Category: The Bangkok Post

Breakout America’s Got Talent star Nene Royal said her mother remains the most important person in her life as she was bestowed a royal recognition for her devotion and gratitude towards her mother on National Mother’s Day.

The certificate was presented by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during the opening ceremony of a National Mother’s Day celebration at IMPACT Exhibition Hall 6 in Nonthaburi on Wednesday.

The 16-year-old guitarist and singer from Phuket, whose real name is Rattikarn “Praew” Amloy, was acknowledged as an “Outstandingly Filial Child”.

The young musician described receiving the honour as one of the proudest moments of her life, saying she felt both delighted and excited, particularly as the awarding came on National Mother’s Day.

She said the occasion gave her another opportunity to express her gratitude to her mother, whom she credits with supporting her throughout her journey.

According to Nene, her mother has always been a trusted source of advice and emotional support, repeatedly reassuring her that she could turn to her whenever she faced problems or difficulties.

“She’s someone I love very much,” Nene said. “I’ve hardly ever been away from my mum. Even when I travel overseas with my father, I always call her. She is incredibly passionate and has always stayed by my side, supporting me wherever I go.”

The award comes as the rock prodigy has attracted international attention following her success on America’s Got Talent 2026. (Story continues below)

From busking at Phuket’s Naka Weekend Market at the age of nine, the teenage musician has rapidly emerged as one of the most talked-about contestants on the NBC talent show.

Known for combining heavy metal and hard rock guitar playing with captivating vocals, natural charisma and a commanding stage presence, Nene advanced to the AGT Live Shows on Wednesday after standout performances of The Cranberries’ Zombie and Muse’s Hysteria.

Nene’s performances have attracted strong international support. Her audition became the show’s most-watched performance of the season online, while reaction videos, analyses and media coverage across social media platforms have further amplified her growing global fan base.

Many longtime rock and metal fans have commented that Nene’s performances evoke the energy and spirit of classic rock and the heavy metal from past decades, reigniting their enthusiasm for the genre.

Nene’s rise from local busker to international television contender has especially drawn attention in her home country of Thailand. Her latest recognition for National Mother’s Day highlights another side of her story: the family support behind her success, in particular, the encouragement she says she received from her mother throughout her musical journey.

A chairperson for the compulsory conciliation process under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) will be selected on Friday, with the first meeting of the conciliation commission expected next month, Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said.

Mr Sihasak, also a deputy prime minister, said a list of about 10 qualified candidates had previously been submitted for consideration by Thailand and Cambodia.

Thailand had shortlisted six names and returned them, with the chairperson to be chosen from the lists submitted by both sides.

The commission’s first meeting is expected to be held in September. Possible venues include maritime-law centres in Europe, such as The Hague and Paris, and in Asia, including Singapore and Vietnam. The United Nations’ list of candidates includes experts from Europe, Asia and Latin America, selected according to their qualifications.

On a report by UN human rights expert Tom Andrews concerning the Thai-Cambodian border, Mr Sihasak said Thailand had submitted its objections to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). If the report is subsequently considered by the UNHRC, Thailand will use the forum to explain its position and raise its concerns.

He said the report would not put Thailand at a disadvantage internationally, noting that such reports reflected individual views and many countries would recognise Thailand’s actions were within appropriate bounds.

Earlier, deputy foreign ministry spokeswoman Maratee Nalita Andamo said the ministry had been conducting field visits and gathering information to ensure the international community was aware of the facts.

“The Foreign Ministry will collect every detail and use it to brief foreign media, international forums and bilateral meetings with partner countries,” she said.

Ms Maratee said Mr Andrews was a special rapporteur and one of more than 40 experts operating under the UNHRC, and that his report was not a UN report.

She criticised his reference to a third country, saying his mandate was to monitor human rights in Cambodia. Thailand submitted 40 pages of documentation to the UNHRC, but Mr Andrews chose not to consult it.

The slowing residential market has prompted property consultancy Savills (Thailand) to reposition its business, shifting its focus towards recurring income from property management while resuming overseas marketing of Thai luxury homes after a six-year hiatus.

Prapaporn Boonkajornkul, deputy managing director, said the company’s strategy has evolved alongside changing market conditions, with residential brokerage becoming more selective as domestic demand slowed, while industrial and property management businesses expanded.

“Before Covid-19, overseas roadshows for Thai residential projects were very active, particularly for Phuket and Krabi,” she said. “Now we are bringing Bangkok branded residences back to international markets as demand from overseas buyers gradually returns.”

Savills plans to organise roadshows in Singapore and Dubai during the second half of 2026 to market Bangkok branded residences priced at more than 20 million baht per unit, marking its first overseas campaign since the pandemic.

Prior to Covid-19, the company regularly promoted Thai residential projects in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai during the country’s property boom in 2017-18, before international marketing activities were suspended.

The company is also preparing an exhibition in Thailand this September to market residential properties in Japan’s Niseko, targeting Thai buyers seeking holiday homes that can also generate rental income.

Ms Prapaporn said demand from Thai investors for overseas residential property has changed significantly over the past decade.

Before the pandemic, London was among the preferred destinations for Thai buyers, alongside Niseko. More recently, interest in London has moderated as market conditions have become more challenging.

Buyers have also become more price-conscious. Budgets that previously ranged from £1.5 million to £5 million have typically narrowed to £800,000-1.5 million, while purchases in the £1-2 million segment have shifted towards homes priced at around £500,000.

Rather than purchasing expensive properties in central London, buyers are increasingly looking at homes in Zones 2 and 3, where prices are lower.

Some families now prefer leasing properties for the duration of their children’s studies instead of buying.

The slowdown in overseas residential transactions also encouraged Savills Thailand to diversify its business several years ago by expanding its industrial services, particularly after seeing rising interest from data centre investors.

Property management has since become the company’s largest business, contributing about 65% of total revenue, followed by industrial brokerage at 20% and research services at 15%.

Savills manages 38 buildings in Bangkok, comprising 33 residential towers and five mixed-use developments. It expects to increase its portfolio to at least 40 buildings by year-end after adding three projects in the first half and targeting two more in the second half.

Most of the buildings under management are positioned in the high-end and luxury segments, providing recurring management income that is less dependent on residential transaction volumes.

“The broader shift reflects how property consultancies are adapting alongside developers, as Thailand’s residential market becomes increasingly challenging,” Ms Prapaporn added.

Instead of relying primarily on residential brokerage, firms are building businesses with more diversified income streams while selectively pursuing opportunities in sectors that continue attracting investment despite a slower housing market.

The shift in strategy also comes as Savills strengthens its global investment advisory platform following the completion of its acquisition of Eastdil Secured, a leading US real estate investment bank, for an enterprise value of US$1.11 billion.

The acquisition significantly expands Savills’ real estate investment banking capabilities, particularly in North America, while reinforcing its capital markets leadership across Europe and Asia-Pacific through the newly branded Eastdil Secured Savills.

“The acquisition would significantly strengthen the firm’s capital markets capabilities across the region, broadening the expertise available to clients facing increasingly complex investment decisions,” said Martin Fidden, chief executive of Savills Asia Pacific.

Immigration police in the nation’s popular southern island province arrested a 26-year-old Ukrainian man wanted under an Interpol Red Notice for alleged investment scams on Tuesday.

Phuket immigration police announced the apprehension but withheld the suspect’s name and the location of the bust.

The Ukrainian was wanted for alleged involvement in a gang that created a Telegram chat account and the fake ‘Bybit’ platform to lure victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. The gang was reportedly based in Kyiv. In September last year a victim complained about a loss of US$1,981 (about 66,000 baht).

Foreign investigators were looking into if there were any more victims. Thai immigration police revoked the individual’s visa and have begun working on his extradition.

The government sought to allay concerns Wednesday that proposed gun-control measures would undermine the public’s right to self-defence, stating that no decision has been made to impose a blanket ban on firearms and that public feedback is being considered.

The government’s objective was not to revoke the right of lawful self-defence or restrict sporting activities such as competitive shooting, but to place firearm ownership, carrying and use under tighter supervision, government deputy spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said.

Details of the new legislation were still being drafted following Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s order for stricter gun controls after last week’s deadly school shooting in Nonthaburi.

“The prime minister’s approach is to draw a clear distinction between the right to possess a firearm and the right to carry or use one,” Ms Lalida clarified.

Under the proposed framework, legally owned firearms would remain subject to stricter controls, meaning owners could not freely carry weapons in public or use them at their discretion.

Ms Lalida said the government was addressing both illegal and legally registered firearms at the same time, through tighter controls on licences, dealers, ammunition and shooting ranges, as well as a stronger crackdown on unregistered weapons.

Her comments came a day after Mr Anutin ordered the suspension of permits to purchase firearms and instructed officials to accelerate work on tougher gun-control laws.

Responding to calls for physical and mental health screenings of gun owners and fresh vetting of all licence holders, Ms Lalida said such ideas could be studied but would require careful consideration in terms of legal issues, implementation capacity and fairness.

She refuted concerns that people could lose the right to defend themselves in their own homes.

Current provisions on lawful self-defence under Section 68 of the Criminal Code remain in force, she said, and no new law has been proposed to prohibit self-defence. However, she clarified that self-defence should not be used as a blanket justification for carrying firearms in public places.

“We cannot know whether someone carrying a gun intends to defend themselves, intimidate others or prepare to commit an offence,” Ms Lalida said.

The government’s aim is not to make law-abiding citizens fear the law, but to ensure people recognise that firearm ownership carries significant responsibilities and limitations, she explained.

“Guns should not be something people routinely carry in daily life or easily display to intimidate others. …. Our goal is to make Thai society safer by keeping guns out of everyday life as much as possible,’ the spokeswoman noted.

The government also recognised concerns from shooting sports athletes and would consider measures appropriate for sporting use. Firearms and ammunition would still have to be properly inspected and stored, but the measures are not intended to restrict shooting sports or limit opportunities for athletes, according to Ms Lalida.

Meanwhile, the Department of Provincial Administration on Wednesday issued an urgent directive to deputy governors across the nation to implement the prime minister’s measures on licensing, sales and possession of guns as well as to crackdown on illegal firearms.

The Office of the Trade Competition Commission has organised a public consultation to develop regulations overseeing modern trade and credit terms.

The consultation is being conducted from July 31 to Aug 31 through the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand (TCCT) website.

According to the proposal, the wholesale and retail markets are highly concentrated, with a few large conglomerates dominating the sectors.

The office found some operators’ business practices may lack sufficient consideration of fair trade, integrity and social responsibility, potentially affecting manufacturers and distributors.

The proposed framework outlines 20 measures to regulate the wholesale and retail sectors, in a bid to promote social responsibility. The measures include establishing guidelines for responsible business practices based on operator size, such as revenue.

The proposal requires wholesalers and retailers to create written contracts and retain them for a specified period. Contracts must clearly state terms and conditions, avoiding hidden or complex conditions, and must be easy to understand.

The proposal prohibits entry fees, except under specific conditions, such as for new products that have not been sold in more than 25% of all branches in the previous 365 days.

The framework also bans wholesale and retail operators from requiring manufacturers and distributors to pay additional expenses, such as site-visit fees, hospitality expenses, market research charges, shelf placement fees, and store renovation expenses.

The proposal prohibits wholesale and retail operators from charging fees for more favourable product placement, and requires the creation of guidelines on fair product placement and categorisation, while barring stores from engaging in self-preferencing of their own private-label products.

The framework also bars operators from misusing business secrets such as product prices, costs, formulas, or promotional campaigns, or using such information to gain advantage for their private-label products.

Last month the TCCT established a subcommittee dedicated to developing guidelines and action plans for the wholesale and retail sectors.

In early July, Assoc Prof Sudharma Yoonaidharma, vice-chairman and acting chairman of the TCCT, said the commission will not only focus on competition, but will also consider the social responsibilities of businesses.

The arrival of large wholesale or retail operators from outside a community could have an impact on local businesses if they do not prioritise the interests of the community, he noted.

Demand for consumer loans is expected to rise in the third quarter of 2026, driven primarily by household liquidity needs, according to the Bank of Thailand’s latest survey.

The central bank’s credit condition report for the second quarter shows financial institutions anticipate stronger household credit demand in the third quarter, particularly for credit cards and other consumer loans.

“The rise is expected to stem from increased liquidity needs among households. However, high household debt levels have prompted lenders to remain cautious in extending credit, particularly unsecured loans,” the report noted.

Despite the stronger outlook for household loan demand this quarter, auto loans are expected to continue declining, especially for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

The survey gathers insights from senior lending executives at bank and non-bank financial institutions and covers credit demand, supply, and forward-looking trends to give a comprehensive picture of market developments.

Household loan demand fell across all categories in the second quarter, reflecting subdued consumer confidence amid rising living costs.

Concerns over income and employment prospects dampened loan demand in the household segment.

The electric vehicle (EV) market was a notable exception. Despite an overall dip in auto loan demand during the second quarter, credit demand for EVs, hybrid EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs rose as consumers switched from ICE vehicles to EVs amid elevated oil prices caused by war in the Middle East.

The survey found several financial institutions tightened lending criteria for both corporate borrowers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the second quarter. These tighter conditions were driven by concerns over credit quality, particularly among businesses affected by geopolitical conflicts.

For example, some banks raised borrowing fees for large corporations and adjusted margins for SMEs.

Banks expect corporate loan demand to pick up in the third quarter, while SME loan demand is projected to dip slightly in the agricultural sector, though the outlook across other industries remains more favourable.

During the second quarter, corporate loan demand rose mainly to fund working capital for exports. Borrowing also increased for digital infrastructure and data centre projects, in line with the global technology and artificial intelligence expansion cycle.

Sticker trading that was popular among children decades ago is making a comeback in Japan, but this time with a new range leading the trend.

Plump and with a glass-like transparency, Bonbon Drop stickers, produced by Osaka-based stationery maker Q-Lia Co, have been selling out as children and adults snatch up sheets as soon as they arrive at stores. Their popularity has also led to counterfeits and arrests.

“Those are rare, but I can trade any of them if you want,” one woman told another as they spread out albums on a table at a cafe dedicated to sticker trading in Osaka in late March.

The cafe’s manager, Mika Kawano, 34, said, “We’re packed on some days and have many regulars.”

Seiichi Kurakake, Q-Lia’s development chief, said the company launched Bonbon Drop stickers in March 2024 after spending about six months on planning, aiming to create “a sticker unlike anything we’ve seen before.”

Q-Lia said the stickers were initially targeted at children in elementary school, but after social media users began posting photos of smartphone cases and cosmetic containers decorated with them around the spring of 2025, the fan base widened to adult women.

“We’ve been able to broaden the reach of the sticker culture. We’re amazed by this unexpected success,” said Kurakake.

Yohei Harada, a professor at the Shibaura Institute of Technology who studies youth culture, said past trends are seeing a resurgence.

Women in their late 20s to 30s who grew up trading stickers as children are driving such trends after entering the workforce, as they “can now freely purchase items that bring them a sense of nostalgia,” he added.

Cumulative shipments of Bonbon Drop stickers had skyrocketed to 34 million sheets by the end of June, from 4 million sheets as of April 2025.

“We expect production to continue increasing in the current circumstances,” Kurakake said, adding, “Our top priority is to ensure sufficient supply to meet demand.”

However, as the stickers have grown in popularity, counterfeits have begun to circulate in Japan.

In May, police arrested a male company executive and a male business owner for alleged copyright infringement. They were caught in possession of 1,016 sheets of counterfeit stickers that they intended to sell at a Nagoya shopping centre, with a summary court ordering them to pay fines in June.

A woman was also arrested in June for allegedly attempting to sell fake Bonbon Drop stickers at her general merchandise store in Osaka prefecture. She told investigators she imported them from China.

Q-Lia has posted a statement on its online store since November 2025, noting that official products feature a notice in Japanese on the back of the sticker sheets. It also urged customers to “enjoy the product in a sound manner.”

To qualify for the government subsidy for installing rooftop solar panels, households must have a minimum monthly electricity bill of around 3,000 baht, according to the Finance Ministry.

A source from the Finance Ministry, who requested anonymity, said that under the initial criteria being considered, households eligible for the 50,000-baht government subsidy would need to have monthly electricity bills of at least 3,000 baht for the installation of rooftop solar panels to be considered economically worthwhile.

The rooftop solar programme is part of a broader effort to transition away from oil and gas, which Thailand has to import and which contributed to the country’s trade deficit during the energy crisis.

The government aims to promote the use of clean energy, such as solar power, and is expected to allocate around 50-60 billion baht for the programme, using funds from an emergency borrowing decree.

The source said the rooftop solar installation programme would also generate employment domestically, as installers would have to be screened and approved by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). There are already a number of approved installers, and the authorities are preparing to expand the list further.

The programme is expected to begin as early as September.

The scheme has been designed to encourage households to install rooftop solar panels by providing government subsidies that would shorten the payback period for homeowners. With the subsidy, households could potentially recoup their investment within 3-4 years.

A typical rooftop solar installation under the programme would have a capacity of 5 kilowatts and cost around 150,000 baht per household.

Any installation costs exceeding the government subsidy would have to be covered by homeowners. However, they could apply for low-interest loans from Government Savings Bank or the Government Housing Bank.

For example, if a household previously paid 5,000 baht a month for electricity and the bill fell to 3,000 baht after installing solar panels, the 2,000-baht monthly saving could be used to help cover the loan repayment.

Under one possible arrangement, 1,000 baht of the monthly savings could be allocated towards the monthly loan repayment to the bank.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has approved a 4.45-billion-baht programme to provide cheaper financing to grassroots communities and reduce their reliance on high-interest informal loans.

Mr Anutin presided over the launch of the “Thais Help Thais: Increased Capital, Half-and-Half Interest” programme at Government House yesterday, joined by Prime Minister’s Office Minister Suksomruay Wantaneeyakul, who is the chairwoman of the National Village and Urban Community Fund Committee.

Mr Anutin said the programme aimed to ease household expenses and debt while helping people access capital to develop their occupations and generate additional income through local funds.

The programme will provide additional capital to 79,610 village, urban community and military community funds nationwide. The money will be used as working capital for occupations and other income-generating activities.

He said the scheme was part of the government’s broader effort to expand access to formal credit at affordable interest rates.

People unable to obtain financing through banks often turn to informal lenders charging excessive interest, putting their homes, land and livelihoods at risk, he said.

Mr Anutin said village funds could also help members develop businesses and create sustainable income.

Ms Suksomruay said the scheme was particularly important amid difficult economic conditions, as low-income communities needed additional working capital to maintain production, expand businesses and generate income.