- Five Hua Hin hotels awarded Michelin Keys/Portland’s restaurant named Hua Hin/Is HIV making a comeback?/Thailand ineligible for Miss Universe 2026/Thai official insists Thailand will compete at Miss Universe/Bangkok 45-baht rail fare cap/Lopburi minimart worker wins 12 million baht/Two dead in Narathiwat attack
- ECONOMY: Balancing Data Centers and Household Bills/2,100 firms with potential nominee links/Phuket widens Chabad House probe/World Bank’s FY2027–2032 Thailand plan/Fitch upgrades Thailand outlook/Government moving to fully relocate Bangkok port/Thailand’s gold regime at risk/To beef up digital platform rules/AI companies confront their darkest fears
- TOURISM: AirAsia says travel demand remains strong/TAT praises Lisa after US talk show goes viral/Is there a problem with Indian tourists?
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: UK woman trades 15-hour workdays for Chiang Mai calm/The Suddenly Ubiquitous Jellyfish
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Farmers concerned about Kok River contamination
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Five Hua Hin hotels, 66 other Thai hotels awarded Michelin Keys
The Michelin Guide’s Thai Key selection has grown to 71 hotels and resorts for 2026, including six properties awarded the highest distinction of three Keys. Fourhotels in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chiva-som in Hua Hin were recognized with keys, including: Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa, V Villas Hua Hin, Aleenta Resort & Spa, Hua-Hin, and Devasom Hua Hin.
A list of all the Michelin Key winners
Thailand’s recipients span luxury city hotels, beachfront and island resorts, and smaller boutique properties reflecting local culture. The selection follows months of anonymous inspections assessing the quality of the stay experience. Continued …
Portland, Oregon, now has a restaurant named Hua Hin
Named after owner and chef Piyanut Sampaotong’s hometown in Thailand, the new Southeast Portland restaurant is quickly gaining fans for its vibrant dishes and refreshing cocktails. Video …
Is HIV making a comeback?
Thailand once brought nearly 200,000 new HIV infections a year down dramatically through decades of prevention and expanded access to treatment. But in 2026, young Thais disproportionately make up the newly infected.
Despite leaps in modern medicine that have transformed HIV prevention, Thailand is still struggling to reach its 2030 targets. Amid restrictions on community-led PrEP services and persistent stigma, activists are raising questions about whether the country’s approach needs to change. Continued …
Thailand, five other nations’ delegates ineligible for Miss Universe 2026
JKN Universe LLC said in a statement issued by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) that delegates from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore would be ineligible to compete in the 75th Miss Universe pageant in 2026.
The statement maintained that Miss Universe Eastern Pte. Ltd. had no authority to grant, transfer or issue licenses for the Miss Universe brand and that all legal authority rested with JKN Universe LLC. Continued …
Thai official insists Thailand and five nations will compete at Miss Universe
Nawat Itsaragrisil, chief executive of Miss Universe Eastern, has rejected a move to exclude Thailand and five other Southeast Asian countries from Miss Universe 2026, insisting that their delegates, including Thailand’s Tharina Botes, remain entitled to compete in Puerto Rico.
His comments came after a statement issued in the name of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) said franchise agreements involving Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore were not recognized by JKN Universe LLC and that their delegates would therefore be ineligible for the 75th Miss Universe pageant. Continued …
Bangkok 45-baht rail fare cap planned for January
Bangkok authorities are preparing a shared rail fare system that would limit the maximum charge to 45 baht per trip across the capital and surrounding areas from Jan. 1.The plan would remove duplicate entry fees for passengers changing between rail lines.
Under the proposed scheme, passengers would pay the actual cost of their journey. Where that fare exceeds 45 baht, the government would refund the difference, subject to the scheme’s conditions. Continued …
Lopburi minimart worker wins 12 million baht then clocks in as usual
A minimart worker in Lopburi won 12 million baht in the Thai government lottery, but decided to keep working at his regular job, saying he would use some of the winnings to build a new home.
Sompong Phusakul bought two lottery tickets from his regular seller at Tha Wung Market on the morning of Sept. 16. Both carried the first-prize number 730640, earning him a combined 12 million baht. Continued …
Two dead, 16 hurt in Narathiwat volunteer convoy attack
Two members of Sukhirin’s territorial defense volunteer force were killed and 16 were injured in a roadside bombing and gun attack in Narathiwat province yesterday.
The six-wheel truck carrying all 18 volunteers overturned after the blast on a village road in Ban Blukaya-ing, Moo 2, Rom Sai subdistrict, Sukhirin district. Gunmen then opened fire from dense roadside vegetation, officials said. Continued …
Balancing Data Centers and Household Bills in Thailand
At Gastech 2026, we go behind the scenes of Thailand’s energy crossfire as the nation navigates an unprecedented surge in electricity demand driven by AI data centers and green industrial transitions.
With data center power applications exceeding 30,000 megawatts, over half of Thailand’s total installed capacity, learn how regulators and EGAT are balancing massive industrial growth without inflating household electricity bills. Video …
Thailand identifies about 2,100 firms with potential nominee links
The government is continuing its crackdown on nominee arrangements, gray capital and identity-card fraud networks under instructions from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Agencies are integrating data and linking financial transactions, individuals, legal entities, shareholders and landholdings to extend investigations from those involved to their networks and assets. Continued …
Phuket widens Chabad House probe to firms with 262 million baht in assets
Phuket Gov. Chotnarin Kerdsom has ordered broader checks into businesses and shareholding structures associated with Chabad House Patong after preliminary inspections found unauthorized building alterations. Officials have identified two associated companies with combined assets of approximately 261.58 million baht.
Chotnarin said public attention and reports raising several issues about the premises on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, in Patong subdistrict, Kathu district, had prompted the province to investigate the facts comprehensively. Continued …
World Bank’s FY2027–2032 Thailand plan targets jobs in four sectors
The World Bank Group’s board of executive directors has discussed a new country partnership framework (CPF) for Thailand for fiscal years 2027–2032, aimed at accelerating economic growth and job creation, while improving competitiveness and strengthening the economy’s ability to withstand disruption.
Building on more than 75 years of cooperation with Thailand, the framework will combine knowledge and support for reform with selective public-sector financing and efforts to encourage private investment. The World Bank Group said the partnership would support Thailand’s transition to high-income status. Continued …
Fitch upgrades Thailand outlook to ‘stable’
Fitch Ratings has revised Thailand’s outlook to “stable” from “negative”, citing increased confidence that government debt will broadly stabilize over the medium term and that political conditions will improve following the general elections heldearlier this year.
The outlook revision reverses a downgrade warning issued last year, when concerns over rising debt and weak growth weighed on the country’s credit profile. Continued …
Government moving to fully relocate Bangkok port to Laem Chabang
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed the government’s goal to fully cease operations of Bangkok port in Klong Toei and shift them to Laem Chabang if this is feasible, so as to allow for commercial development of the area, thereby generating far more revenue for the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) than is currently possible.
However, if it becomes necessary to retain certain operations — such as the transport of fresh food or fruit requiring rapid handling — each case will be studied individually. PAT management has been instructed to review the original intent behind the construction of Laem Chabang port to determine whether it was built to consolidate all transport operations or only alleviate the burden on Bangkok port. Continued …
Thailand’s liberal gold regime at risk
There is no currently established gold transaction tax rate in Thailand. While the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Thailand have been studying the possibility of imposing taxes on gold imports and domestic trading to curb money laundering and gray capital, no such tax has been implemented..
The proposal to introduce a gold transaction tax is intended to increase visibility into transactions to prevent illicit funds, rather than to generate government revenue. Some discussions have suggested a potential rate of 7%, though officials have noted that even a low rate, such as 0.5%, could be significant for certain transactions. The Gold Traders Assn. has expressed opposition to such a tax, warning that it could undermine Thailand’s position as a regional gold trading hub. – Bangkok Post
Competition watchdog to beef up digital platform rules
The Trade Competition Commission of Thailand (TCCT) is targeting Shopee following allegations that the platform unfairly used its market power to dominate the e-commerce industry. Specifically, the regulator is investigating claims that Shopee allegedly coerced vendors into participating in promotions without their consent, such as the CashBack Coins and free shipping schemes.
The TCCT recently imposed an 84.3-million-baht fine on Shopee after finding the platform violated the law by automatically enrolling sellers in certain promotional programs. These programs reportedly forced vendors to accept additional service fees without their permission, which led to reduced profits and unexpected costs for those businesses.
In response to these and other complaints from e-commerce platforms regarding fee increases and changes to contract terms, the TCCT plans to strengthen digital platform regulations to address unfair competition and assess whether such fees are fair and appropriate. – Bangkok Post
AI companies confront their darkest fears
Prominent AI researchers and industry leaders have proposed several measures to slow the pace of artificial intelligence development to allow society and regulatory frameworks to catch up. These proposals include calling for a coordinated slowdown in the development of advanced models, implementing licensing regimes similar to those used in aviation or medicine, and establishing global coordination to prevent a competitive race between companies..
Specific calls for caution have come from figures such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who have suggested that developers might need to voluntarily pause rapid advances. Additionally, more than 1,000 tech employees have petitioned the US government to help deliberately pace the frontier of automated AI development.
To ensure safety, some experts advocate for the use of independent evaluators to scrutinize AI systems and the creation of joint standards bodies among major AI rivals like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic. – Bangkok Post
AirAsia’s Fernandes says travel demand remains strong
AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes said yesterday the low-cost carrier’s challenges from soaring jet fuel costs were “far, far” less severe than those it faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, as he sought to reassure investors aboutthe airline’s financial health.
Fernandes also said AirAsia had “strong liquidity” and was adept at managing cash, adding the current crisis was largely driven by geopolitical tensions and higher fuel prices, while travel demand remained strong. Continued …
TAT praises Lisa after Thai food showcase on US talk show goes viral
Thai superstar Lalisa Manobal, known professionally as LISA, drew worldwide attention after appearing on the US talk show The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote her new mini-album and the hit song “SaWaDiKa”.
During the program, she served host Jimmy Fallon som tam and a Thai drink, while teaching him to say “Bottoms up!” The segment became an overnight viral clip, with “Som Tum” and “LISAonFallon” trending on social media. Continued …
Why some Indian tourists are turning travel into a reputational problem
In recent years, Indian travelers have appeared in reports from aircraft cabins, airports, and streets abroad. The cases include drunken misconduct, fights, theft, assault, fraud, and alleged wildlife smuggling. Social media has added videos of tourists shouting, littering or treating landmarks as private stages.
Most Indian tourists do not behave this way. But when the same conduct keeps making news, it deserves a serious look. “Incredible India” cannot be a tourism slogan at home and a punchline abroad. Continued …
UK woman trades 15-hour workdays for Chiang Mai calm
Sophia Moulson, 23, says she has exchanged 15-hour working days in West Sussex for a slower routine in Chiang Mai after moving to Thailand in April 2025. The former salon barber, care assistant and online fitness coach said she once worked three jobs, sometimes seven days a week, but now focuses on her online business for only a few hours a day.
“My quality of life has changed dramatically,” she said. “Before moving, I was working three jobs and had very little free time.” Continued …
The Rise (and Rise and Rise) of the Suddenly Ubiquitous Jellyfish
On a hot, humid day in Samut Songkhram, near where the Mae Klong River meets the Gulf of Thailand, Wanlee Muensawat strolls through her factory, inspecting crates filled with flattened, dried jellyfish. More than a thousand tons of the ghostly plankton pass through her processing facility every year, scooped out of coastal waters by fishermen in the gulf and the Andaman Sea.
A little over 20 years ago, Muensawat had her doubts about starting Chockdee Sea Products. “I remember thinking, This is a very smelly business,” she says. She knew, however, there were markets for edible jellies, most prominently in China, where jellyfish are typically sliced into strips and served dressed or seasoned as a cold salad. And in the years since, as the Chinese middle class has swelled — and as culinary interest has picked up in South Korea and Japan —Muensawat has only watched demand climb. Continued …
Increasing concern among farmers about Kok River contamination
Farmers in the Kok river basin in Chiang Rai province are complaining that their livelihoods have been seriously affected by heavy metals discharged by unregulated mines in Shan state of Myanmar, and that their fruits and vegetables are hard to sell because consumers are worried about the health risk from contaminants.
Komchit Taerod, a villager of Ban Nong Klauy in Doi Luang district, said that they used to grow sweet corn for a company in Chiang Mai, but the company recently stopped asking them to grow sweet corns because the produce was found to be contaminated with heavy metals. Continued …
Bangkok police Taser German tourist on Khao San Road
Thai police used a Taser to restrain a German tourist during a confrontation on Bangkok’s Khao San Road after he allegedly directed racist abuse at a Canadian visitor and praised Adolf Hitler. Continued …
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Foreign Tourist Held Over Visa Overstay in Phuket – Continued …
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Doi Inthanon tourists reported over rare moss damage – Continued …
Russia seizes assets of Nestle, French firms
Russian authorities have seized the businesses and assets of the Swiss food giant Nestle and three French groups, a move the Kremlin defended yesterday as a justified measure against firms representing “unfriendly countries” that back Ukraine. Continued …
Trump claims ‘infinite’ Greenland security deal with Denmark
US President Donald Trump said yesterday e had struck a deal with Denmark to give Washington “permanent control” over Greenland’s security that would bar Russia and China from setting up bases in the Arctic territory. Continued …
Trump bans leading media reporters from White House
US President Donald Trump said yesterday he was banning news outlets CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing them without specifics of reporting “fiction and lies.” Trump added that “other Fake News Media Outlets” would face a similar fate, but did not say which ones. 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
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is implementing a comprehensive strategy to enhance healthcare accessibility and attract international patients. The initiative includes establishing a health marketplace that centralizes public and private healthcare services, alongside a data and access initiative linking national health databases to improve service delivery and inform policy decisions.
Covid-19 infections in Thailand are on an upward trend, with an average of 15,000 new cases reported each week over the past four weeks, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).
Thai star Lisa hits big time in US
LISA brings Thai food and drinking culture to Jimmy Fallon show
Shipping costs are being driven by a combination of geopolitical tensions, severe weather events, and capacity constraints in critical maritime corridors. Conflicts in the Middle East, specifically involving Iran, have caused shipping standstills in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing vessels to seek alternative and often more expensive routes.
Average household debt in Thailand has risen to nearly 800,000 baht, reaching its highest level in 17 years, according to a 2026 survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
No official date has been confirmed for tariff and trade talks between Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and US President Donald Trump ahead of Anutin’s Sept. 21–27 visit to the United States.
Thailand is aiming to be more than a destination for global events, it wants to become a trusted MICE gateway connecting the world with Asia.
Ally Logistic Property (ALP) selected the Eastern Economic Corridor for its Omega 1 Bangna smart warehouse to access its logistics route project, which offers a business model known as infrastructure-as-a-service. This model allows tenants to utilize integrated automated warehouses without the high upfront costs or the need to own their own storage facilities.
Thai Airways will operate the new Bangkok-Da Nang service with 41 flights per week. The service is scheduled to begin on Dec. 1.
Thailand Ecotourism Is Now Third in ASEAN
Tiger Conservation in Thailand Shows Results
Government plans to liberalize forest use have sparked fears that Thailand’s pristine natural landscapes will be opened to industrial activities, including waste disposal. The Cabinet this month approved in principle a draft regulation allowing the commercial and industrial use of larger forest zones – including national reserves. If enacted, the scope of permitted activities will be expanded from the current 10 categories to 16.
Thailand has built much of the machinery of sustainable finance — a taxonomy, disclosure rules, transition loans and a coming climate fund. What it has not yet solved is who can afford to use it.
Highway police arrested a 23-year-old man and seized approximately 464 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine after the van he was driving crashed into a resident’s fence during a pursuit in Prachuap Khiri Khan last week.
The Energy Policy Administration Committee (EPAC) has announced a discount on the ex-refinery price of high-speed diesel by 4 baht per liter, effective from today until Oct.31.
‘Hands off Koh Kut’: Thailand stands firm at UN maritime talks
European buyers pushed some physical oil cargo prices above US$130 a barrel yesterday, while Brent and US crude futures reached their highest settlements since May 19 as disruptions to Saudi exports intensified.
Energy Minister Akanat Promphan said yesterday that Gastech 2026 in Bangkok had generated more than US$17 billion in energy business agreements. Thailand also handed over hosting duties for the 2027 event to Houston in the United States.
Thailand has signed an international tax information exchange agreement as part of the Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) rules to support the collection of top-up taxes.
Stallholders working a market along Rama XI, one of Bangkok’s arterial roads, started noticing a nauseating oil odor drifting from a boxy structure covered in gunmetal grey panels that had gone up across from their stalls with almost no warning.
Cargill is expanding its food production in Thailand by investing 2 billion baht (US$60 million) to enhance its feed business and processing facilities. This strategic move aims to increase production efficiency and reliability in the production process, while also providing better control over raw materials.
A media review of Pattaya has highlighted the resort city’s enduring association with sex tourism, despite efforts by local authorities to promote beaches, sport, conventions and family holidays.
TAT’s Amazing Thailand Ambassador Campaign Generates Over 448 Million Impressions
Thailand is shifting the way it measures tourism success, moving beyond visitor numbers toward a model focused on value, distribution and sustainability.
Thailand has shortened the standard visa-free stay for tourists from 60 days to 30, and this change may have a bigger effect on tourism spending than on the number of foreign visitors entering the country.
Thailand’s revised Destination Thailand Visa rules, effective from Aug. 31, have created uncertainty for applicants applying outside their home country as Thai embassies and consulates publish differing residence requirements.
Thai industrial estate developer Amata Corp. and energy producer B.Grimm Power will invest 1.2 billion baht (USD36.1 million/EUR33.9 million) in a 42.5-MWp floating solar project at an industrial site in eastern Thailand’s Chon Buri province.
Bangkok is transitioning to electric vehicles to significantly reduce energy costs and mitigate air pollution. The plan to replace diesel rubbish trucks with electric vehicles is estimated to cut energy costs by approximately 4.75 billion baht, or 54%, over a five-year period.
Energy leaders urge balanced path for Asia’s energy transition
A former Google DeepMind researcher warned on Monday that artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially “kill all humans”, saying the world may be running out of time to prevent such an outcome. 
The United States has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space, a remarkable revelation after previous warnings about countries such as Russia possibly weaponizing a global frontier long agreed in treaties to be used for only peaceful purposes. 
Thailand has long appealed to retirees seeking sunshine, affordability, reliable healthcare, and a slower pace of life.
Thailand has ranked third in the world for digital nomads and fourth for retirees in the Rumavi Global Relocation Index 2026, which assessed 192 countries and territories.
A new concrete road and drainage system for Hua Hin Soi 10 have been completed under a municipal project, with a construction budget of 5.42 million baht. Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul and municipal officials inspected the work last week as part of the formal acceptance process.
Camera traps have recorded tigers in Prachuap Khiri Khan alongside Fea’s muntjac and other rare wildlife during a five-month survey, conservation officials announced yesterday.
A new NIDA Poll has found that many Thai respondents who had heard reports of, or experienced, alleged inappropriate or illegal behavior by Israelis in Thailand said their main concern was a lack of respect for the law.
Thailand still has 2,574 subdistricts without adequate standard emergency medical units, while a Senate working group is pushing for expanded local coverage and plans to increase the number of paramedics to 7,500 within five years.
Thailand’s Energy Ministry hopes to launch its 26th petroleum bidding round in the Andaman Sea by late 2026, with five major energy companies identified as potential participants, but Cabinet approval of key fiscal terms remains pending, according to media reports.
This week, the global energy industry gathers in Bangkok for Gastech, the world’s premier gas conference. Thailand is a fitting host, both for its own industrial ambitions and because it sits at the heart of the region that is reshaping global energy demand.
Phuket’s property market has reached a total value of more than 705 billion baht, the highest among Thailand’s regional provinces, with resort condominiums and villas accounting for more than half of residential supply and foreign buyers remaining a major source of demand.
Chiang Mai farmers move to preserve local herb as ‘Makwean’ earns GI registration
What began as a defensive response to a global energy supply shock is rapidly turning into Thailand’s most ambitious economic transformation in decades.
Indonesian rescuers continued searching today for 129 people missing after the Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea. Six people have died and 108 have been rescued. The vessel carried 243 people and was sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when it encountered bad weather early yesterday. 
Rescuers retrieved more remains from a passenger ferry in the Philippine that was gutted by fire, bringing the death toll on Saturday to 76, with 13 missing. Forty-three people survived the fire on Wednesday night among the 132 on board. 
Prime Minister Mark Carney calls Canada “the most European of non-European countries,” and while formal EU membership may be tricky, he is pursuing unprecedented closeness with the bloc to reduce dependence on a hostile United States. 
August was the hottest single month ever recorded globally, with ocean temperatures also reaching unprecedented highs as western Europe capped its warmest summer, the EU’s climate monitor said today.
Apple joins foldable phone race with $1,999 passport-shaped iPhone Duo
Thailand and the United States are days from a sweeping trade deal reaching far beyond tariffs. Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun says every substantive issue is settled, with only legal drafting left. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is then expected to speak directly with US President Donald Trump to close the pact.
Don Mueang is attracting more high-end housing development as transport links, international schools and demand from affluent families broaden its appeal beyond the airport, according to Cushman & Wakefield Thailand.
Thailand’s DSI is moving toward its first summons in a widening Israeli-linked business probe centered on Pattaya. Israeli businessman Maimon David Marsiano and several Thai shareholders are expected to face questioning over suspected nominee structures, company control and investment funding.
Nestlé invests $194 million in Purina pet-food production in Thailand
Top Family-Friendly Tourist Destinations in Thailand
Registration will open in mid-October for a solar rooftop scheme offering subsidies of up to 50,000 baht per installation, initially targeting one million households.
Thailand has approved a regulatory policy framework for small modular reactors (SMRs), beginning work on the laws, specialist skills and safety arrangements needed if it eventually adopts nuclear power.
Nawee Changpirom has spent years working to rescue trafficked wildlife in Thailand, but even he can sometimes hardly believe the creatures he has found: leopards, hornbills, and once an anteater. “We even found living corals hidden in a ceiling,” he said.
US President Donald Trump promised every adult U.S. citizen would receive a $5,000 check if Republicans retain their majorities in Congress during the party’s first-ever midterm convention yesterday. The president capped off the event by attacking Democrats while rallying supporters in Texas in a bid to boost GOP enthusiasm across the country. 
The US-Canada trade war has escalated rapidly, rupturing what was once one of the world’s closest economic partnerships. But the conflict is a mismatch, with the $31 trillion US economy roughly 13 times larger than Canada’s, raising questions about the limits of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s defiance. 
Ysterday, the Hua Hin Municipality Ordinance Review Working Group met to consider the appropriateness of improving, drafting, and amending local laws enforced in the area to make them more effective and aligned with the city’s development.
The Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Statistical Office has requested the public’s cooperation in providing information for the September 2026 survey project. The survey will collect important statistical data useful for national economic and social development planning. The survey projects are as follows: The 2026 Labor Force Survey Project; project on surveying the use of information and communication technology in households; informal labor survey project; the household socio-economic survey project; projects to improve the country’s common framework of establishment database; and the construction site data-processing project.
Where is Nene’s financial support coming from?
Oil climbed to its highest levels in six weeks yesterday, after Iran threatened to attack energy infrastructure across the Middle East if Washington launched further strikes on Iranian assets.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude has rallied this month but stayed below $100 a barrel despite recent escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict that has disrupted Gulf exports from the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
Thailand’s headline inflation rose to 2.53% year on year in August 2026, its highest level for three months, as fuel costs and food prices increased across much of the country. The Consumer Price Index stood at 102.67 in August, up from annual inflation of 1.95% in July, according to Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) at the Commerce Ministry.
EEC’s Hospitality and Retail Bet on Lifestyle
U-Tapao and High-Speed Rail: EEC’s Make-or-Break Infrastructure Bet
Thailand plans to provide government-funded disaster insurance to around 30 million households in high-risk areas against floods, storms and earthquakes under a scheme approved on Sept. 1.
The five-day visit by US sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln group has helped promote a “new image” of Pattaya as a diverse tourist destination, rather than mainly about “nightlife and beer bars”, according to Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet.
Cambodia Airways will begin flying between Siem Reap and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sept. 15, adding a direct link between Cambodia’s main Angkor tourism gateway and Thailand.
US President Donald Trump yesterday suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz as “Trump Strait,” asserting US control of the vital waterway even as fighting raged there with Iran.
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has raised its 2026 economic growth forecast for Thailand to 2.1%-2.5%, from 1.6%-2.0%, but warned that stronger exports and private investment are producing increasingly uneven benefits across the economy.
Thailand recorded a trade deficit of US$35.3545 billion in the first seven months of 2026, according to the Commerce Ministry. However, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said more than 70% of imports were materials and capital goods used in production.
Narongsak Putthapornmongkol, president of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, released the findings of the chamber’s confidence index survey for the fourth quarter of 2026. Conducted from Aug. 18-20, the survey covered 503 respondents and found that 46.2% expected Thailand’s economy to grow by 1.5%-2% this year, while 37.8% forecast growth of 2%-2.5%. The results pointed to an outlook below the government’s midpoint forecast of 2.2%.
Thailand’s retail sector is calling for stronger economic stimulus, including the revival of the Easy e-Receipt scheme, with an eligible spending ceiling of 100,000 baht, as household debt and accumulated living costs continue to squeeze consumers’ purchasing power.
Bangkok has suspended three planned standalone data center projects and ordered them to undergo a fresh review, as authorities prepare tighter regulations covering fuel storage, land use, safety, and pressure on electricity and water supplies.
The government is moving to address a regulatory gap in the data center sector, with the Data Center Business Policy Committee preparing an urgent meeting to develop a coordinated oversight framework.
U.S. Shrimp Coalition seeks zero tariffs for Thai shrimp
Indian tourist arrivals to Thailand fell 11.6% year-on-year between Aug. 1-22, making India the only one of the country’s four main overseas markets to record a decline during the period.
Thai Airways International (THAI) will operate 66 domestic and international routes during its winter 2026/27 timetable, covering destinations across Europe, Australia and Asia. The schedule will run from Oct. 25 to March 27, 2027), coinciding with Thailand’s peak tourism season.
AirAsia has signed its first-ever codeshare agreement, teaming up with Turkey’s largest low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, to open seamless connections between Southeast Asia and Europe through Istanbul, the two airlines announced at AirAsia’s headquarters in Sepang, Malaysia, yesterday.
Thailand currently ranks as the world’s 20th-largest coffee producer, down from the top 15 a decade ago. The country grows mainly robusta, although arabica production is growing, highlighting a sharper focus on quality.
EGAT explores SMRs to bolster Thailand’s energy security
The world has failed in its goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, the United Nations (UN) said yesterday, in a sober assessment that laid out a new goal for fighting climate change that would set the world on an uncertain path.
US energy firms yesterday signed a raft of multibillion-dollar deals with Venezuela, days after the South American country agreed to grant the United States control of a huge chunk of its vast oil reserves. Energy Secretary Chris Wright traveled to Caracas to oversee the signing of deals worth “tens of billions of dollars of investment,” seen as a quid pro quo for Washington winning majority control of 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil reserves. 
The Dutch central bank said yesterday it had moved 86 tons of its gold reserves out of the United States and Canada to London, citing “increasing geopolitical unrest”. De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) said gold reserves held in London could be traded more easily than those held in New York and Ottawa. 
A Western man walks down Beach Road holding hands with a Thai girl and naturally assumes the local men are glaring at him with quiet jealousy. He thinks he is a predator who just entered the local ecosystem and stole the best women from the dating pool, leaving the native men with fewer options.
Police detained 25 woman during a late-night prostitution crackdown in Pattaya on Saturday, as authorities prepare for the arrival of about 5,000 US military personnel in Chon Buri next week.
InterContinental Residences Hua Hin Achieves Complete Sell-Out
Thai teenage rocker Nene Royal has advanced to the live semifinals of America’s Got Talent Season 21 after Mel B awarded her a Live Golden Buzzer for her performance of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun”.
Thailand’s Excise Department is pressing ahead with plans to overhaul cigarette taxation by introducing a single tax rate in a move aimed at improving revenue collection and reducing price distortions created by the existing two-tier system.
Thailand wants 2027 to transform its tourism industry, but what will actually change for visitors? Perhaps high-value tourism shouldn’t simply mean higher prices.
Royal water project lifts farming and livelihoods in Chiang Mai
Thailand’s Energy Ministry plans to increase the quota for electricity purchased from household rooftop solar systems fivefold, from 100 megawatts to 500MW, as part of efforts to encourage more people to generate and sell clean power.
Thailand will accelerate its energy transition following parliamentary approval of a 400-billion-baht borrowing decree, with plans for household solar rooftops and a restructuring of vehicle taxes expected to become clearer in September, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said.
Authorities in Nepal warned of possible fresh flooding yesterday and urged residents in flood-affected districts to remain on high alert after water levels rose in the Bhotekoshi River. Wednesday’s catastrophic floods killed at least 800 people and left more than 3,000 missing in Nepal and Tibet. 
The government of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is moving ahead with a broad overhaul of Thailand’s bureaucracy, including organizational structures, staffing and regulations that have become obstacles for individuals and businesses dealing with state agencies.
Foreign condominium demand in Thailand weakened during the first half of 2026, but a sharp rise in purchases by Russian nationals suggests that the market is shifting rather than experiencing a uniform decline.
Phuket recorded a 52.5% year-on-year increase in Israeli visitors in July, with arrivals from Israel also up 1,205% on pre-Covid July 2019 levels, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Phuket office.
Thailand is seeking a larger share of the global wellness economy, which is forecast to grow from US$6.8 trillion in 2024 to US$9.75 trillion by 2029, as consumers increasingly prioritize preventive physical and mental healthcare. The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) expects the 11-sector market to expand by nearly US$3 trillion over five years, with average annual growth of 7.6%.
From canals to city streets: The story of Thai boat noodles
Bangkok has been named the world’s best city for nightlife in 2026 by Time Out, climbing from 13th place last year to beat Berlin, New York City, Melbourne and Sao Paulo.
US President Donald Trump said yesterday his administration has reached a huge oil deal with Venezuela that gives the United States majority control of 65 billion barrels of proven petroleum reserves. 
Haakon, who comes to the throne as two major scandals batter his family, struggled for years to accept his status. “Yes, I was a royal, but I did not want to talk about it … At school it made me anxious,” he wrote in his 2023 autobiography “Haakon”, recalling his days in a state primary in the 1980s. 
Thailand has published new regulations setting out how foreign nationals can be deported for immigration, employment and other offenses, as well as conduct considered contrary to public order, morality or public wellbeing. The regulation was published in the Royal Gazette on yesterday and takes effect today.
Nene Royal, the young Thai performer who has captured hearts on America’s Got Talent (AGT), is heading back to Thailand with her family after receiving a warm send-off from fans in Los Angeles.
A rare 10-baht Thai coin minted in 1990 has sold for 2.54 million baht at an online auction, despite its face value being just 10 baht. The coin was made for the 16th Mint Directors Conference, held in the United Kingdom in 1990. Only 100 examples were produced, making it one of Thailand’s rarest circulating coin issues.
Thailand’s exports rose 21.6% in July from a year earlier, beating market expectations, while imports climbed even faster and pushed the country’s trade deficit to a record $34.35 billion over the first seven months of 2026.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is preparing to embrace rail tourism as a new vehicle to revive Thailand’s fading appeal. Its plans span low-cost heritage excursions, packaged journeys, premium charters and possible luxury routes developed with Belmond.
Bangkok’s Loha Prasat: The world’s third ‘Iron Castle’
Betong, a small town in Thailand with some good surprises
Thailand is staring at the dire consequences of the El Niño phenomenon and below-average rainfall on the economy, as well as the wider impact on society, many experts have warned.
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America” for US federal purposes, escalating an increasingly hostile trade dispute with Canada. The order applies to references used by the US federal government and does not determine what Canada, international bodies, state authorities, private companies or map providers call the lake.