Hua Hin wins Sustainable City Award/Anutin poised to be PM/GrabFood unveils new service/AI-based platform for PM2.5 problem/Torrential rain lashes Thailand/How can AI enhance healthcare access?/Thailand to build 16-kilometer fence/End punitive drug laws/ECONOMY: Thai inflation negative again/Thailand’s 40 reserved occupations/Thai Export growth strong in July/China’s exports to Thailand surge/TOURISM: To press on with free tickets/Camping on the beach?/New non-stop Mumbai to Phuket flight/CLIMATE THAILAND: Top 100 green tourism status/To Launch 18 Solar Farms/Airports Authority’s Net Zero Future/INTERNATIONAL/NEW PAGE – HUA HIN LINKS
Hua Hin wins ASEAN Sustainable City Award for clean air
Hua Hin has been recognized at the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities Awards, receiving a certificate of recognition in the clean air category.
The award acknowledges Hua Hin’s efforts in environmental management and air-quality improvement. It follows the selection of Hua Hin by the Department of Climate Change and Environment to represent Thailand in the clean air category at the 23rd Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable Cities. Continued …
Anutin poised to take top job with PM vote today
Anutin Charnvirakul is expected to be confirmed as Thailand’s next prime minister today, following a key political shift involving party alliances and a planned vote.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha confirmed that the parliamentary vote for the new prime minister will be held today. The move follows the latest twist in Thailand’s turbulent political landscape, which now positions Anutin at the helm, with the Pheu Thai Party’s candidate, Chaikasem Nitisiri, left in a trailing position. Continued …
GrabFood unveils new dining reservation service
GrabFood has announced the full-scale launch of its “Dine Out” service in Thailand, following last year’s acquisition of Chope, Asia’s leading dining reservation platform.
The service includes Dine Out Book Table, a new restaurant reservation feature targeting premium segments, and Dine Out Deals, designed for users seeking attractive discounts and special offers at more than 3,000 restaurants. Continued …
AI-based platform to predict nation’s PM2.5 problem
The Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), the Pollution Control Department (PCD), and satellite operator Thaicom have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an AI-powered platform to predict the country’s PM2.5 dust pollution.
The project will integrate space technology, meteorological data, and machine learning to forecast pollution hotspots up to seven days in advance. Continued …
Torrential rain lashes Thailand, TMD warns of flash floods
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) today warned of heavy rainfall across 43 provinces, urging residents to stay alert for flash floods and runoff caused by a strong monsoon system sweeping the country.
In the southern region (east coast), thunderstorms are forecast for 40% of the area, mainly in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Temperatures will range from 22°C to 35°C, with southwest winds at 15 to 35km/h. Continued …
How can AI enhance healthcare access and efficiency in Thailand?
Access to healthcare services is a major issue faced by many countries, especially within local communities. Thailand has a pressing need to integrate healthcare services to reach underserved populations.
According to Krungsri Research, the medical equipment market in Thailand, including exports, is valued at over 200 billion baht. It is projected that from 2023 to 2025, Thailand’s medical equipment market will grow by an average of 5.5%-7.0% annually. Despite this, healthcare systems globally still face constraints in resources and budgets, with many hospitals using systems that cannot fully integrate data. Continued …
Thailand to build 16-kilometer fence amid Cambodia border tensions
The Ad Hoc Center for the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation has approved the construction of a 16-kilometer fence along a disputed border area. This fence will connect Baan Nong Chan to Baan Nong Ya Kaew in Sa Kaeo province.
During a meeting, the governor of Sa Kaeo, leading the provincial center, proposed this plan. The fence aims to bolster border security and safeguard residents, following local reports of Cambodians encroaching on forest land. Continued …
ASEAN urged to end punitive drug laws
Civil society groups across Southeast Asia have called on ASEAN to move away from punitive drug policies and adopt harm-reduction measures as the bloc drafts a new post-2025 strategy.
At the “Drugs Community Forum” held in Bangkok on Tuesday, hosted by the Health & Opportunity Network and its partners, campaigners warned that ASEAN’s longstanding “drug-free” approach had failed to deliver sustainable results. Continued …
Thai inflation negative for 5th straight month
Inflation in Thailand fell for a fifth straight month in August, reflecting weaker energy and fresh food prices, and the Ministry of Commerce says it expects further declines this year.
The headline consumer price index (CPI) dropped 0.79% in August from a year earlier, more than the 0.70% fall forecast in a Reuters poll and the 0.70% decrease in the previous month. Continued …
Understanding Thailand’s 40 reserved occupations exclusively for Thai nationals
Although Thailand is relatively open in allowing foreigners to work through legal work visas, the law still restricts certain occupations exclusively for Thai nationals. Foreigners who do not receive specific exemptions are prohibited from engaging in these professions or roles.
According to the most recent legislation defining reserved occupations, there are 40 professions, grouped into four categories: Continued …
Thai Export growth remained strong in July but showed signs of slowing
In July, Thai merchandise exports grew by 11% year-on-year to $28.58 billion, slowing from 15.5% in June but still surpassing market expectations. Growth was driven by strong shipments to the US and electronic products to various markets.
Exports to the US surged by 31.4% due to front-loading before new tariffs, especially in electronics like computers and integrated circuit boards. Agricultural exports also rose significantly by 21.5%, with fresh fruit exports to China climbing 123%. Meanwhile, import growth slowed to 5.1%, with capital goods from China increasing notably, while fuel imports continued to decline. Continued …
China’s exports to Thailand surge as Commerce Ministry monitors risks
The Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), under the Ministry of Commerce, has reported a significant increase in Chinese exports to Thailand, following a study on trade diversion. The study revealed that Chinese goods are at the highest risk of flooding the Thai market, with 1,149 items imported from China, including 24 high-risk items and 166 items under surveillance, mainly in the automotive and consumer goods sectors.
The study, titled “Analysis of Trade Diversion: The Case of Chinese Goods Flooding Thailand After the US Imposed a 19% Reciprocal Tariff”, follows the US’s new tariff rates, announced on July 31, with Thailand’s 19% tariff and other countries like China (34%), Taiwan (20%), Vietnam (20%), and India (25%) facing higher tariffs. Continued …
Tourism Authority of Thailand to press on with free tickets
Though the 200,000 free domestic flight tickets scheme is still awaiting cabinet approval, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has pledged to continue promoting the scheme even if the government changes.
The TAT plans to encourage tourists to book their trips without relying on this promotion, as airfares for the high season continue to rise, said Gov. Thapanee Kiatphaibool. Continued …
Camping on the beach? Pattaya not sure
A controversial proposal to allow beach camping in Pattaya has stirred significant discontent among both tourists and long-term residents, with many concerned about the potential impact on the city’s image and its hotel industry, already under pressure.
The plan suggests permitting camping on the beach for a fee, but critics are vocal about its drawbacks. A European visitor questioned the practicality and cleanliness, remarking, “Beach camping, and what toilets are the campers using?”. The remark underscores fears that the beaches, already grappling with litter issues, could suffer further pollution. Continued …
New non-stop Mumbai to Phuket flight to start Sept 20
Mumbai, India’s bustling financial capital, is now directly connected to one of Thailand’s most coveted tourist destinations, Phuket, thanks to the launch of a new flight route by Akasa Air planned for Sept. 20.
This non-stop service promises to revolutionize travel between India and Thailand, offering an efficient and seamless journey, leaving behind the long layovers and connecting flights that previously plagued the route. Continued …
Thailand aims for top 100 green tourism status by 2030
Thailand is stepping up its eco-game with the launch of the Thailand Green Tourism Plan 2030, aiming to position the nation’s destinations among the world’s top 100 sustainable tourism hotspots by 2030.
The plan, themed “Igniting the Path to Global Green Success”, was announced by the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The goal is clear: to strike a long-term balance between economic growth, environmental protection, and social responsibility while also boosting Thailand’s global standing in the tourism sector. Continued …
Absolute Clean Energy Plans to Launch 18 Solar Farms by Year’s End
Absolute Clean Energy (ACE) plans to achieve a commercial operation date (COD) on 18 additional solar energy projects by the end of this year, with a total capacity of 117.30 MW, in which 59.35 MW will be under power purchase agreement (PPA).
Ten of these projects are solar farm projects, with a total capacity of 115.28 MW, and 57.33 MW is under PPA. Six are already scheduled for COD within 3Q25. As for the remaining eight projects, they are solar rooftop projects, with a total capacity of 2.02 MW for PPA. Continued …
Thailand’s Airports Authority Charts Course for Net Zero Future
Airports of Thailand (AOT) has unveiled an ambitious environmental strategy positioning the nation’s six major airports as regional leaders in sustainable aviation, with plans to achieve net zero emissions ahead of Thailand’s national target of 2065.
The comprehensive 20-year roadmap focuses on transforming Thailand’s aviation infrastructure through three core initiatives: renewable energy adoption, electric vehicle integration, and green building standards. Continued …
Congo announces new Ebola outbreak
The Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed a new outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus yesterday, marking its 16th such outbreak. Three years after the last case, the country reported 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, with a fatality rate of approximately 53.6%. Continued …
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