Archive

UAE cuts trade ties with Iran, squeezing Iran's economy Prachachat · Aug 20, 2026

The UAE has decided to cut economic ties with Iran, which is expected to hurt Iran's economy by removing a key trade route, while tensions with the US rise amid a prolonged war. The article is mostly about Iran's outlook and gives no direct detail for Thai businesses. Watch only if your business relies on Iran-UAE trade routes, or if oil and shipping costs move because of the conflict.

Nan floodwaters move south, clean-up under way; Nan Hospital closed until Saturday Bangkok Post · Aug 20, 2026

Floodwaters from the Nan River, after up to 380 cm of rain on Wednesday, are moving south from Pua and Tha Wang Pha into Muang, Phu Phiang and Wiang Sa districts. Water in Muang was 10-50 cm and expected to drain by Thursday evening; Wiang Sa is expected to peak around 2pm Thursday, though its main economic zone is protected by flood walls. Nan Hospital is closed until Saturday, with emergency care only at a field hospital. If you run a business in Nan, check stock and equipment for flood damage, plan for closed schools and reduced customer traffic in Muang, and check local officials for food and water support.

Xiaomi profits fall 43% as AI chip shortage pushes up phone prices, a warning on memory costs for device sellers The Standard Wealth · Aug 20, 2026

Xiaomi's adjusted net profit fell 42.6% in the quarter to end June 2026, with revenue down 6.1%. Memory chips are scarce because AI data centres take priority, so Xiaomi raised some phone prices three times this year, up to 500 yuan. Analysts expect pressure on all phone makers to intensify in coming quarters. Global smartphone shipments fell 11% in Q2, and budget-focused Chinese brands saw double-digit drops. For a Thai shop selling phones or gadgets, expect higher supplier prices and cautious buyers; consider holding stock lightly and avoid locking in low-margin deals. The EV unit is also losing money overall, which is less relevant to most SMEs.

Easy Pass lane added at Chiang Rak toll on Udon Ratthaya expressway from 23 Aug (in) and 4 Sep (out) Prachachat · Aug 20, 2026

BEM and EXAT are adding an Easy Pass lane (lane 1) at the Chiang Rak toll plaza on the Udon Ratthaya expressway. Inbound starts 23 August 2026 at 06:00 and outbound starts 4 September 2026 at 06:00. If your delivery or travel routes use this toll, expect a faster pass if you have an Easy Pass tag. Questions can go to EXAT Call Center 1543 or the Udon Ratthaya control centre at 02 567 5679–80.

Deputy PM plans to send revised firearms law to cabinet in mid-September Prachachat · Aug 20, 2026

Deputy PM Pakorn Nilprapunt says the revised Firearms Act could reach cabinet in mid-September 2026, after public comment closes on 10 September. The draft focuses on tighter control: firearm dealers, licensing and registration, and shooting ranges, which currently fall under the Sports Authority of Thailand. A possible amnesty-style surrender scheme is also mentioned, but buying guns back with public money is still under discussion. For a typical SME this is background only, unless you run a gun shop, shooting range, or security business, in which case expect new licensing and oversight rules.

US national debt tops $40 trillion, pushing up global borrowing costs Bangkok Post · Aug 20, 2026

US gross national debt passed $40 trillion for the first time, per Treasury data released Wednesday. Long-term US Treasury yields hit their highest level since 2007, so the US government now refinances at the highest rates since before 2008. Economists say this is a symbolic threshold, not an automatic crisis trigger. For a Thai SME, the indirect risk is higher global interest rates and a tighter credit environment, which could raise borrowing costs for consumers and businesses. No action is needed now; keep an eye on loan rates and baht movements when planning financing.

Local civil servant exam-fraud probes due end of August, asset seizures possible Bangkok Post · Aug 20, 2026

The Interior Ministry has ordered provincial committees to finish investigations into fraud in local government civil-service exams by the end of August. More than 5,000 people are linked to the case, with 13 charged so far. Amlo is tracing finances and may seize or freeze assets, but no seizures have been made yet. For a typical SME this is background only: it concerns local officials, not your costs, permits or customers.

New business registrations fall while closures rise, with small firms closing more often in H1 2026 The Standard Wealth · Aug 20, 2026

The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reports that in H1 2026 new business registrations rose 2.1% in count to 44,773 but their registered capital fell 25.4% to 111.2 billion baht. Business closures rose 12.5% in count to 7,024, and registered capital of closing firms jumped 224.1% to 98.9 billion baht. NESDC says small and medium firms are increasingly filing closures, and it links this to higher production costs and global uncertainty. Gains were seen in food, chemicals, machinery and electronics manufacturing, plus retail, food service and IT. Closures rose in beverages, garments, metal, civil engineering and architecture, which NESDC ties to slower tourism, construction and property. If your business is in those weak sectors, review your cash flow and credit options now. NESDC is urging government to expand SME credit support and digital adoption to cut costs.

Apple revises EU App Store fees again: 5% core technology commission and 15–26% in-app rates from 1 October Blognone · Aug 20, 2026

Apple has dropped the 2% initial acquisition fee and moved to a 5% Core Technology Commission charged only on digital transactions, after talks with the EU Commission under the DMA. Starting 1 October, in-app payment fees are 26% (15% for small businesses, mini apps and auto-renewing subscriptions); alternative in-app payments are 20%; external payment links are 15%; apps distributed outside the App Store pay 5% CTC. Payment methods must be kept for at least 12 months. Relevant only if your business sells digital goods or subscriptions through an app in the EU; Thai-market apps are not directly affected.

Government reviews data centre strategy, tightening rules on power and water use Bangkok Post · Aug 20, 2026

Deputy PM and Finance Minister Ekniti has ordered a full review of data centre investment strategy. A new Data Centre Business Policy Committee will monitor electricity and water use, and BoI incentives for foreign investors may be revised. Officials will also look at local content, R&D and opportunities for Thai suppliers. For a small business, this is a policy signal rather than an immediate change. Watch it if you supply data centre construction, IT services or local components.

Oil above US$90 and a weaker baht mean higher fuel and import costs for Thai SMEs Bangkok Post · Aug 20, 2026

Brent crude rose above US$91 a barrel on 19-20 Aug 2026 after the US-Iran ceasefire expired, with the Strait of Hormuz still closed. UOB Kay Hian thinks $100 is unlikely but possible if Middle East supply is hit. Thailand posted a Q2 current account deficit of 600 billion baht (over 12% of GDP), and the baht has already fallen 4.7% year to date, so the finance minister and analysts expect further pressure. For SMEs: budget for higher fuel, transport and imported-input costs, and consider how a weaker baht will affect imported stock prices and supplier quotes.

Government AI Passport opens Aug 31: register now via ThaiD or Tang Rat to get access Bangkok Post · Aug 20, 2026

Thailand's DES Ministry's TH-AI Passport (AiPASS) lets Thais aged 15 and older register, verify identity and create accounts at de.aipass.net, using Google, Microsoft or Apple sign-in. Verification works via the Tang Rat app (about two seconds) or ThaiD app (slower, 15-20 minute waits at launch). Registration is only for sign-up; AI models become usable from Aug 31. Over 500,000 had registered on day one, and the ministry targets 5 million. For a business owner, this is a free government AI tool worth setting up early if you want to test AI models; no action is needed otherwise.

Government plans a 15-year green bond sale in mid-September 2026, with no direct change for small business The Standard Wealth · Aug 19, 2026

The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) plans to issue SLB Series 2, a 15-year sustainability-linked government bond, with an initial size of about 15 billion baht, to fund the budget deficit. Investor roadshows run from 31 August, with the book building on 10 September and sales in mid-September 2026. The bond's two sustainability targets are cutting net greenhouse gas emissions to 152 million tCO2e by 2035 (47% below 2019) and raising protected land and water areas to at least 30% of the country by 2030. Nothing here changes your costs, taxes or lending directly; it is background on government financing and the green bond market.

Thailand reviews its data center investment strategy, with water and power use now under a new oversight committee The Standard Wealth · Aug 19, 2026

Deputy PM Ekniti, who chairs the BOI, has ordered a full review of data center investment incentives and strategy. A new committee (BOI secretary-general, Natural Resources and Energy ministries, plus outside experts) will set standards for water and electricity use. Future approvals will be judged on national benefits such as R&D, local content and quality jobs, not just investment size. For a small business, this is background: no immediate change to costs, permits or rules you face, but power and water pressure from large data centers could matter for utility prices and supply over time.

Thailand's 200bn baht energy-transition loan sets out three phases, with rooftop solar and direct PPA rules still pending The Standard Wealth · Aug 19, 2026

The government's 400bn baht loan (approved by the Constitutional Court on 9 July 2026) includes 200bn baht for green energy transition. Planned measures under consideration include rooftop solar support for households, EV and biodiesel support, and solar for agriculture. Short-term options include net metering for rooftop solar, a one-stop solar installation system, and opening direct PPAs for businesses via third-party access, though none of these are finalised yet. Business owners thinking about solar or energy costs should watch for the detailed rules before committing, since the article does not give timelines or subsidy amounts.

Thai citizens can register free for TH-AI Passport access to 14+ premium AI models before the 5 million slots fill Techsauce · Aug 19, 2026

The national TH-AI Passport gives Thai citizens aged 15+ free access to premium AI models from 14+ providers, limited to 5,000,000 slots. Registration opened 19 Aug 2026 at de.aipass.net, and the system goes live 31 Aug 2026. Sign-up requires the ทางรัฐ or ThaID app with identity verification, plus a Google, Microsoft or Apple account. Registrants before 30 Nov 2026 also get AI Pro free for the first 30 days. For a small business, this is a free way to test AI tools for marketing, admin or pricing, so the practical step is to register early with the owner's own ID.

GitHub was down for over 7 hours on 19 August; a dev team outage hits small firms that rely on it Blognone · Aug 19, 2026

GitHub went down for more than 7 hours, stopping many people from working. GitHub says the cause was a misconfigured Istio setup during a traffic spike in Central US, plus a reconnection bug in VS Code's Copilot that multiplied load tenfold. Services are recovering, and GitHub is adjusting connection settings and fixing the VS Code bug. If your team or website depends on GitHub or Copilot, keep a fallback plan for outages and avoid relying on a single cloud tool for critical work.

Xiaomi's profit fell 20% as memory-chip costs squeezed phone makers, a warning on component prices Blognone · Aug 19, 2026

Xiaomi's Q2 2026 revenue fell 6% and net profit fell 20%, mainly because memory-chip costs cut gross margins across smartphone makers. It shipped 26% fewer phones after cutting low and mid-range output. For a Thai SME, this is background: if you buy or resell phones, accessories or electronics parts, expect memory-driven price pressure and possible supply tightness. No action is needed now beyond checking supplier prices.

Snowflake's CI/CD flaw shows AI-written code can leak API keys, so check your own pipelines Blognone · Aug 19, 2026

Security firm Wiz reported that an AI-generated patch (Copilot Autofix) to a Snowflake GitHub Actions workflow let a test AI agent inject a script through a GitHub issue title and steal Jira API keys. Snowflake revoked the patch and rotated the keys, and found no other breaches. For a small business: if you use AI coding tools or automation that runs scripts from issue or form text, have someone review the code before it goes live and rotate any keys the automation can reach. This is mainly relevant if your business runs its own software or integrations.

Trump says no talks are planned with Iran, and Tehran says the Strait of Hormuz is still shut. Fuel and shipping costs may stay elevated, so review diesel budgets and freight quotes.