- Thailand holds pump prices/Viagra shows potential against cancer/Thai Singer Nene Royal Advances/Social Media’s Dark Influence
- THE IRAN WAR: Mediator Pakistan says US-Iran talks ongoing
- ECONOMY: Thailand’s Middle East trade deficit expands/Scheme offers limited boost/Ministry speeds up high-speed rail/’Missing Link’ misgivings
- TOURISM: Tourist growth straining destinations/Samui water shortage/Thailand’s largest island records decline/Thailand Plans ‘Wellness Sandboxes’
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Wild tiger population reaches 210
- HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Thailand holds pump prices despite fuel subsidy cuts
Retail fuel prices in Thailand remained unchanged yesterday, despite the Oil Fuel Fund reducing subsidies for several diesel and gasohol products and raising the contribution collected from petrol.
The Oil Fuel Fund Executive Committee revised the rates paid into and disbursed from the fund, with the changes taking effect on Wednesday. The committee said the adjustments were intended to reflect current energy-price conditions. Continued …
Viagra shows potential against cancer spread
Best known as Viagra, the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil started off as a treatment for reduced blood flow but soon saw its value spike after its other effects became clear.
The blue pill could have more uses, according to research by scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Tel Aviv. The team found indications that it curbs cancer metastasis via a “newly discovered biological mechanism” drawing upon the drug’s blood dilatation effects. Continued …
Thai Singer Nene Royal Advances to AGT Judges’ Callbacks
Phuket-born singer and guitarist Nene Royal has confirmed she has advanced to the “Judges’ Callbacks” stage on season 21 of America’s Got Talent (AGT), following a promotional teaser released by network NBC. In a short video shared across her Facebook accounts, the Thai musician told fans that her callback performance is scheduled to air on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
“Next step ‘JUDGES CALLED BACK’ starts on air 4 August! But mine is on air 11 of August! SEE YA!” she posted, confirming her place in the newly introduced stage of the reality talent competition. Continued …
Social Media’s Dark Influence on Thailand’s Foreign Relations
Diplomacy is no longer confined to diplomats and politicians. Increasingly, and for better or worse, people-to-people relations shape ties between two nations. It is not just face-to-face contact, but the use of social media that shapes the trajectory relations between two nations.
Two examples are apparent in Thailand: relations with Cambodia, and China. The toxic tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are at least a year old, if not longer. They have left both governments needing to ensure that they are not seen as too soft on the other country following two brief undeclared wars last year. This, unfortunately, means that any normalization of relations between Thailand and Cambodia is partly dictated by angry netizens in both countries. Continued …
Mediator Pakistan says US-Iran talks ongoing as foes trade attacks
Mediator Pakistan insisted yesterday that negotiations between Iran and the United States were ongoing, even as Washington carried out a “heavy wave of strikes” on its foe in retaliation for fresh attacks targeting Jordan.
The last two days have seen Saudi Arabia join the US in striking militant groups in Iraq, while Egypt has come under fire for the first time with a drone attack at a Mediterranean port, leading its president to warn that the Middle East conflict is facing a serious escalation. Continued …
Thailand’s Middle East trade deficit expands as exports contract
Geopolitical conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran erupted in late February. Although negotiation efforts produced an agreement at one stage, fighting subsequently resumed, leaving shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea facing uncertainty.
This has significantly affected transport costs and international trade, including Thailand’s trade with the Middle East. Data from the Information and Communication Technology Center of the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, showed that Thailand’s trade with 15 Middle Eastern countries totaled B741.95268 billion in the first six months of 2026, from January to June, up 8.3% from the same period a year earlier. Continued …
Co-payment scheme offers limited boost
As the government’s “Thai Chuay Thai Plus” co-payment scheme approaches its halfway point, industry associations view its impact as minimal. Somchai Pornrattanacharoen, honorary advisor to the Thai Wholesale and Retail Trade Association, said small retailers participating in the scheme could see sales rise by up to 50% during the program.
However, non-participating small operators may see sales decline by around 50%, while VAT-registered businesses could also see sales fall from normal levels. Continued …
Transport Ministry speeds up high-speed rail work
The Ministry of Transport is accelerating construction of the first phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project while preparing to launch bidding for the second phase, which will extend the line to Nong Khai and strengthen onnectivity with Laos and China to support regional trade, investment and economic growth.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn yesterday chaired the first meeting of the executive committee for the Thailand-China Railway Cooperation Project at the ministry. Participants reviewed progress on Phase 1 of the Bangkok-Nong Khai rail project and preparations for Phase 2. Continued …
‘Missing Link’ misgivings
Out of the blue, the Anutin government has made an abrupt policy U-turn by announcing it will abandon the 1-trillion-baht land bridge project. The reversal follows an official review that found the original project carried significant financial risks and uncertain economic returns.
Yet, the mega-infrastructure scheme has long been controversial, raising the question of why the government ignored repeated warnings and previous studies, or failed to conduct its own review before promoting the project so aggressively at home and abroad. Continued …
Thailand warned tourist growth is straining destinations
Thailand must stop measuring tourism success simply by visitor numbers and build a system that protects destinations, local communities and infrastructure, according to two researchers at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).
Nopparuj Chindasombatcharoen and Wirin Khowrat said tourism remains one of Thailand’s largest income sources, but rising arrivals can also place severe pressure on natural resources, public services and the industry’s future competitiveness. Continued …
Samui yearns for investment to address water shortage
A severe drought and the peak travel season have left Koh Samui facing a water shortage that is affecting businesses, prompting tourism operators to call for greater investment in water infrastructure to keep pace with rising visitor numbers.
Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said tourism in Samui this year is performing better than usual despite the Middle East conflict, as the resumption of flights has encouraged tourists to plan their trips. Continued …
Thailand’s largest island records decline in hotel guests in first half
Phuket, Thailand’s largest resort island, welcomed 6.04 million hotel guests between January and June, down 2.72% from a year earlier, as international arrivals declined amid the conflict in the Middle East.
Revenue per available room, a key measure of hotel performance, dropped 8.7% from a year earlier, according to the research and advisory division of Cushman & Wakefield Thailand. Hotel occupancy also slipped, averaging 80% during the six-month period, down from 84.1% a year earlier. Continued …
Thailand Plans ‘Wellness Sandboxes’ to Drive Economic Growth
The private sector and Thailand’s Department of Health Service Support (HSS) are collaborating to push for the creation of “Wellness Special Economic Zones”. The scheme will begin with a three-to-five-year pilot phase dubbed the “Wellness Sandbox”, designed to generate economic value, stimulate employment, and attract foreign investors.
A central proposal is the introduction of a “super license” to bypass overlapping legal restrictions between the hotel and healthcare sectors, which currently hinder integrated services. Potential sandbox zones include the Andaman region, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, and Chiang Rai. Continued …
Wild tiger population in Thailand’s protected reserves reaches 210
The wild tiger population in Thailand’s protected forests has risen to at least 210, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).
The adult wild tiger population is currently estimated between 210 and 257, making Thailand the only country in Southeast Asia demonstrating a sustainable upward trend in wild tiger numbers. Continued …
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