Category: The Bangkok Post

The Aspen Tree The Forestias, a holistic healthcare community for older adults, has partnered with Baycrest Global Solutions, Canada, to deliver international-standard senior living, health, and brain care.

With over 105 years of expertise, Baycrest is a global leader in aging, brain health, and preventive research. The organisation holds the highest accreditation from Accreditation Canada and serves as a centre of excellence through its Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), Baycrest Academy for Research and Education (BARE), and collaborations with the University of Toronto.

Under this collaboration, Baycrest manages and advises operations at The Aspen Tree’s Health and Brain Center (HBC), ensuring medical services, safety protocols, and wellness programs meet international healthcare standards. Baycrest’s team works closely with The Aspen Tree’s medical professionals to design and implement evidence-based care models tailored for Thailand’s aging population.

The Health and Brain Center provides a full spectrum of services, including Geriatric Medicine, Rehabilitation, Memory and Brain Clinics, Preventive Health Programs, and Long-Term Care. Its programs integrate clinical care with neuroscience research and innovations to promote physical and cognitive well-being for those aged 50 and above.

Baycrest also introduces Cogniciti, a digital brain health assessment tool that helps identify early signs of cognitive decline. Through ongoing professional training, system development, and knowledge transfer, Baycrest empowers Thai healthcare teams to deliver safe, effective, and sustainable eldercare aligned with international best practices.

This collaboration establishes The Aspen Tree The Forestias as a leading model of holistic senior living in Thailand-combining cutting-edge brain science, compassionate care, and a wellness-focused environment designed for lifelong independence and happiness. For more information, visit https://mqdc.com/aspentree

England and Portugal are in pole position to win their respective 2026 World Cup qualifying groups with two games to spare, with several other European nations also hoping to secure berths at the finals in the upcoming matches.

Norway may also be only one victory away from reaching the tournament for the first time since 1998, which would leave Italy staring at a third successive World Cup watching from the sidelines.

Thomas Tuchel’s England laid down a marker last month with an impressive 5-0 thrashing of Serbia in Belgrade and are yet to concede a goal in five qualifiers.

They are not in Group K action until Tuesday when a victory over Latvia in Riga would secure a place at next year’s finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada, if Serbia do not beat Albania on Saturday.

England boast a seven-point lead over Albania with three matches to play, with Serbia a point further back but with a game in hand.

Several players who were not previously considered first-choice starred in Serbia, leading Tuchel to leave out big names Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his latest squad.

“Keep on pushing,” Tuchel, whose side play Wales in a friendly on Thursday, said as his message to those missing out.

“It is a decision for this camp, it was the best camp (in September) in terms of team spirit and team work, this was the best camp so far.

“We decided to invite the same group of players to make more stable what we built on.”

Serbia’s clash with Albania could prove crucial in deciding which team finishes second and goes into the play-offs.

In-form Portugal eye early qualification

Portugal racked up eight goals in their first two qualifiers in September and will likely need just two more wins over this international break to wrap up top spot in Group F.

Roberto Martinez’s side will qualify with victories against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and Hungary on Tuesday, unless Armenia beat both those same opponents.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals in September, including one in a tense 3-2 success against Hungary in Budapest, sealed by a late Joao Cancelo penalty.

Portugal are targeting a seventh successive World Cup appearance.

Norway have enjoyed a dream start to qualifying, scoring 24 goals in five successive wins to move to the brink of the finals.

Erling Haaland, who is yet to play at a major tournament, already has a remarkable nine goals in their group, after netting five in the 11-1 thumping of Moldova last time out.

Norway host Israel on Saturday, knowing that victory would end their 28-year absence from the World Cup if Italy fail to beat either Estonia or Israel in Group I.

But the Scandinavians will be without skipper Martin Odegaard after he suffered a knee injury playing for Arsenal last weekend.

“We lost our captain, and we have to live with that,” said coach Stale Solbakken.

“Of course you get angry and upset and those kinds of feelings, but then you quickly get into a mode where you have to think constructively.”

Four-time world champions Italy will be desperate to avoid the play-offs, after losing at that stage in qualifying for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Sweden and North Macedonia respectively.

France, the 2018 World Cup winners and runners-up three years ago, could also qualify with victories against Azerbaijan and Iceland, if Iceland draw with Ukraine.

European champions Spain too have an opportunity to book a ticket to North and Central America if they defeat both Georgia and Bulgaria, but only if multiple other results go their way in Group E.

Croatia and Switzerland could also qualify in the coming week.

Germany, though, have little margin for error in Group A after a shock defeat by Slovakia in their opening qualifier.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side face Luxembourg on Friday before heading to Windsor Park to take on Northern Ireland three days later.

Starting a construction business – or any business – is a dream for many and a powerful engine that drives a nation’s economy. Yet those dreams often collide with complex and time-consuming government licensing procedures. What should ensure fairness and compliance instead becomes a major barrier that causes delays, frustration, and, more critically, opens the door to a deeply rooted problem: bribery. This silent force undermines trust and erodes national credibility.

This form of corruption typically involves offering or receiving benefits in exchange for the issuance of licences or permits for activities regulated by the state. The problem stems from lengthy, complicated processes that grant certain officials excessive discretion. Such gaps in the system provide opportunities for demanding or offering bribes in return for faster approvals. It may seem like a shortcut, but in reality, it is the first step into a damaging and self-perpetuating cycle.

What appears to be a temporary fix – paying a bribe to speed things up – eventually corrodes the entire system. As bribery becomes normalised, it weakens fair competition and discourages honest entrepreneurs. More importantly, society bears the cost: unsafe buildings due to substandard construction, and depleted marine resources from unregulated fishing. These are not isolated incidents – they are direct outcomes of corruption within the licensing process.

Common examples include construction permits in urban areas, where bribes are solicited to expedite approvals or bypass environmental checks. In coastal zones, bribes may be exchanged for fishing licences to evade monitoring requirements. Such acts not only compromise public safety and environmental sustainability but also damage the country’s reputation in the eyes of investors and international partners.

The Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (ONACC) is tackling these challenges head-on through its comprehensive initiative, ‘Together Against Bribery’ (TaB), which aims to address the problem systematically and sustainably. However, no effort can succeed without the participation of everyone.

Rejecting both the giving and taking of bribes is a powerful step towards breaking the cycle of corruption. When citizens, businesses, and officials unite in integrity, transparency becomes the norm rather than the exception.

Be the eyes and ears of your community. Report any suspicious acts or information to ONACC. Together, we can stop this silent threat and make a transparent, bribe-free society a reality.

A 51-year-old man accused of committing multiple home burglaries while naked has been arrested in Chok Chai district.

Chaliaw Khramkrathok was stopped and taken into police custody while riding a motorcycle in tambon Tha Yiam of Chok Chai district on Tuesday afternoon.

He was named in arrest warrants for multiple burglaries in Chakkarat, Khon Buri and Nong Boon Mak districts since March this year.

According to police, the suspect has a house in Chok Chai district but tried to avoid arrest by living outside in paddy fields.

He had broken into several houses in Chakkarat and Nong Boon Mak districts in March, and into four houses in Khon Buri district last month, police said.

Mr Chaliaw stole personal valuables and cash and was often naked when he committed the thefts, and was filmed by security cameras.

He told police that he took off his clothes because he did not want to be recognised by his clothing. Sometimes he stripped off because his clothes were soaked by rain.

Thonburi Wellbeing Co, the residential development arm of SET-listed Thonburi Healthcare Group (THG), has relaunched the Jin Wellbeing County project with a new wellness-oriented branding and plans to develop the next phase with a new investor.

Peerapong Peerachotiwatra, chief executive of Thonburi Wellbeing, said the project launched in 2018 was initially positioned as a senior living community.

However, the concept created a misconception among potential buyers, as many in the target demographic did not identify themselves as elderly.

“Our project came a little ahead of its time,” he said. “We are rebranding it to align with the global megatrend of wellness, which is not limited to the elderly and is relevant to people of all ages.”

Completed in 2020 with a total investment of 3 billion baht, the project’s first phase comprises five seven-storey condo towers with 494 units in two configurations — one-bedroom units of 43 square metres and one-bedroom-plus units of 63 sq m.

The project utilises universal design, featuring wider entrances and walkways, ramps, and extra-large elevators that can accommodate a hospital bed.

Each unit also incorporates safety-focused components, including balcony railings and handrails in the bathroom.

All units are equipped with an emergency call system located by the bed and in the bathroom.

In the event of a resident having an accident or the symptoms of an illness, the system alerts the medical team at Thonburi Burana Hospital, located within the project, which can respond and reach the unit within four minutes on a 24-hour standby basis.

Operated by THG, the hospital, which has 55 beds, provides convalescent and geriatric care, holistic preventive services, advanced treatment, and rehabilitation for both its patients and the elderly.

Phase one occupies 20 rai of the 142-rai site on Phahon Yothin Road in Rangsit in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district.

The remaining 122 rai will be used for future phases. Phase two, planned on 20 rai, will feature eight wellness condo towers targeting younger buyers, with the company seeking partners for joint development.

Some 20 rai near the main road is earmarked for Thonburi Rangsit Hospital, a specialty facility, though development plans have been slightly delayed. The remainder is reserved for wellbeing single-detached houses.

Roughly 60% of phase-one units have been sold, with half already occupied, mainly by active seniors over 60 living alone.

Fewer than 3% are passive seniors, while other units are held by investors renting to local white-collar workers, Chinese entrepreneurs, and American retirees.

The remaining buyers include overseas clients awaiting retirement.

“We completed construction of phase one just as the pandemic hit,” Mr Peerapong said. “We implemented a bubble-and-seal system and froze marketing activities. Now, we are resuming sales.”

The project offers discounts of 1 million baht for smaller units priced at 5 million baht, and 2 million baht for larger units priced at 7 million baht, with the aim of selling at least 20 units in the final quarter of this year.

In August and September 2025, THG informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand it had completed a capital increase totalling around 6.2 billion baht through a private placement with Ramkhamhaeng Hospital Plc and a rights offering to existing shareholders.

“Although Ramkhamhaeng Hospital was already THG’s largest shareholder, holding 24.59% last year, it decided to inject 5 billion baht, raising its stake to 49.99% to strengthen confidence in the THG brand,” Mr Peerapong said.

The move follows the indictment of THG founder Boon Vanasin earlier this year.

Mr Peerapong said Boon and his family now hold less than 10% of the company, with no board seats, staff positions, or voting rights in THG.

The recent road collapse caused by a sinkhole in front of Vajira Hospital has drawn attention to insurance coverage for large-scale construction projects in Bangkok, with industry executives saying rising risks in the capital could push up premiums for large projects in the future.

The incident occurred near the future Vajira Hospital Station, prompting the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand to order a temporary halt to construction on the project, which is part of the new MRT Purple Line.

According to industry sources, the project was insured for a combined value of 19.4 billion baht by three major insurers: Bangkok Insurance (BKI) (40%), Dhipaya Insurance (40%), and Muang Thai Insurance (20%).

The policies cover assets under construction, machinery, third-party property damage, and accidents affecting external parties. The cause of the collapse, whether due to a water pipe leak or ongoing construction, remains under investigation.

If construction is found to have been the trigger, liability is covered by the project’s insurance policy.

BKI chief executive Apisit Anantanatarat said despite the recent incident, insurers expect more large projects to proceed under government stimulus measures, including high-speed and dual-track rail developments. They said rising risks mean “higher premiums are likely”.

Global reinsurers have reduced renewal premiums over the past 2-3 years, increasing insurers’ profitability.

“With disaster risks in Thailand rising, reinsurance costs, particularly for excess of loss coverage, are expected to climb,” said Mr Apisit.

For instance, BKI’s earthquake protection covers up to 5 billion baht per event, with reinsurers absorbing 4.9 billion baht and BKI 100 million. To strengthen resilience, he said BKI topped up its protection to 8 billion baht, though this added 400 million baht in costs this year, weighing on profits.

Flooding in October also poses a major concern, with forecasts pointing to water levels comparable to 2011. This could trigger a spike in auto claims, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs), which carry higher risks.

BKI is the only insurer to expand its catastrophe coverage to 8 billion baht this year, the highest level in the industry, said Mr Apisit.

GROWTH AMID HEADWINDS

Thailand’s insurance sector faces headwinds from the economic slowdown caused by sluggish exports, a high level of household debt, and the impact of cheaper Chinese imports on small local producers. GDP growth is projected at less than 2% this year.

Against this backdrop, the insurance industry grew 3% in the first half of the year, with full-year growth forecast at 1.5-2%. Government stimulus programmes such as the 60-billion-baht “Khon La Khrueng” co-payment scheme are expected to provide a temporary boost.

Auto insurance remains a key driver, with total car sales estimated at 600,000 units. EV sales have surged nearly 40% year-on-year in 2025 to around 120,000 units, lifting the demand for insurance. However, BKI’s motor insurance portfolio contracted by 5% as the company avoided aggressive price competition in the high-risk EV segment.

Fire insurance is expected to expand by 1% in the second half, while large projects such as the 200-billion-baht high-speed rail linking three airports, dual-track railways, and new data centres are set to support premium growth.

BKI targets premium growth of 2.6-3% in 2025 and 5-6% by 2026, though the short government tenure (4-8 months) limits near-term economic recovery.

With exports and tourism, traditional growth engines, remaining weak, Thailand’s economy is likely to see subdued growth over the next 2-3 years, said Mr Apisit.

The US government shutdown is likely to have a minimal impact on the Thai stock market, which bounced back to surpass 1,300 points on Tuesday, unless the standoff in Washington is prolonged, according to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).

Soraphol Tulayasathien, senior executive vice-president of SET, said US legislators have shut down the government multiple times in the past and typically the event was short-lived. On average, shutdowns last 1-2 weeks, with the longest one taking 35 days to be resolved.

Mr Soraphol said investors remain largely unfazed by the situation, as the US stock market has not declined significantly since the shutdown began on Oct 1.

“The shutdown is expected to have a limited impact on the SET index, unless the situation is prolonged, as investors largely perceive it as a temporary external factor that may create short-term volatility in capital flow,” he told a briefing on Tuesday.

Mr Soraphol’s comments were made as the shutdown, the 15th since 1981, is on track to become the fourth-longest in US history, eclipsing the six-day shutdown in 1995. The longest shutdown lasted 35 days during President Donald Trump’s first term, from 2018-2019.

He said more significant factors are the new Thai government’s policy execution focused on “short-term stimulus, long-term gains, broad distribution” through its initiatives, alongside multi-stakeholder cooperation in economic and capital market reforms.

“Meanwhile, concerns over the US economy and its monetary and fiscal policies led global investors to increase their holdings in safe-haven assets, particularly gold, the price of which surged to record highs in global markets,” said Mr Soraphol.

“The SET index is expected to continue its recovery through the remainder of 2025, supported by a resurgence in fundraising activities among listed companies in both debt and equity markets over the past two months, while strong first-day performance of newly listed securities reflects improving investor sentiment, and selling pressure from long-term equity funds has begun to subside.”

At the end of September, when the Anutin Charnvirakul government took office, the Thai benchmark index rose 3% from the previous month to finish at 1,274.17 points, narrowing the year-to-date decline to 9%, driven by investor expectations for government stimulus measures that bolster the Thai bourse.

Foreign investors were net sellers of 96.2 billion baht worth of Thai stocks during the first nine months of this year, including net sales of 11.9 billion baht last month.

Average daily trading value of the SET and Market for Alternative Investment dropped 31% year-on-year for the period to 43.2 billion baht (roughly US$1.34 billion).

The SET’s forward price-earnings (P/E) ratio was 13.9 times at the end of last month, below Asian stock markets’ average of 14.1 times. The historical P/E ratio was 14.7 times, lower than Asian markets’ average of 16.0 times. The dividend yield ratio was 3.86%, higher than Asian stock markets’ average of 3.02%.

Three bombs exploded at the entrance of a youth centre in Muang district of this southern border province on Tuesday night,, ahead of a traditional Buddhist ceremony there on Wednesday.

The three explosions occurred at the Yala municipal youth centre between 9.05pm and 9.40pm. One bomb detonated near a gate to a Tai Chi field, the second near Sirorot Road and the third bomb was in a garbage bin.

There were no casualties.

The attack occurred on the eve of a traditional ceremony at the centre on Wednsday marking the end of Buddhist Lent.

Advanced Info Service (AIS) is strengthening its entertainment and sports streaming platform AIS Play by teaming up with America’s National Basketball Association (NBA) to broadcast the 2025-26 game season to Thai fans.

Coverage of this year’s game season commences on Oct 22.

The NBA is a global sports and media organisation built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League. The group has established a major international presence, with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories.

Rungtip Jarusiripipat, head of entertainment at AIS, said the company has developed AIS Play into Thailand’s largest all-in-one entertainment hub, powered by the best network and curated global content.

The company aggregates core content creation and licensing, including major studios, independent filmmakers, content aggregators, sports rights holders and agents, leagues and federations.

She said bringing in world-class content such as the NBA marks another step in expanding the company’s audience base and enhancing the viewing experience.

“Basketball fans can now enjoy every key match on AIS Play, along with exclusive NBA access and premium entertainment from Prime Video — delivering excitement anytime, anywhere. This partnership plays a vital role in strengthening the basketball scene in Thailand,” said Ms Rungtip.

AIS customers can watch live NBA preseason games for free on Oct 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16, on AIS Play.

Somchai Lertsutiwong, chief executive of AIS, said recently that he expects AIS revenue from non-mobile and non-fixed broadband business to account for at least 20% of total revenue in three years, up from 10% at present.

The target calls for driving sustainable growth through new S-curve business areas, including digital finance, entertainment and retail services.

The NBA packages include NBA 2025-26 for 249 baht a month (excluding value-added tax [VAT]), offering every major NBA game live, including the regular season, playoffs, and All-Star Weekend, all via AIS Play.

This package also comes with Prime Video world-class entertainment, plus marquee regular-season matchups and key tentpole events, including the Emirates NBA Cup, Play-In Tournament, and NBA Finals.

Other packages include Play Sports for 599 baht a month (excluding VAT), which offers sports channels and major sporting events, including the Premier League, NFL and NBA, all via AIS Play. This package is available for subscription starting Oct 15.

Another package is called Play Ultimate+Sports for 1,499 baht a month for the first 12 months, then 1,799 baht a month (excluding VAT) thereafter. This package offers sports coverage from the Premier League, NFL and NBA via AIS Play, plus content from streaming platforms such as Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video and others.

Pheu Thai is poised to sweep at least 200 MPs in the upcoming general election, according to Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the newly appointed party election director.

Mr Suriya was speaking during an event at Pheu Thai headquarters, “Reinventing Pheu Thai, Reinventing Thailand”, in which key members expressed their readiness for the poll slated in the coming months while 193 MP candidates nationwide were unveiled.

Mr Suriya, a former deputy prime minister and transport minister, who was appointed to be in charge of the election race during the event, said he has been with the party since 2001, when it was named Thai Rak Thai.

He said he was confident the party could win at least 200 seats during the next election because the public support for the People’s Party (PP) had stumbled after it backed Anutin Charnvirakul as the new prime minister.

He pointed to PP’s social media posts that once drew around 80,000 likes, saying they now struggle to reach 10,000 and also said Pheu Thai’s candidates are direct rivals to the PP’s.

“With the PP’s popularity declining, we will gain more seats,” he said.

He estimated the PP would win just under 100 seats, while Bhumjaithai, recently boosted by defectors, could gain 120 from its current 70.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the party’s leader and former prime minister, also delivered a keynote speech at the event, reflecting on the recent setbacks, including the imprisonment of her father, Thaksin, and a by-election win.

“Every hardship teaches us to rise stronger,” she said. “The strong dose we are given today will transform us back to the greatness we once held during the Thai Rak Thai Period.”

“Many said Pheu Thai has come to an end. But we have not,” she said.

Ms Paetongtarn also said the list of the three prime ministerial candidates will be revealed at the proper time.

“Their names will be Thailand’s hope,” she said, adding that the three candidates are not associated with her family.

She pointed out that the party’s structural overhaul will create unity, transparency and real participation.

Ms Paetongtarn also referred to the Young Pheu Thai Platform and the Moonshot Forum, which brainstorm ideas from young people and experts, providing input into the drafting of the policy platform.