- Receptionist bludgeoned to death in Hua Hin/Hua Hin land under railway tracks for market/Hua Hin water-quality issues/Hua Hin wellness festival/Medical inflation might mean 30%–50% co-payments/Fire erupts at Rama II crane collapse site/Escalating PM2.5 Air Pollution Crisis/Travel Insurance Added to Fares/21.7-million Compensation After Bombings/Vote-Buying Concerns/Strained tasks of small school teachers/Thai student’s story of struggle
- ECONOMY: IMF keeps Thailand at 1.6% growth
- TOURISM: Flood-wracked Hat Yai still struggling
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Thailand’s Dining Landscape Set to Shift?/Slow morning on Thailand’s pinkest lake
- CLIMATE THAILAND: To convert 1,520 public buses to EVs/Asia Pacific EV Market Forecast
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
Receptionist bludgeoned to death at hotel in Hua Hin
A woman working at a hotel in Hua Hin was beaten to death at the reception counter during a robbery in the early hours yesterday, police said, as images of a suspect circulated widely on social media.
The attack occurred at about 3 am at a hotel in Hua Hin district. Closed-circuit television footage shows a man believed to be aged between 35 and 40 entering the hotel, climbing over the reception counter and repeatedly striking the female clerk on the head with a metal weapon more than 10 times. The victim collapsed and died at the scene, police said. The suspect then stole property and fled. Continued …
Hua Hin requests use of land under railway tracks for local market
Hua Hin City Municipality is seeking permission to use land beneath the elevated railway between Soi Hua Hin 88 and Soi Hua Hin 94, with plans to develop the area into a community market aimed at creating income opportunities for local residents.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting held last week at Hua Hin Railway Station between municipal officials and representatives of the State Railway of Thailand. The meeting focused on the possible use of state-owned railway land and the conditions that would need to be met before any development could proceed. Continued …
Hua Hin water-quality issues discussed at ‘urgent’ meeting
Hua Hin water supply issues were the focus of an urgent meeting held yesterday as city officials moved to address ongoing problems affecting residents, including supply interruptions, low water pressure, and concerns over water quality.
City officials said the municipality recognizes the inconvenience caused to residents by recurring water-supply problems. The deputy mayor was tasked with coordinating closely with waterworks officials to identify short-term and longer-term solutions, monitor the situation on a daily basis to improve the overall efficiency of the water supply system. Continued …
Hua Hin wellness festival planned for Feb 2
A planning meeting has been held to prepare for the Hua Hin City Creates Happiness, Healthy Hua Hin Residents festival, a community wellness event scheduled to take place Feb. 2 in Hua Hin.
The meeting was held yesterday and chaired by Deputy Mayor Bussaba Choksuchart. Officials and community representatives discussed the organization and program for the 2026 edition of the annual health-focused festival. Continued …
Medical inflation drives insurers toward 30%–50% co-payments
Rising treatment costs, combined with Thailand’s medical inflation in 2025 (estimated at 14%–15%), have prompted major insurers such as AIA and Krungthai-AXA to reduce the share of new lump-sum (all-inclusive) health plans for new customers.
They are shifting toward a co-payment model of 30%–50% to control expenses and prevent premiums from rising so sharply that people can no longer afford cover. Continued …
Fire erupts at Rama II crane collapse site
A fire broke out late this morning at a construction site on Rama II Road where a crane previously collapsed, causing panic among workers and nearby residents.
Flames erupted at two nearby points within the same area, sending thick black smoke into the air. Firefighters and rescue teams rushed in to contain the blaze and cordoned off the site for safety, barring public access. Continued …
Thailand Faces Escalating PM2.5 Air Pollution Crisis
Thailand is on high alert as authorities warn of an impending air pollution crisis. Forecasts predict rising PM2.5 levels nationwide through to Jan. 25, sparking serious health concerns.
The Bangkok Air Quality Information Center and the Pollution Control Department reported widespread increases in fine particulate matter, with Bangkok and several regions at highest risk. Fifteen districts in Bangkok have already reached “orange-level” air quality, posing health risks. Meanwhile, regions such as the northeast and Central Plains are experiencing PM2.5 concentrations exceeding safety standards. Continued …
Rail Passengers May Soon See Travel Insurance Added to Fares
Thailand’s Transport Ministry plans to include travel insurance in train ticket fares, aiming to provide automatic passenger coverage in accidents. This follows the fatal Nakhon Ratchasima crash, which resulted in 30 fatalities.
Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced that they could implement the initiative by April, in time for the Songkran festival. The proposed directive would require rail operators to insure passengers, offering clear compensation entitlements. Continued …
Narathiwat Pays 21.7-million Compensation After Bombings
The governor of Narathiwat has begun distributing compensation worth 21.7 million baht to those affected by coordinated bomb attacks on five petrol stations across the province, providing immediate financial relief and accelerating recovery efforts.
The payments aim to restore business confidence and support affectedo perators after widespread property damage. Officials confirmed that overall rehabilitation has already reached more than 90%. Continued …
Vote-Buying Concerns Ahead of Thailand’s February 8 Election
Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) is intensifying efforts to ensure a fair election on Feb. 8 after a survey indicated that over a quarter of voters might accept cash for their votes. Allegedly, payments range from 3,000 to 7,500 baht per person.
EC Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee has called for EC officials to actively campaign against vote-buying to maintain the election’s integrity and ensure public trust. Continued …
Marathon Teaching: The strained tasks of small school teachers
As Thailand celebrated Teachers’ Day on Friday, research from the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) highlighted the challenges faced by teachers in small schools, whose workloads surpass the standard by 37.6% in what has been termed “marathon teaching”.
Assoc. Prof. Sahawarat Polahan, director of the Research Institute for Educational Equity at EEF, reported that findings concluded teachers in small schools teach an average workload of over 27.31 hours per week — 37.6% higher than the standard set by the Ministry of Education. Continued …
Thai student’s story of struggle leads to 1 million baht donation
A 17-year-old student in Nonthaburi, who has lived alone since the age of 13 and supported himself through school with a part-time job, has received over 1 million baht in donations within just one night, after his story moved netizens across Thailand.
The student, known as Boom (real name Bunnasorn Yuenyong), is currently in Mathayom 5 (Year 12) and lives in a small rented room costing 2,500 baht per month. He has been living independently since Mathayom 1 (Year 8) after his parents separated. Continued …
IMF keeps Thailand at 1.6% growth; warns on AI stocks bubble
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released an updated World Economic Outlook (WEO), raising its forecast for global growth in 2026 to 3.3%, up 0.2 percentage points from its earlier projection.
It said businesses and economies have been adapting to US tariffs, which have eased in recent months, while a continuing boom in artificial intelligence (AI) investment has supported asset wealth and expectations of productivity gains. Continued …
Flood-wracked Hat Yai still struggling, hotel bookings way down
Hotels in Hat Yai are still struggling to put guests in their rooms almost two months after the bustling city was overwhelmed by major flooding that undermined tourist confidence. The recent New Year holiday and bookings for the coming Chinese New Year have not helped the dormant, damaged tourism sector.
“Business today is in a coma,” Sitthipong Sitthiphataraprabha, president of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotels Assn., summed up the situation on Sunday. The city was disappointed by the low booking rate during the New Year holiday, when more than half of the rooms remained empty because Malaysian tourists, the city’s mainstay, were uncertain about the situation in Hat Yai. Continued …
How is Thailand’s Dining Landscape Set to Shift?
Estimates suggest that Bangkok is home to 70,000+ restaurants (including street food), making it one of the world’s most abundant food cities. Some sources even claim it boasts more restaurants per capita than New York City or London.
Clearly, the dining scene in Bangkok – and by extension Thailand – is massive, and not about to collapse any time soon, despite the undeniable over-saturation. But what may be in danger of collapsing is the kingdom’s fine-dining sphere, which was dealt an almost fatal blow by Covid, but now seems to be faltering due to a more fundamental problem: there’s just not enough rich people to fill all the fancy restaurants that keep opening up. Continued …
A Slow morning on Thailand’s pinkest lake
Imagine. Dawn in central Thailand and Bueng Boraphet Lake lies tranquil. Short, narrow boats idle briefly at the jetty before slipping quietly onto the water, engines turned down low. As the first light spreads across the lake, passengers find themselves afloat in a sea of pink water lilies.
Located in Nakhon Sawan province, Bueng Boraphet is Thailand’s largest freshwater wetland. During the cooler months (December to February) pink water lilies bloom across vast sections of the lake, opening shortly after sunrise and closing again before midday. Continued …
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Thai transport minister touts plan to convert 1,520 public buses to EVs
Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has announced that 1,520 conventional buses will be converted into electric vehicles (EVs) as part of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority’s (BMTA) ongoing modernization program.
Speaking at the BMTA’s 49th anniversary event, Phiphat noted that the agency currently operates a fleet of 2,883 buses, with the government providing an annual subsidy of 885 million baht to maintain affordable fares and improve transport services. Continued …
Asia Pacific EV Market Forecast to Nearly Double to USD 459 Billion by 2029
The future of the electric vehicle Asia Pacific market is set for robust expansion, as the green mobility revolution transforms the regional automotive ecosystem. The Asia Pacific EV market was valued at USD 221.95 billion in 2022 and is forecast to grow to approximately USD 459.06 billion by 2029, registering a CAGR of around 10.94% over this period.
This growth is driven by accelerating demand for zero-emission transport, government incentives, environmental awareness, technological advances, and rising investments in EV infrastructure across Asia’s largest economies. Continued …
Gold and silver jump as US tariffs dubbed ‘mafia extortion’
Germany’s finance minister, Lars Klingbeil, said in Berlin yesterday that Europe was “constantly facing new provocations and hostility” that President Trump was seeking, and that Europeans needed to make clear “this is the limit”. Continued …
EU prepares to retaliate after Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland
U.S. President Donald Trump’s intensified push to wrest sovereignty over Greenland from fellow NATO member Denmark has prompted the European Union to weigh hitting back with its own measures. Video …
Trump administration orders nearly 30 US ambassadors to leave their posts
The Trump administration has ordered nearly 30 ambassadors in embassies around the world to return to the United States within weeks, a move that would leave a large gap in the American diplomatic corps even as President Donald Trump has said he wants to resolve conflicts through diplomacy. Continued …
Death toll in Spanish train collision rises to 39
Spanish police said yesterday that at least 39 people are confirmed dead in a high-speed rail collision the previous night in the south of the country, when the tail end of a train jumped the track, causing another train speeding past in the opposite direction to derail. Continued …
Hua Hin Links
Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers
A recent seminar in Hua Hin has highlighted growing legal risks for foreign residents who bought property through Thai-registered companies using nominee shareholders, as Thailand intensifies a nationwide crackdown on structures used to bypass land and business ownership laws.
Immigration police have arrested a Swedish national wanted under an Interpol Red Notice on serious drug charges after locating him at a condominium in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
Italian-Thai Development Public Co. (ITD) is facing its heaviest pressure in years, following a string of serious incidents on major construction projects, alongside a large debenture debt burden, an operating recovery that has yet to prove sustainable, and credit risks reflected in rating downgrades. The company’s financial position and market confidence are now being closely watched by both the capital market and regulators.
Academics and activists said over 40 million workers in Thailand remain stuck in low-paid, unsafe jobs with inadequate healthcare and social protection, urging parties to draft policies that ensure labor protection and fair employment.
In the 21st century, global power is no longer measured primarily by troop numbers or nuclear warheads. Instead, it is increasingly defined by control over scarcity energy, critical minerals, and the semiconductor supply chains that underpin modern economies.
Phuket International Airport recorded a significant boost in flight movements and passenger numbers in 2025, signaling a robust recovery in aviation and tourism. According to Monchai Tanod, the airport director, last year’s performance outshone 2024 and edged closer to the peak year of 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The decision by the administration of US President Donald Trump to suspend or significantly tighten US immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, including Thailand, has triggered widespread concern across the global travel, tourism, and meetings industries.
The tiny shopfront of Gu Long Bao in Bangkok’s Chinatown has seen a lot of history unfold over its century of operation, from the creation of Thailand as a nation to its rise as a cultural and tourism hotspot. The shop has a fan following for its pillowy buns, with fillings such as barbecued pork and black sesame.
Sugarcane farmers are using bundled incense sticks as slow starters to illegally burn off cane trash in their fields when they are not there, in a ploy to deny accountability for the resulting increase in air pollution.
Chinese electric vehicle maker Changan Automobile is gearing up to launch the second phase of its battery electric vehicle (BEV) production in Thailand in the first quarter of 2026, reinforcing its ambitions in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing EV markets.
The collective wealth of the planet’s billionaires soared to a record level in 2025, charity Oxfam reported today, warning of “highly dangerous” political consequences as the global elite gathers for the World Economic Forum. 
A proposal to support Hua Hin smart city development was presented to Hua Hin City Municipality yesterday, outlining a technology-led vision to improve transport, tourism services, and urban safety as the city plans its next stage of growth.
Transport Minister Suspends Elevated Road and Rail Projects
The deadly Rama 2 Road: Why Thailand’s ‘Seven-Generation Road’ keeps claiming lives
Italian-Thai Development (ITD) has won 213 state projects worth 130 billion baht in 11 years. However, recent crane collapses involving ITD raise questions about safety.
Sihasak Phuangketkeow, minister of foreign affairs, addressed the recent announcement by the US Department of State to suspend the processing of immigrant visas (permanent visas) for 75 countries, including Thailand.
Thailand’s finance minister has outlined an economic restructuring program centered on fast-tracking stalled investments and developing new industrial sectors, as the government seeks to reverse declining growth potential that has dragged the economy to its weakest performance in decades.
China has shattered global records with a staggering trade surplus of approximately $1.2 trillion for 2025, fueled by a relentless export boom that has flooded international markets with everything from electronics to machinery. While this achievement underscores Beijing’s manufacturing prowess amid domestic headwinds, it poses both opportunities and significant challenges for Thailand, its largest trading partner in ASEAN.
Thailand was once the ultimate value-for-money destination. Cheap eats, affordable hotels, unforgettable experiences. That era is over. A soaring Thai baht is pushing travelers away — just as Thailand is fighting to revive its tourism-driven economy.
It’s been just over a year since I took the leap and made Thailand my home. Moving from regular visitor to someone who lives and works here has let me fully embrace what I love about the country — and given me a front-row seat to the same tourist mistakes playing out again and again.
Bangkok was named the third best city to visit in the world today in The New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2026 list, praised for its green spaces, vibrant art scene, and recent innovations in public transport.
Tourists and locals are raising alarms over the open sale of sex stimulants, sex toys, and illegal cigarettes along Pattaya Beach Road – without proper tax stamps.
On vacation in Thailand, my family and I visited Bangkok’s majestic Wat Pho, marveling at the temple’s 150-foot-long reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf. In Chiang Mai, we rode ATVs through the rugged Mae Taeng Valley, then rafted in challenging whitewater rapids while elephants roamed the river banks. We spotted pigs on Koh Madsum and bright-orange clown fish while snorkeling Koh Samui. But nothing compares to the thrills we found in 7-Eleven.
PM2.5 fine dust pollution has surged this week nationwide, prompting the government to call for stricter controls and work-from-home arrangements. Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana warned that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels have risen sharply since Wednesday and are expected to also rise today.
The government has tightened controls on agricultural burning as part of a broader effort to address PM2.5 pollution, setting a nationwide target to reduce burned farmland by at least 15%. The measures prioritize major economic crops, for which reductions must be clearly demonstrated.
Thailand is stepping up efforts to support research and development in alternative energy, with officials preparing to allocate more financial resources to projects that advance clean technologies such as hydrogen.
Tech giants have blocked 4.7 million accounts under Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s, the country’s online safety watchdog said today. Initial figures showed platforms were taking meaningful action to remove underage users, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said. 
On long weekends, the road from Bangkok to Hua Hin resembles a faulty production line. City dwellers racing to beat the rush, often end up cooled by car air conditioning instead of ocean winds.
3 Beachside Cities Where You Can Retire On US Social Security Alone
The ultimate event for wine lovers and industry professionals is set to return as the Hua Hin Wine Expo 2026 announces its official schedule and line-up. Hosted at the Amari Hua Hin, the two-day event Jan. 15-16, will offer an immersive experience, combining high-level wine education with an extensive showcase of global vintages.
Thai exports are expected to grow by 2%-4% this year due to foreign investment, particularly in the electronics sector, according to the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC).
The Thai Tourist Police have launched an effort to improve services to visitors around the Grand Palace, aiming to tackle issues of overcharging and passenger refusals. This comprehensive strategy involves coordination with multiple government sectors and seeks to boost the image of this key national attraction.
Bangkok or Singapore: which megacity should be next on your travel list?
Guided by the Ministry of Energy of Thailand, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the ASEAN Smart Energy & Energy Storage Expo 2026 will return from March 25–27 at the IMPACT Exhibition Center, Bangkok.
US President Donald Trump has drawn a wave of criticism for his actions in Venezuela, violations of international law, disdain for longstanding norms, and threats against other countries – not least allies like Denmark and Canada. Around the world, there is a palpable sense of uncertainty and foreboding. But it should already be obvious that things will not end well, neither for the United States nor the rest of the world. 
President Donald Trump said yesterday any country that does business with Iran will face a tariff rate of 25% on trade with the United States, as Washington weighs a response to the situation in Iran, which is seeing its biggest anti-government protests in years. 
Prachuap Khiri Khan Province has begun preparations for a potential drought and domestic water shortages after authorities reported low water reserves and a forecast of below-average rainfall in the coming months.
Well-known virologist Yong Poovorawan has warned that a mutating influenza strain A H3N2 is spreading in Thailand. It is more resistant to vaccines but does not increase in severity.
Sarah Sajedi was walking along a beach on Thailand’s Phi Phi Islands when she noticed plastic fragments mixed into the sand beneath her feet. “I was standing there looking out at this gorgeous view of the Andaman Sea, and then I looked down and beneath my feet were all these pieces of plastic, most of them water bottles,” she recalls.
Assoc. Prof. Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, said Thailand has entered “technical deflation” after headline inflation stayed negative for nine consecutive months. He said economists typically define technical deflation as a sustained fall in prices for more than six months.
Despite a recent surge in trade with the United States, Thailand’s economic outlook for 2026 is overshadowed by two looming “high-stakes” risks. Supanutt Sasiwuttiwat, a leading researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), warns that new American trade enforcement could see Thai goods slapped with tariffs as high as 40%.
Khao Yai: Wineries, Wildlife and Organic Farms
The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has set a target to reduce burning in agricultural areas by 15% this year to address the PM2.5 dust problem, as well as emphasizing a prohibition on importing crops produced using the burning method, especially corn, from neighboring countries to prevent cross-border PM2.5 pollution.
For 50 years, the automotive sector has been the crown jewel of Thai industry, accounting for roughly 10% of the nation’s GDP. But as the world pivots to electric vehicles (EVs), Thailand’s traditional dominance is being challenged by a leaner, faster neighbor.
Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading superapp, and GAC, a global pioneer in smart electric mobility, have forged a strategic partnership to deploy an initial 20,000 high-performance electric vehicles (EVs) across the region.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has strongly criticized US foreign policy under President Donald Trump and urged natio not to let the world order disintegrate into a “den of robbers” where the unscrupulous take what they want. 
President Donald Trump is withdrawing the United States from a foundational climate treaty as part of a sweeping exit from collective global action, the White House announced on Wednesday. A total of 66 global organizations and treaties — roughly half affiliated with the United Nations — were listed in a White House memorandum as “contrary to the interests of the United States”. 
Jan. 1 marked a decade since China repealed its one-child policy. Just 10 days earlier, Peng Peiyun, who long oversaw the often-brutal enforcement of China’s family-planning rules, died at the age of 96, having never been held accountable for her actions. Some obituaries praised Peng for being “reform-minded”, even though, in practice, she only perpetuated an utterly inhumane policy, whose consequences have barely begun to materialize. 
Pickup Race Turns Deadly in Phitsanulok, 4 Killed, 7 Injured
Retailers ramp up for 11.11 sale to boost year-end spending
Immigration Denies Reports of Korean Kidnappings
Phuket recognized as one of the world’s top 25 destinations for 2026
Tourist-friendly Guide On How To Behave As Thailand Mourns Her Majesty Queen Sirikit
1,500 take part in hospital running event
United Airlines resumes Bangkok flights after 11-year hiatus
Thailand Warns Tourists of Fake Arrival Card Websites Charging Fees
Thai Property Leaders Call for Government Action on Sustainable Urban Development
