Category: The Bangkok Post

SET-listed Bangchak Corporation is seeking partners to conduct e-fuel research and development in a move to replace fossil-derived fuels, which are blamed for increasing carbon dioxide emissions.

E-fuel, also known as electrofuel, is a type of synthetic fuel created by using electricity from renewable sources to combine hydrogen and carbon dioxide in order to produce synthetic hydrocarbon fuel.

The new fuel could be used with internal combustion engine-powered vehicles.

“We do not want to do R and D from scratch but prefer to join hands with energy firms to speed up work in this field,” said Chaiwat Kovavisarach, chief executive and president of Bangchak.

Bangchak is planning to have its own research centre to facilitate the development of e-fuel projects.

The company will spend part of its US$30-milion budget, allocated for new businesses and innovation, to fund the construction, said Mr Chaiwat.

It also plans to ask for financial support from the Office of National Higher Education, Science Research and Innovation to help translate its research facility project into action.

Mr Chaiwat was speaking as he led a team of executives to study e-fuel projects at ENEOS Corporation in Yokohama, Japan.

ENEOS currently produces 1 barrel, or 159 litres, of e-fuel a day, at its prototype plant, supported by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation.

The company is testing the new fuel with a shuttle bus service at the Expo 2025 in Osaka.

The event, which started on April 13, will run through Oct 13.

Synthetic hydrocarbon is a promising fuel that can support campaigns aimed at achieving carbon neutrality, a balance between carbon dioxide emission and absorption.

Though vehicles using synthetic hydrocarbon emit carbon dioxide, the process of making this e-fuel requires a manufacturer to capture carbon dioxide to combine it with green hydrogen.

Green hydrogen is produced by using electricity made from renewable energy to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen.

Mr Chaiwat sees the potential of synthetic hydrocarbon but noted that the development of e-fuel is four times as costly as fossil-derived fuels.

The price of e-fuel is expected to decrease and become more competitive with conventional oil prices after 2040, he said, citing an estimate from ENEOS experts.

A good point is that it can be used with oil-powered vehicles without the need to adapt their engines.

The push for alternative fuels is part of Bangchak’s business development plan. The company is making a test run at its factory to produce sustainable aviation fuel, a biofuel for aircraft, which is also aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Thailand suffered a double blow ahead of their Asian Cup qualifiers against Taiwan as Buriram United duo Supachai Chaided and Sasalak Haiprakhon pulled out of the national team with injuries on Monday.

Both Supachai and Sasalak picked up injuries on Sunday night when Buriram dropped points for the first time in Thai League 1 this season.

The Thunder Castle were held to a 2-2 draw by BG Pathum United at home in a riveting battle that kept the hosts atop the Thai League table.

Thailand head coach Masatada Ishii has called up Channarong Promsrikaew of Chonburi to take Supachai’s place in the squad, while Sasalak has been replaced by Wanchai Jarunongkran of Bangkok United.

The War Elephants will host Taiwan at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on Thursday before facing the same opponents again on Oct 14 in Taipei.

Earlier on Sunday night, Pathum took the lead in the 25th minute when Kritsada Kaman set up Seydin Ndiaye for a thundering header.

Buriram levelled in the 31st minute through a long-range strike from Guilherme Bissoli.

At the 33rd minute, substitute Sanchai Nontasil fired a low shot past Buriram goalkeeper Neil Etheridge to restore Pathum’s lead at 2-1.

In first-half stoppage time, a dramatic VAR review changed the course of the match as the hosts were awarded a penalty, which Bissoli converted with ease.

Buriram head coach Osmar Loss Viera said after the game: “We are very disappointed with this result. We planned to take three points today.

“The first half did not go to plan, but at half-time we discussed our tactics and the players understood them, which made the team play better in the second half.

“If there had to be a winner, it should have been us, Buriram United, but that is football; when you have chances to finish, you must be sure.”

“Under The Castle” (UTC) is an original IP co-created by Got7’s Jakson Wang (aka “P’Jack” to Thai fans) and Team Wang CEO Henry Cheung.

Centred around the fantastical tales of two protagonists Pumpkie and Spookie, UTC blends art, fantasy and storytelling to build an imaginative and mysterious universe. It now comes to life at Emsphere in time for Halloween.

Following its debut in Shanghai in 2023 and a 2024 run in Singapore, Thailand is the third stop of UTC, inviting visitors of all ages to step inside the castle and discover a world beyond the ordinary.

The UTC experience starts with the signature haunted house, which has been completely reimagined for Bangkok. Inspired by the brand-new comic book, every room recreates a pivotal scene of the unfolding story. Guests are guided by Pumpkie and Spookie through eerie corridors, where they unlock secrets and step directly into the fantasy universe.

After surviving the haunted house, explore collectables and delights at the gift shop and the mini bar. Take home exclusive merchandise, ranging from limited-edition apparel and character lifestyle goods to themed accessories designed to transport the fantasy home. UTC narrative serves as the inspiration for drinks at the mini bar. From glowing cocktails inspired by the enchanted castle to playful mocktails that nod to Pumpkie and Spookie’s mischievous personalities.

Next, Pumpkie and Spookie invite guests onto the Mischief Ride, a bumper car zone designed for laughter and chaos. To preserve the memories, UTC-themed photo booths are scattered throughout the venue, offering guests a whimsical keepsake of their visit.

At the main entrance of Emsphere, the night market transforms the ground floor into a lively affair. Expect sizzling Thai specialities and international favourites. “Under The Castle” runs until Nov 2 at Emsphere.

The haunted house operates at different times, depending on the day. Get your tickets and check the timetable with TicketMelon. Visitors must be above the age of 16 to enter.

Thai hotel operators have applauded the finance minister’s decision to accelerate use of the 10-billion-baht meeting and seminar budget for government agencies, although they would prefer the stimulus to begin in May next year to cushion the low-season impact.

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the government would encourage state agencies to spread their activities throughout the year instead of concentrating plans in the last quarter of the fiscal year, between July and September.

Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said the policy could benefit hotels in second-tier destinations, as they are highly dependent on meetings and seminars, which typically make up 50% of customers, the same proportion as leisure guests.

Hotels in these 55 less-visited provinces consistently draw fewer leisure guests compared with popular provinces, he said. For instance, hotels in the main tourism destinations secured an average occupancy of more than 60% this month, but hotels in the 55 provinces recorded occupancy of only 30-35%, said Mr Thienprasit.

He said the government should also consider adjusting its outdated coffee break rate of 80 baht per head. This rate is the budget for food and beverages during meetings.

The Comptroller-General’s Department, which mandates this cost for government agencies, has not revised it in 18 years despite product and service costs rising every year.

Mr Thienprasit also said the government should regulate accommodation owned by state agencies, some of which are large projects that lack hotel licences, though agencies are mandated to book their seminars with their own facilities if possible.

Given the projected four-month tenure of the current administration, Mr Thienprasit said hotel operators are more concerned that the low season will occur during a political vacuum after the anticipated general election in March or April next year.

Both public spending on meetings and seminars, as well as outlays from the new co-payment scheme for travellers to second-tier cities, should begin from May to August 2026, according to the THA.

‘During the final quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year, we can still rely on foreign tourist demand during the high season,’ he said.

Hoteliers are hoping bookings in November and December will at least match the 2024 level, said Mr Thienprasit. This year, only in January did foreign arrivals reach 3.7 million, exceeding the same period last year, which recorded 3.03 million.

He said the decline in foreign arrivals of 7.5% year-on-year over the first nine months is largely attributed to short-haul markets, as long-haul markets posted monthly figures outperforming 2024.

A 40-year-old man has confessed to killing his uncle during a drunken argument over a karaoke microphone.

Police called to a house in tambon Pong Talong, in Pak Chong district, on Monday found a 59-year-old man identified as Thian lying dead with severe head injuries in a pool of blood.

An air rifle with a broken stock lay beside the body.

Police arrested the victim’s nephew, Arthit, 40, who allegedly confessed to killing his uncle.

According to police, Arthit told investigators they had been drinking together. His uncle had spoken rudely to him and had snatched the karaoke microphone from his hand.

He had responded, hitting Thian on the head with the gun stock before stabbing him below the ear with a knife.

Police charged Arthit with murder and he was held in custody for legal proceedings.

The Bangkok Bar Show returns from Oct 10-12 at the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, marking its biggest edition yet.

The show will gather more than 50 international bar experts, 40 bar brands, 30 headline events and seven panel discussions and seminars featuring some of the industry’s most influential voices. This year, bartenders from North and South America, Europe, and across Asia Pacific will join Thailand’s vibrant community of bar leaders, brands and cocktail enthusiasts to present their innovations and flair

Highlights below:

? Opening Party: Oct 10 at Aqua Bar, where leading names in cocktail culture will set the tone for an unforgettable week.? Bangkok Bar Show Awards and Thailand’s 20 Best Bars 2025: Oct 13. This year’s ceremony introduces a brand-new category, Best Wine Bar, alongside established awards such as Best New Bar and Best Bartender.? Closing Party: Oct 13 at Bar Sathorn, with international stars behind the stick.

Discussions and seminars at Anantara Siam Bangkok:

Oct 10

“Are We Truly Sustainable?”: Speakers are Giacomo Giannotti of Paradiso Barcelona, Ronnaporn Kanivichaporn of Mahaniyom Bangkok, Agung Prabowo of Penicillin and Sorrel Moseley-Williams, South America academy chair for The World’s 50 Best Bars. The discussion will be moderated by Nick Coldicott, Japan academy chair for The World’s 50 Best Bars.

“The Anatomy Of A Well Built Bar”: Speakers are Taln of Bar Us and Messenger Service Bar, Frank Kurt Maldonado of Employees Only New York, Hayden Lambert of Above Board Melbourne and Patrick Pistolesi of Drink Kong Rome. The discussion will be moderated by Emma Janzen, USA Midwest academy chair for The World’s 50 Best Bars.

Oct 11

“The Importance Of Good Bar Branding”: Speakers are Stefanie Wijono of Union Group Jakarta, Takuma Watanabe of Martiny’s New York, Juliane Reichart, Germany/Austria/Switzerland academy chair for The World’s 50 Best Bars and Lorenzo Querci of Moebius Milan. The discussion will be moderated by Andrew Ho, co-founder Hope and Sesame Group.

“True Hospitality”: Speakers are Supawit “Palm” Muttarattana of Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Alonso Palomino of Lady Bee Lima, Keith Motsi of Virtù Tokyo and Chris Beaney, Africa West academy chair for The World’s 50 Best Bars. The discussion will be moderated by Vivian Pei.

Oct 12

“Rising Above: Women Redefining Hospitality Leadership”: Speakers are Margarita Sagar of Paradiso Barcelona, Amanda Wan of Three X Co Kuala Lumpur and Chanel Adams of Bamboo Bar Bangkok. The discussion will be moderated by Priyanka Blah, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives academy chair for The World’s 50 Best Bars.

“Approaching The Sober-Curious Generation”: Speakers are Sasha Jiliane of Fura Singapore, Demie Kim of Zest Seoul, Elon Soddu of Bar Amaro London and Harrison Ginsberg of Overstory New York. The discussion will be moderated by Esther Tseng, USA West academy chair for The World’s 50 Best Bars.

“The New Pour: Becoming The Next Generation Of Bartenders”: Speakers are Jean Trinh of Alquimico Cartagena, Ellen Su of Chimney Hangzhou, Demie Kim of Zest Seoul, and Atsuhi Suzuki of Bellwood Tokyo. The discussion will be moderated by Colin Chia, co-founder of Bangkok Bar Show and CEO of Nutmeg Collective Singapore.

Guest shifts:

Oct 10

Drink Kong featuring Riccardo Rossi and Freni Frizioni featuring Patrick Pistolesi at Zuma Bangkok.

Cat Bite Club featuring Jessie Vida and Gabriel Lowe at The St. Regis Bar.

Penicillin featuring Agung Prabowo, Moebius Milano featuring Lorenzo Querci and Giovanni Allario, Tokyo Confidential featuring Holly Graham, and Limantour featuring José Luis León at Aqua Bar.

Oct 11

Paradiso Barcelona featuring Giacomo Giannotti, Margarita Sader and Gabriele Armani at Mahaniyom.

Bar Libre featuring Yujiro Kiyosaki at F*nkytown.

Moonrock featuring Yi Che Liao at Messenger Service.

Liao Jien Ming and Punch Room Tokyo featuring Yasuhiro Kawakubo at Aqua Bar.

Obsidian Bar featuringP aul Hsu, Bar Mood featuring Nick Wu and MO Bar Shenzhen featuring Tiger Chang at Firefly Bar.

Bar Amaro featuring Elon Soddu, Martiny’s featuring Takuma Watanabe, Public House featuring William Wu, Overstory featuring Harrison Ginsber, Hope and Sesame featuring Andrew Ho and Alquimico featuring Jean Trinh at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok.

Infinity and Beyond featuring Mars Chang at Independence.

Lab Taipei featuring Takafumi Makita at Tax.

Under Lab featuring Pei Liu at Asia Today.

Simone Rossi, Giancarlo Mancino and Elena Urbani at Stella.

Three X Co featuring Amanda Wan, Workshop 14 featuring Linh Winnie and Bae’s Cocktail Club featuring Boo Jin Heng at #FindThePhotoBooth.

Oct 12

Hats featuring Demitria Dana Paramita, St. Regis Bar featuring Paulo Naranjo, Carrots featuring Alvin Sung Jaya at F*nkytown.

Maybe Sammy featuring Hunter Gregory and Bar Mauro featuring Ricardo Nava and Yayo Nava at The St. Regis Bar.

Above Board featuring Hayden Lambert at Sugar Ray You’ve Just Been Poisoned.

Lady Bee featuring Alonso Palomino at Bar Us.

Mamba Negra featuringJ uan David and Bijou featuring Daniel Ortega at Opium.

Red Frog featuring Paulo Gomes and Emanuel Minez at Firefly.

Fura featuring Sasha Wijidessa at Wasteland.

Modern Haus Jakarta featuring Mirwansyah Bule at Dry Wave Cocktail Studio.

Locale Firenze featuring Faramarz Poosty and Alessandro Mengoni at #FindTheLockerRoom.

Eximia featuring Márcio Silva at Rabbit Hole.

Sober Company featuring Winnie Wei, Papuwa featuringVivian Liu, Chimney featuring Ellen Xu and Tiger Liang at Black Cabin.

Oct 13

Virtù featuring Keith Motsi, Pony Up featuring Dre Yang, Employees Only featuring Frank Kurt and Maldonado at Bar Sathorn.

Uzbek flyweight says referee made ‘mistake’ in third-round ruling as he targets elite after victory over Kongthoranee at ONE Fight Night 36

ONE Championship’s rising Muay Thai star Aslamjon Ortikov believes his victory over Kongthoranee Sor Sommai should have been even more dominant – claiming he was not legitimately knocked down in the third round.

The Uzbek scored an impressive unanimous decision win in their flyweight contest on Saturday morning at ONE Fight Night 36 inside Lumpinee Stadium, a result that is expected to propel him into the top five rankings.

‘I promise you guys – every single one of you – just watch the fight,’ Ortikov told the Bangkok Post backstage. ‘He didn’t even hit me. He stepped three, four times and pushed my leg – it wasn’t a punch or knee or anything. You can just watch the video, I promise.’

Referee Olivier Coste ruled a knockdown midway through the final round when Kongthoranee appeared to trip Ortikov to the canvas, though the 26-year-old quickly rose to continue the fight unfazed.

‘Nothing happened. I just continued to fight,’ Ortikov said. ‘I felt great.’

It capped a measured performance from Ortikov, who controlled much of the bout with his long guard and counter timing. The victory marks his third straight under the ONE banner, and his first on the main roster after winning a US$100,000 contract in June – a streak that could lift him into contention among the division’s elite.

‘I think I’ll be number four now,’ he said. ‘This flyweight division is the best in ONE Championship. All the great fighters are here – and I’m one of them.’

Aslamjon Ortikov believes Kongthoranee did not knock him down – and insists he was tripped

Aslamjon Ortikov believes Kongthoranee did not knock him down – and insists he was tripped

Asked what comes next, Ortikov laughed. ‘Right now, next is just a burger with cheese and something to drink,’ he joked. ‘That’s it for now.’

But he was quick to add that he’s ready for any challenge when the time comes.

‘I don’t care who’s next,’ he said. ‘Whoever is in the rankings, I’m ready. I’m here for my dream. Nothing personal.’

That dream, he admitted, could one day include a showdown with the former two-sport champion Superlek Kiatmuu9, if the Thai star decides to drop back down to flyweight – where he still holds the kickboxing belt, but last competed over 15 months ago.

‘I don’t know if Superlek can make weight,’ Ortikov said. ‘If he can, why not? He’s a great fighter. We can fight – and after the fight, we can go eat together.’

The 22-year-old also praised Kongthoranee for a ‘great fight’ and said he hoped to share a meal with him, too, before leaving Bangkok.

‘I just want to say thank you to Chatri [Sityodtong, CEO] and to ONE Championship for this opportunity,’ he said. ‘I’m so happy – and I used it.’

Their Majesties the King and Queen have received as a patient under royal patronage the British caver who played an important role in the rescue of young footballers from the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand in 2018.

Vernon Unsworth, 70, has been admitted for treatment of lung inflammation at Maechan Hospital in Mae Chan district of the northernmost province of Chiang Rai.

Authorities from Chiang Rai visited Mr Unsworth at the hospital on Monday and reported his condition was stable. He could talk normally and communicate with the visitors, they said.

A cave expert and longtime resident of Chiang Rai where he worked as a financial adviser, the British-born Mr Unsworth had surveyed the Tham Luang cave complex in Chiang Rai.

He played an important role in helping to plan the rescue of 12 young members of the ‘Wild Boars’ football team and their coach after they became trapped in the flooded cave in June and July 2018.

The rescue effort attracted worldwide attention and saturation coverage by international media, as experts from many countries travelled to Thailand and volunteered their expertise to bring the boys and their coach out safely.

Tham Luang has since become a well-known tourist attraction.

Mr Unsworth was at the centre of a related drama after he brought a defamation case against Elon Musk, who insulted him in an angry tweet for criticising a rescue plan proposed by the tech billionaire as a ‘PR stunt’.

A Los Angeles jury found that Mr Musk did not defame Mr Unsworth by calling him a ‘pedo guy’ on Twitter. The billionaire’s lawyers had argued that their client had used the expression as an insult but did not mean it literally.

Re: “MPs fail Clean Air Bill,” (Editorial, Oct 1).

Pheu Thai dismally failed its northern core base by boycotting voting on the Clean Air Bill, causing this very important bill to fail due to a lack of a quorum. Northerners suffer most from seasonal haze and PM2.5 pollution, and Pheu Thai chaired the bill’s drafting committee, yet only 27% of Pheu Thai MPs showed up to vote. This was in stark contrast to the People’s Party (90% of its MPs present) and the Bhumjaithai Party (80%).

When your party won’t even vote on a bill that it authored and that’s vital to your family’s health — it’s past time to switch.

Burin Kantabutra

False equations

Re: “In an Irish memorial, I see echoes of Palestine”, (Opinion, Oct 3).

Andy Young’s commentary, in which she equates the situation in Gaza with the Irish Famine, the famine in Sudan and Hurricane Katrina, is a litany of nonsensical equations.

For one, we have seen pictures of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing Gaza City. Do they look like emaciated famine victims? No, they do not.

And the harrowing pictures of children are manipulated Hamas photo ops. None of their parents looks in the least hungry.

We are led to believe that Jews are colonisers, completely ignoring the fact that half of Israeli Jews fled or were expelled from Muslim countries. Israel has two million Arab citizens, while most Muslim countries now have no Jews.

I could make a more poignant historical comparison: More than 80 years ago, following years of anti-Semitic propaganda, some six million Jews were murdered while nearly every country in the world, including Ireland, refused to accept Jewish refugees.

Today’s massive anti-Israel propaganda, again, justifies the murder of Jews.

Frank Scimone

Revealing remarks

Re: “Military heads summoned for empty spectacle”, (Opinion, Oct 10).

In President Donald Trump’s lacklustre speech to the 700 US generals whom he summoned to a meeting in Quantico, Virginia, from their posts all around the world, he said that there are two N words that he would never use. One stands for nuke, and the other one is n***er.

Mr Trump is explicit in boasting that the US has more nukes and they are better than and outnumber those of the Russians and the Chinese.

Mr Trump may not be aware of the consequence that, like the tariff he advocates, the use of nukes is reciprocal too. His Trump Tower in New York will vanish seconds later if he drops a nuke in St Petersburg.

Perhaps he got carried away and thought he was addressing a crowd in a town hall that cheered and believed everything he said.

Even though Mr Trump did not elaborate on the other n-word, it is difficult to convince people that he is not a racist.

There is an old Chinese saying: There are 300 taels of silver buried here, which means one is trying to prove what nobody doubts.

Yingwai Suchaovanich

Proactive health management is taking centre stage as Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited (BDMS), a leading international private hospital network, introduces the ‘BDMS SPOT-MAS’ cancer screening package. This innovative test detects early-stage cancer cells through a single blood sample, under the concept ‘Early Detection, Better Outcomes – Comprehensive Screening for 10 Cancers.’ The initiative aims to improve treatment opportunities and disease control from the earliest stages.

Cancer often develops silently, showing no symptoms until it has advanced. Early detection, therefore, plays a vital role in improving survival rates and treatment effectiveness. The BDMS SPOT-MAS package is designed to screen and assess the risk of ten major cancer types – breast, lung, liver, oesophageal, colorectal, endometrial, pancreatic, ovarian, gastric, and head and neck cancers.

Cancer remains one of the world’s most pressing public-health challenges. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 19.9 million people were diagnosed with cancer globally in 2022, a number expected to climb to 35 million by 2050 due to an ageing population and lifestyle-related risk factors.

In Thailand, data from the National Cancer Institute show around 140,000 new cancer cases annually, with approximately 83,000 deaths – averaging more than 227 fatalities per day. The leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Thais include liver and bile duct cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and leukaemia, highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures.

The BDMS SPOT-MAS package targets the most prevalent and high-risk cancers using advanced genetic biomarker testing technology, enabling early identification of cancer risk and cellular abnormalities under the supervision of specialised physicians. Screening items may vary by hospital. The package is recommended for individuals aged 40 and above, or those at high risk, serving as a crucial first step in prevention, ongoing monitoring, and personalised treatment planning based on medical advice.

BDMS continues to advance medical innovation for modern healthcare, ensuring greater access to effective screening and early intervention. The BDMS SPOT-MAS package is available from 1 October to 15 November 2025 at BDMS-affiliated hospitals, including Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej Hospital, BNH Hospital, Phyathai Hospital, Paolo Hospital, and BDMS Wellness Clinic.