• Hua Hin 300-baht guest fee/Thai Woman Done With the American Dream/Unlock food waste value/TrueVisions rallies support for Nene Royal
• THE IRAN WAR: Again? Trump expects Iran war to end soon/32 times Trump suggested the war in Iran was almost over
• ECONOMY: Weak baht for rest of 2026/SMEs struggle/Thailand seeks wider US tariff relief/Sustainable data center investment
• TOURISM: Thailand to adopt checked baggage opening/Gulf visitor arrivals save Thai tourism/Creative cities drive/Resort begins demolition
• THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Eat your way across Thailand
• CLIMATE THAILAND: Thailand plans rooftop solar grants
• FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS 

Hua Hin tenant raises 300-baht guest fee issue, dorm cites safety rule

A dispute over a dormitory charging an additional 300 baht after a tenant brought a friend to stay overnight has been clarified after Hua Hin officials inspected the property and found that the condition was included in the rental agreement.

The issue gained attention after a female tenant posted on social media claiming she was charged an extra 300 baht on top of her monthly rent because she had allowed a friend to stay in her room for one night. The post included a rental bill showing the additional charge, prompting questions over whether the tenant had been treated unfairly. Continued … 

Thai Woman Who Moved to America Three Years Ago Is Done With the American Dream

A video of a Thai woman shared on Reddit shows her explaining why she no longer wants to live in the United States. As a result, Reddit users are weighing in on whether the “American dream” still exists and how life in the U.S. compares with Thailand.

In the video, a man introduces the topic by saying his wife moved to the U.S. three years ago but now wants to return to Thailand. The woman then says, “I came here three years ago because of the American dream. It’s not like what I thought at all. I feel like the American dream is dead. It’s not like 20 or 30 years ago anymore.” Continued … 

Laws must unlock food waste value

Thailand throws away food on a massive scale. Yet, much of what ends up in the bin could still feed people, animals, or even produce energy. The real problem is not simply waste but a system that makes reuse difficult.

Each person in Thailand generates about 154 kilograms of food waste a year. In 2024 alone, the country produced more than 10.1 million tons, almost one-third of all municipal waste nationwide. Continued … 

TrueVisions rallies support for Nene Royal on America’s Got Talent

TrueVisions is inviting viewers across Thailand to support NENE Royal as the talented Thai artist showcases her abilities on the global stage in America’s Got Talent Season 21.

Audiences can follow every important moment of her competition journey from on the TrueVisions NOW app and True X-ZYTE, channel 340, from 1pm. Continued … 

Again? Trump expects Iran war to end soon as Hormuz talks progress

US President Donald Trump said he expected the war with Iran to end soon as negotiations over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz moved closer to an agreement but remained complicated by Iranian proposals to restrict US and Israeli vessels.

“I think it’s going to end pretty soon. I don’t think they can go much longer,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday (August 6), referring to Iran. Continued … 

32 times Trump suggested the war in Iran was almost over

An NBC News review through July 10 found dozens of instances where Trump said the war was won or almost won — comments that were often followed by more threats of military action. Continued … 

Bank sees weak baht for rest of 2026

Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) expects the baht to remain weak for the rest of the year, despite its recent appreciation this week driven by external factors. The baht strengthened to around 33 per US dollar this week, primarily due to global developments.

According to Tim Leelahaphan, the bank’s senior economist, the appreciation was largely driven by a joint yen-buying intervention by the US and Japanese central banks, which began late last week and has continued this week. The intervention put downward pressure on the US dollar. Continued … 

SMEs struggle as business outlook remains subdued

The SMEs Competitiveness Index fell by 0.8 points to 45.1 in the second quarter of this year, as businesses urge the government to help reduce costs and improve liquidity, according to a survey by the Institute of Trade Strategies at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

The index is based on the SMEs Situation Index, SMEs Competency Index and SMEs Sustainability Index, all of which were below 50, indicating a worse situation for operators than in the first quarter. Continued … 

Thailand seeks wider US tariff relief in August talks

Thailand will use private-sector investment and broader economic cooperation as bargaining tools in late-August trade talks with the United States, as it seeks exemptions for 13 additional export items and relief for the roughly 28% of Thai products that remain subject to US duties, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said.

Suphajee said at Government House yesterday she would lead Team Thailand to the United States at the end of the month for negotiations on the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, or ART. Continued … 

CIMBT calls for sustainable data center investment

CIMB Thai Bank (CIMBT) has urged policymakers to prioritize sustainable investment in data center projects to maximize the long-term benefits for the Thai economy.

Amid robust growth in foreign direct investment, particularly in data center projects, the Thai government should focus on the quality rather than the quantity of investment, said Amonthep Chawla, chief economist at CIMBT. Continued … 

Thailand to adopt checked baggage opening without owners present

Authorities in Thailand will be able to open air travelers’ checked baggage for security reasons without an owner’s consent starting on Oct. 16, but the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has affirmed that checks will follow strict guidelines.

According to the CAAT, officials will open only checked bags bound for an aircraft’s hold that have been x-rayed and suspected to contain illegal objects or items that could jeopardize aircraft safety. Continued … 

Gulf visitor arrivals save Thai tourism from low season disaster

A surge in visitors from the Gulf countries in July saved the beleaguered Thai tourism sector from what would have been an unmitigated disaster. A few weeks of relative calm in the Gulf allowed flights to operate more or less normally, leading to a spectacular surge in arrivals during the so-called low season, lifting hotel occupancies, supporting thousands of jobs and distributing income. Even arrivals from Iran and Israel rose.

This growth would not have materialized had the US and Israel launched another attack on Iran, as they did in February, and have repeatedly threatened to do again ever since. Continued … 

Thailand to ramp up creative cities drive

Thailand aims to secure UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) recognition for two new destinations every two years as part of a national strategy to have at least 35 Thai cities designated by 2037, according to the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA).

The agency said receiving recognition is expected to increase tourism revenue in those areas by 10%-30%. The strategy calls for Thailand to achieve international standards such as the UCCN or Top 100 Sustainable Destinations by Green Destinations for 35 cities or communities by 2037. Continued … 

Resort begins demolition of buildings in national park

Another tourism operator has agreed to demolish all buildings encroaching on Thap Lan National Park, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin said yesterday.

He said the operator of Starwell Home Garden Resort began demolition work in July last year and has so far removed more than 40% of the structures. Heavy machinery will be brought in to demolish the remaining buildings, with work expected to be completed by the end of this month, he said. Continued … 

Eat your way across Thailand with TAT’s new GI food map

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has unveiled a culinary map featuring five geographical indication (GI) products from across the country, encouraging travelers to discover regional specialties recognized for their unique origins and local production methods.

The featured products include Doi Chang Coffee from Chiang Rai, Phon Yang Kham premium beef from Sakon Nakhon, Sam Phran aromatic coconut from Nakhon Pathom, Chanthaburi durian from Chanthaburi, and Trang roast pork from Trang. Each product is certified as a GI item, identifying goods whose quality or reputation is closely linked to their place of origin. Continued … 

Thailand plans rooftop solar grants of 50,000 baht per household

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has outlined plans to provide grants of 50,000 baht per household for rooftop solar installations, alongside low-interest loans from state banks.

Ekniti said the Finance Ministry was working with the Interior Ministry, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to accelerate the rooftop solar program. Continued … 

• Phuket police arrest 2 Canadians over alleged school nominees – Continued … 

• Phuket CCTV shows foreigner taking spirit house offerings – Continued … 

• Vietnamese call-center suspects held in Bangkok raid – Continued … 

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