Constitutional Court Sacks Thai PM/PM’s ouster a wake-up call/Anutin set to lead/Pheu Thai Insists It Will Lead/Pickup Truck Crash in Cha-am/New 50 and 100 Baht Notes/Thailand braces for heavy rain/Fall of Thailand’s AIDS Monk/ECONOMY: Court rules most Trump tariffs unlawful/Economic Risks Following Prime Minister’s Dismissal/TOURISM: Expats Flee Pattaya Bars/Tourist spending is going digital/Nine Injured as Tour Bus Overturns/Bangkok Airways, Samui Airport honored/Nok Air international flights suspended/CLIMATE THAILAND: Is Sustainable Tourism Achievable?/Southeast Asia incorporating wind power/Electric vehicles at Laem Chabang Terminal/FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/NEW PAGE – Hua Hin Links: 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
Constitutional Court Sacks Thai PM Over Ethics Breach
Political unrest has gripped Thailand after the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office yesterday. The court found her guilty of an ethics violation, abruptly ending her leadership after just a year. This marks another setback for the influential Shinawatra family.
Paetongtarn, who quickly rose through the ranks to become the country’s youngest prime minister, is now the sixth leader with ties to the Shinawatra dynasty to be ousted by either the military or the judiciary. Continued …
PM’s ouster a wake-up call
The Constitutional Court’s verdict dismissing Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office yesterday for an ethics violation is another nail in the coffin for the Shinawatra political dynasty, which has dominated the Thai political landscape for over two decades.
The court, set up in 1997, has now ousted five sitting Thai prime ministers linked to Thaksin, including his daughter, sister, and brother-in-law. Continued …
Anutin set to lead new Thai government
Thai politics is in flux following the removal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister over the Hun Sen audio clip case, which also ended her cabinet’s tenure. The Pheu Thai Party and Bhumjaithai Party immediately emerged as rivals, moving to rally parliamentary support to form a new government.
Pheu Thai convened its former coalition partners to reaffirm their intention to continue governing together, while Bhumjaithai moved quickly. Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul launched a series of negotiations with other political parties, aiming to position Bhumjaithai as the lead party in forming the new government and to secure votes for Anutin as prime minister. Continued …
Pheu Thai Insists It Will Lead Government Formation
The Pheu Thai Party has reaffirmed its commitment to leading the formation of Thailand’s next government, insisting that its coalition partners are standing firm.
Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed that the current government is still “holding hands tightly” and is ready to work. Continued …
Pickup Truck Crash in Cha-am Injures at Least 12 Workers
At least 12 construction workers were injured when a pickup truck carrying laborers was struck from behind and forced onto a central reservation in Cha-am yesterday evening.
The collision occurred on southbound Phetkasem Road in Cha-am District, Phetchaburi Province. Police from Cha-am Police Station and rescue teams from Sawang Sanphet Foundation responded to the scene. Continued …
New 50 and 100 Baht Notes to Debut in Polymer Form
The Bank of Thailand is shaking things up, announcing that new 50- and 100-baht banknotes will soon hit the streets, made from special polymer material. The roll-out is set for November.
These fresh polymer notes are crafted from a durable type of plastic, making them more resistant to common foes like moisture and dirt. This means they’ll last significantly longer compared to the traditional paper notes — think four times longer! As such, they promise to be more cost-effective over time and easier on the wallet when it comes to maintenance. Continued …
Thailand braces for heavy rain, flash floods
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reported today that the southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand is strengthening, while the monsoon trough extends across the upper north and upper northeast.
South (east coast): Scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Surat Thani; minimum 23-25°C, maximum 33-35°C; waves about 1-2 meters high and above 2 meters high in thundershowers. Continued …
The Fall of Thailand’s AIDS Monk’s Billion-Dollar Scheme
A revered abbot who once helped AIDS patients has become the center of Thailand’s latest monastic scandal, accused of orchestrating a massive donation fraud worth potentially tens of billions of baht.
Luang Pho Alongkot, former abbot of Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu in Lopburi province, built his reputation in 1992 by opening this temple as a refuge for HIV/AIDS patients during Thailand’s early epidemic. When discrimination was rampant and treatment limited, his temple became a sanctuary that attracted nationwide media attention and massive donations. Continued …
US appeals court rules most Trump tariffs unlawful, showdown looms at Supreme Court
A US federal appeals court delivered a major blow to Donald Trump’s trade agenda yesterday, declaring that most of the tariffs imposed during his presidency were not authorized by law.
The ruling strikes at one of the central pillars of Trump’s second-term economic and foreign policy, though the duties will remain in place for now as the administration prepares to appeal to the Supreme Court. Continued …
Thai Business Leaders Warn of Economic Risks Following Prime Minister’s Dismissal
Thailand’s leading business organizations have warned of mounting economic risks following the Constitutional Court’s decision yesterday to dismiss Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, calling for urgent cooperation between public and private sectors to restore investor confidence.
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) cautioned that the ruling represents a significant shift in political stability that could undermine both domestic and foreign investor confidence, while disrupting long-term economic policy planning. Continued …
Expats Flee Pattaya Bars Amid Intensive Police Raids
Once the heartbeat of Pattaya’s bustling nightlife, the city’s famous pubs and go-go bars are seeing a shift in patronage, as long-term expats and regular tourists opt for quieter venues. Frequent police raids, part of the “No Drugs, No Dealers” campaign, are casting a shadow over the renowned party atmosphere, leaving venues under tight scrutiny.
Every evening, a new spectacle unfolds as local authorities conduct surprise inspections at popular establishments. Licenses are checked, staff are scrutinized, and random urine tests are carried out in an effort to combat narcotics use. While these measures are heralded as necessary for safety, many foreigners argue they’ve chilled Pattaya’s vibrant nightlife. Continued …
How tourist spending is going digital
Starting in the fourth quarter this year, foreign investors arriving in Thailand can convert digital assets such as cryptocurrencies into baht to cover their travel expenses and spending in the country.
The initiative called TouristDigiPay is set for a nationwide pilot program over 18 months within a regulatory sandbox. By allowing foreign tourists to use digital assets as a source of funds for their spending in Thailand, the government is promoting innovations to support the domestic economy and stimulate the stagnating tourism industry. Continued …
Nine Injured as Tour Bus Overturns in Roi Et
Nine people were injured yesterday morning when a tour bus carrying more than 30 passengers overturned on a highway in Pho Chai district, Roi Et province.
The incident occurred near Phu Kum Khao temple in Kampha-ung subdistrict. Emergency services, including local police and rescue volunteers, attended the scene to find the bus lying on its side in the central reservation. Passengers were given first aid at the scene before being transported to Pho Chai Hospital for further treatment. Continued …
Bangkok Airways and Samui Airport among Asia-Pacific’s Top 10
Bangkok Airways has been ranked ninth in the “Best Airlines” category, while Samui Airport secured second place in the “Best Airports” category at the Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025.
The awards, hosted by Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau, recognize excellence in travel and hospitality across the region. Winners were determined through votes from more than 300,000 readers, travelers, and passengers worldwide, covering hotels, resorts, spas, airlines, and airports in the Asia-Pacific region. Continued …
CAAT suspends international flights for Nok Air, imposes ban on route expansion
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced that it has banned Nok Air from operating international routes and expanding its network, following the airline’s failure to meet safety standards. This move comes amid ongoing compliance checks with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, director-general of CAAT, confirmed that the airline must suspend all international operations and refrain from expanding its routes, both domestic and international, until it addresses the safety deficiencies identified during CAAT’s review. Continued …
Is Sustainable Tourism Achievable in Southern Thailand?
Southern Thailand has long been a popular destination for international travelers seeking reprieve from their cold or urban realities in the form of a tropical island paradise, complete with unique cultural experiences. H
owever, post-global pandemic it seems that the region’s tourism has not only bounced back to its pre-Covid trajectory but is growing at an unprecedented rate – even with this year’s quieter low season considered. And, while locals and stakeholders of a tourism-reliant economy are overall keen on the year-on-year growth of visitors, it doesn’t come without a few concerns. Top of mind are the environmental concerns. Continued …
How Thailand and mainland Southeast Asia are incorporating wind power
Countries in mainland Southeast Asia have stark differences in renewable energy strategies, balancing them with ample but controversial hydropower and entrenched interests.
While solar power has become accessible and cost effective, many of these nations have struggled to make wind power an essential part of renewable energy strategies, despite having locations with high potential. Meanwhile, others have become regional wind power leaders, such as Vietnam. Continued …
DP World deploys electric vehicles at Laem Chabang Terminal
DP World has introduced five electric internal transfer vehicles (eITVs) at Laem Chabang International Terminal (LCIT) in Thailand.
The move is part of broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions across port operations and aligns with the Port Authority of Thailand’s (PAT) Green Port Strategy, which targets the transformation of Laem Chabang Port into a green port by 2030. Continued …
- Kuwaiti Bikers Cause Crash in Pattaya, Passenger Injured – Continued …
- Laotian Businessman Arrested After 9 Years on the Run – Continued …
- American Language Teacher Arrested for Assaulting Minor in Class – Continued …
- Middle Eastern Tourists Hurt in Pattaya Highway Bike Racing – Continued …
- Russian man arrested on Koh Samui over Phuket cryptocurrency robbery – Continued …
China to have 300,000 driverless taxis by 2030
China is likely to see 300,000 driverless cabs operate in its four top-tier cities as early as 2030, buoyed by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and its highly competitive electric vehicle (EV) sector. The number of robotaxis on the mainland was expected to jump to 4 million by the late 2030s. Continued …
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Water woes
Crisis in waste management
