- German man murdered in PKK/Extended hours for beach vendors rejected/Bangkok Chokes: Residents Urged to Mask Up/Monsoon to drench southern provinces
- THAILAND-CAMBODIA CONFLICT: No letup in Cambodian shelling/Ninth Thai soldier loses leg/Cambodia rejects ceasefire terms/Cambodia PM says he wants peace/Trip.com suspends tourism partnership with Cambodia
- ECONOMY: Thailand as ASEAN’s Premier Logistics Hub/Electronics lead export growth/Foreign investment hits 331-billion baht/New business registrations down
- TOURISM: Consumer Caution Limits New Year Travel/TAT Warns of Revenue Drop/Year-End Travel Nears Pre-Covid Levels/TAT to unveil Lisa’s ambassador campaign/UFO festival on tourism calendar
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: How to Choose the Right Rehab Center/Instant noodles, the poverty label/The craft traditions of the north
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Asia-Pacific’s energy transition
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
German man murdered in Prachuap Khiri Khan, wife confesses
Police uncovered a murder plot involving a Thai woman and her male employee who killed a German man and left his body inside a house in Prachuap Khiri Khan province for almost a month before pretending innocence and notifying police about the death.
The case came to light on Dec. 1 when the 45-year-old Thai woman, Nitthaya, contacted officers from Khlong Wan Police Station to report a foul smell coming from a house in the Huay Sai subdistrict. She told police that she entered the property and found the body of her German husband, 65-year-old Mark, inside. Continued …
Extended hours for beach vendors rejected
A request to extend operating hours for Hua Hin beach vendors has been rejected, with local authorities instructing vendors to continue operating under existing regulations. The decision was made at a meeting of the Hua Hin Beach Management Committee on Tuesday.
The meeting was convened following a formal request from all 22 licensed beach vendors seeking permission to extend their operating hours for the sale of food and beverages into the evening, from 6.30 pm until midnight. Continued …
Bangkok Chokes: Residents Urged to Mask Up as Pollution Soars
Bangkok is grappling with alarming levels of PM2.5 pollution, prompting city officials to advise residents to wear protective masks and limit outdoor activities. Several districts reported higher pollution levels, some reaching the orange category, which can impact health.
The Bangkok Air Quality Information Center documented PM2.5 levels at 34.7 µg/m³ citywide at 7am today. This exceeds the safe standard of 37.5 µg/m³, with certain districts experiencing elevated readings. Continued …
Strong monsoon to drench six southern provinces
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned that the stre ast monsoon will bring more rain to the lower south, with heavy downpours forecast in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat.
Residents in the lower south were urged to watch for heavy rainfall and accumulated rain that could trigger flash floods and runoff, especially on mountain slopes near waterways and in low-lying areas. Continued …
No letup in Cambodian shelling of Thai civilian areas, army says
Cambodia continues to fire heavy weapons at Thai civilian areas despite repeated protests by Thailand in international forums, while spreading false accusations about Thailand through its embassies, Thai authorities said yesterday.
Col. Kannanat Pornnipatkul, assistant spokeswoman for the Royal Thai Army, said Cambodia fired about 40 BM-21 rockets into Ban Klong Pang village in Ta Phraya district of Sa Kaeo province at 5 am yesterday. Continued …
Ninth Thai soldier loses leg from landmine in Surin
Two Thai soldiers were injured after stepping on landmines, one losing his leg, near the Thai-captured Ta Kwai temple in the northeastern province of Surin yesterday afternoon.
The 2nd Army Area said the incident occurred near the temple in Phanom Dong Rak district. The location had been captured by the Thai troops on Dec. 16. Continued …
Cambodia still rejects Thai ceasefire terms
The secretary-level meeting of the Thailand–Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC) entered its third day at the Ban Phakkad permanent border checkpoint, Khlong Yai subdistrict, Pong Nam Ron district, Chanthaburi.
Attention is on whether Cambodia will accept Thailand’s three proposals:
- Cambodia must declare a ceasefire first.
- The ceasefire must be genuine and continuous.
- Cambodia must cooperate seriously and in good faith on demining operations. Continued …
Cambodia PM says he told US he wants peace and is seeking Thai ceasefire
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said he spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border, calling for an immediate ceasefire and implementation of what he described as a peace agreement reached in Kuala Lumpur.
Hun Manet said: “On the night of Dec. 25, 2025, I had a telephone discussion with US Secretary of State, His Excellency Marco Rubio, to discuss developments along the Cambodia-Thai border in order to push for an immediate ceasefire and the implementation of a peace deal to achieve lasting peace for Cambodia and Thailand. Continued …
Trip.com suspends tourism partnership with Cambodia amid border clashes, cyber concerns
Trip.com Group, the biggest online travel agency in China, said yesterday that its partnership with Cambodia’s tourism authority was suspended, in a move to address the Chinese public’s heightened sensitivity over safety in the Southeast Asian country.
The company, which operates the Ctrip and Qunar sites in mainland China, said the collaboration – originally scheduled to run from September 2025 to March 2026 – “had been suspended due to recent safety alerts issued by the Chinese embassy in Cambodia”. Continued …
Thailand Emerges as ASEAN’s Premier Logistics Hub Amid Global Supply Chain Realignment
Thailand is experiencing a transformation in its logistics landscape, emerging as Southeast Asia’s pre-eminent distribution hub as global supply chains undergo their most significant reconfiguration in decades.
Driven by the “China + N” diversification strategy and accelerating intra-regional trade, the kingdom finds itself at the epicenter of a logistics boom that is reshaping the economic geography of Asia-Pacific. Continued …
Electronics lead export growth of 7% in November
The Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO reported that exports in November were worth US$27.445 billion, expanding for a 17th consecutive month at 7.1%. Excluding oil-related products, gold and military supplies, exports rose 11.8%. Imports totaled US$30.172 billion, up 17.6%, resulting in a trade deficit of US$2.726 billion.
Nantapong Chiralerspong, director of the TPSO, said exports were mainly supported by electronics shipments, driven by the upcycle in computers and growth in modern technologies, including AI, keeping industrial exports at a high growth rate. Continued …
Foreign investment hits 331-billion baht in 11 months
Foreign investment in Thailand rose in both volume and value in the first 11 months of 2025, with total approved investment reaching 331.162 billion baht, up 45% year on year, according to the Department of Business Development (DBD).
Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the DBD under the Commerce Ministry, said approvals for foreign nationals to operate businesses in Thailand under the Foreign Business Act, B.E. 2542 (1999) — limited to businesses required to obtain permission — in November 2025 totaled 104 cases. Continued …
Economic slowdown drags new business registrations down 22% in November
Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the Department of Business Development (DBD) under the Ministry of Commerce, said Thailand recorded 5,554 new business registrations in November. That was down 22% month-on-month from 7,165 in October 2025, a fall of 1,611. Compared with November 2024 (6,266), registrations were down 11%, or 712.
Total registered capital stood at 14.86-billion baht in November. This was down 32% month-on-month from 21.78-billion baht in October, a decline of 6.92-billion baht, and down 39% year-on-year from 24.22-billion baht in November 2024, a fall of 9.36-billion baht. Continued …
Consumer Caution Limits New Year Travel and Spending in Thailand
More than 80% of Thais remain undecided or have no plans to travel during the New Year holiday period, reflecting continued caution amid economic uncertainty, according to a survey released by a Thai business research center.
Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the Universiy of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and chairman of its Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, said the survey showed subdued sentiment ahead of the New Year 2026 period. Continued …
TAT Warns of Revenue Drop Amid Border Conflict and Flooding
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects a significant decline in New Year holiday revenue, forecasting a 2%-9% decline compared to last year. Border tensions and severe flooding affecting southern provinces have contributed to this decrease in tourist numbers. However, a robust local currency continues to buoy outbound travel.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the governor of TAT, has stated that they anticipate tourism receipts to reach 70-76.5 billion baht for the New Year, a decrease from the previous year. He also expects a decline in foreign visitor numbers, with an estimated 1.4-1.5 million arrivals between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1. Recent natural disasters and border issues have led to a reduction in travel from Malaysia and other key markets. Continued …
66 Flights Added as Year-End Travel Nears Pre-Covid Levels
In anticipation of a surge in air travel this year-end, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has requested airlines to arrange 66 additional flights from Dec. 27 to Jan. 4. This initiative will provide an extra 11,312 seats. Additionally, airlines will offer 30% discounts on 202 flights across 11 routes.
CAAT Director-General Manat Chavanaprayoon announced the additional flights and discounted fares to manage the expected increase in passenger numbers during the festive season. The extra flights will cover six major routes, including Bangkok to Krabi, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai. Monitoring has shown a steady rise in passenger numbers, nearing pre-Covid levels, with almost 479,979 travelers reported as of Dec. 21. Continued …
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TAT to unveil Lisa’s Amazing Thailand Ambassador campaign in January
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the agency is pressing ahead with efforts to keep Thailand among the world’s leading travel destinations, as it prepares to roll out a new advertising campaign featuring Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal as the country’s “Amazing Thailand Ambassador”.
TAT says Lisa’s global influence will not only inspire fans but also help elevate Thailand’s appeal as a destination travelers are eager to visit, she said. The upcoming campaign forms part of the broader “Amazing Thailand” brand communication strategy, aimed at strengthening the country’s tourism and cultural image, while building on the so-called “Lisa effect” as a creative force that attracts international attention. Continued …
UFO festival on Thailand tourism calendar in 2026
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced events to increase spending during the year-end and the first quarter next year, starting with “Amazing Thailand” Ambassador Lisa and a UFO festival, in a bid to increase international arrivals by at least 10% in 2026.
“In 2026, Thailand must win back tourists by rebuilding trust via safety measures and memorable experiences,” said TAT Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaibool. Continued …
How to Choose the Right Rehab Center in Thailand
Deciding to seek help for substance abuse is one of the most courageous steps anyone can take. For those considering treatment in Thailand, the country has emerged as a leading destination for addiction recovery, offering world-class facilities, affordable care, and a serene environment conducive to healing.
Before beginning your search for a rehab center, it’s essential to assess your specific treatment requirements. Different facilities specialize in various types of addiction, whether it’s alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine, or behavioral addictions. Some centers focus on specific demographics, such as executives, young adults, or individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders. Continued …
Instant noodles, the poverty label
Mama, just a simple name, yet it resonates like a heartbeat in Thailand, where these instant noodles have woven themselves into the very fabric of daily life for over 50 years.
More than just a quick meal, Mama stands as a symbol of resilience, the go-to comfort food that has accompanied countless Thais through every hardship, from economic crises to personal trials. Continued …
Living Lanna: the craft traditions of the north
The cultural heart of the former Lanna kingdom, Chiang Mai enters its high season during the winter months, when cooler temperatures and clearer skies draw visitors to northern Thailand.
But beyond its scenic mountain setting and relaxed seasonal atmosphere, the former Lanna capital is being recognized for something less transient: a deeply rooted culture of craft that remains embedded in everyday life. Continued …
Asia-Pacific’s role in the global energy transition
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects “rapid expansion” in renewable energy in Southeast Asia – and APAC more broadly – in the years ahead, driven by a surge in electricity demand, as countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia continue to increase their participation in global goods and services value chains.
One of the biggest sources of new electricity demand will come from the construction of data centers, which the accounting firm KPMG projects will see a compound annual growth rate of 13.1% between 2025 and 2030, making APAC the fastest-growing region in the world. Continued …
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Russian Man Jailed for Son’s Speedboat Murder – Continued …
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German Tourists Arrested Over Hotel Vandalism in Chiang Mai – Continued …
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Foreign passenger attacks Thai Bolt rider and flees with motorcycle – Continued …
World loses Spain’s Trasllambrión glacier for good
Spain’s Trasllambrión glacier — the last su glacier in the province of León — has effectively disappeared, bringing to an end more than 700 years of near-continuous ice in the Picos de Europa. Researchers confirmed its “death” in October, describing the loss as a striking, visible consequence of a rapidly warming climate. Continued …
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