Category: The Bangkok Post

Re: “No CO2 miracle”, (PostBag, Oct 8).

I’m at a bit of a loss to understand Michael Setter’s assumption that I don’t eat my greens, but I have to acknowledge the rest of his letter makes more sense than I usually give him credit for. It seems that my long-held conviction that photosynthesis operates at a rate determined by available moisture and sunlight, and is not related to the atmospheric concentration of CO2, is wrong.

I apologise to Anna Aarts for my somewhat haughty dismissal of her factually correct science in this regard, though I doubt she has fled the country in high dudgeon as Khun Michael fears.

In the interest of maintaining perspective however, we have to keep in mind the apparent ” greening” of the planet recorded by satellites is neither a wave of new vegetation in previously barren areas nor entirely a result of the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere.

While the science suggests existing vegetation may proliferate more quickly because there is more available CO2 in the air, some of the new “greenery” recorded from space, as in the deserts of China and India, is due to the deliberate planting of large areas of trees specifically to prevent those arid areas from spreading.

Before we get too warm and mushy about our good friend CO2, it is also worth noting that the Sahara, Kalahari, Simpson and Gobi deserts, among many others, continue to expand in area, due in part to the global warming caused by man-made carbon dioxide.

It’s a fascinating topic and much has happened since I last sat in a biology class. For those interested in the topic, or keen to follow it further, Google has a lot to offer.

Ray Ban

Living room horror

Re: “A deadly folly”, (PostBag, Oct 14) and “PM hails successful drug suppression campaign”, (BP, Oct 4).

I read Felix Qui’s comments regarding our former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and I could not disagree more, because Mr Qui is naive.

About 10 months ago (and there are formal reports with Thai authorities to verify what I am reporting is true, along with CCTV recordings), two teenagers who were strung out on some kind of narcotic drugs got into my house around 5am.

It ended okay because I used self-defence only and settled the matter with their parents.

My point to Mr Qui is: it’s nice to armchair quarterback and tell our former PM what he should have done, but even if his actions were a touch amateur, his heart was in the right place. He knew it is a very different matter once that kind of mind-bending, narcotic evil is standing in your home, so he tried to make it better. Well done to the prime minister.

Jason A Jellison

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) looks set to begin demolition of the Samsen police station building in Dusit district on Oct 22, as part of efforts to restore the surface of a section of Samsen Road, which subsided on Sept 24.

The BMA on Thursday reported progress in repairing the road subsidence in front of Vajira Hospital.

The contractor had filled around 5,330 cubic metres of sand between Tuesday and Thursday, bringing the current surface to about 2.65 metres below the original road level. Debris had also been cleared from the site.

Continuous inspections and structural assessments are being conducted on the police station, adjacent police flats and surrounding buildings to ensure maximum safety.

Bangkok deputy governor Wisanu Subsompon said after inspecting the site on Wednesday evening that the underground conditions have stabilised and that the next step was to raise the surface with coarse sand by about two more metres before proceeding with the demolition of the police station building.

Once completed, the restoration of the road surface will commence, starting with the entrance to Vajira Hospital’s parking area. This phase is expected to take several months.

The demolition of the police station may begin on Oct 22, said the deputy governor. The contractor would take around four to five days to bring the structure down, and another week to clear the debris.

Heavy rainfall in recent days has caused water to accumulate in the subsidence area, which officials view as a positive indicator, confirming that water is not leaking into the underground tunnel.

‘We are proceeding step by step. Doing everything at once would be dangerous. Safety must remain our top priority, as Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has consistently emphasised,’ said the deputy governor.

Joining the site inspection were Suriya Raviwan, director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation; Prapas Luangsirinapa, director of the Department of Public Works; Gardphajon Udomdhammabhakdi, governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA); Waranya Leelaburanapong, director of Dusit district office, and other relevant officials.

The sinkhole formed on Samsen Road in the morning of Sept 24 above an underground railway station under construction for the Purple Line extension route of the MRTA. The state enterprise blamed the subsidence on the water saturated, soft soil in the surrounding area.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Trat Office recently kicked off the tourist season across Koh Chang, Koh Kut, and Koh Mak, targeting a strong rebound amid Thai-Cambodian border tensions.

Acting Sub Lt Korakot Opas, director of the TAT Trat Office, said on Wednesday the prime season announcements came after the province’s tourism dropped as a result of the border tensions.

The clashes on the border led to a travel ban in Trat and the other provinces at the border, and the declaration of martial law in the province over a span of 4-5 months.

Both affected tourists’ enthusiasm for visiting Trat and its famous islands, especially visitors from the European market, who cancelled their trips to Koh Chang, resulting in the province losing at least 700 million baht in revenue.

The TAT Trat Office is working with the Provincial Tourism Council, the Trat Wellness Association, the Provincial Chamber of Commerce, and tourism business alliance networks to perk things up.

“TAT expects a total of 700,000 tourists will have visited Trat from last October to the end of this year, generating well over six billion baht of circulating income,” Mr Korakot said.

Meanwhile, the TAT said it would promote the “Kaew Deaw Thieaw Trat (Travel Trat in One Reusable Glass)” campaign to promote waste reduction in some tourist destinations.

The campaign, set to expand into various editions in Koh Chang, Koh Kut, and Koh Mak, encourages visitors to use reusable glasses and straws to receive special promotions from registered places.

Mr Korakot said the campaign would reduce waste on the islands while promoting quality visitors.

Koh Mak, he said, will be promoted as a low-carbon destination by offering a discount on electric golf cart rentals, allowing visitors to pay only 800 baht for one day’s use of the cars.

Koh Kut also will be promoted as a nature and wellness destination, while Koh Chang will be promoted with sport tourism with its Bikini Run on Nov 22.

Despite growth in the industrial property sector, the market for warehouses outside industrial estates has slowed, as large users like e-commerce companies increasingly invest in their own facilities, according to property consultancy Cushman & Wakefield Thailand.

Phongphan Phloiphet, director of logistics and industrial, said warehouses outside industrial estates were in oversupply in the third quarter, with some recording vacancy rates as high as 30-40%.

“Competition among logistics players over the past 1-2 years has driven down service fees, putting pressure on warehouse rental rates. Some operators have exited the market, leaving an oversupply of space,” he said.

Large e-commerce companies, which are major warehouse users, have increasingly invested in their own facilities rather than relying on third-party operators, further increasing available warehouse space.

Mr Phongphan said the warehouse market saw heavy investment over the past three years, largely driven by Chinese investors.

Supply expanded rapidly to meet the high demand from e-commerce during the pandemic, leading to the current oversupply situation.

Additionally, ready-built warehouses (RBWs) have faced pressure from the US tariffs, which caused developers to hold back new RBW launches in the third quarter of 2025, as they awaited greater clarity on import duties.

As of the third quarter this year, Thailand’s RBWs market tallied roughly 6 million square metres, with a vacancy rate of 17.2%, down from 19% in the second quarter due to no new RBW supply being launched during that period.

The highest vacancy rate was in the eastern zone, particularly Samut Prakan, which recorded a vacancy rate of 21.5% across roughly 3.51 million sq m of space.

This was followed by the Eastern Seaboard zone with a 16.3% vacancy rate of some 1.6 million sq m and the Central zone at 14.2% of 881,497 sq m.

New RBW supply is also in the pipeline, totalling around 459,000 sq m from five projects — four in Samut Prakan, and one in Bangkok — scheduled for completion between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the fourth quarter of 2028. Four of these projects are located in industrial estates.

“New investment in warehouses should be approached with caution, particularly for those outside industrial estates, where demand is largely driven by factories within the estates, which are currently on the rise,” Mr Phongphan noted.

In the third quarter of 2025, serviced industrial land plots (SILPs) within industrial estates tallied 221,458 rai, with the vacancy rate falling to 7.13% from 8.69% in the previous quarter.

The average land price edged up to 8.04 million baht a rai, compared with 7.87 million baht a rai in the second quarter. Meanwhile, an additional 16,297 rai of new SILPs were under construction.

The highest average land prices were recorded in Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, and the northern part of Chon Buri, ranging between 12-14 million baht a rai.

In the lower areas of Chon Buri and Rayong, they ranged from 5.5-7.5 million baht a rai while in Ayutthaya prices averaged around 6 million baht a rai.

The Thai labour market faces an increasingly challenging outlook as new graduates show declining interest in working full-time for companies, while existing employees face heightened risks of layoffs amid economic uncertainty.

According to Tanit Sorat, vice-chairman of the Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry, younger generations are less inclined to seek full-time employment, particularly in factory settings, as they prioritise greater freedom and flexibility in terms of working hours.

‘Many of them aspire to work as freelancers instead,’ he said

On the other hand, employers are reluctant to hire young people who lack sufficient work experience, partly due to their limited skills and familiarity with corporate environments, said Mr Tanit, who also serves as chairman of the National Labour Development Advisory Council.

‘This is not unique to Thailand – it’s a global trend,’ he said. ‘Companies must adapt to the changing lifestyles of workers, while universities need to revise their curricula to meet market demands.’

Each year, Thai educational institutions produce about 450,000 new graduates. Around 61% hold bachelor’s degrees, with the remainder earning vocational certificates. However, many degree holders lack the practical skills that employers are looking for, said Mr Tanit.

Meanwhile, existing employees are increasingly anxious about job security, he said.

Gloomy prospects

A recent report by the Economic Intelligence Center of Siam Commercial Bank revealed that around 5 million Thai workers, or 12% of the country’s total labour force, are at high risk of job losses or reduced working hours due to the direct and indirect impacts of US tariffs on Thai exports.

The affected workforce is concentrated in high-risk industries exposed to US trade measures, including rubber, textiles, tyres, auto parts, electronic components and consumer electronics and hard disk drives.

In addition, Thailand’s economic vulnerabilities, structural issues and declining competitiveness have further weakened the labour market in the post-pandemic period, the report noted.

Thailand’s unemployment rate peaked at 2.25% in the third quarter of 2021 before declining to around 1% since 2023. Despite this relatively low level, unemployment has shown notable increases in several segments.

In particular, the unemployment rate among workers covered by the social security system rose to 2.3% in July 2025 – the highest level in three years – up from 2.1% in the first half of this year.

Unemployment among young workers aged 15-24 increased to 5.9% in the second quarter of 2025, marking the highest rate since 2023. Notably, unemployment among bachelor’s degree holders or higher surged to 18.9% in the same quarter, up from 16.1% in the previous quarter.

It should be noted that Thai government unemployment statistics are not considered very reliable because they underestimate the true extent of labour underutilisation, particularly in informal and vulnerable sectors, and seasonal unemployment in agriculture.

That said, the number of persons counted as employed has continued to decline, with total employment falling by more than 500,000 positions compared with 2023, the year employment peaked at 40 million as the labour market recovered from the pandemic.

The World Bank this month reported that recent job growth in the region has been concentrated in low-productivity, often informal service jobs that offer limited opportunities for advancement.

The bank’s East Asia and Pacific Economic Update highlighted a ‘jobs paradox’ in the region – relatively strong economic growth alongside insufficient creation of quality employment.

The World Bank emphasised that bolder reforms to remove barriers to firm entry and competition could unlock private capital, enabling more dynamic and productive companies to grow and generate better jobs.

However, Southeast Asian economies face a lower risk of job displacement compared to advanced economies. Only about 13% of jobs in the region involve non-routine cognitive tasks, compared with 39% in advanced economies. Yet this also means the region may benefit less from emerging technologies, according to the World Bank.

At the crossroads of aviation history and modern innovation, Longines unveils two new evolutions within its celebrated Spirit collection the Spirit Pilot and the Spirit Flyback each capturing the pioneering ethos that has defined the brand for over a century.

Rooted in the golden age of aviation, the Spirit line pays tribute to the explorers and pilots who trusted Longines instruments in their quest to conquer the skies. Now, five years after its debut, the collection enters a new chapter defined by refined proportions, advanced materials, and enhanced mechanical precision.

The Longines Spirit Pilot emerges in a streamlined 39 mm stainless-steel case, offering a sleeker profile and improved ergonomics for everyday comfort. Its matte black dial has been stripped of decorative elements to emphasise clarity, while gold-toned hands and applied Arabic numerals with Super-LumiNova® treatment ensure legibility in all conditions. Inside beats the exclusive calibre L888.4, a COSC-certified self-winding movement with a silicon balance spring and anti-magnetic components offering resistance ten times greater than ISO 764 standards. The result is a chronometer that combines understated elegance with robust performance, backed by a 72-hour power reserve.

Complementing it is the Longines Spirit Pilot Flyback, a revival of a historic complication first patented by Longines in 1935. Designed for pilots requiring instant reset during navigation, the flyback chronograph returns in a 39.5 mm stainless-steel case, now just 13.4 mm thick for enhanced wearability. Its bidirectional rotating bezel with countdown timer – a first for the Spirit line – is paired with a box-shaped sapphire crystal and cockpit-inspired dial featuring gilt hands and numerals. Powering this model is the hand-wound calibre L792.4, a COSC-certified column-wheel chronograph offering a 68-hour power reserve and a transparent case back revealing its intricate mechanics.

Both models exemplify Longines’ pursuit of precision and timeless design, with details such as interchangeable stainless-steel bracelets, leather, or rubber straps, each equipped with micro-adjustment for perfect fit. With water resistance up to 100 metres, the Spirit collection balances function and finesse a watch for explorers who value heritage as much as innovation.

A sophisticated fusion of heritage and high performance, the new Longines Spirit Pilot and Spirit Flyback reaffirm the brand’s pioneering spirit refined, re-engineered, and ready to soar into a new era of aviation-inspired excellence.

Denis Puric has warned Takeru Segawa not to make the mistake of looking past him – insisting the Japanese superstar’s obsession with a ONE Championship rematch against Rodtang Jitmuangnon could prove costly.

The 40-year-old ‘Bosnian Menace’ meets the former three-division K-1 champion at ONE 173 on November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, in a flyweight kickboxing bout that could have major title implications.

‘I feel like he’s focused too much on Rodtang and not realising what’s in front of him,’ Puric told the Bangkok Post from home in Canada, where he is finishing his fight camp. ‘He keeps talking about that rematch – but he’s got me first. It’s not going to be an easy ride to get there, buddy.’

Takeru was knocked out by Rodtang in March at ONE 172 and has made no secret of wanting revenge. Puric, however, believes he can ruin those plans.

‘He might be faster, but I hit harder,’ he said. ‘Once we start boxing, it’s going to be tough for him. His head is too open, and he doesn’t have the greatest chin. He’s not going to be able to box with me.

‘He’s a pitter-patter guy. I’m more explosive. I know what he’s coming for – the calf kicks and little body work – and I’ll be ready.’

Puric, who went the distance with Rodtang last year at Impact Arena in Bangkok, says he is in peak form ahead of his return to Japan.

‘I’m in that Rodtang fight shape,’ he said. ‘I’ve had a long camp this time and I’m ready for a war. At 40, I’ve learned I need longer recovery and smarter preparation – but I feel better than ever.’

The veteran striker added that a win over Takeru should lead to a long-awaited title opportunity – whether against Superlek Kiatmuu9, who has not defended his flyweight kickboxing belt in nearly two years, or a rematch with Rodtang.

‘I want that title shot,’ Puric said. ‘If Superlek stays up at bantamweight, then me and Rodtang can fight for an interim belt. Either way, I’m next.’

Puric said he still has huge respect for Takeru but warned that admiration won’t stop him from delivering an upset in front of the Japanese crowd.

‘He’s a legend, no doubt,’ he said. ‘But I’ve been visualising that knockout every day. It’s going to be a long night for him in Tokyo.’

ONE 173 marks the promotion’s return to Japan after a record-breaking event at Saitama Super Arena in March, which drew more than 10,000 fans and a US$2 million gate.

The stacked November card will also feature seven title fights, including Superbon defending his featherweight kickboxing belt against Masaaki Noiri, Stamp Fairtex returning to action, and Superlek facing Yuki Yoza in a bantamweight kickboxing bout.

Puric, though, believes it will be his performance that steals the show.

‘When the big bad Bosno is in shape,’ he said with a grin, ‘you’re in trouble.’

Thailand has potential to become an increasingly attractive location for pharmaceutical companies to conduct clinical trials. The total number of clinical trials conducted in 2024 was 527, an increase of 1.9% from 2023, BMI research has found.

Thailand is increasingly being recognised by drugmakers for its capacity to conduct clinical trials, supported by experienced investigators, well-established infrastructure and a regulatory framework prioritising patient safety. In June 2025, the Public Health Systems Research Institute (PHRI) and Novo Nordisk Thailand signed an agreement to raise the standard of clinical research and support the expansion of clinical research opportunities in the country.

Additionally, in December 2024 AstraZeneca Thailand, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine of Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, signed an agreement to jointly advance clinical research in Thailand. The initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of researchers in Thailand and broaden the scope of study for developing medicines and treatments in the market.

The rise in clinical trial activity in Thailand will support the growth of the pharmaceutical market. In 2024, Thailand’s pharmaceutical market was valued at 214 billion baht ($6.1 billion). Over the forecast period to 2029, we anticipate that the pharmaceutical market will reach 275 billion baht, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.3% in local currency terms and 6.5% in US dollar terms. The continued emphasis on clinical research will play a critical role in facilitating market access for medicines.

Thailand will continue to enact regulatory reforms to support overall pharmaceutical sector competitiveness. On March 1, 2024, new regulations governing drugs imported into Thailand for clinical studies came into effect, transforming the clinical trial landscape. These regulations introduce a detailed framework for the importation of drugs for clinical studies.

Notably, while there were no specific requirements governing clinical trial applications (CTAs) before, the new rules mandate the submission of a CTA, which must be approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before any clinical study begins. This permit will have a five-year validity and can be renewed. Another critical change is enhanced oversight and post-approval obligations.

The Thai FDA will now actively inspect and oversee clinical studies throughout different phases, including the authority to modify, suspend or cancel studies. Furthermore, the new rules specify detailed reporting requirements, including the submission of progress reports and adverse event reports.

This level of detailed oversight and reporting is designed to align Thailand’s clinical practices with international standards, such as those set by the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines. These requirements were already a part of the old rules but are now being reinforced.

While the clinical trial environment has shown improvement in recent years, the sector in Thailand lags regionally due to structural and political shortcomings.

Unlike Malaysia with its dedicated Clinical Research Malaysia entity, and Indonesia with its Clinical Research Center (INA-CRC), Thailand has failed to establish comparable institutional support or articulate comprehensive industry strategies. The result has been a fragmented ecosystem that struggles to attract multinational pharmaceutical investment.

This institutional gap is further exacerbated by political instability, which has disrupted policy continuity, complicated international negotiations and delayed implementation of pharmaceutical sector reforms.

Governmental instability along with heightened concerns regarding regulatory inconsistency, has fostered an environment substantially less conducive to pharmaceutical investment relative to Thailand’s regional counterparts.

This commentary is published by BMI, a Fitch Solutions Company, and is not a comment on Fitch Ratings’ Credit Ratings. Any comments or data included in the report are solely derived from BMI and independent sources.

A Chinese tour guide has been recorded forcing a group of Chinese tourists travelling in Thailand to purchase goods at a store he recommended, or they would not be allowed back on the bus.

A video of the incident was recorded by a tourist on the bus and shared on Monday on a Facebook page posting news about Thai tourism.

It showed a man believed to be a Chinese guide addressing the tour group in Chinese. Translated, he said they would be stopping at a tax-free shop, and people who failed to buy anything there would not be allowed back on the bus.

When some tourists expressed their disagreement, he warned them about not being able to return to China.

The clip was widely shared, drawing many responses, including from registered Thai guides, asking authorities to investigate the incident and the apparently illegal tour guide.

The Department of Tourism will work with tourist police and find out where and when it occurred, and the tour company involved.

An illegal guide could face up to a year in prison and/or a fine of 100,000 baht. The tour company may be guilty of unfairly exploiting tourists, incurring a fine of up to 50,000 baht and possible suspension of its licence for up to six months.

A taxi motorcyclist has complained about a couple he saw having afternoon sex on a condominium balcony, saying it’s a blight on the resort city’s image.

Pontakorn Pongpakdee, 31, said he and many other people, Thais and foreigners, could clearly see what the couple were doing on the outside balcony on Pattaya 2 Road about 2pm on Tuesday.

Mr Pontakorn said the rain had just stopped and he was waiting for a customer on the road opposite the condominium building.

Passers-by were also surprised by the couple’s blatant act, and some took video recordings on their phones

He urged officials to investigate the incident and take action to protect Pattaya’s image. Reports did not say how high up the balcony was.