- Illegal Hua Hin Milk Factory/Five Behaviors Now Count as Harassment/Unsafe levels of smog
- THAILAND-CAMBODIA CONFLICT: Containers Placed at Nong Chan Border/Full services at border district hospitals
- ECONOMY: New Year celebrations/Co-payment scheme ends/BoT flags prolonged manufacturing slump/2026 inflation target
- TOURISM: Koh Chang ferry traffic jams/Hat Yai Hotels Struggle
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: The best New Year’s eve dinners
- CLIMATE THAILAND: 1,000 electric truck tractors
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
Police Smash Illegal Hua Hin Factory Rebranding Expired Milk for Sale
Consumer Protection Police have dismantled an illegal factory accused of altering expiration dates on expired milk cartons and selling them online, seizing more than 13,000 items valued at over 1.5 million baht.
The operation took place yesterday in Hua Hin district, and was ordered by Police Major Gen. Kongkrit Lertsittikul, commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD). Continued …
Thailand’s New Law: Five Behaviors Now Count as Harassment
A recent amendment to Thailand’s Criminal Code, effective yesterday, now includes a broader range of behaviors under sexual harassment, encompassing verbal, gestural, stalking, and online actions.
The law aims to address increasing awareness of personal rights with tougher penalties for offenders, as published in the Royal Gazette. This change acknowledges the evolving understanding of harassment beyond just physical contact, ensuring stricter consequences for actions causing distress or fear. Continued …
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Unsafe levels of smog in Bangkok and 48 provinces
Unsafe ultrafine dust (PM2.5) levels exceeded Thailand’s safety limit in Bangkok and 48 of the country’s 76 provinces this morning, with the highest concentration recorded in Nong Khai.
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency reported hat unsafe levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and less in diameter (PM2.5) ranged from 37.8 to 74.0 micrograms per cubic metet (µg/m³) of air in Bangkok and 48 provinces. The government-set safe threshold for PM2.5 is 37.5µg/m³ in Thailand.. Continued …
Containers Placed at Nong Chan Border in New Year Gesture
Thai troops have installed 60 shipping containers along the border at Ban Nong Chan in Sa Kaeo province, formally marking the area in line with the 1:50,000 map and declaring the move a New Year gift to the Thai people and local residents.
The containers were placed after Thai forces reclaimed the area from Cambodia, with the Thai national flag raised to signal control and the delineation of territory. The action has had an immediate symbolic impact for villagers in Ban Nong Chan, reinforcing Thailand’s claim over the area. Continued …
Public Health Ministry to resume full services at border district hospitals
The Ministry of Public Health announced it will resume full medical services at district hospitals in Sa Kaeo and other border provinces after the ceasefire entered its third day yesterday, provided it continues to hold.
Dr Ekkachai Piansriwatchara, deputy permanent secretary for public health, said there were signs of improvement after two days of the ceasefire. As a result, it would consider resuming full services at district hospitals in Sa Kaeo and other provinces, which were closed after fighting broke out on Dec. 8. Continued …
New Year celebrations expected to generate over 7O billion baht revenue
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is expecting New Year celebration revenue to reach 70-76.5 billion baht, while anticipating approximately 1.4 to 1.5 million foreign tourists to fly here to ring in 2026.
Thapanee Kiatpaiboon, TAT’s governor, said income from foreign tourists during this festive season is expected to reach 51.6- 58 billion baht, while that from 4.96 million Thai holidaymakers will likely reach 18.5 billion baht, with the latter surging by 7% in both total number of tourists and revenue. Continued …
Co-payment scheme ends today
The cabinet has urged the public to spend “Khon La Khrueng Plus” funds before the program’s deadline expires today.
The Thai cabinet is urging citizens to use their remaining “Khon La Khrueng Plus” balances under the “Let’s Go Halves” co payment scheme before the deadline, hoping the spending will stimulate the economy. Only seven million out of 20 million eligible participants have spent their allocations, leaving about six billion baht unused. Continued …
BoT flags prolonged manufacturing slump as competitiveness fades
Thailand’s economy showed clearer demand-side improvement late in 2025, supported by continued growth in goods exports and tourism. However, the recovery remains uneven, as industrial production has continued to contract, reflected in broad-based declines across the manufacturing production index (MPI), amid both temporary factors and deeper structural weaknesses.
The baht’s strength and intensifying competition from imported goods remain key risks to watch in the period ahead. Chayawadee Chai-anant, assistant governor of the Corporate Relations Group and spokesperson for the Bank of Thailand (BoT), said the ongoing weakness in manufacturing had, in the near term, been driven by several temporary factors. Continued …
2026 inflation target set at 1%–3%
Thailand’s cabinet approved the monetary policy target for 2026 yesterday, keeping the headline inflation target range at 1%–3%, following a joint agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Thailand (BoT). The range is unchanged from 2025.
The cabinet also instructed four key economic agencies — the Finance Ministry, the BoT, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), and the Budget Bureau — to closely monitor inflation to ensure it remains within the target range. Continued …
Koh Chang ferry traffic jams stretch 1 kilometer
The New Year Festival atmosphere in Trat province has returned to full vibrancy. Reports from the Laem Ngop Ferry Terminal yesterday indicate a surge of tourists heading to the islands, resulting in significant traffic congestion. Meanwhile, operators and tourists confirm that Koh Kood and Koh Mak remain safe destinations despite border concerns.
Both Thai and international tourists arrived in large numbers by car and motorcycle, queuing to purchase ferry tickets to Koh Chang. The influx caused a traffic tailback stretching over 1 kilometer. Despite the congestion, local business operators view this bustle as a positive economic signal for the area. Continued …
Hat Yai Hotels Struggle to Recover, Long Road to Rehabilitation
Only about half of hotels in Hat Yai have reopened after severe flooding, while others remain closed for cleanup, repairs or permanent shutdown, the local hotel association said.
Sittipong Sithiphatprapha, president of the Hat Yai–Songkhla Hotel Assn., said many operators are still assessing whether they can afford to reopen. One long-established hotel that had operated for decades has decided to close permanently, citing high renovation costs and concerns that flooding could return in 2026. Continued …
The best New Year’s eve dinners around Thailand
New Year’s Eve dinner in Thailand is never just about eating. It’s about sitting somewhere you actually want to stay, ordering another drink without checking the time, and letting the night go by until midnight sneaks up on the table.
This list is for people who want their last meal of the year to feel like a moment. Big buffets, skyline rooftops, beachfront lawns, and hotel dining rooms that know how to throw a proper finale. Dress up if you want, stay seated longer than planned, and let dinner carry you into the countdown. Continued …
U Power signs deal for up to 1,000 electric truck tractors in Thailand
U Power Limited announced Monday it has entered a strategic partnership with Whale Logistics (Thailand) Co. to deploy commercial battery-swapping electric trucks in Thailand. The micro-cap company, currently valued at just $8.38 million, is pursuing growth opportunities despite facing financial challenges with a negative EBITDA of $5.11 million in the last 12 months.
Under the agreement, U Power’s wholly-owned subsidiary, U SWAP Co., has secured an order for up to 1,000 battery-swapping electric vehicles. The first batch of 30 units is scheduled for delivery in April, marking the beginning of U Power’s commercial operations in Thailand. Continued …
Myanmar’s opium cultivation reaches record high
Opium cultivation in Myanmar has reached a record high in 10 years, and opium plantations are also increasing in opium-growing areas, according to a statement from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Opium cultivation in Myanmar has increased by 17% compared with last year, with the area under cultivation increasing from 45,200 hectares to 53,100 hectares, the statement said. Continued …
Hua Hin Links
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