- Eight dead in school shooting/Shooter said to be well behaved/School security crackdown/Thailand’s gun culture/Youth violence grows more complex/Major shootings that shook Thailand/Nene Royal’s Callbacks performance
- THE IRAN WAR: Deal may require compromise
- ECONOMY: Egg prices hit 2-year high/Second phase of co-payment scheme/More free trade deals/Data center growth meets resource limits
- TOURISM: Regional airport upgrade plan/Massive flight cuts hit Thailand/China tops Thailand-linked flights
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Traveling as a tourist in Thailand
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Eight dead in Nonthaburi school shooting
Eight people were killed and at least 22 others injured after gunfire erupted at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi province, yesterday morning. The suspected shooter, a Mathayom 2 (Grade 8) student, was later found dead inside the well-known secondary co-ed school.
Investigators subsequently searched the suspect’s house in Bang Bua Thong district and found the bodies of his grandfather, 73, and grandmother, 74, inside. Both had fatal gunshot wounds to the head. Continued …
Nonthaburi school shooter said to be well behaved as death toll rises
Relatives of the 14-year-old suspect in yesterday’s deadly shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School described him as a quiet, well-behaved teenager who spent much of his time playing computer games, while investigators examining his computer found evidence that he had viewed videos of school shootings in the United States in the days leading up to the attack.
The latest findings emerged as police continued trying to establish a motive for one of Thailand’s deadliest recent school shootings. Continued …
Nationwide school security crackdown ordered
Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong has ordered schools across Thailand to raise security to their highest level after a shooting at a school in Nonthaburi yesterday.
The minister also instructed education agencies to provide mental-health assistance to people affected by the attack, while calling on social-media users not to circulate material showing how it was carried out. Continued …
Thailand’s gun culture: why is civilian ownership so high
Thailand has an estimated 10 million firearms in civilian hands, the highest number in ASEAN, according to a small arms survey data cited after a shooting at the chool in Nonthaburi.
The estimate equates to roughly one gun for every seven people, or 15 firearms per 100 residents. Of the total, around 6.2 million guns were registered, while an estimated 4.1 million – nearly 40% – were outside the registration system. The figures have again put Thailand’s gun controls and the availability of illegal weapons under scrutiny. Continued …
Expert urges systemic action as youth violence grows more complex
Mental-health problems and violence involving children and young people in Thailand became more severe and complex in 2025 and 2026, with surveys showing that 29% of young people felt lonely or isolated and more than half experienced stress over family relationships.
Experts attribute the trend to increasingly pressured surroundings, social media and parents having less time for their children. A child and adolescent psychiatrist has stressed, however, that large-scale violent incidents do not arise from any single cause but from several overlapping factors. Continued …
Six major shootings that shook Thailand since 2020
The shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School yesterday has renewed attention on a series of major shooting incidents in Thailand since 2020, involving shopping centers, a childcare center, schools and a Bangkok market.
Seven people were reported killed in the Nonthaburi attack — three teachers, three students and the student suspect — while 15 others were injured, two seriously. The incident is the latest in a series of six major attacks, beginning with the Korat shooting in February 2020. Continued …
AGT gives Nene Royal’s Judges’ Callbacks performance early release
America’s Got Talent (AGT) has released Nene Royal’s performance from the Judges’ Callbacks round ahead of its scheduled television broadcast on Aug. 11. Nene had previously told fans that the Judges’ Callbacks stage of the competition would begin on Aug. 4, while her own performance was expected to air a week later.
(See her callback performance at the link below.)
However, AGT published her performance on today under the title “Early Release: Nene Royal CRUSHES ‘Hysteria’ by Muse | Judges’ Callbacks | AGT 2026”, signaling that the clip had been made available before the scheduled broadcast. Continued …
Deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz may require a compromise from Trump
To reach a deal with Iran that reopens the economically vital Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump may need to do something out of character — compromise.
Any concession would be tough for the Republican president, who has insisted there is no truth to his sagging poll numbers, the sluggish economy and the U.S. military’s dwindling stockpiles of key weapons following the Iran war he launched with Israel more than five months ago. Continued …
Egg prices hit 2-year high as farm costs rise
Egg prices have climbed to a two-year high of 4 baht each, driven by reduced supplies due to hot weather and high animal feed prices. Prices are expected to ease in October as climate conditions improve.
A network of layer farmer cooperatives, which includes four egg producer cooperatives from Ang Thong, Chachoengsao, Chiang Mai and Chon Buri, announced a new recommended farm-gate price for mixed chicken eggs of 4 baht per egg, up from 3.80 baht, effective yesterday. Continued …
Second phase of co-payment scheme being considered
The government will review its fiscal position before deciding whether to proceed with the second phase of the “Thais Help Thais Plus” co-payment scheme or revise its conditions.
Speaking at Government House yesterday, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the government would consider measures that support economic growth, boost trade and improve livelihoods. He said details of the scheme had yet to be finalized, including whether the current 60:40 subsidy ratio would be adjusted to 50:50. Continued …
More free trade deals to boost Thai exports
The government has pledged to leverage free trade agreements (FTAs) to help Thai businesses integrate into global supply chains, expand export markets and attract investment.
Speaking at the Prime Minister’s Export Award 2026, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand’s competitiveness should no longer be measured solely by export volumes. Instead, he said, the focus should be on deepening the integration of Thai businesses into global supply chains, from raw materials and components to technology, goods and high-value services. Continued …
Data center growth meets resource limits
Entrepreneurs are warning the rapid expansion of data center investment could deepen water scarcity, even as they acknowledge its potential to drive business growth, according to the latest poll conducted by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
Of the 160 FTI executives surveyed, 68.8% cited insufficient water supply as their top concern amid the rapid rise in data centers, said Montri Mahaplerkpong, deputy chairman of the FTI. Continued …
Regional airport upgrade plan takes off
The government is betting on regional airports to drive Thailand’s next wave of tourism and investment growth, with upgrades to facilities, flight routes and technology aimed at transforming them into economic gateways. Hua Hin Airport is among those being upgraded to international status, with the Hua Hin-Kuala Lumpur route restored and services to Singapore, Taipei and Shanghai under preparation.
Transport Ministry officials yesterday outlined progress on the Airport for Regional Development strategy, which includes expanding international services, improving aviation safety and attracting new commercial opportunities as part of Thailand’s goal of becoming a global aviation hub by 2029. Continued …
Massive flight cuts hit Thai regional status
Thailand’s regional ranking for airline seats fell to No.3 for the second consecutive month due to massive flight cuts, with Vietnam claiming No.2 as demand grows.
According to the August report conducted by OAG, an aviation intelligence and analytics company, Vietnam secured the fastest growth rate in Southeast Asia for flight capacity. Continued …
China tops Thailand-linked flights as total reaches 777,456
Thailand has recorded 777,456 flights, averaging 2,558 a day, with China accounting for the highest cumulative traffic among countries linked to flights to, from and over the country, according to Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI). The total comprised 385,991 international flights, 297,234 domestic flights and 94,231 overflights.
AEROTHAI said overall traffic was in line with its forecast despite growth being affected by conflict in the Middle East, which has influenced travel decisions. Continued …
9 things I learned while traveling as a tourist in Thailand
Thailand has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia with over 30 million visitors per year. Yet, political strife, pollution, petty theft, and road safety concerns tend to make tourists question whether they’ll be safe here.
As a tourist who has now spent seven weeks in Thailand, I can confidently say that I feel much safer here than at home in the United States. Yet, like any place, there are some real risks that come with unpreparedness. These are some key tips to keep in mind while you’re here. Continued …
‘It’s a safari’: viral video exposes Ukrainians’ drone terror
Ukrainians have adopted the term “safari” to describe drones “hunting down” civilians or vehicles in the street – something residents of Kherson, a smaller southern city on the front line, have long suffered from. The viral video of a vegetable seller being targeted by a bomb-laden drone has highlighted the threat faced by residents of the city. Video …
Hong Kong tourism: visitor spending 44% below 2018 level
Hong Kong’s tourism industry has called for more experiential events, enhanced transport measures and closer cross-border cooperation to draw overnight visitors, after tourist spending fell to HK197.5 billion (830 billion baht) last year, 44% below its 2018 level. Continued …
Hua Hin Links and Transport
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