Category: The Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is set to preside over the inaugural meeting of the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee (NDMRC) on Monday, as floods continue to threaten many parts of the country.

The committee, which was formed last Tuesday, along with the National Disaster Relief Operations Centre (NDROC), has the job of coordinating, supervising, and integrating disaster relief efforts nationwide.

The move followed Mr Anutin’s visit to flood-hit Bang Ban district in Ayutthaya on Sept 27, where he observed recurring flood problems and inadequate relief efforts.

Following the visit, he ordered the creation of a central mechanism to deliver more effective assistance to citizens affected by floods.

The NDMRC, chaired by Mr Anutin himself, will oversee all phases of disaster management from preparedness, prevention to emergency response and post-crisis rehabilitation.

It also has the authority to direct government agencies, state enterprises, and other organisations in disaster relief operations, and appoint special working groups or experts as needed.

Meanwhile, the NDROC, led by Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Zarum, will serve as the main command and coordination centre for relief operations, covering evacuations, safety measures, essential supplies, and temporary shelters.

The DDPM on Sunday issued a warning about flash floods in several central and northeastern provinces, including Phitsanulok, Ubon Ratchathani, and Ayutthaya, as well as coastal flooding from high tides in 23 coastal provinces, including Bangkok.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), meanwhile, said Typhoon Matmo was gaining strength over the upper South China Sea. The typhoon was expected to make landfall in China’s Guangdong province on Sunday.

While the storm will not enter Thailand, it is strengthening the southwest monsoon, bringing heavier rain and flash flood risks to the North, Northeast, East and South until Tuesday.

Residents in at-risk areas are urged to be on alert for floods.

A book in hand, a cosy corner and the gentle hum of community all around — this is the spirit of “The Commons Reading Party 2025”, which is welcoming readers every third Sunday until Nov 16 at The Commons, Thong Lor.

Designed for anyone who craves both solitude and togetherness, the event reimagines the joy of reading in a communal space where silence feels social and companionship comes without obligation.

Inspired by theWHOLESOME Book Club yet distinctly its own, “The Commons Reading Party 2025” strips away the formality of deadlines, assigned books or structured discussions.

Instead, it celebrates the pure act of reading — your book, your pace, your way. Guests are invited to bring their own book or borrow one from the venue’s selection, find a seat in one of the designated reading zones and simply lose themselves in the pages. Whether you reserve ahead or decide to drop in spontaneously, the experience remains refreshingly easy-going and open to all.

Deeply absorb in a novel, a magazine, or even a digital read on your tablet, while sipping a perfectly brewed Roots coffee while around you, others are equally immersed in their chosen texts. There are no expectations to speak, no interruptions — just a quiet, shared energy that makes the simple act of reading feel surprisingly communal. When was the last time silence felt this social or so inviting?

To launch this new chapter in their cultural programming, The Commons has partnered with Biblio and BKK Lit Fest, ensuring each gathering balances tranquillity with just a hint of conversation.

After 90 minutes of personal reading time, participants are invited to come together on the Top Yard for an optional chat. It’s a lighthearted, organic way to exchange impressions, discover new titles and connect with fellow book lovers without the pressure of a formal book club. Everyone is welcome — whether you’re a lifelong bibliophile or someone who simply wants to carve out time to read in good company.

Joining is effortless. Upon arrival, check in at The Commons booth near the main entrance at the top of the stairs. Each ticket includes a discount card for Roots, making that cup of coffee or tea taste even better as you settle into your reading session. Tickets are priced at 150 baht for early birds and 200 baht for walk-ins and come with a free coaster, bookmark and 40 baht off a Roots drink — small tokens that make the experience feel even more special.

Blackpink’s upcoming ‘Deadline’ concerts in Bangkok are expected to drive full occupancy at hotels near Rajamangala National Stadium, in line with Thailand’s growing ‘gig tripping’ trend, where up to 40% of the crowds attending music events can consist of foreign attendees.

Piti Kuakiatngam, general manager of Alexander Hotel Bangkok, said his 300-room hotel had already gained a 90% occupancy rate during Blackpink World Tour concerts on Oct 24-26, reflecting strong demand among concertgoers.

During periods when large events are held at Rajamangala, hotels located near the venue are able to maintain high room rates without discounting, he said.

Alexander Hotel has also been able to sell its rooms during periods when such events are held at a higher rate than during regular weekdays and weekends. It also reserves a number of rooms for walk-in guests on concert days.

Most of its bookings during the Blackpink concerts derived from foreign markets, such as China, Japan and South Korea.

Mr Piti said concerts and festivals typically benefit hotels located near the location of such events, just as Alexander Hotel had attracted additional bookings from those attending events at Rajamanagala and the Mall Bangkapi.

As a complimentary service for guests, the hotel also provides free shuttle bus services to the stadium before and after the concerts.

Mr Piti said hotels that still have to discount their room rates during Blackpink’s three concerts in Bangkok are those located in the city and downtown, as they are having to offset the sluggish Chinese inbound market.

However, Alexander Hotel still has to maintain diversified segments, including business meetings, weddings and leisure tourists, as the large events that lure an influx of guests do not occur every week.

Gig tripping

Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, deputy governor of international marketing for Asia and South Pacific at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the agency has been supporting various events across the year to boost tourism.

This strategy is meant to respond with the emerging ‘Gig Tripping’ trend, which refers to those travelling to other cities or countries to attend music events and artist meetings.

Mega festivals and concerts are able to attract foreign tourists, which typically account for 30-40% of total attendees, Ms Pattaraanong.

While large events were likely held a few times a year due to the requirement to plan in advance, artist fan meetings can be held several times across the year and generate an economic benefit, despite being at a smaller scale, she said.

She said those joining fan meetings have strong loyalty and high spending power. A total of 10-20% of fan meeting audiences in Thailand consisted of foreigners, she noted.

Apart from purchasing tickets, which are priced relatively high, they also spend on other services during their trips, including hotels, transport, food, souvenirs, and sightseeing at nearby destinations.

The ‘Choo Young Woo Asia Fanmeeting Tour in Bangkok’ last month lured fans from South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and China, accounting for 15% of the total audience.

‘Artists and their fans visiting Thailand help reinforce the nation’s image as a preferred destination for regional and global events,’ said Ms Pattaraanong.

Adith Chairattananon, honorary secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said concert and festival tourism is now a global trend with the potential to attract young and niche markets to the host country.

He said that Thai travel agents rarely operate tour groups dedicated for concerts.

Over 90% of travellers in this segment were independent tourists who opt for online travel agents that offer all-inclusive services, such as transportation and hotel rooms.

Direct flights between Thailand and the United States will resume on Oct 26 after being terminated a decade ago over US aviation regulator’s safety concerns.

United Airlines has announced the return of daily flights between Bangkok and Los Angeles from Oct 26 – making it the first carrier from either country to offer a direct connection since 2015.

The downgrade of Thailand’s aviation safety from Category 1 to Category 2 in 2015 by the US Federal Aviation Administration banned direct flights. Hopes for a resumption grew after the US aviation regulator reinstated Thailand in the top category in April this year.

United said direct flights between the Thai capital and the US west coast will stop over in Hong Kong. The airline will operate a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the route.

Thai Airways International has no direct flights to US destinations, partly due to strong competition on the cross-Pacific routes.

Former transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said in June he was keen to see the national carrier return to US cities, to boost Suvarnabhumi airport as a hub with a network to all major destinations. However, CEO Chai Eamsiri said the route was not on the Thai airline’s additional destination list.

A landmark collaboration between B.Grimm and Siam Piwat Group is set to redefine sustainable development in Thailand through a multi-dimensional strategic partnership spanning renewable energy, digital innovation, biodiversity, holistic wellness, and cultural promotion.

The partnership was formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between B.Grimm – Thailand’s oldest established company with a 147-year legacy in nation building – and Siam Piwat Group, the visionary retail and real estate developer behind world-renowned destinations such as Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, and ICONSIAM.

Central to this collaboration is the installation of a solar rooftop at Siam Paragon, alongside initiatives in energy efficiency, biodiversity conservation, knowledge exchange, and arts and culture. Together, both organisations aim to pioneer a model for sustainable business that harmonises innovation, environmental responsibility, and community well-being.

Clean Energy for a Sustainable Future

Under the agreement, Siam Paragon has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with B.Grimm Power Smart Solution Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of B.Grimm Power Public Company Limited, to develop the solar rooftop project on the shopping centre’s building.

Covering more than 4,600 square metres with an installed capacity of 793 kilowatt-peak (kWp), the system is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 532 tons annually. The electricity generated will power Paragon Hall, a world-class convention and exhibition centre, as well as a new zone within Siam Paragon scheduled to open in late 2025 – set to become a sustainability showcase and landmark in the heart of Bangkok.

Building on the success of the solar rooftop at ICONSIAM, the project will further increase the share of clean energy used across Siam Piwat’s portfolio, in line with its target of achieving 100% renewable energy across all shopping centres by 2030.

Shared Vision for Sustainability

Dr Harald Link, Chairman of B.Grimm, noted that the partnership reflects both companies’ long-standing commitment to driving Thailand’s progress in healthcare, infrastructure, and energy innovation.

‘With its heritage of doing business with compassion in harmony with nature, B.Grimm is dedicated to supporting sustainable development and future innovations that meet the needs of society in the digital age,’ said Dr Link. ‘We are delighted to collaborate with Siam Piwat, whose world-class properties bring happiness and meaningful experiences to millions of visitors every year.’

Beyond renewable energy, the partnership extends into biodiversity conservation, knowledge exchange inspired by Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) concept, holistic healthcare, and promotion of classical music education through the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) – Southeast Asia’s premier orchestra supported by B.Grimm.

Leading Thailand’s Transition to Net Zero

Chadatip Chutrakul, Chief Executive Officer of Siam Piwat Group, said the collaboration represents a new benchmark for sustainable destinations in Thailand.

‘This partnership with B.Grimm marks another significant milestone for Siam Piwat as we continue to integrate innovation and clean energy management to enhance efficiency and sustainability,’ said Ms Chadatip. ‘We have set an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This alliance underscores a shared vision to establish a truly ESG-driven business ecosystem that aligns with international sustainability standards.’

Siam Piwat’s sustainability strategy is embedded across all its destinations – Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, ICONSIAM, ICS, and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok – which are not only global lifestyle hubs but also platforms for social connection and environmental responsibility. The company’s ‘Creating Shared Value’ approach ensures that its success translates into long-term benefits for communities, the environment, and the nation.

In uniting innovation with compassion, B.Grimm and Siam Piwat are charting a clean-energy future that strengthens Thailand’s position as a regional model for sustainable progress.

The House committee on foreign affairs will summon Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow on Tuesday to clarify the implications of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) 43 and 44 with Cambodia.

The move comes after the government has agreed to hold a public referendum on whether to revoke the two agreements, signed in 2000 and 2001, on land and maritime border demarcation.

Saratsanun Unnopporn, a Pheu Thai MP for Khon Kaen and chair of the House committee, on Sunday said these agreements were mentioned in the policy statement of the Anutin Charnvirakul administration.

She said MoUs 43 and 44 involve highly complex and sensitive issues, particularly on matters of national security.

“These matters must be carefully and thoroughly considered, and should not be reduced to a matter of personal preference, political stance or popular support,” Ms Saratsanun said, adding that delegating such a complex and strategically significant issue to a public referendum may not yield the best outcome for Thailand.

She said that, in practice, both MoUs have helped de-escalate tensions between Thailand and Cambodia and have already produced tangible results.

These MoUs provide a framework so both countries can engage in talks, and without them, there is no assurance that existing disputes would not escalate into violence.

The absence of a formal mechanism, Ms Saratsanun cautioned, would leave both sides without a platform for peaceful dialogue.

“These two MoUs serve as a starting point for negotiations,” she said.

“They provide a diplomatic space for both sides to engage in dialogue.”

A House ad hoc committee had already planned to review MoUs 43 and 44. It comprises elected representatives who are, by nature, accountable to the public, she said.

The committee includes experts in various fields, and its work is ongoing.

In light of this, she argued, it would be more beneficial to await the committee’s conclusions than to rush prematurely into a national referendum.

She noted the House committee on foreign affairs had already conducted a thorough review of MoU 44, hearing feedback from stakeholders, including security and legal agencies.

All parties involved agreed that the MoU does not grant unchecked power to the government.

Any outcome of negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia must still be submitted to parliament for approval.

“I would like to hear directly from Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow regarding his stance on the MoUs — whether they should be maintained or repealed,” Ms Saratsanun said, adding she questioned what mechanisms, if any, would exist for peaceful negotiation if both MoUs were scrapped.

As chair of the committee, she said she had issued a formal invitation for Mr Sihasak to appear before the committee to provide clarification, expressing hope that he would respond in person.

She added the government itself has not been able to explain how bilateral relations could return to normal without these agreements.

Without the MoUs, she warned, the situation could spiral into full military confrontation.

Army troops have joined the hunt for robbers who shot a soldier while stealing gold jewellery worth about 24 million baht from a shop in a Big C mall in Sungai Kolok district, Narathiwat, on Sunday night.

Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said on Monday that 27-year-old Sgt Burit Radachai was shot and wounded. He was shopping at the mall at the same time the gang was robbing the gold shop.

The injured soldier was hit by several bullets, one of which grazed his neck and others hit him in the chest and leg. He was alive and was being treated in hospital.

Maj Gen Winthai said the robbery was well planned. The robbers had earlier stolen the two pickup trucks they used in committing the crime and making their escape.

They had scattered tyre spikes and explosives on the road along their escape route to prevent pursuit.

The robbery happened at the Big C store about 6.29pm on Sunday. About 10 armed men in black, their faces covered, had briefly taken a security guard at the mall hostage, held gold shop staff at gun point and made off with about 400-baht weight of gold worth about 24 million baht.

The 30-year-old security guard was later treated for extreme shock.

Investigators looking into the heist found two pick-up trucks which they believe were used by the suspects on Monday. The vehicles were abandoned at a palm plantation in Waeng district of Narathiwat, about a kilometre from the Thai-Malaysian border.

Officials believe the heist was not only intended to create panic but also to generate funds for rebel activities. Similar cases in the past include coordinated ATM robberies in August and a major gold shop raid in Songkhla in 2019.

On an otherwise unremarkable Wednesday evening, your phone buzzes with the news: your table at Saeng Tha Thien has been confirmed. After three months of refreshing booking systems and nudging contacts, you’re in. Relief quickly gives way to planning: the Instagram post. You picture the shot – strawberry and shrimp paste salad, a discreet glimpse of the few-table dining room, and Wat Arun glowing across the river. You might tag the restaurant in the corner of your story; you might not. Either way, the message is the same: you made it.

For the uninitiated, Saeng Tha Thien is a riverside restaurant near the Thai Grand Palace that reinterprets Thai recipes with contemporary flair. With just a handful of tables, it has become as renowned for its scarcity as for its cooking. It is not alone. Mahasan, a beef specialist in Sathorn, and Canteen19, a Charoenkrung darling serving playful ‘Thaitalian’ plates, are equally difficult to access. Their waitlists stretch weeks, sometimes months, and the race for a table has become part of their allure.

Cross BKK has taken the concept to the extreme: its one-year waitlist turns dinner into something closer to a concert ticket than a meal. Internationally, the phenomenon is familiar. In New York, Carbone’s red-sauce swagger has diners refreshing Resy daily. In Tokyo, Den’s seasonal menus are booked out long before the leaves turn. Bangkok has simply adopted the same playbook – and, characteristically, put its own theatrical spin on it.

What unites these restaurants is the idea that access itself is the commodity. A location tag on Instagram has become a badge of entry into a rarified club. A friend who finally secured Mahasan after weeks of trying admitted, half-sheepishly: ‘The beef was extraordinary. But honestly, it was telling people I got in that felt just as satisfying.’ In a city where social media is stitched into daily life, the dining table doubles as a stage, and the Instagram Stories that vanish in 24 hours often matter as much as the meal itself.

There is, of course, a paradox here. Months of anticipation collapse into a two-hour dinner, and the digital proof disappears by morning. The scarcity fuels desire, yet the payoff is fleeting. The prestige is not in the flavour that lingers, but in the fact that others know you tasted it at all.

For Bangkok, this shift says something larger. Dining has always been a social activity, but in the era of the waitlist, it has become an explicitly performative one. Restaurants are no longer just places to eat; they are cultural events, rationed to heighten demand. That leaves us with a question: when access, rather than appetite, becomes the measure of value, what does that mean for the future of dining?

The food may still be excellent – in many cases, superb. But as the reservation list grows longer, so too does the distance between dining as pleasure and dining as proof. In Bangkok today, the reservation is the main course, and the good life is defined by whether your name is on it.

Heavy rainfall across northern Thailand has driven water levels at Bhumibol Dam in Tak province to near capacity, prompting close monitoring and reduced discharge to prevent flooding in downstream areas.

Only 10% of reservoir space remains, about 5 metres in depth, before the dam reservoir reaches its maximum design level.

On Oct 6, senior officials of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) gathered at the dam to assess the situation, review inflow data and prepare potential emergency measures.

The dam reservoir has received a surge of 92.14 million cubic metres of water over the past 24 hours, largely due to heavy rainfall in Chiang Mai province, officials said. This had significantly boosted the reservoir level, with the volume of stored water now at 12.048 billion cubic metres, or 89.5% of total capacity.

Of this, 8.248 billion cubic metres was deemed usable water, up 2.848 billion cubic metres year-on-year. The current water level was measured at 255.37 metres above mean sea level, just shy of the dam’s full threshold of 260 metres.

Egat confirmed that structural inspections had found no signs of damage or irregularities. The dam remained stable and secure, with its infrastructure deemed capable of safely handling the current water volume. The discharge rate has been reduced to 5 million cubic metres per day, following guidelines from the Royal Irrigation Department, to ease pressure on the Chao Phraya River basin.

In Uttaradit province, Sirikit Dam is also approaching capacity. It currently holds 9.164 billion cubic metres of water, or 96.36% of its design volume. Officials plan to release 35 million cubic metres daily into the Nan River to manage inflow and prevent overflow.

Both dams are under continuous observation as Thailand braces for more rain in the coming days. Communities downstream from the dams are advised to remain alert and follow updates from local disaster prevention agencies.

The military during a recent visit by the Interim Observer Team (IOT) Thailand reported the discovery of over 200 landmines that had been planted along the border with Cambodia in Ubon Ratchathani province between June and September.

IOT Thailand, which comprises Asean military attaches, visited the Second Army Region on Saturday and Sunday.

Led by a Malaysian military attache, the group visited the Chong Bok area of Ubon Ratchathani’s Nam Yuen district, where illegal landmine activities were previously reported.

According to Thai military officials, more than 200 PMN-2 anti-personnel mines were planted in 36 incidents between June and September.

Three Thai soldiers were injured in the incidents, one of whom suffered the amputation of his leg, officials said.

Following the visit, the delegation commended Thailand’s transparency and cooperation in addressing the issue.

The delegation also emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and restoring stable relations between Thailand and Cambodia, both of which are Asean member states.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen has expressed outrage over a viral video showing his image being used as a target for shooting practice, describing such behaviour as shameful.

In an online post on Monday, Hun Sen urged Cambodians not to retaliate in kind, stressing that maintaining moral dignity was essential.

Instead, he called for a boycott of Thai products and the Thai baht, saying the move would reduce economic dependence and strengthen Cambodia’s financial sovereignty.

He also appealed to Cambodians not to do harm to Thai companies or citizens living in Cambodia, noting that most Thais are not the enemies of the Cambodian people.

The Cambodian strongman also dismissed claims that Cambodia’s economy was suffering from the closure of the Thai land border, saying Cambodia spends over $5 billion annually on Thai imports.

He noted that redirecting said spending to local products would ultimately strengthen domestic industries.

However, while addressing border communities, Hun Sen urged residents to exchange Thai baht for Cambodian riel or US dollars and warned that the baht could become a tool of pressure similar to electricity, internet or fuel.

Meanwhile, goods vendors in Trat province’s Klong Yai district, located near the Cambodian border, have been forced to adjust their livelihoods following the prolonged closure of the border.

One Thai vendor said that she also sells drinks in front of her grocery store to supplement her family’s income, noting that the number of visitors dropped sharply after the border closure.

Her customers are mainly locals and troops deployed in the area, she said.