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Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has defended the city’s flood-management strategy, rejecting claims that Bangkok had abandoned its royal “monkey-cheek” water-retention projects.

Mr Chadchart at City Hall on Thursday said that the social-media claims that Bangkok opposed or cancelled the projects were false. He said he had watched a video of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great’s Dec 4, 1995, speech on the monkey-cheek concept more than 10 times to understand its principles and apply them for public benefit.

He said the royal water-management approach included flood barriers, diversion routes, canal improvements, dams and monkey-cheek water retention areas. The principle involves temporarily storing excess water and releasing it when drainage conditions allow, he said.

An effective retention area requires three conditions: a suitable site, a route for bringing water into it and an efficient system for releasing it, he said. Large facilities therefore cannot be built effectively everywhere in the city, with site conditions and engineering data determining their suitability, he added.

After the 2011 epic floods, six retention areas were proposed in 2013 alongside canal improvements. Projects at Bueng Khubon and Bueng Bang Chan were estimated to cost about 11 billion baht, including more than 5-6 billion baht for acquiring private land.

Bangkok instead reviewed an alternative plan to improve the north-south canal network from Khlong Hok Wa Sai Lang to Khlong Prawet Burirom and upgrade drainage infrastructure, with an estimated cost of 6.5 billion baht.

Mr Chadchart said the review considered drainage efficiency, site suitability and investment value. The original sites involved substantial private land, requiring expropriation and systems to bring water into and out of the retention areas, he added. Improving existing canals and drainage infrastructure could achieve the same objective at lower cost, he noted.

He stressed that Bangkok had not abandoned the monkey-cheek concept and continues developing suitable projects. The city currently has 38 such projects, up from 34 in 2022, and plans to add seven more, he said.

Existing projects include Khlong Rahan-Khlong Khru, Bueng Sikan, the Lat Phrao 71 public pond and the Bang Khen Circle pond, he noted.

“Technical issues and value for money can be debated, but please do not link them to claims that we are not following the royal initiative,” Mr Chadchart said, adding that King Rama IX provided the core concept while specific locations required technical assessment.

His defence followed criticism from Korn Chatikavanij, a Democrat Party list MP and deputy party leader, who posted a map of Bangkok’s latest draft city plan on Facebook and questioned how areas designated for water absorption and monkey-cheek retention were treated.

The plan proposes changes to land-use zoning, including reduced rural and agricultural conservation areas in eastern Bangkok and Thon Buri (in the southern part of the city) to allow residential development, he said.

Five existing water-retention areas have also been removed, he added.

Mr Korn raised concerns about the changes and urged the public to consider their implications for long-term flood management.

A 78-year-old driver has been charged with negligence after his electric car ploughed into the Guanyin Shrine at the Thian Fah Foundation in Bangkok’s Yaowarat area on Thursday, killing an 82-year-old woman, police said.

Pol Col Witthawat Khengkhum, chief of Phlapphla Chai 2 police station, said one person was killed and eight injured.

The 78-year-old driver was charged on Thursday with causing death, serious injury and bodily or mental harm by negligence. He was not arrested as he turned himself in, showed no sign of trying to flee and has a permanent address. He was released temporarily and told to report to the investigating officer on a set date.

Initial reports said the driver had lost consciousness. Police said he told them he may have confused the brake and accelerator pedals while trying to stop.

Preliminary drug and alcohol tests have been conducted. Pol Col Witthawat said his testimony also touched on medication, but police would pursue the charges regardless.

Police will send the case file to public prosecutors once forensic results and the investigation are complete, he said. Compensation for the victims and the foundation is expected to be arranged next week.

Asked about elderly drivers, Pol Col Witthawat said no law sets an upper age limit for driving, and the Department of Land Transport and other agencies may need to study accident statistics before considering any rules.

Police have moved to discuss safety measures with the foundation’s owner and other venues to prevent similar accidents.

The 68-year-old shrine remains open for worship with limited access.

Kyoto plans to introduce dual pricing for admission fees to Nijo Castle, a Unesco World Heritage site, and for bus fares as early as fiscal 2027, charging out-of-town visitors more than city residents, a city government source said on Thursday.

Under the new two-tier system, admission to the grounds of Nijo Castle and its Ninomaru Palace will cost 2,000 yen (425 baht) for nonresidents and 1,000 yen for city residents, while bus fares will likewise be set at 360 yen for non-residents and 200 yen for residents.

The western Japanese city decided to lower the admission price for residents from the current flat price of 1,300 yen, hoping that cheaper tickets will encourage more locals to visit.

The majority of visitors to the castle come from outside the city, and the city also hopes to use the additional revenue from higher admission fees for nonresidents for conservation and renovation purposes.

The city will also reduce bus fares for residents from the current 230 yen, hoping the measure will help promote coexistence with tourists, as some residents who rely on buses for daily transportation have complained about overcrowding caused by sightseeing visitors.

According to the city government, it would be the first case in Japan of a two-tier fare system being introduced for public transportation as a measure to address overtourism.

About 2.07 million people visited Nijo Castle in fiscal 2025, which ended in March. While detailed residency data are unavailable, a survey conducted during a limited period last fall found that residents accounted for about 2% of visitors, according to the city.

The move comes as more tourist destinations in Japan begin implementing dual pricing. Himeji Castle, also a World Heritage site, in Hyogo prefecture introduced the practice in March this year, raising the adult admission fee to 2,500 yen for nonresidents while keeping it at 1,000 yen for Himeji residents aged 18 or above.

The rapid rise in demand for advanced semiconductors from data centres and artificial intelligence (AI) applications is creating supply challenges for the oil and gas industry, affecting the delivery of critical industrial systems, according to Preechai Trannitad, managing director of Yokogawa (Thailand).

He said the energy sector is facing semiconductor delivery delays that are disrupting the supply of key control systems used in pressure regulation, thermal management and instrumentation measurement.

The delays are being felt across the oil and gas industry as chipmakers struggle to meet soaring demand from data centre operators and AI-related businesses.

According to Mr Preechai, customers in the oil and gas sector are experiencing equipment delivery delays of 1-2 months.

The backlog has intensified competition for semiconductor supplies among industries, with the oil and gas sector competing against automotive manufacturers, IT companies and fast-growing data centre and AI operators.

“The rise of AI has forced the oil and gas sector to continuously adapt, especially when developing engineering solutions that require high precision, energy efficiency and cost savings, all of which depend heavily on semiconductors,” he said.

The issue is prominent in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, where safety standards and energy efficiency are critical operational priorities, noted Mr Preechai.

To address these challenges, Yokogawa (Thailand) is adopting new technologies aimed at improving energy efficiency while helping customers reduce carbon emissions.

The move aligns with the growing commitment among companies to cut greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net-zero targets.

Yokogawa (Thailand) is a unit of Japan-based Yokogawa Electric Corporation, which specialises in industrial automation technology and digital solutions.

Emerging energy technologies, including hydrogen and advanced compressor systems, could play a greater role in industrial operations, he said. Some of these technologies may incorporate solar energy to power turbines and related systems for industrial customers, including manufacturers.

Industries must continue investing in technologies that improve energy efficiency while lowering emissions, as the oil and gas sector shares the same decarbonisation goals as other industries, said Mr Preechai.

The oil and gas industry is accelerating its transition to cleaner fuels, particularly LNG, which is viewed as a bridge fuel in the energy transition.

“Many booths at Gastech 2026 were showcasing LNG-related energy solutions,” he said, referring to the large energy industry exhibition recently held in Bangkok.

Thailand have already booked their place in the final of the inaugural Fifa Asean Cup, but Anthony Hudson’s side will still be chasing a flawless Group B campaign when they face the Philippines at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on Friday.

The War Elephants have taken six points from two matches, thrashing Pakistan 4-0 before seeing off Vietnam 2-0, and they now wait to discover whether Malaysia, Indonesia or Singapore will top Group A to provide the opposition in the final.

Hudson used Thursday’s session to ease the strain on tired legs, with the squad completing an hour of recovery work following the win over Vietnam. The head coach is expected to keep one eye on the final as he weighs his options for the game with the Azkals.

Few players have more reason to feel upbeat than Sarach Yooyen. The BG Pathum United midfielder opened the scoring against Vietnam with a superb long-range strike, and he admitted the goal carried special meaning for the squad and the country’s supporters.

“I am very happy to have scored against Vietnam,” said Sarach. “This goal means a lot to me, the team and the Thai fans. In the last two Asean Championship finals, we could not beat them. This time we focused on winning and everyone delivered.”

He was quick to credit the team’s defensive discipline, which delivered a clean sheet. “The style of play may have been defensive, but that happens in football,” he said. “What we must praise is the discipline in defence that kept the clean sheet.”

Sarach also spoke warmly of the tournament itself, which is being staged in Indonesia, a country with a passionate football following.

Although the experience was in many ways like any other competition, he said, Fifa’s organisation had set a high standard and the atmosphere created by the home fans had made the event especially appealing for the players.

The competition, he added, had been more intense than previous editions because every nation had sent its strongest squad. “This is a good tournament and it gives players more chances to play international football,” he said.

Thailand’s failure to lift the Asean Championship still stings, and Sarach was clear about the ambition this time.

“We may have missed out in the Asean Championship, but in this tournament we will try to bring the trophy back to the country,” he said. “We need the encouragement of the Thai fans. We don’t yet know who we will face in the final, but I think many supporters will come and the atmosphere will be great. We will try to do our best.”

Elsewhere in Group B, Vietnam take on Pakistan at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, also at 4pm.

The two men accused of robbing, raping and killing two Russian siblings in Chonburi in July have pleaded guilty to most of the charges against them but denied the claim of premeditated murder at Pattaya Provincial Court on Friday.

Thana “Pong” Kerdthong and Thongchai “Thong” (surname not given) face nine charges in Black Case No. Or. 1038/2569, filed by Pattaya public prosecutors. The charges follow the killing of Diana Nazimova, 22, and her brother Roman Nazimov, 17, whose bodies were hidden in tambon Huai Yai of Bang Lamung district.

Both men pleaded guilty to weapons and ammunition offences, impersonating a state official, illegal detention and conspiring to hide, move or destroy bodies to conceal cause of death. They also pleaded guilty to a night-time robbery causing death charge tied to how they posed as police in uniform to intercept their victims.

Both however, denied conspiring to commit premeditated murder. On the charge of rape at gunpoint of a victim unable to resist, resulting in death, Mr Thana denied the charge, while Mr Thongchai pleaded guilty.

Due to some of the charges remaining contested, the court ordered a rights protection hearing on Oct 20 at 9am, before it proceeds to the contested charges.

The court issued detention warrants for both and refused them temporary release, citing the severity of their potential penalties, the brazen nature of the offences and the prosecution’s objection. It said there were grounds to believe they might flee, tamper with evidence or cause others harm.

A flood-control sandbag embankment collapsed last night, sending a surge of water into more than 500 households in Sapphaya district of Chai Nat province, leaving residents little time to save their belongings.

Aerial footage released on Friday showed extensive flooding in the Wat Maprang and Wat Samo communities in tambon Phonang Dam Ok, downstream of the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat province.

Residents were forced to move valuables, cars, motorcycles, pets and household belongings to higher ground along the Maharat Canal Road after floodwaters surged into the area following the failure of a sandbag embankment late on Thursday night.

Within a single night, floodwater levels rose to between 80 centimetres and 1.6 metres in low-lying areas. Villagers said water levels had risen faster this year than in previous years because the flooding was triggered by a collapse of the embankment, allowing a large volume of water to enter the communities simultaneously.

The overnight timing of the incident left many residents unprepared, resulting in property damage and household items being swept away by the floodwaters.

Local authorities stepped up assistance for affected residents by installing large water tanks at several locations and supplying clean water.

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) said although water levels upstream have begun to decline, discharges from the Chao Phraya Dam still need to be increased.

Rainfall in upper river basins has caused water levels in the Ping and Nan rivers, which received inflows from the Yom River, to rise before converging into the Chao Phraya River in Nakhon Sawan province and flowing downstream toward the Chao Phraya Dam, said the RID.

While water levels in some upstream areas have started to recede, the large volume of water already flowing downstream would take time to pass through. As a result, lower water levels upstream do not immediately translate into reduced inflows at the Chao Phraya Dam.

The department said it was managing water levels upstream of the dam to help delay runoff while diverting water into irrigation networks on both the eastern and western sides of the river within their operational capacity.

Thai Airways International (THAI) will return to its normal flight operation mode on Saturday after severe floods in greater Bangkok have maimed the airline as it cancelled some services that stranded passengers and baggage.

THAI announced on Thursday night the resumption of full operations from Saturday as it was mobilising personnel to ensure readiness.

The number of its cancelled flights has sharply reduced from almost 40 during the peak of the flooding in greater Bangkok to 15 on Thursday and nine on Friday.

The airline has sharply scaled down ground and air services citing insufficient staff due to the deluge that kept them at home. The decision led to chaos as passengers were stranded at Suvarnabhumi International Airport or were unable to travel, while some 10,000 pieces of luggage and cargo piled up at the airport due to staff shortages.

Passengers can contact the airline at:

Thai Ticket Office, 4th Floor, Departure Hall, Suvarnabhumi Airport – open 24 hours

Thai Ticket Office, Head Office, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road – open from 8am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday

Thai Contact Centre – available 24 hours at +66 2 356 1111

The airline’s chaos due to the sudden flood came less than two weeks after Thai climbed up the Skytrax global rankings, including the rise in the airport services category to seventh from 11th last year.

The airline was strongly criticised by the government and passengers for failing to cope with the crisis to keep the service afloat or at least minimise the impacts.

Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Thursday the carrier had cleared stranded passengers and will try to return baggage to all passengers by Saturday night.

Thailand’s young guns came out kicking at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Thursday as poomsae artists Navin Pinthasute and Thitaree Kaewolanwasu each landed a medal on the opening day of taekwondo, while a canoeist and a teenage jiu-jitsu fighter also swelled the Thai tally.

Navin, 19, scored 9.2800 to take men’s individual silver, just behind South Korea’s Yun Kyu-Sung (9.3800). The Philippines’ Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape was third on 9.0900.

Earlier, 21-year-old Thitaree posted 9.0400 to finish third in the women’s individual event. South Korea’s Jung Hae-Un won gold with 9.3100, while the Philippines’ Juliana Mykhail Candelaria took bronze with 9.1300.

At the Yahagigawa Canoe Slalom Course, Piyanuth Koetsuk, 24, claimed bronze in the men’s canoe single final.

His 121.68 seconds left him behind China’s Zhang Zhicheng (98.09) and Taiwan’s Wu Jung-cheng (119.09). The Southeast Asian Games gold medallist from last December gave the canoe slalom team a second medal in Nagoya, a day after Atcharaporn Duanglawa’s silver in the women’s canoe single.

Sixteen-year-old Miyu Suzuki, who is Thai-Japanese, then secured Thailand’s first jiu-jitsu medal of the Games.

She beat Vietnam’s Phung Thi Hue 6-4 in the women’s 48kg bronze contest. She had lost to Kazakhstan’s Zhibek Kulumbetova in the quarter-finals before winning the repechage against Singapore’s Hong Soo Jin.

Beach VB duo chase title

Taravadee Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee are one win from Asian Games glory.

They beat the Philippines’ Harl Khylem Progella and Shanine Sofiah Pagara 2-0 (23-21, 21-18) in the semi-finals and meet China’s Xia Xinyi and Yan Xu in today’s gold medal match.

The victory guarantees Thailand’s first beach volleyball medal in 12 years, since Tanarattha Udomchavee and Varapatsorn Radarong took silver at the 2014 Incheon Games.

Their male counterparts, Poravid Taovato and Pithak Tipjan, fell 2-0 (23-21, 21-12) to Qatar’s Cherif Samba and Ahmed Janko in the last four. They will face Japan’s Kata Kurosawa and Taito Mizumachi for bronze tomorrow.

In golf, Patcharajutar Kongkraphan was the best-placed Thai in the women’s individual event, finishing the second round on one-under 139. That left her 12 strokes behind Singapore’s leader Shannon Tan Xuan Tin. Thailand are tied for seventh in the team event on 276, eight shots adrift of China.

In the men’s event, Pongsapak Laopakdee (67) and Sadom Kaewkanjana (69) are among six players tied for 16th on 139. They trail Taiwan’s Wang Wei-hsuan (66) by eight strokes.

Takraw women revive hopes

The women’s quadrant sepak takraw team bounced back from their opening loss to old rivals Vietnam with a 2-0 (15-7, 15-6) win over the Philippines at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium. They now need to beat India today to secure second place in Group A and a semi-final berth.

The women’s rugby sevens side impressed by beating Kazakhstan and Singapore to reach the semi-finals, with a group match against Japan still to play. The men were less fortunate, losing to South Korea and Kazakhstan. They must beat Japan to stay in contention, or drop into the placement rounds, where ninth is the best they can finish.

Elsewhere, the men’s volleyball team lost 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-19) to China in the quarter-finals. Kasidit Samrej’s tennis run also ended at that stage, with a 6-3, 6-0 defeat to top seed Wong Coleman of Hong Kong.

Heartbreak in the velodrome

Jai Angsuthasawit was left to rue a controversial tumble in the men’s sprint bronze-medal ride at the velodrome in Izu, Shizuoka. He finished fourth after officials rejected a Thai protest for a restart.

The rider, known as “TJ”, beat China’s Han Si 2-1 in the quarter-finals before losing 2-0 to Japanese favourite Kaiya Ota, the top qualifier and world No.4. That set up a bronze-medal duel with Malaysia’s Awang Mohd Azizulhasni, the 2017 world keirin champion.

In the first heat of the best-of-three contest, Jai lost his balance and fell during the cat-and-mouse jockeying on a bend, and was ruled to have lost the heat. Team manager Pol Lt Adisak Wannasri argued that the fall came during the tactical stand-off, not the sprint proper, and demanded a restart. The two Hong Kong officials, the chief commissaire and the starter, stood by their decision.

Awang then edged the second heat to take bronze. Ota won gold as expected, with China’s Li Zhiwei taking silver.

Thailand have two more finals today: Jutatip Maneephan in the women’s omnium, and Jai and Norasetthada Bunma in the men’s keirin.

Thailand’s Digital Industry Sentiment Index rose to 51.4 points in the third quarter, returning to the confidence zone for the first time in five quarters, driven by stronger demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-related products, accelerated exports and increased government budget disbursement.

The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) said the index climbed from 48.4 in the second quarter, with improvements across most key indicators, ranging from business performance to investment.

The survey covers five major digital industry segments: hardware and smart devices, software, digital services, digital content and telecom.

Supakorn Siddhichai, chief executive of depa, said the improvement reflected stronger liquidity from government budget disbursement towards the end of the fiscal year, rising global demand for AI technologies and related devices, and efforts by exporters to bring forward shipments ahead of potential increases in US import tariffs.

The approaching year-end high season also contributed to the improvement, he said.

However, digital businesses continue to face structural pressures, particularly global shortages of raw materials that have pushed up costs.

Mr Supakorn said smaller companies are shifting from full-time employees to freelance workers to contain fixed costs.

Four of the five surveyed sectors recorded sentiment readings above the 50-point confidence threshold in the third quarter. Software recorded the highest reading at 56.5, followed by telecom at 53.3, digital services at 52.8 and hardware and smart devices at 50.2. Digital content remained below the confidence threshold at 44.4.

Digital entrepreneurs are calling for greater policy continuity, particularly regarding tax incentives aimed at supporting employment and talent development. These entrepreneurs also want more concrete government support for high-growth sectors such as gaming and digital content, as well as measures to increase the share of locally produced content.

The outlook for the next three months remains positive, with the digital industry sentiment index projected to rise to 52.4, according to depa.

Business performance, production and new orders are expected to improve gradually, supported by stronger demand from both the public and private sectors, year-end contract negotiations and increased consumer spending during the peak holiday season.

However, recent heavy rainfall and flooding in central and eastern Thailand could temporarily weigh on business activity and investment, depa noted.

MOST CONFIDENT

Most Thais are confident AI will have a positive impact on their life and work, according to Thailand Digital Outlook 2026 conducted by Office of the National Board of Digital Economy and Society (BDE).

According to the survey, 66.8% of respondents believe the technology will have a positive impact on their lives and work, more than two times higher than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) average of 28.6%.

The Digital Outlook project was launched in 2019, measuring Thailand’s digital development against the OECD Going Digital Toolkit framework. This year’s study covered 102 digital indicators across eight dimensions, based on a nationwide sample of 46,810 respondents.

Some 31.6% indicated they have already begun using AI in their daily lives or at work.

Among women aged 16-24, 23.9% report having coding skills, ranked the highest when compared with 36 OECD countries.

BDE secretary-general Wetang Phuangsub said the findings show that Thailand’s digital transition is moving beyond basic technology adoption, with growing public engagement with AI and stronger demand for digital skills.