- Hua Hin Couple Jump From Hotel/Government cuts power tariff/Egg prices rise/Laos acquires World Cup telecasts/Thailand’s Children Are Falling Behind/Phangan Host Denies Foreigner Stopped Temple Event
- ECONOMY: Thailand’s shrinking surplus raises fears/Thais Help Thais Plus/Eateries to face gloomy third quarter/Food delivery market heats up/Thai Industry Opportunities and Risks
- TOURISM: Thai Airlines Cancel Thousands Of Flights
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Finest Golf Courses in Hua Hin/Bangkok dining ranked second
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Energy scheme raises concerns/Thai exporters on notice/Thailand’s data center cost risk/’Deepening crisis’ in oceans
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Hua Hin Couple Jump From Hotel Building, Die Together
Two Thai residents of Hua Hin died after jumping from the 16th floor of a hotel building in Hua Hin in the early hours Sunday. The man, aged 43, and the woman, aged 29, were found dead near each other on the ground below the building, having sustained severe head injuries.
Investigators found a handwritten suicide note inside the couple’s hotel room. According to police, the note contained apologies to family members, references to exhaustion from life problems, and a message asking the man’s mother to take care of herself. Continued …
Government cuts power tariff to 3 baht for first 200 units
The government will cut electricity tariffs to no more than 3 baht per unit for the first 200 units, starting from the June billing cycle, in a cost-of-living relief measure expected to benefit more than 20 million households nationwide.
Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the prime minister’s office, said the measure is part of the government’s broader effort to ease living costs under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Continued …
Egg prices rise 20 satang as feed costs squeeze Thai farmers
Egg prices in Thailand have risen by 20 satang per egg from yesterday, as poultry farmers come under growing pressure from higher feed and maize costs. The Central Region Small-Scale Egg-Layer Farmers Trade Assn. said the latest price movement reflects rising production expenses rather than an increase in the recommended farm-gate ceiling.
Payao Arikul, president of the association, said actual market prices had moved from 3.30 baht to 3.50 baht per egg, while the recommended farm-gate price for mixed-size eggs remains unchanged at 3.60 baht per egg. Continued …
Laos acquires World Cup telecasts, Thailand still dark
Laos has secured the broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, allowing viewers across the country to watch all 104 matches free of charge, while negotiations over television rights in Thailand remain unresolved.
Telecommunications company Star Telecom, commonly known as Unitel, has reached an agreement with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to secure the official broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. Continued …
Thailand’s Children Are Falling Behind — And the Nation’s Future Depends on What Happens Next
One in three Thai children cannot read properly by the age of ten. Youth unemployment is rising. And the workforce needed to power Thailand’s next decade of growth is simply not being trained. Against this backdrop of mounting urgency, a roundtable yesterday brought together some of the country’s foremost voices in education, policy, academia, and student leadership to confront what many are now calling a systemic crisis.
The event, titled Beyond the Classroom: Thai Education Beyond Borders, was held in Bangkok with the singular objective of imagining a fairer, more modern, and genuinely inclusive education system — one capable of reaching every province and every child, regardless of postcode or income. Continued …
Phangan Host Denies Foreigner Stopped Temple Event
A host of a Buddhist ordination celebration on Koh Phangan has denied claims that a foreign resident attempted to shut down the event, saying the matter was resolved peacefully after a simple conversation. The clarification follows widespread criticism on social media after reports suggested a foreigner had objected to a traditional community ceremony at a temple in Surat Thani province.
The controversy emerged after online posts claimed a foreign resident had tried to stop activities linked to an ordination ceremony at a temple on Koh Phangan. The story was widely shared and interpreted by some as an attempt to interfere with local traditions and cultural practices. Continued …
Thailand’s shrinking surplus raises baht stability fears
Thailand is being warned that its economic challenge is no longer only about whether growth will recover in the second half of the year, but whether the country can reform fast enough before today’s structural risks turn into a deeper crisis. The warning comes as economists and business leaders point to a shift in Thailand’s long-standing economic strengths.
For years, the country benefited from large current account surpluses, supported by exports and tourism. That position is now weakening as energy costs remain high, imports rise, competitiveness declines, and the country struggles to build new sources of income from future industries. Continued …
Thais Help Thais Plus hits non-participating restaurant sales by 50%
Thaniwan Kulmongkol, president of the Thai Restaurant Assn., said the association submitted a letter directly to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, asking him to consider expanding eligibility or introducing additional measures for small restaurant operators with annual revenue above 1.8 million baht, who are currently unable to join the Thais Help Thais Plus scheme.
The association said the measure was beneficial to the grassroots economy and helped stimulate domestic purchasing power. However, many small restaurants that operate legally, are registered in the value-added tax system, employ workers, and make social security contributions, but have average annual revenue of 2 million to 5 million baht, are unable to participate because the criteria are limited to operators with revenue of no more than 1.8 million baht per year. Continued …
Eateries expected to face gloomy third quarter
The outlook for the restaurant industry in the third quarter remains pessimistic, with high costs, weak consumer spending power, and a potential drop in tourist numbers continuing to loom over the industry.
Thitid Tassanakajohn, a chef and restaurateur, said the industry saw a brief rebound in the first quarter, supported by a recovery in tourism. However, in the second quarter, the industry declined due to geopolitical conflict, high energy costs and their ripple effects, making conditions worse than in the second quarter of 2025. Continued …
Food delivery market heats up
Grab and Line Man Wongnai are competing strongly to become market leaders in a duopolistic market amid a challenging economy, with the latter slashing fees to attract merchants.
According to the Department of Business Development, Line Man Thailand, which operates Line Man Wongnai, recorded a net profit for the first time of 542 million baht in 2025, compared with a net loss of 356 million baht in 2024. Continued …
Thai Industry Leader Highlights Opportunities and Risks
Pimjai Leeissaranukul, chairperson of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), revealed an overview of the Thai industrial sectors trend during the second quarter of 2026. S
he observed that many industries continue to expand, supported by export markets, strong domestic demand, and government policentives. However, some industries are still facing challenges such as rising production costs, shortages of raw materials, competition from imported products, and a slowdown in purchasing power. Continued …
Thai Airlines Cancel Thousands Of Flights Amid Ongoing Fuel Crisis
Multiple Thai airlines have canceled approximately 3,800 flights due to skyrocketing jet fuel prices, spurred on by the prolonged crisis in the Middle East. The crisis has led to jet fuel becoming 2 to 3 times more expensive than normal, thereby pushing up the airlines’ fuel costs and other operating costs.
According to a report, the Middle East crisis is not the only reason behind the reduced service. The low season across the region is another contributing factor. Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), said, “The aviation industry in the first half of the year had been affected by the Middle East war, with around 3,840 flights lost, affecting more than 1.2 million accumulated seats.” Continued …
Luxury Golf Escapes: The Finest Courses in Hua Hin
Imagine stepping onto a perfectly manicured green just as the morning sun rises over the Gulf of Thailand. A gentle breeze rustles the nearby palm trees, and the dramatic outlines of dark mountain peaks frame your view.
This is golf in Hua Hin. Once a quiet fishing village, this beautiful coastal town has grown into a world-class playground for golfers. It is the perfect place for people who want to combine a relaxing tropical vacation with some of the most exciting, high-end rounds of golf in all of Asia. Continued …
Bangkok ranked second among the world’s 20 best food cities
Every year, Time Out publishes the results of its international survey ranking the world’s best cities. To get there, we surveyed thousands of city dwellers and asked them to rate their city’s food scene across 18 different criteria, including quality, affordability and diversity.
Then we tapped our global network of chefs, editors and food critics to provide local insight into what makes their particular cities such wonderful places to eat. Continued …
B200-billion energy scheme raises concerns
The plan to allocate 200 billion baht toward energy transition, focusing on rooftop solar systems and battery-powered vehicles, has raised concerns among economists and lawmakers over transparency and feasibility.
The funding, which represents half of the controversial 400-billion-baht emergency loan approved by the cabinet, is being criticized for lacking clear details and oversight. Continued …
China’s green code puts Thai exporters on notice
China’s landmark environmental code is set to raise the green compliance bar for Thai exporters and manufacturers, turning carbon footprints and environmental performance from optional CSR into conditions for staying in Chinese supply chains and securing green finance at home.
The shift comes as China prepares to enforce its Ecological and Environmental Code on Aug. 15. The code is China’s second national legal code after the Civil Code and consolidates its previously fragmented environmental laws into a unified framework. Continued …
World Bank flags Thailand data center cost risk
Kwanpadh Suddhi-Dhamakit, senior country officer for World Bank Thailand, said the issue of water resources and data center investment in Thailand was a major global challenge, as data centers require large amounts of both water and electricity, a challenge almost every country is facing.
From a water-management perspective, he said, the question was how to deal with periods when large volumes of water arrive, or how to secure enough water when supply is insufficient. Continued …
UN warns of ‘deepening crisis’ in oceans
Oceans are in a “deepening crisis” that demands urgent global action, a major UN report warned yesterday, with seas warming and rising faster, ice cover shrinking, and marine ecosystems under mounting strain.
The culmination of five years of work by 600 international scientists, the 1,352-page tome details the growing toll of climate change, pollution, and overfishing in our oceans, which cover more than 70% of the planet. Continued ….
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Brit in doctor’s death case also faces nominee business charges – Continued …
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2 foreign women fined 10,000 baht for assault on Phuket bar guards – Continued …
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Chinese Scam Gang Busted at Chiang Mai Homes – Continued …
Hong Kong to open first convenience store operated by humanoid robot
Hong Kong will soon open its first convenience store operated by a humanoid robot as part of the city’s push to integrate AI into everyday life and deepen residents’ understanding of the technology, the finance chief has said. 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 cinemas/Emergency numbers