Category: The Bangkok Post

An American man wanted in the United States on eight warrants over alleged sexual offences against children was arrested at a hotel on Saturday, police said.

The suspect, identified as Lance Beck, 48, was arrested in tambon Nai Yang, Thalang district, after the FBI coordinated with Thai police, immigration investigators and local officers.

Mr Beck is wanted on seven state and one federal warrant in Alabama in connection with alleged sexual offences against minors, police said.

The charges include sexual torture, rape, human trafficking, facilitating a child’s travel for an unlawful sexual act, sexual abuse and incest.

Police said Mr Beck was accused of sexually abusing children under 14 and recording videos of the alleged abuse before fleeing to Thailand.

Thai authorities later learned he had entered the country through Phuket airport and was staying at the hotel. Officers found him there and informed him that his permission to remain in Thailand had been revoked.

Mr Beck was taken into custody before being transferred to the Immigration Detention Centre pending deportation, police said.

Five senior police officers from Huai Khwang district have been transferred to an inactive post following a raid on a suspected unlicensed entertainment venue in the area.

The transfer order, signed by Pol Maj Gen Worasak Phisitwannakorn, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1, also called for a fact-finding committee to investigate the case.

Authorities from the Department of Provincial Administration special operations team raided the 577 Club in Soi Pracha Uthit 11 at 1.30am on Saturday. Deputy Interior Ministers Polapee Suwunchwee and Worasit Liangprasit accompanied the team during the operation.

Officials said the raid followed an investigation revealing the venue was operating until dawn. A review of official records also indicated that there was no entertainment venue license registered for the establishment.

The venue is under the jurisdiction of Huai Khwang police station, which means the five officers could be suspected of dereliction of duty.

The officers transferred to the operations centre of Metropolitan Police Division 1 are Pol Col Sorasak Thongmee, the superintendent; Pol Lt Col Ekkarat Malawanno and Pol Lt Col Thanet Srichampa, both deputy superintendents; Pol Lt Col Thanawat Kamoltham, a suppression inspector; and Pol Lt Col Akkrajet Wanchaeng, an investigation inspector.

Pol Col Kampol Rattanapratheep, deputy commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1, has been appointed acting superintendent of Huai Khwang station until further notice.

Brussels is tightening the screws on packaging waste, introducing new rules that mark the beginning of an era in which the packaging around a product can be just as important as the product itself.

On Aug 12, the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) took effect, the opening salvo in a nearly decade-long rollout of measures to be phased in from now until 2035.

For Thai businesses that export to Europe — and potentially those supplying companies that do — the message is clear: packaging can no longer be treated simply as a matter of design, cost and convenience. It is becoming a key part of market access and supply chain competitiveness.

Reasons for the rule

The scale of Europe’s packaging waste problem helps explain the push for tougher regulation.

Europeans generate as much as 180 kilogrammes of packaging waste per person each year. Packaging also accounts for a substantial share of the EU’s consumption of raw materials, including around 40% of plastic and 50% of paper, according to European Commission data.

The commission warned that without additional measures, packaging waste could increase by 19% by 2030, while plastic packaging waste could rise by as much as 46%.

The EU introduced the PPWR in response to that trend under Regulation 2025/40, adopted on Dec 19, 2024. The regulation entered into force on Feb 11, 2025 and began to apply on Aug 12, 2026, with some requirements coming into effect later.

Unlike many national environmental rules, the PPWR is directly applicable across EU member states.

The regulation forms part of the European Green Deal and the New Circular Economy Action Plan, shifting the EU’s approach from simply managing waste towards preventing it and keeping materials in circulation for longer.

Reduce, reuse and recycle

The PPWR covers all types of packaging — primary, secondary and tertiary — in the EU market, regardless of whether the packaging is produced inside the bloc or imported from elsewhere.

All packaging placed in the EU market must be recyclable. Requirements for Design for Recycling apply from Jan 1, 2030, or 24 months after the relevant implementing legislation takes effect, whichever is later.

Requirements for recyclability at scale follow from Jan 1, 2035, or five years after the relevant implementing legislation takes effect, whichever is later.

Reuse targets apply only to certain types of packaging and specific business sectors.

The PPWR is built around three objectives: reduce, reuse and refill, and recycle — aiming to deliver measurable environmental benefits.

The EU set targets to reduce packaging waste generated per person from 2018 levels by 5% in 2030, 10% in 2035 and 15% in 2040.

The measures are expected to reduce packaging waste in the EU by 37% compared with a baseline scenario in which no additional measures are implemented.

Initial changes

From Aug 12, food-contact packaging containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above specified limits may no longer be placed in the EU market for the first time.

Food-contact packaging includes fast-food containers, pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, and single-use paperboard plates and bowls. Such packaging is allowed in the EU market as long as PFAS levels remain within the limits prescribed by law.

The PPWR also introduces a range of requirements covering packaging recyclability, including Design for Recycling, recyclability at scale and minimum recycled-plastic content.

The regulation prohibits certain types of single-use plastic packaging and introduces harmonised labelling requirements.

For example, all packaging in the EU market must be designed to be recyclable, while minimum recycled-content requirements apply to plastic packaging. Certain types of single-use plastic packaging are prohibited from Jan 1, 2030.

The PPWR represents a significant shift in the EU’s approach to packaging, moving towards a circular economy model that places greater responsibility on businesses to reduce packaging use, improve packaging design, increase the use of recycled materials and develop reusable packaging solutions, according to the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP).

Thai impact

For Thailand, the implications are potentially significant. Krungsri Research said the new regulation will affect Thai businesses trading with the EU across two broad categories — packaging manufacturers and exporters of packaged products — extending across virtually every industry.

Packaging manufacturers, particularly those producing plastic packaging, face direct exposure. Exporters of packaged goods, especially food and beverages, consumer products, electrical appliances and electronics, will need to assess whether their packaging complies with the new requirements.

The food and beverage sector is par- ticularly exposed because of its heavy reliance on packaging and its links to the European market, noted the think tank.

Meat products, including chilled and frozen chicken, have the highest reliance on the EU market at 17.3%, according to Krungsri Research. Processed fruit and vegetables follow at 11.1%. Products such as canned fruit, sauces and seasonings can also be particularly packaging-intensive, often relying on plastic or glass containers.

For these exporters, compliance could mean higher operating costs as companies redesign packaging, source recycled materials, change labels, conduct testing and prepare additional documentation.

The challenge is not only the cost of compliance. Companies that cannot meet the new requirements could ultimately find themselves unable to export to the EU market, noted Krungsri Research, meaning PPWR is more like a non-tariff barrier than an environmental regulation.

The EU is Thailand’s fourth-largest export market after Southeast Asia, the US and China, making the potential impact substantial for Thai exporters. The consequences could extend beyond Europe.

“Over the longer term, businesses that fail to comply may also be excluded from supply chains in both the EU and other markets, as buyers switch to alternative suppliers whose packaging already meets the required standards,” said the think tank.

Thai packaging manufacturers could also face indirect pressure if they supply companies in other countries whose products are ultimately exported to the EU. In that scenario, compliance with European packaging standards could become a requirement imposed by customers even when the Thai supplier does not export directly to Europe.

Steps for local companies

For Thai manufacturers and exporters, Krungsri Research recommends preparing along three main fronts: redesign, recheck and review.

Businesses should begin by assessing their existing packaging against PPWR requirements, particularly those covering recyclability and recycled content. This effort may require redesigning packaging, securing reliable supplies of post-consumer recycled material, updating labels and screening materials for substances subject to restrictions.

Packaging producers and brand owners can work together more closely on sustainable packaging solutions.

Collaboration can help ensure that new designs are not only technically compliant, but also practical for the products they contain and acceptable to consumers, noted the think tank.

Compliance also requires stronger documentation. Businesses should prepare or verify technical evidence for their packaging, including information on material composition and the proportion of recycled content.

Companies selling directly to EU consumers online may face additional obligations, including registration under national Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems, or the appointment of an authorised representative, particularly where there is no importer acting as an intermediary.

For exporters, keeping accurate and accessible packaging data will therefore become increasingly important.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is the regulatory picture is still evolving. Businesses should monitor further technical requirements expected to emerge during 2026-2028, particularly the detailed criteria for Design for Recyclability and rules concerning bioplastics.

Businesses must also keep track of similar legislation in other major export markets, including the UK, South Korea, Japan and China, as well as Thailand’s own recycling and packaging-related regulations, said Krungsri Research.

The PPWR is part of a broader wave of sustainability rules sweeping across global markets, noted the think tank.

A single business may face requirements under multiple regulations at the same time. While the details may vary, these rules share a common thread: placing greater emphasis on sustainability across every stage and component of business operations.

Businesses should move quickly to gather data, assess sustainability across their entire supply chain and identify potential compliance gaps.

Building this readiness now will help them navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and turn these challenges into long-term opportunities, according to Krungsri Research.

Thailand’s smartphone market is undergoing a sharp shift towards higher-priced devices as soaring memory costs squeeze entry-level models, pushing up average prices even as shipments decline.

Smartphone shipments to Thailand fell 11.1% year-on-year to 7.21 million units in the first half of 2026 from 8.11 million, while the average selling price jumped 25.4% to US$467 from $372, according to technology research group Omdia.

The contraction was concentrated in the cheap end of the market.

Shipments of smartphones priced less than $100 plunged 58.8% to 586,000 units.

“The segment accounted for roughly 838,000 of the 903,000 units lost across the total market, equivalent to nine out of every 10 units lost,” Sheng Win Chow, senior analyst at Omdia, told the Bangkok Post.

The market share for the segment roughly halved, from about one in six smartphones to one in 12.

Mr Chow said this reflects a supply problem rather than disappearing demand.

For smartphones priced less than $400, memory and storage now account for more than 60% of production costs, with some brands paying 4-5 times more for memory than a year ago. For phones priced less than $100, vendors have little margin to absorb those increases, forcing them either to raise prices or stop offering some models.

“The entry buyer has not left the market. The entry price has moved up one tier,” he said.

The shift was visible in the $100-199 segment, where shipments declined by only 8.6% and market share increased from 34.7% to 35.7%.

Transsion and Realme both increased shipments by 7.6% by moving more entry-level customers into this price band, rather than defending the rapidly shrinking sub-$100 segment, noted Omdia.

Vendors are trying to maintain affordable prices by reducing RAM or storage, dropping the cheapest versions from product line-ups or switching to slower storage. In such cases, specifications rather than retail prices absorb part of the rising cost.

At the other end of the market, Thailand’s relatively large premium segment is helping cushion the contraction. Shipments of smartphones priced more than $200 grew 4.6% in the first half, while devices costing more than $700 accounted for more than one-fifth of the market.

Samsung remained the country’s largest smartphone vendor, shipping 1.66 million units, up 1.1%, while its average selling price increased by only 4.7%.

Apple’s shipments rose 6.9% and its average selling price increased by 17.5%, giving the brand close to one in seven smartphones shipped in Thailand.

Oppo and Vivo followed a different path. Their average selling prices jumped 47.7% and 34.9%, respectively, while shipments declined by 29.9% and 19.7%.

Xiaomi’s shipments fell 21%, accompanied by a 12.3% increase in its average selling price.

The arrival of new flagship devices in the second half, including Samsung’s foldables and upcoming iPhones, should increase market value, but is unlikely to restore lost shipment volume, noted Omdia.

Mr Chow said premium phones “will not sell in the numbers that were lost at the bottom”.

There is also a channel effect. Dealers operate with limited budgets for inventory, meaning more money allocated to expensive flagship devices leaves less available for entry-level models.

Financing is becoming increasingly important in expanding access to premium smartphones, with instalment programmes, operator subsidies and alternative financing helping consumers spread their handset costs.

TOUGHER SECOND HALF

Cost pressure is expected to intensify during the remainder of 2026. Many smartphones currently on store shelves were manufactured using memory purchased months earlier at lower prices. As those inventories are cleared, today’s higher memory costs will increasingly feed through to vendors’ margins and product decisions.

Omdia expects full-year smartphone shipment volume to decline while average selling price continues to increase.

Whether the overall market continues growing in value is less certain. In the first half, the rise in average selling price more than offset falling shipments, resulting in market value growth.

The crucial question is how consumers respond as vendors rebuild their portfolios around higher costs, noted Omdia.

Much of the 25.4% increase in Thailand’s market-wide average selling price has resulted from a changing product mix rather than equivalent price increases for individual smartphones. For example, Samsung’s Galaxy A17 5G became 6.7% pricier between its Thai launch in August 2025 and May 2026, far below the overall market gain in average selling price.

If consumers baulk at higher prices for familiar models in the second half, demand could become a constraint, said Mr Chow.

“Value is the open question, and demand decides it, not supply,” he said.

Artificial intelligence is moving out of chat boxes and into glasses, rings, earphones, phones and household appliances, promising expatriates in Thailand practical assistance with language, navigation, health and domestic chores, while forcing consumers and regulators to confront questions about privacy, affordability and trust.

Thailand is fertile ground for such technology. The country had 65.4 million internet users last year, equivalent to 91.2% of the population, and digital services such as QR payments, mobile banking, delivery applications and social media are already woven into everyday life.

Thais have generally embraced products that offer an immediate benefit, particularly when they are easy to use and do not require a 40-page instruction manual written in microscopic type.

The next wave of consumer technology is designed to become less visible, rather than more demanding. Manufacturers are putting AI into objects that people already wear or use, allowing the technology to respond to speech, interpret surroundings and complete routine tasks without requiring owners to reach constantly for a phone.

Smart glasses are among the clearest examples. Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses combine microphones, open-ear speakers and an AI assistant, while offering live translation for conversations and written text. Meta says Thai translation is supported when the glasses have a Wi-Fi or mobile connection, although some other languages can be downloaded for offline use.

For foreigners in Thailand, that could mean looking at a street sign, restaurant menu or notice and receiving assistance without holding up a phone. The public benefit could extend beyond tourism, helping people with limited Thai-language skills understand transport information, communicate with service staff or handle basic daily tasks more independently.

The technology still needs to prove itself amid regional accents, overlapping conversations and Bangkok traffic noise. A pair of clever spectacles may translate mai phet as ‘not spicy’, but the kitchen may continue to regard that as an interesting foreign opinion rather than a binding instruction.

Earphones are also becoming language tools. Apple’s Live Translation works with supported AirPods models and an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, with downloaded language models processed on the phone. The translation can be heard through the earphones, while the iPhone can display or play a translated reply for the other person. Apple notes that the feature is available only in selected languages and regions, making language support an important detail for buyers to check before purchase.

Wearable health products are meanwhile becoming smaller and less intrusive. Samsung’s Galaxy Ring tracks sleep, heart rate, activity, blood oxygen and changes in skin temperature, presenting the information through the Samsung Health application. Its Energy Score combines sleep, activity and heart-rate data to provide a daily wellness assessment.

Such devices could encourage users to pay closer attention to sleep and physical activity, supporting preventive healthcare and earlier conversations with medical professionals. They should not, however, be confused with a doctor. Samsung itself says the measurements are for personal reference and advises users to consult a healthcare professional for further information. A smart ring may confirm that its owner had a dreadful night, but it cannot determine whether the cause was illness, stress or the neighbour discovering power ballads.

Privacy is likely to become a central public-interest issue as wearable devices gain cameras, microphones and health sensors. Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act has been in effect since June 2022 and sets requirements concerning the collection, storage, processing and consent-based use of personal information. Manufacturers and service providers will need to explain clearly what is recorded, where it is processed, how long it is retained and whether users can delete it.

Consumers must also consider the privacy of people around them. AI glasses may be useful for translation or navigation, but their cameras and microphones could cause discomfort in restaurants, hospitals, offices and private homes. A visible recording indicator, clear consent and the occasional removal of one’s futuristic eyewear may prove more socially valuable than another software update.

Domestic technology is becoming more ambitious too. The Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum has a foldable mechanical arm designed to move light objects such as socks, towels, tissues and slippers before cleaning previously blocked areas. The manufacturer says the arm can handle selected objects weighing up to 300 grammes, although performance may vary according to the surroundings and software.

That could be useful in compact Bangkok condominiums, particularly for older residents, people with limited mobility and households attempting to keep dust under control. Whether the robot can distinguish between a discarded sock and a treasured fashion statement may become a matter for domestic diplomacy. It will also have to contend with unreliable Wi-Fi, cables on the floor and the resident gecko, who was not consulted about the automation plan.

For expats in Thailand, the best products will not necessarily be those with the loudest AI branding. The strongest benefit will come from devices that address real needs, including dependable translation, accessible navigation, preventive health information and assistance for older people or those with disabilities.

By 2027, successful consumer technology may feel less like science fiction and more like a competent, discreet helper. It will translate when asked, monitor only with permission and remain quiet when not needed. That would represent genuine progress, although no artificial intelligence has yet mastered Bangkok’s most complex communication challenge – persuading every taxi driver to switch on the meter.

Phones and computers will remain at the centre of digital life, but the attraction may increasingly lie in what happens inside them. On-device AI can process some information locally, potentially improving speed and privacy while reducing dependence on a continuous cloud connection. That could prove useful on underground rail journeys, in rural areas or anywhere a mobile signal decides to take an unscheduled break.

Agentic AI could take the idea further by planning and carrying out several connected tasks. A future assistant might compare travel options, prepare an itinerary, translate booking information and add reminders to a calendar. The public value is clear, particularly for newcomers handling unfamiliar systems, but so is the risk. Users will need firm controls over what an assistant may access, purchase or share before allowing it anywhere near a bank account or airline booking.

A countertrend is developing alongside this growing intelligence. Some consumers are choosing minimal phones, wired headphones and simpler devices to reduce distractions and reclaim their attention. The result is a curious contest between software designed to do almost everything and hardware proudly designed to leave its owner alone.

Gaming technology will remain part of the market, with portable consoles, performance tablets, gaming phones and immersive headsets competing for consumers. Buyers may face the difficult choice between several costly screens, or the radical outdoor platform known as a park.

Australia is seeking a broader and more resilient partnership with Thailand, with new ambassador Pablo Kang identifying trade and supply chains, artificial intelligence, transnational crime, clean energy and Thailand’s OECD ambitions as key areas for deeper cooperation.

Speaking to the media recently, Mr Kang said the relationship already has strong foundations in defence and security, but there is growing scope to deepen cooperation in economic resilience, technology and other emerging areas.

Mr Kang, who took up his duties this month after being named to the post on July 5, previously served as ambassador to Cambodia from 2020 to 2023, where his work included transnational crime, online scam centres and narcotics trafficking.

He said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s recent visit to Australia, including a business delegation, had opened further opportunities for economic engagement.

Strengthening supply chains could help expand two-way trade and investment, while AI is emerging as another area for cooperation.

“Both Thailand and Australia are working on legislation governing AI and measures to mitigate online harms,” he said, adding the countries could exchange expertise and coordinate their approaches.

Security cooperation is also expected to expand during his tenure.

Mr Kang said Thailand’s strategic location brings significant trade and investment opportunities but also exposes it to transnational crime, including drug trafficking, illicit tobacco and online scams.

“Tobacco is a more recent development. Certainly methamphetamine has long been an issue, and some of the harder drugs like heroin, very much so,” he said.

“Online scam centres are also a relatively recent development, and of course they end up flourishing in what we call ungoverned spaces on the borders between countries.”

Under the Joint Plan of Action on transnational crime, Australia will support Thailand through police and criminal intelligence cooperation, including work with the Interior Ministry, Customs and other law enforcement agencies.

“Australia has had decades of close defence and military-to-military collaboration with Thailand, including His Majesty, who went to Australia to study at our Defence College at Duntroon,” Mr Kang said.

Another priority is Australia’s support for Thailand’s bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the ambassador said.

A meeting planned for early next month will bring together the government and more than 50 private-sector representatives who have visited Australia in recent years to discuss competition policy, competitive neutrality involving state-owned enterprises, political integrity and other reforms required for accession.

The discussions will also help prepare Thailand for a World Bank event in October and a meeting with the OECD secretary-general in November.

Mr Kang also sees clean energy as an area with strong potential for cooperation, saying Australian green-technology expertise could support Thailand’s transition towards cleaner energy and its target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Culture, meanwhile, offers another avenue for strengthening ties.

During Mr Anutin’s visit, Australia’s prime minister presented him with a collection of vinyl records by Midnight Oil, one of Australia’s best-known rock bands of the 1980s and 1990s.

“Australian love of arts and culture is also aligned with Thailand’s culture,” Mr Kang said, pointing to opportunities in the creative economy.

These include a proposed cultural project with Asset World Corporation on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, expected to draw on the curatorial, design and artistic expertise of Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art over the next three years.

For Mr Kang, the relationship is also underpinned by strong people-to-people links and cultural familiarity. Among his favourite Thai dishes are khao soi, tom kha gai and tom yum goong.

He said Thailand’s strategic position, economic potential and cultural ties make it an important partner for Australia.

In an uncertain global environment, Mr Kang said the breadth of cooperation — from security and trade to technology, energy and culture — gives both countries a stronger base for a more resilient partnership.

Amid tighter financial conditions, some individuals may find it more difficult to access bank loans, particularly through traditional lending channels.

As banks and digital lending platforms look beyond conventional credit assessments, risk-based pricing (RBP) and alternative data are emerging as new tools to widen access to credit and offer more competitive borrowing costs to customers with stronger credit profiles.

Risk-based pricing

TMBThanachart Bank (ttb) is the first bank in Thailand to introduce an RBP model that uses borrowers’ National Credit Bureau (NCB) records to determine interest rates.

The bank introduced the model in February, initially for its personal loan product ttb Cash2Go. Under the new approach, interest rates start at 13.99% per year, below the 25% statutory ceiling set by the Bank of Thailand.

The new credit assessment means borrowers with good repayment records can benefit from lower borrowing costs. Since the introduction of the new credit-scoring approach, more than 80% of customers approved for personal loans have received interest rates that are five percentage points lower on average than rates offered under traditional assessment criteria.

“We have approved loans for around 28,600 applicants, with a combined credit line of 5 billion baht. The bank expects to help them save more than 800 million baht on interest payments over the loan terms,” said Thakorn Piyapan, president of ttb.

Encouraged by the results, the bank expanded RBP to its car title loan product this month. Interest rates under the RBP approach begin at 11.11% per year, compared with market rates of up to 24%.

Mr Thakorn said car title loan borrowers traditionally faced relatively high interest rates because lenders mainly considered the age of the vehicle when setting rates. Ttb Drive accepts vehicles up to 20 years old and covers both debt-free vehicles and the refinancing of existing car title loans from other financial institutions.

From August to December this year, ttb aims to approve 14,000 loans worth a combined 5 billion baht. The bank expects the RBP model to help customers save up to 1 billion baht in interest payments over the loan terms.

Alternative data

The emergence of virtual banks is expected to accelerate the use of alternative data in credit assessment. Clicx Bank, Thailand’s first virtual bank, is already using alternative data in assessing applications for its Clicx Ready digital loan.

Clicx requests applicants consent to the bank accessing information from three partners: Krungthai Bank, Advanced Info Service and PTT Retail and Oil Business.

Applicants who give consent are more likely to be approved and have a shorter approval process, although the bank has a maximum processing period of 15 days after an application is submitted, according to the platform.

If borrowers’ information is incomplete or insufficient, the bank may request traditional data, such as bank statements. NCB credit records can also be used in the assessment.

Line BK, one of Thailand’s earliest digital banking platforms, has used alternative data since it began operations in October 2020 through its KLine Score. The score combines data from its major shareholders, Kasikornbank and Line Corporation.

Data generated by Line users is an important source for the platform, which has access to a user base of around 56 million.

However, Line BK has spent years developing its proprietary credit-scoring system, improving data accuracy and strengthening its artificial intelligence capabilities, said Tana Pithikamjorn, chief executive of Kasikorn Line Co, which operates Line BK.

The platform statistically analyses Line users’ chat patterns, without accessing the content of their conversations. For example, it examines the speed and consistency of message interactions to identify behavioural patterns that may indicate a user’s discipline and habits.

These insights allow the platform to gain a deeper understanding of borrowers’ financial behaviour and habits, he said.

Discipline still key

Krungsri Consumer, the unsecured lending unit of Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri), also uses alternative data when considering additional credit lines for existing customers, according to Atis Ruchirawat, head of the unit.

For example, the company analyses customers’ spending patterns. Larger purchases or spending on more premium products may indicate higher purchasing power or income, allowing the lender to consider offering an additional credit limit.

Mr Atis, who is also president of the Credit Card Club, said regardless of the credit-scoring model, traditional or alternative, lenders ultimately place a high priority on borrowers’ financial discipline.

Maintaining good financial discipline is not only a way for borrowers to protect their credit profiles, but also a key to accessing financing that is better suited to their financial circumstances, he said.

Persistent rain has swollen waterways in Saraburi, leading to the closure of two waterfalls, in Kaeng Khoi and Muak Lek districts, affecting several villages, resorts and tourist access.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office of Saraburi reported on Monday that rain had been falling continously in the Kaeng Khoi No-Hunting Area for three days, a total of 129 millimetres to date.

The zone is the catchment area of the Ban Dong reservoir in tambon Cham Phak Phaew of Kaeng Khoi district. In-flow has exceeded the 3.18-million-cubic-metre capacity of the reservoir, which had started overflowing through its spillway, the department announcement said.

People living in Moo 1, 2, 5, and 9 villages in tambon Cham Phak Phaew were warned of possible overflow from the Ban Dong canal, which receives water from the reservoir.

The persistent rain sent runoff flowing into Moo 2, 8, 9, 10 and 11 villages in tambon Cha Om of Kaeng Khoi district from about 6pm on Sunday.

Water hit Namtok Chet Khot and Namtok Krok E-Dok waterfalls in tambon Cha Om and flooded nearby resorts. Some resorts were isolated but local officials managed to rescue tourists.

On Monday the management of the Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park closed Namtok Chet Sao Noi (levels 1-7) and Koh Si Chang waterfalls in Muak Lek district as the current surged dangerously.

The Muaklek Arboretum, which spans Muak Lek district of Saraburi and Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima, were also closed on Monday for public safety.

Players and staff of the Thai women’s volleyball team arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan on Monday night, where fans gathered to welcome them home after their crucial victory secured a place at the 2028 Olympic Games.

The national team arrived at 9.50pm on Thai Airways International flight TG615 from Beijing.

Supporters and sports executives were at the airport for a welcoming ceremony for the team after their success in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Asian Championship in Tianjin, a city southeast of the Chinese capital.

Thailand defeated China 3-2 in the final to successfully defend the Asian title they won in 2023, when they also beat China 3-2 in Nakhon Ratchasima.

This latest victory secured Thailand’s place at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, marking the first time in the country’s team-sports history that a national team has qualified for the Olympics.

‘They have brought happiness to Thais across the country,’ Somporn Chaibangyang, president of the Thailand Volleyball Association, said on Monday.

Each player will receive 600,000 baht in cash, while team staff will receive 840,000 baht from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports for winning another Asian title. The Thailand Volleyball Association will contribute an additional 2.52 million baht to the team.

The team will leave for Fukuoka, Japan, on Thursday for a training camp before joining the Asian Games in Nagoya, which will run from Sept 19 to Oct 4.

Thailand led Pool C, which includes Taiwan – officially called Chinese Taipei at Asian sporting events – Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia.

Google has launched Gemini 3.7 Flash, shortly after releasing Gemini 3.6 Flash, with the company saying the new model offers faster coding and AI agent capabilities. Google is also offering an introductory token promotion with more than half off the regular price.

Gemini 3.7 Flash builds on Gemini 3.6 Flash by incorporating feedback from developers to improve its performance, particularly in coding tasks such as debugging, code accuracy and the quality of production-ready code, while requiring fewer instructions.

On the WebDev Arena benchmark, Gemini 3.7 Flash scored an Elo rating of 1,588, compared with 1,538 for Gemini 3.6 Flash.

For tasks that require large datasets, including finance, law and life sciences, Gemini 3.7 Flash is also said to provide stronger analysis and reasoning while delivering more accurate information.

Google is offering an introductory promotion for Gemini 3.7 Flash at nearly half the price, which will run until the end of 2026. Input tokens are priced at $0.75 per 1 million tokens, while output tokens cost $3.75 per 1 million tokens.

Google also announced that Gemini Spark will switch to Gemini 3.7 Flash for users of the Google AI Ultra and AI Pro plans in supported countries, allowing AI agents to operate more continuously, quickly and smoothly.