- Standardized Thai bank fees/Makeover planned for Mo Chit 2/Anutin says Koh Kood remains Thai
- THE IRAN WAR: ASEAN eyes oil reserve
- ECONOMY: Mega-projects that never left drawing board/100,000 sign petition opposing land bridge/Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi an ASEAN hub/New electric two-wheeler production center
- TOURISM: Crackdown on unruly tourists/Family flees ‘abandoned resort’/Outrigger opens Phi Phi Island resort
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Dangerous arsenic levels in Mekong mainstream/WHAUP Signs Solar Rooftop Project
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Standardized Thai bank fees expected by July
The Bank of Thailand is scheduled to introduce standardized banking fees in July this year, seeking to reduce financial costs for individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Central bank Gov. Vitai Ratanakorn said a month-long public consultation period on the standardization of banking fees is scheduled to end tomorrow, to be followed by an official announcement. Continued …
B3.5-billion makeover planned for Mo Chit 2
The Ministry of Transport has ruled out relocating the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak), popularly known as Mo Chit 2, opting instead for major upgrades and improved links with the capital’s rail network.
The upgrade, expected to cost 3.5 billion baht, would take place between 2027 and 2029, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said yesterday while visiting the state-owned bus operator Transport Co. Continued …
MOU 44 row deepens — Anutin says Koh Kood remains Thai
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pushed back against what he described as false claims circulating on social media, insisting that Koh Kood remains part of Thailand following the government’s decision to cancel MOU 44.
Anutin said he has directly informed the Cambodian leader that Thailand had formally decided to cancel the 2001 memorandum of understanding, commonly known as MOU 44, concerning overlapping maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand. Continued …
ASEAN eyes oil reserve, shared grid as counters to Mideast war cost squeeze
Southeast Asian nations hit by soaring fuel and food prices caused by the Middle East war are weighing solutions that include setting up a regional oil reserve, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said yesterday.
Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, while also debating a series of ambitious projects aimed at stemming the effects of the next global crisis. Continued …
Five Thai mega-projects that never left the drawing board
Large-scale investment projects, or “mega-projects”, have been proposed by almost every Thai government. These projects are often promoted as key economic drivers and tend to attract attention from both domestic and foreign investors.
Governments have frequently used such projects as selling points during international roadshows, from the Yingluck administration’s 2-trillion-baht infrastructure investment plan, to the Prayut government’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), and the Srettha administration’s land bridge project. Continued …
Over 100,000 sign petition opposing land bridge project
An online petition launched by environmental group EnLAW has gathered over 100,000 signatures in three days, signaling widespread opposition to the government’s proposed land bridge megaproject.
The EnLAW Foundation, a prominent non-governmental organization (NGO) in Thailand dedicated to environmental justice, opened the petition website, stop-sec.com, for the public to register opposition to the land bridge project and the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) bill. Continued …
Senate pushes for turning Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi into single ASEAN hub
A Senate committee proposed that the government develop Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi into a single ASEAN economic, tourism, and transportation hub rather than letting them move along separately as has been the case so far.
Sen. Chavapon Watthanavekin, vice chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said his committee is currenting visiting Phang Nga and Phuket, with the trip having started yesterday and ending tomorrow, to gather information for recommendation to the Senate and government, with the main goal being to propel the three Andaman coastal provinces into a single hub. Continued …
Chinese electric two-wheeler opens new Thai production center
Luyuan Group Holding has joined a fledgling move by Chinese two-wheeler makers setting up factories abroad, with its Thursday announcement of plans for a new facility in Thailand. It joins peers like Yadea and TAILG, which have also recently set up similar new facilities in Southeast Asia to tap local markets for electric bicycles, scooters, and motorcycles.
Several factors are driving the trend, led by intense competition in China where all of these companies still derive nearly all of their sales. Another factor is the big potential in Southeast Asia for these two-wheeled vehicles, which are hugely popular as the most affordable mobility option over pricier cars. Continued …
Interior Ministry orders crackdown on unruly tourists
The Interior Ministry has ordered provincial authorities nationwide to take firm action against unruly foreign tourists, warning that those who break the law, intimidate Thai citizens, or behave inappropriately could have their visas revoked and be deported immediately.
Arsit Sampantharat, permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, said yesterday that inappropriate behavior by tourists in various provinces had affected Thailand’s tourism image and caused concern among residents in several areas. Continued …
Family flees ‘abandoned resort’ booked online
A Thai woman has issued a stark warning to holidaymakers after a family seaside trip turned into what she described as the “most harrowing experience” of her life, when the resort she booked online in Trat province turned out to be abandoned.
According to an online post, the woman had planned a beach holiday for her family and young child, specifically seeking accommodation with direct sea access. As most properties in the area were fully booked at the intended time of travel, only one option remained available on a well-known hotel booking application. Continued …
Outrigger opens Phi Phi Island resort in Thailand National Park
Outrigger Hospitality Group has opened Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort on Phi Phi Island, adding a fourth property to its Thailand portfolio alongside existing locations in Koh Samui, Khao Lak, and Phuket. The 63-suite and villa resort sits within Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park and is accessible only by boat.
The property is set on a white-sand beach fronting the Andaman Sea, surrounded by limestone cliffs. All suites and villas are guided by “Nit Thra,” a Thai concept centered on rest, incorporating handcrafted furnishings, organic textiles, and woven motifs drawn from local craft traditions. Continued …
Dangerous arsenic levels detected in Thailand’s Mekong mainstream for first time
Thai authorities have found what they described as dangerous levels of arsenic contamination in sediment from the Mekong River and three of its tributaries in the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
Heavy metal pollution has been reported from key tributaries of the Mekong for more than a year now, but the tests conducted in March by Thailand’s Pollution Control Department mark the first time that arsenic contamination has been detected on the mainstream of the Mekong, a vital transboundary river that supports thousands of plant and wildlife species and the livelihoods of millions of people. Continued …
WHAUP Signs 16.64MW Solar Rooftop Project
WHAUP continues to strengthen its position as a renewable energy leader by securing a major deal with Yida New Material for the installation of a 16.64-megawatt solar rooftop project. The project is expected to help the customer reduce electricity costs by more than B1.22 billion over the 20-year contract period and cut carbon emissions by over 206,491 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The initiative will also enhance energy-management efficiency and operational standards through AI technologies and real-time monitoring via WHAUP’s Unified Operations Center (UOC), strengthening the customer’s competitiveness and energy confidence amid increasingly volatile energy markets. Continued …
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Immigration Police Arrest 13 Pakistanis in Bangkok – Continued …
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Chinese Man Held Over Possible Pattaya Terror Plot – Continued …
Vilhelm Academy: Western qualifications for Hua Hin-based students
Vilhelm International Academy launched in March 2026 and has is campus at “The Hub” in Hin Lek Fai, less than 10 minutes from the center of town. They provide mentor-led academic supervision for students studying through accredited online school programs, whether independently enrolled or through integrated programs offered at Vilhelm. This means that students follow a fixed timetable, complete coursework under supervision, and receive ongoing progress monitoring. They can do this whist studying for their GCSE’s, A-Levels, NCAA approved US courses, or any other online school they choose to use.
Unlike more traditional options, at the academy children can learn at their own pace, not being forced forward before they are ready and also not being held back by the rest of the class. When they are ready to move on they do so. By coming to the academy each day, they are able to complement their studies with activities that develop leadership skills, community service (such as the recent helmet initiative), complemented by daily sports and physical activity to support a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
You can visit the website for more details, or you can book an appointment to meet with the academy co-ordinator to discuss what you are looking for and explain what they can offer. There is a completely free five-day trial period that can be taken advantage of by anyone interested in seeing if the academy is the right fit for them.
Website; Email: info@vilhelminternationalacademy.com; Phone: +66 065 991 5500; Facebook; Map location.
Powerful El Niño set to reshape global weather in 2026
Weeks after the Pacific Ocean engine that helps drive the world’s weather shifted into neutral, meteorologists and scientists are now laser-focused on the developing signals of its warm phase: El Niño. It’s what the global forecast models are making of the early signals that is drawing attention. Continued …
Hua Hin Links and Transport
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