🌏 Good morning! Three global events put Bangkok in the spotlight this week: Asia’s first CNN Global Perspectives, the Bangkok Economics Festival and the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings, which begin Monday. Below: what to know.

📢 Reminder: Soiciety visits Bang Mot on Saturday, Nov. 7, for a half-day excursion, exploring grassroots e-boat conversion, youth-led green tourism and farm-based living. See details and RSVP — only four spots left.

Bangkok collected 5,572.25 tons of flood trash from Sept. 28 to Oct. 8, the city’s Environmental Department said.

Why it matters: That averages 506.57 tons a day, adding to Bangkok’s 9,500-ton daily waste.

State of play: Kheha Romklao in Lat Krabang alone produced more than 1,700 tons. Residents of the mostly single-story homes reported discarding damaged furniture, mattresses and appliances.

Between the lines: Lat Krabang Councilor Surachit Phongsinghvithya said the city has cleared main roads, but waste remains in alleys that garbage trucks and heavy machinery can’t reach. Crews are hauling it out by hand.

What’s next: Deputy Gov. Pornphrom Vikitsreth said the city can’t estimate how long cleanup will take. It needs more workers, and the pile grows as residents clear their homes. More rain could slow the work.

As crews hastily tidy cables ahead of this week’s IMF-World Bank meetings, city councilors are asking why this VIP-level urgency can’t become the everyday standard.

Why it matters: Tangled communication cables caused accidents and fires, some fatal, councilors said at the Oct. 7 meeting. Because many lack known owners, agencies can’t verify if they’re active or maintained.

Big picture: Crews buried 12.3 kilometers of cables on Rama IV, Sathon, Witthayo and Soi Suan Phlu roads as part of a wider beautification push before the meetings.

The quote: “Why can’t we do that every day?” Bang Rak Councilor Wiput Sriwaurai asked.

By the numbers: The People’s Party estimated during the June gubernatorial campaign that about 50% of the cables are unused. Lak Si Councilor Noppavit Wongaree said random checks on five routes found 78% were illegally installed.

State of play: Multiple agencies share the work: The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission sets routes, National Telecom upgrades ducts, and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority removes cables.

Between the lines: “Just bury them” isn’t an easy fix, Wiput said, because water pipes, rail systems and drains already crowd the ground.

Zooming out: A 2024 ministerial regulation on right-of-way fees already lets City Hall act against operators who haven’t paid. Enforcement has been inconsistent.

What’s next: The council formed an 11-member committee to study how to standardize the cleanup process. Options include a master plan, a shared digital map of infrastructure ownership and a new ordinance.

Bangkok hosts global finance officials this week, bringing work-from-home days, a special holiday, road restrictions, a partial park closure and planned protests.

What to watch: The Meteorological Department forecasts about 5 centimeters of rain a day Oct. 11-13. Officials said they plan to keep routes dry for more than 400 motorcades. The meetings would be cancelled if floodwater reaches 3 meters.

📅 Meeting schedule and livestreams.

Calls to remove Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt and a Friday morning rally outside City Hall stem from criticism of Bangkok’s flood buffers and six retention basins. Chadchart said the basins weren’t dropped under his tenure.

Why it matters: The draft city plan cuts flood buffer zones by about 70-80%.

State of play: Srisuwan Janya, a serial petitioner, asked the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate conflicts of interest over the retention basins. He also asked the city council to seek Chadchart’s removal.

Yes, but… The council can’t remove a governor, but a supermajority can ask the Interior Ministry to do so. No councilors have started the process, Council Chair Pattraporn Kengrungruengchai said.

Zooming in: Political commentator Sondhi Limthongkul led Friday’s rally, which asked the administration to halt the draft zoning map. The group said the map’s public hearings drew about 30,000 people, less than 0.6% of residents.

Flashback: The National Human Rights Commission ruled last year Bangkok sidelined the public in drafting the map, urging redo hearings.

The other side: Chadchart said the administration is open to new data or technical proposals on the retention basins that differ from its figures.

📷 See rally photos.

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority plans to keep about 700 of its cream-red buses, some 35 years old, as backups and is studying uses such as depot cafes and tour buses, its director told the Daily News.

Why it matters: The agency will start phasing out the old buses next year as it moves to electric. The old buses can drive through up to 80 centimeters of water and run on gas, so they can serve in emergencies and special-event transport.

State of play: The agency will select the sturdiest buses by December and overhaul them, including engine and exhaust upgrades to meet emissions standards.

What’s next: The first 500 of 1,520 leased electric buses are due in March 2027, followed by 500 in April and 520 in May.

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