Important announcement/Gambling network busted in Hua Hin/Hua Hin tap water improvements/Thailand braces for downpours/Cambodia and Thailand to disarm their border/ECONOMY: Steps for economic recovery/Economy Poised for Q4 Boost/The Last Global Tightening Storm/Did Thailand Misstep in Rare Earth Deal/Digital war threatens economy/Chinese e-commerce giants dominate ASEAN/PM Vows No Casino Push/TOURISM: Call for additional stimulus/Pattaya Nightlife Faces Strain/Tourism Drive for Cambodian Border/THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Where to celebrate Loy Krathong/How Thailand Became Caviar Producer/Eating and Drinking Through Bangkok/FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN LINKS
Important announcement
Hua Hin Municipality requests the cooperation of the public to refrain from using or lighting fireworks, firecrackers, sky lanterns, sky lanterns, lanterns, smoke lanterns, or similar objects during the Loy Krathong festival. This is to prevent fires, accidents, and minimize damage to life and property.
Violators are subject to a criminal offense and are subject to imprisonment for up to three months, a fine of up to 25,000 baht, or both, under Section 74. Permission must be obtained from the local district chief. Violators also are subject to imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to 60,000 baht, or both, under Section 5 of National Council for Peace and Order Order No. 27/2559.
Bt400-million online gambling network busted in Hua Hin
Authorities have shut down a major online gambling operation, which had around 367 million baht in transactions, and arrested three suspects in the Thai beach town of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
Led by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), the operation targeted a network linked to the online gambling website Lavabet555. Investigators said the Lavabet555 platform had been operational since Jan. 25, 2022, with total funds in circulation reaching 367.4 million baht. Continued …
Hua Hin tap water quality improvements planned
Hua Hin City Municipality is taking steps to improve the quality and reliability of tap water for residents by upgrading the water production system at the Rai Nuan Water Treatment Plant.
Yesterday, Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul, along with Deputy Mayor Sanphop Uengrasamee, and other municipal officials, attended a presentation by representatives from a private company at the Hua Hin City municipality office. Continued …
Thailand braces for downpours as stormy weather returns
Thailand is facing another round of unstable weather, with widespread thundershowers and heavy rain expected across the country, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). An active monsoon trough over the upper south and Gulf of Thailand is drawing humid air into the north and central regions, while a low-pressure cell moves into the upper Andaman Sea. This weather pattern is expected to bring scattered storms and cooler mornings, particularly in the north.
Along the Gulf, from Chumphon upward, seas will be moderately rough with waves 1 to 2 meters high and more than 2 meters during thundershowers. From Surat Thani downward, seas will be calmer, rising in stormy weather. Continued …
Cambodia and Thailand to disarm their border
Cambodia and Thailand took a major step toward de-escalating territorial tensions just days after a peace deal, saying they will start to remove weapons from their shared border.
The two Southeast Asian nations, whose clashes in July killed more than three dozen people, will start a two-month process of removing rocket launchers, artillery systems, and battle tanks, according to a joint statement yesterday by the Regional Border Committee. Continued …
Finance minister outlines steps for economic recovery
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has compared Thailand’s current economic situation to “a car speeding downhill into a ravine,” warning that unless action is taken immediately, the economy will face a difficult recovery. He said the problem lies not only in the pace of short-term stimulus but also in the lack of investment in new infrastructure to support the “New Economy.”
Ekniti noted that Thailand’s past growth stemmed from “old blessings,” such as major infrastructure projects in the 1970s and 1980s, including the eastern seaboard. However, the country’s investment-to-GDP ratio has since plummeted from around 40 % to just over 20 %. Continued …
Thai Economy Poised for Q4 Boost Despite Slowdown, Says Central Bank
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has confirmed that the national economy experienced a slowdown in the third quarter of 2025 but expects a meaningful recovery in the final three months of the year, potentially pushing GDP growth up to 2.2%.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, Chayawadee Chai-anant, BOT assistant governor and spokesperson, and Pranee Sutthasri, senior director of the Macroeconomic Department, indicated that a late-quarter boost came from a rebounding industrial sector and the return of short-haul tourists. Continued …
ASEAN+3 Navigated the Last Global Tightening Storm — Are They Ready for the Next?
ASEAN+3 demonstrated remarkable stability amid recent global financial tightening. Robust fundamentals, pragmatic policy measures, and effective coordination averted crises, highlighting the region’s resilience. Sustained vigilance and strengthened collaboration remain crucial to addressing future challenges.
As financial conditions tightened globally in 2022, the region was reminded of past crises like the 2008 financial meltdown and the 2013 “taper tantrum.” These events sparked corporate defaults and exchange rate pressures, raising concerns about ASEAN economies. Triggered by major central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, the recent cycle saw a rapid increase in interest rates, a stronger US dollar, and fears of renewed financial stress. By 2023, the key question was whether ASEAN+3, comprising the 10 ASEAN nations plus China, Japan, and South Korea, could withstand such upheaval. Continued …
Did Thailand Misstep in Controversial Rare Earth Deal With the U.S.?
A new memorandum of understanding on critical and rare earth minerals signed between Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and U.S. President Donald Trump at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia has sparked debate in Thailand, with critics warning of geopolitical risks, environmental harm, and unequal terms favoring Washington.
The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok released a statement titled “Decoding the Critical Minerals MOU: Why U.S.-Thailand Cooperation on Critical Minerals Matters,” defending the agreement. It said the MOU is designed to strengthen supply chains and investment, not to impose legal obligations or infringe on national sovereignty. Continued …
Digital war threatens nation’s economy and security
The phenomenon of online crime has expanded significantly and is systematically embedded within transnational criminal structures. It is no longer limited to individual cases of fraudulent calls or financial scams; rather, it has escalated into a fully fledged “crime industry” that employs high-level technology to control operations 24 hours a day.
Over the past two to three years, Thailand has become a major target for cybercrime groups operating from bases in Cambodia and Myanmar. They lure workers from various countries, including Thai citizens, to work in illicit call centers, where they are forced to defraud the public through various scams. Continued …
Chinese e-commerce giants dominate ASEAN markets, capturing nearly half of regional share
Chinese e-commerce platforms are making rapid inroads into Southeast Asia, leveraging their strengths in low prices and fast delivery to capture nearly half of the region’s online retail market — including Indonesia, Thailand, and Philippines.
According to consulting firm Bain & Company, in 2024 major Chinese players such as Alibaba, ByteDance’s TikTok Shop, Shein, and Temu jointly hold around 50% of the e-commerce market across key ASEAN economies. The report also noted that these firms are expanding well beyond Asia, entering major markets from the United States to Brazil. Continued …
PM Anutin Vows No Casino Push to China’s Xi Jinping
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday that his government has no policy to use casinos as a key economic driver, aiming to provide assurance that the current Thai administration will not pursue casino-related policies.
Speaking after a bilateral meeting during the APEC Economic Leaders’ gathering in South Korea yesterday, government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat quoted Anutin as stating that Thailand is confident it can boost its economy through its people’s talents, products, and existing technology. The prime minister added that the majority of the Thai public opposes the legalization of gambling. Continued …
Tourism groups call for additional stimulus
With only 32 million foreign tourist arrivals projected for this year, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) is urging the government to offer more flight promotions, while the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) plans to request “Quick Win” stimulus measures such as tax incentives for organizers of meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) events.
ATTA President Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn said the association forecasts only 32 million foreign arrivals this year, down from 35.5 million in 2024. Continued …
Pattaya Nightlife Faces Strain Amid Changing Demographics
Pattaya, once the bustling nightlife epicenter of Southeast Asia, is experiencing significant changes in its after-dark scene. While bars and live music still thrive, many long-term foreign visitors note a dramatic shift in the atmosphere and the clientele. On social media, both tourists and residents voice concerns about these changes.
Some tourists now describe Pattaya’s nightlife as unappealing, with loud music and a different crowd profile becoming deterrents for repeat visitors. One European social media user reported skipping the city for eight consecutive years due to these changes. This sentiment is echoed by others who feel the influx of Indian tourists has transformed the city into “Little Mumbai,” altering the familiar vibe they once enjoyed. Continued …
‘Wow’ Tourism Drive Launched on Cambodian Border
The Thai government has rolled out a new tourism initiative, “Check-in, Fun, Wow, East X Northeast,” designed to inject more than 90 million baht into the local economies along the Thai-Cambodian border.
The project, which is scheduled to begin on Nov. 15, will offer financial support for travel and lodging to visitors as part of a targeted effort to boost regional income. Continued …
Thailand’s Festival Of Lights: Where to celebrate Loy Krathong this year
A part of Thai culture for centuries, Loy Krathong will be celebrated on Nov. 5 and is based on the lunar calendar ritual of releasing illuminated lotus-shaped floats or krathongs on rivers and waterways.
It also pays homage to the water goddess, apart from being a time to reflect, gratitude and make a wish for good fortune. Here are a few a few places to join in the celebrations. Continued …
How Thailand Became a Caviar Producer in the Tropics
The delicate, high-value roe of the sturgeon —c aviar — was once a costly import to the Kingdom of Thailand. Yet, a decades-long royal initiative has turned this dependency on its head, establishing Thailand as an unlikely producer of the luxury foodstuff, all thanks to the far-sighted vision of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother.
Her Majesty’s royal initiative to successfully breed sturgeon and produce caviar has created a sustainable new career and a valuable source of income for impoverished highlanders in Chiang Mai province. Continued …
Eating and Drinking Your Way Through Bangkok
Undeniably one of the best cities in the world for street eats, Bangkok is a food-lovers paradise. From bustling back-alley street stalls to modern Thai fine dining, from iconic hole-in-the-wall gems to legendary mom and pop eateries, Thailand’s culinary landscape is begging to be explored.
Beyond the conventional pad thai, papaya salad and mango sticky rice, there’s a rich gastronomic legacy of punchy, flavor-bursting fare – covering sour, salty, sweet, spicy and bitter – that spotlights the regional differences in tastes, produce and cultural heritage, best washed down with a frothy cup of silky-sweet Thai milk tea. Continued …
- Police Raid Pool Villa, Arrest 24 Foreign Scammers – Continued …
- Vietnamese Man Arrested Over Phuket Villa Burglary – Continued …
World’s most expensive coffee goes on sale in Dubai at $1,000 a cup
Selling for nearly $1,000 a cup, a cafe in Dubai is offering the world’s most expensive coffee, brewed from Panamanian beans sold at a premium price. The wealthy emirate is known for its extravagant ventures, including an enormous mall with an indoor ski area, the world’s tallest building, and an artificial island dotted with five-star hotels. Continued …
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