• Hospitality Classic tees off/Thailand Second in Retirement Index/World Cup sports-streaming power play/5,999 baht FIFA World Cup package/FIFA World Cup scams
• THE IRAN WAR: Trump touts imminent deal/Wait for September/Global Growth to Lowest Rate/
• ECONOMY: Job groups risk AI disruption/Consumer confidence at 4-year low/Bank insists baht is stable/Global economic structural shift/Water security key to investments/Bangkok condo glut/Thai farm debt crisis/Health Expo 2026
• TOURISM: Safety spotlight on amusement and water parks/New airport slots/Elephant tourism in Thailand
• CLIMATE THAILAND: How Thai rivers are being poisoned/Rare earth mining in Myanmar/Changan Hits 20,000 Vehicle Milestone
• FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS 

Hospitality Classic tees off at Royal Lakeside today to support Hua Hin Heroes

Fore Management Group is conducting the inaugural Misthos Group Hospitality Classic today, a one-day charity golf tournament to be held at Royal Lakeside Golf Club, with proceeds supporting Hua Hin Heroes Foundation.

The event will be played in a four-man team Texas Scramble format and is expected to attract more than 120 expat golfers living in Thailand, including individual players and corporate teams. Fore Management Group said 100% of funds raised on the day will be donated to Hua Hin Heroes. Continued … 

Thailand Ranks Second in 2026 Retirement Abroad Index

Thailand has been named the second-best  country in the world for retirement in 2026, according to the Retirement Abroad Index 2026 published by Expatriate Group. The ranking places Thailand behind the Philippines and ahead of destinations including Colombia, Portugal, Spain, and France.

The index assessed 20 countries across five key areas: healthcare quality, visa accessibility, health insurance requirements, cost of living, and expat community and integration. The findings were compiled by Expatriate Group, a specialist provider of international health insurance serving expatriates and retirees in more than 180 countries. Continued … 

JAS-Monomax turns World Cup rights into Thailand sports-streaming power play

JAS and Monomax’s acquisition of FIFA World Cup rights is more than a broadcast deal. It is a strategic move to turn football’s biggest tournament into a long-term sports and entertainment ecosystem, offering all 104 World Cup 2026 matches on Monomax while putting more than 40 matches on free TV.

Jasmine International, or JAS, has secured the Thai broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and 2030, as well as other FIFA-affiliated events, in a deal worth US$70 million, or about 2.3 billion baht. Mono Next, which operates Monomax and traditional TV platforms, will serve as the broadcaster under the group’s broader sports-content strategy. Continued … 

Thailand unveils 5,999 baht FIFA World Cup 2026 package

Jasmine International, or JAS, has officially confirmed it secured the broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2030 for Thailand, announcing a 5,999 baht premium viewing package.

The premium package on Monomax will cost 5,999 baht and allow family viewing, averaging about 250 baht per month. Customers can pay in 0% installments for up to 10 months and watch on two screens at the same time. Continued … 

Cybercriminals exploit FIFA World Cup fans with scams

Cybercriminals are using the FIFA World Cup to launch scams and steal credentials, warns FortiGuard Labs, the research arm of cybersecurity firm Fortinet.

New research from FortiGuard Labs reveals cybercriminal infrastructure linked to this year’s World Cup is already operational. The tournament runs from Thursday to July 19. Continued … 

Trump cancels Iran strikes, touts imminent deal (40th time)

US President Donald Trump withdrew his threat of further strikes against Iran yesterday and said a deal with Tehran to end the war could be signed in coming days. As the World Cup opening ceremony got underway in Mexico, Trump posted news of a potential breakthrough, triggering a stock market rally and a drop in oil prices.

Claiming that talks with Iran had been “brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved,” Trump said he had “cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening.” Continued …

Middle Eastern wars: Wait for September

Last Tuesday, US President Donald Trump told journalists that the United States and Iran are “in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal”.

On Wednesday, after an American helicopter gunship crashed in the Strait of Hormuz, presumably downed by Iranians, he declared angrily that “They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!” Continued … 

Middle East Conflict to Push Global Growth to Lowest Rate Since COVID-19

Global growth is forecast to slow to 2.5% in 2026, down from 2.9% in 2025. Forecasts for two-thirds of economies have been downgraded relative to January of this year. Global growth is expected to improve to 2.8% in 2027 but will remain 0.4 percentage point below the average during the 2010s.

Weak growth in developing economies has stalled progress toward advanced-economy income levels. By 2028, developing economies other than China and India will have collectively experienced nearly a decade of no progress on narrowing their per capita income gap with advanced economies, the report finds. Continued … 

Thai labor market faces skills mismatch, four job groups risk AI disruption

Thailand’s labor market is facing growing pressure from demographic change, education mismatch, and the rise of artificial intelligence, with four major occupational groups at risk of disruption.

Thailand’s changing population structure — longer lifespans, fewer births, and an aging society — is reshaping the country’s health, social, and economic landscape. The challenges are not confined to any single age group, but are linked across the entire life course. Continued … 

Thai consumer confidence at 4-year low

The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) fell to 49.5 in May, the lowest level since December 2022, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) said yesterday.

The drop was mainly attributed to concerns over the Middle East war and persistently high oil prices, which are expected to weigh on Thailand’s economic growth and raise the cost of living, the university’s Center for Economic and Business Forecasting said. Continued … 

Central bank insists the baht is stable

The Bank of Thailand says it is confident about the baht’s stability despite recent depreciation against the US dollar amid heightened external uncertainties.

Given the baht’s resilience and Thailand’s strong external fundamentals, the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sees no need to convene a special meeting, unlike its counterpart in Indonesia, said Chayawadee Chai-anant, assistant governor for corporate relations and spokesperson for the regulator. Continued … 

BOT points to global economic structural shift and rising uncertainty

Vitai Ratanakorn, governor of the Bank of Thailand (BOT), said in his opening remarks at the IMF Economic Review Conference, held under the theme “Power, Markets, and Strategy in a Changing Global Order”, that over recent decades, trade liberalization, global financial integration, and regional co-operation had been key drivers of economic growth and opportunities for countries in Asia and around the world.

However, this global economic order is changing, with the world economy facing a major structural shift alongside rising uncertainty, while international political tensions are intensifying and the dividing line between geopolitics and economics is beginning to blur. Continued … 

World Bank says water security key to Thailand’s investment appeal

Water is no longer simply a basic factor for consumption or agriculture in the modern era. It has become a decisive factor in foreign investors’ decisions and part of the national security strategy.

Melinda Good, the World Bank director for Thailand and Myanmar and a World Bank representative, emphasized at the “Navigating Thailand’s Water Future” forum that global geopolitics is being reshaped, moving from a focus on competition between major powers to competition to attract investment in future industries. Continued … 

Bangkok condo glut hits 350,000 units, may take six years to clear

Greater Bangkok’s condominium market is facing a heavy stock overhang of around 350,000 unsold units, which could take five to six years to clear, according to Knight Frank Thailand.

The company said that in the first quarter of 2026, 6,174 new condominium units were launched in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. Notably, no new projects were launched in the central business district (CBD). Continued … 

Thai farm debt crisis a test for Anutin government

Ahead of the Feb. 8 general election, politicians often came to court voters like 69-year-old rice farmer Chaon Taiupok in Ayutthaya, about ‌80 kilometers north of Bangkok.

“Once they won and formed the government, they disappeared,” said Chaon, who is struggling to make ends meet, as rising costs of fuel and fertilizer triggered by the Iran war combine with falling rice prices to hammer farmers. Continued …

Health Expo 2026 to boost hub dreams

Phuket is preparing to host the Phuket Health Expo 2026 from July 1–5 in a bid to better connect with global health and wellness networks.

The event, themed “Longevity – Wellness for a Long Life”, is expected to generate over 50 million baht in economic activity and reinforce Phuket’s role as a regional centre for medical, health and wellness tourism. Continued … 

Safety spotlight on amusement and water parks across Thailand

A minister attached to the prime minister’s office, Supamas Isarabhakdi, has ordered increased inspections of amusement parks and water parks nationwide following concerns about consumer safety. The directive was announced during a safety inspection at Siam Amazing Park in Bangkok conducted with officials from the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) and other relevant agencies.

Supamas said operators must comply with legal safety requirements, including annual inspections of rides, buildings, electrical systems, fire protection equipment, and emergency exits. Water parks are also required to meet public health standards covering water quality and treatment systems. Authorities said any ride or equipment found to pose a safety risk could be suspended immediately. Continued … 

New airport slots agreed with 87 airlines to boost tourism

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic will launch a new three-times-weekly London Heathrow to Phuket service as Thailand’s tourism fightback gathers pace, with 87 international airlines competing for new routes and flight slots into the kingdom.

The surge in global aviation interest marks a powerful turnaround after a bruising start to 2026, when weaker demand, soaring airfares, and instability linked to the US-Iran conflict hit the sector, with Thailand now betting on expanded air links to revive visitor numbers and tourism earnings. Continued … 

Intrepid matches Aussie donations to transform elephant tourism in Thailand

Twelve years after becoming the first global tour operator to remove elephant rides from its trips, Intrepid Travel is putting money behind the next phase of elephant tourism welfare reform in Thailand, matching donations to World Animal Protection Thailand dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000 throughout June via its not-for-profit arm, The Intrepid Foundation.

The Room to Roam end-of-financial-year appeal will help fund the transition of elephant tourism venues from rides and performances to higher-welfare sanctuary models. Continued … 

How Thai rivers are being poisoned

Communities across northern Thailand are raising the alarm after tests detected dangerous levels of arsenic and other heavy metals in major waterways.

As concerns grow over public health, livelihoods, and the future of the Mekong river basin, attention is increasingly turning upstream. Video … 

How rare earth mining in Myanmar threatens Thailand’s rice and fish

Thongkham Inprom has been farming for more than six decades, growing jasmine rice and sticky rice in Chiang Rai. The 71-year-old harvests about 60 tons each year and keeps 1% for his family. The rest is sent to a rice mill and eventually sold in central Thailand.

But now he is worried that he might not be able to sell his rice. Government agencies have found arsenic in the soil and water at his farm. It is already affecting his crops. Continued … 

Changan’s Rayong EV Plant in Thailand Hits 20,000 Vehicle Milestone

Changan Automobile’s plant in Rayong rolled out its 20,000th vehicle, with the Qiyuan Q05 as the main model. The facility officially commenced production in May 2025 and is located in the core area of Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor.

It marks Changan’s first overseas new energy vehicle manufacturing base, featuring five intelligent workshops for welding, painting, final assembly, engine assembly, and battery assembly, with a 90% automation rate at key quality control stations. Continued … 

• Foreign Couple Held After Baby Found Dead in Udon Thani – Continued … 

• Chinese Tourists Brawl Outside Pattaya Restaurant – Continued … 

• American man caught for assault, property damage in Chon Buri – Continued … 

UK defense minister quits with stinging rebuke of PM Starmer

British Defense Secretary John Healey quit yesterday, accusing beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry of failing to commit enough money to protect the country. His resignation weakens Starmer’s authority at a precarious moment for the Labor leader, a week before a by-election that could prompt a bid to replace him. 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