China begins war games around Taiwan, island vows to defend democracy
Listen to this articleA woman in Taipei works in a noodle store near a television screen on Monday showing a news report on China's "Justice Mission 2025" military drills around Taiwan. That particular drill is designed to move troops swiftly in case China suddenly turns one of its drills around the island into an attack. The first poster appeared to show the armada of civilian ships China is mobilising to help in an attack on Taiwan. Beijing regularly calls Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te a "parasite" and began using the cartoon green bug caricature to represent separatist forces during April's war games. "I think their (China's) goal is, as they said, 'keep the island, not the people,'" said Stephanie Huang, a 56-year-old interior designer.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 09:05 UTC
Unsafe levels of smog in Bangkok and 24 provinces
Unsafe levels of smog in Bangkok and 24 provincesListen to this articleUnsafe levels of ultrafine dust blanketed Bangkok and 24 provinces, mostly in the Central Plains and the North, on Monday morning, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda). Gistda reported at 7am that unsafe levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and less in diameter (PM2.5) ranged from 37.7 to 58.6 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) of air in Bangkok and 24 provinces. Very good air quality was detected in five provinces where PM2.5 levels were between 11.6 and 14.5µg/m³. In ascending order, they were Mae Hong Son, Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani and Phangna. Other provinces had either good or moderate air quality.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 04:41 UTC
Year of oohs and aahs now comes to end
Listen to this articleThailand players react after losing to Vietnam in the SEA Games gold medal match. The SEA Games campaign, hosted on home soil, began brightly. The 3-2 defeat extended Thailand's SEA Games title drought to ten years. The men's team needed only a draw against Indonesia to clinch SEA Games gold, but collapsed 6-1 in the final. In all, FAT had targeted four golds -- men's and women's football, men's and women's futsal.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 04:33 UTC
Bangkok Life Assurance shared “small but meaningful” support with 280 Care Boxes for Baan Nokkamin Foundation
Bangkok Life Assurance shared “small but meaningful” support with 280 Care Boxes for Baan Nokkamin FoundationHappiness means different things to different people. In total, 280 boxes of new or gently used toys were prepared and delivered to the Baan Nokkamin Foundation’s branches in Bangkok, Sukhothai, and Chiang Mai. The “Care Box” initiative reflects Bangkok Life Assurance’s commitment to looking after one another and helping build a society with shared meaning. “I am truly delighted to see everyone at Bangkok Life Assurance come together in support for a meaningful cause,” Mr. Chone said. Care does not always need to be grand; sometimes, sincere giving is enough to turn an ordinary day into a truly meaningful moment—particularly for children who deserve more opportunities to feel cared for.”
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 04:27 UTC
US and Ukraine 'a lot closer' on peace deal, Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy were "getting a lot closer, maybe very close" to an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, though both leaders acknowledged that some of the thorniest details remain unresolved.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 03:11 UTC
For young Thais, owning a home put on hold
For many young Thais starting their careers, buying a home is less of an immediate goal and more of a long-term aspiration. According to Thakorn Piyapan, president of TMBThanachart Bank (ttb), homebuyers earning less than 30,000 baht a month face significant hurdles in securing mortgages. The bank is prioritising new homes priced at 7-10 million baht, focusing on customers earning a minimum of 70,000 baht a month. "Under these circumstances, new graduates and first-time workers earning no more than 30,000 baht a month have limited access to mortgages," Mr Thakorn said. As housing becomes less attainable for young workers, renting a home, a gadget or a lifestyle appears to a defining feature of a new economic reality.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 00:26 UTC
Solar panel buyers putting safety first
"Safety is a top priority for rooftop solar," Mr Techatat told the Bangkok Post. "A solar energy system must be designed and installed to the same safety standards as any other electrical system in the house. In 2026, a typical residential rooftop solar system in Thailand is expected to cost between 150,000 and 400,000 baht, depending on capacity, inverter technology, and whether a battery system is included. "Many people misunderstand that EIT standards require AFCI and RSD only for rooftop solar systems larger than 200 kW. All rooftop solar, regardless of capacity, must be equipped with AFCI and RSD safety functions," said Mr Techatat.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 00:26 UTC
Universities drive condo demand in Bangkok in 2025
Universities drive condo demand in Bangkok in 2025Listen to this articleUniversity areas comprised the top three locations in Bangkok with the highest condo absorption rates in 2025, driven by demand from students and investment buyers. Piyaporn Lertwisuttipaiboon, head of research at property consultancy Terra Media and Consulting, said condo sales this year were strongest in areas surrounding educational institutions and mass transit routes. "Buyers include parents purchasing units for their children during their studies, as well as investors seeking rental income," she said. The Rangsit-Lam Luk Ka area recorded the highest absorption rate, averaging 17.5 units sold per project per month, supported by its proximity to Thammasat University and Bangkok University. The fourth-highest condo absorption rate was registered in the Chatuchak-Prachachuen-Rattanathibeth area, averaging 12.3 units per project per month.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 00:21 UTC
What Sudthisak's return means
Forty-seven Thai nationals were murdered during the Oct 7 attack and in its immediate aftermath. All the Thai victims, like tens of thousands of other Thai workers, came to Israel to support their families and secure their future. The government of Israel has assumed full responsibility for the future of all Thai victims' families. The return of Sudthisak's remains reminds us that terrorism knows no borders. In honouring the memory of Thai victims, we reaffirm that bond.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 00:14 UTC
Now, who to take to the coalition ball?
Now, who to take to the coalition ball? The upcoming election is widely portrayed as a contest between two major parties: Bhumjaithai (BJT) and the PP. The People's Party, for its part, is aiming for a landslide victory that would allow it to form a single-party government. The People's Party still faces another major hurdle. This leaves two frontrunners -- Bhumjaithai and the People's Party -- in the electoral race.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 00:14 UTC
Peace on Earth? Democracy everywhere?
Smaller wars are underway in Yemen, Myanmar, and Thailand/Cambodia, and a larger and nastier one will start if the United States attacks Venezuela. Similarly with politics: the biggest countries are already controlled by authoritarian populists (India and the United States) or outright dictators (Russia and China). Start with the perceived decline of democracy, which most people see as a recent and fragile system. This, not the events in the United States and France in the late 18th century, was the true democratic revolution. But then, about two-and-a-half centuries ago, democracy re-emerged in the first societies with mass media.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 00:14 UTC
Pressured property developers look to adapt
Affordability, risk management and liquidity preservation are recommended strategies for developers in 2026. Competition for land banks among developers is also expected to cool, as companies prioritise liquidity preservation over aggressive expansion amid ongoing market uncertainty. At Sena Development, managing director Kessara Thanyalakpark said adaptation has become the only viable path forward as structural constraints in the housing market persist. She noted Thailand's property market peaked in 2018-19, driven largely by Chinese buyers, and that property cycles typically lag broader economic cycles. As Thailand's residential market enters 2026, developers face a prolonged period of adjustment, where affordability, liquidity management and operational flexibility will determine who endures and who exits amid an uneven and fragile recovery.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 00:14 UTC
SAO dodges blame
SAO dodges blameListen to this articleCracked pillars are seen in the basement of the collapsed State Audit Office building in May. PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILLThe State Audit Office (SAO)'s latest statement on the collapse of its 30-storey headquarters is deeply disappointing. The SAO says the collapse of the 2-billion-baht building resulted from flaws in both design and construction that failed to meet legal safety standards. As the project owner, the SAO was responsible for overseeing the bidding process, appointing contractors and approving designs, permits and construction. In any public construction project, acceptance requires signatures -- and signatures carry responsibility.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 00:14 UTC
Tourism still a stalled engine
Molpasorn ShoowongIn 2025, the Thai tourism industry faced its first contraction since the pandemic, with several setbacks consistently hampering tourist confidence. The Tourism Authority of Thailand downgraded its forecast for the year to only 33 million arrivals, ending the rising trend from 2021 to 2024, when numbers surged from 430,000 to 35.5 million. With a new government expected after the general election, tourism operators hope the industry will again become a priority, regaining its role as a key engine of the Thai economy. Chai Arunanondchai, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said 2025 was proof tourism is highly sensitive to uncontrollable factors. Tourism operators admitted they might have to wait for major stimulus projects until a new government is elected, causing Thailand to lose opportunities, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 00:11 UTC
EV insurance demand surges amid expensive claims
Pattarapong ChatpattarasillThailand's electric vehicle (EV) insurance market is expanding at an unprecedented pace, tracking rapid growth in EV sales dominated by Chinese brands, which have overtaken Japanese automakers in market share. The accident frequency for EVs is 74.8%, compared with 47.2% for ICE vehicles, indicating that EVs are nearly 1.6 times more likely to generate claims, he said. As a consequence, EV loss ratios have climbed to 84.3%, far exceeding the 61.3% reported for ICE vehicles. The data underscores the mounting claims burden facing insurers underwriting EV risks, said Mr Somporn. "Looking ahead, TGIA and TIRD expect overall motor insurance premiums, both voluntary and compulsory, to expand by 2-3% in 2026.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2025 00:07 UTC