Archive

Car Dealerships Offer Flooded Customers Discounts up to 30–50% on Labor and Parts Prachachat · 4h ago

Major automotive brands—Toyota, Honda, Isuzu, Suzuki, Mercedes-Benz, BYD, and others—launched relief campaigns through end-of-year offering 30–50% discounts on parts and labor for customers whose vehicles were damaged by recent flooding across Thailand. Promotions run until December 31, 2026, at authorized service centers nationwide, helping SME fleet operators and individuals recover from flood damage with reduced maintenance costs.

Floods damage over 715,000 livestock; compensation scheme opens up to 39,000 baht per head Prachachat · 4h ago

Floods across 10 Thai provinces have affected 715,370 livestock and 2,313 farmers since early September. The Department of Livestock is providing emergency support including feed distribution, animal evacuation (381,000+ animals relocated), and medical care. Compensation opened under 2569 Emergency Agriculture Relief scheme: cattle up to 35,000 baht/head, buffalo to 39,000 baht/head, swine/goats/sheep 1,500–3,000 baht/head, poultry at varying rates, pasture 3,180 baht/rai (max 30 rai). Farmers can apply via provincial livestock offices or DLD 4.0 app.

Deputy Minister Orders Interception of Black Chin Tilapia at Lam Pao Dam to Protect 1.9 Billion Baht Fishery; Opens Door to Fishing Tool Exemptions Prachachat · 4h ago

Deputy Minister Watchrapol has ordered urgent measures to contain an invasive black chin tilapia outbreak at Lam Pao Dam (Kalasin province), where 132 fish have been found across 3 districts since late August. Though not yet critical, the species threatens shrimp and tilapia farming worth ~1.9 billion baht annually. The response includes public awareness campaigns using QR codes for reporting sightings, eDNA environmental tracking technology, and emergency exemptions allowing provinces to use normally-prohibited fishing methods to improve eradication efficiency.

Minister Weerawut Proposes Unlocking 2-Million-Cubic-Metre Water Source Threshold to Enable Large-Scale "Monkey Cheek" Reservoir Projects for Massive Water Inflow Prachachat · 4h ago

Minister of Industry Weerawut Shilpaarch proposed to the Prime Minister relaxing the 2-million-cubic-metre water source threshold to allow local authorities to develop "monkey cheek" (emergency spillway) projects following the late Buddhist Era 9 royal conservation model. The proposal aims to better manage massive water inflows expected from storm surge flowing into the Tha Chin river system and reduce flooding impact on communities. Unlocking this regulatory condition would enable larger-scale water management interventions by local governments, which currently lack capacity to maintain sources above 2 million cubic metres.

KongGreenGreen Wins Inspiration of the Year Award by Sansiri Prachachat · 4h ago

KongGreenGreen, an environmental communicator with a large following, won the "Inspiration of the Year – Voice for the Voiceless" award at the FEED × KHAOSOD AWARDS 2026. At an ethics conference, he advocated for systemic solutions to Thailand's environmental challenges—including PM2.5, agricultural burning, and packaging waste—arguing that individual blame is insufficient without producer responsibility (EPR), economic incentives, and strong enforcement. He framed environmental stewardship as investment in future livelihoods, not cost, noting growing Thai awareness as climate impacts (floods, crop losses) intensify.

Thai SME Credit Guarantee Agency Suspends Fees and Installments for 6 Months to Support Flood-Affected Customers and Debtors Prachachat · 6h ago

Thailand's SME Credit Guarantee Corporation (บสย.) has announced a 6-month suspension of guarantee fees and installment payments for SME customers and debtors affected by recent flooding in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. The relief applies to customers with payment deadlines between September 26 and October 31, 2026, and covers two measures: fee deferral for SME credit guarantee customers and installment suspension for existing debtors in debt restructuring plans. Registration is available through LINE OA @tcgfirst or regional offices, with queries via Call Center 02-890-9999.

PM Anutin Meets with 76 Governors, Orders Flood Response and Concerns Over Repeat of Hat Yai Situation Prachachat · 6h ago

PM Anutin held an inter-agency meeting with governors from all 76 provinces to coordinate flood disaster response. Key directives include: ground-level surveys to prevent aid gaps (referencing past failures in Hat Yai), quality provision of shelter, food, medicine and supplies, activation of 50-million-baht advance spending per province with authority to request increases, and coordination on the new national disaster insurance scheme launching October 1. PM emphasized preparation and pre-disaster planning across all provinces.

Insurance Commission coordinates insurers to assist flood-affected residents with 4-step home and vehicle claim process The Standard Wealth · 6h ago

Thailand's Insurance Commission (OIC) has coordinated with insurers to fast-track assistance for flood-affected policyholders. The OIC published a 4-step claims process: (1) verify coverage under your policy (note: auto Type 1 covers floods; Types 2+ and 3+ may need add-ons; home fire policies must specifically include natural disaster coverage), (2) document all damage comprehensively with photos/video, (3) contact your insurer immediately with policy number and incident details, and (4) prepare required documents (ID, photos, vehicle/land registration). The OIC also established damage-level standards for vehicles (A–E, with repair costs ranging ~8,000–30,000+ baht depending on water level). A meeting with all non-life insurers is scheduled for 28 September to coordinate towing services, set claim payout timelines, and discuss premium payment relief for affected policyholders.

IEAT Unveils Top 6 Investor Nationalities in Industrial Estate Land Sales; Data Centers Lead Growth, 9-Month Sales Surpass 6,000 Rai; IEAT Upgrades Flood-Response Planning The Standard Wealth · 6h ago

Thailand's Industrial Estate Authority (IEAT) reported land sales and bookings across 48 industrial estates reached 6,000 rai in the first nine months of 2026, on track to hit 7,000 rai by year-end. Data centers are the standout segment, with nearly 3,000 rai in planned/booked land and 60–70 projects awaiting regulatory approval; IEAT expects 90% will commit once electricity and infrastructure standards are finalized. Top investor nationalities are Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Netherlands, and China. IEAT is expanding land inventory to 30,000–40,000 rai to support demand from advanced manufacturers, logistics, agriculture, and EV industries, and is upgrading flood-resilience measures in at-risk zones.

FEED X KHAOSOD AWARDS 2026 Reflects the Power of Thai Entertainment as Fans from 189 Countries Participate in Voting Prachachat · 7h ago

FEED X KHAOSOD AWARDS 2026 reached its 5th edition, evolving from a Boy Love series-focused award into a broader Thai entertainment and social media recognition platform. This year's voting attracted 220,173 users across 189 countries with 3.1 million views, with 41% from Thailand, 17% from China, and 5% from the Philippines. The awards now span 4 categories including Lifetime Achievement, annual awards, creator-influencer recognition, and popular choice, demonstrating significant international reach and the growing global appeal of Thai entertainment content.

Capital and Crypto Markets Resume Normal Operations on September 28 amid Flood Response Prachachat · 8h ago

Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) confirmed that stock market and digital asset trading systems will operate normally on Monday, September 28, 2026, following coordination with the Stock Exchange of Thailand and market participants. The SEC emphasized flexible management to ensure investor protection and staff safety amid ongoing flood conditions. This reassures market continuity despite external disruptions.

Insurance Commission Guidance: What to Do About Flood-Damaged Homes and Vehicles? Check Everything Before Claiming! Prachachat · 8h ago

Thailand's Insurance Commission (OIC) released practical guidance for flood-affected policyholders seeking claims on damaged homes and vehicles. The four-step process covers policy verification, damage documentation, prompt insurer notification, and document preparation. Vehicle flood damage is categorized into five levels (A–E) with repair cost estimates from 8,000–30,000+ baht. The OIC is convening insurers on September 28 to coordinate emergency support and assess nationwide impact through the Insurance Bureau System.

Bill Gates Warns AI in Malicious Hands Could Cause Deaths of One Billion People, Calls for Washington Regulation The Standard Wealth · 8h ago

Bill Gates has shifted from AI optimism to advocate for strict U.S. federal regulation, warning that AI is powerful enough to cause billion-person casualty events if misused by bad actors. His call comes amid recent AI security incidents (OpenAI breaching Australian health systems, Anthropic reporting terrorist/state attempts to weaponize Claude), and follows other tech leaders' appeals for AI safeguards—though President Trump continues to resist regulation as "hype."

Floods in 48 Provinces Depress Q3 GDP by 0.55%, Damage of 253 Billion Baht, Bangkok Hardest Hit Prachachat · 8h ago

Late September floods across 48 Thai provinces dealt 25.3 billion baht in economic damage in a 4-day period, depressing Q3 GDP growth by 0.55 percentage points in the central scenario. Bangkok suffered the heaviest loss (10.6 billion baht), followed by the Eastern and Central regions. Manufacturing and agriculture are the most exposed sectors, making this a material drag on an already-slowing economy—GDP growth had already decelerated from 2.8% YoY in Q1 to 1.9% in Q2.

Over 100 Found! Task Force "Find-Report-Catch" Deployed to Eliminate Black-Chin Tilapia at Lam Pao Dam Prachachat · 9h ago

Thailand's Deputy Agriculture Minister has escalated efforts to control an invasive black-chin tilapia outbreak at Lam Pao Dam reservoir in Kalasin Province, where over 100 specimens have been detected. A rapid-response mobile unit ("Find-Report-Catch") will be deployed to capture fish immediately upon public reports via QR code, supported by e-DNA testing at water junctions and enforcement of the 2024 aquatic animal possession ban. The government aims to contain spread within a 5–10 km radius and suspects illegal smuggling is the primary cause rather than natural spread, emphasizing strict prosecution and public assistance in elimination efforts.

Big Mac Price Up 23% in US Over 6 Years as Customers Flee; McDonald's Invests $283 Billion to Win Them Back The Standard Wealth · 9h ago

McDonald's faces a pricing crisis in the US: Big Mac prices have risen 23% since 2019, pushing price-conscious consumers to competitors like Burger King and Taco Bell. The company is responding with an $8.5 billion, 10-year "McDonald's Next" turnaround plan emphasizing technology, store renovations, and menu expansion into chicken and beverages. However, nearly 1 in 3 franchisees are resisting corporate pricing guidance, and stock has fallen 31% from February highs amid investor concerns that the capex requirements will cannibalize profits. The core challenge: McDonald's is no longer perceived as affordable fast food.

Bangkok Flooding Generates 40 Million Social Media Engagements: What Are Netizens Talking About? Prachachat · 9h ago

Between September 16–26, social media discussions about Bangkok flooding reached 40 million engagements across 167,607 posts, with Facebook dominating (70.5% of posts, 20M engagements) and TikTok proving highly efficient (4.5% of posts, 14M engagements). Key themes included real-time reporting of flooded areas, weather forecasts vs. government credibility, emergency helplines, and citizen self-organization—reflecting how Thais bypass official channels during crisis response.

Commerce Ministry Engages Retailers and Convenience Stores on Flood Response; Monitoring Rising Leafy Vegetable Prices Prachachat · 9h ago

Thailand's Ministry of Commerce convened major retailers (Modern Trade, 7-Eleven, BigC, Makro, Lotus, etc.) and fresh markets to coordinate supply chain response to recent flooding. Most retail channels remain operational with normal stock replenishment, though some convenience stores in Bang Kapi, Min Buri, and Rangsit face transport disruptions. Leafy greens (coriander, dill, Chinese chives) are seeing price increases; the ministry will monitor inventories and prevent price gouging through on-site inspections and a hotline (1569). The government aims to ensure adequate essential goods reach affected areas and manage vegetable supply ahead of the Vegetarian Festival (10–18 Oct 2026).

Deputy PM Anutin Visits Flood-Affected Communities, Faces Public Outcry Over Economic Hardship; Special Cabinet Meeting to Set Public Holiday Prachachat · 9h ago

Prime Minister Anutin visited flood-affected communities in Bangkok on September 27, where residents vocally expressed financial hardship ("can't afford to survive"). He responded by ordering a mobile kitchen facility, personally funding local food vendors (3,000–10,000 THB), and arranging mobile toilets. A special Cabinet meeting was called to determine and announce a public holiday related to the crisis. The government is also reviewing clearer public alert protocols, as current technical terminology proved difficult for residents to understand. This reflects immediate government response to a major urban crisis but also highlights communication gaps and resource strain.

Deputy Minister Vachirapon Mobilizes 24-Hour Emergency Response Team to Handle Flooding and Support Farmer Produce Distribution Prachachat · 9h ago

Thailand's Deputy Minister of Agriculture has activated a 24-hour emergency response team to manage flooding across multiple provinces (September 25–27, 2026). The Fisheries Department is deploying 120 personnel, 30 vehicles, and 30 inspection boats across Bangkok, surrounding areas, and eastern regions. Supporting measures include opening Agricultural Market Organization (อ.ต.ก.) facilities in Chatuchak to help farmers dispose of flood-affected produce, directing the Land Reform Office to monitor crop damage closely, and establishing relief donation points. This mobilization aims to minimize losses for farmers and maintain supply chain continuity during the flooding crisis.