- Hua Hin Rotary sponsors forest restoration/Telepharmacy Enters the Market/21 provinces face heavy rain/Seven to nine more storms possible/Urgent rehabilitation of flood-affected districts/High flood risk in Sukhothai, Phitsanulok/Israeli couple blame Thai lawyer/Pattaya firms raided/Nene Royal named Best New International Artist
- ECONOMY: Data Center Boom Tests the Grid/Thai electronics order books/Investments and fishing communities clash
- TOURISM: Thailand losing appeal to Chinese tourists/Thai Airways Sets Auckland Relaunch
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Master of Bangkok’s Crab Glass Noodles/Thailand, done differently
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Carbon Footprint Becomes a Critical Factor/Green Rules Called an Opportunity
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Hua Hin Rotary sponsors forest restoration project
In collaboration with the Forest Restoration Foundation, state agencies and local stakeholder groups, the Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin was the primary sponsor of the Participatory Forest Restoration Project at Kaeng Krachan National Park. At the heart of the project is a simple but powerful idea; “Restoring Forest, Building an Ecosystem” with community engagement and inclusion.
Over 350 volunteers participated in the planting of 4,000 tree seedlings of 12 indigenous species on 20 rai of vacant land in the wet season to ensure survivability. The selection of native species is intended to support natural ecosystem recovery, enhance biodiversity, and provide suitable habitats for wildlife. Reforesting the 20-rai plot of land is a pilot initiative to eventually increase to an area of 100 rai in the subsequent phases.
According to Suvat Singhaphun, president of the Forest Restoration Foundation, the success of the project cannot be measured simply by the number of trees planted. He explained, “A forest cannot be restored in a single day. Trees need continued care and forests need people who understand their value. Conservation requires long-term commitment and the foundation, therefore, places equal emphasis on building people who build forests. Building people who care for forests is what makes restoration last.”
President Napa Keawtem of the Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin highlighted the importance of environmental action and the organization’s commitment to creating meaningful, lasting impact. She praised the extensive planning, preparation, and dedication behind the project, particularly the cooperation between the Forest Restoration Foundation and Kaeng Krachan National Park.
Telepharmacy Enters the Thai Market
Telepharmacy in Thailand has moved from the development of the regulatory framework to its implementation phase. With the FDA’s telepharmacy framework now in place and telepharmacy platforms entering the market, the focus is increasingly turning to how businesses can participate in this emerging healthcare ecosystem.
As pharmacies, digital platforms, and delivery providers come together under a regulated model, telepharmacy is becoming an increasingly important component of Thailand’s digital health landscape. Continued …
21 provinces face heavy rain as depression strengthens
Heavy rain is forecast in 21 provinces today, with the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warning that accumulated rainfall could trigger flash floods, rapid run-off and overflowing rivers.
Thunderstorms will affect large parts of Thailand during the 24-hour period from 6 am today to 6 am tomorrow. Heavy rain is most likely in western areas of the north and central regions, as well as parts of the east. Continued …
Seven to nine more storms possible as northern floods ease
Flood conditions in Nan and Sukhothai have begun to improve, but another 7-9 storms could form before the end of the current storm season, climate and disaster specialist Seree Supratid has warned.
Seree, director of the Climate Change and Disaster Center at Rangsit University, said rainfall was expected to decline gradually through the end of August. Weather conditions would still require close monitoring on Aug. 25-26 and again around Aug. 29. Continued …
Urgent rehabilitation of flood-affected districts in Nan province ordered
Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) Yodchanan Wongsawat ordered the rehabilitation and restoration of public utilities today in flood-ravaged Pua and Wiang Sa districts of Nan province, as floodwater is steadily receding.
The deputy prime minister, who has been in Nan province since Wednesday to assess and monitor flooding, held a meeting this morning with Nan Gov. Chainarong Wongyai and Nopparat Thawong, the mayor of the Nan Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO), at the flood command center in the PAO office to discuss urgent measures to restore power and clean water supplies, clean the roads of the thick layer of mud, and fix damaged properties. Continued …
GISTDA warns of high flood risk in Sukhothai, Phitsanulok
More than 3,900 square kilometers across Sukhothai, Phitsanulok and neighboring provinces are at high risk of flooding, according to data released by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) yesterday.
In Sukhothai, high-risk areas cover large parts of the central and southern sections of the province. The risk extends across Sawankhalok, Si Samrong, Mueang Sukhothai and Kong Krailat districts, as well as parts of Si Satchanalai district in the north. Continued …
Israeli couple blame Thai lawyer after Koh Samui arrest
An Israeli property developer and his wife, arrested in a Koh Samui investigation into alleged nominee-shareholder arrangements, say a Thai lawyer and accountant were responsible for guiding their business setup.
Gal Bieber, 45, and his wife Roni Bieber were arrested by police from Bo Phut Police Station and Surat Thani Immigration. The Samui Provincial Court had reportedly issued 20 arrest warrants for Israeli nationals linked to the wider investigation. Continued …
Pattaya firms raided in foreign nominee probe
Thai authorities have searched three locations in Pattaya and Bang Lamung as part of an investigation into suspected Thai nominee arrangements used to hold land and run businesses for foreigners.
Search warrants were issued by the Criminal Court under the Foreign Business Act 1999. The investigation centers on suspected use of Thai nationals as proxy shareholders in companies said to be ultimately controlled by foreigners. Continued …
Nene Royal named Best New International Artist in Ireland
Thai teenage singer-guitarist Nene Royal, whose real name is Rattikarn Amloy, has been selected to receive the Best New International Artiste 2026 award at The Phil Lynott Convention in Ireland, marking another milestone in the 16-year-old Phuket musician’s growing international career.
The recognition follows her breakthrough appearances on America’s Got Talent Season 21, where her powerful vocals and guitar performances brought her international attention and secured her a place in the competition’s live shows. Continued …
Thailand’s Data Center Boom Tests the Grid, the Rules and the Workforce
Thailand’s pitch to the world’s technology companies has, for the past two years, been built on numbers that keep climbing. The Board of Investment approved 26 data center projects worth almost 500 billion baht in 2025, and by the first quarter of 2026, fresh applications had already reached 1.01 trillion baht — roughly 2.4 times what they were a year earlier.
The country’s planned pipeline now stands near 2.87 gigawatts, concentrated overwhelmingly in the Eastern Economic Corridor provinces of Chonburi, Rayong and Chachoengsao. What was, until recently, a story about how much capital was arriving has become a harder question: whether the electricity grid, the water supply and the workforce can actually absorb it. Continued …
AI demand extends Thai electronics order books beyond three years
Thailand’s electronics industry is entering a significant upcycle, as artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers accelerate global demand for components, with a clear impact on the country’s production base.
Export value rose steadily from B1.56 trillion in 2022 to B2.39 trillion in 2025, while exports in the first six months of 2026 had already reached B1.63 trillion, up 46%. Continued …
Investments and fishing communities clash in Rayong
Fisherfolk in Thailand’s Rayong province are currently facing multiple impacts from industrial expansion in the region – in particular, the construction of a MapTaPhut Phase 3 port and the development of large-scale investment projects including liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, including LNG terminal and regasification facilities.
The expansion of LNG projects in the eastern provinces, part of Thailand’s plan to position itself as a regional LNG hub, has disturbed and now threatens to destroy the coastal fisheries resources that communities have long relied on. Continued …
Thailand losing appeal to Chinese tourists as Vietnam rises
Thailand’s grip on China’s vast tourism market is slipping, as safety fears drive holidaymakers toward fast-rising Vietnam. The kingdom now expects only 5.1 million Chinese arrivals, less than half its 2019 total.
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s foreign tourism market is surging 13.8%, while Thailand’s contracts despite retaining a narrow lead. The battle is intensifying as China’s weakening economy leaves travelers choosier about safety, prices and value. Continued …
Thai Airways Sets March 2027 Target for Auckland Relaunch
Thai Airways is set to resume direct non-stop services between Bangkok and Auckland ahead of schedule, with launch plans brought forward by a year to March 2027.
Speaking during a visit to aircraft maker NZAero’s hangar at Auckland’s Ardmore Airport yesterday, Thailand Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas confirmed the accelerated timeline following bilateral talks between the Thai and New Zealand prime ministers. Continued …
Somsak Pu Ob: The Master of Bangkok’s Crab Glass Noodles
There are few Thai eateries as nerve-racking as Somsak Pu Ob. From 5 pm onward, there is always a line, filled with would-be diners every bit as nervous as we are, watching with barely concealed envy as those who reached the steel tables on the sidewalk tuck into their glass noodles – the only dish available at this establishment.
That is, if Nai Somsak hasn’t arbitrarily decided to take a holiday, abandoning a posse of hungry and bewildered people to roam the streets in search of dinner. Continued …
Thailand, done differently
Most travelers to Thailand take in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket in one order or another. Usually, however, each is ‘ticked off’ far too quickly, with only their staple, standard sights on the agenda. Far fewer holidaymakers think to float along Bangkok’s historic canals, weave with hill tribes on the fringes of Chiang Mai, or take time to admire Old Phuket Town’s vivid Sino-Portuguese architecture.
Whether you’re a first-timer keen on authenticity or a repeat visitor seeking extra immersion, here’s a riff on the classic itinerary with under-the-radar experiences. Continued …
Can Thailand Adapt as Carbon Footprint Becomes a Critical Factor in Food Trade?
Thailand’s agriculture and food industry features a complex, multi-tiered supply chain, ranging from upstream inputs like seeds to downstream processing and exports. This intricate system complicates carbon management, as all elements are interconnected.
The primary challenge lies with smallholder farmers, who often question financial incentives when pressured to modify practices, such as banning burning or reducing chemical fertilizer use. Their inquiries emphasize a need for economic viability, indicating that traditional enforcement methods, like laws and penalties, are insufficient. To foster genuine compliance, there must be real economic benefits for environmentally friendly practices. Continued …
Green Rules Called an Opportunity, Not a Burden
As pressure mounts on industries to treat climate action as systemic rather than a compliance exercise, Tetra Pak Thailand is pointing to a philosophy it says predates the current wave of ESG regulation by decades.
For Patinya Silsupadol, head of sustainability at Tetra Pak Thailand, the case for climate action was never abstract. It was written into the company’s founding purpose more than 70 years ago, when its founder identified an early form of inequality: uneven access to safe, quality food caused by weak production, storage and transport systems. Continued …
Central African Republic gold mine landslide
The death toll from Aug.18’s gold mine collapse in Zamboye, Central African Republic, has surpassed 100. Several survivors were also critically injured. An investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the collapse, identify the victims and those responsible for operating the site, and establish any potential criminal liability. Video …
World’s five busiest international airports revealed
Incheon International Airport became the world’s busiest airport for international passengers in the first half of 2026, moving ahead of London Heathrow and Singapore Changi, according to preliminary data compiled by Airports Council International (ACI). Continued …
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