Trump ready to act after 'solving eight wars'Listen to this articleUS President Donald Trump has claimed credit for resolving "eight wars", adding that Thailand is "starting to shape up" amid renewed attention on Thai–Cambodian tensions. "I've solved eight wars and Thailand is starting to shape up… they started with Cambodia, they started up again. According to Cambodian reports, Mr Trump referenced the Thai–Cambodian situation while highlighting what he described as US mediation in armed conflicts. She added that in a recent conversation between Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and President Trump, both sides agreed that further discussions would proceed at the foreign minister level. Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit said the confrontation extends beyond the military sphere, involving political, diplomatic and socio‑psychological offensives.

Listen to this articleThailand heads into the Year of the Horse with a full slate of political, economic and social milestones that will shape the country's trajectory in the years ahead. From a snap election, slated for one month earlier than planned following conflicts in parliament over the drafting of a new constitution, the formation of a new government amid internal and external challenges, and global events hosted on Thai soil, 2026 is poised to be a year of transition and recalibration.

World Cup set to provide major economic boostListen to this articleTourists watch live football matches at a Bangkok bar. Restaurants might not benefit from the 2026 World Cup due to the time zone. Nutthawat WicheanbutAmong the world's largest events, the Fifa World Cup attracts a massive global audience, extending far beyond the 48 countries competing for the trophy. However, he said the 2026 World Cup would not help restaurants reap as many benefits as in the past due to the time zone. For the upcoming World Cup, it will be almost impossible for restaurants to promote such activities," said Mr Thienprasit.

SAFETY FIRSTHuang Hulong, deputy general manager at Hainan Wenhua Travel Industry Group Co, said the most critical factor for Chinese tourists when making travel decisions is safety. Mr Huang said Chinese travellers' concerns about safety largely depend on how the situation is reported in the Chinese media. However, safety concerns about Thailand among Chinese travellers have eased compared with the past, thanks to state campaigns to restore confidence, he said. However, their confidence is expected to improve as the Thai government has consistently pledged to maintain safety for Chinese tourists, said Mrs Ye. RETURNING CHINESETo encourage the Chinese to visit, he said Thailand should continue to focus on convincing tourists about safety.

Rayong oil spill lawsuit dismissedListen to this articleA lawsuit seeking environmental rehabilitation and 5 billion baht in compensation from Star Petroleum Refining Plc and PTT Global Chemical Plc over a crude oil spill that occurred in waters off Rayong in early 2022 has been dismissed. The Rayong Provincial Court dismissed the lawsuit on Monday that was filed by a small-scale fisheries association in Rayong and 832 fishermen. It said there was no reliable data showing reductions in marine species, income losses, or tourism decline attributable to the spill. Scientific assessments by Chulalongkorn University marine experts also indicated no measurable drop in marine abundance, species diversity, or breeding capacity linked to the incident, the ruling said. Accordingly, the court dismissed the case and ordered that the litigation costs be borne as per procedure.

Group expects non-life sector to maintain growthListen to this articleTGIA president Somporn SuebthawilkulThe non-life insurance industry is projected to maintain steady growth in 2026, with written premiums surging 2.5-3.5% to 303 billion baht despite rising risks from climate change, technology disruption and global economic uncertainties, says the Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA). TGIA president Somporn Suebthawilkul said the sector posted direct written premiums of 215 billion baht in the first nine months of this year, up 2.89% year-on-year. "Although 2025 has been marked by multiple risk factors, including natural disasters, accident-related losses and economic volatility, the non-life insurance industry has remained resilient and adaptive," Mr Somporn said. Amid increasingly volatile risk conditions, the non-life insurance industry is reinforcing its long-term resilience through catastrophe risk modelling, more efficient reinsurance programmes and closer public-private cooperation to stabilise the health insurance system and manage medical inflation. These strategic adjustments are essential to ensuring the sustainable growth and financial stability of Thailand's non-life insurance industry in an era of heightened and evolving risks, said Mr Somporn.

Thamanat to be Klatham Party's sole PM candidateListen to this articleCapt Thamanat PrompowCapt Thamanat Prompow, who serves as deputy prime minister, has declared himself the sole prime ministerial candidate for the Klatham Party. Capt Thamanat also revealed plans to run as the No.1 candidate on the party list, while his younger brother will contest in Phayao province. Asked if being the sole candidate makes him a bigger target, Capt Thamanat shrugged off any concerns: "I've been attacked all along. Capt Thamanat called for realistic expectations on the number of MPs: "We must keep targets low at first. About 60 MPs have joined Klatham so far, but Capt Thamanat said the goal is higher.

The "Thailand Tourism and Mice Next 2026" is scheduled for Jan 23, with 1,200-1,500 participants from Thailand and overseas, and is expected to generate at least 3 billion baht in revenue. Atta president Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn said the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, and other partners put up half of the 10-million-baht budget to host the event. For 2026, Atta plans to hold several roadshows in China and visit other prominent markets. "39 million arrivals is not a far-fetched target for 2026, if the tourism sector works proactively," said Mr Thanapol. Adith Chairattananon, honorary secretary-general of Atta, said the Bank of Thailand and the government should tackle the persistently strong baht, which is hampering tourism and exports, making Thailand lose competitiveness with other destinations in Asia.

Thailand holds its breath as election approachesListen to this articleElection posters from various political parties are displayed in front of the Bangkok Youth Centre (Thai–Japan) in Din Daeng district. Nutthawat WicheanbutThe 2026 general election marks a pivotal moment in the nation's volatile political landscape. "Thailand needs political parties in the election to present a new economic structure for the nation in order to drive an economic recovery," he said. Whichever party forms a government and can keep the Thai economy moving forward is likely to remain in power for a long time, said Mr Kiatanantha. He expects the election to produce a multi-party coalition government, with bargaining over interests and competition for economic ministries.

Photo: Bhumjaithai PartyThe Bhumjaithai Party will unveil its prime ministerial candidates on Wednesday, with senior figures confirming the party has finalised three names ahead of the 2026 general election campaign. Earlier reports indicated that the party had approved the nominations of party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. The recent floods in the South had inevitably affected support, Mr Phiphat added, but insisted that government relief had now reached 97% of affected households. As for Wednesday's announcement, Mr Phiphat confirmed the party would present all 500 parliamentary candidates and hinted that while Mr Anutin was the first prime ministerial nominee, the remaining two names would be revealed on stage. He said nominating three candidates was necessary to avoid risks associated with relying on a single figure, particularly in light of ethical and legal scrutiny.

Call to address capital inflows hurting exportersListen to this articleBangkok Port in Bangkok’s Klong Toey district. The Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC) is concerned about baht appreciation because it may be influenced by foreign capital inflows and not aligned with the real economy. Given rising volatility in global financial markets, gold is often seen as a safe haven for assets. "While these exporters face rising costs, they see no benefits from capital inflows." To address these issues, the TNSC said the government and relevant agencies should closely monitor capital inflows, especially short-term funds unrelated to investment or trade.

Listen to this articleThe baht could potentially appreciate to test 30 to the dollar in the near term amid a sharp rise in international gold prices to a new record high and broad weakness for the US dollar, say analysts. Surging gold prices have driven the baht to appreciate to a 4.5-year high of 31.10-31.12 to the greenback, as the dollar index extended its losses for the second successive session to 98.10 in early Asian trading hours. "In the short term, it is possible the baht could test 31 to the dollar, or even stronger than that," said a currency trader. Gold has soared nearly 70% this year and hit multiple record highs, while the ‌baht has risen more than 10%, making it the best-performing currency in the region. "It seems the Bank of Thailand has not clearly determined what are the domestic factors causing the baht to sharply appreciate in recent weeks.

Virtual banks to shake up Thai finance next yearListen to this articleVirtual banks' interest rates and fees are likely to be lower than those of traditional banks due to risk-based pricing and the lower operating costs for fully digital services. By mid-2026, Thais are expected to be able to access virtual banks, offering expanded options for people underserved by formal financial services. In June this year, the central bank announced the three successful applicants to establish the country's first batch of virtual banks. Tanyapong Thamavaranukupt, co-president of Ascend Money, said the three virtual banks are expected to reach 7-19 million individuals, significantly higher than the 2-3 million currently served by traditional banks. "Our virtual bank will similarly leverage technology to keep operating costs far below those of traditional banks."

He was speaking after authorities, including the central bank, stressed the need for joint efforts to deal with the stronger baht as its value approaches 31 to the dollar. Car exporters do not want baht appreciation to affect the prices of their cars in the global market, he said. Tourism businesses are worried about a stronger baht making Thailand an expensive travel destination, said Mr Surapong. Baht appreciation also causes foreign travellers to spend less, causing ripple effects for various businesses in and outside of the manufacturing sectors. The entrepreneurs said foreign exchange volatility remains a pressing issue, with exporters disadvantaged by the stronger baht.

Phasing out coal makes economic senseListen to this articleMae Moh coal-fired power plants in Lampang province are shown in this Oct 10, 2024, file photo. Economic imperativeDear readers, despite the not-so-inspiring energy policy, I remain hopeful. Notably, retiring coal power plants early is significantly more cost-effective than investing in small nuclear reactors, which are pricier. It is six times cheaper than offshore CCS and over 20 times cheaper than building hydrogen power plants. In 2022, the Philippines' ACEN Corp successfully spun off its 246 MW SLTEC coal plant into a special purpose vehicle (SPV).