- Mrigadayavan Palace as Royal Heritage Escape/Landslide threatens village school/Rescuers save wild elephant/Former abbot held in embezzlement scandal/Growing Anti-Israel Sentiment
- THE IRAN WAR: Iran, Houthis block shipping routes/Saudi Arabia Shuts Down Oil Pipeline
- ECONOMY: Energy costs stoke inflation/Food prices in Thailand/Property market faces slow recovery/Condo transfers to foreigners rise/BOI adds 17 projects worth 121 billion baht/Foreign nominee companies down by 82% /Pattaya nominee business concerns
- TOURISM: Unruly tourists from Middle Eastern countries/Chinese Golden Week/Thailand Bets on Film Tourism/Russian men flee war/Thailand regains ASEAN aviation second place
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Thailand Unveils Mrigadayavan Palace as a Stunning Royal Heritage Escape
The Mrigadayavan Palace, located in Cha-am, has emerged as one of the most important tourist destinations for people interested in learning about royal history and impressive architecture. The palace was constructed during the reign of King Rama VI.
The wooden structures of the palace illustrate the life of the royal family vacationing by the sea, and exemplify the unique Thai architecture style. Because of its uniqueness, this culture heritage site is the best place to learn about the Thai royal family and their fascinating history. Continued …
Growing Nan landslide threatens village school
Geological experts have warned of the high risk of a landslide at Ban Doi Tiew School in Nan’s Tha Wang Pha district, after ground subsidence expanded from a minor two-meter tension crack into one over 100 meters long over the past year.
The finding follows an urgent inspection yesterday, led by Benjarat Suwannasri, a senior environmental specialist from the Nan Natural Resources and Environment Office, accompanied by Mineral Resources Region 1 experts, local park officials, school administrators and community leaders. Continued …
Rescuers save wild elephant trapped in abandoned septic tank in Rayong
A wild elephant was safely rescued yesterday after falling into an abandoned septic tank in Khao Chamao district, Rayong, in a swift joint operation by wildlife officers, local leaders and rescue workers.
The elephant had fallen into a disused pit at Ban Khao Ngoe in Huai Thap Mon subdistrict. Rescuers brought in a backhoe to excavate around the edges of the pit, creating a sloped path that allowed the trapped animal to climb out safely, before heading back into the surrounding forest. Continued …
Former abbot held on remand in 92-million-baht embezzlement scandal
The former abbot of Phutthaisawan Temple and his close female associate are being held on remand following their arrest in a high-profile corruption probe, exposing regulatory loopholes in the management of temple funds and the lucrative commerce surrounding sacred amulets. Investigators filed a motion opposing bail, citing the risk of flight and potential interference with evidence.
Officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) escorted Atichot Thanprasert, 66, formerly known as Phra Wachirayan or “Luang Por Choti”, alongside Punyavee Rungreung, also known as “Sika Ae”, to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 1 in Saraburi province yesterday. Continued …
Growing Anti-Israel Sentiment in Thailand: A Covergence of Factors
The past two weeks saw two anti-Israel protests in Bangkok outside the embassy itself. This is a convergence of a few factors. It is alarming enough that concerned Thais should try to understand it and take an active role in navigating Thai society wisely.
These Thais are unhappy, or rather outraged, by more than one issue. Some are offended by what they describe as “gray Jews” or “gray Israeli” visitors who are disrespectful of Thai ways and culture, as well as some Israeli expats whom they fear are planning to take root in Thailand and control real estate, businesses, and even subvert Thai sovereignty. Continued …
Iran, Houthis block 2 key global shipping routes, straining the global economy
Iran and its allies are ramping up operations to disrupt major oil shipping lanes in the Middle East on which much of the world relies, threatening to drive up U.S. and global fuel prices further.
Iranian forces responded to President Donald Trump and Israel’s Feb. 28 attacks on the country by disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran’s coast and the Arabian Peninsula. The Islamic republic’s efforts made the channel a household name as oil prices rose precipitously. Continued …
Saudi Arabia Shuts Down Major Cross-Country Oil Pipeline As Houthis Seize An Island
Saudi Arabia said yesterday it shut down a major pipeline a day after it was attacked by drones, and Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels captured a strategic island at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, two officials said, opening a new front in the Iran war.
The Houthis made their biggest territorial gains in years along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s key shipping lanes. The advance could boost Iran’s strategy of driving up world oil and gas prices to pressure the United States. Continued …
Investors on edge as energy costs stoke inflation
High oil prices and US diesel prices at record levels kept inflation fears at the fore yesterday, ratcheting up expectations that more central banks will have to hike interest rates despite the risk of weighing on economic growth.
All eyes are on US consumer prices later Friday that could see the Federal Reserve raise rates as soon as next week, a move increasingly expected by investors after strong producer inflation data this week. Continued …
Food prices in Thailand push 32.8% of poll respondents to eat less
Rising food prices in Thailand are changing how people eat, with nearly one in three respondents to a Department of Health poll saying they had reduced the number of meals they eat or were eating less as living costs climbed. Almost two-thirds also said expensive food was making it harder to maintain a healthy diet.
The Department of Health released the findings Thursday from its Anamai Poll on how people are coping during difficult economic conditions. The survey ran from July 1 to 31 and received responses from 941 people. Continued …
Five signs Thailand’s property market faces a slow recovery into 2027
Thailand’s housing market is entering only a limited recovery as fragile purchasing power, high living costs, elevated property prices and strict lending standards continue to weigh on consumers, according to the SCB EIC Real Estate Survey 2026.
The survey shows that many prospective buyers remain reluctant to return to the market and are delaying decisions while they assess the economic outlook and their own financial position. Continued …
Condo transfers to foreigners rise 1.4% in Q2
The Real Estate Information Center (REIC) of Government Housing Bank reported that foreign buyers took ownership of 3,292 condominium units in Thailand in the second quarter of 2026, up 1.4% from a year earlier. The value of those transfers increased 20.2% to 14.803 billion baht.
REIC’s report on second-quarter and first-half 2026 foreign condo transfers, released yesterday, also showed that the combined floor area transferred to foreign buyers in the second quarter rose 8.1% year on year to 145,140 square meters. Continued …
BOI adds 17 projects worth 121 billion baht to Thailand FastPass
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has selected 17 additional projects from 15 companies for the Thailand FastPass mechanism, representing planned investment of more than 121 billion baht and employment for over 14,000 Thai workers.
The latest additions span four industry groups: animal feed, processed food, electronics and electrical appliances, and automotive manufacturing and components. Continued …
Foreign nominee companies down by 82% as government seizes or freezes assets of over 20 billion baht
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s government has put hard numbers behind a widening crackdown on foreign nominee businesses, illegal landholding and suspect financial networks. High-risk company registrations have plunged 81.8%, while AMLO has seized or frozen assets worth more than 20 billion baht.
Meanwhile, around 14,000 companies and thousands of land plots face scrutiny across Thailand. The drive now links corporate records, land ownership, immigration and money trails, while deportation orders and Israeli-linked investigations add fresh political pressure. Continued …
Pattaya nominee business concerns put under scrutiny
Concerns over foreign nationals using Thai nominees to run businesses and hold property in Pattaya have prompted Chonburi officials to promise tougher enforcement against unlawful investors of any nationality.
The issue was examined by a TV program on Thursday, which questioned whether Thailand had become a base for transnational criminal gangs and foreign mafia networks. It said the problem extended beyond Pattaya and could spread to other major tourist destinations. Continued …
Rising concerns about unruly tourists from Middle Eastern countries refusing to pay
A foreign tourist’s refusal to pay a 40-baht Phuket motorcycle fare has become a flashpoint in Thailand’s growing backlash over visitor behavior. Video shows the man mocking the rider, sticking out his tongue and walking away after an hour-long payment row.
The incident comes amid a string of disputes involving Saudi, Moroccan, Jordanian, Kuwaiti and Israeli visitors in Phuket and Pattaya. Recent cases have included unpaid bills, fights, assaults, transport rows and clashes over services. At the same time, anger over Israeli conduct has spread from resort towns to Bangkok, drawing protests, diplomatic intervention and closer scrutiny of foreign businesses, nominee structures and property holdings. Continued …
Chinese Golden Week expected to bring 250,000 visitors and 11.5 billion baht to Thailand
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the Chinese travel market was showing clearer signs of improvement ahead of China’s National Day holiday, or Golden Week, in 2026. TAT is focusing on the period from Sept. 25 to Oct. 7, covering both the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday over a total of 13 days.
Around 250,000 Chinese tourists are expected to visit Thailand during the period, up 24% from the same period last year, generating an estimated 11.5 billion baht in revenue, an increase of 37%. Continued …
Thailand Bets on Film Tourism to Turn Movie Locations Into Travel Destinations
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched “Amazing Locations: From Scene to Scenic,” a campaign built to convert the country’s rising profile as a filming destination into lasting tourism, as productions ranging from “The White Lotus” to “The Challenge” Season 42 continue to draw international attention to Thai locations.
TAT Deputy Gov. Nithee Seeprae says the campaign grew out of watching how quickly the “set-jetting” trend has taken hold among travelers who plan trips around what they have seen on screen. Continued …
Russian men flee war to work Pattaya’s strip bars
Young Russian men working in Pattaya’s nightlife district say they left home partly because they fear being called up to fight in Ukraine.
Sam, 23, from Moscow, and Ilya, 25, from St Petersburg, work at a club on Walking Street. Both said they preferred work in Pattaya to the prospect of military service in Russia. Continued …
Thailand regains ASEAN aviation second place
Thailand has reclaimed its position as Southeast Asia’s second-largest aviation market by scheduled airline seat capacity in September, overtaking Vietnam after two months in third place.
Figures from UK aviation analytics company OAG put Thailand’s scheduled capacity at 6.6 million seats this month, 0.2% lower than in September last year. Vietnam recorded 6.4 million seats, despite much stronger annual growth of 9.2%. Continued …
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American wanted in US child sex case held in Chiang Mai – Continued …
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Canadian held over alleged assaults at Bangkok malls – Continued …
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Four Chinese held over Hat Yai ritual scam – Continued …
US marks 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks
Americans commemorated the 25th anniversary of 9/11 yesterday, remembering the shock, the dead and the sweeping consequences of the al-Qaida attacks on symbols of U.S. might and prosperity. Friday’s milestone anniversary brought memorial rituals — wreath-laying, flag-flying, moments of silence, vigils and readings of victims’ names — and volunteer projects in tribute to a day that about half of U.S. adults remember as the most historic event of their lifetime. 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
Orchid Palm Homes was named Developer of the Year Hua Hin and BelVida Parque Hua Hin won Best Villa Development Hua Hin at the Thailand Real Estate Awards 2026 in Bangkok on Aug. 27.
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
Benchmark Brent crude oil futures rose past $100 a barrel yesterday, breaching the symbolic barrier for the first time since July 24 as intensifying conflict in the Middle East fueled growing concern about supplies.
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.
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?
The World Health Organization (WHO) verified Thailand’s elimination of rubella as a public health problem on Sept. 5, making the country the seventh in the WHO Southeast Asia region to achieve the milestone.
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.
Review the risks and regulatory loopholes behind Thailand’s data center rush, and ask whether Thailand has the resources to pay the price.The Hazards: Massive fuel storage tanks, 80dB low-frequency noise pollution, and urban heat traps baking local alleyways.
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.
Thailand is preparing a Climate Change Bill that could take effect in the third quarter of 2027, as officials warn that inadequate action to address climate risks could leave the economy facing losses equivalent to as much as 14% of GDP by 2050.
Hua Hin hotels, resorts and holiday homes were the focus of a municipal training program on Friday aimed at improving disease prevention and public health standards.
More than 60 people attended Hua Hin Film Club’s first screening yesterday, joining actor Vithaya Pansringarm for an evening of cinema at Amara Resort Hua Hin.
Koh Phangan beach dispute spotlights nominee fears
A restricted zone will be announced outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, Mohsen Rezaei, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said yesterday according to state media. He added that the zone would include areas in the Gulf. 
Businesses in Thailand’s automotive parts, garment, rubber products and plastics industries are increasingly suspending operations temporarily, as falling orders, accumulated losses and higher production costs put pressure on employment.
Thai bank chiefs are warning that small businesses remain vulnerable to fresh defaults and a return to bad debt after restructuring, despite a decline in the commercial banking system’s overall non-performing loan ratio.
When discussing the economy in Southeast Asia, we often hear about semiconductor production, electric vehicles, combustion cars, and tourism. However, one of Thailand’s key economic pillars tends to receive less attention. Beyond being a global tourism destination, Thailand is recognized as the “Kitchen of the World”, playing a crucial role in producing and exporting food to over 350 million consumers worldwide each day.
Foreign arrivals to Thailand decline 3% in first eight months
Thailand’s new 30-day visa-exemption rule is opening a sharp fault line across its tourism industry before the crucial fourth-quarter peak. The Association of Thai Travel Agents says most genuine tourists need only seven to 10 days. It also wants tougher action against foreigners abusing tourist status.
Thai Airways International canceled flights to Jakarta today as eight Indonesian airports, including two serving the Indonesian capital, remained closed because of ash from erupting Krakatau volcano.
Riyadh Air has launched direct flights between Riyadh and Bangkok, initially operating three times a week before increasing to daily services in October. The inaugural aircraft arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport last Thursday.
How a debt-ridden mother of 6 built world-famous Bangkok noodle shop
Australians could be given the option of opting out of powerful social media algorithms under new legislation cracking down on big tech. The draft law requiring a “digital duty of care” is expected to be introduced to Australia’s parliament this week. It would require firms like Meta to give users the option of turning off algorithms that tailor recommendations to their personal taste. 
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 is introducing new rules for visa applications, requiring applicants for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) to submit proof of permanent residence and a police clearance certificate. Applications under the new rules will have to be submitted from today.
Bangkok is set to host Ultra Thailand 2027, organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in collaboration with London-based Private Luxury Events. Scheduled for June 20–24, 2027, at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, this gathering marks Ultra’s first venture into Southeast Asia.
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.
The Finance Ministry is considering lower excise taxes for manufacturers that invest in production bases in the country, use domestically produced raw materials or components, and have begun manufacturing for export.
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. 
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 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.
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%.
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.
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.
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 United States’ national debt has surpassed $40 trillion, potentially having a significant impact on global financial markets, including Thailand’s economy.
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. 
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.
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.
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.
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
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).
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