- Thai ‘Rental Wives’/Covid cases rising in Thailand
- ECONOMY: Government targets 26 regulations/Russian condo purchases surge
- TOURISM: Phuket Israeli arrivals rise/Phuket residents urge cut to Israeli tourists’ visit/$9.75-trillion wellness economy/Thai Airways enters world’s top 10
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: The story of Thai boat noodles/Bangkok named world’s best nightlife city/Bangkok’s sacred Lakshmi Shrine
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Thailand Unlocks Direct Green Power Deals
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Thai ‘Rental Wives’ Serve Older Western Men, Vietnam Media Says
In a case of the pot calling the kettle black, Vietnamese media outlets have claimed Thai women are hired as “rental wives” by retired Western men, particularly in tourist centers including Pattaya. However, the reports provide no official figures, named providers or evidence that such arrangements are a recognized or widespread practice in Thailand.
The claims appeared in Vietnamese newspaper Tien Phong, which cited Chinese outlets Sina and Sohu. According to the reports, foreign visitors may pay Thai women to act as guides, partners and, in many cases, sexual companions. Continued …
Covid cases rising in Thailand, with 2026 total exceeding 94,000
Covid-19 cases are increasing in Thailand, with the total number of patients from Jan. 1 up to yesterday reaching 94,402, with 14 deaths, but it is the NB.1.8.1 variant that does not cause severe illness that is dominant, accounting for over 50.9% of cases.
The Department of Disease Control said this variant, also called “Nimbus” and is a branch of the JN.1, has a mutation in the spike protein that allows it to evade immunity and spread more easily, but there is still no evidence of it causing more severe illness. Continued …
Government targets 26 regulations blamed for raising business costs
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.
The reforms are intended to simplify procedures, reduce costs and strengthen the country’s competitiveness without requiring additional budgetary expenditure. Continued …
Russian condo purchases surge 75.9%, while wider foreign market slows
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.
Data from the Real Estate Information Center (REIC) showed that condominium ownership transfers to foreign nationals totaled 6,533 units, down 8.8% from the same period last year. Continued …
Phuket Israeli arrivals rise 52% as new flights planned
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.
While total visitor numbers were slightly lower over the first seven months of 2026, tourism income remained comparatively steady. Israel was the fastest-growing market among Phuket’s 10 leading visitor source countries in July, rising by more than 12 times compared with the same month in 2019. Continued …
Phuket residents urge cut to Israeli tourists’ visit to maximum 15 days
Around 200 to 300 Phuket residents yesterday aired their bad experiences at the hands of foreign tourists at Loma Park, Patong Beach, and demanded the government restrict Israeli tourists to a maximum 15-day stay to prevent them from engaging in illegal businesses. The forum, entitled “Save Phuket, Save Patong, Respect Thai Law”, was tightly controlled, with numerous uniformed and plainclothes policemen watching over it.
Among those attending were tourism operators, including hotel owners, tuk-tuk drivers, tour guides and Phuket residents who said they were frustrated with the behavior of foreign tourists, particularly those from Israel. They want relevant agencies to convey their concerns to the government and find a solution to this tourist problem. Continued …
Thailand seeks larger share of $9.75-trillion wellness economy
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%.
Thailand’s wellness economy is valued at US$42.7 billion, or about 1.4 trillion baht, representing only 0.63% of the global market. The country ranks 24th among 145 economies assessed by GWI. Continued …
Thai Airways enters world’s top 10 for 2026
Thai Airways International has been named the world’s 10th-best international airline in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2026, placing Thailand’s national carrier among the global top 10 after years of business rehabilitation.
Taiwan’s EVA Air took first place for the first time in the publication’s history, ahead of Qatar Airways and Emirates in second and third. EVA Air received a reader-survey score of 91.63. Continued …
From canals to city streets: The story of Thai boat noodles
Few Thai dishes are as instantly recognizable as kuay tiew ruea, or boat noodles — a humble bowl of noodles known for its dark, aromatic broth, bold seasoning and small serving size. The dish has long been associated with Thailand’s waterways.
Its name comes from the vendors who once sold noodles from small boats along canals, serving customers from the water. What makes boat noodles different is not only the portion but also the intensely flavored broth. The soup is typically dark and savory, with a complex mix of herbs and spices. Depending on the recipe, it may contain pork or beef, along with meatballs, liver and other toppings. Continued …
Bangkok named world’s best nightlife city for 2026
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.
The ranking was based on a survey of more than 24,000 residents in 150 cities, alongside views from more than 100 Time Out editors and city experts. It assessed nightlife quality and affordability, community, and whether a city feels exciting, lively, diverse, welcoming and safe after dark. Continued …
Bangkok’s sacred Lakshmi Shrine and Varalakshmi Vratam
Nestled high above the bustling luxury of the Ratchaprasong intersection, Bangkok’s spiritual heart is home to a unique cluster of sacred shrines dedicated to nine revered deities.
While the district has long been famous for iconic landmarks like the Erawan Shrine’s Lord Brahma, Thao Amarindrathiraj (Lord Indra), Narai Song Suban (Lord Vishnu riding on Garuda), Trimurti, Ganesha, Shiva, Uma Devi, and the Thao Jatulokbal (Four Guardian Kings), one particular deity that has captured the imagination and deep devotion of the city in recent years is the Goddess Lakshmi. Continued …
Thailand Unlocks Direct Green Power Deals to Modernize Grid
State energy agencies and policy experts have outlined a series of systemic reforms to modernize Thailand’s national power grid, refine the upcoming Power Development Plan (PDP 2026), and transition away from legacy utility structures.
Speaking at the KT Dialogue: Smart Grid forum yesterday, key officials and researchers highlighted a decisive shift from the traditional enhanced single-buyer model toward a decentralized, smart-grid-enabled power market. Continued …
-
Russian man collapses in Pattaya Walking Street toilet – Continued …
-
Vietnamese suspects arrested over 3.6-million-baht student scam – Continued …
Trump announces deal for huge US stake in Venezuelan oil reserves
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. Continued …
Haakon, the reluctant prince who became Norway’s new king
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. 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 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.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said flash floods and landslides struck areas along Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River on Wednesday, with deaths reported and more than 600 Nepalis and foreign nationals missing. No Thai nationals have been reported injured or killed.
Suvarnabhumi Airport has postponed planned repair and maintenance work on expansion joints along the elevated road serving the passenger terminal following widespread criticism over potential disruption during the tourism high season.
An anonymous donor has given 100 million baht to Pattaya Patamakun Hospital in Chon Buri, with the money earmarked for a new six-story premium outpatient and inpatient building.
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.
Myanmar’s civil war is increasingly becoming Thailand’s problem. Violence has crossed the border, criminal networks are exploiting the instability, and Thailand continues to shelter tens of thousands of refugees.
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 housing market shook off a downturn in the first half of this year with transfers reaching 167,000 units, a 17.6% increase, driven by government measures. Sales of second-hand homes soared, accounting for 63% of the total, reflecting a focus on value for money.
The United States’ national debt has surpassed $40 trillion, potentially having a significant impact on global financial markets, including Thailand’s economy.
Bouygues Construction, through its Thai subsidiary Bouygues-Thai, was selected in June by developer Honour Thailand to design and build the ONCE Wongamat. Standing 239 meters tall, this 56-story tower project in Pattaya will be one of the tallest buildings in Thailand.
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.
A group fight involving rival speedboat operators broke out on Tawaen Beach road on Koh Larn, off Pattaya, yesterday. Video shared online showed men who operate the Pattaya-Koh Larn tourist speedboats arguing before punches were thrown in front of beachgoers.
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. 
Krabi bridge to Koh Lanta set for 2029 opening
First phase of Thai-Cambodian border fence finished, Navy to start second
Southeast Asia’s budget airlines are hoping the worst of the fuel-price shock triggered by the Middle East conflict has passed, but pressure on margins and household finances threatens to prolong the sector’s difficult recovery.
Thailand’s Department of Business Development (DBD) has introduced new registration requirements aimed at closing loopholes that allow foreigners to control Thai companies through nominee shareholders. Order No. 2/2026 of the Office of the Central Company and Partnership Registration took effect on Aug. 1, and marks the latest step in a regulatory push that has been building steadily since the beginning of the year.
Northern Thailand could become a crucial pillar of global food security, as severe climate shocks, unpredictable weather and shifting trade patterns place unprecedented pressure on agricultural supplies worldwide.
Ryan Blackley, 35, and his wife Jess, 34, left the UK for Chiang Mai with their sons Noah, six, and Bodhi, four, in February. The family now holds five-year Destination Thailand Visas and is using Thailand as a base for a longer period of travel across Asia.
A confidential US diplomatic memo, circulated to a handful of countries in late July, formally committed the United States to blocking binding limits on plastic production and chemical additives at United Nations treaty negotiations — a position that peer-reviewed lifecycle modeling published in January shows is the single most important intervention for reducing a global disease burden currently costing more than $1.5 trillion a year.
Heavy rain and flash floods threaten upper Thailand
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
Inside Wat Phra Kaew Wang Na, a rare window into Bangkok’s royal past
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.
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.
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. 
Wisut Janwatanakul, senior assistant vice president of condominium project development at Sansiri Public Co, stated the real estate market in Hua Hin is expected to grow significantly in 2026, transitioning into a global wellness and medical tourism destination, which is a key driver for the luxury real estate market and long-stay accommodations.
PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR) and Bangchak Corporation Plc (BCP) raised retail prices for petrol, gasohol and diesel by 0.85 baht, or 85 satang, per litre from 5am on Wednesday (August 19, 2026).
Thai teenage singer Nene Royal flew to the United States with her family today to compete in the Live Show round of America’s Got Talent on Aug. 25, asking Thais around the world to cheer her on and vote.
The Department of Business Development (DBD) reported a total investment of B219 billion by foreign businesses approved to operate in Thailand during the first seven months of 2026, up 37% from the same period in 2025. Singapore recorded the highest investment value at B61.1 billion, followed by Japan at B45 billion and China at B38.6 billion.
Video captured the moment flash floods swept away tourists near the Mae Sa Waterfall. Park officials say they alerted visitors to the rising water, but the flood came too quickly for some to escape. 
Thai farmers battle elephant raids to protect crops, livelihoods
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 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. 
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. 
Tourism of Si Khiri Khan Festival opens at Hua Hin train station
The Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin has announced that its 16th Amateur Charity Golf Classic will take place at Pineapple Valley Golf Club on Friday, Nov. 27. The annual tournament is one of the club’s main fundraising events, with proceeds supporting community projects, medical institutions and schools in Hua Hin and other areas.
Thailand’s sex trade remains illegal, but its presence is highly visible from Soi Cowboy in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area to Pattaya’s Walking Street, where nightlife businesses continue to draw visitors from around the world.
Thailand allows eligible civilians to apply for firearm ownership, but its licensing system draws clear legal distinctions between buying a gun, possessing and using it, and carrying it in public.
US President Donald Trump has introduced new compensation demands in negotiations with Iran, further complicating efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran set conditions of its own for ending the confrontation.
Oil prices rose to their highest levels in nearly two weeks today after negotiations between the United States and Iran over a peace agreement and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz reached an impasse, while Asian stock markets traded cautiously ahead of key US inflation data.
Thailand is pressing China for deeper use of local materials and suppliers, wider market access for Thai SMEs and investment in agricultural processing. It seeks to reduce a trade imbalance that could reach a cumulative 12.14 trillion baht over 2016-2026.
Thailand’s trade with its free trade agreement partners rose by 21.8% year on year to US$243.67 billion in the first half of 2026, accounting for more than half of the country’s total global trade.
Thailand’s unemployment rate remains relatively low, but the labor market is showing signs of weakening, says SCB Economic Intelligence Center (EIC), the research arm of Siam Commercial Bank.
To qualify for the government subsidy for installing rooftop solar panels, households must have a minimum monthly electricity bill of around 3,000 baht, according to the Finance Ministry.
The contiguous United States sizzled to its hottest month ever last month, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. July averaged 76.89 degrees Fahrenheit (24.94 degrees Celsius) across the lower 48 states, eclipsing the Dust Bowl’s July 1936 by an eighth of a degree. Records go back to 1895. – USA Today
At least 132 people have died, and 570 have been injured as a result of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck earlier yesterday, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities, which earlier took part in an disaster response meeting with the president. 
Torrential rain from Typhoon Dolphin flooded roads and commercial areas across Shanghai yesterday, forcing the city’s two airports to cancel 943 flights and reducing their combined capacity by nearly 40%. 
A majority of Americans across the political divide support stronger government oversight of social media companies, including age-verification requirements intended to prevent children under 16 from using their platforms. 
Father after father Agence France-Presse (AFP) spoke to in Afghanistan about the education ban that stops their daughters going beyond primary school choked up in despair. The pain and anguish it is causing behind closed doors is clear from interviews AFP conducted across the country, with even deeply religious fathers questioning the ruling. 
TrueVisions rallies support for Nene Royal on America’s Got Talent
An NBC News review through July 10 found dozens of instances where Trump said the war was won or almost won — comments that were often followed by more threats of military action. 
Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) expects the baht to remain weak for the rest of the year, despite its recent appreciation this week driven by external factors. The baht strengthened to around 33 per US dollar this week, primarily due to global developments.
The SMEs Competitiveness Index fell by 0.8 points to 45.1 in the second quarter of this year, as businesses urge the government to help reduce costs and improve liquidity, according to a survey by the Institute of Trade Strategies at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
CIMB Thai Bank (CIMBT) has urged policymakers to prioritize sustainable investment in data center projects to maximize the long-term benefits for the Thai economy.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has outlined plans to provide grants of 50,000 baht per household for rooftop solar installations, alongside low-interest loans from state banks.
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
Siam Legal Phuket is noting that Phuket’s first-half 2026 tourism figures, which show the island attracted nearly 7 million visitors and generated 263 billion baht in revenue between January and June, reflect a structural shift in how foreign nationals are engaging with Thailand rather than simply a strong season for the hospitality sector.
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.
Edwin Salas watched as the first of 20 solar panels was installed on the roof of his home, joining a Philippine solar energy boom sent into overdrive by the Middle East war. The country’s eye-watering electric bills – the highest in the region – were the primary driver of his decision, he said. Regular brownouts were a factor, too. 
Hua Hin City’s Waterworks Division has launched a citywide survey to update customer water meter records and improve the efficiency of meter-reading routes.
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.