A customer selects shoes at a shop behind a sale advertisement in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
BANGKOK — Thailand’s consumer confidence index dropped to its lowest point in over two years in May, falling to 54.2 from 55.4 the previous month. This marks the fourth consecutive monthly decline and the weakest reading since March 2023, as concerns mount over potential US trade retaliation under Donald Trump’s administration and Thailand’s sluggish economic recovery.
Thanawat Phonvichai, President and Chief Advisor of the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, announced the results on June 12.
The continued erosion of consumer sentiment reflects growing public anxiety about global trade tensions and persistent doubts about Thailand’s economic trajectory, despite government stimulus measures and two interest rate cuts totaling 0.5% by the Bank of Thailand this year.
Economic Headwinds Intensify
Thailand faces multiple challenges that threaten to derail its recovery. The country is teetering on the edge of deflation, with negative inflation readings in April and May driven primarily by falling oil prices. More concerning, core inflation remains below 1%, signaling weak domestic demand and purchasing power.
Economic growth projections paint a sobering picture. GDP expansion is expected to reach just 1% in the second quarter, with first-half growth likely capping at 2%. Without significant improvement in the latter half of 2025, full-year growth could fall short of 2%.
The situation could deteriorate further when the US ends tariff exemptions under the Reciprocal Tariff Regime on July 7, 2025. Should negotiations fail and universal retaliatory tariffs be imposed, Thailand’s GDP could contract by 2%, potentially pushing annual growth below 1%.
Urgent Policy Response Needed
Economists are calling for immediate government action, including rapid disbursement of the 175 billion baht stimulus budget and aggressive tourism promotion targeting 35 million international visitors this year, with particular focus on reviving the Chinese market. The central bank faces pressure to cut rates by another 0.5% to support the economy.
Political stability also remains crucial, as parliamentary dissolution could delay critical stimulus spending. Business leaders have outlined six key priorities: enhanced stimulus measures, improved business liquidity support, better water management, sustained tourism promotion across all regions, SME support, and reduced tax burdens.
A search team discovers the body of the missing American tourist caught under trees on Koh Raet's shoreline, Phuket Province on June 12, 2025.
PHUKET — After a five-day search operation, rescue teams have recovered the body of an American tourist who jumped from a yacht and disappeared in Phuket waters. The body of Mr. Johnson, 28, was found washed ashore under trees on Koh Raet, approximately 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) from where he went missing.
Johnson disappeared on June 8 while on a private yacht vacation with his family of five near Yamu Beach in Pa Klok subdistrict, Thalang district. The yacht, operated by six crew members, was anchored about one kilometer offshore when the incident occurred.
According to CCTV footage reviewed by crew members, Johnson left his cabin through a window around 2-3 a.m. on June 8 and sat on an inflatable boat at the yacht’s stern. He jumped into the sea twice – returning to the boat after the first jump but disappearing after the second. Crew members discovered he was missing when they called him for breakfast at 7 a.m.
Map showing the point where the American tourist disappeared from the yacht and the location where the body was found.A search team discovers the body of the missing American tourist caught under trees on Koh Raet’s shoreline, Phuket Province after a five-day search.
Phuket authorities established a marine rescue coordination center at the pier pavilion, led by Pa Klok Municipality Mayor Panya Samphaurat. The comprehensive search effort included: jet ski teams covering Pa Klok Bay areas, coastal search teams from Yamu Bay to Bang Rong Cape, local fishing boat assistance, community leader and business operator coordination, harbor authority notifications to boat operators on routes between Bang Rong, Yao Yai Island, Yao Noi Island, and Phang Nga Bay.
Johnson’s body was discovered on June 12 at approximately 2 p.m., caught under trees on Koh Raet’s shoreline. Officials transported the body to shore for autopsy procedures and have notified the U.S. Embassy. Legal proceedings will follow standard protocol for such cases.
Hardware House, a hardware store designed specifically for professional buyers—including mechanical experts, industrial product users, and construction material seekers—offers a selection of over 150,000 items. It has expanded with a new branch spanning more than 10,000 sq m in Future City Rangsit, a high-potential location in northern Bangkok. This expansion aims to serve technicians, contractors, and general customers seeking high-quality products at the same prices offered to industry professionals.
Mr. Phanawit Anan, Managing Director of Hardware House Corporation Co., Ltd., said that Hardware House is a professional hardware store offering a comprehensive range of industrial products and construction materials. With over 150,000 items across 21 departments, the store caters to a wide variety of needs, including tools, industrial equipment, water and electrical systems, paints, construction materials, hardware for factories and homes, pumps and valves, fasteners, stationery, office supplies, and general household goods. The new branch features over 10,000 sq m of retail space and comprises two distinct buildings: one dedicated to hardware and industrial products, and the other, under the name Supermat, focused on building materials. The grand opening of the new location was held on June 7.
Hardware House primarily serves industrial technicians, as well as contractors and homeowners seeking high-quality products at the same prices offered to professionals. As a result, all products at Hardware House are industrial-grade, setting them apart from standard retail offerings. To enhance customer convenience, the company also offers a B2B ordering service tailored for factories and business owners, complete with free daily delivery within the service area.
“We intend to establish Hardware House as the go-to destination for technicians—a place that brings together a wide range of quality products from leading international brands, geared to meet the needs of professionals,” said Mr. Phanwich. “Our focus is on offering high-quality products at technician-level prices, every item, every day, to help entrepreneurs reduce costs and enjoy consistent value without having to wait for special promotions.”
Hardware House is a leading distribution center for tools and hardware products, recognized as one of the top players in the industry. With over 35 years of experience, the company operates more than 10 branches strategically located in key industrial areas, including Bangna, Sriracha, Rayong, Bowin, Amata, Theparak, Prachinburi, Laemchabang, Pluak Daeng, Bowin Amata City, Ayutthaya, and the latest addition—the Rangsit branch located in Future City Rangsit, the largest mixed-use development in northern Bangkok. Spanning over 500 rai, this prime location is surrounded by major facilities, including Future Park shopping mall, international-standard hotels, office buildings, and leading hospitals, offering convenience and completeness all in a single destination.
Firefighters work at the site of an airplane that crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — An Air India passenger plane bound for London with more than 240 people on board crashed Thursday in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad, the airline said.
Visuals on local television channels showed smoke billowing from the crash site in what appeared to be a populated area near the airport in Ahmedabad, a city with a population of more than 5 million and the capital of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.
Firefighters doused the smoking wreckage of the plane, which would have been fully loaded with fuel shortly after takeoff, and adjacent multi-story buildings with water. Charred bodies lay on the ground.
“The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.
Modi called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words.”
People watch smoke rising after an airplane crashed in Ahmedabad, Gujarat state, India, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Mohan Nakum via AP)
“In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected,” he said in a social media post.
The airline said the Gatwick Airport-bound flight was carrying 242 passengers and crew. Of those, Air India said there were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, told The Associated Press that Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time. He said 244 people were on board and it was not immediately possible to reconcile the discrepancy with Air India’s numbers.
All efforts were being made to ensure medical aid and relief support at the site, India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X.
The 787 Dreamliner is a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of a Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.
Firefighters work at the site of an airplane that crashed in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Boeing said it was aware of the reports of the crash and was “working to gather more information.”
The aircraft was introduced in 2009 and more than 1,000 have been delivered to dozens of airlines, according to the flightradar24 website.
Air India’s chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said at the moment “our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families.”
He said on X that the airline had set up an emergency center and support team for families seeking information about those who were on the flight.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,” he said.
British Cabinet minister Lucy Powell said the government will provide “all the support that it can” to those affected by the crash.
“This is an unfolding story, and it will undoubtedly be causing a huge amount of worry and concern to the many, many families and communities here and those waiting for the arrival of their loved ones,” she told lawmakers in the House of Commons.
“We send our deepest sympathy and thoughts to all those families, and the government will provide all the support that it can with those in India and those in this country as well,” she added.
Britain has very close ties with India. There were nearly 1.9 million people in the country of Indian descent, according to the 2021 U.K. census.
Rescuers work at the site of an airplane that crashed in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
The last major passenger plane crash in India was in 2020 when an Air India Express Boeing-737 skidded off a hilltop runway in southern India, killing 21 people.
The worst air disaster in India was on Nov. 12, 1996, when a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight collided midair with a Kazakhastan Airlines Flight near Charki Dadri in Haryana state, killing all 349 on board the two planes.
The crash comes days before the opening of the Paris Air Show, a major aviation expo where Boeing and European rival Airbus will showcase their aircraft and battle for jet orders from airline customers.
Boeing has been in recovery mode for more than six years after Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 Max 8, plunged into the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. Five months later, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 Max 8, crashed after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing 157 passengers and crew members.
Shares of Boeing Co. tumbled nearly 9% before trading opened in the U.S.
Rescue workers and police officers assess the scene of a seven-vehicle pileup, including a tourist bus carrying 24 foreign visitors, on rain-soaked Phetkasem Road in Prachuap Khiri Khan province on June 12, 2025.
PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN — A seven-vehicle chain collision occurred during heavy rain on slippery roads on Thursday, involving pickup trucks, sedans, a truck, and a tourist bus carrying foreign visitors.
The accident happened around 10 a.m. on June 12 on Phetkasem Road southbound at the Ban Thung Ko curve in Moo 8, Bo Nok subdistrict, Mueang district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, injuring three people – two men and one woman – who were transported to hospital by rescue workers.
According to the investigation, a sedan and pickup truck initially collided. A tourist bus carrying 24 foreign tourists, a driver, and two staff members then crashed into the pickup’s rear. The tourists included 14 picked up from Bangkok and 10 from Hua Hin. No foreign nationals were injured in the incident.
Foreign tourists wait for a replacement bus after their tour bus was involved in a seven-vehicle pileup on Phetkasem Road in Prachuap Khiri Khan province on June 12, 2025.
The bus driver explained he was transporting 24 foreign tourists south to Chumphon pier for a trip to Koh Tao. Rain began falling during the journey, and when he reached the accident site, vehicles were already colliding in the curved section. Unable to brake in time due to the short distance, his bus rear-ended the pickup truck.
Following vehicles then crashed into his bus, creating a seven-vehicle pileup that caused extensive traffic jams. The accident created traffic congestion stretching over 3 kilometers. Officials worked for approximately 2 hours to remove vehicles and clean oil spills from the road surface before reopening normal traffic flow.
Additionally, during the same period, a pineapple-laden pickup truck suffered a tire blowout and crashed into the median strip at the Prachuap Khiri Khan city traffic light intersection at kilometer marker 309, disrupting Bangkok-bound traffic. Officials facilitated the unloading of pineapples before restoring normal traffic conditions.
A pineapple-laden pickup truck crashes into the median strip at Prachuap Khiri Khan city intersection during the same period as the seven-vehicle pileup on Phetkasem Road on June 12, 2025.
Immigration Police officers at Don Mueang Airport arrest a Chinese suspect wanted in connection with a $6.15 million Bitcoin fraud case on June 12, 2025.
BANGKOK — Thai immigration police at Don Mueang Airport arrested a Chinese suspect wanted in connection with a 200 million baht ($6.15 million) Bitcoin fraud case from Chiang Rai province. The suspect was apprehended while attempting to board a flight to Singapore.
The case began when two Chinese nationals filed a complaint through their lawyer at Mae Sai Police Station in Chiang Rai on April 30, 2025. The victims alleged they were defrauded by Mr. Tianwei, 39, following a business meeting on April 23 in Mae Sai district to discuss Bitcoin transactions. The complainants transferred Bitcoin worth approximately 200 million baht in two separate transactions to Tianwei’s digital wallet but received no promised returns.
Thai immigration police arrest Chinese national at Don Mueang Airport in connection with $6.15 million Bitcoin fraud case, June 12, 2025.
On May 16, Chiang Rai Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant for Tianwei on fraud charges. Authorities tracked the suspect and received intelligence that he would attempt to leave the country on Lion Air flight SL100 to Singapore. Immigration police at Don Mueang Airport were alerted to intercept him.
At 6:00 a.m. on June 12, officers stationed at the international departure terminal identified and detained the suspect. After verification, the individual confirmed his identity as the person named in the arrest warrant and stated he had never been arrested in this case before.
During the arrest, the suspect communicated in English. Immigration officials assigned Sergeant Suwaphan Utsaha, commander of the Don Mueang Immigration checkpoint, to serve as interpreter to inform the suspect of his rights and the charges against him.
The suspect has been transferred to Mae Sai Police Station for further legal proceedings.
Jana Eyad, center left, mourns during the funeral of her sister, Ghazal Eyad, 16, who was killed while heading to an aid distribution hub in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mariam Dagga)
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Palestinian death toll from the 20-month Israel-Hamas war passed 55,000, the Gaza Health Ministry said Wednesday, and hospitals said at least 21 people were killed while on their way to aid distribution sites.
The circumstances of the deaths reported near the sites were not immediately clear. The Israeli army said Wednesday it fired warning shots in central Gaza toward “suspects” that posed a threat to troops.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which operates the aid distribution sites, said at least five of its local aid workers were killed in an attack that it blamed on Hamas as they headed to one of the centers.
The Gaza Health Ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants, but has said that women and children make up more than half the 55,000 dead. Israel says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing the militants of hiding among civilians, because they operate in populated areas.
An Israeli army armored personnel carrier maneuvers near the Israel-Gaza border, southern Israel, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
The ministry says 55,104 people have been killed since the start of the war and 127,394 wounded. Many more are believed to be buried under the rubble or in areas that are inaccessible to local medics. The figure did not include Wednesday’s deaths.
The Health Ministry is part of Gaza’s Hamas-run government, but staffed by medical professionals who maintain and publish detailed records. Its tolls from previous conflicts have largely aligned with those of independent experts, though Israel has questioned the ministry’s figures.
Also Wednesday, Israel said forces recovered the remains of two additional hostages held in Gaza. Militants still hold 53 captives, less than half of them believed to be alive.
Casualties at separate aid hubs, health officials say
Health officials in Gaza said 14 people were killed while on their way to collect aid near the southern city of Rafah. Their bodies were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital said that seven additional people were killed while on their way to an aid distribution site.
The Israeli military said troops fired warning shots before daylight toward people it identified as suspects “who were advancing while posing a threat” in central Gaza. The military had no immediate comment on the reports of casualties in southern Gaza.
Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Safaa Farmawi said her daughter, Ghazal Eyad, 16, was killed while on her way to collect food in Rafah.
“My daughter and I went to get aid, she came before me, I looked for my daughter but couldn’t find her. People told me your daughter was martyred,” Farmawi told the AP.
Near-daily shootings have erupted as crowds make their way to aid sites run by a newly created aid group rejected by the United Nations. Palestinian witnesses to previous shootings have said Israeli forces fired toward the crowds. The military has acknowledged firing warning shots toward people it says approached its forces in a suspicious manner.
The foundation says there has been no violence in or around the distribution points. It has warned people to stay on the designated routes and recently paused delivery to discuss safety measures with the military.
Foundation says some of its aid workers have been killed
The GHF accused Hamas of attacking a bus carrying two dozen of its Palestinian workers who helped deliver aid. It said in a statement that at least five people died, multiple others were injured and it fears some may have been taken hostage.
It said the attack happened as the team was heading to one of its aid distribution sites in the area west of Khan Younis.
“Our hearts are broken and our thoughts and prayers are with every victim, every family, and every person still unaccounted for,” the statement said.
The AP could not confirm the foundation’s account.
Palestinians carry bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed organization, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
New aid system marred by chaos
The aid system rolled out last month has been marred by chaos and violence, while a longstanding U.N.-run system has struggled to deliver food because of Israeli restrictions and a breakdown of law and order, despite Israel loosening a total blockade it imposed from early March to mid-May.
Experts and human rights workers say hunger is widespread and that the territory of some 2 million Palestinians is at risk of famine if Israel does not fully lift its blockade and halt its military campaign, which it renewed in March after ending a ceasefire with Hamas.
Israel says the new aid distribution system is designed to prevent Hamas from siphoning off aid, but U.N. agencies and major aid groups say there is no evidence of systematic diversion.
They say the new system violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to control who receives aid and by encouraging more mass displacement as Palestinians seek access to just three operational sites, two of them in the territory’s southernmost city of Rafah, now a mostly uninhabited military zone.
Ata Qasas, center left, mourns over the body of his son Rashad Qasas, who was killed while heading to an aid distribution hub, during his funeral in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mariam Dagga)
Israel recovers remains of 2 more hostages
Israeli authorities identified one of the hostages recovered as Yair Yaakov who was killed during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and whose body was taken into Gaza. His partner and two children were also taken captive and released in a ceasefire deal early in the war.
The second hostage’s identity was not disclosed.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the bodies were retrieved in a “complex” operation without disclosing details. The Israeli military said they were recovered from Khan Younis.
The war began when Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages. More than half the captives have been released in ceasefires or other deals. Israeli forces have rescued eight and recovered the remains of dozens more.
Narissara Chantasang, fifth from left, wife of Nattapong Pinta, a Thai laborer who was taken hostage by Hamas attends a silent memorial service near a coffin containing his body at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn province Thailand, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal. It has offered to hand over power to a politically independent Palestinian committee. but has not agreed to disarm.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected those terms, saying that Israel will only agree to temporary ceasefires to facilitate the return of hostages. He has vowed to continue the war until all the hostages are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and sent into exile.
A group photo at the ASEAN - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) - China Summit after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
ASEAN-GCC-China Summit: A New Chapter in Global South Cooperation
By Hui Fan, a Beijing-based observer of international affairs
Amid growing trade tensions and rise in protectionist policies on the international landscape, the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, hosted under Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship for 2025, has drawn significant international attention. This gathering marks yet another step forward in Global South cooperation, with implications for both regional development and global growth.
Foundations for Partnership
The three parties share deep historical and economic ties. Centuries ago, the Silk Road facilitated cultural and commercial exchanges among their peoples. Today, China remains a pivotal trade partner for both ASEAN and the GCC. Recent advancements, such as the full conclusion of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 negotiations, underscore ongoing efforts to deepen economic integration. These longstanding relationships, nurtured through bilateral and multilateral frameworks, provide a robust foundation for expanded cooperation.
Shared Vision for Inclusive Growth
As advocates for open markets, the three parties reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism during the summit. The event highlighted a shift in Global South nations from passive participants to proactive contributors in shaping international economic frameworks. Discussions underscored the importance of a rules-based global trading system, one that prioritizes equitable development over zero-sum competition. This vision aligns with broader calls for inclusive globalization that benefits all.
Complementary Strengths
Each region brings unique advantages to the table: ASEAN’s youthful demographics and natural resources, the GCC’s energy resources and financial capital, and China’s vast consumer market and manufacturing prowess. By leveraging these complementary strengths, the partners will benefit from reduced energy and resource costs, accelerated logistics, and more efficient financial services. These synergies will enhance all three parties’ competitiveness and resilience while enabling more secure and sustainable development, which are indispensable for navigating challenges in today’s volatile global markets and maintaining growth amidst trade uncertainties.
Synergy in Scale: 1+1+1>3
The trilateral cooperation has already registered positive progress. Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced at the Summit that China has decided to offer five-year multiple-entry visas to eligible applicants from Southeast Asian countries for business and other purposes, and to effectively give all GCC countries visa-free status. And with a regional business council in conception, the three parties have charted a united course for cooperation in areas including economic integration, connectivity, energy security and sustainability, digital transformation and innovation, food and agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges.
Collectively, ASEAN, China, and the GCC account for nearly a quarter of the world’s population and global GDP. Their collaboration signals a growing preference for cooperative and open regionalism in addressing shared challenges, such as trade disputes and supply chain disruptions. By improving infrastructure connectivity and streamlining trade, this partnership could foster synergies that multiply rather than simply add their individual strengths.
A Model for South-South Cooperation
Amid ongoing tariff and trade wars, the best way to navigate the current difficulties is to seek strength through unity. Through the practice of cross-regional cooperation, the three parties have demonstrated that the Global South can collectively counteract the adverse impact of unilateral tariffs by exploring new trade and investment opportunities, diversifying trade partners, and reducing reliance on traditional markets.
The three parties’ connected market, one of the world’s largest intra-regional markets, will also allow other countries to share more benefits, and inject much-needed certainty into the global economy. By pooling together the three important forces in the world, this innovative, inclusive and pragmatic model represents a shared commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and marks a concrete step toward a peaceful, prosperous and equitable future.
A Powerful Boost to Globalization
In an era of interconnected economies and shared global challenges, globalization retains its transformative potential—but only if nations choose collaboration over isolation. As an innovative cooperation mechanism among Global South partners, the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit demonstrates how diverse regions can align interests to strengthen multilateral frameworks and advance equitable trade.
The Summit’s success sends a clear message: Solidarity doesn’t require uniformity. It thrives when nations bridge divergences through structured cooperation. By prioritizing dialogue and economic interdependence, countries can transform differences into opportunities while fostering shared progress. In an uncertain world, such collaboration isn’t just idealistic—it’s the cornerstone of collective resilience and a more equitable future.
Reflecting investors’ confidence in CKPower’s strong commitment to a low-carbon future
Mr. Thanawat Trivisvavet, Managing Director of CK Power Public Company Limited or CKPower (SET: CKP), one of the region’s largest producers of electricity from renewables with one of the lowest carbon footprints, announced today of the highly successful offering of its green bonds. The issuance, conducted on June 5, 6, and 9, consisted of four tranches of unsubordinated and unsecured green bonds with a bondholders’ representative,amounting to THB 5 billion. The offering was notably oversubscribed, underscoring robust investors’ confidence in CKPower’s strong financial position, commitment to good corporate governance, and clear vision to advance the clean energy transition, while promoting sustainable development throughout its entire supply chain.
Proceeds from this green bond issuance will primarily be allocated to the investment in the Company’s Luang Prabang Hydroelectric Power Project, which is currently under construction. The remaining proceeds will be used to repay promissory notes (P/N) associated with the investment in the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant. The bonds are issued in four tranches as follows:
Tranche 1: THB 1 billion 3-year tenure with fixed interest rate of 3.15% per annum;
Tranche 2: THB 1 billion 4-year tenure with fixed interest rate of 3.30% per annum;
Tranche 3: THB 1 billion 5-year tenure with fixed interest rate of 3.45% per annum and
Tranche 4: THB 2 billion 10-year tenure with fixed interest rate of 3.90% per annum and the issuer’s right to early redemption.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to all investors for their trust and confidence in our bonds and our operations, which are underpinned by an efficient management team, a strong financial foundation, and an unwavering commitment to social and environmental responsibility. We would also like to express our appreciation to the lead arrangers for their instrumental role in ensuring the success of this bond issuance” said Mr. Thanawat.
All four tranches have been assigned an “A-” credit rating with a “stable” outlook by TRIS Rating, consistent with CKPower’s corporate credit rating. In addition, the bonds are classified as green bonds in accordance with the Green Bond Principles 2021, the Green Loan Principles 2025, and the Thailand Taxonomy 2023.The issuance has been independently reviewed and verified by DNV, a world-leading certification body, serving as the independent external reviewer. The offering was targeted at institutional investors (excluding individuals and/or high-net-worth investors), with Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited, Krungthai Bank Public Company Limited, CIMB Thai Bank Public Company Limited, TMBThanachart Bank Public Company Limited, Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited, and Kiatnakin Phatra Securities Public Company Limited serving as joint lead arrangers.
Mr. Thanawat added, “In 2024, CKPower Group’s renewable energy power plants supplied over 8.8 million megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable electricity to Thailand, accounting for approximately 16% of the nation’s total renewable electricity consumption. In the past year, the Company also helped avoid approximately 4.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) in greenhouse gas emissions. CKPower remains committed to expanding its renewable energy portfolio, with a particular focus on hydropower and solar power, and seeks to create more opportunities in green finance, such as the sale of renewable energy certificates (RECs), while also promoting innovation to reduce energy consumption and enhance power generation efficiency. At the same time, we continue to foster energy conservation throughout our value chain and take concrete steps to achieve our long-term goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”
Rescue personnel and lifeguards rush an unconscious Kazakhstani tourist who drowned at Kata Beach, Phuket, to the hospital, but the tourist died later on June 11, 2025.
PHUKET — Local Phuket authorities are warning tourists during the current monsoon season that waves in the Andaman Sea are unpredictable, urging visitors not to defy red flag warnings and enter the water, as several tragic incidents have already occurred.
Tourist drowning incidents caused by being swept away by waves occurred around the same time, before 4:00 p.m. on June 11. The first victim was a 41-year-old Kazakhstani male tourist named Yevgeniy, who drowned and lost consciousness at Kata Beach, Karon Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District. Rescue teams attempted CPR before urgently transporting the patient to Chalong Hospital, but he ultimately died.
A lifeguard displays a red flag written in four languages – Thai, English, Chinese, and Russian – posted at Bang Tao Beach, Cherng Talay Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket, on June 11, 2025.
In another incident, the Cherng Talay Subdistrict Administrative Organization rescue unit in Thalang District, Phuket, received a report from lifeguards at Surin Beach at 4:00 p.m. about a foreign female tourist who drowned in front of Bang Tao Beach in Koo Bor Alley, Cherng Talay Subdistrict, Thalang District.
When lifeguards pulled her from the water onto shore, no pulse was detected. The rescue team performed CPR and urgently transported her to Thalang Hospital.
A lifeguard and police officer display a red flag and warning sign stating “Beach Closed – No Swimming” installed at Bang Tao Beach, Cherng Talay Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket, on June 11, 2025.
These two incidents follow a tragic event at Karon Beach on June 10 at a similar time around 4:00 p.m., where a 41-year-old Albanian woman drowned while swimming with her 43-year-old Egyptian husband on their first day in Phuket.
Lifeguards later found her and attempted CPR but were unable to revive her. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The body has been sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital for forensic examination and autopsy.
Local Phuket authorities stated that officials have installed red flags written in four languages – Thai, English, Chinese, and Russian – along beach areas to warn of strong waves and winds, asking tourists not to defy the warnings. Even areas that appear to have shallow water may experience powerful waves that can sweep people into deep water, causing drowning.
