Author: user user

One of the first rules we are taught when we venture onto the golf course is the rule of how we should behave, and a ‘clip around the ear’ by my father, when we first played together, made me understand how important this essential rule is. Etiquette includes repairing divots and ball marks, raking bunkers, and being mindful of other players by remaining quiet and still when they are playing. Also included in our game’s etiquette guidelines is to be mindful of maintaining a good pace of play and allowing faster groups to play through.

Allow me to mention that etiquette was missing from the recent Ryder Cup matches with many past players turning over in their graves at how many spectators (and several players) behaved. The bad taste left after the dust settled will last until the next 2027 match in Ireland. As we all know the hardest thing to learn in our game is to remain smiling and friendly after a triple bogey but this is one of the reasons golf is unique — as it teaches you very quickly to keep our emotions under control.

When your golf ball is in an unplayable lie, you can choose from three options, each with a one-stroke penalty. The options are: playing again from your previous spot (stroke and distance), dropping a ball on a line with the hole and where the ball lies back as far as you wish, or dropping within two club lengths of where your ball lies but no closer to the hole (lateral relief).

Out of Bounds: One of the funniest things that I, and my playing partners, witnessed one day was to see a miserable and unloved member, who was unfortunately paired in our group take a drop and lose his ball. This was in the day when you had to drop over your shoulder. He was wearing a jacket with an attached hood which was just hanging loose at the back. The ball fell into the hood and disappeared. When he turned around, he was astonished not to find his ball on the ground. Needless to say, we were all in hysterics watching him and delayed telling him what had happened for as long as we could.

Thailand’s winter starts officially on Oct 23 this year. Unfortunately, the perennial PM2.5 dust and smog problem usually acompanies the cooler weather. Here are some tips and cool gadgets to help deal with it.

PM2.5 dust pollution is a lingering problem that has plagued Thailand since at least 2019. It is well documented and is caused by, among other things, the burning of crop trash, vehicle exhaust fumes, electricity generation and industrial processes. But we are not here for a discussion about what causes it, or how to fix it. We are here for tips and to explore cool gadgets to help deal with the smog on a day-to-day basis in the land of smiles.

General tips

Check air quality on websites like www.iqair.com, or apps like Air4Thai and AirVisual.

On bad-air days, limit your outdoor activity, especially outdoor exercise such as jogging, biking and hiking.

Close your windows or mosquito screens to limit dirty outdoor air.

Wear proper PM2.5-ready masks outdoors

Wear glasses outdoors.

Stay hydrated, eat well, exercise.

Rinse your nose every now and then.

Clean your house: cat fur, dog hair, book dust, cooking fumes easily accumulate and will affect your respiratory system.

Sensitive people should consider using an air purifier in the house.

Plant trees and other greenery.

Cool gadgets

Air purifier of choice, depending on your room or health condition.

Portable ionizers can be great for people who go out often.

Any popular Thai inhaler can make your breathing easier.

Indoor exercise video games, such as Ring Fit adventure () or Fitness Boxing (), or Nintendo SwitchS Sports will keep you fit without the need to expose yourself to the dust outside.

I hope that even though days of dust and smog loom over Bangkok city, these tips and gadgets make it easier to cope with.

The new leader of the Pheu Thai Party will be a party member but will not be related to the Shinawatra family, party election director Suriya Jungrungreangkit said on Wednesday.

He was speaking after party leader and former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced her resignation.

Mr Suriya said at the party’s headquarters that Pheu Thai had deep bonds with the Shinawatra family. Thaksin Shinawatra was its founder, back when it was named the Thai Rak Thai Party, which was later dissolved by the court.

‘However, everything changes. …. I have learned that the party will find a person who is not related to the family. That person will be a member of the party but not part of the Shinawatra family,’ Mr Suriya said.

He dismissed speculation that he might be the next leader. He said the new party leader should be from the younger generation and be able to effectively lead the party into the coming general election.

Mr Suriya also denied a report that his faction of 70 MPs had pressured Ms Paetongtarn to resign from the leadership, threatening to pull out if she did not.

He said he began his political career with the Thai Rak Thai Party led by Thaksin and had been party secretary-general. During Ms Paetongtarn’s administration he was transport minister and a deputy prime minister.

Ms Paetongtarn had been generous, he said, “it’s just not possible that I would lead MPs to another party.’

Mr Suriya said his faction would remain with Pheu Thai and he would recruit more members and increase the number of Pheu Thai MPs to 200, as he had said he would.

Chusak Sirinil was on Wednesday appointed acting party leader. Pheu Thai will elect its new leader and a new party executive board on Oct 31.

This Friday will mark one month since the under-construction MRT station at Vajira Hospital suffered a massive sinkhole on Samsen Road. The public has since been left in the dark, not knowing how a well-designed and costly subway tunnel collapsed so easily.

The public has been told that soil subsidence, underground water, or even a burst water pipe may have caused the collapse. Yet such explanations merely fuel concerns.

How could an expensive, supposedly state-of-the-art underground system be so vulnerable to routine and natural risks such as soil shifts, water leaks, or heavy rainfall?

If those were the real causes, other ongoing subway projects in the area could face similar risks. After all, the underground water level in Bangkok is constantly changing.

In terms of soil, it is an open secret that contractors dealing with projects beneath ground level often use construction technology to stabilise the condition of the soil.

The problem is that the government has not revealed many details.

Media reports focus on how contractors are providing remedies to damaged parties.

However, last week, Pheu Thai list-MP Plodprasop Suraswadi — chair of the Lower-House’s sub-committee on improving public safety and standards on civil construction — warned the public that the collapsed surface at the construction site extended for about 25 metres.

A few days later, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt openly brushed aside Mr Plodprasop’s warning, confirming the area as being already safe again.

The big question is why the MRT and the associated contractors have not come forward to clarify Mr Plodprasop’s warning.

Just this month, the Ministry of Transport quietly formed a fact-finding committee to look into the cause of the huge sinkhole.

This 11-person panel only contains a few neutral experts. The majority are officials from the Ministry of Transport, the Metropolitan Rapid Transit — the owner of the subway project — and contractors from the CKST-PL Joint Venture.

The ministry has not spelt out the framework of the fact-finding mission or when the results of the probe will be released.

Last week, members of the same Lower-House sub-committee sent a letter to the ministry urging the fact-finding committee to invite more neutral experts to join.

In countries with strong public safety records, professional probes are often conducted by third-party experts, with the results publicised. But in Thailand, most fact-finding committees feature stakeholders like contractors and only a few neutral experts. In many cases, the government publicises only some of the results.

Such is the case with the State Audit Office that collapsed early this year — only the conclusion of the report has been publicised. The names of the experts involved have not been revealed. The simulation model they used to test the structural strength and materials of the buildings remains “classified”.

The ministry must improve public safety standards — starting by making its fact-finding inclusive and transparent; then, by telling the public what the fact-finding mission will do and when the truth will be known.

Bangkok Commercial Asset Management is holding “BAM Symposium: New Era Of AMC 2025”, its flagship annual event for Thailand’s asset management companies, at Dusit Thani Bangkok’s Napalai Grand Ballroom, Rama IV Road, on Oct 28 from 9am to 5pm.

The symposium will convene the nation’s foremost asset management companies (AMC), the National Credit Bureau and real estate enterprises to address critical challenges and innovations in non-performing loans (NPLs) management and non-performing assets (NPAs) investment strategies, highlighting BAM’s role in shaping the future of Thailand’s AMC industry.

Held with the aim to advance collaborative solutions that strengthen Thailand’s financial stability and economic resilience, the symposium will be officially opened by Vitai Ratanakorn, governor of the Bank of Thailand, underscoring the event’s significance to Thailand’s financial ecosystem.

It will feature comprehensive discussions on

“The Strategic Role Of AMCs In Thailand’s Economic Recovery”, examining how AMCs serve as critical infrastructure for financial system stability;

“Strategic Approaches To Systemic Debt Management – Innovative approaches”, addressing Thailand’s debt challenges at scale;

“The National Credit Bureau: Transforming Data Into Opportunity”;

“Real Estate Investment Decision-Making – Strategies For Navigating The Property Market”;

Maximising NPAs Value Creation – Methodologies” for unlocking potential in distressed assets; and

“Fengshui: Turning Around Non-Performing Assets”.

The event is conducted in Thai and open to industry professionals, investors and stakeholders. There is no admission fee but seats are limited.

The House of Representatives has unanimously approved the much-anticipated Clean Air Management Bill with 309 votes in favour, marking a major legislative milestone in efforts to improve air quality nationwide.

Presided over by Deputy House Speaker Chaiya Promma, parliament passed the bill on Tuesday after nearly a month of deliberation. Initially comprising 104 sections, the draft expanded to almost 300 following detailed revisions by a parliamentary committee.

It was approved in its third reading with 309 votes in favour, none against and four abstentions. The bill will now be forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.

Jakkaphon Tangsutthitham, chairman of the committee, thanked parliament and apologised for the lengthy process, describing the law as both “an engine and a weapon” to reclaim clean air for Thai people. He expressed hope the Senate would approve it swiftly, noting the annual burning season begins in December.

The People’s Party (PP) posted on Facebook that the bill was first initiated by civil society in 2019, before the PP proposed the draft in 2023. It was refined through cooperation between the public sector, political parties and state agencies, aiming to combat domestic and cross-border air pollution — the main cause of PM2.5 microdust in Thailand.

If the Senate completes its review within 30 days, the process could be finalised before parliament is expected to be dissolved in January. The PP pledged to monitor the review closely and provide information to ensure the bill’s core principles remain intact. Any revisions would be vetted by parliament by December.

Despite a tourism downturn this year, Thailand should not lose its grip on promoting the markets next year, as the government should quickly fix perceptions concerning the lack of safety by revamping its image to resemble a trusted destination and by partnering with airlines to maintain seats and affordable airfares, in order to increase revenue by 8% to 1.63 trillion baht as targeted.

Yuthasak Supasorn, former governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and chairman of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, said as the TAT has still set an ambitious arrivals target of 34.9 million, up 4%, and a foreign revenue target of 1.63 trillion baht, up 8%, a range of measures should be implemented in order for the country to make a comeback in 2026.

He said it would remain challenging to achieve those targets next year if the safety concerns are left unresolved.

Performance for the first nine months has already shown the severe impact of the perception problem, as arrivals plunged by 7.56% year-on-year to 24 million, while revenue declined by 5.85% to 1.1 trillion baht.

The recovery also largely depends on how effectively the country can leverage current measures, such as chartered flights and online travel promotions, to boost the Chinese market.

From October 2025 to January 2026, the TAT is rolling out these two key stimulus projects for international markets, including the chartered flight promotion, in which 100,949 of the 140,000 targeted packages have been sold via 710 flights.

The online platform marketing project, which is aimed at increasing occupancy rates and advance bookings for hotels, has already issued over 533,000 discount codes of 17.5%, capped at 1,500 baht per code, with the goal of attracting 950,000 travellers and 7.2 billion baht via the campaign.

At present, there are seven global-level companies participating in this project with 279,854 bookings completed.

Mr Yuthasak said Thailand should revamp its image to be widely recognised and accepted as “The land of smiles defined by quality, trusted for safety”, banking on integrated collaboration with all relevant sectors to upgrade safety.

“Addressing issues such as crimes against tourists’ personal property, accidents, as well as preventing exploitation and scams is essential. Service quality, especially regarding taxis, is also a key area for improvement,” said Mr Yuthasak.

As the TAT is initiating the “Trusted Thailand” project, encouraging at least 5,000 hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and attractions to elevate their operations to earn the new safety standard, he said the programme should help tourists regain confidence in services, safe payment and the provision of more fluent language communication and convenient accessibility.

AIRLINE BOOST

To compete on price amid rising consumption costs in Thailand, he said the TAT should strengthen partnerships with airlines as the growth of the inbound market is largely reliant on available seats with acceptable prices for travellers, he said.

If both flight frequency and seat capacity can be restored to previous levels, airfares will remain affordable. Otherwise, overpriced airfares may deter tourists from choosing Thailand, driving them to cheaper destinations.

Mr Yuthasak said the government should aggressively attract those with high purchasing power such as health and wellness travellers and business blended with leisure tourists, specifically repeat visitors and those holding a passport for the first time.

The body of one of two Thai workers slain by Hamas is expected to arrive in Thailand on Thursday from Israel, while the other body is still being sought in the Gaza Strip, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

The body of Sonthaya Oakkharasri, 30, an agricultural worker at Kibbutz Be’eri, was recently retrieved from the Gaza Strip after Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement on Oct 13.

The ministry said Sonthaya’s body would arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport via El Al Airlines flight LY083 at 4.35pm.

Sonthaya, the father of a seven-year-old girl, was killed in the Hamas attack on the kibbutz on Oct 7, 2023, the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a Facebook post on Oct 19.

His body had been held in Gaza for more than two years. Israel confirmed his death on May 16, 2024.

That leaves one remaining body of a Thai labourer yet to be retrieved.

The Israeli embassy in Thailand said the remaining body had been identified as Sudthisak Rinthalak.

Nong Khai native Sudthisak, 43, also worked at Kibbutz Be’eri. He was killed in the Oct 7 attack and his body taken to Gaza. His death was confirmed by Israel in May 2024. He was divorced and childless and had worked in Israel since 2017.

The embassy reiterated the Israeli government’s commitment to return his body to Thailand.

‘Israel profoundly appreciates the dedication of Thai workers, who play a significant role in the country’s agriculture sector,’ it said in a statement.

‘The entire nation of Israel empathises deeply and mourns together with the family of Sonthaya.

‘He will always be remembered. The State of Israel remains committed to bringing the body of Sudthisak Rinthalak, the last Thai hostage, to his homeland.’

In an era of intense retail competition, rapid change, and consumer empowerment, Thiranant Kornsritipa, Executive Vice President of Retail Business Development at Frasers Property (Thailand) Public Company Limited, who oversees the Samyan Mitrtown project, explains the mall’s concept: ‘This city needs a space that offers more than just shopping’.

Samyan Mitrtown operates as a ‘small fish in a big pond’. Easy accessibility and agility are its key advantages. The mall dares to learn, experiments ahead of others, and adapts swiftly. It swims its own course, deliberately avoiding a fixed formula for success, guided by the concept of ‘Retail Without Borders’-an approach unbound by conventional models.

Samyan Mitrtown is not driven solely by commercial objectives. With deep passion for its local community, this serves as a clear standpoint and driving force thus differentiating its brand, enabling two-way communication, drawing people to share more. This approach, combined with ‘Deep Understanding’-a profound grasp of the target audience’s diverse needs, feelings, and behaviour-sets the mall apart.

A Space for ‘Real Life” and “A Platform for Creativity”

Samyan Mitrtown serves as a hub for everyday life, not just a shopping mall. It possesses a unique identity-accessible and friendly-where users are not simply ‘customers’, but rather ‘experience creators’ who actively drive the centre’s momentum and become part of its fabric.

Mass meets niche – By embracing differences and celebrating individuality, Samyan Mitrtown believes a unique identity is a strength. Every offering is thoughtfully curated to meet specific needs, reflecting the belief that diversity drives vibrancy and connection.

Naturally inclusive, intentionally community-friendly – Samyan Mitrtown is designed to be open and accessible to everyone. Every activity and space is intentionally crafted to welcome and connect people and communities. It’s more than a retail centre – it’s a place where everyone can genuinely feel: ‘This is our space’.

Driven by passion, defined by deep values – What makes Samyan Mitrtown truly different goes beyond concept or design. It lies in the heart of the team behind it – a team that genuinely understands how new generations live, work, and create. Their commitment to meaningful engagement and thoughtful execution at every level shape spaces that resonate with people on a deeper level.

Deep understanding community – profound insights into the modern lifestyle and behaviour of the new generation: As the world shifts, customer behaviour evolves in tandem. Operating this shopping centre for six years has allowed us to work closely with diverse customer groups. We actively observe, learn, and gain a deep understanding of continuously changing behaviours – from daily routines and lifestyles to preferences and expectations. This process has cultivated a profound understanding of the modern way of life – one that is constantly evolving and demands spaces that offer far more than just shopping.

Deep analysis – comprehensive insights to design activities and campaigns: We utilise data and insights from various sources, including sales performance, mall traffic trends, consumer behaviour, and social trends. Our deep analysis considers the perspectives of consumers, tenants, and the shopping centre itself. These insights inform the design of activities, campaigns, and space utilisation, ensuring they align with real needs and deliver tangible impact – moving beyond simply making something happen.

Deep lifestyle – creating meaningful spaces that integrate the modern way of life: We believe a shopping centre is not just a “place to buy things”, but a “space for life”. Therefore, we design every part of the centre to profoundly and seamlessly reflect the concept of “Eat – Learn – Play – Live’, harmonising with the city’s rhythm. We avoid superficial or fleeting trends, instead creating layered experiences that make people “feel at home” and “want to return.”

Deep partnership – collaborating closely with diverse partners to create new experiences: We view our relationships with tenants, brands, and all partners as more than just “business.” They are collaborations built on mutual understanding, trust, and shared goals. We do not merely provide “space”; we co-create a platform that allows every partner to grow together, grounded in common understanding and shared objectives.

Music x Retail – Fandom x Lifestyle

Music is not merely entertainment; it’s a mall traffic driver. Harnessing the power of ‘Music Business and Fandom Marketing’ connects people intimately. The mall creates activities where ‘fans can genuinely participate’ moving beyond being mere ‘spectators’-a crucial factor in boosting the centre’s lively atmosphere. Everything is driven by a passion to maximise engagement including the GMMTV Pocky Idol Press Conference, which featured a parade of actors and famous celebrities from GMMTV series, the collective energy of ‘Mama fans’ at Acer Day 2025, and the International Book Fair x GMM.

A Distinct Identity: accessible, friendly, dynamic and alive 24/7

A 24/7 community hub that doesn’t follow the conventional retail formula: Samyan Mitrtown stands out as a vibrant, round-the-clock community hub that offers a living space – constantly evolving with new campaigns and activations designed to enrich every lifestyle such as a signature annual event like Samyan Mitrtown Lantern Art Festival 2025. Such events have grown into a creative community platform for art lovers. It brings together art, food, culture and lifestyle in one place, transforming Samyan Mitrtown into a shared urban landmark.

Other key initiatives include ‘SAMYAN MITRTOWN MITR THE EARTH’, an engaging sustainability platform that turns climate action into something tangible, fun, and easy to be part of, and the ‘Play It All at Samyan Mitrtown’ campaign, which introduces new experiences and playful challenges that make every visit memorable.

Samyan Mitrtown also offers more than retail space. It is home to Samyan Mitrtown Hall – a versatile venue that has become a top choice for major events, product launches, exhibitions, concerts, fan meetings and press conferences.

In 2025, Samyan Mitrtown Hall continues to attract both loyal clients and new organisers, hosting a wide range of events – from meetings and exhibitions to world-class concerts. Highlights include the Samyan International Fiction Festival 2025 x GMMTV, Naiin Book Fair, MARUY – a beloved community event for otaku, cosplay, and gamers – Thailand Healthcare 2025, and 13 international concerts, featuring BE:FIRST World Tour 2025, Henry Moodie Live in Bangkok 2025, Ruel: 4th Wall World Tour, and the highly anticipated comeback of the legendary boy band BLUE: One Love Asia Tour.

Samyan Mitrtown embraces its role as an open testbed – where learning, music, lifestyle and retail innovation converge. Through short-term ‘Sandbox’ strategies (3 – 6 months), the retail mix is refreshed constantly, ensuring a sense of novelty for returning visitors.

This flexibility allows partners and brands to experiment with new concepts in a real-world setting, while customers discover new experiences with every visit – ‘there’s always something new to explore’.

Looking Ahead: Closer to the New Generation

Celebrating its 6th anniversary, Samyan Mitrtown is entering a new chapter – one that brings it even closer to the rhythm of modern urban life. Expanding its philosophy of ‘Eat – Learn – Play – Live’ the destination aims to deepen its emotional and experiential connection with the new generation.

This growth will continue to be community-centric, creating a space where people of all ages can engage, connect, and grow together sustainably.

Samyan Mitrtown believes in creating a place where people are not just visitors – they are active participants. A place that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and lets everyone live authentically, whether through food, learning, work, leisure, or shared experiences with partners and the community. And this year-end, more exciting happenings and landmark moments are set to unfold.

Thiranant added: ‘Over the past six years, Samyan Mitrtown has proven that a shopping centre can be more than just a retail space – it can be a place that truly understands and connects with people. We’re proud to have built an open testbed – a safe, inclusive space where everyone can be themselves.

Our success is reflected in an impressive 98% occupancy rate and a consistent average daily traffic of 80,000 visitors. We anticipate a 15% increase in traffic in the last quarter of 2025, driven by major year-end events. This momentum inspires us to boldly step into the next, more challenging chapter – growing together with our partners, customers, and community.

Our vision is to make Samyan Mitrtown more than just a retail destination, but a meaningful part of people’s lives. With passion at its core, Samyan Mitrtown remains committed to being a space driven by passion – a small fish swimming in a big pond that can still create ripples felt throughout the entire body of water’.

Ben Stiller tells the story of his parents, comedy icons Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, exploring their impact both on popular culture and at home, where the lines between creativity, family, life and art often blurred. In the process, Stiller turns the camera on himself and his family to examine Jerry and Anne’s enormous influence on their lives, and the generational lessons we all can learn from those we love.

PRIME VIDEO

Harlan Coben’s Lazarus

Premieres on Oct 22

A new psychological thriller based on an original idea and written by the New York Times best-selling author Danny Brocklehurst. We meet Joel Lazarus, a man who returns home after his father dies by suicide. Joel soon starts having unexplainable, disturbing experiences, and soon becomes entangled in a series of cold-case murders as he grapples with the mystery not only of his father’s death, but also of his sister’s murder 25 years prior.

Host

Premieres on Oct 23

Host follows Ing (Baipor), who is sent to an all-girls reform school on a remote island. Ing quickly learns that the school’s only rule is simple – total obedience to the school’s principal. The school operates under a strict hierarchy, with the principal’s favored student, Aim (Perth), at the top and Ing at the bottom. Shortly after her arrival, a series of disturbing incidents begin to unfold. As these unsettling events accumulate, Ing must confront a terrifying question: is she merely a victim of these supernatural occurrences, or could she herself be their source?

NETFLIX

Attack 13

Premiering on October 22

After bullying leads to a tragic death, a vengeful spirit haunts a group of students, forcing them to uncover the identity of a secret summoner before more lives are claimed.

The Elixir

Premiering on October 23

An elixir unleashes the undead in a village. A family at odds with one another must unite and fight to survive as their hometown collapses.

The Possession Of Hannah Grace

Premiering on October 24

When a former cop lands a job at a morgue, her graveyard shift takes a terrifying turn with the delivery of a young girl’s haunted corpse.

A House Of Dynamite

Premiering on October 24

When a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond.

The Dream Life Of Mr. Kim

Premiering on October 25

Depicts the story of Manager Kim, a middle-aged man who loses everything he once considered valuable in an instant. After a long journey, he finally discovers his true self, beyond his role as a department manager at a large corporation.

The Asset

Premiering on October 27

A young agent goes undercover to befriend a drug smuggler’s wife. But the closer she gets to her target, the more complicated her mission becomes.

Consecration

Premiering on October 27

The mysterious death of her priest brother leads Grace to a sacred convent, where dark secrets, shocking murders, and blasphemy force her to confront a terrifying truth about her own past.