- Soi 102 burglaries/Charm of Su Suek event/Food Fest to feature nightly fireworks/Flash floods threaten upper Thailand/Nan floods kill 2/Nan Province flood videos/Thailand mobilizes flood aid/Thailand gun dealers squeezed/Thailand and Australia to boost strategic partnership
- THE IRAN WAR: Trump is threatening to bomb Oman, but why?
- ECONOMY: Exports and investment to support growth/Thai industrial sentiment rises/Profit and loss figures for 8 hotel and airline giants/Thailand rethinks data center incentives/Growing interest in Bangkok and Phuket condos/$2 Trillion Digital Economy Agreement
- TOURISM: Thailand entry funds/Tourist arrivals dip/Suvarnabhumi immigration and baggage delays
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Lives along Bangkok’s floating market/Three religions living together/Thai Well-Being 2 Ways/Inside Wat Phra Kaew Wang Na
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Solar incentives can accelerate rooftop solar growth/Disasters know no borders
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/Thailand issues arrest warrants for 20 Israelis/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Soi 102 hit by string of burglaries
A CCTV image showing a suspected burglar inside a Hua Hin home while the residents slept has emerged amid reports of a spate of Hua Hin burglaries around the Soi 102 area.
There reportedly have been at least 10 reported break-ins in the area over the past month. The latest incident happened at around 4.20 am on Saturday. Continued …
Charm of Su Suek event to be held in Prachuap Sept 3-7
Prachuap Khiri Khan will stage a five-day event on Su Suek Cultural Street Sept. 3-7, combining heritage activities, markets and performances as part of plans to develop the area into a nationally recognized cultural tourism destination.
The “Back in Time: The Charm of Su Suek” event will run from 5 pm to 10 pm each day in the Hua Ban community and is being organized by the Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) and Prachuap Khiri Khan Municipality. Admission is free. Continued …
Hua Hin Food Fest to feature nightly fireworks
The Hua Hin Food Fest on Aug 28-30 will feature a fireworks display at 9 pm on each of the festival’s three nights. Hua Hin City Municipality has confirmed the fireworks will take place on Aug. 28, 29 and 30 at Hua Don Beach in Khao Takiab, next to the ferry pier.
The fireworks will be one of the main evening attractions at Hua Hin Food Fest, which is one of the city’s biggest and most popular annual events. Continued …
Heavy rain and flash floods threaten upper Thailand
Heavy to very heavy rain is forecast across parts of northern, northeastern, central and eastern Thailand today, raising the risk of flash floods, forest run-off and overflowing waterways.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued the warning in its 24-hour forecast covering the period from 6 am today to 6 am tomorrow. The conditions are being driven by a monsoon trough extending across the upper north and upper northeast into a strong low-pressure cell over Hainan Island, China. Continued …
Nan floods kill 2 and affect more than 16,000 people
Flooding and flash run-off in Nan province had killed two people and affected more than 16,000 residents across 8,000 households as of 4 pm yesterday. Pua district was among the worst-hit areas, with flooding reported across seven subdistricts and 60 villages.
The first fatality was a bedridden resident who could not evacuate without assistance and lived with their mother in Moo 8 of Sila Phet subdistrict, Pua district. The victim was swept from the house by fast-moving floodwater and later found dead. Continued …
Videos of flooding in Nan Province
Thailand mobilizes flood aid for Nan, Phayao, Lamphun
Thailand’s Interior Ministry has ordered round-the-clock emergency assistance for residents of Nan, Phayao and Lamphun after the prime minister instructed agencies to accelerate flood aid yesterday.
The immediate operational focus is Nan, where flash floods have led authorities to step up rescue work. Officials have been told to continue moving people considered at risk from affected areas and to act swiftly on requests for help. Continued …
Thailand gun dealers squeezed further by proposed new curbs
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.
At Suchart and Friends Gun in Wang Burapha, Bangkok’s historic gun district, sourdough loaves have replaced pistols and rifles in the display window. Owner Warintorn Boonyachai began baking bread five months ago to help cover staff salaries. Continued …
Thailand and Australia agree to boost strategic partnership in four areas
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.
Albanese officially welcomed Anutin, noting that this is the first official visit by a Thai prime minister in 14 years, reflecting the importance Australia places on Thailand as a close ally, in preparation for the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year. Continued …
Trump is threatening to bomb Oman, but why?
The world knows that U.S. President Donald Trump is angry with Iran. But he’s not happy with the small country lying across the Strait of Hormuz from the Islamic Republic, either: Oman.
Oman has played a relatively low-profile role since the Iran war began, including as a mediator. But its geography has thrust the sultanate into the uncomfortable position of negotiating with Tehran over management of the strait while facing Trump’s threats. Continued …
Exports and investment expected to support Thai growth
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.
Suphajee acknowledged that the latest GDP figure was unsatisfactory but said exports continued to make a significant contribution to the economy. She expects Thai exports to record double-digit growth for the full year and reach a total value of 12 trillion baht, provided there are no additional developments beyond the government’s control. Continued …
Thai industrial sentiment rises for a second straight month
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.
The government in June rolled out a 176-billion-baht (US$5.3 billion) consumer subsidy scheme to ease the cost of living, under a wider 400-billion-baht borrowing plan to address the impact of higher oil prices. Continued …
Profit and loss figures for 8 hotel and airline giants in Q2 and H1 2026
Hotel, hospitality and airline businesses listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand have reported their results for the second quarter and first six months of 2026. The companies faced global geopolitical challenges and intense competition for tourists.
Although some suffered losses because of the energy crisis, several maintained their growth momentum from the first quarter. Continued …
Thailand rethinks data center incentives over power and water
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.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the policy review was intended to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology and ensure that investment in the sector creates genuine economic value for Thailand. Continued …
Foreign investors show growing interest in Bangkok and Phuket condos
Data from CBRE Research showed that the downtown Bangkok condominium market recorded more new project launches in the first half of 2026 than in the same period a year earlier. Luxury and super-luxury developments were the main drivers, with both segments again attracting developers’ attention.
This trend contrasted with property market conditions in recent years, when economic pressure and weakening purchasing power weighed on the sector. The upper end of the market nevertheless demonstrated resilience, particularly projects in high-potential locations. Continued …
ASEAN Moves Closer to Landmark $2 Trillion Digital Economy Agreement
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.
This agreement, supported by the World Economic Forum, aims to harmonize digital trade rules, facilitate cross-border data flows, and establish coherent regulations for e-commerce and digital payments across the region. Continued …
Thailand entry funds: what travelers may need to show
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.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reiterated the rules in July, stressing that proof-of-funds checks are not new. They have formed part of immigration regulations since 1980, while the current thresholds were set in a Ministry of Interior announcement in 2000. Continued …
Tourist arrivals dip by 2.9%
Thailand recorded 19.76 million foreign tourist arrivals between Jan. 1 and Aug. 15, down 2.9% year on year, and generating 957.6 billion baht in spending. Chinese visitors remained the largest group, with 3.33 million arrivals, followed by Malaysia with 2.49 million and India with 1.45 million.
For Aug 9-15, Thailand welcomed 612,643 foreign tourists, down 24,126, or 3.8%, from the previous week, averaging 87,520 arrivals a day. Short-haul visitors fell 1.8% to 413,815, while long-haul arrivals dropped 7.8% to 198,828. Continued …
Suvarnabhumi targets immigration and baggage delays
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.
The plans, announced after a government visit to the airport on Tuesday, also cover tighter security and the use of real-time flight information to deploy staff and manage passenger areas more efficiently. Continued …
Growing old, staying rooted: Lives along Bangkok’s floating market
At Wat Nimmanoradee’s 100-year-old market, in Bangkok’s Phasi Charoen district, memories of life along the canals remain vivid among longtime residents, even as the landscape around them has continued to change.
For 73-year-old Orawan Wanasabodeekul, who has lived opposite Wat Nimmanoradee all her life, the canal was once a place to watch sunsets, stars and boats passing by. “I used to sit on the bridge with my legs dangling and watch the sunset,” she said. “Now the view is blocked by condominiums. The natural beauty and atmosphere we used to have are gone.” Continued …
Three religions living together in Thailand
This community in Bangkok features people of three different faiths – Islam, Buddhism and Christianity – living together peacefully and participating in each other’s events. Video …
Thai Well-Being 2 Ways: What Restorative Travel Looks Like in Bangkok Vs Koh Samui
“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.”
I’d traveled from Los Angeles to Thailand to experience wellness in two places: Koh Samui and Bangkok. Thailand’s second-largest island, Koh Samui, is home to both luxury spa resorts and holistic retreats where therapists are trained in traditions that trace back to the island’s Buddhist temples. Bangkok, on the other hand, is a tangle of skyscrapers that feels like a dozen downtown LAs stacked together, where motorbikes, tuk-tuks, and trains cut through muggy air. Continued …
Inside Wat Phra Kaew Wang Na, a rare window into Bangkok’s royal past
Hidden within the grounds of the former Front Palace, Wat Bowon Sathan Sutthawat, widely known as Wat Phra Kaew Wang Na, is welcoming visitors into its ordination hall through Sept. 20. The special opening offers a rare opportunity to step beyond its exterior and explore a site where royal court history, Buddhist devotion and early Rattanakosin art converge.
Unlike most temples, Wat Bowon Sathan Sutthawat has no resident monks. Its location within the former Bowon Sathan Mongkhon Palace, or Front Palace, gives it an unusual status comparable in some respects to Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, within the Grand Palace. Continued …
Reforming solar incentives can accelerate rooftop solar growth in Thailand
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.
Thailand’s power sector remains heavily reliant on natural gas, which accounts for 66% of electricity generation. As domestic gas production declines, the country has become increasingly dependent on LNG imports, increasing exposure to global fuel price volatility and supply disruptions. Continued …
Disasters know no borders; climate change escalation requires shared ASEAN response
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.
Tong was speaking at the ASEAN Strategic Policy Dialogue on Disaster Management 2026 held at Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay yesterday. The event saw some 200 government officials, academics and practitioners present, including representatives from ASEAN countries, the European Union, Canada and New Zealand. Continued …
Thailand issues arrest warrants for 20 Israelis in Koh Samui business crackdown
Thai police launched a sweeping operation against foreign business networks suspected of using Thai citizens as nominee shareholders to conceal foreign ownership of companies, land and restricted businesses, with arrest warrants issued for 20 Israelis on Koh Samui. Continued …
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Rayong police arrest 18 Chinese workers at data center – Continued …
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Four Chinese men held in Nong Khai scam probe – Continued …
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Phuket CCTV shows foreign woman urinating at Karon shop – Continued …
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Foreigner denies theft at Koh Pha Ngan shop, CCTV says otherwise – Continued …
US national debt exceeds $40 trillion
The US gross national debt has surged past $40 trillion for the first time, government data showed yesterday, outstripping earlier forecasts at a pace fueled in part by President Donald Trump’s invalidated tariffs. Continued …
Portugal bans full-face veils
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. 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 offers foreign retirees a clearer legal route to long-term residence than Vietnam, but Vietnam can cost considerably less for those able to manage more complicated visa arrangements. For people deciding where to spend retirement in Southeast Asia, the choice often comes down to predictable paperwork and healthcare versus lower rent and daily spending.
This is the crowd to hear Nene Royal’s last performance at the Phuket Naka Market before she heads to US for the America’s Got Talent live competition. 
Thailand has warned dentists that pre-signing cannabis prescription forms without personally examining, diagnosing or treating a patient could lead to legal action and professional disciplinary consequences.
A Thai army explosives disposal specialist lost a leg after stepping on a landmine while clearing explosives near Chong An Ma in Ubon Ratchathani yesterday. The accident happened in an area near the border under the responsibility of the 2nd Army Region.
Oil prices gained more than US$2 yesterday as faltering US-Iran diplomacy and a sharp slowdown in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz renewed concerns about global energy supplies.
Thailand’s economy is flashing disturbing warning signs beneath headline GDP growth of 1.9% in the second quarter. Output actually fell 0.2% from the previous quarter, while industrial capacity sank to a 24-quarter low.
Thailand’s economy grew by 1.9% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, making it the slowest-growing of six major ASEAN economies tracked by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).
Thailand’s next industrial upgrade may not be defined only by new roads, railways, factories and smart cities, but by how intelligently they can be designed, operated and maintained.
Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) ranked first in SEAsia Stats Research’s Top Manufacturing Hubs in Southeast Asia by Integrated Industrial Area, with more than 13,000 megawatts (MW) of power capacity in the Chon Buri–Rayong area.
There is a particular kind of traveler who is no longer satisfied with simply visiting a beautiful place. They want to feel it in their body. They want to leave measurably better than they arrived. For this traveler, Thailand is not just a destination. It is beginning to look like a blueprint for how life should be lived.
Phuket has shut Freedom Beach after German tourist Jannik Jürgen Knobel, 30, was swept away in fierce monsoon seas despite red flags. His companion survived, but rescuers found his body near rocks the next day. Two other foreign tourists died at the secluded beach in 2025.
Discover the giant Buddha at Bangkok’s Wat Paknam
Thailand’s renewable power pipeline is gathering pace, with 449 projects licensed by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and investment expected to reach up to US$2.61 billion.
Dow Thailand Group is producing high-quality post-consumer recycled (PCR) resins from plastic waste collected in Thailand, advancing a local recycling pathway that transforms used plastics into valuable materials for packaging and industrial applications.
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has partnered with the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to install solar rooftop systems at 25 pilot hospitals, aiming to reduce annual electricity costs by US$1.63 million and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 7,211 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) a year.
US President Donald Trump’s approval rating fell to the lowest level of his presidency, with an overwhelming majority of Americans concerned the U.S. war with Iran will last a long time, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded yesterday.