IN MY 45 years of reporting on Thai, Asean and Asia-Pacific Travel & Tourism, I have covered multiple crises. Three of the most devastating were the 1997 financial crisis, the 2004 tsunami and the 2020-2022 Covid pandemic. Each left a swathe of destruction, with Travel & Tourism being particularly badly hit.
Month: February 2026
People’s to file duty-negligence, misconduct lawsuit against Election Commission
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE PEOPLE’S will shortly file a criminal lawsuit against the Election Commission on duty-negligence and misconduct charges, resulting in the polling agency’s alleged failure to hold a clean and fair election due to the questionable existence of barcodes and QR codes on voting ballots, People’s leader Nattapong Ruengpanyawut confirmed today
Read moreGovt not hiking VAT to 10% for 2-3 years: Bhumjaithai
BHUMJAITHAI Party confirmed that the new coalition government is not planning to increase value added tax (VAT) to 10% for the next two to three years amid criticism that this is what is looming, Naewna newspaper said today (Feb. 23). Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Bhumjaithai’s deputy leader, said concern about a VAT hike mounted after
Read moreThai army refutes US media claim of violating international law
THE Thai army today (Feb. 22) rebutted claims made in a report published by The New York Editorial that the country had violated international law and used excessive force in the border conflict with Cambodia underscoring that Thailand in fact strictly adheres to international law, PPTVHD36 said. Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvari, the army’s spokesperson,
Read moreJomtien Beach swamped by marine debris
SEVERAL kilometres of Jomtien Beach in Pattaya was littered with marine debris that washed ashore today (Feb. 22) leading to fearful tourists avoiding swimming in the sea while Pattaya City urgently sent officials to clean up the mess, MNG Online and TV Channel 7 said. Some reporters went to this beach and saw various
Read moreAfter court ruling, Trump says US global tariff rate will rise from 10% to 15%
By Reuters and published by Yahoo!News WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (Feb. 21) he will raise a temporary tariff from 10% to 15% on US imports from all countries, the maximum level allowed under the law, after the US Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff programme. The move came
Read moreChiang Mai, Phayao hit hard by severe summer storm
BOTH Chiang Mai and Phayao were lashed by a severe summer storm with houses, shops and stalls damaged, tents blown away and large trees uprooted, PPTV said today (Feb. 21). The storm arrived quickly in Phayao bringing strong winds and continuous heavy rain to several districts with Mae Chai being particularly affected, especially a
Read moreBhumjaithai-led coalition finally opts to do without Klatham, Democrats
By Thai Newsroom Reporters IN WHAT WAS SEEN as a last-minute twist in complicated, unpredictable political affairs, a Bhumjaithai-led coalition government will finally do without the Klatham or the Democrats but secure a majority of 300 designate-MPs primarily obliged to vote Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for head of the executive branch again, partisan
Read moreUS Supreme Court ruling on Trump tariffs boosts global economic growth: Academic
THE US Supreme Court ruling that a law President Donald Trump relied on to impose tariffs does not authorise the president to do so will have a positive impact on global economic growth in terms of the volume and value of world trade with Asian economies, including Thailand, benefiting, a respected Thai academic said
Read moreTrump vows 10% global tariff after stinging court rebuke
By AFP and published by CNA WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump vowed on Friday (Feb. 20) to impose a 10 percent tariff on all imports into the United States after the Supreme Court handed him a stinging rebuke by striking down his signature economic policy. The conservative-majority top court ruled six-three that a
Read moreTax hike will make Thai airports more expensive than world’s best
AFTER Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) announced an increase in the international departure passenger service charge (PSC) from 730 baht to 1,120 baht per person, effective June 20, 2026 onwards, it has been noted that Thailand thenceforth would be charging more than leading airports worldwide, Naewna newspaper said yesterday (Feb. 20). The fee increase
Read moreBhumjaithai-led govt backed by 340-plus coalition MPs
By Thai Newsroom Reporters A POTENTIAL Bhumjaithai-led government has so far secured an overwhelming majority of 344 designate-MPs from over a dozen coalition partners including the Pheu Thai and finally the Klatham, all of who will be primarily obliged to vote Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for head of the executive branch following the
Read moreCourt adds to Arnon’s jail time in Section 112 case
By Amarin TV and Reuters – published by The Straits Times THE Ratchada Criminal Court today (Feb. 20) sentenced jailed activist lawyer Arnon Nampha and three other defendants to two years and eight months in prison without parole for violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law. The other three
Read moreBrit nabbed for hacking money transfer system, using fake credit cards
THAI immigration police arrested a British national on charges of hacking cash from a money transfer system and using fake credit cards to stay in dozens of luxury hotels, Naewna newspaper said today (Feb. 20). Immigration Bureau Region 1 tracked down and arrested Mr. George (pseudonym), 50, after the Hotel Security Association alerted them
Read morePM tells Finance Minister GDP growth must exceed 2.5% in 2026
CARTAKER Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul today (Feb. 19) summoned Deputy Prime Ministe-cum-Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanpraphat, Minister of Digital Economy and Society Chaichanok Chidchob, and Justice Minister Pol. Gen. Ruttaphon Naowarat to a meeting where he emphasised that Thailand’s GDP growth must exceed 2.5% this year, Amarin TV said this evening. This followed the Office
Read moreKlatham tipped to be brought in Bhumjaithai-led govt without Thammanat in cabinet
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE KLATHAM might probably be brought in a Bhumjaithai-led coalition government on condition that de facto Klatham boss Thammanat Prompao be ultimately kept out of a future cabinet of ministers, according to a partisan source today (Feb.19). Due to sustained scandals surrounding his alleged personal association with transnational scam and
Read moreSouth Korean court hands life term to ex‑president Yoon in insurrection trial
By Reuters and published by CNA SEOUL – A South Korean court ordered life in jail on Thursday (Feb. 19) for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, after holding him guilty on charges of abuse of authority and masterminding an insurrection, stemming from his December 2024 attempt to impose martial law. Prosecutors had sought the
Read moreCambodian national dies in ICE custody in Indiana
By Reuters and published by Yahoo!News WASHINGTON – A detainee died in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Indiana on Monday (Feb. 16), with the cause of death under investigation, ICE said on Wednesday, marking at least the seventh death in 2026 in federal immigration custody. Lorth Sim, a 59-year-old Cambodian
Read moreGunman apologises for scaring students, insists he never threatened schools
THE gunman who fired shots at rescuers in Chonburi as they attempted to help his girlfriend who he had beaten up and also later took his father-in-law hostage said after surrendering to police this afternoon (Feb. 18) that his argument with his girlfriend stemmed from jealousy and he had never posted any messages threatening
Read moreKlatham probably kept out of Bhumjaithai-led coalition
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE KLATHAM, the ultra-conservative party steered by de facto party boss Thammanat Prompao, might probably be kept out of a Bhumjaithai-led coalition government despite hush-hush lobbyism lately exercised, according to a partisan source. Thammanat has quietly orchestrated personal negotiations albeit to no avail whilst de facto Bhumjaithai boss Newin Chidchob
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