- Lots of tourists at train station/13 foreigners arrested in Hua Hin/Hua Hin foreign property network exposed /Tourism of Si Khiri Khan Festival opens/Amateur Charity Golf Classic/Hua Hin police seize ice/Thailand sex work reform calls grow/Thailand’s firearm laws face scrutiny/50,000 Thais living with HIV unaware/Years of dog poisonings on Koh Phangan beach
- THE IRAN WAR: Hormuz deal hopes fade/Oil climbs/Trump’s Iran Debacle
- ECONOMY: Baht weakens 5%/To narrow China trade deficit/Thai trade with FTA partners/Crackdown uncovers bribery claims/Fragile employment market/Data centers face tough new checks
- TOURISM: Foreign visitor fee and travel subsidy/Suvarnabhumi defends food prices/Pattaya suspends six staff
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Story behind Thailand’s Mother’s Day
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Minimum monthly bill for solar panel subsidy
- INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Lots of tourists at Hua Hin train station
13 foreigners arrested in Hua Hin in nominee crackdown
Thai police have arrested 13 foreign suspects during an operation targeting alleged nominee company arrangements linked to pool villas in Hua Hin. The operation, launched yesterday, involved more than 200 officers and officials. Police issued arrest warrants for 45 foreign suspects, summonses for 39 Thais, and search warrants for 15 locations.
The searches centered on the A Hua Hin project in Thap Tai, a modern detached-house and pool-villa development where homes are priced at about 10-20 million baht each. Police said their investigation found six companies allegedly using Thai nominee shareholders to acquire property in the development. Continued …
Hua Hin foreign property network exposed after Thai nominees hand over control
Police have uncovered a suspected foreign nominee network using Thai nationals to establish companies and acquire property in Hua Hin before transferring full control to foreign owners, with authorities warning that online company registration has created a loophole for abuse.
Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma said authorities searched 15 locations in Hua Hin during the sixth phase of an ongoing investigation into suspected foreign nominee businesses and illegal pool-villa operations. Investigators identified more than 3,000 companies in Prachuap Khiri Khan holding land and property, with foreigners holding shares in more than 1,500 companies. Authorities identified 849 companies considered potentially suspicious, with 33 targeted in the latest operation. Continued …
Tourism of Si Khiri Khan Festival opens at Hua Hin train station
A huge crowd attended the Tourism of Si Khiri Khan event at Hua Hin’s classic train station, with food and product vendors winding around the railroad tracks and all along to road to the municial offices on Phetchkasem Road. The event continued through Aug. 18.
16th Amateur Charity Golf Classic set for Nov 27
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.
Since its establishment in 2010, the Rotary Club has raised millions of baht for charitable causes, with particular emphasis on projects supporting children, education and health. Continued …
Hua Hin police seize 166kg of ice, detain Malaysian
Police in Hua Hin have seized about 166 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, known locally as ice, after stopping a BMW allegedly carrying the drugs. A 20-year-old Malaysian man was detained after the car reportedly attempted to avoid a police checkpoint.
Police said the man claimed the suitcases found in the BMW did not belong to him and that he did not know the combinations needed to open them. Continued …
Thailand sex work reform calls grow after murder
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.
The issue has again come under scrutiny following the case of an Australian man who murdered a 17-year-old Thai teenager, putting the safety of sex workers and Thailand’s night-time economy in the spotlight. Continued …
Thailand’s firearm laws face scrutiny over estimated 10 million guns
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.
Those distinctions have returned to the center of public debate following two shootings in Nonthaburi within days of each other: an attack involving a student at a school on Aug. 7 and a separate shooting involving a former MP and the head of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization yesterday. Continued …
50,000 people in Thailand are living with HIV unaware
Thailand is recording between 8,000 and 9,000 new HIV infections a year, more than eight times the target of under 1,000 annual cases needed for the country to end AIDS as a public health problem by 2030.
The rate has held steady for the past five years, and infections are now rising among young people aged 15 to 24, according to the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre. Associate Professor Dr. Opass Putcharoen, deputy director of the center, described the trend as close to critical if it continues. Continued …
Years of dog poisonings on Koh Phangan beach remain unsolved
Animal welfare groups on Koh Phangan are warning residents after a suspected poisoning incident left multiple dogs dead and others hospitalized on Ban Tai Beach, the latest in a series of similar incidents reported in the same area since at least 2022.
According to posts from local animal welfare pages, poison was found hidden inside pieces of chicken meat left along the beach. Phangan Hug Satt Animal Clinic said it had received multiple poisoned dogs on the day of the incident, and residents were advised to keep pets on a leash. Continued …
Trump demands Iran pay damages as Hormuz deal hopes fade
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.
Trump said yesterday Iran should pay compensation for deaths and damage linked to wars, attacks and protests, responding to Iranian demands for compensation, the lifting of US sanctions and an end to military threats. His proposal had not previously been part of the negotiations. Continued …
Oil climbs as stalled US-Iran talks keep Asian markets on edge
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.
Brent crude futures climbed to US$88 a barrel, while US crude futures rose to US$82.45. Both benchmarks reached their highest levels since July 31 after surging by about 5% yesterday. Continued …
Trump’s Iran Debacle Chalks Up Yet Another Loss
As US President Donald Trump’s “four to five week” war against Iran stretches toward the six-month mark, three American allies in the region ― including one armed with nuclear weapons ― announced a regional self-defense pact separate and apart from the United States, another apparent strategic loss for the nation.
Having already killed 18 U.S. service members and wounded hundreds more, depleted the military’s stocks of precision weapons and anti-missile interceptors, jacked up gasoline and diesel prices, slowed economic growth, and left Iran effectively in charge of the critical Strait of Hormuz, Trump’s war of choice now has led to an “attack-on-one-is-an-attack-on-all” alliance among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Continued …
Baht weakens 5% to rank third in Asia
The baht has weakened by about 5% since the beginning of the year, making it the third-biggest decliner among major Asian currencies. A broader measure of its value against Thailand’s trading partners, however, suggests the depreciation continues to support the competitiveness of Thai exports.
Kasikorn Research Center data showed the baht had fallen 4.9% through Aug. 5, behind only the Indonesian rupiah, which declined 6.9%, and the Indian rupee, down 5.5%. Continued …
Thailand seeks three-way plan to narrow China trade deficit
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.
Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said Thailand had proposed a “co-creation” approach under which Chinese investment should generate more benefits inside the country rather than relying heavily on imported Chinese materials and components. Continued …
Thai trade with FTA partners rises 21.8% to US$243.7 billion
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.
The Department of Trade Negotiations said exports to several FTA markets expanded strongly, including Singapore, Australia, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam and India. Agricultural, food and industrial exports also continued to grow. Continued …
Foreign business crackdown uncovers bribery claims
The Interior Ministry is investigating claims that businesses in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang area were making regular payments to state officials to avoid enforcement action, following a crackdown on businesses allegedly operated by Chinese nationals.
Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee led a task force from the Department of Provincial Administration and other agencies in raids on businesses and hotels in the area on Sunday. Continued …
Signs amass indicating a fragile employment market
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.
According to Yunyong Thaicharoen, chief economist at EIC, the unemployment rate was 0.94% of the workforce in the first half of 2026, edging up from 0.90% year-on-year. While the headline figure remains low, there are evident signs of labor market fragility across several dimensions, he said. Continued …
Data centers face tough new checks
The government is preparing tougher screening criteria for data center investments amid concerns over their heavy use of electricity and water. The Board of Investment (BOI) is preparing to assess projects based on four key areas: benefits to Thailand, energy and water availability, and environmental impacts.
Government deputy spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said the government was developing a regulatory framework governing data center investments, with the BOI having approved 42 projects worth a combined 750 billion baht. Continued …
Thailand proposes foreign visitor fee and travel subsidy
Thailand is preparing to launch its Thai Travel Thai Plus domestic tourism subsidy in September while proposing a fee on foreign visitors to finance tourism-site development, visitor protection and environmental restoration.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the four-month co-payment program would have a preliminary budget of 1.75 billion baht and offer 500,000 entitlements through Krungthai Bank’s Pao Tang application. Continued …
Suvarnabhumi defends food prices
Suvarnabhumi Airport has defended food prices at its international passenger terminal, saying restaurants and beverage outlets are required to keep their prices within 20% of normal market prices.
The clarification from Airports of Thailand (AOT) came after a report asking followers whether food at Suvarnabhumi Airport was too expensive. The report cited complaints from some passengers who said food inside the international departure terminal was significantly more expensive than similar items outside the airport, with some saying certain prices were several times higher than normal. Continued …
Pattaya suspends six staff over alleged tourist money demand
Pattaya City has temporarily suspended six people from duty after tourists allegedly were asked to pay 2,000-3,000 baht without receiving official fine documents or receipts.
The allegations involve people dressed similarly to Pattaya City special affairs officers at Bali Hai Pier. Tourists, business operators and tour guides reportedly complained that they had been taken into a tent and accused of offenses including loud motorcycle exhausts and smoking before being asked to pay money. Continued …
The story behind Thailand’s Mother’s Day
Each August, jasmine becomes one of Thailand’s most meaningful flowers. Its small white blooms are traditionally woven into garlands and offered to mothers on Mother’s Day, a gesture of gratitude, respect and enduring love.
This year, those garlands may be harder to find. With Mother’s Day arriving tomorrow, jasmine supplies are running low, as demand outstrips production. A source at the Department of Internal Trade said output is below usual levels, while demand has surged; some areas have already run out. Continued …
B3,000 minimum monthly bill for solar panel subsidy
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.
A source from the Finance Ministry, who requested anonymity, said that under the initial criteria being considered, households eligible for the 50,000-baht government subsidy would need to have monthly electricity bills of at least 3,000 baht for the installation of rooftop solar panels to be considered economically worthwhile. Continued …
Contiguous US Breaks Its Record For Hottest Month Ever
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
Death toll rises to 132, hundreds injured, in Colombia earthquake
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. Continued …
Typhoon Dolphin floods Shanghai as 943 flights canceled
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%. Continued …
Two-thirds of Americans back social media age checks for under-16s
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. Continued …
Torment of Afghan fathers as daughters deprived of education
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. 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
The Nipah virus is a dangerous infectious disease with a 50%-70% fatality rate and no specific cure. It can be transmitted from animals to humans, with fruit bats being the primary carriers, and can also spread from person to person through close contact with the infected person’s bodily fluids, such as saliva, urine, and feces.
The Department of Highways says it will wait for the outcome of a formal investigation into the collapse of a concrete beam and construction crane on Rama II Road before deciding whether to terminate its contract with Italian-Thai Development Plc, warning that the incident has already disrupted plans to open a major motorway project.
The deadly crane accident in Nakhon Ratchasima province last week was caused by on-site staff “failing to notify” that construction was underway, despite the contract requiring notice before trains pass, Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said yesterday.
Thai military and police discovered significant evidence of online scam operations at the Chong Chom–O Smach border crossing in Surin province.
A photo online shows Cambodians building a bunker along K5 road bordering Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, with his Khmer source saying over a hundred such structures had already been constructed there.
Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), presented a speech Thursday at the Leadership Program on Trade and Development Strategy (LTD), organized by the International Trade and Development Institute (ITD). He discussed five global megatrends that will shape the future of Thailand’s economy in the new global order.
Police in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province, are cracking down on public smoking of cannabis and cigarettes, particularly on the bustling Pai walking street.
We found this online:
Thailand has sharply accelerated its climate ambitions, advancing its net-zero emissions target by 15 years to 2050 in an updated climate pledge released in November. The move signals Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy is positioning itself as a regional climate leader, but experts warn that political turbulence and entrenched fossil fuel interests could complicate execution.
Oil prices surged nearly 3% yesterday following the US decision to send a naval fleet to the Middle East and announce new sanctions on Iranian oil. The price hike was driven by increased geopolitical tensions after US President Donald Trump imposed new sanctions targeting Iranian oil transport vessels and announced the deployment of US warships, including an aircraft carrier and missile destroyers, heading toward the Middle East. 
Reuters reported yesterday that silver prices soared above $100 per ounce for the first time, while gold reached a new high near $5,000 per ounce. Investors have turned to precious metals as safe-haven assets amid ongoing geopolitical unrest and expectations that the US will cut interest rates. 
US President Donald Trump’s comments that NATO troops stayed off the front line in Afghanistan were “deeply disappointing”, a British minister said yesterday, noting that many European soldiers had died supporting American-led operations. Criticising NATO in an interview on Thursday, Trump said the United States had “never needed” the alliance and that its allies stayed “a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan. 
China has just announced that births in 2025 plunged to 7.92 million, from 9.54 million the previous year, and almost half of what was projected (14.33 million) when the one-child policy was repealed in 2016. In fact, China’s births have fallen to a level comparable to that of 1738, when the country’s total population was only about 150 million. 