Malaysian held after fatal crash
Malaysian held after fatal crashListen to this articlePHATTHALUNG: A Malaysian man has been arrested after a 75-year-old local resident was killed in a roadside collision in a local district. Pol Lt Col Nitikom Khunrong of Si Nakharin police said yesterday the incident occurred on Saturday at 5.40pm. When arrived at the scene, police found the victim, Praphol Dam-am, dead in a drainage ditch near his home. Preliminary reports indicate he was struck while standing outside his property. The driver, Ahmad Najmi Bin Sazali, 36, was taken into custody after his Malaysia-registered Honda was found with damage to the left front windscreen.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 01:09 UTC
What if you take away the slingshot?
What if you take away the slingshot? Thailand came away from those same Asean meetings as a party to a strategic minerals agreement with the United States that was apparently sprung at the last minute. Stakeholders throughout Thailand complained vigorously that there had been no consultation on the sudden agreement and warned of potential ramifications. The Trump Administration appealed that decision to the Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments on the case in November. The Supreme Court generally holds its most significant decisions to just before summer recess, synchronising explosive judicial opinions with July 4th fireworks.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 00:12 UTC
How world order looks after 2025
How world order looks after 2025Listen to this articleA photo shows Palestinians walking past a sand sculpture reading '2026' on the beach in Gaza City on Dec 31, 2025. But its significance goes far beyond numerical elegance -- it marks the year the postwar global order expired and a new one began. But, with hindsight, the postwar order carried the seeds of its demise. Some contours of the new world order -- three in particular -- are already visible. We have a chance to do better: to build a more plural, more equal and more ecologically grounded world order.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 00:12 UTC
What would happen if Khamenei falls?
What would happen if Khamenei falls? The last round of demonstrations, arrests and a few executions really engaged only the more secular and better educated part of the population -- half, at most. Non-violent protesters came out in ever greater numbers, offering themselves up to be slain by the "security" forces. Could the protesters who are now chanting "Death to the Dictator" bring down the regime by force? Almost half the entire population was displaced internally or abroad, and most of the country is still in ruins.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 00:12 UTC
Poll is a test of courage
Poll is a test of courageListen to this articleThailand has now entered election campaign mode, with barely a month before the next general election takes place on Feb 8. If all these promises were deliverable, Thailand would resemble a welfare state more generous than many advanced economies. This election should serve as a platform for politicians to show their political courage to break away from populism as usual. Energy costs have a direct impact on household expenses and national competitiveness. Whether any party is prepared to pursue meaningful reform remains doubtful, given the undeniable influence of energy sector funding in politics.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2026 00:12 UTC
Retro vibes come to Central Embassy
Everyone is invited to travel to an 80s-era space universe full of friendship and imagination during "MrKreme: The Fluffy Galaxy", which will take place at Open House, 6th floor of Central Embassy, Phloenchit Road, from Friday to March 1. The Fluffy Wormhole at the tunnel connecting Central Embassy and Central Chidlom on the 2nd floor will warp everyone into the retro galaxy filled with neon-coloured graphics and immersive installations. The fun continues at the Pixel Galaxy zone with a games arcade featuring classic machines free to play. Also, the exclusive MrKreme: The Fluffy Galaxy collection will be launched for the first time and available only at the Open House. Highlights include the Fluffy Galaxy special edition figure, limited edition figures, specially designed sculptures and a range of lifestyle items such as T-shirts and jackets.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 04, 2026 23:40 UTC
That's a wrap
As the year comes to a close and awards season begins to take shape, the conversation around cinema inevitably narrows. With so many films and series released, even regular viewers may have missed something truly worthwhile. From its opening seconds to its final, pulverising image, this is a film of absolute control -- bracing, vicious and darkly exhilarating. Season 4 harnesses the show's signature chaos with renewed precision, delivering moments of genuine warmth amid the shouting and stress. The result is a season filled with deeply rewarding character moments, sharper narrative momentum and some of the ensemble's finest work to date.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 04, 2026 23:40 UTC
Minor sees opportunity to focus on quality over quantity
Minor sees opportunity to focus on quality over quantityListen to this articleMr Rajakarier says Thai tourism fundamentals are strong. "We view this moment as an opportunity to focus on quality over quantity, with growth driven by those seeking premium and luxury experiences." According to Minor Hotels Travel Trends Report 2026, 94% of respondents will maintain or increase their leisure trips in 2026, compared with 2025. In addition, Minor expects to launch a hotel real estate investment trust soon, as well as an initial public offering for Minor Food. In 2025, Minor signed a joint venture agreement to expand hotels in Japan and Egypt, including the first Anantara hotel in Japan.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 04, 2026 23:34 UTC
Call for more stimulus to revive flagging economy
Call for more stimulus to revive flagging economyListen to this articleMr Wilson is pushing for targeted stimulus schemes. Barring unanticipated domestic or international developments, the Thai economy will likely be weaker in 2026 than last year, said Thomas Wilson, country manager, president and chief executive of Allianz Ayudhya Assurance. In addition, both the export and tourism sectors are challenged by the global slowdown, Mr Wilson said. "A lower monetary policy rate is likely to only weakly stimulate private consumption and investment given the high level of private indebtedness and uncertain economic outlook," said Mr Wilson. In addition, attracting foreign headquarters may make Bangkok a rival for a diminished Hong Kong and increasingly expensive Singapore, said Mr Wilson.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 04, 2026 23:34 UTC
Event organisers still buoyant
Despite Vietnam's massive investment in new venue infrastructure, event organisers in Thailand remain confident the country can still compete for event and festival tourism, banking on a variety of venues and its ability to attract both high-spending attendees and repeat visitors. Organisers believe Thailand still has potential to host events though it lacks a large-scale indoor venue. Meanwhile, retractable roofs are not the most important component for new facilities as organisers can decide in advance which events should held indoors or outdoors, he said. The government should support the private sector by subsidising the licences for international events, such as Tomorrowland, as the previous government approved a budget to host the event from 2026 to 2030, said Mr Upathum. Thailand can look forward to new events next year, while popular shows are set to become even bigger, said Mr Upathum.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 04, 2026 23:28 UTC
Natural disasters pose increasing risks for banks
Natural disasters pose increasing risks for banksListen to this articleNatural disasters are becoming more common, posing growing challenges to banking operations and requiring banks to incorporate them into their risk management approaches, according to the chief of the Thai Bankers' Association (TBA). Payong Srivanich, chairman of the TBA and president of Krungthai Bank, said natural disasters are a growing risk for financial institutions, requiring them to adopt more rigorous standards for risk assessment and management as environmental pressures intensify. In response to these challenges, the Bank of Thailand instructed commercial banks to conduct climate-related stress tests to ensure they are resilient to extreme weather events and other environmental risks. Banks have been conducting such stress tests since 2024 in line with the central bank's requirements, as well as rising risks both domestically and globally. "Banks are normally involved in assisting victims affected by natural disasters, providing both financial and non-financial support," said Mr Payong.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 04, 2026 23:28 UTC
New administration may lift automotive momentum
New administration may lift automotive momentumListen to this articleMr Yamashita says Toyota remains committed to Southeast Asia. "The new government is expected to introduce stronger measures to stimulate the economy," Mr Yamashita said, adding state‑driven initiatives could help restore confidence among buyers. "People hesitate to purchase new cars if they lack confidence in the economy," said Mr Yamashita. "We've had to reroute parts via sea freight, which raises costs and delays delivery to our Thai assembly plant," said Mr Yamashita. Despite these challenges, Toyota remains committed to Southeast Asia and he expressed hope the dispute will be resolved soon.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 04, 2026 23:10 UTC
Property market on course for further stagnation
Property market on course for further stagnationListen to this articleMs Kessara says property developers must be able to adapt. When it is weak, they still want homes but are reluctant to take on debt," said Ms Kessara. Developers are among the first to see household debt problems, as reflected in customer profiles, with credit card debt being a major constraint on purchasing power. Even aggressive discounts of 10% often fail to help if household debt issues remain unresolved, she said, noting that developers only see part of a buyer's liabilities. "Household debt remains a key issue to watch in 2026 as effective government measures could improve mortgage approval rates and unlock pent-up demand," Ms Kessara added.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 04, 2026 23:10 UTC
Online shopping to keep growing at breakneck pace
Online shopping to keep growing at breakneck paceListen to this articleThailand's e-commerce sector is expected to continue to grow by 15% annually, despite high household debt. "I see traditional retailers investing more in e-commerce to offset the slowdown in offline channels," he said. In the Thai e-commerce sector, the traditional linear search for products is being replaced by an AI-powered product discovery process. Rise of agentic commerceMr Paul said e-commerce platforms now support agentic transactions, where AI agents verify identity and complete purchases across platforms seamlessly. The e-commerce platforms are responding to Thailand's high household debt by embedding digital lending and BNPL solutions into the customer checkout process to maintain sales momentum and serve underbanked consumers.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 04, 2026 23:10 UTC
Leveraging space technology
Mr Patompob says space technology not only connects organisations, but is also a critical engine for sustainability. "We view space technology not only as a tool for connectivity, but also as a critical engine for sustainability," said Mr Patompob. "Our vision is to leverage space technology to solve real-world problems that impact both climate and communities. These initiatives show how space technology can drive sustainability and economic resilience, said Mr Patompob. We are leveraging space technology to support the nation's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 -- building a sustainable future that benefits communities, industries and the planet."
Source:Bangkok Post
January 04, 2026 23:04 UTC