Category: The Bangkok Post

Khon Kaen Geopark has successfully passed a Unesco review process is on track to become Thailand’s third Unesco global geopark, pending final approval in April next year, according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin.

The Unesco Global Geoparks Council, meeting this week in Paris, gave preliminary approval to 12 applicants from around the world, including Khon Kaen Geopark, Mr Suchart said on Tuesday.

If approved by the Unesco executive board in April, Khon Kaen will become the third Unesco-listed Geopark in Thailand, alongside Satun and Korat.

The Department of Mineral Resources first conceived the idea of ??establishing the Khon Kaen Geopark in 2011, as part of a programme to educate the public about the value of the northeastern province’s geological and fossil resources.

Khon Kaen Geopark, also referred to as the ‘Dinosaur Kingdom of Phu Wiang Valley’, is a major geological and paleontological conservation area straddling Wiang Kao and Phu Wiang districts on the western margin of the Korat Plateau.

Mr Suchart attributed the Unesco recognition to the cooperation of all stakeholders, particularly the Khon Kaen Provincial Administration Organisation, which has played a leading role in supporting the geopark’s development.

The Department of Mineral Resources has also provided academic support, including geological heritage conservation in line with international standards.

Mr Suchart said the Unesco council commended Khon Kaen Geopark’s independent management structure and the support it receives from the Khon Kaen PAO.

‘This marks another important step for Thailand in elevating its geological heritage to global recognition, particularly significant dinosaur fossil sites and valuable geological resources in Khon Kaen province,’ he said.

Police forced their way into a university student’s room to warn her she was online to a scammer who had already cheated her out of 400,000 baht.

Investigators from Bangkok’s Din Daeng and Huai Kwang police stations b saved the second-year student from even heavier losses on Monday.

The young woman, identified as 19-year-old “Han” from Buri Ram province, studies at a university in the Din Daeng area and was initially deceived by a caller claiming that her name was linked to an online gambling case.

Other scammers impersonated police officers during a video call and persuaded her to transfer money for investigation purposes, and she handed over about 400,000 baht in all.

The criminals were on-line, persuading her to transfer additional funds when police intervened, Metropolitan Police division 1 deputy commander Pol Col Sakkaya Saengwandeputy commander Pol Col Sakkaya Saengwan said on Tuesday.

The case came to light after investigators received an alert from the Royal Thai Police Office Technology Crime Suppression Centre about 11am on Monday, reporting that Ms Han had contacted her father and requested 500,000 baht.

The young woman subsequently transferred money to the scammers via three transactions of 49,900 baht each, totaling 149,700 baht. In addition, she withdrew 250,000 baht in cash and handed it over to one of the scammers she was told to meet near a dormitory on Soi Pracha Songkhroh 27 in Bangkok’s Din Daeng district.

About 6pm on Monday, Pol Col Sakkaya and Din Daeng investigators went to the victim’s dormitory room.

He said when they arrived she was engaged in a video call with the scammers and refused to open the door to police.

Frustrated, and aware there was a scam going down, police eventually forced open the door to her room and explained that she was being deceived and ending the call. She was later advised to file a complaint at Din Daeng police station.

According to the victim, the scam began when she received a phone call from a person claiming to represent a mobile phone service provider.

The caller alleged that her phone number had been used by a third party to distribute promotional clips encouraging people to gamble on illegal online betting websites.

The caller advised her to report the matter to police at Muang police station in Phichit province to prove her innocence.

The scam gang also instructed the student to deceive her parents by claiming that she had received a scholarship to study in South Korea and needed 500,000 baht as a financial guarantee. She followed their instructions and gave them money as and when they directed.

The victim’s parents were alerted by their bank that their daughter had withdrawn a large sum of money and transferred funds to another person’s account, raising concerns that she had fallen prey to a call-centre scam.

When her parents attempted to contact her, she did not answer because she was still communicating with the scam gang. The parents then sought help from police.

Investigators were now tracking down those involved, including the person who collected the cash from the victim, Pol Col Sakkaya said.

According to a police source, CCTV footage showed the suspect who collected the 250,000 baht cash payment was a tall man wearing a polo shirt. After receiving the money, he left in a car.

The investigation is continuing.

Climate change is emerging as a growing health and financial risk, with rising temperatures, air pollution and extreme weather threatening not only public health but also household incomes and long-term financial security, says insurance and asset management company Prudential.

Bundit Jiamanukoonkit, chief executive and managing director of Prudential Thailand, said climate change was no longer simply an environmental challenge, as its effects extend to healthcare expenses, income stability and the financial resilience of vulnerable households.

Higher temperatures and air pollution can increase health risks, while climate-related disruptions can affect people’s ability to earn a living.

“When medical expenses rise simultaneously as income becomes less secure, families may struggle to maintain adequate savings and insurance coverage, widening the protection gap,” said Mr Bundit.

Life insurance should not be limited to paying benefits when an incident occurs. It must also help people build awareness, prepare for risks and mitigate their impact before losses happen, he noted.

According to Prudential, Asia accounted for about 30% of global economic losses from natural disasters in 2025, but only around 5% of those losses were insured.

To strengthen resilience, the company established its “Financing the Transition” framework, targeting US$6 billion in investment by 2030.

The group has committed $1.5 billion since 2024 to areas including renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, water management, and health and ecosystem adaptation.

Prudential also identified public-private partnerships, better risk assessment data and risk-sharing mechanisms as important tools for mobilising long-term investment and helping communities prepare for climate-related threats.

In Thailand, Prudential is focusing on research to understand how climate risks translate into health and financial consequences.

The firm’s ongoing collaboration with Mahidol University examines the effects of climate change on the health of the Thai population, with the aim of developing evidence to assess risks, identify protection gaps, and inform future policies and insurance solutions.

The Climate Care project studies how climate-related risks affect the health, incomes and coping behaviour of vulnerable groups. A separate collaboration with Urban Studies Lab seeks to use community-level data to develop practical approaches to risk prevention and preparedness.

Financial education is another part of the strategy, helping people build resilience before unexpected expenses or income disruptions occur.

Prudential is also seeking to extend direct protection to groups that may face barriers to accessing insurance. The firm’s “Give the Future” initiative, now in the fourth year of implementation, has provided more than 200,000 insurance policies to vulnerable groups.

Mr Bundit said sustainability requires coordinated efforts to help people understand risks, prepare financially and access appropriate protection before a crisis occurs.

By combining research, prevention and insurance, Prudential aims to strengthen the ability of Thai households to withstand interconnected climate, health and financial shocks.

Thailand aims to become a high-income economy by 2037, with a new five-year science and innovation strategy targeting annual GDP growth of 5%.

Deputy Prime Minister and Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat announced the goal after chairing a meeting of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council on Oct 26.

The council reviewed three draft plans for 2028-2032 covering higher education, workforce development, and science, research and innovation. They aim to align education and research with industrial needs, develop skilled workers and create new sources of growth to help Thailand escape the middle-income trap.

It also approved the “Thailand²: Nation of Master” initiative, which will develop three high-value sectors: semiconductors, medical and wellness products, and future foods and bio-based products.

The Siam Silica programme aims to bring Thailand into the semiconductor supply chain, focusing on chip design, photonics and advanced packaging. It targets eight Thai and international chip-design start-ups and multinational design centres by 2030.

Siam Medica will promote health and wellness industries, including herbal products, biotechnology, medical devices and precision medicine, while Siam Terra aims to upgrade agriculture through smart farming, high-value food production and biomanufacturing.

Cryptocurrency investment scams caused the highest financial losses among online fraud cases reported most recently.

The Anti-Cyber Scam Centre (ACSC) said 6,220 complaints were filed through the Thai Police Online platform between Oct 18 and 24, involving losses of 333 million baht. The figures were up by 187 cases and more than 60 million baht from the previous week.

Scams involving goods and services accounted for the largest number of complaints, with 4,693 cases, or 75.5% of the total. However, financial and investment fraud caused the greatest losses among the reported scam categories, accounting for 27% of cases and more than 90 million baht in damage.

Crypto investment scams alone accounted for 58.9 million baht in losses, followed by fraudsters impersonating police, the Department of Special Investigation or the Anti-Money Laundering Office, which caused 49.13 million baht in damage. Fake online shops generated losses of 47.07 million baht.

Other major scams included fake government assistance schemes, costing victims 26.47 million baht; online side jobs involving likes and order-taking, at 24.89 million baht; and recruitment fee scams, at 15.96 million baht.

Facebook was the most frequently used platform, linked to 3,071 cases, or 54.74% of the total. Line was associated with 516 cases but recorded the highest losses among the reported channels, at 76.69 million baht, averaging 148,628 baht per case.

Bank transfers accounted for 97.97% of 5,496 reported payment cases, with losses exceeding 216.37 million baht.

Cryptocurrency investment scams caused the highest financial losses among online fraud cases reported most recently.

The Anti-Cyber Scam Centre (ACSC) said 6,220 complaints were filed through the Thai Police Online platform between Oct 18 and 24, involving losses of 333 million baht. The figures were up by 187 cases and more than 60 million baht from the previous week.

Scams involving goods and services accounted for the largest number of complaints, with 4,693 cases, or 75.5% of the total. However, financial and investment fraud caused the greatest losses among the reported scam categories, accounting for 27% of cases and more than 90 million baht in damage.

Crypto investment scams alone accounted for 58.9 million baht in losses, followed by fraudsters impersonating police, the Department of Special Investigation or the Anti-Money Laundering Office, which caused 49.13 million baht in damage. Fake online shops generated losses of 47.07 million baht.

Other major scams included fake government assistance schemes, costing victims 26.47 million baht; online side jobs involving likes and order-taking, at 24.89 million baht; and recruitment fee scams, at 15.96 million baht.

Facebook was the most frequently used platform, linked to 3,071 cases, or 54.74% of the total. Line was associated with 516 cases but recorded the highest losses among the reported channels, at 76.69 million baht, averaging 148,628 baht per case.

Bank transfers accounted for 97.97% of 5,496 reported payment cases, with losses exceeding 216.37 million baht.

Arsenic levels in the Sai River exceeded safety standards at all monitoring points in the latest survey, prompting Thai authorities to step up water quality checks and seek cooperation with Myanmar and Laos.

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) on Sunday released findings from its 23rd round of water quality testing, conducted in late September at 23 stations along the Kok, Ruak, Mekong and Sai rivers in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Arsenic levels in the other three rivers remained within safety standards, although the department reported rising concentrations in the Mekong, which it linked to flooding from neighbouring countries.

The PCD has instructed provincial authorities and relevant agencies, particularly the Provincial Waterworks Authority, to intensify checks on raw water and tap water.

Investigations are also under way into possible arsenic contamination in agricultural products, including rice, although more data is needed.

The department said inspections had found no domestic pollution source responsible for the contamination in northern Thailand, prompting efforts to investigate the problem with neighbouring countries.

A joint Thailand-Myanmar working group will meet later this month. The PCD will also coordinate with Laos through the Mekong River Commission to monitor water quality in border areas this month.

The department is working with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, Japan, SCG and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States to study contaminated sediment management and improve heavy-metal detection equipment.

That said, the PCD said excessive arsenic levels in surface water did not necessarily mean tap water exceeded safety limits.

Pheu Thai Party leader Julapun Amornvivat has firmly denied rumours of a secret political deal exchanging an amnesty for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra for votes of confidence in the upcoming censure debate.

“There is no deal, no secret deal, and no arrangement of any kind, whether behind closed doors or in the open,” he said.

The no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s government is scheduled for Dec 7-11 in parliament.

Mr Julapun, who doubles as labour minister, said that Pheu Thai and Mr Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party had agreed to govern together and were fully committed to working as coalition partners. With both parties in government, there was neither concern nor any factual basis for further negotiations, he said.

Asked about Thaksin’s application for amnesty under the Social Peace Promotion Act, Mr Julapun said anyone affected by political unrest and military coups had the legal right to submit an application.

Whether Thaksin qualified for amnesty under the law was for the relevant committee to determine, he said, adding the government had no involvement in that decision.

On government stability, he said relations between coalition partners remained close, with no discussions held about restructuring the administration.

He was confident the cabinet could address all issues during the no-confidence debate expected in early December.

Regarding reports the Klatham Party is possibly joining the coalition and possible changes at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr Julapun said decisions on coalition membership rested solely with the prime minister and should not be interfered with by other partners.

Ministers, meanwhile, had a responsibility to review their own performance, he said, noting the agriculture ministry was functioning well. Any changes to the coalition structure would require discussions and a signal from the PM, but no such talks had taken place.

Microsoft has announced major updates to its Bluetooth system in Windows 11, to solve long-standing wireless headphone connectivity issues such as sluggish pairing, connection failures, frequent dropouts, and audio stuttering that have plagued Apple AirPods users in particular.

The fix will also speed up computer pairing times, by up to 15 seconds, according to Microsoft.

Connecting AirPods to Windows devices has long been a source of frustration due to setup difficulties and limited feature availability compared to the seamless integration offered on iOS and macOS platforms.

Despite these hurdles, many users continue to pair AirPods with Windows PCs due to brand familiarity, audio quality and overall comfort, or simply because they prefer using a single headset across all their devices rather than purchasing additional hardware.

Microsoft said it has overhauled several components within its Bluetooth stack, targeting the discovery and pairing process that previously caused long delays or timed out with connection failure errors. The company clarified that while AirPods benefit significantly, the fixes also extend to wireless headphones from other manufacturers.

The update introduces stability enhancements designed to prevent dropped connections and resolve status display bugs. Previously, Windows 11 Quick Settings would occasionally display a “Connected” status even after headphones had disconnected, causing manual disconnection attempts to inadvertently trigger a reconnection loop instead.

Audio performance during voice calls and online meetings has also been addressed. The patch rectifies stuttering and instability issues when using built-in microphones on certain models, while improving Bluetooth LE Audio integration for more reliable overall sound delivery.

A minor interface quirk has also been resolved: adjusting the volume via physical buttons on a headset during calls now triggers the standard volume slider overlay on screen, fixing a bug where volume levels changed without visual feedback.

In addition, Microsoft fixed an issue where the Bluetooth toggle switch in the Settings menu failed to reflect the actual state of the radio hardware, alongside general stability tweaks to the Bluetooth and devices control panel for smoother device management.

The overhaul represents an ongoing effort rather than a sudden release, following incremental patches deployed earlier in the year. The KB5095093 update released in June previously enabled AirPods to appear faster in pairing lists, whereas the October release rolls out the full suite of stability and performance upgrades to the wider public.

However, Microsoft noted that the advertised 15-second pairing speed boost will vary depending on specific AirPods models, PC Bluetooth hardware adapters and system configurations. Independent tests conducted by tech outlet Windows Latest showed pairing speed improvements of approximately 20 per cent for both AirPods and Samsung Galaxy Buds.

Thailand’s rice exports are expected to miss the target of 7 million tonnes this year, even as shipments to Asian markets surge.

From January to September 2026, rice exports totalled 4.99 million tonnes, with a value of US$2.96 billion or 94.9 billion baht, according to the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT).

Arada Fuangtong, director-general of the DFT, said shipments to Asian markets have expanded significantly. Malaysia imported its highest volume of Thai rice in 20 years, while the Philippines increased imports by 263% year-on-year due to concerns over El Niño and efforts to strengthen food security.

In the first nine months, Thailand exported 1.71 million tonnes of rice to Asian countries, up 13.3% year-on-year. This figure was nearly equal to the 1.73 million tonnes shipped to Africa, reflecting a more balanced distribution of export markets, she said.

Key export markets that grew notably during the period included the Philippines, Malaysia, which gained 155% year-on-year, Hong Kong up 63%, and Mozambique, which rose 2%.

Despite this growth, total rice shipments may reach only 6.5 million tonnes this year, below the target of 7 million tonnes, said Ms Arada.

Exports to Iraq were affected by the war in the Middle East, which resulted in the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In 2025, Thailand exported over 1 million tonnes of rice to Iraq.

Meanwhile, Indonesia stopped importing Thai rice this year as the country aims to increase domestic consumption.

Exports of Thai hom mali rice to the US were affected by tariffs, while demand has weakened due to high inflation in that country.

Perhaps as a result of trade talks, Japan has increased rice imports from the US.

Thai white rice 5% is more expensive than competing varieties, at around $480 per tonne, compared with $420 for Vietnamese rice and $388 for Indian rice.

The DFT plans to accelerate rice exports by organising trade missions and meetings with importers in key markets, including Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines and Africa.

The agency is also organising international rice conferences and participating in trade exhibitions to strengthen business ties, promote Thai rice quality and secure new orders.

For tapioca exports, Thailand shipped 3.24 million tonnes in the first nine months of 2026, down from 7.22 million tonnes year-on-year, attributed to weak demand, supply shortages caused by low production yields, and border closures with Cambodia.