Hua Hin Blessing of the Fleet/Thailand PM Dismissal and Tax Reform/Three kingdoms of Thai politics/Heavy rain forecast/Flooding hits 5 provinces/Products onsumers complain about/Another Rama II accident/Online Alcohol Sale Rules/Chiang Mai geese full-time employees/South rocked by attacks/ECONOMY: Economists Urge Swift Government Formation/Fate of key economic policies/Trump eyes tariffs on furniture/KBank Offers Early Retirement/AI to radically reshape economy/TOURISM: Subsidy starts to work/THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Bangkok’s hidden waterway/CLIMATE THAILAND: Thailand’s top 5 greenhouse gas emitters/Citizen science and the planetary crisis/INTERNATIONAL/NEW PAGE – Hua Hin Links: 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 cinemas/Emergency numbers
Hua Hin Blessing of the Fleet ceremony returns Sunday
The Hua Hin Blessing of the Fleet ceremony will return on Sunday, Sept. 7, continuing a tradition that reflects the town’s historic connection to the sea and its fishing community.
Organized by the Hua Hin Fishing Community Committee in partnership with the coastal community, the event will take place at the Chao Mae Tubtim Shrine, next to the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa. The ceremony, which has been held during the 10th lunar month for nearly two decades, serves to honor ancestors, seek protection for local fishermen, and give thanks for the ocean’s resources. Continued …
Thailand PM Dismissal: What It Means for Tax Reform and Your 2025 Filing
The Constitutional Court’s removal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has left Thailand in a state of political limbo. A caretaker government is now in place while parliament negotiates a new coalition and selects the next leader.
For expats, the key point is this: major tax reforms are unlikely to move forward in the short term. Until the political situation stabilizes, the Revenue Department will continue applying the rules already in force. Continued …
Three kingdoms of Thai politics set the stage for government formation
Thailand’s political landscape is once again entering a dramatic turning point under a “three kingdoms” scenario, after the Constitutional Court ruled that Paetongtarn Shinawatra must step down as prime minister.
The House of Representatives is now set to convene on Wednesday to elect a new prime minister. Yet. behind the scenes, maneuvering to form the next government remains chaotic. Bhumjaithai has launched its own bid to seize power, directly challenging Pheu Thai, which continues as caretaker government. Continued …
Heavy rain forecast for 38 Thai provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecast heavy rain across four regions tomorrow, with 38 provinces expected to be affected. Residents are advised to prepare for flash floods and landslides due to continuous rainfall. The warning applies particularly to the north, northeast, east, and the western coast of the south.
In the eastern south (Gulf side), there will be thunderstorms in 60% of the area, with heavy rain in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Surat Thani. Temperatures will range from 23 to 25°C to 32 to 34°C, with southwest winds at 20 to 35 kilometers per hour. Continued …
Flooding hits 5 provinces in northern Thailand
Heavy rain resulting from former Storm Nongfa caused flooding in five northern provinces, affecting more than 5,000 people.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported yesterday morning that flooding had affected around 5,450 people in Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Phitsanulok, and Sukhothai provinces. Later reports confirmed severe flooding in Phetchabun, another northern province. Continued …
Top three products and services consumers complain about most
The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) has released a report on complaints received between 2021 and July 2025, recording a total of 68,247 cases. The figures highlight the demand for effective protection and resolution mechanisms to address problems faced by consumers.
Categorised data provides a clearer picture of the key issues affecting the public. The top three categories were: general goods and services, finance and banking, and communications, telecommunications and information technology. Continued …
Another Rama II accident: Crane Collapse Crushes Pickup Truck
Another incident struck Rama II Road early yesterday morning when a construction crane toppled over during work on an elevated highway, crashing onto the road and crushing a pickup truck. Three people were left seriously injured.
The incident occurred on the inbound carriageway of Rama II Road, just before Central Mahachai, Samut Sakhon. Workers had been using the crane to hoist heavy steel beams for installation on supporting pillars when it suddenly collapsed. Continued …
Battle Brews Over New Online Alcohol Sale Rules
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) is probing the digital domain of alcohol sales, striving to establish a fresh framework for regulating online transactions. With traditional sales restrictions still in place, state agencies focus on ensuring compliance while tackling potential social, health, and legal challenges posed by digital booze bazaars.
Last Friday saw the DDC discuss four pivotal areas earmarked for exploration: legal frameworks, health and social considerations, economic implications, and international practices. Continued …
Chiang Mai geese appointed full-time employees
A flock of 10 geese set free at Chiang Mai moat to help control aquatic weed plaguing the canal have been promoted to full-time municipal employees and will be given identification cards stating so.
The whole flock will now be vaccinated, dewormed, given vitamins before being microchipped, and issued identification cards as full-time municipal employees. Continued …
South rocked by arson and bomb attacks in 9 locations
The deep south was shaken last night by a wave of arson and bomb attacks across three provinces, with at least nine incidents reported within hours.
Authorities believe the violence was symbolically timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Bersatu separatist movement’s founding and Malaysia’s National Day. In Narathiwat, five attacks were recorded. Continued …
Economists Urge Swift Government Formation Amid Fears of Economic Slowdown
Leading Thai economists are warning that the country’s current political instability, which could lead to a House dissolution, may disrupt government spending and economic stimulus plans. They say that a new, potentially short-lived government would be unable to effectively implement key policies, leading to a period of “policy paralysis”.
A hurried dissolution before the economy has fully recovered could damage investor confidence and put pressure on the capital market. However, some economists say that any negative impact would be limited, as the 2026 budget has already been approved by parliament. Continued …
Fate of key economic policies hangs on new government’s stance
The Constitutional Court’s ruling on Aug. 29 that ended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s tenure has effectively dissolved the entire cabinet, creating a political vacuum that could reshape Thailand’s economic agenda. Analysts warn that a shift in political power may disrupt or delay major policies and economic laws currently in the pipeline.
A review highlights several flagship policies and draft laws that now face uncertainty, either pending review by the next government or awaiting parliamentary approval. Continued …
Trump eyes tariffs on furniture, Thai exports in top 10 at risk
The Thai Trade Center in Miami has reported that US President Donald Trump is preparing to impose import tariffs on furniture products. Thai furniture currently ranks among the top 10 sources of US imports.
The center, under the Ministry of Commerce, stated that Trump announced via Truth Social that the US is considering tariffs exclusively on imported furniture, with an investigation now under way to determine the necessity and the precise tariff rate. Continued …
KBank Offers Early Retirement at 45, Shaking Thai Job Market
Thailand’s job market faces a seismic shakeup, as Kasikorn Bank (KBank) launched an unprecedented early retirement program open to workers as young as 45. This move highlights increasing pressures from technological advancements and poses questions about future job security and savings.
Traditionally, Thais retire much later, so this option for early exit has ignited debate. Concerns are mounting that it might inspire other sectors, especially those undergoing digital shifts, to adopt similar measures, potentially affecting the workforce broadly. Continued …
AI to radically reshape Thai economy
Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to transform the economy on a scale greater than mobile technology and past digital waves, becoming one of the most powerful investment themes of the coming decade, says Kasikorn Business-Technology Group (KBTG).
Ruangroj Poonpol, group chairman of KBTG, said alternative investments and technology-led assets will play a larger role as global markets evolve. Continued …
Tourism subsidy starts to make an impression
The 750-million-baht subsidy program for chartered flights, commercial flights, and incentive groups has started to generate positive momentum, as some agents are set to begin their operations for China’s Golden Week holiday period in October.
Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, deputy governor of international marketing for Asia and South Pacific at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the agency already approved chartered flight proposals from agents to operate flights from Inner Mongolia and Kunming to Thailand. Continued …
Splash into Bangkok’s hidden waterway
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in Bangkok’s notorious traffic, there’s a fun, budget-friendly alternative that locals have relied on for decades: the Khlong Saen Saep boat service.
Skimming through the city’s vibrant canals, or khlongs, this boat ride offers not only a practical way to get around but also a unique glimpse into Bangkok’s everyday life. Continued …
Thailand’s top 5 greenhouse gas emitters and lowest 5 provinces revealed
Thailand has set an ambitious target to achieve net zero emissions by 2065, but cutting greenhouse gases remains a significant challenge, particularly in industrial provinces that are among the country’s main emitters.
In fiscal years 2023–2024, the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO), with support from the Environmental Fund under the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, worked with provincial natural resources and environment offices in all 76 provinces to complete greenhouse gas inventories and provincial reduction plans. Continued …
Citizen science and the triple planetary crisis
Humanity today faces what the United Nations calls the triple planetary crisis: the interlinked emergencies of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. These global challenges are already shaping everyday lives of the people in Thailand and across Asia — whether through the silent disappearance of wildlife, the spread of transboundary air pollution, or the hazards of industrial accidents.
At the same time, solutions are emerging from unexpected places, as ordinary citizens work hand in hand with scientists and activists to collect evidence, raise awareness, and push for accountability. Continued …
US Visa Fee Surge Sparks Travel Woes: Total Jumps to $442
The US has slapped a hefty new $250 fee on visa applicants, raising total costs for countries like Thailand to $442. This initiative could strain the travel industry, already hit by President Trump’s immigration policies and declining visitor numbers. Continued …
China’s Xi unveils vision for new global order
Chinese President Xi Jinping today urged Shanghai Cooperation Organization members to leverage their “mega-scale market”, while unveiling his ambition for a new global security and economic order that poses a challenge to the United States. Continued …
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