Thailand denies diplomatic defeat over return of 18 Cambodian soldiers.
Bangkok — Thailand’s Joint Information Center on the Thai–Cambodian border situation on Thursday rejected claims that the repatriation of 18 Cambodian soldiers amounted to a diplomatic defeat, insisting the move was carried out under agreed mechanisms and international humanitarian principles to reduce tensions.
The center said the transfer of the soldiers back to Cambodia followed frameworks jointly agreed by both sides and was intended to help de-escalate the situation along the border, not to concede any rights, sovereignty, or political positions.
“The return of the 18 soldiers does not affect Thailand’s sovereignty, nor does it constitute acceptance of any claims or demands by either side,” the statement said. “It is part of confidence-building and tension-reduction measures so that disengagement can proceed.”
Responding to Cambodian media reports describing the development as a “major victory,” Thai officials said the outcome should instead be seen as a “mutual success” resulting from cooperation rather than a win–loss scenario. The center urged all parties to avoid rhetoric that could inflame tensions and to help maintain an atmosphere conducive to peace and public safety.
The center also denied speculation that the repatriation involved hidden conditions or exchanges, saying there were no special terms attached and that the process strictly followed the agreed de-escalation framework.
During their detention, the Cambodian soldiers were treated in line with international humanitarian standards, with due regard for their dignity and safety, officials said. The timing of their release, they added, depended on the security situation and could not occur while both sides remained in a hostile posture.
On reports suggesting territorial gains or losses, the center said border issues remain sensitive and are being addressed through formal mechanisms. It warned against drawing conclusions based on unofficial information and urged the public to rely on official government communication.
Thailand, the center said, will continue diplomatic engagement through established channels while maintaining necessary security readiness, prioritizing the protection of civilians along the border and the preservation of national sovereignty.
A South Korean YouTuber known as SSAEM Brother visits Victory Monument in Bangkok to pay tribute to Thai soldiers who fought in the Korean War.
BANGKOK — A South Korean YouTuber known as “SSAEM Brother” posted an emotional video after traveling to Bangkok’s Victory Monument to thank Thai soldiers who fought in the Korean War more than 70 years ago.
On Dec. 29, the YouTuber visited the monument to pay tribute to Thai troops who joined the war to help defend South Korea. In the video, he introduced himself as Korean and said he had come to the memorial to express his gratitude.
“I am Korean. Today I came to the Thai soldiers’ memorial to thank you for helping South Korea during the war,” he said. “I should have come here the first time I visited Thailand, but I came much too late. I’m truly sorry.”
He said the site commemorates Thai soldiers who sacrificed their lives to help South Korea more than 70 years ago and expressed respect to all Thai soldiers.
“Because of your sacrifice, South Korea can be what it is today,” he said. “I will never forget you. Thank you for true friendship. I will try to be someone who shows the beauty of Thailand to many people.”
Victory Monument was built to honor soldiers, police officers and civilians who died during a conflict between Thailand and France in 1940. The names of those who died in that conflict were engraved at the site, and the names of those who later died in World War II and the Korean War were added afterward.
Thailand was one of 21 countries that responded to a United Nations request to send forces to help South Korea during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Thailand sent a total of 11,786 troops, and 136 Thai soldiers were recorded as having died in the war.
Russian Motorcyclist Killed in New Year Crash in Pattaya
PATTAYA, Thailand — A Russian man was killed and another injured early on New Year’s Day when their motorcycle crashed into a tree on a notoriously dangerous curve in Pattaya, police said.
The accident occurred at about 8:50 am on Janaury 1st, 2026, on Jomtien Second Road near a condominium complex in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province, according to Pattaya City Police.
Police said the motorcycle, a green Yamaha Aerox registered in Chonburi, lost control on the curve and struck a tree on the road’s central median. The impact left the motorcycle heavily damaged, with debris scattered across the roadway, and split the tree’s trunk.
One rider, identified as Zubairu, a 28-year-old Russian, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second rider, identified as Nikolai, 27, also a Russian, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Jomtien Hospital for treatment, police said.
A security guard at a nearby condominium said he heard a loud crash and ran to the scene, where he found two foreign men who had been riding the motorcycle. One was unconscious, while the other remained at the scene until emergency responders arrived.
Police said preliminary investigations suggest the motorcycle was travelling at high speed before failing to negotiate the curve and crashing into the median. Authorities noted that the stretch of road, often referred to locally as a “deadly curve,” has seen frequent serious accidents. More than 10 casualties were reported there over the past year.
File photo for illustration purposes only. The image is not related to the individuals or events in this report.
A woman has sought legal advice online after discovering that her husband named their daughter after his former girlfriend, prompting her to consider divorce, according to a widely shared post on social media.
The woman posted in a Facebook group that offers free legal consultations, saying she had recently learned that her husband used the name of his ex-girlfriend — whom he dated for seven years — as both the official name and nickname of their daughter.
She said she only became aware of it when the child was four years old and felt devastated that her husband still appeared to be attached to his former partner.
In screenshots shared with the post, the woman showed a conversation with a friend of her husband identified as “Ton,” who said the man had loved his former girlfriend deeply and once hoped she would take his family name. When that relationship did not work out, he allegedly used the woman’s name for his child so he could see the name paired with his surname.
The friend said the former girlfriend did not return the man’s feelings and that the matter belonged to the past, advising the wife not to dwell on it.
In her post, the woman asked whether this could be grounds for divorce and whether she was overreacting, saying she was no longer comfortable with the situation.
After the story spread online, social media users were divided. Some encouraged her to change the child’s name or end the marriage for her own peace of mind, while others urged her to let go of the past and focus on the present if the family remained happy and the husband continued to be a responsible father.
Some users also noted, humorously, that although she promised not to tell her husband, the issue has now become public online.
UDON THANI, Thailand — Police have arrested a Norwegian man after he was found naked and intoxicated in a city alley on New Year’s morning, authorities said.
The incident occurred at about 9:40 am on January 1st, 2026, when officers from Udon Thani City Police Station were alerted to reports of a drunken tourist walking naked outside an apartment building in Soi Phothong, off Wattananuwong Road, within Udon Thani municipality. Local police coordinated with tourist police to investigate.
At the scene, officers found Hansen, 28, Norwegian, heavily intoxicated, incoherent and standing naked in the street. Witnesses said he appeared unconcerned by passers-by and was performing push-ups in public. His clothes and shoes were later found discarded in a nearby canal.
Police escorted him into the apartment building to get dressed and checked his passport, which was valid. A pair of brown shorts recovered from the canal contained 3,500 baht (£80), which was returned to him.
During preliminary questioning, Christian told tourist police he had gone out to celebrate New Year’s Eve at a restaurant in the Samphanthamit area, not far from his accommodation, and had been drinking heavily. He said his friends left earlier and that by about 2 am he was so drunk he could not remember what happened next, including removing his clothes and walking naked through the alley.
Residents who saw the man in the street reported the incident to police after being alarmed by his behaviour.
A 13-year-old girl who witnessed the incident told officers she saw the foreign man earlier that morning sitting outside a restaurant near the entrance to the alley and attempting to force open a toilet door. She later encountered him walking naked in the alley while she was returning home from a New Year’s alms-giving, which frightened her. She said she had seen the man coming and going in the area for about a week.
An apartment caretaker, 70-year-old Prasit, said the man had been staying at the building for about a month. He added that the property owner intended to ask the foreign tenant to move out.
Police also said they discovered the man had earlier caused a disturbance at a shopping centre. He was taken into custody at Udon Thani City Police Station and charged with committing an indecent act. Investigators said legal proceedings would follow under Thai law.
A good Samaritan turns in a shoulder bag with nearly $2,000 in cash after finding it at a New Year’s countdown event in Bang Lamung.
BANG LAMUNG — A good Samaritan turned in a shoulder bag containing more than 62,000 baht in cash and other valuables after finding it at a New Year’s Eve countdown event in Chonburi province, police said.
The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 at a countdown celebration organized by the Bang Lamung Subdistrict Municipality in Bang Lamung district.
The man who found the bag was identified as Pongchai Singhphrai from Chiang Mai province. He told police he picked up the bag and found inside a wallet, a passport believed to belong to a Myanmar national, cash totaling 62,870 baht in 100- and 1,000-baht banknotes, and a set of Toyota car keys.
Pongchai said he and others at the event tried to announce the discovery to locate the owner, but no one came forward. He then decided to bring the bag and all the items to police at the Ban Rong Po checkpoint for safekeeping and to help find the rightful owner.
Police later transferred the bag and its contents to investigators at Bang Lamung police station to verify the details and track down the owner so the property can be returned properly.
PATTAYA, Thailand — A fortune teller in Pattaya has been arrested after allegedly stealing a teenage woman’s mobile phone moments after predicting she would lose something valuable on New Year’s Day, police said.
The incident occurred at about 6:06 am on January 1st, 2026, opposite Wat Chaimongkol, a royal temple in South Pattaya, Chonburi province. Police from Pattaya City Police Station responded to a report of theft involving an iPhone 13 Pro worth about 20,000 baht ($580).
At the scene, rescue workers and bystanders had already detained the suspect, later identified as Udomsap Mueangkaew, 38, who works as a fortune teller. Officers recovered the stolen phone belonging to the victim, identified only as Pim, 19, hidden inside a brown shoulder bag used by the suspect. The phone had been concealed in a box for face masks.
According to Pim, the man had dressed and spoken like an elderly person and was sitting on a mat on the pavement opposite the temple, calling out to passers-by to use his fortune-telling services. Feeling sorry for him and wanting to do good on New Year’s Day, she agreed.
While reading her fortune using cards, the man allegedly told her she would soon face bad luck and lose a valuable possession, and suggested she pay extra money to ward it off. She declined, believing it unnecessary.
After the reading ended and she was about to return to her accommodation, Pim realised her mobile phone, which had been placed beside her during the session, was missing. The fortune teller continued to boast about the accuracy of his predictions and even described the appearance of the supposed thief.
Suspicious, Pim sought help from rescue workers and members of the public to check the man’s belongings, leading to the discovery of her phone in his bag. Police were then called.
Confronted with the evidence, Udomsap admitted to stealing the phone, telling officers it was his first offence and that he needed money for the New Year period. He apologised and asked the victim not to press charges, but Pim insisted on legal action to prevent him from targeting others.
Police have taken Udomsap into custody along with the recovered phone and fortune-telling equipment. Investigators are preparing charges as the case proceeds under Thai law.
The grand countdown in the heart of Siam, “SIAM SQUARE STREET OF DREAMZ 2026 Presented by AIS SIAM,” transformed AIS SIAM and Siam Square into a landmark of happiness and entertainment. Through the collaboration between AIS SIAM and PMCU, the event created a spectacular phenomenon to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the New Year 2026 in grand style. The event was honored by the presence of Professor Wilert Puriwat, D.Phil. President of Chulalongkorn University and Saichon Submakudom, Chief Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Officer of AIS.
Set amid a vibrant and festive atmosphere, the celebration attracted overwhelming interest from the public as well as Thai and international tourists, who flocked to the event and filled Siam Square along its entire stretch. It also garnered attention from online audiences worldwide through live broadcasts on the Facebook page Siam Square and AIS SIAM’s Instagram.
The event was filled with fun activities and special performances from a lineup of popular artists. The stage opened with Sugar ’N Spice, followed by SERIOUS BACON, TALAY, and bamm, who brought their hit songs and high-energy performances, drawing continuous cheers from the audience. Next, Jes Jespipat and Bible Wichapas took the stage, bringing smiles to fans, followed by a special performance from the beloved duo Jung and Cullen. The excitement continued with the highly popular on-screen couple Tle Matiman and Firstone Wannakorn during the final stretch of the countdown night.
At the crucial moment of midnight (00:00), a highlight of the event took place with paper shooters firing handwritten New Year blessing messages from the participating artists, spreading happiness to fans and all attendees. The night concluded with a powerful performance by boy group LYKN, delivering nonstop excitement across the New Year and bringing the countdown celebration to a perfect close.
The fun didn’t end with just one night. SIAM SQUARE STREET OF DREAMZ 2026 opened up space for dreamers to showcase their talents, express their identities, and enjoy Siam-style street culture, along with activities from leading partner brands. Everyone was invited to complete their moments of happiness and continue enjoying the “Street of Dreams” through January 4, 2026.
In addition, AIS joined in being part of these joyful moments by enhancing network capacity at countdown event venues nationwide. With an Autonomous Network system monitoring service quality 24 hours a day, AIS ensured smooth, reliable, and worry-free connectivity for every use—reinforcing its role as a network that connects happiness in every festive season.
Fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya River during New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Drummers pounded in the New Year and a stampede of computer-generated horses was shown over a section of the Great Wall as China and the rest of East Asia marked the start of 2026.
Temple bells rang across Japan, and some climbed mountains to see the year’s first sunrise. Hong Kong held subdued celebrations following a recent fire that killed 161 people at an apartment complex.
Sydney saluted the new year with joy and defiance, as the famous Harbor Bridge crackled with fireworks less than three weeks after Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.
South Pacific countries were the first to bid farewell to 2025. New Zealand’s capital, Auckland, held a fireworks display 18 hours before the ball drop in New York’s Times Square.
Fireworks burst over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the New Year celebrations in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Defiance in Australia
A heavy police presence monitored the thousands watching the fireworks show in Sydney. Many officers openly carried rapid-fire rifles, a first for the event, after two gunmen targeted a Hannukah celebration at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, killing 15 and wounding 40.
An hour before midnight, the victims of the massacre were commemorated with a minute of silence, and the crowd was invited to show solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns had urged Sydney residents not to stay away from the festivities due to fear, saying extremists would interpret smaller crowds as a victory: “We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime.”
Drummers ring in the new year at the Juyongguan Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing, China, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Indonesia and Hong Kong hold subdued events
Cities around Indonesia scaled back festivities in solidarity with communities devastated by floods and landslides in parts of Sumatra island a month ago, claiming more than 1,100 lives. Concerts and fireworks on the tourist island of Bali were replaced with a cultural event featuring traditional dances.
Hong Kong rang in 2026 without the usual fireworks spectacle over Victoria Harbor after the massive fire in November. Facades of landmarks instead were turned into countdown clocks that presented a light show at midnight.
In Japan, where fireworks aren’t a traditional part of festivities, temple bells rang across the country. Others ate noodles in a traditional wish for long life because of the noodle’s shape. In South Korea’s capital, Seoul, a bell tolled at the Bosingak Pavilion.
Fireworks explode from the Taipei 101 building during the New Year’s celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)People gather to pray during the New Year celebration at the Zojoji Buddhist temple, minutes after midnight Thursday Jan. 1, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Displaced Gazans hope for end to war
Palestinians in Gaza said they hope the new year brings a definitive end to the war between Israel and Hamas that has battered the enclave for two years, as negotiators push for progress into the ceasefire’s challenging second phase.
“We hope that it will be a good year for our people in Palestine,” said Faraj Rasheed, noting that thousands continue to live in harsh conditions in tent camps.
Others described 2025 as a year of loss. “The war humiliated us,” said Mirvat Abed Al-Aal, displaced from the southern city of Rafah.
From Sydney to Paris to New York City, crowds rang in the new year with exuberant celebrations filled with thunderous fireworks or light shows, while others took a more subdued approach.
As the clock struck midnight in Japan, temple bells rang and some climbed mountains to see the year’s first sunrise, while a light show with somersaulting jet skis twinkled in Dubai. The countdown to 2026 was projected onto the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, while in Moscow people celebrated in the snow.
Around Europe
Pope Leo XIV closed out the year with a plea for the city of Rome to welcome foreigners and the fragile. Fireworks erupted over European landmarks, from the Colosseum in Rome to the London Eye.
In Paris, revelers converged around the glittering Champs-Élysées avenue. Taissiya Girda, a 27-year-old tourist from Kazakhstan, expressed hope for a calmer 2026.
“I would like to see happy people around me, no war anywhere,” she said. “Russia, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, I want everybody to be happy and in peace.”
In Scotland, where New Year’s is known as Hogmanay, First Minister John Swinney urged Scots to follow the message of “Auld Lang Syne” by national poet Robert Burns and show small acts of kindness.
Greece and Cyprus turned down the volume, replacing traditional fireworks with low-noise pyrotechnics in capitals. Officials said the change was intended to make celebrations more welcoming for children and pets.
Cori Johnson, 9, left, and Kori Simms, 6, both of Washington, wear 2026 glasses during a noon balloon drop celebration ahead of New Year’s Eve, at The Yards Park, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Ball drop in New York City
Crowds bundled up against the chilly temperatures cheered and embraced as the New Year’s Eve ball covered in more than 5,000 crystals descended down a pole and confetti fell in Times Square.
Revelers wearing tall celebratory hats and light-up necklaces had waited for hours to see the 12,350-pound (5,602-kilograms) ball drop. The festivities also included Tones and I performing John Lennon’s “Imagine” just before midnight.
The television hosts interviewed visitors who were attending from such places as Florida, Mexico and South Korea, and read people’s wishes for the new year. A sixth grader from Dallas, Texas, told one of the hosts that he wants to get good grades in 2026 and have a better year.
Police in the city had planned additional anti-terrorism measures at the ball drop, with “mobile screening teams.” It was not in response to a specific threat, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
A Thai national flag is planted above the ruins of Ta Kwai, also known as Ta Krabey Temple, in Surin province on Dec. 20, following heavy fighting in the disputed Thai-Cambodian border area that left the ancient site damaged.
BANGKOK — Thailand is closing out 2025 as one of its most turbulent years in recent memory, marked by deadly natural disasters, a collapsing flagship construction project, armed conflict with Cambodia and the fall of yet another prime minister.
These crises were deeply intertwined, exposing critical weaknesses in governance, political instability rooted in an uneven democratic system, and rising nationalist sentiment that shaped both domestic politics and foreign policy.
Tourism Hit by Scammer Fears
The year began with high hopes for a tourism rebound. Authorities initially set a target of 40 million foreign arrivals in 2025, approaching pre-pandemic levels, though they later revised this down to about 37.5 million amid global economic headwinds.
Those expectations collapsed following the abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was lured from China through Thailand and trafficked to a scam compound in Myanmar. Though Thai police rescued him safely, the incident triggered widespread alarm and renewed fears about transnational scam operations in the region. In response, Thailand launched a large-scale crackdown operation targeting scam networks and trafficking routes.
Chinese actor Wang Xing, right, talks with Thai police officers in Mae Sot district, in Thai-Myanmar border, Tak province Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (The Royal Thai Police via AP)
The fallout was severe. Combined with economic uncertainty, rising competition from neighboring countries, and later border fighting with Cambodia, Thailand received fewer than 34 million foreign visitors in 2025, generating about 2.6 trillion baht ($82 billion) in revenue—well below projections.
Earthquake Topples Audit Office Tower
On March 28, a powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, killing at least 5,456 people and injuring more than 11,000. The tremor was felt across Thailand, shaking high-rise buildings throughout Bangkok.
Only one structure collapsed: a 33-story office tower for Thailand’s State Audit Office, still under construction in the capital’s Chatuchak district. The collapse killed 95 people, nearly all of them construction workers.
Aerial drone image from the Metropolitan Police showing the 33-story State Audit Office building construction that completely collapsed due to tremors from the Myanmar earthquake. This was the only building in Bangkok that collapsed on March 28, 2025.
The building was part of a $67 million contract led by a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway No. 10 (Thailand), a subsidiary of a Chinese state-backed firm. The disaster immediately raised uncomfortable questions about construction standards and oversight—particularly awkward for an agency tasked with investigating corruption elsewhere in government.
Border Clashes with Cambodia
Tensions with Cambodia first flared in May following a brief exchange of gunfire between small military units along the border in northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province, killing a Cambodian soldier. Each side accused the other of firing first.
The situation deteriorated after Thai troops triggered what officials described as newly planted landmines, prompting Thailand to partially close border crossings. Then-Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra attempted to defuse the crisis through direct talks with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen in a private phone call on June 15.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, talks to Commander of the 2nd Army Area Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, during a meeting with soldiers at Ubonratchathani province, northeast of Bangkok, June 20, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Pattarayoot Phukpol)
The conversation was leaked days later by Cambodia and quickly became a political weapon. Paetongtarn’s informal language—including calling Hun Sen “uncle” and offering to accommodate his requests—was seized upon by critics, overshadowing her remarks urging younger leaders to avoid war.
Fighting erupted again in late July with a five-day clash that killed Thai civilians, including children. A ceasefire was eventually reached with mediation by Malaysia, then chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned of trade consequences if the fighting continued. The agreement was formalized at a regional meeting in Malaysia in October.
Despite the ceasefire, propaganda battles and sporadic violence continued. Fighting escalated once more in early December, with Thailand reporting 26 soldiers and one civilian killed since December 7, along with 44 civilian deaths during a 19-day period of renewed hostilities.
On December 31, Thailand released 18 Cambodian prisoners of war held for five months, fulfilling the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodian soldiers are welcomed by villagers upon their arrival at Prum border gate, in Pailin province, Cambodia, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, after being captured and held by Thailand. (AKP via AP)
Seven Storms Bring Nationwide Flooding
Thailand also endured an unusually wet year, battered by seven tropical storms that intensified monsoon systems across the region. Flooding began in the north early in the year, spread to the central Chao Phraya basin by midyear, and devastated the south in late November.
Major reservoirs were forced to release water, inundating downstream areas. Parts of Ayutthaya remained submerged for three to four months.
The worst impact came in southern provinces including Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Chumphon. Hat Yai, a major commercial hub, was hit especially hard with 145 deaths. Overall, southern flooding killed 267 people and caused more than $3 billion in damage to agriculture, tourism and infrastructure during the peak travel season.
Cars and houses are submerged in floodwaters in Songkhla province, southern Thailand, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025.
Paetongtarn Ousted, Early Election Looms
Political instability deepened in August when Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed Paetongtarn, ruling that she had violated ethical standards over her phone call with a senior Cambodian figure. She had served only one year in office, becoming the sixth prime minister from the Pheu Thai party to be removed before completing a term.
The ruling dealt another blow to the influential Shinawatra family. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was subsequently jailed to serve a one-year sentence in a decades-old case.
Anutin Charnvirakul became prime minister in September after winning a parliamentary vote with support from the main opposition People’s Party. In exchange, he pledged to dissolve parliament within four months and hold a referendum on drafting a new constitution.
His government soon came under fire for its handling of the Hat Yai floods, while corruption cases linked to political allies appeared to stall. As fighting with Cambodia resumed in December, Anutin adopted a hard-line military stance, appealing to nationalist sentiment.
Thailand’s Prime Minister and leader of Bhumjaithai Party Anutin Charnvirakul, front right, arrives for a canddate registration in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
With constitutional reform stalled and political tensions rising, Anutin dissolved parliament on December 12, before the opposition could submit a no-confidence motion. Thailand is now heading toward a general election scheduled for February 8, 2026.
As campaigning begins, Anutin’s party is widely expected to perform strongly after recruiting prominent politicians from rival camps. Pheu Thai has nominated “Shane” Yodchanan Wongwasawat, a scientist and nephew of Thaksin, as its prime ministerial candidate, while the People’s Party is struggling to regain its former momentum.
For many Thais, the year’s end brings little relief—only uncertainty over whether 2026 will bring stability after a year defined by conflict, disaster and political upheaval.
