Category: The Bangkok Post

Thai Airways International Plc (Thai) has announced the addition of a Boeing 787-9 aircraft to its fleet as part of an ongoing strategy to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen long-haul services and accommodate growing travel demand.

The national carrier took delivery of the aircraft on Monday and plans to add a total of four Boeing 787-9 aircraft to its fleet within 2026.

Chai Eamsiri, Thai chief executive officer, said on Wednesday the acquisition marks another milestone in the airline’s fleet modernisation programme.

‘The addition of a Boeing 787-9 represents another significant milestone for Thai Airways as we continue to strengthen our fleet with modern, efficient aircraft that meet evolving market demand,” said Mr Chai.

Increasing the number of aircraft of the same model would improve fleet commonality, operational flexibility and network efficiency, enabling the airline to better serve high-potential routes and support future growth, said the Thai CEO.

The Boeing 787-9 is a wide-body aircraft equipped with advanced technology, long-range capability, and high fuel efficiency. The model reduces fuel consumption by up to 20% compared with previous-generation aircraft, supporting Thai’s commitment to sustainable fleet development, according to a statement from the airline.

Thai’s new Boeing 787-9 features a two-class cabin configuration with 30 Business Class seats in a full lie-flat 1-2-1 configuration and 268 Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.

Cabin products have been designed to align with Thai’s existing Boeing 787-9 fleet, while introducing further enhancements including upgraded in-flight entertainment systems, with 17.3-inch screens in Business Class and 13.3-inch screens in Economy Class, as well as inflight connectivity to provide passengers with greater convenience throughout their journey.

The addition of the Boeing 787-9 aircraft reflects Thai’s commitment to strengthening its fleet, improving service capabilities and connecting Thailand with key destinations worldwide.

SCB Economic Intelligence Center (EIC), a research centre under Siam Commercial Bank, expects energy costs will continue to propel inflation in the second half of the year even as the Middle East war shows signs of de-escalation.

Although tensions between the US and Iran have begun to subside, the Brent crude price is expected to remain elevated compared with the pre-war level. In the EIC’s view, Brent is expected to average US$85 per barrel throughout 2026, potentially falling to $80 in the second half, according to chief economist Yunyong Thaicharoen.

Meanwhile, the domestic diesel price is projected to average 35 baht per litre this year, falling from a peak of 50.54 baht in April.

EIC slashed average headline inflation to 2.6% for 2026, down from 3.6%. Consumer prices are expected to decline by 0.8% next year, lower than the Bank of Thailand’s target range of 1-3%.

Although oil prices remain above pre-war levels, their recent decline has helped alleviate pressure on businesses, particularly in the tourism sector, which is expected to recover strongly as lower travel costs support demand.

Exports and particularly electronics shipments continue to expand, supported by robust growth in foreign investment, he said.

Given the positive outlook, EIC upgraded its GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 2% from 1.5%, supported by the government’s 200-billion-baht stimulus package including the “Thais Help Thais Plus” scheme.

GDP growth is estimated at 1.9% for 2027, with another 200 billion baht expected to promote an energy transition.

“The Thai economy is expected to grow at a subdued pace this year and next, despite fiscal support from the government through the 400-billion-baht emergency decree. This reflects fiscal policy space resulting in a limited contribution to GDP growth,” said Mr Yunyong.

The research centre assessed the Monetary Policy Committee would keep the policy rate unchanged at 1% throughout 2026.

Inflationary pressures are expected to stem from supply-side factors, while long-term inflation expectations among households and businesses remain well-anchored, he said.

“Thailand’s external stability remains robust, supported by ample international reserves, reducing the need to raise interest rates aggressively to contain inflation or currency depreciation, unlike other countries in the region,” said Mr Yunyong.

Overall financial conditions remain tight, particularly for retail borrowers and small and medium-sized enterprises due to slowing income growth and continued caution among financial institutions in extending credit amid concerns over deteriorating asset quality and repayment capacity, he noted.

The EIC expects the global economy to expand by 2.5% and 2.6% in 2026 and 2027, respectively, with momentum continuing to come from investment in artificial intelligence, providing sustained benefits to electronics-producing economies.

Looking ahead, US import tariffs under Section 301 warrant monitoring as they pose a key risk to global trade in the second half, noted the think tank.

Thailand Research Expo 2026 returns with the theme “Research Synergy: Empowering Research For A Sustainable Thai Economy And Society” from now until Friday at the Bangkok Convention Centre, Centara Grand at CentralWorld, Bangkok.

The event is organised by the National Research Council of Thailand under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation in collaboration with research network organisations nationwide.

This year’s expo features more than 1,000 research and innovation projects from 231 organisations covering a broad range of topics including future technology, the Bio-Circular-Green Economy, environmental sustainability and quality of life enhancement.

Life spoke with representatives of two outstanding projects — Kratom-Based Herbal Medicine Innovation, developed by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine; and Bio-Melanin Fibres from Acid Sulfate Soil, developed by Silpakorn University.

Kratom-Based Herbal Medicine Innovation Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine

Kratom-Based Herbal Medicine Innovation is a continuation of the successful development of a methamphetamine cessation drug by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine in 2024, which is based on a study of Sophit Bannalak’s formula for opium withdrawal.

Theerathorn Sungrai, the official pharmacist at the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, explained that the research team wondered if the traditional remedy documented for use in opium withdrawal a century ago could be used for methamphetamine withdrawal.

They studied the molecular mechanisms of the traditional remedy to understand how the extracts affect brain receptors. They found that all the substances in Sophit Bannalak’s formula can effectively interact with target receptors in the brain.

“The herbal remedy regulates dopamine, which gives people a sense of pleasure. This concoction helps balance the hormone that allows amphetamine addicts to gradually withdraw from the drug within two weeks,” explained Theerathorn.

“One of the key ingredients is kratom, but it is used in an amount that does not exceed the safety limits regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Therefore, patients will not develop an addiction to this medication.

“After one month of medication among 2,000 patients, the treatment reduced symptoms of craving, insomnia, fatigue and headaches by almost 90% in participants.”

Using similar methods, the research team developed effervescent tablets from different herbal formulas as an alternative option to help individuals overcome smoking and alcohol addiction. The tablets were developed from traditional herbal liquids to enhance convenience and faster absorption.

The latest formula, which aims to help alcoholics, was developed from the traditional medication Prasa Kal Daeng.

“Our team chose the Prasa Kal Daeng formula because it contains herbs related to the digestive system which make it suitable for chronic drinkers and those suffering from the side effects of heavy drinking,” said Theerathorn.

“Although the formula acts on the brain, it proved non-toxic to brain cells and exhibited great antioxidant properties. In cellular studies, the formula demonstrated a neuroprotective effect on human neurons.”

The clinical study monitored 20 participants who underwent an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, which reveals alcohol consumption, dependence and alcohol-related harm.

Participants dissolved and consumed one to two tablets daily when they experienced alcohol cravings. After tracking participants for one month, the medication was able to reduce consumption in the majority of patients, from hazardous drinking to low-risk drinking, within two weeks.

Besides the 20 participants, an additional 50 patients received this medication through hospitals and are in a follow-up phase. The medication costs approximately 1 baht per tablet. However, it is available only by prescription from traditional medicine doctors.

“The success of treatment depends on individual suitability. Patients must consult a doctor for evaluation to ensure appropriate and sustainable treatment,” said Theerathorn.

Bio-Melanin Fibres from Acid Sulfate Soil Silpakorn University

Asst Prof Khajornsak Nakpan and Assoc Prof Supavee Sirinkraporn, members of the Faculty of Decorative Arts, Silpakorn University, are the visionaries behind this creative project.

Asst Prof Khajornsak worked as a senior designer for DAKS London for 14 years and served as a consultant for Wacoal Thailand for eight years.

As a designer who has a keen interest in commercial success, he tried to find key variables that meet consumer needs. He discovered that the most important factor is human skin colour. However, most designers focus on international colour trends without considering the different skin tones of people across continents.

Asst Prof Khajornsak believed that the most important variable is melanin pigmentation, which determines clothing preferences based on skin tone compatibility. He discovered that natural equivalents to human melanin can be found in soil and squid ink.

Asst Prof Khajornsak embraced the concept of zero waste and sustainability in 2018. This inspired him to study acid sulfate soil on land under the Royal Initiative of the Chaipattana Foundation in Nakhon Nayok province.

He was seeking the hidden potential of the site, which was viewed as degraded land. Research in northern Poland revealed that soil contains streptomyces, a type of beneficial bacteria that serves as a natural equivalent to human melanin pigment.

“Melanin is the pigment that determines human skin colour which offers UV-blocking properties that help prevent skin cancer. A wider distribution of melanin pigment results in lighter, fairer skin, while a dense distribution of melanin leads to darker skin,” explained Asst Prof Khajornsak.

The process of producing bio-melanin fibres from acid sulfate soil begins with boiling the soil and cultivating it with natural substrates, such as sugar and yeast, and a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast).

As the bacteria consume these substrates, they create fibres over a period of 14 to 21 days. After that, the fibres are cleaned and dried on plywood. The result is thin, lightweight bio-melanin sheets with a leather-like texture.

Asst Prof Khajornsak shared his knowledge of bio-melanin fibre production with local people in Nakhon Nayok. He was surprised that local villagers enjoyed learning the production process and had an idea for making plant pots from the fibres. A villager said that biodegradable plant pots could become fertiliser.

The numerous benefits of the project to communities have drawn international attention.

“I accompanied local villagers and students to showcase their handcrafted necklaces at Roma Jewelry Week in Italy. The exhibition attracted international audiences because it demonstrated how the research created value for local communities. Pieces created by villagers, with a production cost of around 500 baht, were successfully sold for 20,000 baht,” Asst Prof Khajornsak explained.

This groundbreaking research gained international recognition before being accepted in Thailand. Many collections which were created based on bio-melanin fibres received international recognition.

The Collection Amplituhedron won the Grand Award at Romanian Jewelry Week 2021 and the A’ Design Award in Italy in 2022.

Despite facing difficulties, Asst Prof Khajornsak does not give up. His next goal is for Thai superstar Lisa to wear his designs.

“Lisa is my muse; I hope she wears my design. I attempted to send my work to The White Lotus and Amazing Thailand campaigns, but it was not selected. I aim to conduct research on volcanic soil in Buri Ram [Lisa’s hometown] and hope to design a bio-melanin piece that Lisa might wear in the future,” he said.

Prominent marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat has warned that the world should brace for the impact of a looming “Super El Niño” event, saying 2026 could become the hottest year on record as extreme weather intensifies worldwide.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Thon, deputy dean for special affairs at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Fisheries, pointed to a severe heatwave sweeping across Europe, with nearly 20 people reportedly dying in France this week as a result.

He noted such heatwaves typically arrive one to two weeks later in the season and are usually less intense.

“The combination of global warming and increasingly unstable weather patterns has pushed temperatures in Paris to 40 degrees Celsius, while several cities along the French and Spanish coasts have recorded even higher temperatures, with some breaking historical records,” he said.

Mr Thon explained that while temperatures above 40C may not seem unusual to many Thais, Europeans are generally less accustomed to such conditions. Many residential buildings, particularly older structures, lack air-conditioning and were not designed to withstand extreme heat.

“I have repeatedly warned that disasters will become more frequent as global warming approaches a permanent increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius. The recurring heatwaves in Europe and the Super El Niño expected in the Asia-Pacific region could make this the hottest year in recorded history.”

He attributed the worsening climate crisis to greenhouse gas emissions and the destruction of natural ecosystems that once helped regulate the planet’s climate.

Mr Thon urged people to prepare for more climate-related disasters and the impact of El Niño in what he described as a year when “the planet is reaching the peak of its fury”.

Meanwhile, Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said the government has instructed the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) to implement the highest level of preparedness measures ahead of the rainy season and potential flooding.

The focus is on industrial zones and low-lying areas nationwide, particularly in major economic provinces such as Chon Buri, Rayong, and Chachoengsao, where more than 103,000 businesses operate with a combined registered capital exceeding 2.19 trillion baht.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered the revocation of the recruitment of thousands of local administrative officials admitted through a national-level examination allegedly plagued with massive cheating.

The prime minister held an urgent meeting with senior officials at Government House on Wednesday morning to discuss the exam rigging scandal.

‘The permanent secretary for interior must nullify the examination although results were announced… Because the process of the examination was illegal, the announced results must be revoked,’ said Mr Anutin who is also the Interior Minister.

He elaborated that the revocation of appointments would be done on a case-by-case basis for any candidates who are proven to have cheated on the exam.

He was referring to the examination that the ministry’s Department of Local Administration held last year to recruit 6,669 local administrative officials.

The recruitment drive came under scrutiny after authorities arrested a group of people, mostly civil servants, in Nonthaburi on Monday while they were allegedly altering the exam results of about 3,000 attendees to ensure they got passing grades.

Police said each candidate paid between 350,000 and 800,000 baht to rig exam results so that they could obtain jobs, many of them entry-level positions paying around 15,000 baht a month.

‘Those who were recruited by this means are unqualified. I reject their admission,’ Prime Minister Anutin said.

‘This is outrageous and ruins national development… The government officials recruited for national administration started their career with corruption.’

Mr Anutin said he had ordered a thorough investigation and punishment of all wrongdoers no matter whether they are local or central government officials.

He said a few officials of the Department of Local Administration were involved in the exam cheating and they must be transferred to inactive positions as soon as possible.

The prime minister praised the authorities who handled the investigation and arrest of the suspects on Monday, saying they had no fear of any influence but were determined to tackle wrongdoing.

The Department of Local Administration had hired Srinakharinwirot University to organise the examination on its behalf. The university is also responsible for keeping answer sheets collected from the examination. On Monday, authorities found some 3,000 answer sheets at the raided house in Nonthaburi.

The university said on Wednesday that it would form a committee to investigate the matter and was ready to cooperate with government investigators.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) have co-invested 20 million baht to launch the home-grown “ABDUL Uni” artificial intelligence (AI)-based higher education platform, which serves as a teaching assistant to support personalised learning for students.

It aims to improve educational quality, reduce inequality, and produce a highly skilled workforce to support the digital economy.

“The ministry gives top priority to AI capacity development across workforce development, research and ethical application,” said Supachai Pathumnakul, MHESI permanent secretary.

He said the ultimate goal is not just for students to learn how to use AI, but to use it responsibly, critically, and creatively add value to the country.

This year, MHESI expects a systemic shift in classroom instruction, curriculum development and data management.

“In order to prepare students for an AI-driven world, development must start with training professors first,” said Mr Supachai.

He cited insights from an MIT expert that teaching standalone theoretical classes on AI is ineffective. Instead, the focus should be on enabling students to complete practical AI projects within the existing curriculum, whether in science or the arts.

“Training instructors to design these AI-integrated courses will help elevate the quality of Thai higher education,” said Mr Supachai.

NSTDA president Sukit Limpijumnong said generative AI is redefining the role of the education sector, shifting the focus from information access to personalised learning.

In response, the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center’s (Nectec) AI Research Group developed the ABDUL Uni platform as a central educational tool for Thai universities.

“ABDUL Uni is a homegrown platform developed by Thai researchers at Nectec-NSTDA. It allows instructors to design custom ‘AI Tutors’ tailored to specific course subjects, monitor individual student progress, and handle end-to-end classroom management from assigning work to grading,” Mr Sukit said.

Apart from reducing administrative burdens for teachers, it promotes active learning.

The AI acts as a thinking assistant, not a tool that thinks for the students, he noted.

Mr Sukit said the development cost of 20 million baht is relatively low.

The platform will be piloted at 20 universities nationwide before expanding to 150 universities, reaching between 1-2 million students early next year.

The wider nationwide expansion to all schools will require more funding, Mr Sukit said.

Chai Wutiwiwatchai, executive director of Nectec and the project leader, said the 2026 project represents a major leap from the awareness-raising campaigns of 2025.

Previous results show instructors across various disciplines — including social sciences, humanities, business administration, health sciences and education — could effectively integrate AI into their teaching, proving that its use is not limited to computer science, said Mr Chai.

This milestone allows Thai universities to scale up AI usage under good governance, supported by AI usage quotas from the MHESI permanent secretary, he said.

In addition, technical teams will be established within educational institutions. Close cooperation from the executives of the 20 pilot universities will be vital in proving that AI can sustainably elevate Thai higher education for the future, Mr Chai said.

The outcomes from the 20 pilot universities will be used as a blueprint to distribute knowledge and expand usage of ABDUL Uni to higher education institutions nationwide, he noted.

Senior military officials have dismissed speculation of heightened border tensions, following reports linking Cambodian politician Tea Srey Ha to land disputes and rumours of Chinese tanks near the border.

Defence Minister Lt Gen Adul Boonthamcharoen said on Tuesday that Thai security forces remain vigilant along the Thai-Cambodian border and stressed all operations are being conducted in accordance with the proper rules of engagement.

He also addressed reports that Cambodia has recently received a new batch of tanks from China, saying the acquisition was part of a previously known procurement programme.

At present, there is no indication that the tanks have been deployed along the border, he said.

Thai units operating in border areas, particularly those under the Suranaree Task Force, remain under close supervision by the 2nd Army Area commander.

Referring to reports of explosions heard near the frontier, he said the incidents did not occur on Thai territory.

He suggested the sounds could have been caused by newly deployed Cambodian troops unfamiliar with the area.

Asked about reports that Cambodian soldiers have dug trenches near the border, he said it is normal for military units to establish defensive positions.

He dismissed reports that Cambodian Defence Minister Gen Tea Srey Ha was planning to seek the return of the Ban Nong Chan area in Sa Kaeo province, and reaffirmed Thailand’s position under the joint statement.

The Royal Thai Air Force clarified reports on social media about late-night F-16 flights near the border, calling them routine monthly night-training exercises within Thai airspace.

About 10 people, mostly government officials, were arrested at a house in Nonthaburi province for allegedly rigging nationwide exam results of government officials who paid billions of baht in total to the gang.

Police and National Anti-Corruption Commission officials raided the house in tambon Bang Len of Bang Yai district at 6pm on Monday. There were about 10 people on the premises, mostly government officials, along with 18 computers and the answer sheets of about 3,000 examination participants.

The suspects were allegedly tampering with the answer sheets to ensure applicants passed the local government entrance exam held nationwide in February last year, when the Department of Local Administration was recruiting 6,669 officials.

The gang allegedly charged exam sitters from 350,000 to 800,000 baht each, depending on the desired position. They were paid to rig the answer sheets of about 3,000 exam candidates, and had already done so for about 2,000 applicants, according to police.

The investigation was ongoing.

Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasit said investigators would determine if any officials of the Department of Local Administration conspired in rigging the exam results.

He believed that even more candidates had paid the gang to ensure they passed. In all, about 100,000 people have sat the examination.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said it was totally unacceptable and he had ordered that any civil servants involved receive maximum punishment.

Interior permanent secretary Unsit Sampuntharat also harshly condemned the exam cheats.

People’s Party MP Parit Wacharasindhu on Tuesday hit back at the prime minister’s denial of political persecution against his party, saying the public should be the judge.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday rejected claims that the People’s Party was being targeted after the Department of Special Investigation said it was looking into possible links between MP Pawoot Pongvitayapanu and a major foreign-exchange scam.

Mr Pawoot has denied any connection to the illegal network and said he looks forward to telling investigators his side.

Mr Parit, meanwhile, said the opposition remained focused on four major issues that it believes affect the country’s interests and the integrity of the justice system.

The first concerns alleged collusion in the 2024 Senate election. Mr Parit said the case could have implications beyond the senators’ own status, citing information suggesting possible links to several influential figures in the Bhumjaithai-led government.

He said the public should also watch to see whether the case will proceed to court, or whether the Election Commission would take any action that could be seen as limiting the scope of the investigation.

The second issue concerns a petition seeking an independent inquiry into the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s dismissal of a case of share concealment involving former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob.

The opposition’s third concern is the Interior Ministry’s handling of calls for a disciplinary investigation into the director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration.

Narucha Khosasivilai has been linked to text messages sent to a Line group of civil servants asking them to ‘help the blue’ – a reference to the Bhumjaithai Party – during the February election.

The fourth is the transparency of the TSI Passport project under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, which opposition lawmakers have alleged could improperly benefit private interests.

The TSI Passport (Tambon System Integration) system was designed to link local sub-district data into a centralised platform, but it has faced heavy political scrutiny over procurement and resource duplication.

Meanwhile, Bangkok MP Bhuntin Noumjerm urged authorities to continue expanding their investigation into the Senate election collusion case, arguing that the eight suspects currently named in the DSI case file represented only part of a wider network.

According to Mr Bhuntin, documents returned by prosecutors to the DSI indicate that additional individuals, including organisers and decision-makers, may not yet have been identified publicly.

Twenty-two illegal workers, mostly Chinese, were arrested at a construction site in Muang district on Tuesday, as investigators expanded their probe to include nominee ownership of the companies employing them.

They were taken into custody from the work site in tambon Chalong during an inspection led by deputy governor Pol Capt Khettharat Chansin.

All failed to present work permits or identification documents when asked and were taken to the provincial office of the Internal Security Operations Command, where they were identified as 19 Chinese and 3 Myanmar nationals.

Deputy governor Khettharat said there were many recent cases in the province involving foreigners working illegally, especially Chinese working and supervising at construction sites.

On Saturday, a major crackdown on illegal foreign nominee businesses in three southern provinces, including Phuket, had resulted the arrest of 48 Thai and foreign suspects.

Therefore, the investigaion must go beyond the suspects working without permits, Pol Capt Khettharat said.

Authorities would examine the structure of the companies employing them, including shareholders and sources of invested money, to determine if there was any nominee activity involved.

The province would also apply the original “Phuket Model’ solution to suppressing foreigner- crimes. It would help identify the masterminds and the ultimate beneficiaries of the crimes, the deputy governor said.

Anyone doing business legally had nothing to fear.

Phuket deputy police chief Pol Col Passakorn Sonthikul said investigators would also dig into the entry routes they used, identify those involved in bringing them here, and use the latest technology to review and verify past travel records.