- Nene Royal reaches AGT final/From Phuket markets to the AGT final
- THE IRAN WAR: US warns China, all other nations to cut Iran ties/Could force Thailand to choose sides/Markets shrug off Iran sanctions/US carrier plans Thailand port call
- ECONOMY: Social security cover to farm, street, domestic workers/Southern projects worth 57 billion baht/Thai car production up
- TOURISM: Thai tourism attacked on three fronts/Extra insurance for risky activities/Foreigners on tourism fee/984 billion baht from foreign tourists /Ezy Airlines halts northern flights
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Phuket teenager Nene Royal reaches AGT final
Phuket singer and guitarist Nene Royal has secured a place in the America’s Got Talent final after receiving Mel B’s Live Golden Buzzer during the quarter-finals.
The 16-year-old performed Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, prompting the crowd to rise to its feet as she delivered the rock classic. Cheers broke out during the performance. Continued and video of performance …
From Phuket markets to the AGT final: Meet Nene Royal
Thai teenage singer and guitarist Nene Royal has advanced directly to the final of America’s Got Talent Season 21 after judge Mel B awarded her the Live Golden Buzzer during the program’s second live quarter-final.
The 16-year-old from Phuket performed her own version of Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun during the live broadcast last night in the United States. Mel B praised Nene’s voice, guitar playing, overall image, energy and stage presence before pressing the buzzer, sending her straight to the final without requiring a public vote or a place in the semifinals. Continued …
US warns China, all other nations to cut Iran ties or face sanctions
The United States on Monday warned that China and all other countries now face an increased risk of secondary sanctions if they do business with Iran, as Washington launches a fresh campaign aimed at severing crucial economic lifelines for Tehran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the campaign, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, will focus on five sectors – digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping. Continued …
US economic pressure could force Thailand to choose sides
A widening US campaign to isolate Iran economically could expose Thailand to higher energy costs and unstable capital flows, while Washington’s scrutiny of Beijing may create a difficult foreign-policy choice for Bangkok, a CIMB Thai Bank economist has warned.
Amonthep Chawla, assistant managing director and head of research at CIMB Thai Bank, said Thailand had relatively little direct trade with Iran. The greater risk would emerge if the United States extended its measures to Iran’s partners, particularly China, one of Thailand’s most important trading partners. Continued …
Oil falls more than 3% as markets shrug off Iran sanctions
US oil prices extended their losses in early trading today, as renewed discussions between Iran and Oman raised hopes that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen.
Iran said it had restarted talks with neighboring Oman over managing the strategic waterway as Tehran faced increased economic pressure from US President Donald Trump. Continued …
USS Abraham Lincoln plans Thailand port call
The USS Abraham Lincoln is expected to make a port call in Thailand in early September after its crew spent around 250 days at sea, according to messages sent by sailors to family members.
The US aircraft carrier is now sailing home following an extended, record-setting deployment in the Middle East during the US war in Iran. The Navy has not publicly confirmed the planned Thai stop, citing operational security. Continued …
Cabinet to extend social security cover to farm, street, domestic workers
The Labor Ministry will propose an expansion of social security coverage under Section 33 to include agricultural workers, street vendors and domestic workers. Labor Minister Julapun Amornvivat said before going into yesterday’s cabinet meeting he would submit two proposals for approval.
The first concerns Thailand’s participation in the Global Coalition for Social Justice, an initiative launched by the director-general of the International Labor Organization (ILO). More than 400 academic institutions have joined the network. Continued …
Nearly 200 southern projects worth 57 billion baht head to mobile Cabinet
The government’s mobile Cabinet meeting in Songkhla is expected to consider 199 development proposals from five southern provinces with a combined preliminary value of more than 57 billion baht.
The proposals cover Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat and will be presented to the mobile Cabinet meeting in Songkhla on Sept. 1. However, Phiphat stressed that the proposals remained preliminary and would undergo further screening before being submitted to the Cabinet. Continued …
Thai car production up 6.1% in July
Car production in Thailand rose 6.1% in July from a year earlier to 117,383 units, the Federation of Thai Industries said yesterday. The reading follows a year-on-year fall of 7.5% in June. The FTI has previously forecast a 3.33% drop in car production for the whole of 2026.
July domestic car sales rose 20.1% versus a rise of 17.3% in June, the federation said. Exports in July rose 2.4% compared to a drop of 7.4% in the previous month, according to the FTI. Continued …
Thai tourism attacked on three fronts
Thailand has revoked an Israeli tourist’s visa after a Koh Samui zoo dispute triggered nationalist protests and reported death threats from Paris. Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul also ordered airlines to brief all Thailand-bound passengers on Thai laws and culture.
The unprecedented move comes as weekly foreign arrivals plunge 9.2% and the 2026 total falls 2.9%. Meanwhile, a Chinese tourist’s kidnapping threatens Thailand’s largest market, while southern unrest places vital Malaysian arrivals at risk. Continued …
Thailand weighs tourist fee and extra insurance for risky activities
Thailand is considering a three-tier insurance system for foreign tourists, under which visitors taking part in high-risk activities or renting vehicles could be required to purchase additional cover beyond a proposed 450-baht tourism fee.
Weerasak Kowsurat, a former tourism and sports minister and chairman of the advisory team to Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun, said the proposed fee, commonly referred to as the tourist entry levy, was undergoing a consultation process lasting at least 30 days. Continued …
Foreigners given a say on tourism fee
The government is conducting an online public hearing for both Thais and foreigners on the proposed 450-baht tourism fee for foreign tourists and the fund’s budget usage, insisting the procedures must be transparent and open to assessment.
“We need to listen to as many perspectives as possible in order to implement the foreign tourism fee efficiently,” said Weerasak Kowsurat, advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun and chairman of the working group on creative economy and visitor economy development. Continued …
Thailand earns 984 billion baht from foreign tourists
Thailand generated 984.32 billion baht in tourism revenue from 20.32 million foreign arrivals between Jan. 1 1 and Aug.22, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports said. However, the visitor total was 2.96% lower than during the corresponding period last year, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul.
China remained Thailand’s largest overseas market, supplying 3,440,752 visitors during the period. Malaysia followed with 2,559,676 arrivals, ahead of India with 1,494,003, Russia with 1,158,680 and South Korea with 749,202. Continued …
Ezy Airlines halts northern flights over high fees
Ezy Airlines has suspended a plan to fly in northern Thailand, reportedly due to high parking fees at Chiang Mai airport, prompting the governor of Mae Hong Son to seek a review of the fees to support tourism.
The small-aircraft operator had previously announced a plan to operate flights between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, and Chiang Mai and Pai. A trial period was scheduled in September, with full services to follow in October. Continued …
Thailand revokes Samui Israeli’s visa over bounty
An Israeli national accused of offering a bounty against the owner of an open zoo on Koh Samui has had their permission to stay in Thailand revoked, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul. Continued …
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Chinese fugitive held in Chiang Mai after 549-day overstay – Continued …
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Foreign customer flees Patong phone repair shop bill – Continued …
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German tenant sought after Krabi rental home wrecked – Continued …
Climate change becomes a scorching reality for Europe
For generations, summer in Europe has been languid and dreamy, bringing fine weather and lengthy days on sunny beaches and terraces. But in 2026, the brutal reality of climate change forced its way into daily life. “I felt a sense of the apocalypse this summer,” said Cyril Chedeville, a 59-year-old from Bordeaux in southwestern France. He was not alone. Continued …
India wanted better food label warnings, then Big Food fought back
A can of Fanta sold in London has 63 calories. Buy the same brand in India, and it contains three times as much sugar. It also includes artificial dye, whose presence in food products in Europe requires a prominent health warning. Reuters India Co. News Editor Aditya Kalra explains why Big Food in India has resisted efforts to mandate nutritional warnings on the front of packaged products. Video …
Canadians say Trump’s threat to rename Lake Ontario is ‘unnecessary’
Canadians yesterday said U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” is “unnecessary” and “just a matter of attention”. Video …
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