Category: The Bangkok Post

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) is expediting restoration work along Chalong Krung Road in Lat Krabang district os Bangkok after heavy rain and strong winds toppled dozens power poles, causing damage to vehicles, homes and electricity infrastructure. All traffic lanes were expected to reopen later on Saturday.

The incident occurred on Friday evening, when thunderstorms and strong gusts hit the district in eastern Bangkok, particularly along Chalong Krung Road. The powerful winds caused rows of electricity poles to break loose and topple in succession, crushing more than 30 vehicles travelling on the road or parked nearby.

Four people were reported injured, with three of them treated at hospital.

Power and communication lines were torn down and scattered across the road surface, disrupting electricity supply, telecommunications and internet service in the area. Police immediately closed the affected traffic lanes to ensure public safety.

The affected stretch of road runs from the Lam Ko Phai bridge to the traffic lights in front of Lat Krabang Industrial Estate. Separate detour routes for small vehicles and large trucks were set up, leading to some congestion on nearby roads, according to local reports.

ML Julachak Chakrabandhu, the MEA assistant governor, visited the site on Saturday to observe operations, saying that more than 80% of the fallen poles and debris had been cleared using cranes and heavy machinery.

A detailed inspection found that 32 power poles measuring 22 metres and 57 poles measuring 32 metres were damaged he said.

However, repairs and installation of replacement poles are expected to take additional time and must be carried out with extra caution because gas pipelines are located below ground, requiring careful excavation work.

Efforts were under way to clear all obstructions and restore full traffic flow on Chalong Krung Road, although some congestion may persist in sections where electrical repairs are ongoing.

ML Julachak said the authority was prepared to take responsibility for all eligible damages arising from the incident, including medical expenses for injured persons and repair costs for damaged vehicles, buildings and residential properties. Those affected could submit claims directly to the MEA, he said.

The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) is drafting a new electronic transactions law to replace the 2001 edition, aiming to strengthen trust in these interactions, facilitate their use, and improve the confidence of participants.

These improvements are expected to enhance Thailand’s competitiveness in a digital society, said the agency.

An online public hearing on the draft was held from May 12 to June 15. The new law is scheduled to come into force 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, according to the draft.

The new law does not apply to transactions that require people to show up in person in front of officials, or transactions where people have to express consent in person in front of officials, or transactions that are inappropriate as e-transactions.

Why is a new version of the law needed?

The current law on electronic transactions has been in force for more than 20 years. During that time, technology related to electronic transactions has developed rapidly, meaning portions of the statute are now outdated, noted ETDA.

Certain provisions now create limits or obstacles in enforcement, while others no longer reflect current practices in electronic transactions. This has affected public confidence in electronic transactions, said the agency.

In addition, the UN developed several new model laws to support electronic transactions in a wider range of contexts.

Khanit Phatong, an ETDA adviser, said although businesses have become familiar with e-commerce and the increasing use of electronic documents such as e-invoices, uncertainty remains over whether certain key documents can genuinely be converted into digital format.

“This is particularly the case for documents involving the transfer of ownership or rights through possession of an original document, such as bills of lading, negotiable instruments or cheques,” she said.

Ploy Charoensom, assistant executive director of ETDA, said the most important issue for businesses is confidence that the electronic documents they use have genuine legal effect and can be used as evidence of rights, to transfer rights, and can be enforced in the same way as original paper documents.

Although Thai law recognises electronic contracts, electronic signatures and digital identity verification, it may not fully cover certain types of electronic documents, said Ms Ploy.

“These include bills of lading and other transferable instruments with specific characteristics involving possession and the transfer of rights,” she said.

According to ETDA, the existing law does not sufficiently support the use of new technology by the public and businesses in conducting electronic transactions or providing related services because it requires compliance with rules set by the relevant authorities.

If those authorities have not yet issued relevant rules, or have not updated rules to cover new technologies, the law may become an obstacle to the use or provision of electronic methods, noted the agency.

Meanwhile, globalisation has led to more cross-border interactions, as large multinational companies providing electronic transaction services have effectively become standard-setters in practice.

If Thailand’s electronic transactions law is not sufficiently flexible, it may be overlooked, or such companies may choose to limit their services in Thailand, noted ETDA.

Either outcome would be harmful to Thailand’s image as an investment destination, said the agency.

How does the new law differ from the existing one?

The draft of the new law is based on consistency with international agreements and relevant model laws, though it introduces a different enforcement mechanism from the existing law.

The draft is designed to allow people to use new technologies for electronic transactions without having to wait for the relevant agencies to prescribe detailed rules first.

The draft also abolishes the licensing, registration and notification mechanisms on e-transaction service providers, replacing them with a trustmark mechanism. These providers include the issuers of certificates for PDF files, the providers of digital signature systems, and cloud providers.

The new law also sets the conditions for using each type of electronic method as a replacement for paper-based methods in transactions.

Once a person complies with those conditions, the electronic method has legal effect immediately, eliminating the need to wait for ETDA to issue detailed rules first.

The draft introduces provisions for electronic transferable records (ETRs) in line with the UN Commission on International Trade Law model law on ETRs. ETRs have certain special features that require specific legal recognition.

ETRs will play an important role in upgrading the country’s trade and financial systems by helping to reduce reliance on paper documents, speeding up transactions and supporting data connectivity between agencies and trading partner countries, said ETDA.

The development of ETRs is based on three principles. The first is singularity, which ensures the authoritative version of a document can be clearly identified and duplicate claims can be prevented.

The second is control, which makes it possible to determine who has the right to possess the instrument at any given time.

The third is integrity, which allows the history of changes, endorsements, transfers of rights or additional information to be verified.

The draft also introduces a new regulatory mechanism for electronic transaction service providers, while abolishing the licensing, registration and notification systems, instead setting conditions with which service providers must comply.

Once a provider complies with those conditions, it is regarded as an electronic transaction service provider under the law.

What is ETDA doing to ensure successful implementation of the new law?

The agency is working with many sectors to support implementation, including a plan to provide a platform where businesses, service providers and technology developers involved in ETRs can seek advice and jointly learn about the development of ETR management systems.

ETDA is also collaborating with the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s law faculty to develop a draft self-assessment checklist. The checklist is intended as a tool for service providers and system developers to assess whether their systems comply with legal requirements and international standards.

After the new law comes into force, the agency may develop or refine the checklist into a tool for system certification if there is demand from users.

The Bank of Thailand is moving forward with plans to introduce a baht-pegged stablecoin as part of a push to support digital finance and innovation, says governor Vitai Ratanakorn.

Speaking at the “Capital with Purpose” conference hosted by efinanceThai, Mr Vitai said the central bank plans to hold a public hearing on the proposal by the end of the year and has outlined strict initial requirements for any stablecoin that would operate in the country.

The primary condition is the stablecoin must be fully backed on a 1:1 basis by Thai baht reserves.

In the first phase, the central bank intends to allow financial institutions to use such stablecoins for settlement purposes only, with additional use cases to be evaluated in subsequent phases.

The move reflects the bank’s desire to balance technological advancement with financial stability and regulatory oversight as global interest in digital currencies grows, Mr Vitai said.

Addressing concerns about cross-border mobile payment services, he reiterated that personal QR code payments in Thailand must be conducted exclusively in baht.

Yuan-denominated transfers via personal QR codes on platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay are not permitted in the Thai market.

The central bank is coordinating with the operators of those platforms to review transactions and identify any non-compliance with Thai regulations, Mr Vitai noted.

The regulator has suspended roughly 5,000 accounts used for peer-to-peer yuan transfers via Alipay and WeChat Pay between February 2025 and May 2026.

Mr Vitai warned that regulated payment service providers are required to process transactions only in baht, and breaches could result in corrective measures, fines, suspensions, or even revocation of licences.

Regarding the proliferation of businesses offering foreign exchange trading (forex) services to retail customers, he said the central bank does not have a policy to grant licences for forex operations targeting speculative trading.

Mr Vitai noted that providing money transfer services to settle such transactions, whether domestic or foreign, could be violating Thailand’s Exchange Control Act of 1942.

Violations are subject to penalties of up to 200,000 baht and up to three years in prison, or both, he said.

Individuals or entities that advertise or promote speculative foreign currency trading could face charges under the Emergency Decree on Fraudulent Borrowing of 1984. Penalties under the decree may include a prison term of 5-10 years, fines of 500,000 to 1 million baht, and daily fines of up to 10,000 baht for ongoing offences.

Mr Vitai said the regulator has a dual objective of fostering fintech innovation while maintaining control over currency flows and consumer protection as Thailand navigates the evolving digital payments landscape.

As a second instalment of the DC Universe (DCU), ‘Supergirl’ (2026) sets a different tone in James Gunn’s cinematic universe. It follows Supergirl in her quest to save her dog while becoming her best self.

The film was based on the comic ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ (2021-2022), which was in turn based on the 1968 novel ‘True Grit’, and follows the same plot line.

After her whole family was murdered, Ruthee Ruthye Marye Knoll (Matthias Schoenaerts) sets out to seek revenge on a space bandit Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts). She meets Kara Zor-El / Supergirl (Milly Alcock), whose dog, Krypto, has also been poisoned by Krem, who is also the only person with an antidote. Together, they embark on an interplanetary adventure to seek revenge and the cure.

Last year’s ‘Superman’ was a breath of fresh air. With the trend of darker, grittier superheroes – as popularised by ‘The Dark Knight’ (2009) and continued to the late DC Extended Universe (DCEU) – resting in peace, the 2025 take started the cinematic reboot of the DC Universe with a return to bright, hopeful and inspiring. The tone proved to fit well with the extremely humanistic character of Superman and managed to keep him relevant in the current time.

What shines in this continuation of the universe is the titular character herself. While Superman is a character viewers can look up to, Supergirl is a messier character in which audiences can see themselves.

Instead of being sent away to Earth as a toddler like her cousin Kal-El, Kara spent time growing up on Krypton. She had a life there and slowly saw the planet dying. This traumatised her greatly. She struggles to fit in and spends her time hopping planet to planet, drinking and partying. This differentiates ‘Supergirl’ from its predecessor, establishing that the new DC Universe is not all bright and shiny.

What audiences root for with Kara is not only for her to save her dog but for her to save herself and become the Supergirl she is meant to become.

I especially like Milly Alcock’s portrayal of the character. With her sunglasses, headset and no-care attitude, it was such a stark contrast to Clark Kent, despite sharing the same ‘Super’ symbol. What is also fun is that she basically has the same super powers, but is willing to let loose and use those powers more.

What the film falls short on is its delivery. The first two arcs set out an interesting premise and emotional backstory for Kara. It also challenges the main character with morally complex situations. However, this does not pay off in the third arc. We can somewhat understand what inspired Kara to change, but the change feels too out-of-nowhere, and the impact is not quite there. Even just thinking back to the “raise the flag scene” in Superman, I can find an example of a setpiece that was really impactful as a wake-up call for the main character.

I know I’ve compared this film to ‘Superman’ a lot, but with it being a soft continuation of that and sharing the ‘Super-‘ title, there is a lot to contrast, whether the tonal difference or the quality of the film. Nonetheless, while not living up to her cousin’s previous outing, Supergirl is still an enjoyable watch that shows what the DC Universe can be.

It’s a universe that definitely can be more. The upcoming third release in the franchise, ‘Clayface’, is set to portray a villain origin story using the body horror genre. That should, regardless of reception, surely expand the tone of this cinematic universe, assuring the audience that they will not only get the brightest of the bright but also the darkest of the dark.

A government committee studying the Land Bridge megaproject has identified its commercial viability as a critical issue, according to Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).

‘We need to determine whether the project is feasible from a commercial perspective. If it is, we can then consider the appropriate scale of development,’ he said on Friday after a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

Mr Danucha serves as the secretary to the panel tasked with examining approaches to driving the development of transport infrastructure linking the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

Expected to require an investment of close to one trillion baht, the project envisages upgraded ports in Ranong on the Andaman side and Chumphon province on the Gulf, linked by a road and rail transport network. Supporters believe it will attract shippers seeking alternatives to sailing around Singapore via the congested Strait of Malacca.

The committee is scheduled to hold its final meeting in August before submitting its conclusions to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in line with the government’s 90-day review timeframe, said Mr Danucha.

Discussing the potential time savings compared with shipping via the Strait of Malacca, he said the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning would use data on average cargo transshipment times at the Singapore port to calculate how much time vessels could save by using the Land Bridge.

Geopolitical risks

Mr Danucha acknowledged that geopolitical risks remained an ongoing concern and could weigh on international trade and cargo transport in the coming years.

‘We need to assess the risks to Thailand, both if the project is implemented and if it is not,’ he said. ‘This is one of the key issues being examined by the project feasibility subcommittee, which I chair. We are evaluating how globalisation and geopolitical conflicts could affect Thailand.’

The committee has established three subcommittees to conduct detailed studies covering different aspects of the project: feasibility, environmental impacts, and public communications aimed at improving public understanding of the scheme.

Mr Danucha stressed that environmental impacts must be kept to a minimum while weighing the project’s overall costs and benefits.

Among the key environmental concerns are sediment and dust generated by dredging operations, particularly on the Ranong side, and the potential loss of forest areas and natural resources.

‘All aspects will be thoroughly examined and we will make an objective assessment of what is feasible, what is not, and what adjustments are needed, so that all parties can accept the outcome,’ Mr Danucha said.

Democrat Party candidate for Bangkok governor Anucha Burapachaisri has unveiled a five-point platform to tackle traffic congestion, waste management, public health, economic opportunities and government transparency, while insisting his campaign remains competitive despite trailing rivals in recent opinion polls.

Speaking in a special interview with the Bangkok Post ahead of Sunday’s gubernatorial election, Mr Anucha said his vision for Bangkok centres on five themes: “Convenient Travel, Clean City, Comfortable Living, Higher Incomes and Full Transparency”.

He said the policies address residents’ daily concerns and could be implemented immediately if he is elected governor alongside Democrat-backed members of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC).

Transportation is among his top priorities. Mr Anucha proposed transferring responsibility for Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) bus services to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), arguing that the city currently lacks the authority to respond effectively to commuters’ needs.

Under the plan, bus routes would be redesigned and integrated with other transport systems. He also proposed a feeder network to ensure residents are within 100 metres of a public transport connection, using small vehicles in narrow alleys, minibuses on secondary roads and electric buses on major routes.

The candidate also pledged to deploy artificial intelligence to manage Bangkok’s traffic-light network, allowing signals to adjust in real time to improve traffic flow.

Canal transport services would be expanded and integrated into the wider transport network. Mr Anucha also endorsed the government’s common ticketing initiative and a flat 40-baht fare, saying a unified system would allow seamless travel across buses, trains and boats.

Under his “Clean City” agenda, Mr Anucha pledged to overhaul Bangkok’s waste management system through a fully enclosed collection and disposal process.

He said waste treatment facilities in On Nut, Nong Khaem and Sai Mai still suffer from operational shortcomings that affect nearby communities.

The Democrat candidate also called for stricter waste separation measures, with food waste, plastics, metals and glass collected on designated days to encourage recycling. He further advocated replacing landfill disposal with waste-to-energy projects, arguing that Bangkok must pursue long-term solutions despite the high investment required.

On healthcare and quality of life, Mr Anucha said Bangkok’s nearly 70 public health centres should be upgraded with additional doctors and nurses to reduce pressure on major hospitals.

He also proposed expanding telemedicine services and investing in more elderly-care facilities to reduce waiting lists for nursing homes.

The candidate further proposed converting unused public and private land into community spaces, including art galleries, cultural venues and recreational areas.

On economic development, Mr Anucha pledged continued support for street food vendors, saying district offices should determine vending zones based on local conditions rather than applying uniform citywide regulations.

Registered vendors would be required to display QR codes identifying them as legitimate operators, while subleasing of vending permits would be prohibited.

Mr Anucha also proposed creating a database of senior citizens’ skills and expertise, enabling retirees to participate in city projects, assist tourists and earn supplemental income.

In addition, he plans to consolidate all BMA digital services into a single platform, allowing residents to access information on city services, tourist attractions, air quality, flooding, water levels and CCTV feeds through a single sign-on system.

The final pillar of his platform focuses on transparency. Mr Anucha said the BMA should adopt the “Song Rat” procurement-monitoring platform to scrutinise municipal spending and identify irregularities in public projects.

Despite trailing in opinion polls, Mr Anucha expressed confidence in his chances, noting that he had previously won two parliamentary elections despite never leading in surveys.

“Polls do not decide elections. The people do,” he said.

He urged voters to judge candidates on their ability to solve problems such as traffic congestion, flooding, waste management and air pollution.

“We need a clear vision for Bangkok’s future,” he said.

“Our goal is not simply to manage day-to-day problems but to deliver lasting solutions that create opportunities, hope and a better quality of life for all residents.”

The 200 billion baht the government plans to use to buy back the concessions of all electric train lines in Greater Bangkok is expected to come from two sources: the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and fundraising through an infrastructure fund.

Tibordee Wattanakul, director-general of the State Enterprise Policy Office, said the government plans to raise funds via an infrastructure fund on a gradual basis, with 80 billion baht raised per issue until the targeted amount is reached.

He said he expects investors will be eager to buy fund units given the low risk.

Infrastructure funds often offer average yields of 6-7%, said Mr Tibordee.

Funds raised via the infrastructure fund will not be regarded as public debt, he noted.

The government’s plan to buy back the concessions of all electric train lines for a maximum of 200 billion baht is part of an effort to make public transport more affordable.

Mr Tibordee said the effort would be worthwhile if the government can manage the lines while offering low ticket prices, which should increase passenger numbers.

He said the valuation of 200 billion baht is based on the future cash flow and benefits concession owners would gain during their remaining concession periods.

If the concession buyback takes place in 2027, the remaining concession period for some lines would be shorter, especially the Green Line, as its concession ends in 2029. This could mean the total amount spent on the concession buyback would be less than 200 billion baht, said Mr Tibordee.

Some lines, particularly those on the city’s outskirts, are not profitable. If the state steps in to purchase the concessions, private operators would probably be receptive to a buyback, he said.

The Finance Ministry said earlier a precedent was set with the Thailand Future Fund, which used proceeds from the offering of investment units to invest in state infrastructure assets with the potential to generate income for the fund.

On Tuesday, the cabinet approved a common ticketing scheme for Bangkok’s electric rail services, setting fares between 17 and 45 baht per trip, depending on the distance.

Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the move aims to ease the cost of living for commuters by introducing an integrated fare system covering all mass transit lines.

Passengers pay once upon entry and can transfer between rail services.

The government wants to launch the scheme by Jan 1, 2027, he said.

Ministry officials plan to hold discussions on establishing a central clearing house to manage fare collection across different operators.

The system will ensure seamless payments under the single-entry model, Mr Phiphat said.

“The ministry intends to have the clearing house in place for a New Year 2027 rollout,” he said.

Thai national cyclists Methasit Boonsane and Vipavee Deekaballes swept to victory in the men’s and women’s elite downhill events at the 2026 Asian Mountain Bike Championships in Uzbekistan on Wednesday.

Methasit retained his gold medal and won the Asian Championship for the fifth consecutive time, while Vipavee maintained her dominance in the category, winning the Asian title for the 10th time.

Methasit finished the final round with a time of 2:25.099 minutes in the men’s elite downhill event. Japanese cyclists Yuga Ikuta and Tesuma Hakuji took the silver and bronze medals respectively.

In the women’s elite downhill competition, Vipavee did not disappoint after she crossed the line in 2:44.843 minutes. Indonesian Milatul Khaqimah took the silver medal and Naomi Gardoce of the Philippines won the bronze medal.

Gen Decha Hemkrasri, president of the Thai Cycling Association, said, “The two downhill gold medals in the Asian Championships proved that the Thai national team are still No.1 in mountain bike downhill competition. But it is a pity that there is no downhill event in the medals competition at the 20th Asian Games in Japan. Otherwise, the Thai cycling team will have a chance to win gold from these two events.”

The 2026 Asian Mountain Bike Championships are being held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from June 23-27.

Apple raised the prices of its Macs and iPads on Thursday, citing the soaring costs of memory and storage chips as the artificial intelligence (AI) boom has created a frenzy for the components.

Apple increased prices on some laptop and tablet models US$200 or more. A base model of the MacBook Pro, for example, now costs $1,999, up from $1,699. Apple’s entry-level laptop, the MacBook Neo, now costs $699, $100 higher than when it was unveiled in March.

The price of an iPad Air increased $150 to $749, while the price of an iPad Pro jumped $200 to $1,199.

The increases show that even Apple, with its sprawling supply chain, is not immune to a global shortage in memory and storage chips. AI chipmakers like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices have demanded more of the components for their own chips, which are then used in data centres for developing and running AI systems.

The surge in demand has led memory chip manufacturers like Micron to focus on producing for data centres, which tend to use more expensive chips than consumer electronics. As a result, those companies are making more money but shipping fewer consumer-grade chips, which have become more expensive.

Memory and storage chip prices have quadrupled over the past year, according to analyst estimates, and the cost of those components is expected to continue to rise.

Those costs are now being passed on to consumers. Microsoft raised prices for its Surface laptops in April.

‘We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly,’ a spokesperson for Apple said in a statement. ‘We have now reached a point where we need to begin raising prices.’

Apple’s share price fell as much as 6% Thursday.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said during an investor call in April that the company expected ‘significantly higher memory costs’ for the quarter, which runs through June.

‘Beyond the June quarter, we believe memory costs will drive an increasing impact on our business,’ Cook said on the call.

The company also said it expected its profit margins to decline slightly for the quarter.

Apple also raised the prices of its HomePod speaker and its Vision Pro mixed reality headset Thursday.

The timing for the price increases was unusual. Apple typically raises prices when it releases new or refreshed products. In September, Apple released new iPhones and raised the prices for some models $100.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin said Thap Lan land disputes will be resolved through parcel-by-parcel verification to separate residents from land speculators and investors.

He made the remarks after a meeting of the House Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment, chaired by Bhumjaithai MP Kunlawalee Nopamornbodi on Thursday. The meeting brought together state agencies, academics, conservation groups and civil society networks to discuss overlapping land claims in Thap Lan National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Mr Suchart said the meeting was conducted in a constructive atmosphere, with all sides exchanging information and proposals. The core agreement was that land rights must be examined on a parcel-by-parcel basis.

“Everyone agreed that the verification of rights must be done on a parcel-by-parcel basis, transparently and fairly, so that genuine local communities are protected while illegal occupations are dealt with under the law,” he said.

Mr Suchart said the proposed solution was unique to the Thap Lan National Park and would not be used as a precedent for other protected forest areas.

The meeting came after groups of conservationists opposed the June 15 decision by the National Parks Committee to approve the withdrawal of 155,865 rai from Thap Lan National Park and to transfer the land to state agencies, including the Agricultural Land Reform Office, for land-rights management and allocation.

Environmental groups have urged the government to reconsider the plan, as the area includes ecologically significant forest land and wildlife habitat. The environment minister at that time defended the decision, saying the boundary adjustment is intended to resolve overlaps between the park and land allocated by the state to people before the park was established. Around 450 encroachment cases are still in court.

Thap Lan National Park chief Prawatsart Janthep said on Thursday in Nakhon Ratchasima the dispute dates back to the declaration of Thap Lan National Park in 1981, when boundaries were drawn without full field surveys in some areas, resulting in overlaps with existing settlements and land reform areas.

He said surveys indicated about 5,000 occupants had been living in affected areas before the park was established. “The challenge is to identify those who occupied land before the park was declared while preventing later encroachment from being legitimised.”