Police raid Chinese supermarkets, seize uncertified goodsPolice raid a supermarket selling numerous Chinese products in Bangkok on Thursday. (Photo supplied)Officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) raided 12 Chinese supermarkets in Bangkok on Friday, discovering tonnes of made-in-China products lacking certification from Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The raids were prompted by complaints from consumers who noticed products without FDA labels in several Chinese supermarkets. Police said that the owners of these supermarkets will be prosecuted under the Consumer Protection Act. (Photo supplied)Read more: Shop selling Chinese goods creates a stir in KoratThe flood of inexpensive Chinese goods entering Thailand has been a growing source of concern, especially for small local business operators who say they cannot compete on price.

Bank of Thailand plans to further relax foreign exchange rulesIn the fourth quarter, the Bank of Thailand (BoT) is scheduled to implement additional relaxations. (Photo: Seksan Rojjanametakun)The Bank of Thailand (BoT) plans to further ease foreign exchange regulations to support the ease of doing business and enhance the country's foreign exchange ecosystem in the long run. Key changes include raising the annual outflow limit from US$50,000 to $200,000, reducing restrictions on negative lists and modifying foreign exchange management rules under the national pooling method, according to Chananun Supadulya, director of the BoT's Foreign Exchange Administration and Policy Department. Additionally, the central bank will relax foreign exchange management rules for non-residents under the Non-Resident Qualified Company (NRQC) project. It is designed to support both businesses and investors by providing greater convenience in managing foreign exchange risks," she said.

Chatchai: Talks adhere to the kingdom's constitutionNational Security Council (NSC) deputy secretary-general Chatchai Bangchuad believes peace talks between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) separatist movement will produce positive results now that a new talks facilitator has been appointed. Mr Mohd Rabin, meanwhile is directly under Mr Anwar's command. Mr Chatchai, who leads the government's peace negotiation team, told the Bangkok Post that he had met Mr Mohd Rabin and discussed the plan for the upcoming peace talks with him. He said Mr Srettha had made the peace talks, visits to the southern region and discussions with his Malaysian counterpart about the matter a high priority. As for Mr Mohd Rabin, Mr Chatchai said the fact he directly reports to the Malaysian prime minister will make things progress quicker than ever.

"The arrival of the new e-commerce platform will intensify competition in the Thai market as cheap Chinese imports are expected to increase," he said. Chinese traders target Thailand because of the high rate of online shopping carried out by Thai people. As Chinese imports further increase, some manufacturers have halted production and decided to change their business by importing goods from China for sale instead. He expects the number of industries under the FTI that are affected by low-cost Chinese products would increase to 30, up from 25. Authorities are also working with logistics companies to check the warehouses where many such imported products are kept, she said.

Thai Oil refutes claims of B567m wage settlementThai Oil Public Company Ltd denies agreeing to issue a payment of 567 million baht to help settle outstanding wages owed to workers by subcontractors. The unpaid wages are reportedly owed by the Unincorporated Joint Venture (UJV) consortium, a subcontractor of Thai Oil. The subcontracting firms told the workers no money was forthcoming from UJV despite Thai Oil maintaining it made payments to the consortium on time. But Thai Oil on Wednesday denied the claim. Thai Oil added it has met all of its payment obligations with UJV for the engineering work, procurement and construction.

Catalonia's regional weather agency Meteocat announced on its X account on Wednesday (July 31) that the region's capital Barcelona had broken its maximum temperature record on Tuesday (July 30) hitting 40C (104F). “Spending all this time in the heat is unbearable," said construction worker Roberto.

Court issues warrant for CEO over alleged rape of actressThe Criminal Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Aphidit Intulaksana, a company CEO and relative of a late former foreign minister, in a case where he is accused of raping and molesting an actress, after he failed to show up to hear the ruling on Wednesday. Mr Aphidit's absence prompted the judge to order the confiscation of his 1-million-baht surety, reschedule the ruling to Sept 20, and issue an arrest warrant. The actress said that even though she wasn't fit to appear in court in person on Wednesday, she forced herself to come while the alleged rapist didn't show up. "The arrest warrant issued should help expedite everything. "Stop running away, cooperate with the court proceedings, and admit your crime so this case will end," she said on Tuesday.

Global rice glut set to hit Thai exportsWorkers unload sacks of rice in a warehouse in Nakhon Pathom. Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said rice exports next year are expected to fall below the earlier estimate of 8.2 million tonnes. Vietnam has adjusted its rice export policy by importing cheap rice from India for domestic consumption and shifting to developing high-quality rice for export such as fragrant rice and soft texture rice with a higher selling price and added value. The United States Department of Agriculture projects that India will remain the largest rice exporter globally in 2025, with exports anticipated to reach 18 million tonnes, followed by Thailand (7.5 million tonnes), Vietnam (7.5 million tonnes), and Pakistan (5.6 million tonnes). This would affect global rice exports as Indian rice is cheaper than other rice-exporting countries.

Pattaya City gets ready to erect new monorail linePattaya City is looking forward to welcoming a new monorail line which, according to the results of a recent study, would be an ideal mechanism to improve the coastal city's public transport system and contribute greatly to its economic development. Called the Red Line, the new monorail system will comprise ten stations and stretch 17.37 kilometres, according to a feasibility study conducted on the new monorail presented at Tuesday's public hearing, the second such hearing on the new project. A large number of local business owners with a keen interest in the new line also attended to offer feedback. Each station on the line is designed to be about 1km from the next, said the study. The most suitable format of investment selected for this project is the public private partnership (PPP) one, said the study.

Death toll from India landslides rises to 151Rescuers help residents to move to a safer place, at a landslide site after multiple landslides in the hills, in Wayanad, in the southern state of Kerala, India, on Tuesday. (Photo: Reuters)CHOORALMALA - Rescue workers began looking for people trapped under debris early on Wednesday, a day after landslides caused havoc in the Wayanad district of India's Kerala state, with at least 151 people dead and many still missing. Most of the 350 families living in the area surrounded by tea and cardamom estates were caught unaware by the landslides early on Tuesday morning. At least 151 people died and 187 were still missing, the state chief minister's spokesman, P.M. Manoj, told Reuters by phone. Chief Minister Vijayan said that many people had been moved out of the area before the landslides due to the heavy rain and this had helped reduce the toll.

Govt can use 2025 budget to finance handout planDeputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat elaborates on the digital wallet scheme at Government House on July 24. Mr Chaloempol said the government can have the 2025 budget expenditure, provided that the portion comes from cancelled projects. 285 billion baht from FY 2025 -- with 152.7 billion baht from the annual budget and 132.3 billion from spending cuts. Mr Chaloempol said the adaptation for next year's fiscal budget, including a supplementary bill, will depend on the government's actual situation. Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said the handout would be issued at the end of this year as planned.

For 2025, the agency targets 7.5% revenue growth, with 39 million foreign tourists and 205 million domestic trips. The achievement this year would also exceed the levels recorded in 2019 and 2023, which both registered 1.48 million tourists. During the first half, 920,989 Russian tourists arrived Thailand, becoming the fifth largest group of foreign arrivals. Other challenges include the ban on accepting Russian credit cards in Thailand, which discourages Russian tourists from spending at their destinations. Therefore, most Russian tourists tend to prefer inclusive tour packages that cover all expenses including transport, accommodation and food.

PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) and its subsidiary, PTTEP Energy Development Company Limited, joined the 13th Thailand Oil and Chemical Spill Response Exercise (TOC-Ex13) organised by the Marine Department to enhance their ability to respond effectively to emergency situations. This annual activity was conducted in line with the draft National Oil and Chemical Pollution Management Plan. Its objective was to educate and boost preparedness among relevant government and private agencies for improved responses to marine oil spills. The exercise included a theoretical section with lectures on Thailand’s responses to marine pollution and a drill where participants undertook simulated emergency responses and a discussion-based Table Top Exercise. Prior to the 13th Thailand Oil and Chemical Spill Response Exercise, PTTEP, the Marine Department, Thai-MECC, and relevant agencies participated in the Oil Spill Preparedness & Response Training and Workshop in Bangkok and Songkhla provinces to bolster their preparedness and readiness.

Most of the victims were tea estate workers and their families who lived in small houses or makeshift shelters. At least 106 people were killed in the landslides, 128 injured and dozens unaccounted for, state authorities said. Tuesday’s landslides are the worst disaster in the state since 2018 when heavy floods killed almost 400 people. “There are still people who are trapped under the ground and those who have been swept away,” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters. More rains were forecast across the state for the next five days, he said, and urged people to take precautions.

Women 'victims in most cases'About two-thirds of victims in cybercrime cases are women, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) said yesterday, urging the public to exercise extra caution when using social media and messaging apps. According to deputy RTP spokeswoman Pol Maj Gen Siriwat Deepor, national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol is concerned about the growing number of cybercrime cases, which have caused billions of baht in losses. About 64% of the victims were females of working age, and the vast majority of the victims were aged between 22-59, Pol Maj Gen Siriwat added. She urged those who believe they have become victims of cybercrime to file a report at www.thaipoliceonline.go.th or by calling 1441 at any time, day or night. She pointed out that the RTP does not receive complaints via any mobile phone applications or social media platforms.