Category: The Bangkok Post

A major step towards sustainable energy adoption was marked by the recent launch of the ‘Solar Energy for Government Officials and Cooperative Members’ project – an initiative developed by the Cooperative Association League for Thai Energy Development (TCTD).

Launched on October 3, 2025 and fully funded by TCTD, the project aims to support more than 200,000 government officials’ households, reflecting the strong commitment of local grass-roots organisations to drive transformative change in the energy sector – setting an example not only for Thailand but also for the wider Southeast Asian region.

Work on the initiative is being led by Energy Solutions Goal (ESG) as the primary contractor, in collaboration with leading renewable energy companies from Taiwan such as Abeta Energy Group and Turncloud. As Abeta Energy Group’s strategic partner in Southeast Asia, ESG has also established teams of construction and maintenance specialists based in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore to ensure smooth and efficient project implementation.

The project’s official launch ceremony was attended by representatives from Taiwan’s Executive Yuan (Executive Council), underscoring the close cooperation between Taiwan and Thailand in advancing clean energy and sustainable development.

This collaboration not only highlights the strength and potential of Taiwan’s renewable energy industry but also aligns with the country’s New Southbound Policy, which promotes deeper regional partnerships. With full support from TCTD, the initiative is expected to significantly reduce Thai government officials’ energy costs while serving as a model for the transition towards green energy and sustainable growth across the region.

“This conference is a carbon-neutral event utilizing solutions provided by Mampani Malaysia.”

Sabine Hossenfelder is one of the people I regularly watch on the YouTube platform. She is a physicist but also veers into other areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. For her latest video — In Which I Lose Faith In Quantum Computing — she makes a number of interesting observations. In short, apart from some very specific applications, quantum computing, even if it is scalable from current technology, has limited application. It also has the potential of bringing down a number of current companies highly focused on this technology, or at least some of their divisions. Artificial intelligence takes up a lot of the space that quantum computing could do well in, but for the present at least, AI does it better. The next 10 years, or less, will be important to see how both of these directions develop, or not. If you are interested at all in physics, maths and occasionally quantum computing, then Sabine Hossenfelder provides some interesting perspectives.

– I’ve learned a new word this week — workslop. This is the machine-learning equivalent of spam. As noted in earlier articles, AI can make people lazy. According to an ongoing study by Stanford’s Social Media Lab and behavioural research business BetterUp Labs, 40% of US workers are reporting that workslop has crossed their desk over the past month.

– So, people are sending impressive looking, AI-generated material, containing little in terms of actionable facts and figures. Someone often then needs to go through this and turn it into something useful. According to the report, the amount of work involved in the process of sorting the wheat from the chaff, or facts from hallucinations, costs around US$186 (6,000 baht) per employee per month in lost productivity. Those receiving workslop break down as being annoyed, with a third claiming to be confused and a quarter claiming the received material offended them. People also saw those sending the material as untrustworthy, 42%, with a third concluding the sender was less creative and intelligent than they first thought. Many said such material was more trouble than it’s worth. Workers sent 18% of workslop directly to managers, with 16% of such material coming from managers.

– If you expand this study across the world, study not yet done, this will be occurring in more than just the US. If you also look at some of the latest ads for IT, companies are asking for people with AI tool experience presumably because senior management believes it will boost productivity and reduce costs. People use AI tools, but if and when they generate poor outputs someone then must fix it. A recent study by the UK government found no clear productivity improvement from introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot to the Department for Business and Trade. Then there is research by MIT which reports that about 95% of organisations see no measurable return on investment from generative AI efforts. So, on one side there are those pushing AI and on the other, workers using it and generating rubbish. This will not end well. One exception I’ve seen is in code generation, but unless you check the results and just hand it on, that can lead also to failure.

– Some of you will have seen the Boston Dynamics robots doing parkour. I remember at the time being impressed. I recently watched a video on how robotics has progressed since then. Some of the new Chinese robots are getting very capable, like being knocked down and immediately getting back up again and even performing a cartwheel. The target here is apparently more on industrial work. Then there are robot faces that can mimic expressions with such detail and accuracy that people are calling it eerie. I found it to be so-so. Over to Europe, and they are working on a robot with simulations of muscle movements. They currently look like some kind of ghoul but the final result will be a robot that moves like a human.

– I also watched a discussion with one of the fathers of AI, Geoffrey Hinton. He explained that any gross level of physical work will soon be replaced by a combination of AI and robot forms. In contrast to some positions, he said that AI would be able to do creativity well because of something he called strange anomalies. He gave the example of two identical AI’s looking at different parts of the Internet. Instead of being independent, they would share interesting findings giving them more weight. Doing this at a trillion times faster than a regular human, they can find strange associations missed by us. Try putting the question, “What is the similarity between an atom bomb and a compost pile?”, to your favourite Chatbot. Hinton, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics, did suggest that the last ability to fall would be our advantage in small manipulations, noting that plumbers should be safe for a while yet.

– And finally, there will be no Tesla phone but rather from next year, a number of new phones will have a dedicated Starlink chip built in to support a direct connection to Starlink satellites. Yes, I was looking forward to a new Tesla phone myself.

Cambodian civilians must leave Ban Nong Chan in Khok Sung district of Sa Kaeo by Friday’s deadline in accordance with a General Border Committee (GBC) agreement, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Tuesday.

He stated that a meeting was held on Monday, and actions are being taken in accordance with existing agreements.

Thailand maintains that Cambodia must adhere to the terms outlined in the GBC, which include four key conditions — withdrawal of weapons, withdrawal of troops, suppression of scammer networks and effective management of the border situation, he said.

“Any area that falls within the territory of the Kingdom of Thailand must be vacated. That is all,” Mr Anutin said.

When asked about human rights concerns and how justice will be ensured for Thai citizens, he responded: “I don’t see any difficulty. Thai people deserve justice. Every Thai citizen is subject to the same law. Those who encroach on Thai territory unlawfully must leave — it’s that simple. If the other side refuses to comply, there’s no room for negotiation.”

Responding to a question on how the government plans to maintain a positive image in the eyes of the international community, Mr Anutin said: “I’ve already delegated full authority.”

“I’ve tasked the military with protecting our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Full support has been provided by the government,” he said.

“Similarly, diplomatic negotiations — including terms and conditions — have been handed over entirely to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the prime minister said.

“Regarding the protection of rights for local people in Sa Kaeo, the provincial governor has been instructed to proceed based on established agreements. Everyone has been granted full authority to carry out their responsibilities.”

Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit commented on the case where Cambodian nationals have not evacuated from the areas of Ban Nong Chan, Ban Nong Ya Kaeo in Khok Sung district and Ban Ta Phraya in Ta Phraya district in Sa Kaeo.

He said that during a recent meeting of the National Security Council, responsibility was assigned to the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters and the chief of defence forces to manage the situation.

Regarding the Regional Border Committee, he noted that the initial meeting had been postponed without a new confirmed date. Similarly, the session for the Second Army Region has also been delayed, though it is scheduled provisionally for Oct 14, he said.

Spot gold has smashed through $4,000 an ounce for the first time, as concerns over the US economy and a government shutdown added fresh momentum to a scorching rally.

It is a milestone for bullion, which traded below $2,000 just two years ago, with returns that now outstrip those for equities so far in this century. Gold has jumped more than 50% this year in the face of uncertainties over global trade, the US Federal Reserve’s independence and US fiscal stability.

Thai gold prices were adjusted 33 times on Wednesday, with the Thai Gold Traders Association quoting a selling price of 62,350 baht per baht-weight (15.2 grammes) as of 6pm, an increase of 1,400 baht from the day before.

Heightened geopolitical tensions have boosted demand for safe-haven assets this year, while central banks have continued to buy gold at an elevated pace.

The rally has taken on extra urgency as investors seek protection from potential market shocks following the government funding impasse in Washington

The start of the Fed’s monetary easing cycle has also been a boon for gold, which does not pay interest. Investors have responded by piling into exchange-traded funds, with bullion-backed ETFs seeing their biggest monthly inflow in more than three years in September.

‘Gold breaking $4,000 isn’t just about fear – it’s about reallocation,’ said Charu Chanana, a strategist at Saxo Capital Markets. ‘With economic data on pause and rate cuts on the horizon, real yields are easing, while AI-heavy equities look stretched. Central banks built the base for this rally, but retail and ETFs are now driving the next leg.’

Bullion climbed as much as 0.7% to $4,010.84 an ounce on Wednesday and was trading at $4,009.75 as of 10.56am in Singapore.

Jumps in the price of gold typically track broader economic and political stresses. The metal breached $1,000 an ounce in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, $2,000 during the Covid pandemic, and $3,000 as the Trump administration’s tariff plans washed over global markets in March.

The precious metal has now broken past $4,000 against the backdrop of, among other things, President Donald Trump’s assault on the Fed, including threats against chairman Jerome Powell and a push to oust Governor Lisa Cook, the clearest test so far of the US central bank’s autonomy.

A pliant Fed that would lower rates and spur higher inflation could set up a Goldilocks situation for gold. Bullion is seen as an inflation hedge and is usually weighed down by high borrowing costs, which make cash or bonds more appealing.

‘We expect gold to reach a cyclical peak when there is greatest market concern about the outlook for Fed independence,’ Macquarie Bank analysts wrote in a Sept 30 note.

‘In the event, however, that a compromised Fed were to make clear policy errors, gold’s performance should of course be even stronger.’

Gold is on pace for its best annual performance since the 1970s, a decade when rapid inflation and the end of the gold standard sparked a 15-fold rally of the precious metal.

At that time, then-President Richard Nixon pressured the Fed to lower rates. The central bank under then-chair Arthur Burns made only ‘limited efforts’ to maintain independence and ultimately enabled volatile inflation for ‘political reasons,’ according to a recent court submission from various monetary policy luminaries.

‘The reason that investors are buying gold – and should be buying gold – is because of its diversification qualities,’ said Stephen Miller, an investment strategy adviser at GSFM.

‘That sentiment is in its early stages, and gold will get increasing acceptance as part and parcel of prudent investing behaviour,’ he said, adding he could see prices reaching $4,500 by the middle of next year.

Billionaire Ray Dalio said on Tuesday that gold is ‘certainly’ more of a safe haven than the dollar and the record-setting rally echoes the 1970s. The remarks from the founder of hedge-fund firm Bridgewater Associates came after Citadel founder Ken Griffin said that bullion’s rise reflected anxiety about the US currency.

‘The metal’s climb to the $4,000 milestone reflects not only surging safe-haven demand, but also a deepening distrust in paper assets as fiscal risks and geopolitical tensions intensify,’ said Hebe Chen, an analyst at Vantage Markets in Melbourne. ‘In the short term, a consolidation phase looks likely after such a relentless advance.’

Central banks have been a key driver of bullion’s rally, flipping from net sellers to net buyers following the global financial crisis. The pace of buying doubled after the US and its allies froze Russia’s foreign-exchange reserves in 2022 following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That pushed many central banks to consider diversifying, while inflation and speculation that the American government would treat foreign creditors less favourably further highlighted bullion’s appeal to policymakers.

Elevated central bank buying is a ‘structural shift in reserve management behaviour, and we do not expect a near-term reversal,’ Lina Thomas, a commodities strategist at Goldman Sachs, wrote in a September note. ‘Our base case assumes that the current trend in official sector accumulation continues for another three years,’ Thomas said.

Goldman raised its gold forecast for December 2026 to $4,900 an ounce this week, up from $4,300.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) aims to expand mangrove forests by 500,000 rai over the next five years under a financial scheme to empower community conservation efforts.

DMCR director-general Pinsak Suraswadi said the agency has successfully safeguarded more than 1.3 million rai of fertile mangrove forests nationwide, with minimal encroachment. The next phase, he said, will see the total protected area extended to 3.4 million rai, based on satellite mapping.

Mr Pinsak made his comments during his speech at the department’s 23rd anniversary celebration on Monday.

Although some mangrove areas have been converted into private property, they can be restored under new land tax regulations that grant exemptions to landowners who allow mangrove replanting on idle plots. About 230,000 rai fall under this category, he said.

Approximately one million rai, currently occupied by communities and state agencies, will be jointly managed through local participation and partnerships with the department, Mr Pinsak said while emphasising that creating sustainable income for residents is the most effective way to ensure long-term mangrove protection.

“Carbon credit is one option, and biodiversity credit will follow to enhance forest value.”

He added that the department plans to increase mangrove carbon credit schemes from 80,000 to 500,000 rai within five years, having already planted over 175,509 rai of mangrove forests in 24 provinces and reclaimed more than 69,248 rai from encroachment.

Major cryptocurrency tokens, including bitcoin and BNB, reached record highs this week amid government turmoil around the world that drove up alternative asset prices, which elated China’s crypto community as the country reconsiders digital assets such as stablecoins.

Bitcoin passed the US$126,000 level on Monday, a new all-time high for the world’s largest cryptocurrency token, before falling more than 1% to below US$124,000 on Tuesday.

BNB, the native token of the world’s largest crypto exchange Binance, also hit its own record of US$1,268 on Tuesday. The latest crypto boom propelled Binance founder Changpeng Zhao’s personal fortune to US$89.7 billion, according to a Forbes billionaire ranking.

Still, Zhao on Tuesday denied that figure, saying on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that it was “way too high”.

While the reaction of Chinese crypto enthusiasts to bitcoin’s new high was muted on mainland social media, many celebrated the token’s latest achievement on X and envisioned an unprecedented crypto bull market.

The latest gains came as global investors flocked to assets outside major currencies such as the US dollar, which has been under pressure amid a week-long US government shutdown.

Gold prices also set another record by approaching US$4,000, having gained more than 50% since the beginning of this year.

Bitcoin’s surge “signals its role as a hedge against fiscal uncertainty, as the US government shutdown wavers confidence in safe assets”, said Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research.

Bitcoin and gold have attracted the so-called debasement trade from investors “seeking refuge from a volatile monetary landscape”, Ruck said. Debasement trade, a term that recently gained popularity, refers to the trading strategy where investors turn to alternative assets to hedge against fiat currency devaluation.

With bitcoin prices gaining 10% over the past week amid the US government shutdown, the token’s “safe-haven appeal is reasserting itself”, digital asset trading firm QCP Capital said in a note on Monday.

The value of bitcoin has nearly doubled over the past year amid a digital asset industry boom driven by US President Donald Trump’s favourable policies towards the sector, including the US Genius Act, which aims to establish a regulatory framework for stablecoins.

These moves recently spurred intense discussions in China, where experts have called for the country to reexamine its ban on crypto amid rising US influence in digital finance.

While Beijing has given no indication that it will loosen its grip on cryptocurrency, offshore yuan stablecoins have emerged as an area of potential importance for the global competitiveness of the Chinese currency.

Conflux, a government-backed blockchain operator, has been allowed to experiment in the field as Beijing sought to secure a position in the new global financial order, its founder told the Post last week.

B.Grimm and Siam Piwat Group have forged a multi-dimensional strategic partnership to install solar rooftop panels at Siam Paragon, driving a clean-energy future.

B.Grimm signed a memorandum of understanding with Siam Piwat to expand their strategic partnership across several areas, including a transition to renewable energy with the installation of a solar rooftop at Siam Paragon, the application of digital technology to enhance energy efficiency, collaboration on biodiversity conservation, knowledge exchange to promote holistic wellness, and supporting arts and culture initiatives.

Harald Link, chairman of B.Grimm, said the company remains dedicated to advancing Thailand’s progress in healthcare and infrastructure. As a leader in renewable and clean energy technology as well as efficient energy management, he said B.Grimm is delighted to support Siam Piwat’s properties.

This partnership reflects B.Grimm’s philosophy of “doing business with compassion in harmony with nature” in pursuit of long-term business development goals and creating future innovations to meet the needs of society in the digital age.

This ethos is reflected in the partnership’s wide-ranging scope, which includes creating positive impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem integrity, exchanging knowledge and developing projects integrating Bhutan’s concept of gross national happiness, promoting holistic healthcare and fostering classical music education through the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, Southeast Asia’s premier orchestra.

This resonates with Siam Piwat’s business vision, which aims to create benefits for the general public and enhance the quality of life for Thais alongside environmental conservation and restoration.

Chadatip Chutrakul, chief executive of Siam Piwat Group, said this partnership with B.Grimm marks another significant collaboration between two leading organisations to establish a new benchmark for sustainable destinations in Thailand by integrating innovation and clean energy management for efficiency optimisation.

Siam Piwat prioritises the transition to renewable energy and has set a goal to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The company has already installed solar rooftops to generate electricity for use at some of its malls.

She said the partnership reflects a shared vision between B.Grimm and Siam Piwat as leaders in the energy and global retail sectors with deep commitment to establishing a new sustainability benchmark for Thai businesses in alignment with international standards and cultivating a business ecosystem driven by environmental, social and governance considerations.

Siam Paragon signed a power purchase agreement with B.Grimm Power Smart Solution Co, a subsidiary of B.Grimm Power Plc, to develop a solar rooftop project on its building.

Covering an area of more than 4,600 square metres with a total installed capacity of 793 kilowatt-peak, the project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by some 532 tonnes per year.

The solar rooftop will supply power to Paragon Hall, a world-class convention and exhibition centre, and a section of a new zone within Siam Paragon scheduled to open in late 2025, which is set to become a key landmark and a model sustainability platform in Bangkok.

Building on the success of the solar rooftop installation at Iconsiam, this project will increase the proportion of clean energy usage, in line with Siam Piwat Group’s goal to complete its transition to 100% renewable energy across its malls by 2030.

Siam Piwat’s commitment to sustainability is integrated across its entire portfolio, including Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, Iconsiam, ICS and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, which are designed not only as global destinations but also as venues that connect people, society and the environment to drive positive change.

The company remains dedicated to creating a positive impact for all stakeholders across its value chain, guided by its core business strategy of creating shared value.

Phuket International Airport reopened its main runway on Wednesday afternoon, three hours after a Royal Thai Navy aircraft experienced a landing gear malfunction and blocked the runway.

The belly landing by the Cessna T-337 Skymaster, which the Navy said was on a routine patrol, occurred at 11.18am. There were no injuries.

The incident prompted an immediate emergency response to facilitate the safe removal of the aircraft and to thoroughly inspect the surface. Airport officials initially said the runway would be closed until 3pm.

The recovery operation was carried out by Navy pilots, aircraft technicians and Phuket airport officials. The airport provided technical equipment, drained the aircraft’s fuel and arranged for lifting equipment to remove the plane.

The aircraft was successfully moved off the runway at 1.49pm. After clearing foreign objects and oil stains, the runway was reopened at 2.30 pm.

The closure affected a total of 70 flights, airport officials said in a statement.

Passengers who were scheduled to travel during the affected period were advised to check flight status and updates directly with their respective airlines.

Phuket International Airport extended its apologies for the inconvenience and expressed gratitude to passengers for their understanding and cooperation.

A scholar at Thammasat University has backed the idea of extending the age of retirement to 65, given the challenges posed by an ageing society, saying that retaining the current threshold could lead many retirees to struggle financially in the years to come.

As Thailand faces the realities of a rapidly ageing population, Nattapat Sarobol, a leading academic in elderly welfare at Thammasat University, has voiced strong support for Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s proposal to raise the official retirement age from 60 to 65.

She explained the current framework is outdated and unsustainable, especially as the country transitions not just into a greying society, but one with greater longevity.

Asst Prof Nattapat cited recent research showing the nation now has over 40,000 centenarians, ranking it 5th globally by this metric. With life expectancy continuing to rise, she warned that retiring at 60 potentially leaves them with a 40-year gap to fill during which time many people struggle financially.

“Where will the money come from to sustain life for four decades without employment?” she asked.

While countries like Japan, Finland, and the United States have already redefined senior age thresholds to 65 or higher, Thailand remains at 60. Japan, in particular, stretched its retirement age to 70 in 2021.

Asst Prof Nattapat noted that academic institutions have long proposed retirement reform, but the advice has rarely gained traction due to budgetary constraints and legal complexities.

She emphasised that any retirement age extension must be accompanied by anti-age discrimination laws to protect older workers. This includes removing age limits for job applications, training programmes, and access to funding.

“People aged 55 are often excluded from training simply because they’re thought to be ‘too close to retirement’ — this mindset must change,” she said.

Asst Prof Nattapat warned that if the policy only applies to civil servants — who number 1.75 million — it would leave out the vast majority of Thailand’s 38 million workers, including those in the private sector, industry, and corporate employment.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has confirmed the city is fully prepared for rising water levels, insisting there will be no repeat of the 2011 catastrophic floods.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has assured the public that the city is geared up to handle the combined threats of northern runoff, high tides, and heavy rainfall, saying that current water levels are significantly lower than those during the 2011 floods.

During a river inspection with media crews, Mr Chadchart reviewed flood prevention measures along the Chao Phraya River, including sandbag barriers, leak repairs near Rajini School, and embankment reinforcements near Wat Rakhang.

He confirmed that Bangkok is coordinating closely with the Royal Irrigation Department, National Water Command Centre, and Office of National Water Resources.

As of Oct 6, major dams in the Chao Phraya Basin — Bhumibol (89% full), Sirikit (96%), Kwae Noi (100%), and Pa Sak (73%) — still have capacity to hold a combined 2.04 billion cubic metres of water.

Flow rates at key stations remain below critical thresholds, with C.298 in Pathum Thani recording 2,421 m³/sec, far below the 3,930 m³/sec seen in 2011.

High tides between Oct 9-12 may raise river levels, especially in low-lying areas, but are not expected to breach permanent flood defences.

Rainfall from Oct 6-14 will be influenced by weakening low pressure from Tropical Storm Matmo and a shifting monsoon trough, bringing scattered heavy rain to Bangkok and surrounding regions.

Bangkok has implemented vital strategies. For northern runoff and tidal surges, there will be a regular inspection of flood barriers, and emergency response teams will be deployed to monitor the flood situation.

Other measures involve lowering canal levels, preparing drainage systems, and mobilising equipment and personnel.

The city has reinforced 80km of permanent flood barriers and addressed 22 of 32 vulnerable “gap zones”, with sandbagging completed at 75 locations using 198,700 bags and 1,656 m³ of sand. Mobile pumps and 24-hour monitoring teams are also in place.

For 320 households in 11 communities outside flood barriers, district offices have provided sandbags, temporary walkways, and emergency support.

“We’re confident in our flood management systems. This year’s situation is under control and nothing like 2011,” Mr Chadchart stated.

Meanwhile, the Thai Meteorological Department forecasts continued rain across northern, northeastern, eastern, and southern provinces, with warnings for flash floods and waterlogging due to accumulated rainfall and rising river levels.

Cooler air from China is expected to signal the transition to the early winter season.