- Bangkok to Hua Hin roadway opens/Underground cables along soi 76/Vascular health seminar/Intercontinental best pet-fiendly hotel/Dengue cases cause 31 deaths/Police seize 7,872 guns/Pattaya readies for USS Abraham Lincoln/5,000 ‘fake Thais’
- THE IRAN WAR: Iran says US sanctions will achieve nothing
- ECONOMY: Cold War support accelerated Thailand’s rise/Billion-dollar data center question:/Thai MPC holds 1% policy rate/Thai vehicle sales rise
- TOURISM: Caught in the tourism trap/Airport rail contractor bows out/Roadworks to disrupt terminal access/Thai passport placed 99th
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: Restaurants Anthony Bourdain visited in Thailand
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Solar Energy in Thailand/Grid modernization strengthens clean energy shift/Thailand’s Trade Survival Test/Sustainability is the new standard/War against Thailand’s eco-defenders
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/Devastating flash floods in Nepal/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
New section of Bangkok to Hua Hin roadway opens
A 25-kilometer section of the M82 motorway between Bang Khun Thian and Ban Phaeo will open toll-free on Aug. 28, marking a long-awaited improvement for people traveling between Bangkok, Hua Hin and southern Thailand.
The opening includes a 16.4-kilometer extension from Ekkachai to Ban Phaeo, allowing drivers to use the full elevated motorway continuously from the Bang Khun Thian interchange. Continued …
Hua Hin plans underground cables along soi 76
Plans to install underground cables in Hua Hin along a 600-meter section of Soi 76, have received backing from local residents. The 71.87-million-baht project will cover the route from Hua Hin Railway Station to the junction with Naresdamri Road.
Residents approved the proposal by a show of hands during a public consultation held on Monday. Continued …
Vascular health seminar set for Sept 26
Be Well Medical Center and BPK9 International Hospital are teaming up to host an interactive health seminar in Hua Hin focusing on common vascular diseases and circulation problems.
Taking place on Saturday, Sept. 2 at iSanook Resort in Khao Takiab, the session will cover three important areas: varicose veins, blood clots and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and arterial health and circulation. Continued …
Intercontinental Hua Hin named best pet-friendly hotel
InterContinental Hua Hin Resort has been named The Most Favorite Pet-Friendly Hotel at the 16th AROUND AWARDS 2026. The annual awards, organized as part of AROUND Magazine’s 16th anniversary, recognize hotels, restaurants and lifestyle businesses across Thailand.
The resort offers several facilities and activities for guests traveling with pets, including space to play at Art Botanic Garden, a dedicated pet pool, mini-train rides and pet ice cream. Continued …
Thailand 2026 dengue cases reach 21,620, with 31 deaths
Thailand has recorded 21,620 dengue infections and 31 deaths so far this year, as the seasonal outbreak continues to gather pace, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) said yesterday.
The figures cover Jan. 1 to Aug. 19. While infections remain below both last year’s level and the 2026 forecast, the upward trend is continuing during dengue season, according to Dr. Anek Mungaomklang, the DDC’s deputy director-general at the Ministry of Public Health. Continued …
Thai police seize 7,872 guns in 15-day crackdown
Thai police say they arrested suspects in 7,261 firearms-related cases and seized 7,872 guns during a nationwide 15-day crackdown between Aug. 12-26.
The operation targeted illegal guns, military weapons, ammunition, explosives and imitation firearms, as well as unlawful sales conducted both in person and through social-media channels. Continued …
Pattaya readies for USS Abraham Lincoln crew
Pattaya is preparing for the influx of US Navy personnel when the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and two accompanying vessels are scheduled to dock at Laem Chabang from Sept. 2-6.
Around 5,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel are believed to be aboard the carrier. Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet said the city was ready to receive those who are permitted to come ashore for rest after a lengthy Middle East deployment. Continued …
Citizenship bust targets 5,000 ‘fake Thais’ in Chiang Mai
Local officials and migrants were among 20 suspects arrested in Chiang Mai as part of a fake citizenship bust believed to involve about 5,000 “fake Thais” made in just one district.
Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasit said that about 200 police and administrative officials made the arrests while raiding the places of suspects in Chai Prakan district yesterday morning, as they found a network of fake Thai citizenship issuance there. Continued …
Iran says US sanctions will achieve nothing
Iran’s president insisted yesterday the United States would achieve nothing with its new sanctions campaign after Washington laid out plans to collapse the country’s economy.
Almost six months into their war, the two sides are locked in a stalemate, with Iran keeping the key Strait of Hormuz shut and Washington persisting with a naval counter-blockade of Iran. Continued …
How US Cold War support accelerated Thailand’s rise in Southeast Asia
American money, military spending and technical assistance helped Thailand build roads, airports and modern institutions while neighboring states faced wars. The transformation brought rapid growth, but also strengthened military rule and widened social inequality.
The Friendship Highway between Saraburi and Nakhon Ratchasima looks like an ordinary part of Thailand’s transport network today. When the 147-kilometer road opened in 1958, however, it represented a profound shift in the country’s development. Continued …
The billion-dollar data center question: How much does Thailand gain?
Data centers have dominated the discourse in Thailand over the past year, becoming a symbol of technological advancement and innovation and evidence that Thailand is capturing a valuable component of the AI value chain.
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has labeled data centers the golden child of the country’s investment pipeline, with total investment value already surpassing 700 billion baht and spanning 42 projects between 2024 and now. Continued …
Thai MPC holds 1% policy rate while economic growth remains subdued
Don Nakornthab, secretary of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), announced the committee voted unanimously to keep the policy rate unchanged at 1% per annum. The technology and artificial intelligence (AI) cycle continues to provide momentum to the Thai economy, but growth remains low and uneven, he said.
Inflation is lower than previously projected, he added, although it is expected to rise over the remainder of 2026 and into early 2027. Continued …
Thai vehicle sales rise 20% in July, led by EVs
New vehicle sales in Thailand increased by over 20% to 59,196 units in July, up from 49,102 units a year earlier, according to the latest data released by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
The market was driven higher by continued strong demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), sales of which surged by 122% year-on-year to 20,990 units last month, while sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) passenger cars declined by 35% to 7,553 units. Continued …
Thailand is caught in the tourism trap
For two decades, Thailand was regarded as a sure-fire success story in the Asian travel industry. In 2019, the last year before the pandemic, just under 40 million international visitors traveled to the country, generating revenue of around three trillion baht.
That level is now further out of reach than the official statements of recent years would have suggested. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has lowered its forecast for 2026 to between 30 and 34 million international arrivals, a decline of around 18% compared with the original target. Continued …
Airport high-speed rail contractor bows out – again
A CP-linked company has reaffirmed its intention to exercise its right to end the public-private partnership for Thailand’s three-airport high-speed rail project, raising the possibility that it will stop operating the Airport Rail Link on Sept. 30.
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said Asia Era One Co. had sent a second letter to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), maintaining its request to exercise its right to terminate the partnership contract. Continued …
Suvarnabhumi roadworks to disrupt terminal access
Passengers heading to Suvarnabhumi Airport face seven months of traffic diversions on the elevated roads serving the passenger terminal, starting on Aug.31. The maintenance program will run until April 7, 2027, affecting elevated access routes to and from the terminal, which connect with Motorway No. 7, the Bangkok-Chonburi route.
Three lanes in affected sections will be closed in phases during the work, leaving two lanes open through diversions. Airport authorities warned that this could lead to slower traffic, particularly at busy times. Continued …
Thai passport placed 99th worldwide
Thailand’s passport has been ranked 99th worldwide by Passport Reports, with a mobility score of 93. The assessment places Thailand fifth among the 11 ASEAN countries and 21st among 50 Asian countries assessed.
The score should not be read as visa-free access to 93 countries. It combines 40 fully visa-free destinations, 48 where a visa on arrival or another facilitated entry process is available, and five destinations requiring an electronic travel authorization (eTA). A conventional visa or other advance approval is still needed for 105 destinations, representing 53% of those covered in the report. Continued …
The restaurants Anthony Bourdain visited in Thailand (and what he ate there)
While devout foodies will say he never really leaves the conversation, A24’s recent release of “Tony” arguably catapults the late chef, author, and television host back into the mainstream. Having visited Thailand several times, we put together a kind of checklist of restaurants in Bangkok and Chiang Mai that Anthony Bourdain once visited. True fans will know: he would have hated this listicle.
For many people, Bourdain’s first book, Kitchen Confidential, completely changed perceptions around life in the kitchen and the restaurant industry as a whole. Shattering stereotypes many may have had around the prestigious world of fine dining (verbal abuse, drug abuse, and the secrets of your brunch-time Hollandaise), the brilliant chef-turned-author wrote with incredible relatability, and a refreshingly raw honesty. Continued …
A Glimpse of Solar Energy in Thailand
Thailand is among the countries in Southeast Asia that are beginning the transition to solar energy. Yet, the journey was not sleek at first. With less than two megawatts (MW) of installed capacity, Thailand’s solar power business was at a halt in 2008.
However, the government was beginning to provide incentives for renewable energy providers, and the cost of technology was decreasing. Also, the country’s concerns over the past decade have changed from depleting domestic gas supplies to figuring out how rapidly it can increase its solar energy capacity. Solar is presently at the center of energy security, trade competitiveness, and rural development. Continued …
Grid modernization strengthens Thailand’s clean energy shift
Thailand’s move toward cleaner energy is putting greater pressure on the country’s electricity network to accommodate more renewable power while maintaining reliability, affordability and system stability.
As climate change intensifies, governments and businesses are accelerating efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Thailand has also stepped up its environmental ambitions, with a national target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Continued …
Green Rules, Real Risk: Thailand’s Trade Survival Test
Since Aug. 12, any Thai exporter shipping packaged goods into the EU has technically fallen under the bloc’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) – whether they know it or not.
Combined with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), now in its financial phase, the rules mark a structural shift in how Europe, Thailand’s fourth-largest export market, decides who gets shelf space. EXIM Thailand, the state export credit agency, has already warned that unprepared exporters risk losing orders outright. Continued …
Sustainability is the new standard for Thai businesses
As the world shifts toward a greener future, Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) is stepping up to ensure Thai businesses don’t just survive, but thrive.
In this exclusive interview, Arada Fuangtong, director-general of the DFT, explains: Why sustainability is no longer an “option” but a compulsory requirement for global trade, and more. Video …
The ongoing war against Thailand’s eco-defenders
Thailand is facing a double crisis: an overwhelming volume of illegally dumped hazardous waste and a deadly climate of intimidation against activists trying to stop it.
In Prachin Buri province, environmental campaigner Sumet Rienpongnam now lives with a bounty of 2 million baht on his head. Sumet, 54, began campaigning when the stench from a local dump site spread across his community, causing daily misery. Continued …
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Chinese-funded factory in Chonburi shut over buried waste – Continued …
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Chinese smuggling suspect arrested in Chiang Rai – Continued …
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Ukrainian arrested in Buriram after gun report – Continued …
Hundreds of tourists and locals feared dead after devastating flash floods in Nepal
At least 160 people are known to have died in massive flash floods and mudslides that engulfed a remote region on the Nepal-Tibet border. Hundreds more people, including travelers from many countries, are missing following the catastrophe. The missing tourists include more than 100 from India, 54 from the US, and 33 from the UK, as well as more than 100 from Nepal itself, according to Nepal’s tourist board. The area is popular with pilgrims and trekkers. Video …
Glacier collapse may have triggered Nepal-Tibet floods
The collapse of the lower section of a Himalayan glacier may have unleashed the ice, rock and sediment that caused catastrophic flooding near Nepal’s border with Tibet, although experts have not established why the glacier failed. Satellite images indicated that part of the glacier broke away at an altitude of about 5,200 meters before plunging approximately 1,200 meters onto the valley floor. Continued …
Canada renews push to boycott US products
Philippe Meranger just finished his grocery shopping in Montreal. The 61-year-old held several products under his arm as he said: “Tariffs hurt our economy, but they force us to buy Canadian. And I’m all for that.” Continued …
Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City proposes curbs on gasoline, diesel vehicles
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s commercialhub, is proposing to gradually restrict gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles from its downtown area from mid-2027 as part of a planned low-emission zone (LEZ). Under the proposal, the city would pilot the LEZ from July 2027 in its core downtown area and the new Thu Thiem urban area, which covers roughly 930 hectares (3.59 square miles). 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
Hua Hin drought zone areas have been officially declared as Prachuap Khiri Khan continues to face widespread water shortages following months of low rainfall and falling reservoir levels.
If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen this trend everywhere: people waking up at 5 am, putting on their running gear, heading out before sunrise… or even meeting strangers just to go for a run.
Five senior Phuket provincial officials have been transferred pending an investigation linked to allegations of extortion and bribery involving entertainment venues in Patong. The Department of Provincial Administration issued the order yesterday after complaints from business operators and nightlife workers in Bangla Road, Patong, accused state officials of demanding illegal payments and obstructing licensing procedures.
The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reported on the industrial situation in the first quarter of 2026, pointing to worrying economic warning signs as the number of factory closures rose above the number of new factory openings for the first time in two-and-a-half years, or 10 quarters.
Thailand’s industrial sentiment index dropped?for ?a second straight month in April, hurt by high oil prices, a manufacturing slowdown, and the ?war in the Middle East, the Federation of Thai Industries said yesterday. The federation said its industrial sentiment?index fell to 85.3 in April from ?88.6 in the previous month.
Thailand’s property market has entered a fresh round of intense mid-year competition, with major and mid-sized developers launching aggressive promotions to stimulate buying decisions and clear housing stock.
Thailand is aggressively positioning its wellness industry to become a top-five global hub, leveraging a current market value of approximately US$40 billion and a robust annual growth rate of 28%.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said yesterday the government’s decision to cancel the 60-day visa-free scheme for visitors from 93 countries and territories would not negatively affect Thailand’s tourism industry.
Pattaya’s tourism business association has backed the government’s decision to reduce Thailand’s visa-free stay periods from 60 days to around 30 days, saying the move could help address scammer concerns, illegal business activity, and support tourism revenue.
Authorities in Koh Samui have revoked the licenses of four tour companies after investigators found alleged nominee arrangements involving Thai nationals and foreign operators. Officials said the firms breached legal requirements governing ownership and management structures for tourism businesses in Thailand.
Thailand is considering raising its proposed tourist entry fee for foreign visitors above 300 baht, as officials review rising insurance and healthcare costs linked to the tourism sector.
In 2018, Thailand stood at the peak of its medical tourism boom. Millions of international patients traveled to the country each year, drawn by internationally trained doctors, modern hospitals, and treatment costs often significantly lower than in Western markets. Then the pandemic paused global travel.
Bangkok is among the world’s fastest-sinking cities, with scientists warning that land subsidence is accelerating the impact of rising sea levels and increasing flood risks for millions of residents.
Thailand’s old growth formula is coming under mounting pressure from rising debt, inequality, technological disruption, and environmental risk, raising urgent questions over whether the country can continue relying on the same economic model in a world being reshaped by sustainability standards, artificial intelligence, and climate stress.
The world built and commissioned more coal power in 2025, but used the polluting fuel less, with the United States the only major economy to substantially increase generation, a new analysis shows.
HSBC, Europe’s largest bank, is preparing to cut more than 20,000 jobs — roughly 10% of its global workforce — as it accelerates the adoption of artificial intelligence and automation technologies across the organization in a bid to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. 
China will?buy 200 Boeing jets and seek an extension of the trade ?agreement with the United States that was reached in Kuala Lumpur last year, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said yesterday. 
Pattaya tourists slam strong baht and bank fees
Thailand Targets 6.7 Million Chinese Tourists in 2026
Thailand temps too hot to handle, more on the way
‘Endless record heat’ in Asia as highest April temperatures recorded
Fears for Asia’s summer after recent ‘monster’ heatwave
Thailand’s sustainability leaders offer insights on transformative trends
Thai executives closely attuned to sustainability, survey finds
PM sounds alarm on Covid’s resurgence
Finance minister expects Thai exports, domestic spending to rise in Q2
Government revenue exceeds target in first six months of fiscal 2023
Survey finds household debt rising
Thailand EV registrations soar in March as buyers grab generous incentives
Marijuana Emerges as Key Issue in Thai Election
Tighter visa rules stymie Chinese groups
Human activities in Asia have reduced elephant habitat by nearly two-thirds since 1700
At least 11 dead after Indonesia ferry capsizes
Spring ocean temperatures are shockingly hot around the globe
Asia must quit coal faster to stem worst climate woes
Australia’s oldest coal-fired power plant closed amid shift toward renewable energy
