuket crackdown on illegal operations
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Khao Yai: Wineries, Wildlife and Organic Farms
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Reduce agricultural burning by 15%/Is Thailand Losing the EV War?/Grab to deploy 20,000 electric vehicles
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
Global uncertainty a critical turning point for expats in Thailand
The opening months of 2026 have brought a level of global uncertainty rarely seen in recent years. Escalating geopolitical tensions, volatile currency movements, and tightening immigration enforcement are reshaping the international landscape.
For expatriates living in Thailand, these developments are no longer distant headlines. They are increasingly shaping everyday decisions from household budgets to visa planning and long-term residency choices. Continued …
Prachuap Khiri Khan Province prepares for drought
Prachuap Khiri Khan Province has begun preparations for a potential drought and domestic water shortages after authorities reported low water reserves and a forecast of below-average rainfall in the coming months.
A meeting of the provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Center was held yesterday at the provincial hall to assess the water situation and coordinate response measures. As of yesterday, Pranburi Reservoir, the largest in the province, held 174.82 million cubic meters of usable water, or 44.7% of its total capacity of 391 million cubic meters. The province’s eight medium-sized reservoirs together contained 45.14 million cubic meters of usable water, equivalent to 42% of their combined capacity. Continued …
Hua Hin Racer Marina Jazz Festival tomorrow
The owners of Why Not are behind the second edition of the Hua Hin Racer Marina Jazz Festival, which will be held south of Hua Hin in Pranburi tomorrow.
‘It’s an amazing venue, the marina is located between the river, the mountains and sea,’ says Eliot Nielsen, who organized the festival last year with his wife Surassawadee Phumbua and Philippe Oursel. This year’s event begins at 4 pm with the Swing Mother Funky Quintet and concludes with a fire show finale, finishing at 11 pm. Continued …
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Princess coming to Hua Hin tomorrow
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is scheduled to visit Hua Hin tomorrow to attend a commemorative ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of Queen Rambhai Barni’s establishment as queen consort in the reign of King Rama VII.
The ceremony will take place at Phra Tamnak Chom Dong and is being organized to honor the legacy of Queen Rambhai Barni, a significant historical figure closely associated with Hua Hin. Continued …
Virologist warns mutating influenza is spreading
Well-known virologist Yong Poovorawan has warned that a mutating influenza strain A H3N2 is spreading in Thailand. It is more resistant to vaccines but does not increase in severity.
Yong, who heads the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University, said yesterday that influenza was spreading widely and A H3B2 raised concerns because the mutation proved to seriously reduce the efficacy of existing vaccines. Continued …
Microplastics Are Increasingly Contaminating Our Bodies and Bottled Water Is a Major Route
Sarah Sajedi was walking along a beach on Thailand’s Phi Phi Islands when she noticed plastic fragments mixed into the sand beneath her feet. “I was standing there looking out at this gorgeous view of the Andaman Sea, and then I looked down and beneath my feet were all these pieces of plastic, most of them water bottles,” she recalls.
The moment stayed with her. After decades in business as a co-founder of an environmental software company, Sajedi returned to academia to study plastic waste. Her focus shifted from shorelines to something far more personal: the water people drink every day. Continued …
Thailand enters technical deflation after nine months of falling prices
Assoc. Prof. Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, said Thailand has entered “technical deflation” after headline inflation stayed negative for nine consecutive months. He said economists typically define technical deflation as a sustained fall in prices for more than six months.
He attributed the current bout mainly to lower production costs, particularly cheaper fuel and persistently low agricultural prices. However, he noted that core inflation, which strips out energy and fresh food, remains positive, suggesting underlying purchasing power has not yet reached crisis levels. Continued …
Thai Exports Face Double-Threat as US Tightens Grip on ‘Strategic Goods
Despite a recent surge in trade with the United States, Thailand’s economic outlook for 2026 is overshadowed by two looming “high-stakes” risks. Supanutt Sasiwuttiwat, a leading researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), warns that new American trade enforcement could see Thai goods slapped with tariffs as high as 40%.
The primary threat stems from “circumvention tariffs.” Washington is increasingly suspicious of the correlation between rising Chinese imports into Thailand and Thailand’s subsequent export spike to the US. Continued …
Industrial decline forcing Thais into service jobs
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has expressed concern over the weakening income outlook in the labor market, as an industrial slowdown continues to push workers into the service sector.
From the post-coronavirus-pandemic period in 2022 to the third quarter of 2025, Thailand’s average GDP growth tallied 2.4%, driven mainly by the services sector, which now accounts for 60% to 61% of Thai gross domestic product (GDP), noted the regulator. Continued …
Consumer confidence hit by war and political turbulence
The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) dipped for the first time in four months in December, attributed to the border dispute with Cambodia and domestic political instability, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
The CCI dropped from 53.2 in November to 51.9 in December. Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the UTCC, said economic recovery remains slow, while the cost of living is high. Consumers are aware of the disparity between their current income and rising expenses. Continued …
Government looks at bringing a Disneyland to Thailand
The government is exploring the possibility of attracting a Disneyland theme park to Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) as a flagship project to boost tourism and strengthen transport infrastructure.
Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, also transport minister and chairman of the EEC policy board, said yesterday that the idea was intended to create a powerful tourism magnet that would help increase passenger numbers for the high-speed rail project linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-tapao airports, as well as support the long-delayed development of the latter airport and the surrounding aviation city. Continued …
Phuket nightspot operators want crackdown on illegal operations
With the recent bribery case regarding entertainment operators in Phuket resurfacing, the private sector urged a crackdown on illegal operations such as staying open late for nightlife venues, as well as unlicensed accommodations, which tarnish the tourist island’s reputation and deprive the government of tax revenue.
Earlier this week, a group of entertainment venue operators in Patong and Phuket submitted a complaint to Phuket’s Damrongdham Center, asking the provincial governor to investigate officers collecting bribes from operators during the past New Year holiday. Continued …
Khao Yai: Wineries, Wildlife and Organic Farms
Just under three hours north of Bangkok by car, Khao Yai is one of those places locals escape to when the city gets too much. A fast train is due to launch in 2026, but for now it remains refreshingly low on international itineraries. Part national park, part agricultural heartland, part wine country, it’s a pocket of Thailand that feels unexpectedly calm and rather continental.
For Bangkok residents, it’s a weekend break. For visitors, it’s a chance to see a different side of the country entirely. The cooler mountain climate and higher elevation mean rolling vineyards, organic farms, bakeries, café-restaurants and some of the best wine Thailand produces. Continued …
Ministry wants to reduce agricultural burning by 15%
The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has set a target to reduce burning in agricultural areas by 15% this year to address the PM2.5 dust problem, as well as emphasizing a prohibition on importing crops produced using the burning method, especially corn, from neighboring countries to prevent cross-border PM2.5 pollution.
According to deputy government spokeswoman Airin Phanrit, wildfires, haze, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) continue to be a problem during the 2025/2026 production season, especially in Thailand’s agricultural areas. Continued …
Is Thailand’s “Detroit of the East” Losing the EV War to Vietnam?
For 50 years, the automotive sector has been the crown jewel of Thai industry, accounting for roughly 10% of the nation’s GDP. But as the world pivots to electric vehicles (EVs), Thailand’s traditional dominance is being challenged by a leaner, faster neighbor.
While Thailand remains the region’s largest auto producer by volume, Vietnam is no longer just “catching up” — it is rewriting the rules of the game. Here is a breakdown of the specific sectors where Thailand’s industrial lead is under the most pressure. Continued …
Grab to deploy 20,000 electric vehicles across Southeast Asia
Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading superapp, and GAC, a global pioneer in smart electric mobility, have forged a strategic partnership to deploy an initial 20,000 high-performance electric vehicles (EVs) across the region.
The partnership will introduce GAC’s AionY, AionES, and Aion V models across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, further enhancing the diversity of Grab’s EV fleets. Designed to meet the rigorous demands of professional ride-hailing, the EVs feature 90-degree door openings and ample rear legroom, ensuring comfort and convenience for both driver-partners and passengers. Continued …
- Thailand–Korea Operation Breaks Cross-Border Call Center Gang – Continued …
- Police Arrest Seven Chinese Scam Suspects in Bangkok – Continued …
- South Korean Woman Arrested With 23kg Cannabis at Airport – Continued …
- Police Arrest Chinese Suspect in IPO Blackmail Case – Continued …
- Japanese Fraud Suspect Arrested After Condo Noise Complaint – Continued …
ICE fatal shooting of Minnesota woman puts US on edge
The fatal shooting of a 37-year-old Minnesota mother by a U.S. immigration agent has put the city of Minneapolis and much of the United States on edge, with the potential of becoming another flashpoint in a polarized country. Continued …
Inside Trump’s ‘energy dominance’ play to reshape global power
A new US “energy dominance” strategy positions Venezuela as a lever over global supply, prices, and geopolitics, prioritizing oil and gas while sidelining net zero goals, analysts warn. Continued …
German president says US is destroying world order
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has strongly criticized US foreign policy under President Donald Trump and urged natio not to let the world order disintegrate into a “den of robbers” where the unscrupulous take what they want. Continued …
Trump withdraws US from key climate treaty
President Donald Trump is withdrawing the United States from a foundational climate treaty as part of a sweeping exit from collective global action, the White House announced on Wednesday. A total of 66 global organizations and treaties — roughly half affiliated with the United Nations — were listed in a White House memorandum as “contrary to the interests of the United States”. Continued …
The end of China’s one-child policy, 10 years later
Jan. 1 marked a decade since China repealed its one-child policy. Just 10 days earlier, Peng Peiyun, who long oversaw the often-brutal enforcement of China’s family-planning rules, died at the age of 96, having never been held accountable for her actions. Some obituaries praised Peng for being “reform-minded”, even though, in practice, she only perpetuated an utterly inhumane policy, whose consequences have barely begun to materialize. Continued …
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