- Hua Hin water meter survey/Cha-am-Bangkok motorway/Avani+ Hua Hin appoints new GM//Kaeng Krachan tigers doing fine/Global Tiger Day/Lat Phrao fire death toll
- THE IRAN WAR: US launches further strikes
- ECONOMY: Phuket and Samui: Global Property Investment Hubs/Thailand Pushes 27-billion-baht Rail Link/Revenue collection exceeds target/Foreign patients drive hospital expansion/Asia-Pacific Poverty Threatens 2.3 Billion
- TOURISM: Drawn to Thailand for Sex Tourism/Italian and Spanish tourists decline
- THAILAND EXPERIENCE: 24 things not to do in Thailand
- CLIMATE THAILAND: Water security fears grow/Southeast Asia’s EV Race Heats Up
- FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY/INTERNATIONAL/HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS
Hua Hin water meter survey underway
Hua Hin City’s Waterworks Division has launched a citywide survey to update customer water meter records and improve the efficiency of meter-reading routes.
The project began on July 16 and will continue until Sept. 13. During this period, a contractor’s survey team will visit water meters throughout the municipality to verify customer information, record GPS coordinates, take photographs and update the municipal database. Continued …
Cha-am-Bangkok motorway plans addressed
Plans for a new motorway intended to improve road travel between the Cha-am area and Bangkok are expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval later this year. The Department of Highways is preparing to seek approval for the first phase of the M8 intercity motorway, covering 61 kilometers between Nakhon Pathom and Pak Tho in Ratchaburi province.
The proposed M8 will eventually extend for 109 kilometers from Nakhon Pathom through Pak Tho to Cha-am. The route is intended to provide an alternative to Phetkasem Road for motorists traveling between Bangkok, Cha-am, Hua Hin and other parts of the upper south. Continued …
Avani+ Hua Hin appoints new general manager
Avani+ Hua Hin Resort has appointed Kanruethai Roongruang as its new general manager, bringing more than 25 years of hospitality experience across Thailand and international markets.
A seasoned hospitality leader, Kanruethai joins Avani+ Hua Hin Resort with a wealth of expertise spanning resort operations, wellness, commercial strategy, business development, and luxury hospitality management. Throughout her career, she has led award-winning resorts and high-performing teams, driving business growth. Continued …
Cameras show Kaeng Krachan tigers doing fine
A collection of camera-trap images documenting Kaeng Krachan tigers over eight years has been released as evidence of the continued health of the forest ecosystem. The images were shared yesterday to mark Global Tiger Day.
The collection documents the presence of tigers in the Kaeng Krachan forest complex from 2019 to 2026, providing a record of their development, behavior and survival in the wild. Continued …
Global Tiger Day: How we’re helping wild tigers
Tigers once roamed across Asia, playing a vital role in keeping ecosystems healthy by controling herbivore numbers and allowing forest vegetation to thrive. However, habitat loss, poaching and the illegal wildlife trade caused numbers to drastically drop, and today, only about 5,574 tigers are estimated to be left in the wild.
Recovering tiger populations isn’t just important for the survival of this species. Protecting tigers also means the protecting forests and grasslands across Asia that support countless other species – from birds to elephants – and provide people with clean water and protection from the impacts of climate change. Continued …
Lat Phrao fire death toll rises to 37
The death toll from the fire at the Na Lat Phrao entertainment venue in Bangkok has reached 37 after a 25-year-old customer died at Rajavithi Hospital early yesterday.
Oranong Sarisri had been treated for injuries since the blaze, which broke out late on July 12. The fire had previously killed 36 people, either at the scene or after hospital treatment, while 79 people suffered burn injuries. Continued …
US launches further strikes on Iran amid regional military action
Military action spanning Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt widened the five-month Middle East conflict yesterday, with the United States beginning another round of strikes on Iran.
US Central Command announced that US forces had begun launching strikes against Iran. It added, “The strikes are a powerful response to yesterday’s attempted Iranian attacks on U.S. forces based in the Middle East.” Continued …
Phuket and Samui Evolve into Global Property Investment Hubs
Thailand’s premier resort islands of Phuket and Koh Samui are rapidly transitioning from traditional holiday destinations into major global real estate investment hubs, driven by evolving international buyer demographics and expanding private investment networks.
While Russian buyers maintain their dominant market position in Phuket, Israeli investors are emerging as a fast-growing influence on Koh Samui and nearby Koh Phangan, according to a media report. Continued …
Thailand Pushes 27-billion-baht Rail Link Connecting Gulf to Andaman Coast
The Ministry of Transport is pushing ahead with a strategic 27-billion-baht ($750 million) dual-track railway line connecting Chumphon to Ranong Port, aiming to link Thailand’s primary national rail system with a deep-sea port on the Andaman coast for the first time.
Speaking yesterday, Deputy Minister of Transport Sanphet Boonyamanee outlined the initiative as a critical step in completing a “missing link” within the national logistics framework, aligning with infrastructure policies set out by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Continued …
Revenue collection exceeds state target
Government revenue collection has exceeded its target by 2.4% for the first nine months of fiscal 2026, reflecting the country’s economic recovery.
The Finance Ministry reported net government revenue collected during the first nine months of fiscal 2026, covering October 2025 to June 2026, totaled 2.15 trillion baht, outpacing the official estimate by 50.9 billion baht, or 2.4%. Continued …
Foreign patients drive EEC hospital expansion
Foreign patients are increasing in Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) hospitals as investment in the industrial zone grows, says Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, part of the Phyathai-Paolo Hospital Group.
The EEC, which spans parts of Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao, has become a magnet for foreign direct investment, especially in industries such as electric vehicles and supply chains. Continued …
Asia-Pacific Poverty Threatens 2.3 Billion Well Beyond the Poorest Nations
There is a comforting myth that poverty in Asia and the Pacific is a story about the region’s least-developed economies. The assumption goes that if we can just lift the poorest nations, the job is largely done.
The groundwork being laid for the 2026 Social Outlook for Asia and the Pacific, now being reviewed by experts from academia, research institutions, UN agencies, and governments, tells a far less comfortable story. Continued …
Why Men Are Drawn to Thailand for Sex Tourism
Thailand has become a popular destination for men seeking companionship and intimacy, largely due to the country’s vibrant nightlife and perceived affordability. The appeal lies in its entertainment districts teeming with bars, clubs, and massage parlors that promise an exhilarating experience.
Many tourists are drawn by the notion of an adventure that combines exotic allure with a sense of liberation. Cultural perceptions also play a role, as some men view Thailand as a place where societal norms are different, allowing for more freedom in personal interactions. Continued …
Italian and Spanish tourists to Thailand record sharp declines
Italian and Spanish tourist arrivals registered the biggest dips among European markets in the first six months of the year, with Italians posting lower spending than European peers due to a sluggish economy, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Prakaipruek Damrongvadha, director of the TAT’s Rome office, said southern Europe recorded arrivals growth of 22% year-on-year in 2025, reaching 1.1 million arrivals and generating 71 billion baht in revenue, with growth continuing in the first quarter of this year. Continued …
24 things not to do in Thailand
Water security fears grow
A series of emerging reports in recent weeks concerning tight water supplies and river pollution in central and northern Thailand mean the nation is now facing a challenging water security situation, experts say.
The reports include a Thai-owned waste-management plant in Saraburi province that has allegedly been polluting canals with heavy metals, a case of transboundary water pollution in Chiang Rai province caused by unregulated mining activity in a neighboring country, and a local protest against the construction of a Chinese-owned mining plant in Kanchanaburi province due to fears of pollution. Continued …
Southeast Asia’s EV Race Heats Up
Southeast Asia has quietly become one of the most contested electric vehicle battlegrounds on the planet. Vietnam and Singapore have pushed EV sales shares to roughly 40% of new car sales, a level that now exceeds the UK and the EU, while Indonesia has overtaken the United States on EV penetration and Thailand has sold more EVs in three quarters of 2025 than Denmark managed in the same period, according to energy think tank Ember.
The region’s electric car sales more than doubled year on year, the International Energy Agency notes in its 2026 Global EV Outlook, with Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand leading the charge. Continued …
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Phuket police seek Russian over mall robbery – Continued …
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Chinese burglary suspects arrested at Suvarnabhumi – Continued …
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British vlogger launches racist tirade against Thais, then blames AI – Continued …
US Fed holds rates at 3.50–3.75% as inflation remains above 2% target
The US Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest-rate target unchanged at 3.50–3.75% yesterday, extending its pause for a fifth consecutive meeting as inflation remained above the central bank’s 2% target. The Federal Open Market Committee voted nine to three to maintain the target range, a decision that was broadly expected by financial markets. Continued …
Up to 23 feared dead in Japan quake
Up to 23 people were feared dead today after a major earthquake in Japan, with four bodies now pulled out from the tangled wreckage of a shopping mall ripped apart by a suspected massive gas explosion. The Kumamoto disaster-management office’s latest tally put fatalities at 17 and those without vital signs at six, with five more in critical condition two days after the 7.1-magnitude tremor. 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
Thailand has been named the second-best country in the world for retirement in 2026, according to the Retirement Abroad Index 2026 published by Expatriate Group. The ranking places Thailand behind the Philippines and ahead of destinations including Colombia, Portugal, Spain, and France.
JAS and Monomax’s acquisition of FIFA World Cup rights is more than a broadcast deal. It is a strategic move to turn football’s biggest tournament into a long-term sports and entertainment ecosystem, offering all 104 World Cup 2026 matches on Monomax while putting more than 40 matches on free TV.
Cybercriminals are using the FIFA World Cup to launch scams and steal credentials, warns FortiGuard Labs, the research arm of cybersecurity firm Fortinet.
Last Tuesday, US President Donald Trump told journalists that the United States and Iran are “in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal”.
Global growth is forecast to slow to 2.5% in 2026, down from 2.9% in 2025. Forecasts for two-thirds of economies have been downgraded relative to January of this year. Global growth is expected to improve to 2.8% in 2027 but will remain 0.4 percentage point below the average during the 2010s.
Thailand’s labor market is facing growing pressure from demographic change, education mismatch, and the rise of artificial intelligence, with four major occupational groups at risk of disruption.
The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) fell to 49.5 in May, the lowest level since December 2022, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) said yesterday.
The Bank of Thailand says it is confident about the baht’s stability despite recent depreciation against the US dollar amid heightened external uncertainties.
Vitai Ratanakorn, governor of the Bank of Thailand (BOT), said in his opening remarks at the IMF Economic Review Conference, held under the theme “Power, Markets, and Strategy in a Changing Global Order”, that over recent decades, trade liberalization, global financial integration, and regional co-operation had been key drivers of economic growth and opportunities for countries in Asia and around the world.
Water is no longer simply a basic factor for consumption or agriculture in the modern era. It has become a decisive factor in foreign investors’ decisions and part of the national security strategy.
Greater Bangkok’s condominium market is facing a heavy stock overhang of around 350,000 unsold units, which could take five to six years to clear, according to Knight Frank Thailand.
Ahead of the Feb. 8 general election, politicians often came to court voters like 69-year-old rice farmer Chaon Taiupok in Ayutthaya, about 80 kilometers north of Bangkok.
Phuket is preparing to host the Phuket Health Expo 2026 from July 1–5 in a bid to better connect with global health and wellness networks.
A minister attached to the prime minister’s office, Supamas Isarabhakdi, has ordered increased inspections of amusement parks and water parks nationwide following concerns about consumer safety. The directive was announced during a safety inspection at Siam Amazing Park in Bangkok conducted with officials from the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) and other relevant agencies.
Communities across northern Thailand are raising the alarm after tests detected dangerous levels of arsenic and other heavy metals in major waterways.
Thongkham Inprom has been farming for more than six decades, growing jasmine rice and sticky rice in Chiang Rai. The 71-year-old harvests about 60 tons each year and keeps 1% for his family. The rest is sent to a rice mill and eventually sold in central Thailand.
Changan Automobile’s plant in Rayong rolled out its 20,000th vehicle, with the Qiyuan Q05 as the main model. The facility officially commenced production in May 2025 and is located in the core area of Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor.
British Defense Secretary John Healey quit yesterday, accusing beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry of failing to commit enough money to protect the country. His resignation weakens Starmer’s authority at a precarious moment for the Labor leader, a week before a by-election that could prompt a bid to replace him.