Category: The Bangkok Post

Smartphone makers OnePlus and realme have announced major market withdrawals, with OnePlus exiting the United States and Europe, while sister brand realme departs mainland China to focus entirely on global markets.

The strategic shake-up will see both brands lean heavily into parent company OPPO’s ecosystem. OnePlus confirmed to Android Authority and The Verge that it will stop restocking its handsets in the West, allowing OPPO to take over its market share in those regions.

OnePlus plans to maintain its presence in India and China. However, the future remains hazy as the company has not yet confirmed the launch of its next flagship, the OnePlus 16, amidst lingering rumors that it might also quit the Indian market by 2027.

According to a company statement, the decision was made jointly with OPPO as part of a resource management strategy to optimize marketing efforts for each individual brand.

OnePlus assured existing customers that the move will not affect after-sales service, device warranties or software updates. The company even hinted at potentially extending software support periods for certain devices in the future.

Realme is executing a parallel shift by withdrawing from the competitive Chinese market. The brand will now pivot its focus toward launching new products exclusively for the global consumer base.

Following realme’s departure from China, OPPO will assume responsibility for all after-sales services and product warranties for existing realme devices in the country.

Another major change is that OnePlus and realme smartphones, along with related devices, will transition to OPPO’s ColorOS operating system, replacing their existing software platforms. The companies said the move will simplify software development and improve efficiency across their product ecosystem.

State enterprise National Telecom (NT) has extended the retirement date of the Thaicom 4 satellite to the end of September 2026, though it is declining to pay Thaicom 4’s management fees to Thaicom Plc, citing technical risks.

The move follows Thaicom’s proposal to NT that the satellite’s expiration date be extended to the end of next year after two extensions in recent years.

According to NT president Col Sanpachai Huvanandana, the latest extension addresses the delayed deployment of the satellite’s successor, Thaicom 9, ensuring uninterrupted service for customers.

In the past, the Thaicom 4 and Thaicom 6 satellites were operated by Thaicom under a state concession regime.

Thaicom later transferred ownership of the two satellites to the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry, which in turn assigned NT to operate servicing for the two satellites.

NT hired Thaicom to manage the two satellites on its behalf.

Thaicom claims the engineering lifespan of Thaicom 4 could potentially last until next year because it has sufficient fuel and can be safely removed from its orbit once it reaches its definitive end of life, Col Sanpachai said.

The satellite operator’s push to extend the lifespan of Thaicom 4 aligns with its plan to migrate its customer base from the retiring satellite to other platforms, particularly broadband internet users in the Indian market who have not yet been fully transitioned to other platforms.

Due to delays in launching Thaicom’s two replacement satellites, the company has leased capacity on foreign satellites to accommodate clients on an interim basis.

A recent board meeting of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) approved Thaicom’s proposal to use the foreign satellite capacity of Koreasat to provide service as a replacement for Thaicom 4.

The NBTC board meeting in April also determined Thaicom 4 would be unable to maintain its orbital position beyond July 31 due to constraints in onboard power systems, with officials indicating further extension is infeasible.

“The NT board acknowledged the need for continued operation, but limited the extension to September, noting the satellite’s lifespan has already been extended twice before,” Col Sanpachai said.

Initially scheduled for retirement in 2022, its operations were first prolonged to 2024, then extended again in March 2024 for an additional year.

Thaicom recently requested the NBTC allow it to extend the launch deadline of Thaicom 9 until Sept 30, 2027, citing force majeure circumstances after satellite manufacturer Astranis encountered production failures affecting an entire batch of satellites. The satellite was originally scheduled for launch during 2025-2026.

NO FEE PAYMENT

Col Sanpachai said NT has paid Thaicom a monthly fee of 10 million baht to manage both Thaicom 4 and Thaicom 6.

However, the NT board resolved it would no longer pay the fee for Thaicom 4 management after mid-year, arguing the satellite’s engineering life should technically be considered exhausted.

Furthermore, the state telecom declared it will not be held responsible for any damage or service interruptions occurring after mid-year, as the risk of technical failure increases with the satellite’s age.

This move aligns with a directive from the DES Ministry that authorised the NT board to make the final decision on the matter.

Despite NT’s concerns over technical risks, Col Sanpachai said the lifespan extension until September is a final grace period for Thaicom to handle its service transitions before the ageing satellite is retired from NT’s oversight.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ: Ferran Torres ?scored in ?the 106th minute to lift Spain to their second World Cup title with a 1-0 win in extra time over gutsy, 10-man Argentina in Sunday’s final.

Torres’ deserved winner came 16 years and eight days after Andres Iniesta also scored in extra time to lift the Spaniards to their first World Championship with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.

It came on La Roja’s 20th shot on the contest against a ?defending champion Argentina that failed to manage any to that point and struggled to wrest possession away from their superior Iberian opponents.

That was true at even strength and became more difficult when the Albiceleste’s numbers were reduced when Enzo Fernandez’s late challenge of Pau Cubarsi left referee Slavko Vincic no choice but to produce a second caution just before the end of normal time.

Spain ?remain the only nation ever to win a European Championship and World Cup in successive tournaments, having now done so a second time. They are also the first World Cup champion ever to concede only once across an entire tournament.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina failed to earn a title for the first time in three major tournaments, having also captured the 2021 and 2024 Copa Americas either side of their 2022 World Cup triumph.

The 39-year-old, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi finished the competition with eight goals and four assists, but had little time on the ball until Spain finally took the lead and never seriously looked ?like lifting his side to another great moment as he has so many times in the last two World Cup cycles.

Emi Martinez ?made 11 saves for the Albiceleste, who fell short in their bid to be the first consecutive World Cup champions since Brazil won the 1958 and 1962 titles.

What had felt so difficult for the first 105 minutes ?suddenly looked easy after 37 seconds of play in the second period of extra time.

Pedro Porro curled in an outswinging cross from the left to the back post, Nico Williams won the header and nodded it back into space, and Torres hammered a half-volley at last past the flailing Martinez. It was his ?only goal of the tournament, making him the seventh player to score during a tournament in which his side never trailed.

The government is inviting public feedback on proposed amendments to update the country’s surrogacy law.

Deputy government spokeswoman Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan said the draft intends to provide balanced access to assisted reproductive technology, with safeguards for children, parents, surrogates and medics.

It also aims to strengthen regulatory oversight, prevent commercial exploitation and support Thailand’s ambition to become a regional medical hub, she said.

Key amendments include replacing the term “husband and wife” with “spouses” to align with marriage equality laws, and increasing penalties for human trafficking.

Other changes include revised eligibility conditions for couples involving foreign nationals and provisions allowing the export of sperm, eggs or embryos by their owners.

Public comments can be submitted via www.law.go.th until July 31.

Police and local officials raided 31 companies suspected of being nominee firms under actual foreign ownership and arrested five suspects on Monday.

About 250 police and local officials were involved in the operation.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma said they searched 31 company premises and files at 18 locations in Chiang Mai.

Of the 31 companies, 16 allegedly have Thai proxy shareholders and the other 15 breach foreign shareholding limits. The 31 companies occupy about 20 rai of land worth about 633 million baht.

Pol Gen Samran said there were 74 suspects in the case and police had court arrest warrants for 22 – two Thais, seven Myanma, three Indians, one Briton and nine Chinese. On Monday police arrested five of the suspects, two Indians and three Myanma.

Some Thai suspects had been detained prior to the raids. One is a man who has been in Chiang Mai Central Prison since 2021. His name was mentioned as a shareholder in two companies.

He told police that a former inmate invited him into an investment project and asked for his ID card and house registration document, supposedly for company registration. He said he never received any return from the claimed investment projects.

“Police have taken legal action against the shareholders and directors of such companies and are expanding the investigation to catch all the offenders, including the real beneficiaries,” Pol Gen Samran said.

Similar operations were planned in Phuket, Krabi, Phangnga, Chon Buri and Surat Thani provinces, he said.

Moo Deng’s World Cup prediction streak remains perfectly wrong, three for three, after she picked Argentina to beat Spain in the final.

The curtain came down in style on the 2026 Fifa World Cup, with Spain edging Argentina 1-0 in extra time to claim their second world title. In the third-place play-off, England saw off France in a thrilling 6-4 encounter.

Amid the excitement among football fans worldwide, Thai social media found its own reason to smile. Popular Facebook page “Kha Moo and The Gang” posted an adorable photo of celebrity pygmy hippo Moo Deng eating a watermelon marked with the shortened country name “ARG”, along with a cheeky caption summing up her World Cup prediction record.

The page put it bluntly: “Moo Deng’s prediction rate: 100%. She predicted three matches and got none of them right.”

Moo Deng had earlier picked France to beat Spain and England to down Argentina, and been wrong each time.

The self-deprecating post charmed fans, who flooded the comments section, poking fun at the page admin’s honesty about Moo Deng’s flop of a forecasting career. One poster joked, “Maybe she was supposed to eat the losing side.”

Bluport Hua Hin Resort Mall is repositioning itself to attract more families and local visitors by expanding its lifestyle, sports and entertainment offerings, aiming to raise occupancy to 97% next year from 80%.

Vajee Klomkliang, an executive committee member of Hua Hin Asset Co, the developer and operator of the complex, said the strategy reflects changing consumer behaviour.

“Hua Hin’s retail sector can no longer rely solely on tourists, despite the steady recovery in the area,” she said. “Bluport once appeared too luxurious and difficult for many people to access. We are making it friendlier and more welcoming.”

The company shifted its focus from traditional retail towards family-oriented experiences by adding attractions such as indoor playground HarborLand, pickleball courts, educational facilities and sports-related tenants.

The complex is becoming a sports destination, hosting sporting events in partnership with Proud Group Co, the developer and owner of InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, said Ms Vajee.

A 2,000-square-metre fitness centre operated by a well-known fitness brand is planned for the third floor, she noted.

Since HarborLand opened earlier this year, the number of Thai visitors has increased by 15-20%, particularly families from nearby provinces as well as weekend visitors from Bangkok. Bluport attracts around 18,000 visitors on weekdays and 25,000 on weekends.

To increase repeat visits from local residents, the mall organises vintage markets every Wednesday and Saturday, generating more than 10% additional traffic on these days, said Ms Vajee.

Retail occupancy has improved steadily to 80%, up from 75% last year and 63% in 2024. The company expects the figure to reach 83% by year-end.

Bluport reached its lowest point during the pandemic in 2021, when it temporarily closed the second and third floors and consolidated tenants onto the ground floor.

“Hua Hin’s retail recovery was much slower than tourism,” she said. “We realised we had to create our own destinations instead of waiting for the market.”

That outlook prompted Bluport to diversify beyond retail, investing in the Hua Hin Convention Center, which opened two years ago to strengthen the resort town’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector. The venue accommodates up to 2,000 people in theatre-style seating, or 1,000 for banquets, with daily rental fees of around 120,000 baht. The centre recorded 70% occupancy in the first half of this year.

Another attraction is Museo Auto Classica, which opened earlier this year, combining Thailand’s first operational classic car museum with an art gallery under one roof. Daily attendance has risen from around 100 visitors to roughly 300 today, with foreigners accounting for 70%.

The mall also benefits from changing tourism patterns. Russian visitors have become Hua Hin’s largest international market, typically staying longer than other nationalities during the extended winter season. Arrivals from Britain, the US, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea have also increased, while a growing British expat community has strengthened weekday spending at the mall.

Ms Vajee said improved transport links would strengthen Hua Hin’s tourism prospects, including the upcoming M82 motorway, resuming direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, and the Nong Kae railway station, which has made the resort town more accessible.

“Hua Hin already has strong tourism fundamentals. What the city needs now is better transport,” she said.

Ms Vajee suggested reviving the ferry service between Hua Hin and Pattaya, saying family travel increasingly involves three generations travelling together.

“The middle generation often wants to continue their trip to Pattaya after visiting Hua Hin, while grandparents and children prefer to remain here. A ferry connection would support that travel pattern,” she said.

About 2.76 million people who failed to qualify for the 2026 state welfare card scheme have appealed for a review of their eligibility, says the Finance Ministry.

The appeals, filed on July 17 and 18, account for about 30% of the applicants who did not pass the eligibility screening. Another 6.55 million unsuccessful applicants can still submit appeals until July 31.

Of the 18.8 million people who applied for the 2026 programme, only 9.5 million qualified, down from 13.2 million beneficiaries under the previous scheme.

The most common reason for disqualification was ownership of a vehicle that exceeded the programme’s eligibility criteria, affecting about 1.45 million applicants. Another 668,000 were rejected because their combined outstanding debts exceeded 100,000 baht.

Others were disqualified because they had annual income or financial transfers above 100,000 baht, owned property exceeding the permitted limit, held deposits of more than 100,000 baht, or possessed credit cards.

Applicants who believe the screening results do not reflect their actual circumstances can appeal through the programme’s website, the Paotang and Tang Rat applications, or participating state-owned banks.

They are also advised to update their personal information with government agencies. Those whose appeals are successful and who complete electronic identity verification will receive benefits from October.

Existing welfare cardholders who have confirmed their eligibility can continue using their benefits from Aug 1.

The ministry previously said it had revised the registration process and screening criteria to ensure assistance reaches those most in need. The state welfare card programme has an annual budget of about 45 billion baht.

Dhanakorn Kasetrsuwan, chairman of the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC), says the council believes the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) remains one of Thailand’s most strategic developments and a key competitive advantage in attracting investment.

The EEC’s long-term success depends on the government’s ability to keep major projects on schedule, ensure policy continuity, and foster a genuinely business-friendly environment, he noted.

With countries competing aggressively for investment, the speed of project execution, policy certainty, and government credibility are decisive factors for Thailand’s long-term competitiveness, said Mr Dhanakorn.

He identified the continuity of government policy and confidence in the implementation of major infrastructure projects as the primary concerns regarding the high-speed rail project, rather than potential changes or contractual disputes.

“The EEC was established as Thailand’s strategic development zone to upgrade industry, attract investment, and strengthen regional logistics connectivity. If major infrastructure projects are delayed, foreign investors are likely to postpone investment decisions because their long-term commitments depend on the availability of reliable supporting infrastructure,” said Mr Dhanakorn.

While the high-speed rail project is not primarily a freight transport system, it plays an important role in connecting airports, cities and business hubs, he noted, enhancing mobility for investors, business executives and skilled professionals, while improving the efficiency of the zone’s economy.

The private sector needs clarity about the rail project’s direction and implementation timeline, said Mr Dhanakorn.

“Uncertainty imposes greater costs on investment decisions than changes to the project’s design or format,” he said.

Regarding the possible development of a medium-speed rail system by the State Railway of Thailand, the TNSC said the main issue is not maximum speed, but whether the project can be completed successfully, generate economic value, and begin operations within a reasonable time frame.

“If converting the project to medium-speed rail allows for faster progress, reduces the fiscal burden, and still provides efficient connectivity in the EEC, it should be seriously considered as a practical alternative,” said Mr Dhanakorn.

Thailand should prioritise transport system efficiency over speed, as investors value reliability, punctuality, and the easing the cost of doing business, he noted.

To advance the EEC, Mr Dhanakorn suggested the government focus on building a comprehensive investment structure rather than relying primarily on tax incentives.

The government should accelerate all key infrastructure projects, including railways, roads, ports, airports and digital infrastructure, while maintaining clear implementation schedules and policy continuity, he added.

In addition, investment approval and licensing procedures should be modernised using a digital one-stop service to reduce bureaucracy, shorten processing times and improve transparency, said Mr Dhanakorn.

Workforce development should be aligned with targeted industries such as semiconductors, advanced electronics, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, robotics and aviation to ensure investors have access to skilled talent.

“The government should support Thai businesses, particularly small enterprises, in integrating into the supply chains of foreign investors to promote technology transfer and create greater value within the domestic economy,” he said.

Expanding clean energy infrastructure, ensuring a stable electricity supply, and strengthening digital infrastructure are essential to supporting future industries, noted Mr Dhanakorn. The government should also maintain policy continuity while minimising regulatory uncertainty to preserve investor confidence.

Authorities are stepping up inspections and will take legal action against cannabis shops operating without valid licences or violating conditions, said deputy government spokeswoman Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan.

She said tightened controls will continue, particularly in major tourist destinations, to ensure compliance and strengthen confidence.

Her remarks followed a joint inspection of cannabis retailers across Phuket by provincial, police and health officials. They found 533 shops had failed to renew their licences, while 12 others had their licences suspended.

Ms Ploythalay said the government has instructed agencies to strictly enforce the law against unlicensed operators.

Cannabis flower is a controlled herb; commercial businesses must obtain licences and comply with strict regulations to prevent misuse.