- Wellness penetrates Hua Hin real estate/Thailand’s best beach towns/Blacklisting of Italian-Thai Development/Developer Won Contracts After Building Collapse/Rama II road collapse triggers citywide water outage/Two Probable Causes Behind Crane Collapse/Heavy rain ‘to arrive earlier this year’/Smog to persist for a week/Heads roll after Chinese detainee releases/Teachers at small schools struggling
- ECONOMY: Petrochemical and Plastics Industry Faces Severe Challenges
- TOURISM: Strong baht clouds Pattaya tourism outlook/Thailand Privilege Card to uphold strict screening
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Adopting solar lighting solutions/54 Tons of Used Batteries
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
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Wellness trend penetrates Hua Hin real estate
The idea of what a “home” should be is quietly but powerfully changing. Homes are no longer just places to rest, entertain guests, or escape the heat. They are becoming active partners in how people live, move, breathe, and age well.
Across villas in the Hua Hin area, sea-view condominiums, and hillside retreats, a new kind of living space is emerging — one designed not just for beauty, but for everyday wellbeing. Designers now describe this shift as the Integrated Wellness Home — a home where movement, health, and calm are built into daily life. Continued …
Thailand’s best beach towns for long-term living
Thailand’s coastline has always been a draw, but when it comes to long-term living, there’s more to consider than a pretty beach. These days, many of Thailand’s beach towns have grown into liveable, well-connected hubs with strong expat communities, international hospitals, and real infrastructure.
Still, each place brings its own rhythm, costs, and quirks. Before we begin, ask yourself this: Are you eyeing early retirement, remote work, or just a change of pace? Here’s how Thailand’s top coastal towns compare, so you can choose one that suits your lifestyle best. Continued …
PM orders termination and blacklisting of Italian-Thai Development
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the Ministry of Transport to terminate construction contracts with Italian-Thai Development (ITD) and blacklist the contractor, following a series of deadly infrastructure accidents that sparked intense public backlash.
The decision comes in the wake of two high-profile tragedies: the crane collapse onto a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima and the crane accident on Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon, both of which were overseen by ITD. Continued …
Developer Won Contracts Worth More Than 26 Billion Baht After Bangkok Office Building Collapse
Italian-Thai Development Public Co. secured seven government construction projects worth a combined 26 billion baht following the collapse of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) building, according to procurement records on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
The contracts were awarded in 2025 despite the tragic collapse of the Auditor General’s office project in Nakhon Ratchasima in January 2025, which killed dozens of workers and passersby. Continued …
Rama II road collapse triggers citywide water outage and gridlock in Samut Sakhon
Authorities are closely monitoring developments after a road collapse on Rama II Road caused major disruption this morning, with traffic at a standstill and a citywide water outage declared in Samut Sakhon.
The Waterworks Division of Samut Sakhon Municipality has declared an emergency, announcing that a main water pipeline beneath the road has ruptured. As a result, tap water supply has been cut across all service areas of Samut Sakhon Municipality. Motorists are urged to avoid the affected area. Continued …
Two Probable Causes Behind Rama II Crane Collapse: Carelessness Likely
Thai Structural Engineers Assn. has identified two causes behind the Rama II crane collapse: incomplete locking of crane parts and improper placement of support legs.
Upon inspecting the damage and reviewing aerial images, as well as images before the incident, Chulert Jitjuajun, vice president of the Thai Structural Engineers Assn., pointed out that the collapse was highly likely due to errors in placing the crane’s support legs in the wrong position. The support legs were positioned on the thinnest part of the concrete segment rather than on the thicker and stronger areas. This led to the support legs puncturing the back of the concrete segment, causing the structure to collapse. Continued …
Heavy rain ‘to arrive earlier this year’
This year’s rainy season is expected to arrive earlier and bring heavier rainfall than usual, Deputy Prime Minister Borwornsak Uwanno has warned, urging agencies to step up preparedness for major flooding.
Borwornsak made the remarks yesterday before chairing the first meeting of the task force assigned to draw lessons from recent floods and prepare for potential large-scale disasters. He said he had visited the Hydro-Informatics Institute (HII) on Wednesday to review its latest analyses. Continued …
Smog to persist for a week
Toxic haze continued to blanket Bangkok and large parts of the country, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exceeding safe limits in 45 provinces nationwide, authorities said, warning that unhealthy air conditions could persist until Jan. 23.
(A reminder to our readers that we post a link to the daily levels of PM2.5 in the Hua Hin area. You can find it on your compueter in the left-hand sidebar area, or on your phone or computer in our Hua Hin Links section)
The Air Pollution Problem Communication Center (APPC) under the Pollution Control Department (PCD) reported yesterday that the 24-hour average PM2.5 levels ranged from 7.4 to 89.1 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³), surpassing the national safety standard of 37.5 µg/m³ in many areas. Continued …
Heads roll after Chinese detainee releases
One police officer has been dismissed and four others face criminal and disciplinary action for their alleged involvement in corruption linked to the unlawful release of Chinese detainees, the Royal Thai Police said yesterday.
All five officers are investigators attached to the Metropolitan Police Bureau. The case centers on allegations that police investigators colluded to temporarily remove Chinese nationals from immigration detention for criminal proceedings but failed to return them for deportation, allowing them to disappear from official custody. Continued …
Teachers at small schools struggling to cope, survey shows
Excessive workloads, long teaching hours, and a worsening work-life balance are raising concerns about teachers’ wellbeing and the quality of education, especially at Thailand’s small schools, a new study finds.
The Equitable Education Research Institute (EEFI) warned of a growing crisis following the release yesterday of a nationwide survey covering teachers in public and local authority schools, private institutions, and those under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Continued …
Thailand’s Petrochemical and Plastics Industry Faces Severe Challenges
Recently, market analysts pointed out that as Thailand’s economic growth forecast is revised down from 2.2% in 2025 to 1.5% in 2026, the petrochemical and plastics industry, which accounts for about 20% of the country’s GDP, is facing severe challenges. The core difficulties in the industry’s development currently stem from the dual pressures of currency appreciation and trade barriers.
Market analysts stated that the impact of exchange rate fluctuations has directly eroded corporate profit margins. In 2025, the Thai baht appreciated by 8.2% against the US dollar, making it the second strongest currency in Southeast Asia. For petrochemical and plastic exporters who settle transactions in US dollars, this exchange rate change has directly reduced their product price competitiveness by over 8%. Continued …
Strong baht clouds Pattaya tourism outlook, as China market slumps 35%
Chonburi’s tourism sector faces mounting challenges in 2026, with a strengthening baht weighing on long-haul markets and Asian arrivals remaining weak, according to Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, president of the Chonburi Tourism Federation Assn. (ACTF).
Thanet said that during the winter travel period from March to April, extending to the Songkran holiday, long-haul visitors from Europe and Russia continue to travel to Thailand. However, growth in the long-haul segment from 2025 through early 2026 has been limited to around 5%, well below its potential. Continued …
Thailand Privilege Card vows to uphold strict screening
Thailand Privilege Card (TPC) has pledged not to allow individuals with suspicious backgrounds or links to gray businesses to use its membership as a cover, and is preparing to discuss with the government ways to mitigate the impact of new tax measures on long-stay foreigners with overseas income.
Thailand’s long-stay market is unlikely to be affected by “unsafe tourism” as TPC targets membership growth of 10%-20% this year, said President Manatase Annawat. Continued …
Key considerations for homeowners adopting solar lighting solutions
Solar power was always imagined to be a distant dream some years back. Today, community and commercial solar lights and home lighting solar lights have become the simplest way to add lighting without wiring or electricity bills. Whether you’re searching for solar light for home or advanced solar lights setups, the category is now ideal for first-time homeowners and renovators looking for convenience and sustainability.
Modern solar solutions are designed to offer plug-and-play use with long-term reliability. With the reduction in installation costs and the various incentives offered by the government pertaining to solar energy, it has become more accessible and affordable than ever before. Continued …
CIB Raid Finds 54 Tons of Used Batteries at Saraburi Plant
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has raided a recycling factory in Kaeng Khoi district, Saraburi province, uncovering more than 54 tons of used batteries classified as hazardous materials and seizing heavy machinery, with police suspecting links to Chinese investment.
The operation took place y esterday and resulted in criminal charges against a company accused of illegally possessing and processing dangerous waste. Authorities said the discovery posed serious environmental and community risks due to improper handling and storage. Continued …
- Illegal Car Rental Ring Run by Belarusians Uncovered in Phuket – Continued …
- Chinese Hotel Owners Arrested I Chiang Mai Over Nominee Scheme – Continued …
- Nigerian drug dealer arrested on Koh Pha Ngan after skipping court – Continued …
The medal is not the prize, says Nobel Committee
The Nobel Peace Prize is inseparable from the person who won it, the Nobel Committee said yesterday, a day after this year’s winner gave her medal to US President Donald Trump. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said she had “presented” her Nobel medal to Trump, in a bid to win over the US president who had sidelined her since ousting Nicolas Maduro. Continued …
EU Solar Power Surges as Capacity, Jobs, and Consumer Adoption Hit Record Highs
Solar energy has emerged as a central pillar of the European Union’s clean energy transition, with new data highlighting rapid capacity growth, rising consumer adoption, and increasing economic benefits across the bloc. In a historic milestone, solar energy became the EU’s largest source of electricity generation for the first time in June 2025. Continued …
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