Category: The Bangkok Post

Nintendo has announced that Thai subtitles will be added to Donkey Kong Bananza for the Nintendo Switch 2, with players able to try out the feature at Nintendo’s booth during the upcoming Gamescom Asia × Thailand Games Show in October. The update will be free for existing owners of the game.

The move comes shortly after Nintendo revealed plans to expand its presence in Thailand with a new local subsidiary. While the company has not yet provided a specific download date for the subtitle update, it confirmed that players will eventually be able to download it at no extra cost.

At the Gamescom Asia × Thailand Games Show, taking place from October 17-19, visitors to the Nintendo booth will be able to try the Thai-language version of Donkey Kong Bananza on the Switch 2.

Nintendo stressed, however, that the addition of Thai subtitles to Donkey Kong Bananza does not mean that all of its other titles will support the language. The company said announcements will be made in advance if other games are confirmed to include Thai localisation.

The Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC) is set to meet with the Ministry of Finance soon to propose an extension to the Super Savings Fund (SSF) tax-deduction scheme beyond its scheduled expiry later this year.

AIMC chairwoman Chavinda Hanratanakool said the SSF has played a dual role in providing tax benefits and promoting long-term savings.

“From a tax perspective, SSF deductions do not significantly impact government revenue. Therefore, the AIMC intends to push for clarity on whether an extension is possible,” she said.

“If the ministry confirms the extension, it will provide certainty for investors. If there is silence, we can assume the scheme will not be renewed.”

In the event the SSF is not extended, investors could still gain tax incentives through the upcoming Thailand Individual Savings Account (TISA) programme.

Unlike the SSF, which is limited to mutual funds, TISA is expected to cover a broader range of investment vehicles, including equities, tax-saving funds and potentially life insurance.

“TISA would allow a long-term framework for tax-deductible investment without fixed expiration dates, unlike long-term equity funds [LTFs] or SSF,” Mrs Chavinda noted.

She also confirmed that the ThaiESG fund series would be included under TISA, reinforcing its role in sustainable investment promotion.

The SSF is a tax-saving fund introduced in early 2020, following the expiration of the LTF in 2019. The fund itself is set to expire this year, with an estimated total asset under management (AUM) of 50-60 billion baht.

The SSF, according to Mrs Chavinda, has attracted long-term savings into the capital market by offering tax benefits as an incentive for retail investors.

“If the government extends the programme, it will strengthen the confidence in long-term funds.”

The challenge, however, includes the risk that investors may withdraw if the fund is not extended or if there is no policy clarity.

In comparison, the TISA scheme has greater potential than the traditional SSF because it has no expiration date, reducing policy uncertainty relative to the SSF and LTF, whose fixed-term structure encourages investors to hold them for longer periods.

Other notable advantages of the TISA include broader asset coverage because it can be designed to invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds, tax-saving funds and potentially certain life insurance products. That makes the TISA suitable for portfolio diversification.

The TISA also promotes systematic savings through mechanisms such as dollar-cost averaging, helping to shift investor behaviour from short-term deposits to long-term investment.

Besides, the TISA can provide tax incentives aligned with long-term goals. If designed with clear benefits, such as sufficiently high contribution limits and defined tax deductions, it can attract a large number of account holders.

A father who parked illegally outside a popular Bangkok school to pick up his child and reacted violently when police clamped his car has been fined and given a suspended jail sentence

The case drew wide attention after a video showed him hurling abuse at officers and toppling a police motorcycle while his young child watched from the car.

He loudly declared he had stopped ‘just five minutes’ to pick up his child.

According to the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the incident occurred about 2.25pm on Sept 26, when traffic police from Samsen station found the car stopped in a no-parking zone in front of the school.

The driver refused to move and instead angrily pushed over a police motorcycle, causing damage, before being taken into custody.

He was initially charged with failing to pay annual road tax and obstructing traffic. After confessing, the case was forwarded to the Dusit District Court, which found him guilty under Sections 91, 358 and 368 of the Criminal Code for disobeying a lawful order and causing property damage.

The court sentenced him to two months in jail, fined him 12,000 baht, and ordered he pay 10,000 baht compensation. The jail term was suspended for one year.

The partnership between the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Etihad Airways marks a significant milestone in combining elite sport with global connectivity.

Under this collaboration, Etihad serves as the Official Global Airline Partner of the BWF, providing seamless travel and premium experiences for players, officials and fans, while amplifying badminton’s global reach. The alliance reflects both organisations’ shared mission to unite people across continents through sport, culture and shared values.

Since January 2025, the airline has connected badminton’s worldwide fan base of 744 million people, most of whom are in Asia, with its expanding network and services.

At the recent TotalEnergies BWF World Championships in Paris, BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul met with Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, to celebrate the role the airline has played in elevating the sport this year.

‘To align ourselves with a global leader in air travel such as Etihad Airways signals the sport’s expanding footprint,’ Khunying Patama said. ‘Etihad’s dedication to fostering connections through sport mirrors our mission of uniting people through badminton’s universal appeal

‘We are proud to partner with a sponsor that shares our vision to elevate badminton to world-class status, and for Etihad to take an active role in developing the sport globally. Together, we aim to enhance the fan experience, elevate the sport’s visibility and deliver unforgettable experiences at our premier tournaments.’

De underlined the synergy between the two organisations. ‘Our partnership with the BWF reflects Etihad’s commitment to connecting people through sport, culture and travel,’ he said.

‘Badminton is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, uniting millions of fans across Asia and beyond. As we expand our network across Southeast Asia, we are proud to engage with badminton fans everywhere and support a sport that is so deeply loved in the region.’

Beyond celebrating the partnership, Khunying Patama herself embodies the global aspirations of the sport. A billionaire entrepreneur turned philanthropist, she has channelled her resources into sport, youth development, art, music and culture.

She became Thailand’s first female member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2017, the fourth Thai overall to hold the post. Earlier this year, she was elected by 206 national member associations as president of the BWF for the 2025-2029 term, making her not only the first Thai but also the second woman ever to lead the world body.

In Thailand, she serves as President of the Badminton Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, where she has spearheaded grassroots development, talent-building initiatives and the hosting of world-class events.

Her influence extends well beyond sport. She is active in numerous charities supporting education, health and social development, while also serving as patron of cultural, art and music organisations.

With business interests ranging from steel and property to hospitality and logistics, Khunying Patama has long been recognised as a leading figure in both corporate and philanthropic circles. In 2024, she was honoured by the Thai Sports Journalists’ Association with the title ‘Olympic Queen’ for her contributions to Thai and international sport.

Through her leadership, generosity and vision, Khunying Patama has not only shaped the trajectory of badminton worldwide but has also inspired countless young people in Asia and beyond.

Dear Doctors: My 22-year-old son is severely bipolar, which impacts his life terribly. I have kept up with the studies that have shown success in treating bipolar with a faecal transplant. Do you know of any open studies right now that might take my son? We would travel anywhere to get it done.

Dear Reader: Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that is marked by extreme swings in mood, energy, thoughts and behaviours. These repeated shifts from intense elation to crushing depression can disrupt sleep, impede judgement and interfere with the ability to think clearly. As with many conditions that affect mental health, bipolar disorder exists on a spectrum. That means each case is unique, and symptoms vary in severity, frequency and presentation. But even in its milder forms, bipolar disorder can significantly impair quality of life.

It is common for the first indications of bipolar disorder to emerge in late adolescence and early adulthood. Diagnosis includes a mental health assessment, medical history and physical exam. Once diagnosed, treatment typically combines medications, such as mood stabilisers and perhaps antidepressants, with individual, group or family-focused psychotherapy. Due to the unpleasant side effects of some of the medications, treatment can be challenging.

The cause of bipolar disorder is not yet clearly understood. Previous research has suggested links to a mix of heredity, mental health and environmental factors. More recently, though, growing awareness of a connection between the gut microbiome and the brain is leading researchers in an intriguing new direction.

This connection, known as the gut-brain axis, is a bidirectional communication system between the trillions of microbes in the gut and the brain. An imbalance in the gut microbiome has been found to contribute to inflammation, immune system dysfunction and the production of harmful metabolites.

This imbalance, known as gut dysbiosis, has been linked to a range of neurodegenerative diseases. These include Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

As you have pointed out, there is evidence that gut dysbiosis may play a role in bipolar disorder as well. It is not suggested that gut dysbiosis is the sole cause of these diseases. However, some researchers believe modulating the gut microbiome may have therapeutic benefits. This may be done through diet, the use of specific prebiotics and probiotics, and faecal transplants.

This is when a person’s colon is infused with a solution containing faecal matter from a healthy donor. A few small studies have reported success in lessening the symptoms of severe bipolar disorder through fecal transplants.

We searched at clinicaltrials.gov, the United States National Institutes of Health’s clinical trials database. At this time, there do not appear to be any new or ongoing investigations into the use of fecal transplants to manage bipolar disorder. However, several bipolar studies are exploring probiotics. You may find it useful to browse all of the studies listed on the site associated with bipolar disorder. Even if none are right for your son, they are an excellent way to keep abreast of new directions in research. Universal Features Syndicate

Skeet and trap shooting star Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit is boycotting the SEA Games, to be held in Thailand in Deember, accusing event organisers of a lack of transparency and mismanagement.

Her withdrawal is not the first controversy to hit this year’s biennial multisport event. Two badminton layers have also questioned the fairness of the player selection process.

Sutiya announced her decision on Monday, saying she would not participate in the selection process for the national team for the games, because she had suspicions about transparency in the way the Skeet and Trap Shooting Association handlies its budget and financial support from sponsors.

‘That is why I have distanced myself from the Skeet and Trap Shooting Association. And I have decided that I will not contest the SEA Games and will cheer on younger players,’ Sutiya told reporters. ‘I hope the younger players perform well.’

The SEA Games will run from Dec 9-20 with events spread between venues in Greater Bangkok, Chon Buri and Songkhla.

The Skeet and Trap Shooting Association targets three gold medals.

Sutiya would have been a front runner if she competed

She asked Deputy Prime Minister Thammanat Prompow to look into all the problems at the Skeet and Trap Shooting Association and other sports organisations in the country.

As deputy PM, Mr Thammanat oversees the Sports and Tourism Ministry. The cabinet minister responsible for sports is Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn. Both are members of the Klatham Party, part of the new coalition government.

Sutiya has competed in four consecutive Olympics – in Beijing in 2008, London in 2012, Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020. She won a gold medal in 2016.

The skeet shooter is not the only player disgruntled with the performance of sports organisation leaders ahead of the SEA Games.

Ratchapol Makkasasithorn and Nattamon Laisuan on Sept 19 accused the Badminton Association of Thailand of being unfair after they were ruled out of the national squad.

Ratchapol and Nattamon won the mixed doubles at the Thailand National Championship in December. The win would have given them an automatic berth in the national team under the old rules, which gave priority to winners of the annual competition. The second priority was to be ranked in the world top 20.

The badminton association amended the regulations in April, putting global ranking above winning a national championship. Players in the top 32 of the world are now automatically selected, followed by winners of the national championship.

The change dropped Ratchapol and Nattamon from selection as the pair are not ranked in the top 32, ending their hopes of representing Thailand at the December SEA Games.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has defended his exit as interior minister under the previous Pheu Thai Party-led government, stating that Pheu Thai sought to regain the ministry to increase its advantage ahead of an anticipated early election.

In the second day of the debate on the government’s policy statement on Tuesday, Mr Anutin responded to accusations from opposition MPs that his government was formed under questionable circumstances.

The coalition led by Mr Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party has already violated the so-called memorandum of agreement signed with the main opposition People’s Party, said Jiraporn Sindhuprai, a Pheu Thai MP from Roi Et.

The agreement was signed in exchange for the People’s Party supporting Mr Anutin in the vote for prime minister. Bhumjaithai, in turn, would agree to stay in power for only four months before calling for a dissolution of the House. The People’s Party also set a condition that Bhumjaithai must not try to expand the coalition to secure a House majority.

Ms Jiraporn called the Anutin administration a ‘special government’ born out of irregular conditions – including Bhumjaithai’s withdrawal from the previous coalition and the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Aug 29 that removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister over her infamous phone call with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen.

Ms Jiraporn claimed the agreement with the People’s Party was not honoured, pointing to the government winning more votes than expected in the prime ministerial selection and to MPs defecting to Bhumjaithai, thereby breaching the pledge not to try to create a majority bloc.

She said the government had little sincerity about restoring democracy and pledged that Pheu Thai would use the next four months to scrutinise the administration intensively.

Pheu Thai is not officially part of the opposition led by the People’s Party, saying it prefers to be independent for now.

Rising to defend himself, Mr Anutin recounted that while accompanying Ms Paetongtarn when she was premier on an official trip to Cambodia in April, he was told afterwards that Cambodian officials had assumed he would soon be removed as interior minister.

He later received official confirmation on June 17 that Pheu Thai wanted the Interior Ministry back and suggested he take the health portfolio instead.

‘I told them it was better to be direct – if you want me out of government, just say so,’ Mr Anutin said. ‘I stood by Ms Paetongtarn every step, good days and bad, and never betrayed her.

‘Yet I was told Pheu Thai needed the Interior Ministry because elections were near,’ he said, adding that he saw no evidence that control of the ministry guaranteed electoral victory.

The Interior Ministry supervises provincial and local administrations nationwide, which critics argue could provide an electoral advantage to the party controlling the ministry.

Mr Anutin is now servong as Interior Minister again, in addition to his prime ministerial role.

He added that, after repeated discussions, including with the prime minister’s secretary-general, Bhumjaithai chose to withdraw from the coalition, citing both unfair treatment and the controversy surrounding the Paetongtarn-Hun Sen phone call, which undermined the government’s legitimacy.

Mr Anutin said the current coalition agreement with the People’s Party includes a commitment to dissolve parliament by Jan 31 or earlier if necessary.

He also dismissed claims of ‘poaching’ MPs to boost government numbers, stating Bhumjaithai’s recent gain came from a by-election victory in Si Sa Ket province, in a seat formerly held by Pheu Thai.

Global Korean food brand Bibigo recently unveiled special edition ramyun Korean-style instant noodles featuring K-pop band Seventeen on the packaging. This launch is part of the brand’s global campaign with the world-renowned K-pop icons, accompanied by a series of fun and engaging events.

The Bibigo x Seventeen special edition products include Bibigo smoky K-chicken stir-fried ramyun and cheese tteokbokki stir-fried ramyun. An additional flavour with Seventeen packaging will come out in November. These products are currently available at major retail channels 7-Eleven, Lotus’s, Tops, Big C and Shopee.

Bibigo is also hosting a social media event until Oct 23 where consumers who purchase Bibigo ramyun can join by posting proof-of-purchase content on Instagram and TikTok. Three lucky winners of the campaign’s grand prize will receive an exclusive reward, offering them an unforgettable experience with their favourite artists. Additional details about the prize will be shared on Bibigo Thailand’s official Instagram account.

CJ Foods is also holding Bibigo x Seventeen campaign pop-ups at multiple Makro locations in Bangkok. These pop-ups will showcase special edition ramyun products, limited-edition campaign merchandise, Seventeen photocards, mini-games and a variety of exciting content.

The pop-up locations and schedules are as follows

Makro Ladprao: Until tomorrow

Makro Srinakarin: From Friday until Oct 8

Makro Chaeng Wattana: Oct 10-15

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul outlined his government’s policy agenda to parliament on Monday, focusing on immediate actions to revive the country’s economy.

Mr Anutin said that renewing tourists’ confidence, achieving a peaceful end to the conflict with Cambodia, resolving trade issues, and boosting people’s incomes are the key policies of his government.

“The government aims to increase incomes and reduce daily living expenses for the public, including energy costs, clean drinking water, and transportation fares, thereby boosting consumer spending power,” the premier said.

Initiatives such as the “Khon La Khrueng” (co-payment) scheme will be implemented alongside managing agricultural product prices at appropriate levels, he said.

He stated that the government aims to resolve personal debt issues for individuals with debts not exceeding 100,000 baht and alleviate the debt trap faced by many Thais. It will also increase liquidity for small and medium-sized enterprises with loans up to 1 million baht.

Mr Anutin said the government would focus on ensuring safety and combating scams targeting tourists, thereby restoring confidence in Thailand as a travel destination.

To address the impact of ongoing trade issues, a “Team Thailand” will be established to boost free trade with existing partners and proactively open new markets. Support will be extended to entrepreneurs and farmers, particularly those affected by US tariff measures.

On the security front, he said the government will resolve the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute through peaceful means, bringing safety to border communities.

Regarding social issues, Mr Anutin said that the government will take a firm stance against all forms of illegal gambling, and it does not support the legalisation of any gambling businesses.

“Our administration is determined to move Thailand forward with honesty and virtue,” Mr Anutin said. “We will place the country’s interests above all else and build public confidence through responsible fiscal management.”

During the House session, the People’s Party (PP) and opposition leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, reminded Mr Anutin to begin the constitutional rewriting process before dissolving the House in four months. Mr Natthaphong said charter amendment and House dissolution were conditions the PP had set in exchange for supporting Mr Anutin’s premiership.

The PP, with 143 MPs and the largest bloc in the House, emerged as kingmaker after the Constitutional Court dismissed former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra late last month for an ethics violation.

Among its conditions, the PP also demanded Mr Anutin promise not to recruit additional MPs to turn his interim minority administration into a majority government.

Mr Natthaphong pledged to hold the government to account in his role as opposition leader.

Police have busted a large hub run by copyright pirates streaming Premier League football matches and movies through an illegal website, serving over 100,000 members and earning 200 million baht a year.

The action followed complaints by Thailand’s leading pay-TV operator True Visions Group and the Motion Picture Association (MPA), an international industry advocate group, about an illegal signal conversion by the website ‘inmiptv’.

Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam, deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation, said according to the complainants the website was illegally rebroadcasting Premier League football matches and Warner Bros Entertainment group movies.

On Sept 21, about 40 police led by Pol Capt Khemachart Prakaihongmanee, director of the Bureau of Technology and Cyber Crime, raided a key target, a warehouse in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi province.

It was a large warehouse on over five rai of land, about 8,000 square metres, and operated as a signal interception and conversion centre.

Police seized equipment used for live broadcasting, including rows of computer servers, signal decoding boxes, satellite dishes and mobile phones. Bank books for mule accounts used for laundering funds were also impounded.

The detected signal from other affected operators included MONO, Netflix and TV Channel 3.

Investigators said the website had at least 100,000 members, generated more than 200 million baht in annual revenue and was directly linked to a major online gambling network with annual revenues from various websites they run exceeding 1 billion baht.

As one of American trading partners, Thailand has been on the Watch List of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for eight consecutive years, since 2017. The government hopes Thailand will to be removed from the list this year.