- Crystal meth seized in Khiri Khan/Ex-refinery diesel price cut by 4 Baht/Kui Buri elephants huddle under trees/Thailand birth rate tumbles/’Hands off Koh Kut’/Villagers carry elderly woman 9 kilometers
- THE IRAN WAR: Saudi oil export disruption
- ECONOMY: US$17 billion in Gastech deals/Thailand signs global minimum tax agreement/Bangkok’s Data Center Boom/Cargill commits 2 billion baht/MICE sector valued at 200 billion baht
- TOURISM: Pattaya battles sex tourism image/TAT’s Amazing Thailand Ambassador Campaign/More emphasis on visitor value/Thailand’s visa crackdown/DTV rules vary between Thai embassies
- CLIMATE THAILAND: 42.5-MWp Thai floating solar park/Why is Bangkok replacing diesel trucks?/Balanced path for Asia’s energy transition
- THAIS BEHAVING BADLY/FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Please welcome our newest sponsor:
Police seize 464 kilograms of crystal meth in Khiri Khan
Highway police arrested a 23-year-old man and seized approximately 464 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine after the van he was driving crashed into a resident’s fence during a pursuit in Prachuap Khiri Khan last week.
The suspect, identified only as Minthada, was detained near the Don Sai traffic-light junction on Suk Chit Road in Ko Lak subdistrict, Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan district. Continued …
Government cuts ex-refinery diesel price by 4 Baht
The Energy Policy Administration Committee (EPAC) has announced a discount on the ex-refinery price of high-speed diesel by 4 baht per liter, effective from today until Oct.31.
Published in the Royal Gazette yesterday, the measure aims to mitigate domestic fuel price volatility being caused by ongoing Middle East tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which continue to disrupt global crude and refined oil supplies. The discount applies across all standard high-speed diesel grades, including B0, B7 and B20. – thaipbsworld.com
Kui Buri elephants huddle under trees as rain pours down
Thailand ‘must act’ as birth rate tumbles
Thailand is being urged to implement a coordinated effort across government, academia, and the private sector to address its declining birth rate crisis. The proposed approach involves covering the entire lifecycle, ranging from the initial stages of having and raising children to preparing them for the workforce.
The strategy emphasizes creating an environment that makes it easier for people to start families and raising children to be healthy and capable. Key focus areas include improving access to quality healthcare, promoting physical and mental health for children, infants, and mothers, and providing care during pregnancy. Additionally, government ministers have suggested that strengthening family support systems and enhancing digital skills and lifelong learning will be essential to helping child development and reducing inequality. – Bangkok Post
‘Hands off Koh Kut’: Thailand stands firm at UN maritime talks
Thailand maintains that the island of Koh Kut is not subject to the current maritime reconciliation process, as the government considers its sovereignty over the island to be a matter of land territory rather than maritime boundary. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has stated that the ongoing conciliation proceedings should be strictly limited to the maritime boundary dispute and should exclude land borders, which includes Koh Kut.
The Thai government specifically rejects Cambodia’s 1972 continental shelf claim line, asserting that this unilateral claim lacks a legal basis. Officials have emphasized that any maritime demarcation conducted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) should clearly demonstrate that the island belongs to Thailand. This dispute is being addressed through a UN-facilitated conciliation commission currently meeting in Singapore. – Bangkok Post
Kanchanaburi villagers carry elderly woman 9 kilometers to bank
Villagers and local volunteers in Kanchanaburi carried an elderly woman 9 kilometers through continuous rain so she could reach a bank after her ATM card stopped working and she needed to verify her identity in person.
The journey took place on Monday, in a remote community in Sangkhla Buri district near the Thai-Myanmar border. The woman, who is in her 90s and bedridden, needed to resolve the banking issue so she could access money deposited by relatives each month for her living and care expenses. Continued …
Saudi export disruption sends some physical cargoes above US$130 a barrel
European buyers pushed some physical oil cargo prices above US$130 a barrel yesterday, while Brent and US crude futures reached their highest settlements since May 19 as disruptions to Saudi exports intensified.
Shipping industry sources said crude loadings at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea export hub of Yanbu had been suspended. Trade sources also said Riyadh had informed European customers that some late-September crude cargoes would be cancelled, raising concerns that disruption could last for weeks. Continued …
Energy minister reports over US$17 billion in Gastech deals
Energy Minister Akanat Promphan said yesterday that Gastech 2026 in Bangkok had generated more than US$17 billion in energy business agreements. Thailand also handed over hosting duties for the 2027 event to Houston in the United States.
Akanat credited cooperation among all those involved in Gastech 2026 in Bangkok with helping the event secure the agreements. The outcome reinforced Asia’s potential as a center for global energy business, he said. Continued …
Thailand signs up to global minimum tax agreement
Thailand has signed an international tax information exchange agreement as part of the Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) rules to support the collection of top-up taxes.
The agreement is part of Thailand’s participation in the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the Exchange of Information. This move aims to facilitate the exchange of tax information concerning large multinational enterprises (MNEs) and reduce the burden of compliance by minimizing the need for duplicate information in multiple countries. – Bangkok Post
Bangkok’s Data Center Boom Runs Into a Regulatory Reckoning
Stallholders working a market along Rama XI, one of Bangkok’s arterial roads, started noticing a nauseating oil odor drifting from a boxy structure covered in gunmetal grey panels that had gone up across from their stalls with almost no warning.
A nearby hospital sat close enough to raise its own alarms. When authorities finally looked, they found 200,000 liters of oil being stored on site without a permit. The facility, known as BKK01, was tied to a $1 billion investment from the Dubai-based conglomerate DAMAC, part of a plan to turn Thailand into a Southeast Asian hyperscale hub. Continued …
Cargill commits 2 billion baht to Thailand expansion
Cargill is expanding its food production in Thailand by investing 2 billion baht (US$60 million) to enhance its feed business and processing facilities. This strategic move aims to increase production efficiency and reliability in the production process, while also providing better control over raw materials.
The investment includes upgrading machinery at three processing and slaughtering facilities in Nakhon Ratchasima and upgrading one primary facility in Saraburi. Cargill also plans to build a new silo in Nakhon Ratchasima with an expected capacity of 30,000 tons of feed to help manage costs during harvest seasons and mitigate the impact of fluctuating feed ingredient prices. These upgrades are intended to boost total production capacity to between 150,000 and 160,000 tons per year by late 2028. – Bangkok Post
Revived MICE sector valued at 200 billion baht
Thailand’s MICE sector is expected to be worth 200 billion baht this year as it transitions into recovery mode. This projection comes as the industry steadily moves toward economic recovery, with the sector’s growth playing a vital role in the nation’s broader economic landscape.
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has noted that the sector’s revival is essential for driving national revenue. While some earlier targets for the MICE segment in 2026 were set at 163 billion baht, with 29.4 million participants, the current outlook suggests a stronger valuation of 200 billion baht. To maintain competitiveness, the bureau is focusing on high-value industries and addressing challenges such as the need for more specialized incentives for international organizers and attendees. – Bangkok Post
Pattaya battles sex tourism image as crimes investigated
A media review of Pattaya has highlighted the resort city’s enduring association with sex tourism, despite efforts by local authorities to promote beaches, sport, conventions and family holidays.
The report comes as two Western foreigners face separate murder investigations linked to deaths in the Pattaya area. Pattaya Mayor Poramet “Beer” Ngampichet acknowledged the city’s nightlife reputation but said officials were trying to broaden its appeal. Continued …
TAT’s Amazing Thailand Ambassador Campaign Generates Over 448 Million Impressions
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports that its “Amazing Thailand Ambassador” project has generated more than 448 million impressions across media and digital channels.
The initiative reflects TAT’s efforts to evolve how Thailand is communicated as a destination in response to today’s changing traveler behaviors and digital landscape, using contemporary stories, content, and perspectives to connect audiences with Thailand’s unique charm.
As part of the initiative, Lisa, as the Amazing Thailand Ambassador, helped showcase Thailand’s stories and perspectives to travelers through the “Feel All the feelings” campaign, sparking widespread conversation and inspiring people to experience and discover Thailand for themselves.
Thailand is redefining tourism success by putting more emphasis on visitor value
Thailand is shifting the way it measures tourism success, moving beyond visitor numbers toward a model focused on value, distribution and sustainability.
TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications Nithee Seeprae said the agency is increasingly tracking indicators including per-capita tourism revenue, length of stay, repeat visitation rates, the dispersion of tourists to secondary provinces and the quality of life of local communities. The approach is built around five strategies: life economy, sub-culture economy, night economy, circular economy and platform economy. Continued …
Thailand’s visa crackdown could cost more in tourist spending than in arrivals
Thailand has shortened the standard visa-free stay for tourists from 60 days to 30, and this change may have a bigger effect on tourism spending than on the number of foreign visitors entering the country.
The new rules took effect yesterday, as Thailand tries to shift its tourism strategy toward higher-value visitors. Most ordinary holidays will remain unaffected. But for travelers who stay for several weeks, the change could mean shorter trips, additional visa applications or a decision to spend their money elsewhere. Continued …
Thailand DTV rules vary between Thai embassies
Thailand’s revised Destination Thailand Visa rules, effective from Aug. 31, have created uncertainty for applicants applying outside their home country as Thai embassies and consulates publish differing residence requirements.
The Department of Consular Affairs replaced the previous requirement for proof of an applicant’s current location with proof of permanent residence. Applicants must now also submit a criminal record clearance certificate. Continued …
Amata, B.Grimm to co-develop 42.5-MWp Thai floating solar park
Thai industrial estate developer Amata Corp. and energy producer B.Grimm Power will invest 1.2 billion baht (USD36.1 million/EUR33.9 million) in a 42.5-MWp floating solar project at an industrial site in eastern Thailand’s Chon Buri province.
The proposed photovoltaic (PV) park will be installed at a water reservoir within Amata City Chonburi Industrial Estate, a major industrial estate development managed by Amata, to help meet growing demand for renewable energy and support the industrial sector’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Its output is expected to help mitigate around 29,300 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Continued …
Why is Bangkok replacing diesel trucks with EVs?
Bangkok is transitioning to electric vehicles to significantly reduce energy costs and mitigate air pollution. The plan to replace diesel rubbish trucks with electric vehicles is estimated to cut energy costs by approximately 4.75 billion baht, or 54%, over a five-year period.
This shift is part of a broader effort to improve environmental performance and air quality by reducing carbon emissions and PM2.5 pollution. For instance, the government is also working to convert various public-service vehicle categories to electric power, a move that could potentially reduce national oil consumption by 212 million liters annually.
Beyond waste management, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority is preparing to roll out 1,520 electric buses to improve passenger convenience and safety while lowering fuel and maintenance costs by an estimated 4.1 billion baht per year. – Bangkok Post
Energy leaders urge balanced path for Asia’s energy transition
Energy leaders at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok called for a balanced approach to the energy transition, arguing that reducing emissions cannot be pursued separately from energy security, affordability, reliability and economic growth.
Speaking during the panel “On track or off course? Navigating the path towards lower carbon energy systems” yesterday, executives from PETRONAS, PTT, Saipem and Wood, alongside the CNPC Economics & Technology Research Institute, broadly agreed that the transition would require both existing energy systems and new lower-carbon technologies. Continued …
-
Russian tourist robbed at gunpoint in Pattaya – Continued …
-
Pattaya police hold teens over Turkish man’s robbery – Continued …
-
Five Indian tourists report North Pattaya hotel assault – Continued …
-
British man injured in attempted Pattaya phone robbery – Continued …
Over 200 Brits held over Thailand cannabis mule trips
More than 200 British nationals are currently detained overseas in drug-smuggling cases involving cannabis originating from Thailand, Foreign Office figures show. The UK government said consular cases involving Britons arrested abroad for drug smuggling more than quadrupled between 2023 and 2025, rising from just over 80 to more than 340. There have already been more than 160 new cases in 2026. Continued …
-
Chinese fugitive held after Malaysia visa run – Continued …
Former Google DeepMind researcher warns of AI extinction risk
A former Google DeepMind researcher warned on Monday that artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially “kill all humans”, saying the world may be running out of time to prevent such an outcome. Continued …
US acknowledges that it has deployed weapons in space
The United States has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space, a remarkable revelation after previous warnings about countries such as Russia possibly weaponizing a global frontier long agreed in treaties to be used for only peaceful purposes. Continued …
Hua Hin Links and Transport
Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport
Thailand will raise retail prices for petrol, gasohol and diesel by 0.85 baht per liter from today, as mounting subsidy costs place increasing pressure on the Oil Fuel Fund.
Brent and US crude futures settled about 1% higher yesterday, with fresh strikes on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure and attacks on Middle Eastern shipping intensifying concerns over global supplies.
Gastech 2026 panellists in Bangkok warned yesterday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would not immediately restore normal gas supplies, with damaged facilities and disrupted shipping requiring time to recover.
Questions are growing about whether artificial intelligence is outpacing safety measures for the technology. What’s driving the sudden push to “slow down” AI development, and is slowing the race even possible. 
Yesterday, Nestlé (Thailand) took a stand on its Southeast Asian growth strategy, signaling to global investors that even a multi-billion-dollar legal breakdown with its long-standing local partner will not derail its operational roadmap.
Thailand ends its 60-day visa exemption today, replacing it with 30-day and 15-day schemes, a shorter visa on arrival list and tighter limits at land borders. Thailand’s revised tourist entry rules change how long millions of foreign visitors can stay without arranging a visa before departure.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched Nihao Month 2026 to encourage Chinese visitors to travel to Thailand during the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Golden Week holiday marking China’s National Day on Oct. 1.
Chiang Mai Airport handled more than 6.53 million passengers in the first eight months of 2026, with international travel rising 14% year-on-year. The airport expects passenger numbers to reach about 9.97 million for the full year as the winter flight schedule begins in late October.
Marine researchers recorded a peak of 278 adult blacktip reef sharks gathering near the shore of Maya Bay early this month, setting a record high for the 2026 fiscal year and providing strong evidence of ecological recovery during the bay’s annual closure, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).
The concept of a luxury home in Thailand has moved well beyond the postcard image of a beachfront villa with an infinity pool. Industry estimates value the country’s luxury residential segment at roughly USD73.7 billion in 2025, with continued growth projected through the next decade as rising regional wealth, tourism recovery, and international demand for premium living converge.
Living abroad was never really on my radar until I got married. My wife had always wanted to travel and live outside the US, and as I looked into it more, it started to feel like an experience we should try together.
Central Pattaya, a global beachfront landmark in the heart of Pattaya, has invited runners and travelers from around the world to join the Pattaya International Bikini Beach Race 2026: Run the wave. Own the night on Oct. 31. Celebrating its 10th anniversary under the theme “The Sunset to Moonlight Beach Race,” the 5K race will bring thousands of runners to the sands of Pattaya Beach for a one-of-a-kind night combining sunset running, music, entertainment and Pattaya’s vibrant beach lifestyle.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand has signed an agreement with a US government agency to study American small modular reactor technology as the country considers its first nuclear power plant.
The US Supreme Court dealt a major blow yesterday to President Donald Trump’s attempts to restrict mail-in voting before the November midterm elections, denying his request to lift an order halting the divisive plan. Only two of the six conservative justices on the nine-member panel offered a dissent. 
The number of people aged 100 or older in Japan reached a record high of 107,677 in September, climbing for the 56th consecutive year, health ministry data showed today. The total number of centenarians grew by 7,914 from the previous year, surpassing the 100,000 threshold for the first time. Women made up 87.6% of the cohort. 
After nine days trapped in a hydropower tunnel and a week of hospital care following his dramatic rescue, Sanjay Sah, a rare survivor of last month’s devastating glacier collapse in Nepal, finally returned to his village and family on Sunday. It was a homecoming marked by relief and joy, but also grief. 
Thailand has long appealed to retirees seeking sunshine, affordability, reliable healthcare, and a slower pace of life.
Thailand has ranked third in the world for digital nomads and fourth for retirees in the Rumavi Global Relocation Index 2026, which assessed 192 countries and territories.
A new concrete road and drainage system for Hua Hin Soi 10 have been completed under a municipal project, with a construction budget of 5.42 million baht. Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul and municipal officials inspected the work last week as part of the formal acceptance process.
Camera traps have recorded tigers in Prachuap Khiri Khan alongside Fea’s muntjac and other rare wildlife during a five-month survey, conservation officials announced yesterday.
A new NIDA Poll has found that many Thai respondents who had heard reports of, or experienced, alleged inappropriate or illegal behavior by Israelis in Thailand said their main concern was a lack of respect for the law.
Thailand’s Interior Ministry has expanded its investigation into Gan Chabad Co., from a Jewish cemetery in Chachoengsao to land holdings, company structures and possible nominee arrangements involving dozens of linked businesses.
Thailand still has 2,574 subdistricts without adequate standard emergency medical units, while a Senate working group is pushing for expanded local coverage and plans to increase the number of paramedics to 7,500 within five years.
Thailand’s Energy Ministry hopes to launch its 26th petroleum bidding round in the Andaman Sea by late 2026, with five major energy companies identified as potential participants, but Cabinet approval of key fiscal terms remains pending, according to media reports.
This week, the global energy industry gathers in Bangkok for Gastech, the world’s premier gas conference. Thailand is a fitting host, both for its own industrial ambitions and because it sits at the heart of the region that is reshaping global energy demand.
Thailand’s Customs Department collected more than 4 billion baht in import duties on goods worth no more than 1,500 baht in the first 11 months of fiscal 2026, Director-general Phantong Loykulnanta said, reporting a shift toward purchases from domestic sellers.
Phuket’s property market has reached a total value of more than 705 billion baht, the highest among Thailand’s regional provinces, with resort condominiums and villas accounting for more than half of residential supply and foreign buyers remaining a major source of demand.
Thailand’s proposed Thai Travel Plus, or Thai Tiew Thai Plus, scheme has an admirable objective: to encourage domestic tourism and spread tourism spending more widely across the country. The proposal is expected to go before Cabinet on Sept. 22, with a government budget of around 3.5 billion baht.
Chiang Mai farmers move to preserve local herb as ‘Makwean’ earns GI registration
What began as a defensive response to a global energy supply shock is rapidly turning into Thailand’s most ambitious economic transformation in decades.
Indonesian rescuers continued searching today for 129 people missing after the Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea. Six people have died and 108 have been rescued. The vessel carried 243 people and was sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when it encountered bad weather early yesterday. 
Rescuers retrieved more remains from a passenger ferry in the Philippine that was gutted by fire, bringing the death toll on Saturday to 76, with 13 missing. Forty-three people survived the fire on Wednesday night among the 132 on board. 
Prime Minister Mark Carney calls Canada “the most European of non-European countries,” and while formal EU membership may be tricky, he is pursuing unprecedented closeness with the bloc to reduce dependence on a hostile United States. 
Growing Nan landslide threatens village school
Rescuers save wild elephant trapped in abandoned septic tank in Rayong
Iran, Houthis block 2 key global shipping routes, straining the global economy
High oil prices and US diesel prices at record levels kept inflation fears at the fore yesterday, ratcheting up expectations that more central banks will have to hike interest rates despite the risk of weighing on economic growth.
Food prices in Thailand push 32.8% of poll respondents to eat less
Thailand’s housing market is entering only a limited recovery as fragile purchasing power, high living costs, elevated property prices and strict lending standards continue to weigh on consumers, according to the SCB EIC Real Estate Survey 2026.
The Real Estate Information Center (REIC) of Government Housing Bank reported that foreign buyers took ownership of 3,292 condominium units in Thailand in the second quarter of 2026, up 1.4% from a year earlier. The value of those transfers increased 20.2% to 14.803 billion baht.
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has selected 17 additional projects from 15 companies for the Thailand FastPass mechanism, representing planned investment of more than 121 billion baht and employment for over 14,000 Thai workers.
Concerns over foreign nationals using Thai nominees to run businesses and hold property in Pattaya have prompted Chonburi officials to promise tougher enforcement against unlawful investors of any nationality.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the Chinese travel market was showing clearer signs of improvement ahead of China’s National Day holiday, or Golden Week, in 2026. TAT is focusing on the period from Sept. 25 to Oct. 7, covering both the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday over a total of 13 days.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched “Amazing Locations: From Scene to Scenic,” a campaign built to convert the country’s rising profile as a filming destination into lasting tourism, as productions ranging from “The White Lotus” to “The Challenge” Season 42 continue to draw international attention to Thai locations.
Thailand has reclaimed its position as Southeast Asia’s second-largest aviation market by scheduled airline seat capacity in September, overtaking Vietnam after two months in third place.
Americans commemorated the 25th anniversary of 9/11 yesterday, remembering the shock, the dead and the sweeping consequences of the al-Qaida attacks on symbols of U.S. might and prosperity. Friday’s milestone anniversary brought memorial rituals — wreath-laying, flag-flying, moments of silence, vigils and readings of victims’ names — and volunteer projects in tribute to a day that about half of U.S. adults remember as the most historic event of their lifetime. 
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reassured consumers that PET water bottles are not made using BPA, after social media posts claimed bottles left in hot cars or direct sunlight could release dangerous chemicals and cause cancer.
Eighty percent of Thai consumers purchased health-focused food and beverages in the past 12 months — more than double the global average of 35% — according to new research from PwC Thailand.
Thailand’s economic growth potential has almost halved in two decades, while SMEs remain locked in their worst credit squeeze since the 1997 crisis. The Bank of Thailand now puts potential growth at just 2.7%, with GDP forecast at 2.3% this year and 1.8% in 2027.
Thailand must use data-center investment to create jobs and help local businesses raise productivity through wider adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), rather than treat capital inflows as an end in themselves, according to Arnaud Dupoizat, director for East Asia at the International Finance Corp. (IFC).
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat has outlined six projects under the second phase of Thailand’s double-track railway program, describing them as essential infrastructure that must extend across every region of the country.
August was the hottest single month ever recorded globally, with ocean temperatures also reaching unprecedented highs as western Europe capped its warmest summer, the EU’s climate monitor said today.
Apple joins foldable phone race with $1,999 passport-shaped iPhone Duo
Thailand and the United States are days from a sweeping trade deal reaching far beyond tariffs. Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun says every substantive issue is settled, with only legal drafting left. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is then expected to speak directly with US President Donald Trump to close the pact.
Nestlé invests $194 million in Purina pet-food production in Thailand
Top Family-Friendly Tourist Destinations in Thailand
Registration will open in mid-October for a solar rooftop scheme offering subsidies of up to 50,000 baht per installation, initially targeting one million households.
Nawee Changpirom has spent years working to rescue trafficked wildlife in Thailand, but even he can sometimes hardly believe the creatures he has found: leopards, hornbills, and once an anteater. “We even found living corals hidden in a ceiling,” he said.
The US-Canada trade war has escalated rapidly, rupturing what was once one of the world’s closest economic partnerships. But the conflict is a mismatch, with the $31 trillion US economy roughly 13 times larger than Canada’s, raising questions about the limits of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s defiance. 
Most fuel prices at PTT Station and Bangchak rose yesterday, while premium grades remained unchanged. PTT Station increased petrol and non-premium gasohol prices by 0.80 baht a liter and non-premium diesel by 0.70 baht.
Thailand’s proposed secondary alcohol rules could severely limit how breweries, bars and restaurants display beer products, according to the Craft Beer Business Assn. The draft measures will be discussed at a public consultation today and are not yet in force.
10 popular lunch dishes in Thailand loaded with sodium that could wreck your kidneys
The Thai baht weakened against the US dollar from 33.90 to 32.70, supported by dollar softness and Middle East risks. Thailand’s central bank kept rates unchanged at 1.00%, maintaining accommodative stance through H1 2027. Commerzbank expects near-term consolidation around 32.50-33.00 range.
Thailand’s tariff negotiations with the United States are down to the final wording, which should be completed within a week, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said yesterday.
Thailand’s consumer confidence strengthened for a third consecutive month in August, reaching its highest level in six months, as purchasing power and economic activity showed early signs of improvement, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
Thailand had 26 companies licensed to operate data centers by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) as of July 27, with their declared electricity demand exceeding 1,059MW.
Bangkok ranked second among Asia’s most revisited destinations in Agoda’s latest repeat visitor ranking, behind Tokyo and ahead of Bali, based on accommodation bookings made during the first half of 2026.
Royal Thai Navy opens free ticket bookings for Royal Barge Procession
Ysterday, the Hua Hin Municipality Ordinance Review Working Group met to consider the appropriateness of improving, drafting, and amending local laws enforced in the area to make them more effective and aligned with the city’s development.
The Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Statistical Office has requested the public’s cooperation in providing information for the September 2026 survey project. The survey will collect important statistical data useful for national economic and social development planning. The survey projects are as follows: The 2026 Labor Force Survey Project; project on surveying the use of information and communication technology in households; informal labor survey project; the household socio-economic survey project; projects to improve the country’s common framework of establishment database; and the construction site data-processing project.
Where is Nene’s financial support coming from?
Global oil benchmark Brent crude has rallied this month but stayed below $100 a barrel despite recent escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict that has disrupted Gulf exports from the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
Thailand’s headline inflation rose to 2.53% year on year in August 2026, its highest level for three months, as fuel costs and food prices increased across much of the country. The Consumer Price Index stood at 102.67 in August, up from annual inflation of 1.95% in July, according to Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) at the Commerce Ministry.
EEC’s Hospitality and Retail Bet on Lifestyle
U-Tapao and High-Speed Rail: EEC’s Make-or-Break Infrastructure Bet
Thailand plans to provide government-funded disaster insurance to around 30 million households in high-risk areas against floods, storms and earthquakes under a scheme approved on Sept. 1.
The five-day visit by US sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln group has helped promote a “new image” of Pattaya as a diverse tourist destination, rather than mainly about “nightlife and beer bars”, according to Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet.
Cambodia Airways will begin flying between Siem Reap and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sept. 15, adding a direct link between Cambodia’s main Angkor tourism gateway and Thailand.
More than 60 people attended Hua Hin Film Club’s first screening yesterday, joining actor Vithaya Pansringarm for an evening of cinema at Amara Resort Hua Hin.
Koh Phangan beach dispute spotlights nominee fears
A restricted zone will be announced outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, Mohsen Rezaei, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said yesterday according to state media. He added that the zone would include areas in the Gulf. 
Businesses in Thailand’s automotive parts, garment, rubber products and plastics industries are increasingly suspending operations temporarily, as falling orders, accumulated losses and higher production costs put pressure on employment.
Thai bank chiefs are warning that small businesses remain vulnerable to fresh defaults and a return to bad debt after restructuring, despite a decline in the commercial banking system’s overall non-performing loan ratio.
When discussing the economy in Southeast Asia, we often hear about semiconductor production, electric vehicles, combustion cars, and tourism. However, one of Thailand’s key economic pillars tends to receive less attention. Beyond being a global tourism destination, Thailand is recognized as the “Kitchen of the World”, playing a crucial role in producing and exporting food to over 350 million consumers worldwide each day.
Foreign arrivals to Thailand decline 3% in first eight months
Thailand’s new 30-day visa-exemption rule is opening a sharp fault line across its tourism industry before the crucial fourth-quarter peak. The Association of Thai Travel Agents says most genuine tourists need only seven to 10 days. It also wants tougher action against foreigners abusing tourist status.
Thai Airways International canceled flights to Jakarta today as eight Indonesian airports, including two serving the Indonesian capital, remained closed because of ash from erupting Krakatau volcano.
Riyadh Air has launched direct flights between Riyadh and Bangkok, initially operating three times a week before increasing to daily services in October. The inaugural aircraft arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport last Thursday.
How a debt-ridden mother of 6 built world-famous Bangkok noodle shop
Australians could be given the option of opting out of powerful social media algorithms under new legislation cracking down on big tech. The draft law requiring a “digital duty of care” is expected to be introduced to Australia’s parliament this week. It would require firms like Meta to give users the option of turning off algorithms that tailor recommendations to their personal taste. 
Thai superstar Lisa, Lalisa Manobal, released the music video for her latest single, “SaWaDiKa”, yesterday, showcasing Thai identity through Muay Thai, tuk-tuks, Chula kites and energetic choreography.
Thailand is forecast to become wetter from September 8–10, with isolated very heavy rain expected in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, the lower North, lower Northeast, Central region, East and the South’s west coast, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD).
Thailand’s trade deficit with China has surged to US$55.13 billion, alarming even the Thai-Chinese business community. Imports from China jumped 38.5%, while the bilateral deficit widened 59.3% in seven months.
Phuket’s foreign arrivals by air rebounded in July, with more than 379,000 travelers recorded as the impact of the Middle East conflict eased, according to Travel Link data.
Electricity tariffs in Thailand could reach 4.11–4.58 baht per unit in 2050 under four scenarios in the draft Power Development Plan, as planners weigh the cost of integrating renewable energy and capturing carbon emissions.
Former Twitter employees have launched a new social media platform called Twitter.now, featuring an automated artificial intelligence (AI) system designed to detect misinformation and fake news, alongside the revival of the iconic blue bird logo and signature blue-and-white theme amid an ongoing trademark dispute with X Corp. 
The day after Volkswagen management, shareholders and unions agreed to cut a total of 100,000 jobs over the coming years, automotive workers said yesterday they were feeling a mix of fury and disappointment. The 10-brand group, which apart from its namesake also includes the likes of Skoda, Audi, Seat and Porsche, said late Thursday it would cut an additional 50,000 jobs, bringing total planned reductions to 100,000.