- 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 …
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