- Thailand advances road and bridge plans/Panthers and Leopards Spotted/Traffic police ordered to unmask/South Thailand flood warning/Rain, runoff, rocks and mud slam Phuket/80th in rule of law index/Birth rate crisis/Thai woman sells house opposite police station
- ECONOMY: Data-center boom could flood villages/50.4% expect cost rises/$690 million Advanced Materials Investment/PM expects Thai GDP growth to exceed 2.1%/Free-trade pact with European Union/Thailand sets new payment deadlines/Thailand assesses trade risks amid European protests
- TOURISM: Thailand 66th in Passport Index/Thailand trails in international flight growth
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Best Places To Retire/Thailand’s Golf Market
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Province hailed for green rice farming
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Thailand advances nine southern road and bridge plans
Thailand’s Transport Ministry is pushing nine road and bridge projects worth more than 240 billion baht to ease southern traffic bottlenecks and support the regional economy. Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn called for faster development of southern routes, which he said had lagged behind.
Phiphat pointed to heavy reliance on the Phetkasem and Rama II road corridor as a cause of recurring congestion, particularly during major holidays. The Pak Tho–Pran Buri project would widen a route parallel to Phetkasem Road from four lanes to eight, running toward Phetchaburi through Kaeng Krachan before reaching Pran Buri. Continued …
Two Black Panthers and Three Leopards Spotted in Kaeng Krachan Forest
Five young big cats, two black panthers and three leopards, were spotted together in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi Province. According to Mongkol Chaiphakdee, head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, the rare sighting occurred on yesterday morning along the road leading to Ban Krang, close to the Khao Sam Yot ranger station.
The animals were discovered between by Natnalee Suraplanan (“Nong”), an independent wildlife photographer. She reported seeing five juvenile cats, estimated to be between two and three years old, consisting of two black panthers and three leopards. Park officials believe they may be siblings from the same parents, although scientific confirmation is still required.
Black Panthers and leopards are not separate species, but simply Leopards born with an increased amount of dark pigments. These melanistic genes can be inherited and passed down with siblings in the same litter born with different colored fur. – Destination Cha-am
Traffic police ordered to unmask, start with warnings, not take bribes
Traffic police nationwide have been ordered to always show their face when disciplining motorists, to start with warnings before progressive fines, and not to take proffered bribes.
Pol Lt. Gen. Nithithorn Chintakanont, assistant national police chief, said yesterday the written order had been sent to police units in Bangkok and all provinces. Traffic police were instructed to not wear full-face helmets or any other facial covering when dealing with road users, so that people could see their faces. Continued …
South Thailand flood warning covers Phuket and Samui
Thailand’s Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) has warned that 14 southern provinces face heavy to very heavy rain, flash floods, runoff, river overflows and urban flooding from today through Thursday.
The alert covers popular foreign visitor areas, including Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Hat Yai. Travelers and residents should allow extra time for road journeys, monitor local alerts, and avoid driving or walking through floodwater. Continued …
Rain, runoff, rocks and mud slam Phuket
Persistent rain caused runoff that washed big rocks and mud into communities and tourist venues in this southern island province early this morning.
As much as 142.8 millimeters of rain pounded Phuket over 24 hours, generating runoff that tore into communities and attractions in tambon Patong of Kathu district. Damaged areas included Na Nai Nai 5 and 8 roads. Shopfront windows were shattered and many vehicles inundated. Continued …
Thailand falls to 80th in rule of law index
Thailand has dropped three places to 80th out of 143 countries in the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index. The decline was driven by weaker scores for anti-corruption measures and regulatory enforcement.
Thailand received an overall score of 0.50 out of 1.00. It ranked 10th among 15 countries in East Asia and the Pacific, and 24th among 44 upper-middle-income countries worldwide. The index assesses eight areas of the rule of law, including checks on government power, rights, justice systems, corruption and enforcement of regulations. Continued …
Birth rate crisis: Why are young Thais refusing to have kids
This video investigates Thailand’s birth rate crisis, exploring how skyrocketing living costs, broken education systems, and lack of state support are pushing young Thais away from parenthood. Video …
Thai woman sells house opposite police station after three break-ins
A Thai woman put her house up for sale yesterday, after it was broken into three times in three years, despite being located opposite several police and government facilities in Khon Kaen province. The homeowner said repeated burglaries had continued despite several security upgrades, leaving her unwilling to keep the property.
The property is in Sila subdistrict, Mueang Khon Kaen district, opposite the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Regional Center 6, a Tourist Police office and the Provincial Police Region 4 training center. Continued …
Thailand’s data-center boom could flood villages and forests
Thailand has approved plans for a major reservoir in Chanthaburi that could flood forest, wildlife habitat and rural communities, as officials seek more water for the rapidly expanding eastern seaboard.
The proposed Khlong Wang Tanot reservoir, around four hours southeast of Bangkok, would hold 99.5 million cubic meters of water. It is intended to strengthen supplies for local farms, households and, eventually, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), where new industry and data centers are driving demand. Continued …
Thai SME survey finds 50.4% expect cost rises in six months
A survey by the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) found that 50.4% of Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) surveyed expect business costs to rise over the next six months.
Sangchai Theerakulwanich, chairman for strategy at the Federation of Thai SMEs, said rising costs were putting businesses under pressure as consumer purchasing power weakened. Continued …
AI and EV Boom Drives $690 million Advanced Materials Investment Surge into Thailand
Surging global demand for artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles (EVs), and clean energy technology has driven $690 million (23.5 billion baht) in advanced materials investment proposals into Thailand, according to the government’s investment promotion agency.
The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) confirmed that global manufacturers have submitted 35 advanced materials projects between 2023 and the first half of 2026. Continued …
PM expects Thai GDP growth to exceed 2.1% in 2026
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed confidence Friday that Thailand’s economy would grow by more than 2.1% this year, citing improvements in investment, exports, employment and tax receipts.
Anutin has asked the state planning agency to reassess the projection. Anutin said stronger economic indicators warranted a fresh examination of the growth outlook. Continued …
Free-trade pact with European Union shaping up for end of year
Thailand and the European Union could potentially conclude their free-trade agreement by the end of 2026. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has indicated that the talks are in their final stages and could reach a conclusion by year-end, provided there is sufficient mutual political will. The negotiations have reached a critical phase, with the 10th round of talks having made significant progress on the negotiating text.
While most issues have been concluded, some complexities remain regarding market access, services, and investment sectors. Authorities are also closely monitoring potential impacts on sensitive industries and evaluating the readiness of various sectors to ensure a balanced and mutually acceptable agreement. – Bangkok Post AI
Thailand sets new payment deadlines to ease cash flow pressures on SMEs
Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun’s push for fairer trade has advanced with new rules addressing the lengthy payment periods imposed on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by large trading partners.
The Trade Competition Commission’s notification was published in the Royal Gazette on Friday and will take effect on Nov. 2. The move marks another important step toward improving trade rules, reducing disparities in bargaining power and increasing liquidity for smaller businesses. Continued …
Thailand assesses trade risks amid protests in six European countries
Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun has instructed trade officials to assess potential risks and provide guidance to businesses as demonstrations continue in several parts of Europe.
The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and Thailand’s overseas trade promotion offices are monitoring developments and evaluating possible consequences for international trade. Continued …
Thailand ranks 66th in Passport Index
Thailand has slipped to 66th place in the 2026 Henley Passport Index ranking. The Henley Passport Index unveiled its global rankings for October, with Singapore securing the top spot. Japan, South Korea and the UAE share the second position, with access to 188 destinations, while Sweden ranks third with a score of 187.
The Henley Passport Index is a widely recognized ranking of passports. It covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations, providing comprehensive and reliable insights into international travel freedom and global mobility. Continued …
Thailand trails rivals in international flight growth
Thailand is falling behind several Asian rivals in international flight growth, as foreign tourist arrivals decline and direct services to some major resort destinations are cut ahead of the high season.
Kasikorn Research Center said scheduled incoming international flights to Thailand will rise by 5.8% in the final quarter of 2026, above global growth of 2.5%. However, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, South Korea and Singapore are all expanding faster. Continued …
Best Places To Retire: Chiang Mai, Phuket, Or Hua Hin?
Maintaining Distinctive Thai Golf Market
Thailand is not simply a golf market. It’s one of Asia’s most closely watched golf destinations – a country where the condition of a fairway at 7 am on a Tuesday can directly influence a TripAdvisor rating, a tour operator’s rebooking decision, and a golfer’s next holiday itinerary.
With approximately 250 golf courses, the stakes of course management in Thailand carry a commercial weight that few other markets in Southeast Asia can match. Varit Pakdeeyingyong, Thailand country manager at Jebsen & Jessen, discusses what makes the Thai golf market genuinely distinctive – and what it demands of the people and technology that keep its courses playing at their best. Continued …
Province hailed for green rice farming
The low-carbon rice project in Suphan Buri was established as a flagship pilot to test climate-smart farming techniques, specifically to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Research conducted by the Suphan Buri Rice Research Center has demonstrated that implementing alternate wetting and drying (AWD) water management can reduce methane emissions by as much as 84%.
This initiative is part of the Thai Rice GCF project, a multi-sector collaboration backed by approximately 18.4 billion baht from the Green Climate Fund. Beyond environmental benefits, the project focuses on enhancing production efficiency and increasing income for local farmers through these new water-management technologies. – Bangkok Post AI
French premium meat seized at Suvarnabhumi
Thai authorities have seized more than 2,000 kilograms of premium meat and animal products from France at Suvarnabhumi Airport, saying the shipment was brought in without the required livestock import permission. The goods, valued at 1,201,850 baht, were concealed among seafood and other agricultural products. Continued …
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Customs log 40 cannabis arrests in 24 days, Indians top arrest list – Continued …
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Vietnamese gang held over Bangkok ‘zombie vape’ factory – Continued …
Flights resume at Riyadh airport as Houthis attack Saudi Arabia
Flights resumed at Riyadh’s international airport yesterday following a series of deadly attacks on the facility that saw it closed for two weeks, even as Yemen’s Houthis targeted the country with strikes. Continued …
Iran has ramped up efforts to target US personnel, intelligence memo warns
Iran has ramped up efforts to target US personnel, and lethal plots by Tehran against American citizens have reached “advanced stages”, a senior intelligence official in the Trump administration warned in a memo. The alert from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton came after Washington scaled back staffing at its mission in Saudi Arabia earlier this week in response to intensified attacks by Iran-allied Houthi forces. Continued …
Houthis say they targeted Saudi oil sites; attacks reported in Aden
Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthis said they launched attacks on Saudi oil facilities and airports on Saturday, and the Saudi-led coalition fighting the group said it downed two missiles, as clashes between the two sides intensified. Yemen’s Saudi-backed government said the Houthis also fired three ballistic missiles at coast guard sites in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden. Continued …
Sydney’s new airport opens to passengers
Sydney’s new $3.94 billion (A$5.6 billion) airport opened to passengers yesterdayafter more than a decade of planning, in what Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said was a milestone for the country’s most populous city. Video …
Lula wins historic fourth term in Brazil, denying Trump a close ally
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won reelection on Saturday, pulling off a stunning comeback to secure a fourth term in office and defeat conservative candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, an ally of US President Donald Trump. The 80-year-old liberal leader defeated Bolsonaro with 51.76% of the vote in the country’s runoff election, in which affordability and the country’s relationship with the United States were prominent issues. 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
Starting times for the Hua Hin Marathon 2026 have been confirmed, with organizers expecting more than 3,500 runners to take part in the annual race on Sunday, May 10. The event will include four race distances and aims to raise funds for environmental conservation in the city.
Dear Doctors: I just read about people who are called super-agers and how they don’t have the memory problems that happen when you get older. Supposedly, they have more brain cells. Do you know if that’s true? The idea of super-agers is really interesting, and I want to know more.
Thailand is facing the risk of water shortages after its “source water” reserves, stored supplies used during the dry season, declined due to climate change and El Niño.
Thailand’s economy is being hit by what economists describe as a “cost tsunami”, as the Middle East conflict enters its third month following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, driving up energy prices and placing pressure on both businesses and households.
Thailand’s medical device industry is facing potential supply shortages by July due to rising costs influenced by global energy instability and restricted exports from China. Jarudech Kunadilok, chairman of MEDIC, highlighted that soaring logistics expenses and increased prices for essential materials like plastic resins threaten production.
Thailand is attracting significant foreign investment from major tech companies, despite recent economic challenges. Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and ByteDance have committed billions to expand digital infrastructure, marking a notable shift in Thailand’s economic landscape.
By almost every traditional metric, Thailand is winning the digital race. From the neon-lit boardrooms of the Eastern Economic Corridor to the street-side stalls of Chiang Mai, the nation’s digital “plumbing” is among the most sophisticated in the world.
There is a phrase that has quietly become the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) defining axiom for our era: there is no AI without energy. It sounds simple enough. But the International Energy Agency’s newly published report, Key Questions on Energy and AI, shows just how staggeringly complex and urgent that relationship has become.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has been appointed to lead a government committee tasked with studying the proposed land bridge project within a 90-day timeframe, according to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Thailand will benefit from its southern land bridge project, as the Strait of Malacca is to reach full capacity in 10 years, according to Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat.
The housing market in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) continued to soften in 2025, with both demand and supply contracting year-on-year, according to the Real Estate Information Center (REIC).
Thailand is seeking to reposition its healthcare sector as a strategic investment engine, moving beyond a buyer-seller model toward long-term partnerships in clinical research, drug production, medical AI, and advanced healthcare technology.
Thai Union Group expects a positive outlook for the pet food business, although Thailand’s pet food export growth is expected to moderate this year.
Thailand’s tourism sector is facing an unprecedented convergence of crises, as geopolitical tensions, soaring energy costs, and structural economic weaknesses collide to form what analysts are calling a “perfect storm.”
The Koh Phi Phi islands in Thailand deliver some of the most breathtaking scenery you’re ever likely to see. Set in the Andaman Sea, they’re made up of dramatic limestone cliffs and white sand bays surrounded by turquoise waters filled with tropical fish.
Video of Railay Beach, Krabi
Vilhelm Academy: Western qualifications for Hua Hin-based students
Bangkok’s Street Food Scene Is Disappearing
Stronger promotion of solar power by Thai authorities amid an energy crisis holds promise, but still faces challenges, say industry analysts. Clean energy is in the spotlight after global conflicts continue to push electricity prices higher, leaving households and businesses vulnerable to volatility.
Chief government whip Korrawee Prissananantakul yesterday expressed confidence that the Clean Air Bill, which lapsed with the previous House, will be approved by the cabinet within the set timeframe.
As wildfires swept through forests across Thailand, animals fled through smoke and flames. Experts urged the government to act more proactively to tackle the wildfires, particularly by adopting modern technology.
TotalEnergies ENEOS has entered into a long-term agreement with Jintana Intertrade, a garment manufacturer in Thailand, to supply solar power to its production facility. The two companies have signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) that will support the installation and operation of a 1.2 MWp solar photovoltaic system at the factory.