• Weight Loss Injections in Thailand/Thailand Riviera road construction/Thailand’s Yaba Crisis/Healthcare system faces crisis/Storms expected across country/Tigers killed by canine distemper virus/Students Clash with Weapons
• ECONOMY: US tariffs still at 10%/Thailand’s Technical Deflation/BOT Warns of Low Growth/BoT upgrades Thai GDP forecast/Thai Automotive Market Surges/Car exports decline/Industrial property market defies uncertainty
• TOURISM: CAAT rejigs screenings at airports/Phuket 5-Star Hotel Busted/Casino-Free Tourism Plan/B30 million to revamp app/Phuket hits new daily flight record/Suvarnabhumi Airport apologizes/Transgender women brawl with German tourist
• CLIMATE THAILAND: Red tape delaying Phuket trash furnace
• INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS

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Weight Loss Injections in Thailand: A Guide For Expats

Thailand, often celebrated for its vibrant street food and laid-back lifestyle, is also facing a quieter health challenge. The country now ranks second in ASEAN for obesity after Malaysia, with an estimated 48% of the population classified as overweight or obese.

The consequences are not just personal. According to the World Health Organization, overweight and obesity cost Thailand an estimated 281 billion baht annually, equivalent to about 1.5% of GDP in 2019. Continued …

Thailand Riviera road construction boosted

The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) is pressing ahead with construction of the Tanao Sri Kiri Phat tourism road, a 37.2-kilometer route linking Ban Khao Bandai and Ban Namphu Ron, aimed at boosting the local economy.

The project is part of the Thailand Riviera initiative, designed to enhance the coastal highway network along the western Gulf of Thailand, improve safety, and stimulate tourism-driven economic growth. DRR Director-general Phichit Hunsiri said the new road will provide an alternative to Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road), reducing congestion during peak travel periods. Continued …

Thailand’s Yaba Crisis: How a ‘Diligence Drug’ Became a National Emergency

In towns and cities across Thailand, a small, brightly colored pill is quietly tearing communities apart. Known as yaba — literally “crazy drug” — these tablets of methamphetamine and caffeine have become one of the country’s most pressing public health emergencies, cutting across class, age, and geography.

For decades, the story has been told through the lens of policing: record seizures, border crackdowns, and the murky geopolitics of the Golden Triangle. But behind the statistics are individuals in crisis, families pushed to the brink, and a healthcare system struggling to keep pace. Continued …

Healthcare system faces ‘debt-inspired crisis’

Sen. Veerapun Suvannamai has warned of a looming financial crisis in the healthcare system due to unpaid debts from the National Health Security Office (NHSO) under the universal healthcare scheme.

Dr. Veerapun, a member of the Senate Committee on Public Health, said that hospitals nationwide have not received full reimbursement for services provided under the “30-baht treatment anywhere” program since late last year. Continued …

Storms expected across country, heavy rain in the north and northeast

The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a warning for today, announcing a “stormy day” in Thailand. The northern and northeastern regions will be the hardest hit, with heavy rainfall expected in 40% of these areas.

In the southern region (east coast), thunderstorms are expected in 10% of the area, especially in the provinces of Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Surat Thani. Minimum temperature: 23-25°C; maximum temperature: 31-36°C; from Chumphon north, southeast winds at 15-30 km/h. Continued …

Tigers killed by canine distemper virus, not bird flu

Canine distemper caused the deaths of 72 tigers at two animal parks in Chiang Mai earlier this month, not avian influenza, and there was no transmission to humans, it was announced yesterday.

Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Amin Mayusoh said laboratory tests on the tiger carcasses at the two parks, in Mae Rim and Mae Taeng, were negative for bird flu, as were the tests on the chicken carcasses they were fed. Continued …

Students Clash with Weapons on Ayutthaya Road

A video showing two student groups clashing on Rojana Road in Ayutthaya with weapons like knives and sickles, was widely shared online Monday. The confrontation triggered alarm among passing motorists as students, dressed in varying outfits, engaged in a dangerous pursuit. An incident involving a motorcycle crash left a male student briefly unconscious and injured on the road.

The altercation occurred in the Lam Sai subdistrict and involved school-age teenagers, some as young as 15 to 16 years old. A local food vendor, witnessing the event, reported that the students began fighting in front of her store despite residents trying to intervene. She described the alarming scene where additional students arrived on motorcycles, escalating the chaos. Continued …

US tariffs still at 10%, despite Trump’s 15% claim

US President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs have come into effect at 10% despite a pledge to introduce them at a higher rate. After the Supreme Court blocked many of his sweeping import taxes on Friday, the president said he would introduce a 10% global rate. He then said on Saturday that the rate would be 15%.

However, according to official documents, the tariffs have been set at the lower rate from yesterday with no directive to increase the rate issued. The White House is working to update the rate to 15% to reflect Trump’s announcement, a White House official told Reuters, without saying when the change might come into force. Continued …

Thailand’s Technical Deflation: Causes, Risks, and the Economic Outlook

The statistics of the kingdom have shown for 10 months inflation results lower than the experts’ statistical forecasts (these being on average negative for the whole of 2025 with -0.13% annual average, according to Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Economic and Trade Forecast Center .

Although the growth forecasts for 2026 suggest a simultaneous recovery in inflation, it appears to show no signs of slowing down, which could have adverse effects on the Thai economy. Price deflation is a general and long-lasting corollary, often indicative of a marked weakening in demand and economic activity. It reflects a deep slowdown: households consume less, businesses reduce their investments, and margins contract. Continued …

BOT Warns of Low Growth, Targets Loan Debt

Thailand’s economy is stuck in a low-growth cycle and risks prolonged stagnation if structural problems are not addressed, Bank of Thailand (BOT) Gov. Vitai Ratanakorn said yesterday.

Speaking at the “Thailand Economic Drives 2026” seminar , he outlined targeted measures aimed at tackling non-performing loan (NPL) debt and regulating gold transactions. The immediate focus is on easing household debt pressures and improving loan quality to support sustainable recovery. Continued …

BoT upgrades Thai GDP forecast after robust Q4

The Bank of Thailand is upbeat about the country’s growth prospects, projecting GDP expansion of 1.9% this year, up from its previous estimate of 1.5%, after the economy grew stronger than forecast in the fourth quarter of last year.

Speaking at a business seminar yesterday, central bank governor Vitai Ratanakorn said fiscal and monetary policies must be better integrated to help Thailand reach its potential growth rate of 2.7%. Continued …

Thai Automotive Market Surges 53% as EV Deliveries Hit Top Gear

The Thai automotive industry has kickstarted the “Year of the Horse” with a 53.8% surge in year-on-year sales for January. The growth was primarily propeled by a record-breaking influx of electric vehicle (EV) deliveries, though the heavy-duty pickup sector continues to flounder amid tightening credit conditions.

According to data released yesterday by the Automotive Industry Club of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), domestic vehicle sales reached 73,936 units. The spike is attributed to the final delivery phase of the government’s EV 3.0 subsidy scheme and the transition into EV 3.5, which mandates a 2:1 domestic production offset. This regulatory push saw sales in the passenger car and SUV segments soar by 76.2% and 93.6%, respectively. Continued …

Car exports decline by 6% in January

Thailand’s car exports fell in January, dropping 6% year-on-year to 58,405 units – the lowest level since May 2022 – which was attributed to stricter environmental regulations and currency fluctuations, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

The slowdown reflects broader challenges facing the global car market. Stricter carbon emission laws, particularly Australia’s enforcement of tougher standards since mid-2025, have reduced demand for certain models. Continued …

New data centers help industrial property market defy uncertainty

The industrial and logistics property sector continues to outperform other segments, supported by robust demand and ongoing government backing despite prevailing uncertainties, according to property consultancy CBRE Thailand.

Chotika Tungsirisurp, head of consulting and research at the firm, said the industrial sector has been a standout performer over the past five years and is expected to extend its solid performance into 2026. Continued …

CAAT rejigs screenings at all airports

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) will allow airport security to inspect suspicious checked baggage without the passenger being present, as part of a broader overhaul of the country’s aviation security standards. Such inspections will begin on Oct. 16.

Under new rules on the screening of checked baggage, security staff may open luggage bound for an aircraft’s hold if it is suspected of containing explosives, dangerous goods, or any other prohibited items. Continued …

Phuket 5-Star Hotel Busted for No License, Many More Suspected

A five-star hotel in Patong, Phuket, has been raided for operating without a license, despite offering 219 rooms and charging up to 8,000 baht per night. Provincial officials confirmed the hotel had no operating permit under the Hotel Act B.E. 2547 (2004), no registered legal entity and no evidence of tax registration.

The case has highlighted concerns that fewer than 1,000 of Phuket’s more than 6,000 accommodation providers are formally licensed. A complaint from a concerned citizen alleged that a hotel in Patong, Kathu district, was operating more than 200 rooms without official approval. Continued …

EEC Board to Review Casino-Free Tourism Plan

The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) board will review a proposed casino-free entertainment complex this week before forwarding it to the cabinet, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Monday.

The project is intended to stimulate economic growth and help Thailand achieve a GDP growth target of around 3% in 2026. Phiphat said infrastructure investment and tourism will be key drivers. Continued …

Tourism Authority of Thailand invests B30 million to revamp app

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has invested 30 million baht to revamp its Amazing Thailand app to support seamless travel for inbound tourists, aiming to reach its goal of 3 trillion baht in tourism revenue this year.

Kittipong Prapatthong, deputy governor for digital, research, and development at TAT, said a key strategy is to drive digital tourism in the platform economy, as tourists now expect convenience and personalization during their trips. Continued …

Phuket hits new daily flight record: 393 flights, 71,613 passengers

Phuket’s tourism recovery has surpassed pre-Covid levels, with daily flights setting a new record and visitor numbers reaching around 71,000. Provincial authorities expect arrivals to hold steady and are targeting 14 million tourists this year.

Phuket International Airport — one of the six airports operated by Airports of Thailand (AOT) — reported a new all-time high in air travel on Feb. 14, with 393 flights and 71,613 passengers, the highest since the airport began operations and above the previous record in 2019. Continued …

Suvarnabhumi Airport apologizes after complaint about rude staff and poor service

Suvarnabhumi International Airport issued an apology after Thai travel bloggers and other passengers complained about rude behavior and poor customer service at a security screening checkpoint.

Several travel bloggers posted in recent days about negative experiences at security and passenger screening points at Thai airports, particularly Suvarnabhumi. Many said officers spoke to passengers without manners and showed little service-mindedness. Continued …

Transgender women filmed brawling with German tourist in Pattaya

A fight involving a group of Thai transgender women and a German tourist broke out yesterday on Pattaya’s Beach Road, with the group heard shouting about taking the foreigner’s wallet as the struggle unfolded.

The clip reportedly shows five transgender women grappling with the tourist on the road and assaulting him as he fell to the ground, leaving him injured. The tourist later broke free, and one of the group members is heard warning bystanders not to record videos before they dispersed. Continued …

Red tape delaying needed trash furnace for Phuket

The planned new waste-management plant for Phuket is still at least two years away because of delays in receiving approval from state agencies, according to the provincial governor. Gov. Nirat Pongsitthithavorn aired his frustration over the delay in construction of the second waste incinerator,

He said some government offices had still not approved the project. These delays meant the new plant could not begin operating for at least another two years. Continued …

Canada PM to push trade, rebuild fractured ties in India trip

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney heads to India this week pushing to double trade and mend fractured ties, his first stop on an Asia-Pacific tour that also includes Australia and Japan, as he seeks to reduce reliance on the United States. Continued …

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