Category: The Bangkok Post

The baht is expected to continue weakening against the US dollar this week after falling to a nearly 15-month low, driven by renewed tensions in the Middle East.

According to Krungthai Global Markets, the baht is likely to remain under depreciation pressure in the near term as geopolitical risks intensify.

The Thai currency could weaken to between 34.00 and 34.40 baht per US dollar this week, the research house said.

Last week, the baht fell to a 14.5-month low of 33.64 per dollar, in line with a sharp decline in global gold prices to below US$4,000 per ounce. Meanwhile, the US dollar regained strength as global oil prices surged on concerns that the conflict in the Middle East could become more prolonged following reports of continued clashes between the US and Iran since July 11.

Poon Panitchpibun, a money market strategist at Krungthai Global Markets, said the baht is expected to test the key resistance range of 33.75-33.80 per dollar, with the next resistance level seen at 34.00 in the near term.

Against a backdrop of heightened uncertainty, the baht is projected to remain volatile due to geopolitical tensions and a stronger US dollar, supported by expectations surrounding the US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy.

The baht could rebound if geopolitical tensions ease or investors scale back expectations of further interest rate hikes by the Fed. However, any appreciation is likely to be limited to around 33.40-33.50 per dollar, with stronger support at 33.00.

“A significant shift in market expectations for US interest rates could move the baht by at least 25 satang,” Poon said, adding that businesses and investors should adopt a range of hedging strategies, including the use of options, to better manage foreign exchange risk.

Meanwhile, Krungsri Global Markets expects the baht to trade between 33.30 and 34.00 per dollar this week. The depreciation is expected to be driven mainly by the fresh rally in global oil prices amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The US dollar weakened against most major currencies last week, with the exception of the Japanese yen, after softer-than-expected US inflation data for June. Headline and core inflation eased to 3.5% and 2.6%, respectively, according to Krungsri.

Bank of Thailand Governor Vitai Ratanakorn said last week that the central bank has been closely monitoring developments related to the renewed escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The central bank stands ready to manage baht movements in line with Thailand’s economic fundamentals.

Mr Vitai said the baht’s movements remain broadly in line with those of other regional currencies, adding that the weaker currency has supported Thailand’s exports and tourism sectors. However, he warned that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could raise inflation expectations and weigh on the country’s economic growth outlook.

It is fifth time lucky for Somnuek, who finally received a state welfare card after four rejected applications.

But not everybody is as lucky as the 57-year-old and many shockingly failed to qualify for the 2026 state welfare card programme after the government of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul re-evaluated all holders of the “card for the poor” in a bid to screen out citizens who only pretended to be poor.

To date, 6 million people have been found ineligible, while 9.5 million have been accepted.

Those who failed the selection process can appeal online or in person at any of the five state banks.

Mr Somnuek, who did not disclose his last name, on Monday recalled his many fights to get onto the welfare scheme, being rejected time and again because he owns a small plot of land.

“It is only 2 ngan (200 square metres) and my ancestor handed it down to me,” he said at Krungthai Bank’s Tak Fa branch in Tak Fa district in Nakhon Sawan.

“Do I have to stay in a rat-hole to be accepted as poor?” he complained.

Mr Somnuek was eventually successful with his latest application and said the money he will receive as a holder of the card for the poor would ease some household pain by paying for utilities.

But he still questioned why one of his neighbours continues to get these benefits although that household has two 10-wheel trucks. (continues below)

Sa-ard Nakchaturas, 64, of Muang district in Nakhon Ratchasima, does not have a lorry. What she does own is an ageing motorcycle with a sidecar – and that was enough for the government to drop her from the list of the needy.

Ms Sa-ard said her motorbike was bought 20 years ago to help her husband, 73, who is a scrap buyer, and it remains an important tool as age takes its toll on their energy.

“My motocycle is very old, it is almost beyond being usable,” she said.

Ms Sa-ard must travel to the provincial land transport office to show proof of her old motorcycle’s age before she can appeal her rejection from the welfare programme, but said she does not have the money or the energy to do that.

“I could not get the card because of this motorcycle,” she said in tears while pointing to the only means of transport the couple possess.

Money from the scheme previously helped Ms Sa-ard and her husband buy rice, drinking water and other staples. They no longer have that prop.

“We’re really poor with almost nothing to eat,” she said when asked if she had a message for the authorities. “Please look at us, and take care of the grassroots people, like me.”

Supranee Daosuk, 39, of Sikhiu district, Nakhon Ratchasima, faced a different problem.

Her mother suffers from chronic illness, including cancer, and they had relied on the programme for household purchases. She was disqualified this time around, with no reason given in the message sent to her mother’s mobile phone.

“Why is it so very difficult to prove we really are poor?” she asked.

New partnerships with seven large corporations in China are expected to help Thailand attract a new, younger customer segment and generate total revenue of nearly 300 billion baht, despite limited flight capacity, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Airline seats between Thailand and China totalled 7.9 million this year, still below the 13.1 million recorded before the pandemic, while surging jet fuel prices amid conflicts in the Middle East have further worsened the situation by driving up airfares.

TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said that at a one-on-one meeting between the government and Sichuan Airlines in Chengdu, China last weekend, the agency urged the airline, which has the largest share of seat capacity from western China at 22%, to resume flights to Chiang Mai and Krabi and explore opportunities to operate flights to U-tapao and Hua Hin airports once jet fuel-related pressures subside.

Meanwhile, a meeting with Chinese tech company Meituan has led to cooperation on data exchange to formulate tourism campaigns, along with expanding the number of Thai restaurants included in the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide conducted by Meituan, similar to the Michelin Guide, to stimulate spending through food experiences.

In fiscal 2027, TAT plans to focus on increasing tourism revenue rather than relying solely on visitor numbers.

For the Chinese market, average spending per trip is targeted at 56,000 baht, up from 54,000 baht, while total revenue is expected to rise by at least 3% to 297 billion baht, up from 288 billion baht from the 5.13 million travellers estimated in 2026.

Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, TAT deputy governor for international marketing in Asia and the South Pacific, said the agency also signed letters of intent (LOIs) with five large corporations in China: China Tourism Group (CTG), Utour Group, China Comfort Group, AMAP and the Thai company TCP Red Bull, in Beijing on Sunday.

She said CTG, Utour and China Comfort are among the mainland’s largest wholesalers, distributing tour packages to small operators and online travel agents nationwide. AMAP, a popular navigation application with more than 700 million users, can help promote campaigns within the app, including discount coupons, particularly during China’s four major public holidays.

Ms Pattaraanong said the companies would help offer tour packages with a greater focus on activities and experiences, capitalising on the growth of individual travellers.

In major markets such as Beijing and Shanghai, the individual traveller segment accounts for 80-90% of travellers, compared with tour groups.

Another key partnership is with Thai company Red Bull, which is expanding its market presence in China. The agency and TCP share the same goal of reaching younger travellers, particularly those between 25-40 years old, through events and activities across China.

Under the agreement, TAT can co-promote Thai tourism at these events to increase exposure among younger travellers.

Siriges-a-nong Trirattanasongpol, TAT executive director for the East Asia region, said the agency is targeting at least 5.28 million Chinese travellers, a 3% increase, after revising up the target.

Airline seat growth remains moderate at 5% year-on-year, but Thailand could attract more affluent tourists who can still afford higher airfares.

If the official state visit by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul produces a positive impact, the market’s visitor and spending targets could be revised upwards when TAT announces its 2027 marketing plan in August.

Mrs Siriges-a-nong said the agency has already encouraged Chinese airlines to serve new destinations, such as Kunming-based low-cost carrier Lucky Air, which will launch flights to Udon Thani in September this year.

If it can encourage more airlines and tour operators to arrange scheduled and charter flights from second-tier Chinese cities to more second-tier destinations in Thailand, it could help revive the market as planned.

Yolrawee Sittichai, TAT director at Beijing office, said that in terms of new destinations in Thailand, the agency will drive tourism flows more towards the East, including Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat, while boosting cultural products that are valuable for each segment.

PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT

Supachai Junkeiat, chief executive of TCP China, said the company has three manufacturing bases and seven OEM plants in China. Altogether, the Chinese market is regarded as TCP’s largest market in Asia.

He said the company continues to promote its presence through three areas: tourism, sport and culture. It has organised the Very Thai music festival for four years, bringing Thai and Chinese artists together to perform, and can feature tourism promotions at the event.

Red Bull has also sponsored China’s professional basketball league and can arrange exchange programmes for young professionals who are also influential sports figures on the mainland to visit Thailand, he said.

As of July 11, the Chinese market tallied 2.8 million visitors, up 14% year-on-year. However, Mrs Siriges-a-nong said the double-digit growth stemmed from the low visitor base last year, when Thailand’s tourism sector was hit by declining confidence.

Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has described Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s official visit to China as a historic success.

He said the visit elevated the Thailand-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership across the political, economic, security and technology sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI).

Speaking in Beijing on Monday, Mr Sihasak said it marked the current government’s first official visit to China and featured meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

He said both sides reiterated their commitment to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership — the highest level of bilateral relations — covering cooperation on bilateral affairs, regional security and Asean-related issues.

The two countries also began preparations for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, with Thailand expressing hope that Mr Xi would pay a state visit to Thailand next year at the invitation of His Majesty the King.

On the economic front, Mr Sihasak said Thailand reaffirmed its policy of attracting high-quality foreign investment, particularly in industries supporting the digital and green economy, including electric vehicles, to lift the country’s long-term competitiveness.

Among the major outcomes of the visit was the opening of a new Board of Investment (BOI) office in Chengdu to promote investment from western China.

More than 150 Thai business executives also took part in a business forum and matchmaking event with Chinese companies that would expand bilateral trade and investment.

The Thai delegation also visited the headquarters of a leading Chinese artificial intelligence company in Beijing.

The company expressed interest in partnering with Thailand on AI development and recommended that Thailand formulate a national AI strategy to guide the systematic development and application of the technology.

In the security field, both also agreed to a 2+2 dialogue involving the foreign and defence ministers, hosted initially by China.

Businesses in the European Union are interested in investing in all sectors in Thailand, while urging the government to accelerate regulatory reforms to enhance the investment climate.

Noel Clehane, vice-chair of the EU-Asean Business Council (EU-ABC), highlighted several industries, such as life sciences, biotechnology, low-carbon manufacturing, high-tech manufacturing, financial services, and fast-moving consumer goods.

“Thailand is an ideal location as a central geographic hub in the region with a well-developed industrial ecosystem. The country has a sizeable consumer market and is a hub for the broader Asean market of almost 700 million people,” he said.

According to the 11th EU-Asean Business Sentiment Survey published in 2025, about 57% of European firms intend to increase their investment in Thailand.

Despite Thailand’s attractiveness, Mr Clehane noted concerns regarding the country’s more than 7,600 ministerial regulations, many of which are considered outdated, unnecessary and inconsistent.

He pointed out that the Foreign Business Act 1999 presents several specific barriers that primarily affect services and high-tech industries looking to invest in Thailand.

A key obstacle is ownership restrictions, which limit foreign ownership to 49% in certain sectors, effectively requiring foreign firms to enter into a joint venture with local partners.

“This ownership cap is a major deterrent for companies with sensitive intellectual property [IP] such as those in the artificial intelligence [AI] or specialised service industries. Investors are often unwilling to surrender 51% of their operations because they fear losing control over their knowledge,” he noted.

European businesses also said that the licensing and permit processes are complicated. They are looking for a more predictable and transparent regulatory environment in Thailand.

He supported Thailand’s proposals to introduce an omnibus law, removing certain sectors from the Foreign Business Act’s restrictive lists and broader regulatory reforms to make the country more investor-friendly.

DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE

Thailand is ranked 26th globally among 70 economies in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, trailing Singapore and Malaysia but ahead of Vietnam.

To maintain its competitiveness, Mr Clehane recommended that Thailand address long-term structural issues, including an ageing population and the need for digital upskilling.

“Thailand must invest more in digital upskilling. While the country has highly educated people in industrial manufacturing, it has likely lagged behind some competitors in developing digital skills and the industries of the future, which are knowledge- and idea-based.”

Thailand-EU FTA

Mr Clehane said that since talks on the Thailand and EU free trade agreement restarted in 2023, negotiations have progressed well to settle easier issues. Remaining topics are more difficult, including market access for goods particularly for sensitive agricultural and industrial products; sanitary and phytosanitary measures, services and investment; government procurement; digital trade; IP rights; and energy and raw materials.

“For Thailand, the greatest challenge is securing access for its agricultural products in EU markets, while for the EU, the most difficult issue is investing in the service sector in Thailand,” he said.

However, he believes that both sides possess the political will to overcome these obstacles and will reach mutually beneficial solutions.

“I do believe that negotiations would be agreed in principle later this year, or in early 2027,” he said.

Bilateral trade between the EU and Thailand reached 1.64 trillion baht in 2025, with European companies holding investment stocks worth more than 953 billion baht in Thailand. A modern FTA can create a stronger platform for both trade and investment, Mr Clehane added.

The EU currently has FTAs with Vietnam and Singapore. It finalised FTA negotiations with Indonesia in September 2025 and is negotiating FTAs with Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.

The bloc aims to conclude the deal with the Philippines later this year and Malaysia in 2027.

Convicted poisoner Sararat “Aem Cyanide” Rangsiwuthaporn has been acquitted on one of the many murder charges brought against her.

In her fifth murder trial, the Criminal Court ruled that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to prove she poisoned a vegetable vendor with cyanide.

Sararat, 39, had been charged with the premeditated murder of Rosjarin ‘Phi Noi’ Nilnoi, a vegetable vendor. The ruling was delivered on Tuesday morning at the Criminal Court in Bangkok.

Prosecutors charged Sararat with mixing cyanide into a salad given to Rosjarin with the intention to kill her, motivated by a 60,000-baht debt.

Ms Sararat denied the charges.

In its judgement, the court said the case was reopened after reports emerged in March 2023 linking Sararat to a series of suspected cyanide poisonings. Rosjarin’s husband subsequently became suspicious that his wife’s death in 2022 may also have been connected and filed a complaint accusing Sararat of deliberately poisoning her.

During the trial, the prosecution called the physician who treated the victim. The doctor testified that the victim’s blood showed severe metabolic acidosis, a condition that could result from either severe infection or poisoning.

However, the witness could not confirm that cyanide was the poison involved, identify what toxic substance had entered the victim’s body, or determine how it had been administered.

The court ruled that the medical evidence was insufficient to establish that the victim had been poisoned with cyanide by the defendant.

The court also questioned the reliability of testimony from an employee of the deceased, who claimed to have seen Sararat deliver the salad. The employee was unable to answer defence questions regarding the make of the defendant’s vehicle, despite claiming to recognise it because Sararat frequently visited the victim. The court found the testimony unreliable.

The court also rejected the prosecution’s argument that the alleged murder was motivated by a 60,000-baht debt. Evidence showed that the victim had pawned her car to Sararat for 100,000 baht and had already repaid 50,000 baht.

After the victim’s death, Sararat allegedly demanded that the victim’s husband pay 600,000 baht to redeem the vehicle. The amount was later negotiated down to 300,000 baht, which he paid before recovering the car.

Given these circumstances, the court ruled that the alleged debt did not provide a convincing motive for murder and concluded that the prosecution’s evidence failed to establish a clear link between the defendant and the alleged poisoning. The court dismissed the case.

In the first case against her, Sararat was sentenced to death for the murder of Siriporn “Koi” Khanwong, who died near a riverside pier in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province.

In the second case, involving the poisoning death of Pol Maj Nipa Sangchan, known as ‘Inspector Pu’, the court initially imposed the death penalty but commuted the sentence to life imprisonment because her testimony was deemed beneficial to the proceedings.

In the third case, concerning the death of engineer Nittaya Kaewbuppha in Nakhon Pathom province, the court acquitted Sararat, citing insufficient evidence that she possessed cyanide or had a financial motive.

In the fourth case, involving the poisoning death of Pol Capt Sukanda “Captain Nui” Wimonmal, a former finance officer at Phu Pha Man police station in Khon Kaen province, the court sentenced Sararat to death. The sentence was later reduced by one-third to life imprisonment.

Investigators suspect Sararat administered potassium cyanide to 14 people between 2015 and 2023, allegedly to avoid debts or steal valuables. They linked the serial cyanide killer to heavy online gambling, large bank transactions and attempts to hide evidence.

The Kanchanaburi native, dubbed “Aem Cyanide” after police found traces of cyanide in the victims’ bodies, was arrested on April 25, 2023, and she was pregnant when caught.

Police wrapped up their investigation into her criminal cases in June 2023, about the time she miscarried during the fifth or sixth month of her pregnancy.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) jointly hosted a commemorative event titled “A Legacy of Justice and Compassion” on Monday to honour Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati.

Held at the UN building, the event highlighted her contributions to the justice system, particularly her advocacy for women and girls, as well as women in prison.

Janelle Weissman, UN Women Asia and the Pacific officer-in-charge, said the princess had built a lasting legacy through efforts to improve the lives of women and girls, eliminate violence against women and improve conditions for women prisoners.

“It has been incredibly powerful and important to ‘leave no one behind’, including those in prisons. Her leadership in promoting the elimination of all violence against women and girls was especially impactful,” Ms Weissman said.

“She served as a spokesperson for global UN campaigns, helped shape better laws in Thailand and created pathways for change worldwide.”

Ms Weissman said the princess’s work had helped position Thailand as a model in safeguarding the rights of women and girls, particularly those in prison. Phiset Sa-ardyen, executive director of the Thailand Institute of Justice, said the princess’s Bangkok Rules had raised international standards for the protection and treatment of women prisoners and helped ensure opportunities for them to rebuild their lives.

The institute will continue working with the UNODC to accelerate implementation of the Bangkok Rules, including by incorporating the experiences of formerly incarcerated women involved in social initiatives.

“She helped shift the discourse by bringing a ‘human face’ into the discussion. Previously, the system was viewed mostly through legal perspectives and institutions. She was forward-thinking, introducing ideas 10 to 15 years ahead of their time and emphasising that justice services should be designed around people’s needs,” Mr Phiset said.

Delphine Schantz, UNODC regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said the princess, as the UNODC’s Goodwill Ambassador for the Rule of Law, helped turn policy ideas into international standards through the Bangkok Rules.

“She understood that women require different treatment and paved the way for other member states to adopt similar practices,” Ms Schantz said.

The Finance Ministry will today ask the cabinet to move six million people who failed to qualify for the 2026 state welfare card programme into a new co-payment scheme, while easing rules blamed for unfairly excluding low-income people.

The new support scheme, called “Thais Help Thais Plus”, was explained by representatives from several key ministries at a press conference yesterday, while detailing measures to assist citizens excluded from the programme.

As part of that, the government plans to relax several eligibility criteria following widespread complaints that existing rules unfairly excluded low-income applicants.

Finance Ministry spokesman Vinit Visessuvanapoom said the 2026 state welfare card programme’s eligibility criteria were designed to identify the country’s most vulnerable citizens, but he acknowledged that complaints about vehicle ownership rules had exposed shortcomings that require urgent attention.

He said the Transport Ministry faced practical limitations because many vehicles remained registered in the names of previous owners after informal transfers, while some scrapped or stolen vehicles had never been removed from official records.

The Finance Ministry would therefore introduce additional conditions to better reflect applicants’ actual circumstances, including accepting evidence of informal vehicle transfers where appropriate.

Of the 2.9 million requests for reconsideration received so far, around 40% relate to vehicle ownership, Mr Vinit said.

The ministry will also review complaints relating to students after receiving appeals from those who said their educational status had affected their eligibility.

The revised criteria will be submitted to the state welfare for grassroots economy and society committee before being forwarded to the cabinet, with the government aiming to complete the process in time for successful applicants to begin receiving benefits from Oct 1.

Mr Vinit said this year’s registration campaign had been more proactive than previous rounds, identifying 2.3 million people who had never before registered or received welfare benefits. More than 800,000 of them still require identity verification, a process being assisted by the Interior Ministry.

He added that the exercise had given the government a clearer picture of the country’s poorest households, allowing authorities to classify levels of hardship and develop more targeted assistance beyond the state welfare card programme.

“Those who remain ineligible for the welfare card, estimated at around six million people, will instead be offered enrolment in the ‘Thais Help Thais Plus’ 60/40 co-payment scheme, with the proposal due to be submitted to the cabinet today,” Mr Vinit said.

Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said the Interior Ministry had worked with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to verify applicants’ circumstances using civil registration data and field surveys to determine whether they were genuinely low-income.

“To assist unsuccessful applicants seeking a review, the ministry will establish one-stop service centres at district offices,” Mr Polapee said, adding that these centres would help enable people in remote areas or those with limited access to technology to lodge appeals.

Mr Polapee said that village heads and local administrative officials will also conduct home visits for applicants unable to travel.

The information collected by the Interior Ministry will be forwarded to relevant agencies, including the Transport Ministry to verify vehicle ownership records and the Finance Ministry for a further review, he said.

The government also plans to ask the cabinet to extend the appeal deadline until Sept 20, giving applicants more time to gather supporting documents, he said.

The government also plans to revise rules affecting students, particularly those enrolled in non-formal and vocational education programmes.

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is forcing organisations to rethink workforce skills, accountability and cybersecurity to prevent job displacement and operational risk, say tech pundits.

M.L. Luesak Chakrabandhu, president of the Association of Thailand Open Source Federation and director of the Digital Council of Thailand, warned of massive job displacement for those who fail to adapt to survive the severe societal and workforce impacts of advancing AI technologies.

Cybersecurity success requires a dedicated, accountable person in charge rather than just a focus on making profits, he said, speaking at a digital workforce forum held yesterday by the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (Nectec).

He sees challenges in a post-artificial general intelligence (AGI) era, predicting that individuals who lack technology and integration skills face a 95-100% chance of job loss.

“Organisations failing to design secure systems and integrate AI will face operational conflicts and jobless productivity, while nations could suffer from stagnant GDPs and inefficient supply chains.”

M.L. Luesak said AI can never replace human accountability because it cannot bear legal responsibility or be held liable. “Humans will always remain the accountable decision-makers, as well as the creators and consumers who define AI’s purpose.”

He outlined a three-tier upskilling strategy: executives and boards should become “Humans Beyond the Loop” — intent architects responsible for strategy, governance and guardrails; middle managers should serve as “Humans Over the Loop” — orchestrating workflows and validating AI outputs; while all employees should operate as “Humans In and On the Loop” — filtering AI-generated information and ensuring tasks align with organisational goals and safety.

Future skills

Tatchapol Poshyyanonda, country director of Palo Alto Networks for Thailand and Vietnam, said security should be viewed as an enabler of potential rather than merely a business expense.

“Because hackers are using AI, defenders must use AI to fight back and reduce incident response times from hours down to mere minutes.”

Top executives must take the lead by defining clear business priorities for AI and establishing “Trust AI” — ensuring data accuracy, appropriate models and verifiable results — rather than just blindly following tech trends.

Organisations are encouraged to adopt a five-stage AI governance framework covering assessment and inventory, governance and design, protection and operations, monitoring and assurance, and continuous reporting and improvement.

Future cybersecurity professionals will need to have AI and data literacy, AI security knowledge, AI agent management, threat analysis, critical thinking, ethics and governance, alongside communication and collaboration skills.

Data classification

Panita Pongpaibool, deputy executive director of Nectec, said humans are the most critical vulnerability in any cybersecurity system.

Organisations should implement mandatory security awareness training, such as phishing email simulations, for all employees.

Top executives — not just IT departments — must take responsibility for classifying corporate data because IT does not know the business value of the data.

Nectec also provided an open-source cybersecurity monitoring system developed for SMEs to help them achieve high-quality security affordably.

Natural Intelligence

AVM Amorn Chomchoey, secretary general of the National Cyber Security Agency, said AI users must develop their “natural intelligence”, specifically critical thinking and cognitive skills, to avoid being manipulated or becoming willing victims of AI.

Scammers are using advanced AI to conduct highly realistic fraud. In Thailand, while scams remain a severe issue, daily financial losses from these scams have recently decreased to around 15-35 million baht.

Cybersecurity is the fundamental framework of any digital system. Organisations must integrate security into AI systems from the very beginning of their development.

Users should not blindly trust digital interactions; “digital trust” must be granted only after careful verification.

Furthermore, every organisation must urgently establish clear guidelines and acceptable use policies for AI to ensure that employees use the technology safely, responsibly and without exposing sensitive data.

“A lack of budget is not a valid excuse, as free open-source tools and learning resources are widely available, though they require more hands-on effort from the team.”

Santi Siritheerajesd, child protection specialist of Unicef Thailand, said the core risks of the internet include inappropriate content (violence/18+), dangerous contact (grooming), poor conduct by youths themselves, and contact/data privacy issues.

He warned that malicious actors are weaponising AI, such as using deepfakes for extortion or manipulating AI prompts to bypass safety guardrails and generate abusive images.

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a bottle of Le Labo and wondering what the number after the name actually means, you’re not alone.

While the fragrance brand’s minimalist labels have become iconic in their own right, the numbers aren’t random – they’re one of Le Labo’s most deliberate design choices.

Every fragrance name follows a simple formula: the fragrance’s dominant note, followed by the total number of ingredients used to create it.

For example, Thé Matcha 26 spotlights the soft, creamy aroma of matcha tea and is composed of 26 ingredients. Rose 31, meanwhile, reimagines the classic floral with a spicy, woody twist, while ’31’ denotes the number of ingredients in the blend.

The only fragrance that breaks the rule is Another 13.

Despite what its name suggests, ‘Another’ isn’t an olfactive note. The fragrance was created in 2010 as an exclusive collaboration with AnOther Magazine under editor-in-chief Jefferson Hack, borrowing its name directly from the publication.

The ’13’ still stays true to Le Labo’s naming convention, referring to the number of ingredients, but the fragrance itself revolves around the radiant, skin-like molecule Ambroxan rather than a note called ‘another’.

It’s a detail that’s easy to miss, but once you know how to read Le Labo’s labels, every bottle becomes a little less mysterious.