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The Chinese transport authorities are preparing for a major travel rush as millions take to the roads and railways at the end of the national “golden week” holiday.

The annual holiday, which ends on Wednesday, is one of the busiest times of the year for travel.

On Monday, the Ministry of Public Security noted that a significant increase in return traffic flow was expected on Tuesday, especially in four megacity clusters: Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Chengdu-Chongqing region.

There were no major traffic accidents or reports of large-scale traffic congestion as of Monday night, it added.

The Transport Ministry said it had been coordinating its efforts with local authorities to ensure smooth and safe travel, and ensure there were no major incidents.

It also urged areas that had been affected by extreme weather in recent days to monitor conditions and implement pre-emptive measures to avoid accidents.

The ministry said it had “called on all departments to ensure the safety and efficiency of transport during the holiday season, proactively address major risks and continue responding to the aftermath of [Typhoon Matmo]”.

Matmo made landfall in Guangdong province on Sunday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to large swathes of southern China, as well as shutting down rail and air services in the region.

Hundreds of millions of Chinese are currently travelling across the country during the eight-day national holiday, which combines both China’s National Day on Oct 1 and Monday’s Mid-Autumn Festival.

According to the ministry’s latest figures, more than 291 million domestic trips were made on Sunday – slightly down on the first four days of the holiday, which all saw more than 300 million journeys.

The ministry had previously said it expected to see about 2.36 billion passenger trips nationwide during the eight-day holiday, 80% of which would be made by private vehicles.

It also forecast the highest ever number of domestic and international flights over the period with 19.2 million passenger trips, a 3.6% year-on-year increase.

Local authorities across the country have announced a range of measures to cope with the travel rush.

In the northern city of Tianjin, the authorities are intensifying patrols and inspections on roads, railways and rivers, and have set up 22 temporary charging facilities and 1,100 emergency restrooms at highway service areas.

Meanwhile, the central provinces of Anhui and Hunan both said they were targeting congestion-prone areas.

Anhui said it would pay close attention to any changes in the weather and had plans in place to introduce road closures and diversions, suspend services or evacuate people if necessary.

Meanwhile, Hunan said it had laid on extra bus services, including links to transport hubs.

In coastal areas, operations are gradually resuming after the disruption caused by Typhoon Matmo, which made its second landfall in Guangxi region on Monday and also brought heavy rainfall to Yunnan and Guizhou.

Yunnan also stepped up safety checks for passenger and tourist boats in the wake of the typhoon and issued a series of weather risk alerts.

Meanwhile, in the eastern province of Shandong, the authorities stepped up nighttime patrols on busy waterways to avoid collisions between commercial and fishing vessels.

The most serious incidents recorded during the holiday so far have been the blizzard that stranded hundreds of hikers at high altitude over the weekend, killing at least one person in Qinghai province, and a fatal accident at a disused mine.

In Tibet 350 people have been guided to safety following the sudden snowstorm, while rescuers said they were in contact with a further 200 people, all of whom were expected to be safely returned, official media reported on Monday.

Meanwhile, five people who entered a disused mine in Youxi county in the southwestern province of Fujian were confirmed dead on Sunday.

ICONSIAM, the global landmark on the Chao Phraya River, has once again demonstrated its leadership in creative collaboration with Thai creators and influencers, earning two prestigious accolades at the Thailand Influencer Awards 2025 – Best Retail Space Influencer Campaign for the Amazing Thailand Countdown 2025, and Best Soft Power and Tourist Destination Influencer Campaign for the *Thaiconic Songkran Celebration 2025.

These achievements highlight ICONSIAM’s ongoing commitment to creating marketing initiatives deeply rooted in customer insights, delivering experiences that exceed expectations while seamlessly connecting online audiences to world-class attractions at ICONSIAM. The awards reaffirm its role as one of Thailand’s foremost Soft Power hubs.

Mrs Suma Wongphan, Executive Vice President of ICONSIAM Co., Ltd., said, ‘Winning two awards at the Thailand Influencer Awards 2025 underscores ICONSIAM’s dedication to elevating experiences and creating impactful phenomena across all platforms. We prioritise working hand in hand with creators and influencers to co-create high-quality content that connects people, cultures, and the creative economy, while amplifying Thai culture on the global stage.’

She added that the recognition reflects ‘visionary collaboration with creators and influencers, generating powerful and memorable content that fulfils objectives in communication, marketing, and online engagement. It reinforces ICONSIAM’s position as more than just a global landmark – serving as a hub of world-class experiences and a platform for co-creating new value with partners from every sector.’

The Thailand Influencer Awards 2025 was co-hosted by Tellscore Co., Ltd., Thailand’s leading full-service influencer marketing platform, Thai Life Insurance, and ICONSIAM, under the theme ‘Creators of Change: Influencers Who Change the World and Lead the Way.’ The event honours outstanding influencers and groundbreaking campaigns by brands and agencies, with the goal of advancing Thailand’s influencer marketing industry to international standards.

ICONSIAM’s Amazing Thailand Countdown 2025 earned the Best Retail Space Influencer Campaign award for its seamless integration of offline and online experiences, allowing audiences to enjoy excitement, entertainment, and contemporary Thainess both in person and virtually. The Thaiconic Songkran Celebration 2025, winner of Best Soft Power and Tourist Destination Influencer Campaign, creatively showcased Thai culture and identity, reinforcing Thailand’s reputation as a hub of creative tourism.

Together, these accolades highlight ICONSIAM’s strength in producing innovative, inspiring, and authentic content that connects audiences worldwide with Thailand’s most extraordinary experiences.

The assistant teacher accused of striking a seven-year-old student with a metal ruler has submitted a resignation letter, but education authorities confirm the investigation will continue regardless of his employment status.

The incident, which occurred on Oct 2 at Ban Mae Chang School in Mae Mo district, involved a first-grader known locally as “Nong Pot” or “Nong Porsche”.

The boy allegedly took marshmallows from the teacher’s desk because his mother had no money to give him for school that day. In response, the teacher slapped the child, struck him with a ruler, pinched his neck and forced him to clean the school restroom.

The case has sparked widespread public outrage and was formally reported to Mae Mo police station, with the child’s mother taking him in to give a statement on Monday.

Thanayut Kamphira, deputy director of Lampang Primary Educational Service Area Office 1, confirmed that the teacher’s resignation will be approved.

However, he insisted that the disciplinary investigation will proceed independently. “The resignation does not affect the process. We will work for transparency and fairness,” he said.

Leveraging technology, longevity tourism, and a new mindset seeking challenges are key for Thailand to reinvent its economic growth, according to the KBTG Techtopia 2025 seminar.

The country should also focus on “cross-cutting industries” by combining existing industry strengths with new trends, panellists said during the event.

“Thailand’s working-age population shrinks every year, acting as a drag on the economy. This is why our GDP growth is often the slowest rate in the region,” said Santitarn Sathirathai, a member of the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee.

With limited domestic growth, entrepreneurs must seek opportunities outside the country and leverage technology more effectively to enhance productivity, he said.

The trend of globalisation is shifting from export-led growth towards services, such as tourism and emerging digital and service-based sectors, said Mr Santitarn.

As the world is mainly divided into US and China-led blocs, countries outside these blocs are seeking new alliances, making Asean a highly sought-after partner. This has created a strategic opportunity that Thailand must leverage, he said.

FOUR CLASSES

Mr Santitarn said there are four emerging classes in the emerging artificial intelligence (AI) era.

The first class — dubbed “AI landlords” — is the wealthiest, owning core AI models, computing power, and energy. This class earns “rent” from widespread AI use.

The second is “cyborgs” — referring to those who skillfully integrate AI into their work, gaining a competitive edge.

The third class is service professionals, who rely on the irreplaceable human touch in roles such as teaching, nursing, and therapy.

The fourth class refers to the displaced, which is the group facing the highest level of risk, as they are being disrupted by AI or outpaced by those who use it more effectively.

He said Thailand’s labour shortage provides AI with a massive opportunity to assist professionals such as doctors and nurses and boost their productivity.

The nation has the potential to push its people and businesses into the cyborg class, using technology to create new entrepreneurs and opportunities.

LONGEVITY ECONOMY

Mr Santitarn said Thailand should focus on creating a “longevity” economy as Thailand’s ageing society creates immense demand for healthcare and wellness services, areas in which Thailand has a high level of competitiveness.

The longevity economy covers healthy food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and wearable technology.

He advised Thailand to build a mindset that constantly seeks to challenge itself to improve and adapt to a world of constant change.

He said Thais should posses three skill sets which he describes as milk, whisky and water. Milk is knowledge that is useful now but expires quickly. Whisky refers to skills like critical thinking that get better with age and water refers to self-awareness.

Piyachart Isarabhakdee, chief executive of BRANDi and Companies, said Thailand is caught between a fading old economy and an emerging one that has yet to take hold, struggling to regain past GDP growth rates of 5-6%.

However, focusing only on growth overlooks deeper issues such as climate change, debt, and inequality.

The current growth model encourages consumption over creation, fuelling long-term financial instability, Mr Piyachart said.

Future growth must come from “total factor productivity” — innovations and efficiencies that make the entire economy more productive — rather than just adding more labour or infrastructure. AI is poised to be a major driver of this productivity, he said.

A key challenge is as AI and technology lift productivity, wealth may concentrate among tech owners, leaving ordinary people behind.

At the same time, globalisation is shifting as the US turns inwards while China leads new global partnerships, creating an opportunity for Asean, said Mr Piyachart.

CROSS-CUTTING INDUSTRIES

Thailand should also focus on “cross-cutting industries” rather than trying to create entirely new sectors from scratch, he said.

“The key is to combine existing strengths with new trends, such as combining tourism with wellness to create longevity tourism, or integrating technology into agriculture. This means tech is a new infrastructure for growth,” said Mr Piyachart.

AI is ushering in a new technological era, driving global growth even without human input and potentially undermining the value of human thought, he said. To protect human agency, it’s vital to keep authentic intelligence in control.

“AI should be a tool guided by humans — not a force we blindly follow. The key question, according to Mr Piyachart, is: “Will AI be our ideal subordinate, or will we become its obedient followers?”

Ruangroj Poonpol, group chairman of Kasikorn Business – Technology Group, said enhancing productivity alone will not solve Thailand’s labour shortage.

He suggested Thailand extend the retirement age for experienced workers, attract more global talent, increase the female labour force participation rate, and leverage automation and AI to support human-centric approaches.

Mr Ruangroj urged individuals and leaders to adopt the “4 Re” mindset: re-learn by continuously acquiring new knowledge; re-set business models, job roles, and definitions of success; re-form by driving change even when it seems unnecessary; and build resiliency to grow from setbacks.

The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has intensified its crackdown on IP infringement, seizing over 2.9 million counterfeit items worth more than 1 billion baht during the first eight months of 2025.

Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of DIP, said the department with the Economic Crime Suppression Division, the Royal Thai Police, and private rights holders, had intensified efforts to combat IP infringement in tourist hotspots and commercial areas.

The campaign aims to protect consumers, safeguard entrepreneurs, and strengthen Thailand’s IP ecosystem, she said.

Operations targeted shopping centres in Pathumwan and warehouses in Samut Sakhon, seizing counterfeit items that have been sold both offline and online.

From January to August this year, authorities handled 863 cases, including 628 cases by the Royal Thai Police (1.65 million items), six by the Department of Special Investigation (922,567 items), and 229 by customs (393,773 items).

Compared to the same period in 2024, cases decreased by 7.6%, while seized items increased by 27.1%, highlighting a focus on major distributors and high-risk storage facilities.

Ms Auramon said tackling IP infringement requires cooperation among government agencies, rights holders, and the public.

The Cabinet Secretariat confirmed on Tuesday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s petition for a royal pardon did not require cabinet consideration.

Secretary-general Natjaree Anantasilp said Thaksin’s petition for clemency had been forwarded to the justice minister for his input. The application was highly confidential, she added.

‘The Justice Ministry has already provided information. This is not something that needs to be tabled before the cabinet. From now on, the process will follow proper procedure,’ Ms Natjaree told news reporters at Government House about 9.35am on Tuesday.

Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat has declined to confirm reports that the ministry rejected the appeal for a royal pardon submitted on Thaksin’s behalf. He also stressed the highly classified nature of the request.

Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said only that his opinion was in line with that of the committee chaired by the justice permanent secretary, which had already submitted its view to the Cabinet Secretariat for further consideration.

Asked whether the pardon request was prompted by legal restrictions on submitting repeated petitions, the minister declined to elaborate, citing multiple legal provisions under review.

He said his assessment was based on Section 261 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which outlines the justice minister’s role in providing opinions on royal pardon requests.

The minister also said he could not confirm whether Thaksin was still legally required to serve a one-year prison term. His written response had been submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat, he added.

On whether the cabinet would be formally informed, he said this remained a matter for the Cabinet Secretariat to decide.

Asked to clarify the term ‘royal pardon petition”, Pol Gen Rutthapon said his opinion was based on the Cabinet Secretariat’s submission.

As recently appointed justice minister, he had reviewed the case within the legal framework and concluded that Thaksin’s petition did not meet the legal criteria, citing multiple reasons. However, he declined to disclose further details.

Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon was appointed the justice minister under the Bhumjaithai Party’s quota,

On whether Thaksin could submit another petition on future auspicious occasions, Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said he was not yet aware of the details.

Earlier, there were reports that Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon reaffirmed the stance of his predecessor, Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, who supported the Department of Corrections’ recommendation to reject the royal pardon appeal submitted on behalf of Thaksin

An informed source said Thaksin will probably be required to remain in prison and serve his one-year sentence, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s final ruling.

An armed and violent gold shop robbery at a Big C shopping mall in Narathiwat on Sunday has shifted much-needed attention towards security and public safety issues in restive southern provinces.

The robbery at the mall in Sungai Kolok district substantiates fears that insurgent violence in the southernmost provinces might be widening to target business activities.

To meet this challenge, the government must ensure that those involved in such a brazen robbery are brought to justice, thereby restoring trust in its ability to provide security to the region’s population.

It is not the first time that gold shops and financial activities have been targeted in such a violent manner.

Over the past two decades, gold shops in the restive areas of the deep South — Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and certain districts in Songkhla — have been robbed. Commercial vans transporting cash and ATMs have also been targeted.

In the majority of cases, those behind such crimes were not apprehended. Most of these unsolved cases have been labelled as national security threats, and the robbers have been categorised as insurgents trying to instigate violence and unrest.

Indeed, in the early hours of Sept 1, several ATMs in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani were bombed, with local law enforcers yet to arrest any suspects.

The violent nature of the robbery of the gold shop on Sunday also resulted in a 27-year-old soldier who was shopping being shot and wounded by one of the 10 armed robbers.

The robbers held the gold shop staff at gunpoint before taking jewellery worth 24 million baht, and then managed to get away in two pick-up vans, which were reportedly stolen. During their escape, they scatter tyre spikes on the road to hinder any pursuers.

Yesterday, soldiers were hunting high and low to arrest the robbers, but some security personnel have said they might already have crossed the border into Malaysia.

Politically, the gold robbery is a challenge to the Anutin government, which last week approved its policies and action plans for implementation in the deep South.

Among approved plans is the appointment of Gen Somsak Roongsita, former chief of the National Security Council, to head the Thai peace talks team and resume negotiations with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN).

The government also approved a new three-year master plan to develop social and economic conditions in the restive southern provinces.

However, it is needless to say that the gold shop heist in the business district will further dent investment and business sentiment.

Currently, the army is conducting an investigation into the heist and has been quick to link the suspects to the insurgency, but they should not be doing this alone.

Investigators from the Royal Thai Police should be involved and join in any efforts involving the Malaysian government to help arrest the robbers if they are within Malaysia’s borders.

For the future of the deep South, the security situation needs to be brought under control. It can no longer be a wild territory where crimes such as trafficking and money laundering are rife.

In such an atmosphere, any of the government’s policies, including those aimed at boosting local businesses, will remain just a pipe dream.

Electrolux Group has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and its long-term ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its entire value chain by 2050. Speaking at the SX Sustainability Expo 2025, Southeast Asia’s largest platform for sustainable innovation, Alexis Richard, General Manager of Electrolux Thailand, underscored the company’s progress in advancing circularity as part of its ‘For the Better 2030’ framework.

He also highlighted the Group’s latest target to increase the share of recycled steel and plastic by weight to 35% by 2030 in its global manufacturing, reinforcing Electrolux’s goal of embedding sustainability throughout its product lifecycle.

The For the Better 2030 sustainability framework is built upon three core pillars – Better Company, Better Solutions, and Better Living – as well as the Group’s defined Climate Goals. Its measurable actions span enhancing operational efficiency with reduced environmental impact, strengthening supply chain responsibility, advancing consumer experiences through energy- and resource-efficient product innovations, and driving meaningful community engagement.

‘Sustainability is an integral part of our global strategy,’ said Mr Richard. ‘As the regional commercial hub for Asia, with our Rayong factory serving as one of our global manufacturing sites, Thailand plays a key role in achieving our sustainability targets – particularly by introducing sustainable products to local consumers. We offer circular solutions that enable people to prepare great-tasting food, care for their clothes so they stay new for longer, and enjoy healthier well-being at home.’

Electrolux Group achieved its first science-based climate target in 2022, three years ahead of schedule, and has since set a more ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions – reducing operational carbon emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 85% and product-related emissions (Scope 3) by 42% by 2030.

‘With two-thirds of global consumers considering sustainability an important criterion when purchasing home appliances, being recognised as a sustainability leader is a major advantage,’ Mr Richard added. ‘We will continue to push ourselves and the entire industry towards even bolder commitments that make sustainable living the new standard.’

The company’s leadership in sustainability has been recognised with the EcoVadis Gold rating, placing Electrolux Group among the top 5% of more than 70,000 companies globally for responsible business practices and sustainable innovation.

About Electrolux Group

Electrolux Group is a leading global appliance company that has shaped better living for more than a century. It reinvents taste, care, and well-being experiences for millions of people worldwide, continually striving to advance sustainability through its products and operations. Under its portfolio of leading brands – including Electrolux, AEG, and Frigidaire – the Group sells household products in around 120 markets each year. In 2024, Electrolux Group reported sales of SEK 136 billion and employed approximately 41,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.electroluxgroup.com or www.electrolux.co.th.

Thailand’s rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market is facing significant structural gaps that pose challenges to consumer rights, including battery safety risks, unclear warranty conditions, and unfair after-sales service, according to a new Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) study.

Researchers, led by Manon Suklamai of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, surveyed more than 400 EV users and compared global regulatory practices as part of the study.

It found that Thai consumers remain exposed to multiple risks and called for stronger protection measures, including the introduction of “lemon laws” to ensure accountability from manufacturers. Lemon laws, found in countries such as the US, China, and Singapore, provide consumers with legal recourse if they are sold a defective vehicle.

“A product recall should not be seen as something alarming — it is a sign of responsibility from the manufacturer,” Mr Manon said. “Thailand urgently needs clear and comprehensive consumer protection mechanisms, and a lemon law is not about forcing replacements alone, but about improving product quality from production through to post-sale service.”

The study identified three key areas of concern: safety and lack of central standards — especially for battery systems, fire prevention, home charger installation and emergency response; unclear legal and after-sales frameworks — including vague warranty terms, slow claims processing, long waits for spare parts and complicated registration for modified or converted EVs; and economic instability and loss of consumer confidence — stemming from sudden price cuts on new models that devalue secondhand cars and increase debt burdens, along with uncertainty about the long-term presence of manufacturers and importers.

Researchers also found that the release of new EV models at high prices, followed by rapid price reductions, has left early buyers feeling shortchanged and undermined trust in the market.

This volatility not only affects consumers but also disrupts the broader automotive industry and financial stability, the researchers said.

The TCC study also compared Thailand’s situation with six other regions.

It found that Europe, China and the United States have established frameworks similar to the lemon law, requiring manufacturers and dealers to take responsibility for defective vehicles or those requiring frequent repairs.

Japan, meanwhile, enforces strict penalties on violators to prevent issues from occurring at the source, it said.

Thailand, by contrast, continues to face repeated consumer complaints and lacks any formal, preventive mechanism to protect EV buyers, it noted.

The research team proposes a comprehensive policy package involving coordination among multiple agencies to ensure fairness, safety and stability in the EV market.

Mr Manon said that lawsuits should be “the last resort” and that strong preventive policies are more crucial.

“If Thailand develops solid standards for manufacturing, conversions, installation, after-sales service and insurance — along with safety measures for charging stations and buildings — recurring EV problems will decline significantly,” he said.

He added that Thailand is now at a pivotal stage, transitioning from being a global car assembly hub to an EV production base, and must therefore focus on increasing local content and technology transfer to strengthen domestic industry and competitiveness.

The report concluded that implementing these measures would enhance consumer confidence, promote fairness, reduce safety and debt risks and help Thailand achieve its goal of becoming a sustainable regional hub for EVs.

The TCC is urging all relevant government agencies to integrate their efforts and act swiftly to turn these recommendations into concrete policy outcomes.

Sunday’s 35-million-baht gold robbery in Narathiwat was the work of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist group according to the defence minister, and the looted gold is believed to have been smuggled across the border into Malaysia.

Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit on Tuesday confirmed that 600-baht-weight of gold was stolen during the armed hold up in the Big C mall in Sungai Kolok district by a gang of gunmen in black.

He rejected speculation that the heist was somehow linked to last week’s change of the 4th Army commander and his team. .

The new army commander-in-chief, Gen Pana Klaewplodthuk, was scheduled to visit the area, and he would also go there, the defence minister said.

Gen Nattaphon said he had received reports that the robbery was the work of members of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), who afterwards fled back to “a neighbouring country”.

Asked about criticism that appointing an “outsider” to lead the 4th Army had created a power vacuum, the minister rejected the idea.

‘That is not the case. Soldiers are duty-bound wherever they serve. It was not the first gold shop robbery in the deep South,’ he said.

On comments that the holdup appeared well-coordinated and probably involved insiders who provided details about the shop and escape routes, Gen Nattaphon agreed further investigation was needed. The new 4th Army commander would provide more clarity, he said.

He confirmed reports the stolen gold had been smuggled out of Thailand and said efforts to recover it and arrest the robbers would require cross-border cooperation.

Gen Nattaphon also referred to the National Security Council’s decision to appoint former NSC secretary-general Gen Somsak Rungsita the new head of the Peace Dialogue Panel for the southern border provinces.

He had already held preliminary discussions with Gen Somsak, he said. As the government had only four months left in office, he had asked the panel to set priorities and deliver tangible results within the timeframe.

According to the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4, .the armed robbery in Sungai Kolok district netted about 35.6 million baht in gold jewellery, and was carried out to fund a southern separatist network,

Investigators on Monday found two pickup trucks they believe were used by the gang, abandoned at an oil palm plantation in Waeng district.

Police now believe the heist involved 19 or 20 men in three groups. The first group stole the two pickups used in the heist, another raided the gold shop and the third placed explosive charges and scattered tyre spikes on roads around the shopping centre to prevent pursuit.