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Monday’s news-Oct 27


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Making a living at Chat Chai market/Queen Mother tribute in Hua Hin/Hua Hin attracts international interest/Hospital running event/Heavy rain for PKK/Thailand and Cambodia Sign Peace Deal/Efforts to quell online scammers/Thailand’s Elite and International Schools/East Timor Admitted to ASEAN/ECONOMY: US and Thailand agree on trade/Industry jittery over US tariff rules/September exports stronger than expected/Thailand rolls out rice rescue plan/TOURISM: Bangkok world’s worst for pickpocketing, scams/United Airlines resumes Bangkok flights/THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Chiang Rai Offers Serene Escape/What Really Makes Thai Food Spicy?/How To Order The Right Level Of Spice/FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/HUA HIN LINKS 

Making a living at Chat Chai market – crispy pork and duck breast on rice

Queen Mother tribute held in Hua Hin

Local officials and residents in Hua Hin joined the nation in paying tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, who passed away on Friday.

Yesterday, Nopporn Wutthikul, mayor of Hua Hin City, led the city’s executive team, municipal council members, the municipal clerk, deputy clerks, department heads, and municipal staff in a solemn lustral water ceremony before the portrait of Her Majesty at the Sala Ratchapracha Samakhom within Klai Kangwon Palace. Continued …

Hua Hin’s healthy city model attracts international interest

Hua Hin City’s efforts to develop as a model “healthy city” have drawn international attention, with delegations from Poland, Indonesia, and Laos visiting the city to learn from its approach to sustainable urban living.

Yesterday, city officials welcomed the international visitors at the Naresdamri meeting room, Hua Hin City municipality office, joined by Mr. Thanathat Chaikhaw, director of the Division of Public Health and Environment, Phumirin Suksarit, acting head of the Environmental Quality Control and Management Division, and other officials. Continued …

1,500 take part in hospital running event

More than 1,500 runners took part in the charity run “Run with the Flow 2025 – Run for the Heart and Brain, Year 2”, organized by Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin yesterday morning.

Held at the Suan Son Pradipat reception building in Hua Hin, the event was opened by Preeda Sukjai, deputy governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. The charity run featured two categories — a 10.5-kilometer mini-marathon and a 5.3-kilometer fun run — along a scenic beachfront route. Continued …

Monsoon strengthens over Thailand, bringing heavy rain to PKK

Thailand is experiencing stronger monsoon activity today, with the southern provinces expected to face heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours, covering around 60% of the area.

According to the Meteorological Department, the central and lower south will see scattered heavy rain, particularly in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Ranong, and Phang Nga. Residents are advised to be cautious of thunderstorms, flash floods and accumulated rainfall, as well as waterlogged roads that may affect travel. Continued …

Thailand and Cambodia Sign Peace Deal in Kuala Lumpur

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed a formal peace agreement with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet yesterday. Anutin described the agreement as a first step in restoring bilateral relations between the two countries.

The agreement comes after years of tension between Thailand and Cambodia over border disputes and diplomatic disagreements. Previous attempts to ease relations have included bilateral talks and regional mediation efforts, but a comprehensive framework for cooperation had not been formalized until this signing. Continued …

Thailand ramping up efforts to quell online scammers

Thailand plans to rev up efforts to crack down on rampant online scams, which are a menace not only to Thailand but also the global economy. Efforts include improving existing regulations and cooperating with other countries to suppress scams.

Recently, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called for tougher defenses against scammers, improved real-time intelligence sharing, and tighter cross-border cooperation to prevent Thailand from being used as a base or transit point for cybercrime. Continued …

Thailand’s Elite Business Families Pour Billions into International Schools

Thailand’s wealthiest business dynasties are launching a wave of premium international schools, targeting affluent families with fewer children who seek world-class education. With investments exceeding billions of baht per project, these ventures represent a strategic shift in Thailand’s private education landscape.

The schools target prosperous Thai families and CLMV nationals (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam), with campuses strategically positioned in Bangkok’s suburbs and major cities, including Chonburi, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. This expansion comes as wealthy families increasingly prioritize quality education for smaller family units. Continued …

East Timor Formally Admitted to ASEAN in the Group’s First Expansion Since the 1990s

East Timor’s prime minister told leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that it was a “dream realized” for his nation to be admitted to the bloc and an opportunity as it seeks to boost its struggling economy.

“Today, history is made,” Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao told the other leaders as the flag of East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, was added to the other 10 on the stage at a formal ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. It was ASEAN’s first expansion since the 1990s and was more than a decade in the making. Continued …

US says Thailand agrees to lift trade barriers, make required purchases

Thailand has agreed to the removal of barriers on US food, farm, medical, digital, and film products, and to make a huge aircraft procurement and annual purchases of energy and farm products with preset minimal values, according to the United States government. Long-term purchases incude 80 US planes costing US18.8 billion.

In a statement issued by the White House yesterday, the US said the “framework for an agreement on reciprocal trade”…“will provide both countries’ exporters unprecedented access to each other’s markets”. Continued …

Thai industry jittery over US tariff rules

Thailand’s manufacturing sector is struggling to deal with challenges raised by US tariff rules on Thai imports, even as the rate was cut significantly in early August.

Washington decided to impose a 19% duty on Thai products in August, replacing its draconian rate of 36%. Yet exporters risk facing higher rates on some products if the items are considered by US authorities as being shipped to Thailand and then re-exported to America, often called transshipment. Continued …

Thai September exports stronger than expected

Customs-cleared exports rose 19.0% in September from a year earlier, the fastest rate of growth in 42 months, the commerce ministry said today, comfortably beating analysts’ expectations. The reading for September compared with a forecast 7.0% year-on-year increase in a Reuters poll, and followed a rise of 5.8% in August.

Exports were boosted by clarity on US tariffs and signs that US trade policies could be eased further, the ministry said in a statement. Continued …

Thailand rolls out rice rescue plan to lift farmer incomes

Thailand’s Commerce Ministry announced new measures to support rice farmers by stabilizing paddy prices and managing the flow of 14 million tons. Wittayakorn Maneenetr, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the new strategy could result in an average price increase of 3% to 5% for paddy rice.

Two key measures are being launched for the current season. Officials plan to speed up the sale of 2.5 million tons of rice, while delaying the market entry of a further 11.5 million tons to prevent market saturation. Continued …

Bangkok named world’s worst city for pickpocketing and scams

Bangkok has been ranked the worst city globally for pickpocketing and scams, according to U.K.-based insurance price comparison website Compare the Market. The Thai capital scored 83.45 on the website’s ranking of pickpocketing and scams hotspots worldwide.

The Grand Palace, one of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks, was marked as the worst site in the world for tourism crime, receiving more mentions of scams and theft in visitor reviews than any other destination. Two other popular spots, Wat Pho and the Chatuchak weekend market, also stood out for the number of pickpocketing and scam reports. Continued …

United Airlines resumes Bangkok flights after 11-year hiatus

United Airlines has resumed flights to Thailand after more than a decade, launching a new daily service from Los Angeles to Bangkok via Hong Kong.

The inaugural flight landed at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Saturday, marking the airline’s first return to the kingdom since 2014. The route aims to enhance connectivity between Thailand and North America, while reaffirming Bangkok’s status as a key gateway to Asia. Continued … 

Chiang Rai Offers a Serene Escape Away from the Crowds

Chiang Rai, located in northern Thailand, is a bustling hub for tourists eager to explore the Golden Triangle region. This area, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet, offers visitors a unique blend of culture, history, and natural beauty.

In Chiang Rai, public transport options are straightforward and easily accessible. Tuk-tuks and songthaews (shared pick-up trucks) are the most common modes of transport. For travelers looking to explore the city itself, walking is a viable option. However, to venture into the wider province, renting a car or motorbike is recommended. Continued …

What Really Makes Thai Food Spicy? This Core Ingredient Turns Up The Heat

If there’s one thing most traditional Thai dishes have in common, it’s heat. The core ingredient that makes Thai food so spicy are chili peppers, namely bird’s eye chili and prik bon (dried ground chili). However, they bring more than heat — they add fragrance, brightness, and character.

Dried ground chili is made from crushing dry-roasted bird’s eye chili peppers, which are also known as Thai chilies. Dried options provide more spice, while fresh chili has a more discernable flavor. Continued … 

Here’s How To Order The Right Level Of Spice At A Thai Restaurant

Ordering a meal at a Thai restaurant often comes with a question: how spicy? If you fall on either end of the spice spectrum — someone totally averse or who douses all their meals in chili oil — it might seem like a simple answer. In reality, however, there is more to that question than just how much you want to tax your taste buds.

Chilies are a central component to Thai cuisine, which can make it difficult to tailor a meal perfectly to your preferences, while also keeping from blowing out your palate with too much heat. For some expert advice on how to handle this question, we reached out to Ann Thanthicha Piwatsuwan, head chef at BKK New York. Continued …

Phuket raids target foreigners in illegal business crackdown

Phuket Immigration officers launched a coordinated crackdown on five businesses in Patong, targeting alleged illegal foreign operations, as part of a nationwide campaign to tighten control over foreign nationals working or investing unlawfully in Thailand. Continued …

  • Seven Chinese Men Arrested at Sa Kaeo Resort After Illegal Entry – Continued …
  • Nigerian drug traffickers arrested in Bangkok’s Nana – Continued … 
  • Chinese man with 2,000 ATM cards arrested in Chiang Rai scam – Continued …
  • Phuket Police Arrest French Man & Ladyboy for Drug Dealing – Continued …

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