Bangkok BTS: towards a maximum ticket of 65 baht

During the previous legislature, a "universal" fare of 20 baht for Thai users had been mentioned for the BTS. The project did not survive the political change. Conversely, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is now working on raising the ceiling, which would increase from 47 to 65 baht on the longest journeys, a progression of around 40%.

The minimum fare, currently at 17 baht, could be lowered to avoid penalizing short trips. But for long-distance commuters, the bill would increase significantly. Behind this decision is a budgetary argument: according to local authorities, the BMA spends around 8 billion baht per year to operate the service, while revenues stagnate close to 2 billion. The 6 billion hole is filled by taxpayers — and they are only a fraction of the 70 million inhabitants who pay income tax. This imbalance fuels the debate between social justice, financial sustainability, and the attractiveness of public transport.

Specifically, the increase would aim to bring the cost of the ticket closer to the actual cost of operation. It remains to monitor the elasticity of demand: if long journeys are made too expensive, some users could return to buses, taxis, or two-wheelers, with a direct impact on congestion and pollution. In the short term, the BMA is looking for a compromise: preserving accessibility for short distances, while reducing the burden on public accounts for extended journeys.

• Proposed ceiling: 65 baht (compared to 47 baht today)
• Minimum fare: possible decrease below 17 baht
• Reason: structural deficit of around 6 billion baht per year
• Issue: balance between accessibility, public finances, and modal shift

Cannabis: return to the 2022 framework announced, the sector breathes

Let's call it by its name for the clarity of the debate — cannabis. Decriminalized in 2022, it has seen thousands of shops sprout up across the country, between wellness uses, discreet recreational uses, and more structured dispensaries. Recent months, however, have brought a tightening of the screws: a text prepared by the Ministry of Health considered limiting sales to certified medical clinics only, which would reduce the number of authorized players to a few hundred, according to sector estimates.

Change of scenery: the current Prime Minister, presented as an architect of decriminalization, wants to quickly abolish these new restrictions. The window mentioned: two weeks for the ministry to repeal the tightened regulations, with, failing that, a direct referral to the head of government. In short, the sector is preparing for a return to the spirit of 2022, with lighter obligations and less burdensome controls.

For entrepreneurs — Thai and foreign — who have invested in points of sale (shops, lounges, themed cafes), it's a breath of fresh air. For public health, the debate remains lively: signage, sales to minors, THC content, advertising, places of consumption... Thailand is still looking for its line, between economic dynamism and responsible regulation.

What to watch for in the coming weeks: the letter of the text repealing the measures limiting sales to clinics, the upcoming licensing regime, and any red lines (proximity to schools, advertising, online sales). The 12,000 stores mentioned by the sector could maintain their activity, but the issue of standards (product testing, traceability, labeling) will remain on the table if the government wants to reassure public opinion and health professionals.

Thaksin Shinawatra affair: second request for pardon rejected

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is theoretically serving a sentence reduced from 8 years to 1 year, thanks to a royal pardon. A long hospitalization had so far prevented the effective execution of this sentence. His new request for clemency has been refused: he will have to serve his year in prison. The signal is clear: despite his political weight, the executive intends to display a strict application of judicial and administrative decisions.

Beyond the man, the episode recalls the centrality of institutions in Thai political life. The timing of this incarceration and its possible arrangements will be scrutinized, as they can influence the political climate and the pace of ongoing reforms.

Gold overheating: exports up, baht firmer — and robberies

The Thai gold market is distinguished by an exceptional dynamic: exports jumped by around 70% in the first seven months of the year. Global investors are looking for safe havens; Thailand, with a solid trading and refining ecosystem, is responding. Collateral effect: a stronger baht, with this observed correlation — without proven mechanical link — between the gold rally and the appreciation of the currency.

The snapshot of the moment gives the measure: on October 9, 1 euro was trading around 37.93 baht, and 1 dollar close to 32.59 baht. Nothing alarming for Europeans — the euro remains at a level considered comfortable — but the strengthening against the dollar can erode the purchasing power of some American visitors and markets supplied in USD.

Who wins, who loses?

• Winners: gold traders, refineries, financial centers, and, in the short term, public accounts via better revenues and strengthened reserves.
• Losers: tourists and foreign investors sensitive to the exchange rate, especially those who denominate their budgets in dollars or pounds.

The downside is security. A large-scale robbery shook Narathiwat: seven men, heavily armed, in black outfits and helmets, attacked a jewelry store inside a shopping center. The commando stole two pick-ups, deployed tire spikes, and placed a gas cylinder on the road to slow down reinforcements. In a few minutes, windows and shelves were emptied. Material damage: around 400 "baht of gold" stolen — one "baht" of gold being worth nearly 62,000 baht — or around 24.8 million baht. A soldier present was shot and injured.

Thailand is no stranger to jewelry store robberies, often improvised and quickly thwarted. But a quasi-military operation remains rare. The notable precedents cited by the press date back to 2019 (85 million baht stolen in Songkhla) and 2011 (Sungai Kolok, deadly robbery). Enough to remember, ...