- Soi 102 burglaries/Charm of Su Suek event/Food Fest to feature nightly fireworks/Flash floods threaten upper Thailand/Nan floods kill 2/Nan Province flood videos/Thailand mobilizes flood aid/Thailand gun dealers squeezed/Thailand and Australia to boost strategic partnership
- THE IRAN WAR: Trump is threatening to bomb Oman, but why?
- ECONOMY: Exports and investment to support growth/Thai industrial sentiment rises/Profit and loss figures for 8 hotel and airline giants/Thailand rethinks data center incentives/Growing interest in Bangkok and Phuket condos/$2 Trillion Digital Economy Agreement
- TOURISM: Thailand entry funds/Tourist arrivals dip/Suvarnabhumi immigration and baggage delays
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Lives along Bangkok’s floating market/Three religions living together/Thai Well-Being 2 Ways/Inside Wat Phra Kaew Wang Na
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Solar incentives can accelerate rooftop solar growth/Disasters know no borders
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/Thailand issues arrest warrants for 20 Israelis/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Soi 102 hit by string of burglaries
A CCTV image showing a suspected burglar inside a Hua Hin home while the residents slept has emerged amid reports of a spate of Hua Hin burglaries around the Soi 102 area.
There reportedly have been at least 10 reported break-ins in the area over the past month. The latest incident happened at around 4.20 am on Saturday. Continued …
Charm of Su Suek event to be held in Prachuap Sept 3-7
Prachuap Khiri Khan will stage a five-day event on Su Suek Cultural Street Sept. 3-7, combining heritage activities, markets and performances as part of plans to develop the area into a nationally recognized cultural tourism destination.
The “Back in Time: The Charm of Su Suek” event will run from 5 pm to 10 pm each day in the Hua Ban community and is being organized by the Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) and Prachuap Khiri Khan Municipality. Admission is free. Continued …
Hua Hin Food Fest to feature nightly fireworks
The Hua Hin Food Fest on Aug 28-30 will feature a fireworks display at 9 pm on each of the festival’s three nights. Hua Hin City Municipality has confirmed the fireworks will take place on Aug. 28, 29 and 30 at Hua Don Beach in Khao Takiab, next to the ferry pier.
The fireworks will be one of the main evening attractions at Hua Hin Food Fest, which is one of the city’s biggest and most popular annual events. Continued …
Heavy rain and flash floods threaten upper Thailand
Heavy to very heavy rain is forecast across parts of northern, northeastern, central and eastern Thailand today, raising the risk of flash floods, forest run-off and overflowing waterways.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued the warning in its 24-hour forecast covering the period from 6 am today to 6 am tomorrow. The conditions are being driven by a monsoon trough extending across the upper north and upper northeast into a strong low-pressure cell over Hainan Island, China. Continued …
Nan floods kill 2 and affect more than 16,000 people
Flooding and flash run-off in Nan province had killed two people and affected more than 16,000 residents across 8,000 households as of 4 pm yesterday. Pua district was among the worst-hit areas, with flooding reported across seven subdistricts and 60 villages.
The first fatality was a bedridden resident who could not evacuate without assistance and lived with their mother in Moo 8 of Sila Phet subdistrict, Pua district. The victim was swept from the house by fast-moving floodwater and later found dead. Continued …
Videos of flooding in Nan Province
Thailand mobilizes flood aid for Nan, Phayao, Lamphun
Thailand’s Interior Ministry has ordered round-the-clock emergency assistance for residents of Nan, Phayao and Lamphun after the prime minister instructed agencies to accelerate flood aid yesterday.
The immediate operational focus is Nan, where flash floods have led authorities to step up rescue work. Officials have been told to continue moving people considered at risk from affected areas and to act swiftly on requests for help. Continued …
Thailand gun dealers squeezed further by proposed new curbs
Bangkok gun dealers say Thailand’s long-running firearms import ban is forcing some businesses to seek other income, while proposed new restrictions could further reduce legal sales.
At Suchart and Friends Gun in Wang Burapha, Bangkok’s historic gun district, sourdough loaves have replaced pistols and rifles in the display window. Owner Warintorn Boonyachai began baking bread five months ago to help cover staff salaries. Continued …
Thailand and Australia agree to boost strategic partnership in four areas
Thai and Australian Prime Ministers Anutin Charnvirakul and Anthony Albanese yesterday signed two joint statements on upgrading strategic partnership in four areas, across trade, law enforcement, defense and innovation, after their full-scale bilateral meeting at Parliament House in Canberra.
Albanese officially welcomed Anutin, noting that this is the first official visit by a Thai prime minister in 14 years, reflecting the importance Australia places on Thailand as a close ally, in preparation for the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year. Continued …
Trump is threatening to bomb Oman, but why?
The world knows that U.S. President Donald Trump is angry with Iran. But he’s not happy with the small country lying across the Strait of Hormuz from the Islamic Republic, either: Oman.
Oman has played a relatively low-profile role since the Iran war began, including as a mediator. But its geography has thrust the sultanate into the uncomfortable position of negotiating with Tehran over management of the strait while facing Trump’s threats. Continued …
Exports and investment expected to support Thai growth
Thailand’s exports and private investment are expected to remain important drivers of economic growth after gross domestic product expanded by only 1.9% in the second quarter of 2026, Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said yesterday.
Suphajee acknowledged that the latest GDP figure was unsatisfactory but said exports continued to make a significant contribution to the economy. She expects Thai exports to record double-digit growth for the full year and reach a total value of 12 trillion baht, provided there are no additional developments beyond the government’s control. Continued …
Thai industrial sentiment rises for a second straight month
Thailand’s industrial sentiment index rose for a second straight month in July due to strong electric vehicle (EV) sales and government support measures, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reported yesterday. The federation’s industrial sentiment index rose to 90.0 in July from 88.2 in June.
The government in June rolled out a 176-billion-baht (US$5.3 billion) consumer subsidy scheme to ease the cost of living, under a wider 400-billion-baht borrowing plan to address the impact of higher oil prices. Continued …
Profit and loss figures for 8 hotel and airline giants in Q2 and H1 2026
Hotel, hospitality and airline businesses listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand have reported their results for the second quarter and first six months of 2026. The companies faced global geopolitical challenges and intense competition for tourists.
Although some suffered losses because of the energy crisis, several maintained their growth momentum from the first quarter. Continued …
Thailand rethinks data center incentives over power and water
Thailand is preparing to overhaul the rules and investment incentives governing data centers, with the government seeking to ensure that future projects deliver measurable benefits to the Thai economy while managing their heavy demands on electricity and water.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the policy review was intended to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology and ensure that investment in the sector creates genuine economic value for Thailand. Continued …
Foreign investors show growing interest in Bangkok and Phuket condos
Data from CBRE Research showed that the downtown Bangkok condominium market recorded more new project launches in the first half of 2026 than in the same period a year earlier. Luxury and super-luxury developments were the main drivers, with both segments again attracting developers’ attention.
This trend contrasted with property market conditions in recent years, when economic pressure and weakening purchasing power weighed on the sector. The upper end of the market nevertheless demonstrated resilience, particularly projects in high-potential locations. Continued …
ASEAN Moves Closer to Landmark $2 Trillion Digital Economy Agreement
Southeast Asian nations are close to finalizing the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), a landmark regional pact designed to govern their digital economy, projected to reach $2 trillion by 2030.
This agreement, supported by the World Economic Forum, aims to harmonize digital trade rules, facilitate cross-border data flows, and establish coherent regulations for e-commerce and digital payments across the region. Continued …
Thailand entry funds: what travelers may need to show
Foreigners arriving in Thailand may be asked by immigration to show they have enough money to support themselves during their stay. Depending on the entry route, the stated requirement is between 10,000 and 20,000 baht per person.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reiterated the rules in July, stressing that proof-of-funds checks are not new. They have formed part of immigration regulations since 1980, while the current thresholds were set in a Ministry of Interior announcement in 2000. Continued …
Tourist arrivals dip by 2.9%
Thailand recorded 19.76 million foreign tourist arrivals between Jan. 1 and Aug. 15, down 2.9% year on year, and generating 957.6 billion baht in spending. Chinese visitors remained the largest group, with 3.33 million arrivals, followed by Malaysia with 2.49 million and India with 1.45 million.
For Aug 9-15, Thailand welcomed 612,643 foreign tourists, down 24,126, or 3.8%, from the previous week, averaging 87,520 arrivals a day. Short-haul visitors fell 1.8% to 413,815, while long-haul arrivals dropped 7.8% to 198,828. Continued …
Suvarnabhumi targets immigration and baggage delays
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun has ordered urgent measures to reduce delays for arriving passengers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, focusing on immigration, baggage collection and public transport.
The plans, announced after a government visit to the airport on Tuesday, also cover tighter security and the use of real-time flight information to deploy staff and manage passenger areas more efficiently. Continued …
Growing old, staying rooted: Lives along Bangkok’s floating market
At Wat Nimmanoradee’s 100-year-old market, in Bangkok’s Phasi Charoen district, memories of life along the canals remain vivid among longtime residents, even as the landscape around them has continued to change.
For 73-year-old Orawan Wanasabodeekul, who has lived opposite Wat Nimmanoradee all her life, the canal was once a place to watch sunsets, stars and boats passing by. “I used to sit on the bridge with my legs dangling and watch the sunset,” she said. “Now the view is blocked by condominiums. The natural beauty and atmosphere we used to have are gone.” Continued …
Three religions living together in Thailand
This community in Bangkok features people of three different faiths – Islam, Buddhism and Christianity – living together peacefully and participating in each other’s events. Video …
Thai Well-Being 2 Ways: What Restorative Travel Looks Like in Bangkok Vs Koh Samui
“Oh, we’re on the wrong side of the road,” I blurted out as I hopped into our van after landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. “It’s not the wrong side,” said Lisa, the journalist I was traveling with. “It’s a different side.”
I’d traveled from Los Angeles to Thailand to experience wellness in two places: Koh Samui and Bangkok. Thailand’s second-largest island, Koh Samui, is home to both luxury spa resorts and holistic retreats where therapists are trained in traditions that trace back to the island’s Buddhist temples. Bangkok, on the other hand, is a tangle of skyscrapers that feels like a dozen downtown LAs stacked together, where motorbikes, tuk-tuks, and trains cut through muggy air. Continued …
Inside Wat Phra Kaew Wang Na, a rare window into Bangkok’s royal past
Hidden within the grounds of the former Front Palace, Wat Bowon Sathan Sutthawat, widely known as Wat Phra Kaew Wang Na, is welcoming visitors into its ordination hall through Sept. 20. The special opening offers a rare opportunity to step beyond its exterior and explore a site where royal court history, Buddhist devotion and early Rattanakosin art converge.
Unlike most temples, Wat Bowon Sathan Sutthawat has no resident monks. Its location within the former Bowon Sathan Mongkhon Palace, or Front Palace, gives it an unusual status comparable in some respects to Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, within the Grand Palace. Continued …
Reforming solar incentives can accelerate rooftop solar growth in Thailand
A new report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) finds that Thailand can accelerate rooftop solar deployment by reforming its current solar policies. This would reduce dependence on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), improve energy security, and limit future pressure on rising electricity costs.
Thailand’s power sector remains heavily reliant on natural gas, which accounts for 66% of electricity generation. As domestic gas production declines, the country has become increasingly dependent on LNG imports, increasing exposure to global fuel price volatility and supply disruptions. Continued …
Disasters know no borders; climate change escalation requires shared ASEAN response
Climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of natural disasters, and building resilience is no longer optional, said Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong. He added that such disasters also know no borders, making solidarity and collective action in ASEAN critical.
Tong was speaking at the ASEAN Strategic Policy Dialogue on Disaster Management 2026 held at Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay yesterday. The event saw some 200 government officials, academics and practitioners present, including representatives from ASEAN countries, the European Union, Canada and New Zealand. Continued …
Thailand issues arrest warrants for 20 Israelis in Koh Samui business crackdown
Thai police launched a sweeping operation against foreign business networks suspected of using Thai citizens as nominee shareholders to conceal foreign ownership of companies, land and restricted businesses, with arrest warrants issued for 20 Israelis on Koh Samui. Continued …
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Rayong police arrest 18 Chinese workers at data center – Continued …
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Four Chinese men held in Nong Khai scam probe – Continued …
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Phuket CCTV shows foreign woman urinating at Karon shop – Continued …
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Foreigner denies theft at Koh Pha Ngan shop, CCTV says otherwise – Continued …
US national debt exceeds $40 trillion
The US gross national debt has surged past $40 trillion for the first time, government data showed yesterday, outstripping earlier forecasts at a pace fueled in part by President Donald Trump’s invalidated tariffs. Continued …
Portugal bans full-face veils
Portugal’s president has enacted a law pushed by the far right banning the concealment of faces in public, a measure widely seen as targeting Muslim women wearing a full-face veil. 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
Thailand offers foreign retirees a clearer legal route to long-term residence than Vietnam, but Vietnam can cost considerably less for those able to manage more complicated visa arrangements. For people deciding where to spend retirement in Southeast Asia, the choice often comes down to predictable paperwork and healthcare versus lower rent and daily spending.
This is the crowd to hear Nene Royal’s last performance at the Phuket Naka Market before she heads to US for the America’s Got Talent live competition. 
Thailand has warned dentists that pre-signing cannabis prescription forms without personally examining, diagnosing or treating a patient could lead to legal action and professional disciplinary consequences.
A Thai army explosives disposal specialist lost a leg after stepping on a landmine while clearing explosives near Chong An Ma in Ubon Ratchathani yesterday. The accident happened in an area near the border under the responsibility of the 2nd Army Region.
Oil prices gained more than US$2 yesterday as faltering US-Iran diplomacy and a sharp slowdown in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz renewed concerns about global energy supplies.
Thailand’s economy is flashing disturbing warning signs beneath headline GDP growth of 1.9% in the second quarter. Output actually fell 0.2% from the previous quarter, while industrial capacity sank to a 24-quarter low.
Thailand’s economy grew by 1.9% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, making it the slowest-growing of six major ASEAN economies tracked by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).
Thailand’s next industrial upgrade may not be defined only by new roads, railways, factories and smart cities, but by how intelligently they can be designed, operated and maintained.
Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) ranked first in SEAsia Stats Research’s Top Manufacturing Hubs in Southeast Asia by Integrated Industrial Area, with more than 13,000 megawatts (MW) of power capacity in the Chon Buri–Rayong area.
There is a particular kind of traveler who is no longer satisfied with simply visiting a beautiful place. They want to feel it in their body. They want to leave measurably better than they arrived. For this traveler, Thailand is not just a destination. It is beginning to look like a blueprint for how life should be lived.
Phuket has shut Freedom Beach after German tourist Jannik Jürgen Knobel, 30, was swept away in fierce monsoon seas despite red flags. His companion survived, but rescuers found his body near rocks the next day. Two other foreign tourists died at the secluded beach in 2025.
Discover the giant Buddha at Bangkok’s Wat Paknam
Thailand’s renewable power pipeline is gathering pace, with 449 projects licensed by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and investment expected to reach up to US$2.61 billion.
Dow Thailand Group is producing high-quality post-consumer recycled (PCR) resins from plastic waste collected in Thailand, advancing a local recycling pathway that transforms used plastics into valuable materials for packaging and industrial applications.
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has partnered with the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to install solar rooftop systems at 25 pilot hospitals, aiming to reduce annual electricity costs by US$1.63 million and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 7,211 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) a year.
US President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell to the lowest level of his presidency, with an overwhelming majority of Americans concerned the U.S. war with Iran will last a long time, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded yesterday. 
Tourism in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi continues to show resilience, with stronger foreign visitor revenue and higher per-person spending helping offset softer domestic demand and wider economic pressures.
Thailand ranks third of 31 destinations for expats on the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, behind Panama and Mexico. The survey ran from Feb. 1 to March 31 this year, drawing about 7,786 respondents of 162 nationalities across 31 countries.
A single night in a private room at Bangkok Hospital can run past 25,000 baht before any treatment is added to the bill. Most expats assume their health insurance handles that kind of cost without a second thought. But the truth is, the exclusions section of the policy, the part almost nobody reads past the first page, is often where that assumption falls apart.
The Commerce Ministry recently discovered that there have been irregularities in the registration of 35 companies in four districts of northeastern Sakon Nakhon province, with unwitting Thai villagers used to set up these 100% Chinese-owned nominee firms while 14 were totally Thai owned but none were conducting any business at all at their registered addresses.
Thailand will send a technical team to the United States from Aug. 27 to 29 for further negotiations on an agreement on reciprocal trade, or ART, before policy-level talks led by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun.
Eight Thai industrial groups responsible for US$52.23 billion in exports to the United States in 2025 could face more intensive checks on product origin and manufacturing processes as Washington steps up enforcement against illegal transshipment.
The White House has accused more than 40 countries, including Thialnd, Canada, Mexico, Japan and EU member states, of helping China evade US tariffs by rerouting exports through lower-tariff jurisdictions — a practice it labels “The Great Transshipment Scam”.
Thailand’s property market is increasingly looking to foreign buyers, as slowing economic growth, high household debt and tighter lending conditions put pressure on domestic purchasing power.
Thailand plans to restructure automotive excise taxes by offering lower rates for vehicles produced domestically and charging more on fully built imports from companies without manufacturing investment in the country.
AOT studies fast-track services, return of arrival duty-free shops
Chiang Mai Waterfall closed after tourists swept away
Four Spanish tourists injured by falling tree at Ayutthaya temple
A prominent Thai plastic surgeon has publicly urged people not to take everything in the Australian 60 Minutes investigation into Thai cosmetic surgery at face value, saying he has been contacted by a surgeon connected to one of the featured cases who told him the reality was not as the program presented it.
Where one lives in Thailand strongly determines how easily one can see a doctor. The agricultural sector suffers the most, with farmers making up 45.5% of all poor households. This is largely because gross farm incomes fluctuate wildly with weather and market prices.
Theerasak “Pop” Saksritawee spends up to eight hours every day swimming, hiking and filming dugongs near Phuket. Now, he’s warning the animals may soon disappear from one of the few places outside Australia that they gather. 
Bangkok’s floating markets: Where trade still floats
Australia’s New South Wales state will begin a major gun buyback on November 2, offering owners up to A$1,000, or about US$700, for each eligible rifle or handgun surrendered. The federal government passed legislation in January establishing a gun buyback, strengthening checks on firearm license applicants and introducing measures against hate-related conduct. 
Alma Ronen has been fighting in the Israeli military nearly constantly for more than two years. Spending her Saturday not in uniform but in a T-shirt and jeans, she would like to enjoy a coffee outside – and resents that her more religious compatriots think otherwise. 
US President Donald Trump said he was “not happy” about US participation in joint military exercises with close ally South Korea and is scaling back the drills aimed at deterring rival North Korea that start today. 
Cha-am residents are being urged to store enough water for up to a week ahead of possible water supply disruption from Aug. 21, when water releases from Kaeng Krachan Dam are due to be temporarily suspended.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin has ordered work to be accelerated on two Cha-am groundwater projects worth about 301 million baht, as authorities seek to address drought and water shortages affecting local communities.
Thailand’s Transport Ministry is working towards a Jan. 1 launch of its common-ticket policy for electric rail services in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, with fares capped at 45 baht per trip and an initial charge of no more than 17 baht.
U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday urged Americans to accept slightly higher gasoline prices as the cost of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and said he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S territory. 
Thailand is seeking to combine artificial intelligence with agriculture innovation as part of a broader industrial strategy aimed at raising productivity, strengthening domestic businesses and spreading the benefits of technological growth more widely across the economy.
Thailand is preparing to offer 500,000 domestic travel subsidies under the proposed Thai Travel Thai Plus 2026 scheme, with the government paying half of accommodation costs up to 3,000 baht per entitlement.
ASEAN’s commitment to net-zero is crucial for global environmental targets, despite its current fossil fuel dependency. The region faces an energy crisis but has strong decarbonization goals.
A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early today, collapsing buildings and homes, killing at least two people and causing panic in a region prone to deadly quakes.
Hua Hin Municipality officials met this week to discuss the installation of CCTV systems with 100 cameras and equipment in high-risk areas or areas with security needs. The project has already been reviewed and approved in principle.
Mayor visits Chat Chai market, hears concerns
Jaras Hua Hin at InterContinental Hua Hin Resort has been awarded Thai Select 2 Stars for 2026, recognizing the restaurant’s Thai cuisine, quality ingredients, creative presentation, professional service and overall dining experience.
Movie lovers in Hua Hin have a new place to come together with the launch of the Hua Hin Film Club, a new cultural initiative bringing selected films to local audiences alongside discussions, special events and opportunities to meet actors, filmmakers and others involved in the movies being screened.
Thailand’s firearm controls face three persistent gaps involving illegal and modified guns sold outside the registration system, insufficient oversight of legally owned weapons after licences are issued, and the transfer of firearms bought through government welfare schemes.
How much is your personal information worth? Apparently, only a few hundred baht was enough to access sensitive information from a Thai government database.
Thai consumers continued to visit shops at almost the same frequency in July but sharply reduced the amount they were prepared to spend on each trip, pointing to weakening household purchasing power as the nationwide Retail Sentiment Index (RSI) fell 4.9 points to 46.6.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has denied reports that the United States plans to establish a production base for unmanned aerial vehicles in Thailand, saying he had received no such report.
From fan-favorite drunken noodles to spicy papaya salads and creamy curries, Thailand’s cuisine entices visitors from around the world. While over 17,400 Thai restaurants can be found internationally, eating pad Thai, fragrant coconut soups, and other punchy dishes in the “Land of Smiles” is a bucket list topper for many travelers.
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has received 1,397 applications for investment promotion under measures supporting the transition toward smart and sustainable industry, with combined investment worth more than 146 billion baht.
Solar panel recycling could generate $6 billion in recovered materials by 2040 and exceed $20 billion by 2050, as more than 400 gigawatts of photovoltaic (PV) capacity reaches end-of-life, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) said.
Heavy rain is forecast across northern, northeastern, central and eastern Thailand today, with authorities warning of flash floods and forest run-off after a monsoon trough moved across the upper north.
The online debate over whether restaurants in Thailand should accept orders only in Thai highlights an underlying issue in the industry: a persistent labor shortage, as many Thais do not want to work in the sector.
Thai Airways International (THAI) reported a net profit of 1.54 billion baht for the second quarter of 2026, down from 12.13 billion baht in the same period last year, as the Middle East conflict drove jet fuel prices sharply higher.
Agoda has released data on travel interest among European travelers for summer 2026, showing that Thailand remained the Asian destination attracting the strongest interest for a second consecutive year. The result reflects the strength of Thailand’s tourism market among European travelers.
Asia Pacific commercial real estate investment reached a record USD $92.5 billion in the first half of 2026, a 35% year-on-year increase, according to JLL data. Japan led the region with USD $10.6 billion in the second quarter, while Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong all posted sharp volume gains driven by large portfolio and landmark transactions. 
Thailand is preparing for a historic step in space exploration, with a Thai-designed and developed scientific payload set to travel to the Moon as part of China’s Chang’e 7 mission on Aug. 24.
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has intensified enforcement against cannabis businesses, inspecting 1,326 shops since October 2025 and seizing products worth more than 109 million baht.
Thailand’s crackdown on nominee structures used to hold property on behalf of foreign interests is creating new pressure on the luxury housing and condominium markets, as authorities intensify checks on ownership arrangements in the real estate sector.
Phantong Loykulnanta, director-general of the Customs Department, reported that Thailand’s international trade reached B21.4 trillion in the first 10 months of fiscal 2026. The figure was close to the full-year total of B22 trillion recorded the previous year.
Robot Supply Chain Comes to Thailand: Inside China’s Humanoid Push into the EEC
Twelve people were injured after an Air India Airbus A320 flying from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe turbulence yesterday, forcing some passengers who were not wearing seatbelts into the cabin ceiling.
Thailand is strengthening its tourism links with Indonesia through agreements with TransNusa Airlines and Traveloka, as it seeks to attract 890,000 Indonesian visitors in 2026.
A 13-year-old schoolboy has died after being stung by jellyfish while swimming at Ban Fai Tha beach in Sichon district, Nakhon Si Thammarat. Three people who went to help him were also injured by the stings but are now safe and recovering.
Jiew Sai Yok, a lost wild elephant calf being cared for at Sai Yok National Park, died peacefully at around 2am yesterday, leaving veterinarians and park officials deeply saddened.
Thailand Post is repositioning itself as a key driver of Thailand’s digital economy, unveiling a new corporate strategy dubbed “RelationSHIFT” as it seeks to transform from a traditional postal operator into a lifestyle logistics brand that connects people, businesses, communities and government services through its nationwide network.
Thailand Retains Rank as World’s Second-Largest Pet Food Exporter
Thailand’s repeat visitors are showing stronger loyalty to Hua Hin and Pattaya than to Phuket, according to a new analysis by travel platform 12Go.
Thai travelers are increasingly choosing short restorative breaks, marathon-related holidays and more in-depth visits to secondary cities as travel patterns shift in 2026.
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto welcomed the launch of new direct air routes connecting key cities in Indonesia and Thailand, highlighting expanded aviation connectivity as a vital driver for strengthening people-to-people ties and boosting regional tourism.
Some history behind Thailand’s Naga serpent
How History Made Thais Obsessed with Sugar
North Korea’s state media has recommended dog meat soup as protection against summer heat, reviving Pyongyang’s long-running effort to promote the controversial dish as record high temperatures grip both sides of the Korean peninsula. 
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged authorities to step up support for people affected by a record heat wave in the country, saying the death toll had risen to 16 and warning that extreme weather was becoming more frequent. 
Myanmar’s detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross yesterday, her son Kim Aris said, who has not heard from her directly in years. 
Searchlights sweep across the rivers of Malaysia’s Sarawak state as licensed hunters track crocodiles in the dark. Their work is part of a broader effort to manage a tension between wildlife and the communities that rely on the water every day. 
Retail fuel prices in Thailand remained unchanged yesterday, despite the Oil Fuel Fund reducing subsidies for several diesel and gasohol products and raising the contribution collected from petrol.
Best known as Viagra, the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil started off as a treatment for reduced blood flow but soon saw its value spike after its other effects became clear.
Thai Singer Nene Royal Advances to AGT Judges’ Callbacks
Diplomacy is no longer confined to diplomats and politicians. Increasingly, and for better or worse, people-to-people relations shape ties between two nations. It is not just face-to-face contact, but the use of social media that shapes the trajectory relations between two nations.
Geopolitical conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran erupted in late February. Although negotiation efforts produced an agreement at one stage, fighting subsequently resumed, leaving shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea facing uncertainty.
Thailand must stop measuring tourism success simply by visitor numbers and build a system that protects destinations, local communities and infrastructure, according to two researchers at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).
Thailand’s largest island records decline in hotel guests in first half
The private sector and Thailand’s Department of Health Service Support (HSS) are collaborating to push for the creation of “Wellness Special Economic Zones”. The scheme will begin with a three-to-five-year pilot phase dubbed the “Wellness Sandbox”, designed to generate economic value, stimulate employment, and attract foreign investors.
Wild tiger population in Thailand’s protected reserves reaches 210
Avani+ Hua Hin appoints new general manager
A collection of camera-trap images documenting Kaeng Krachan tigers over eight years has been released as evidence of the continued health of the forest ecosystem. The images were shared yesterday to mark Global Tiger Day.
Global Tiger Day: How we’re helping wild tigers
There is a comforting myth that poverty in Asia and the Pacific is a story about the region’s least-developed economies. The assumption goes that if we can just lift the poorest nations, the job is largely done.
Why Men Are Drawn to Thailand for Sex Tourism
Southeast Asia has quietly become one of the most contested electric vehicle battlegrounds on the planet. Vietnam and Singapore have pushed EV sales shares to roughly 40% of new car sales, a level that now exceeds the UK and the EU, while Indonesia has overtaken the United States on EV penetration and Thailand has sold more EVs in three quarters of 2025 than Denmark managed in the same period, according to energy think tank Ember.
The US Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest-rate target unchanged at 3.50–3.75% yesterday, extending its pause for a fifth consecutive meeting as inflation remained above the central bank’s 2% target. The Federal Open Market Committee voted nine to three to maintain the target range, a decision that was broadly expected by financial markets. 
Up to 23 people were feared dead today after a major earthquake in Japan, with four bodies now pulled out from the tangled wreckage of a shopping mall ripped apart by a suspected massive gas explosion. The Kumamoto disaster-management office’s latest tally put fatalities at 17 and those without vital signs at six, with five more in critical condition two days after the 7.1-magnitude tremor.