Category: The Bangkok Post

The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has launched three formulas for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, which it said is a major problem among Thai men.

Department director Nanthasak Chotichanadechawong said on Tuesday that data going back to 2004 showed erectile dysfunction affected up to 43% of Thai men aged 40-70 years, and the problem was getting worse.

‘According to Thai traditional medicine, erectile dysfunction results from a deficiency in the wind element, which has direct impact on blood circulation and the nervous system. So, treatment focuses on attaining a balance between the wind element and the fire element to stimulate blood circulation,’ he said.

The three formulas consist of extracts from rmany plants, in different ratios. They include the water lily rhizome, ginger, long pepper, wild betel pepper, pepper, love apple (aka wax apple), yellow berried nightshade, eggplant, gold apple, cardamom and spur chilli.

Upon assuming the G20 presidency in December, South Africa chose “solidarity, equality, and sustainability” as its theme. Far from being an empty slogan, this vision reflects the principles on which any credible international response to today’s hunger crisis must rest.

Driven by climate change, conflict, and inequality, food insecurity is spiking around the world. The tools to address it already exist. The challenge is to mobilise the political will to act. South Africa’s G20 presidency presents a unique opportunity to do just that.

Brazil offers a valuable model. Over the past two years, it managed to lift 40 million people out of food insecurity, removing itself from the United Nations’ hunger map. To achieve this, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration reinstated policies scrapped by his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, bolstered school-meal programmes through procurement from smallholder and indigenous farmers, raised minimum wages, and legally recognised the right to food.

None of these measures is experimental. They are tried, tested, and proven solutions, and their success shows that eliminating hunger does not hinge on technological innovation but on political courage.

When Brazil held the G20 presidency last year, it sought to export its domestic achievements, most notably by launching the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. Yet tangible results remain elusive, as many of the Alliance’s members — particularly multilateral development banks (MDBs) — continue to promote technical, market-driven fixes that place corporations’ property rights above people’s basic needs.

Instead of launching new initiatives and platforms, the G20’s top priority should be to consolidate and scale up programmes that have already proven effective. The Civil Society and Indigenous People’s Mechanism of the UN Committee on World Food Security provides a robust, inclusive space for global debate. What is needed now is a concrete political agenda that enables progressive leaders and public officials to advance domestic anti-hunger policies.

Admittedly, South Africa does not have much time before handing the G20 presidency to the United States — the only member state that has consistently refused to recognise the human right to food. But in the time that remains, it can still champion critical anti-hunger policy tools.

Four such tools stand out. First, public procurement from local family farms for school meals and food programmes strengthens both nutrition and rural livelihoods. Second, buffer stocks and price-stabilisation mechanisms can protect consumers from price spikes while safeguarding farmers’ incomes. Third, social protection policies — ranging from living wages and cash transfers to universal benefits — ensure that households can afford healthy diets. Lastly, laws enshrining the right to food could help hold governments accountable if they fail to act.

Equally important, G20 leaders must recognise that they do not need to defer to MDBs’ policy priorities. Through their seats on the boards of these institutions, they already have the power to shift international support away from export-oriented agribusiness towards local food systems and climate-resilient family farming.

If the South African government is serious about promoting a fairer, more sustainable global food system, it should follow the lead of its civil society, which has long been at the forefront of the fight against hunger. Rather than convening yet another round of high-level discussions with little follow-through, it must work to secure public commitments that outlast America’s G20 presidency.

South African policymakers appear to understand the stakes. At the recent UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen reaffirmed the country’s commitment to food sovereignty. For the first time, the proposed National Food and Nutrition Security Plan recognises agroecology as a pathway to sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and climate resilience. The Agricultural Research Council has also been tasked with developing a national agroecology framework centred on indigenous crops.

While the wheels of governance often turn slowly, grassroots communities cannot afford to wait. During the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers encountered a vibrant network of 78 smallholder producers who cultivated a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in the KwaZulu-Natal province. By selling their surplus locally, these farmers sustained businesses across the uMgungundlovu District, from bakkie traders and informal market stalls to spaza shops, schools, and municipal markets.

This experience demonstrates how localised food systems sustain both livelihoods and communities. Hunger is not defeated in conference halls; the fight is in kitchens, schools, and fields. To win, grassroots producers need political backing and the resources to thrive.

The G20 must tackle the hunger crisis head-on or risk forfeiting what remains of its credibility. South Africa can lead the way by putting food justice at the top of its agenda, demonstrating that “solidarity, equality, and sustainability” are not abstract ideals but essential for humanity’s survival.

Industrial estate developer Amata Corporation is stepping up efforts to develop renewable energy, including hydrogen, to serve the growing demand of prospective clients in data centres and smart electronics.

Foreign companies have shown interest in investing in data centres and cloud services — sectors that require renewable energy in line with global sustainability policies, said Satha Vanalabhpatana, Amata’s acting chief strategy officer and assistant to the chief executive.

“Amata is conducting a feasibility study into new solar cells, floating solar and hydrogen energy to supply investors who have already acquired industrial land in Amata City Rayong,” he said.

The company also wants to develop a clean energy supply at Amata City Chon Buri.

Foreign companies have requested detailed renewable energy plans to ensure long-term supply, as many of them are committed to meeting global carbon neutrality and net-zero targets.

Amata currently utilises renewable energy from solar panels and floating solar systems, while hydrogen power is being explored through a pilot project in collaboration with partners.

The company aims to increase electricity generation capacity to a total of 100 megawatts.

Its move to prepare more renewable energy aligns with the state’s policy of promoting new S-curve industries, which refers to industries with a high level of innovation and rapid growth.

According to Thailand Electronics Circuit Asia 2025, between January 2022 and June 2025, up to 517 investment proposals in the semiconductor and advanced electronic industries were submitted to the government in order to apply for investment incentives.

Amata also sells what it calls “low-carbon water” to factories, which refers to raw or recycled water utilised through clean energy methods, said Mr Satha.

More renewable power is being used to operate wastewater treatment facilities. Solar-powered machines are also being used to pump water from ponds.

The company is allocating more than 7 billion baht to develop more industrial land and infrastructure to expand its business this year.

Amata has set a 2025 target of 3,500 rai in industrial estate land sales, marking a 15% year-on-year increase from 3,019 rai. The target includes 2,500 rai in Thailand, 500 rai in Vietnam, and 500 rai in Laos.

A Reddit user has detailed a distressing experience in which the BitLocker encryption feature locked access to over 3 terabytes of personal data following a fresh installation of Windows 11, a scenario that could potentially affect any user running the latest Microsoft operating system.

The incident was reported by Reddit user u/Toast_Soup, who recounted that his computer began suffering from slowdowns and poor performance. In response, he decided to perform a complete system reset and reinstall Windows. His machine housed six drives in total, including the boot drive (C:) and two substantial backup volumes (D: and E:), which collectively stored approximately 3TB of invaluable files.

Upon completing the clean installation of Windows 11 and logging in, he discovered that both the D: and E: drives were suddenly encrypted by BitLocker, rendering his reserved data inaccessible. The system prompted him for a Recovery Key, a detail he claimed to be completely unaware of and had not recorded.

Crucially, the user stated he had never manually activated BitLocker. He was unaware that Microsoft’s default setup for a fresh Windows 11 install (OOBE) often enables this feature automatically once a user signs in with their Microsoft account.

Multiple data recovery programs he attempted proved useless as they could not bypass the BitLocker encryption, as the feature is designed to treat any access other than the authorised key as a hostile intrusion – even by the legitimate owner.

In desperation, he tried reinstalling Windows again, but this only complicated matters further as the newly installed C: drive was also locked and demanded a key. Fortunately, this time he was prepared and managed to note down the key for the C: drive, gaining access to the operating system, but the D: and E: data drives remained inaccessible.

A check of his Microsoft account revealed only the recovery key for the C: drive; no corresponding key for the 3TB data drives was found, suggesting the data was permanently lost.

The BitLocker feature, first introduced in Windows Vista in 2007, has since become a staple of the operating system. While automatic drive encryption offers strong security in theory, in practice it has created significant pitfalls for unwary users. Furthermore, the issue with BitLocker is not merely one of access, but also one of system performance.

Testing has indicated that BitLocker can reduce random read and write speeds on an SSD by as much as 45%, attributed to the continuous overhead of the CPU processing encryption and decryption operations. This performance hit could potentially explain the initial slowdown that prompted Toast_Soup to reinstall Windows, inadvertently triggering the data loss.

This issue is commonly reported following a ‘fresh install’ of Windows 11, but tends to be avoided by users who upgrade directly from Windows 10. Nevertheless, for comprehensive security, users are advised to proactively check their status.

My friend and I also encountered this problem when we tried to reinstall our Windows 11 a while ago, but we were none the wiser and ended up doing clean Windows installs, wiping everything off our machines. Luckily, we had our backups on our external hard drives.

How to check and manage BitLocker status:

Users should navigate to Settings > Privacy and security > Device encryption. If the setting shows ‘On’, the drives are encrypted. If the user has adequate backups and does not wish for automatic encryption, this setting can be disabled by selecting ‘Turn off’ and ‘Restart Computer’.

If a user wishes to continue using BitLocker, they should log into their Microsoft account via a web browser at account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey. Here, they can locate the 48-digit recovery key for any encrypted drives, which should be immediately recorded or printed and stored off the computer in question.

Disabling BitLocker, where appropriate, can ensure an SSD operates at its full potential and mitigate the risk of unintentional drive lockouts.

Two debt collectors accused of damaging a loan defaulter’s house and stealing her pet rabbit were arrested on Monday night.

The men, Sitthikorn Kerdsiri, 24, and Charoensak Piawwong, 22, were detained in Muang district on charges of causing damage to property and theft, Pol Col Arthit Chatchairatanawet, chief of Kaeng Khro police station, said on Tuesday.

They are accused of breaking glass windows at the house of Kiatsuda Chasamrong, 47, in tambon Sam Mor of Kaeng Khro district in late August.

Ms Kiatsuda told police she had borrowed 4,000 baht from a loan shark and re-lent the money to a friend. She defaulted because her friend did not repay the loan.

The two suspects allegedly admitted they smashed windows and stole her pet rabbit when they could not collect the instalments due in August.

They said the woman stopped paying the 200-baht daily instalments when the outstanding balance reached about 3,000 baht, Pol Col Arthit said.

Police had earlier organised a settlement meeting of the two sides and the woman had demanded 25,000 baht in damages. The men had subsequently disappeared and were only recently found hiding in Muang district, he said.

The case was proceeding.

Winter will officially start in Thailand on Thursday with the coldest period from mid-December to early February.

This was announced on Tuesday by Suchada Thaensap, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.

She said the official beginning of winter was this Thursday, Oct 23. Temperatures would then continuously drop and rainfall would noticeably decline in the upper regions of Thailand, and the country would be blanketed by northeasterly or easterly winds.

‘However, this does not mean that cold weather will start simultaneously in all regions in the country,’ Ms Suchada said.

According to Ms Suchada low temperatures in Thailand this winter will average 21-22°C, similar to last winter.

Mountaintop temperatures may drop to 7-8°C and there could be frosts some mornings in the northern and upper northeastern provinces of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Loei, Nakhon Phanom and Sakon Nakhon.

The lowest temperatures in Greater Bangkok were forecast at 18-20°C.

Sugunyanee Yavinchan, director-general of the Meteorological Department, said during the initial period of winter the weather could fluctuate. It could rain in parts of the Northeast, the Central Plain, the East and Greater Bangkok.

The new Thai Amazon Original film Host, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Pairach “Pokpong” Khumwan (Girl From Nowhere, Siam Square), will premiere on Oct 23 on Prime Video.

The film offers the first cinematic reimagining of Thailand’s legendary Mae Sue, the guardian spirit of children, transforming the folklore into a supernatural horror. The film stars Thitiya “Baipor” Jirapornsilp, Veerinsara “Perth” Tungkitsuvanich and Pisitpol “Jump” Ekaphongpisit in lead roles.

Host follows Ing (played by Baipor), an introvert sent to an all-girls reform school on a remote island. The school operates under a strict hierarchy, with the principal’s favoured student, Aim, and Ing quickly becomes the target of Aim. Shortly after her arrival, a series of disturbing incidents begin to unfold. Amid her suffering, only Pin offers her solace; her sole friend and the light at the end of her dark tunnel. As 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?

Host marks actress Baipor’s first venture into horror, showcasing a transformation from her familiar roles as a cheerful high school girl to a character of profound depth layered with pain and endurance. In this performance, her trademark smiles audiences once knew are replaced by raw emotion and haunting intensity.

‘Host was an incredibly challenging project for me. It felt like stepping into a whole new world. My character, Ingkhwan, goes through immense growth and transformation as the story unfolds. That meant I had to study and prepare for this role intensively. Ingkhwan embodies the complexities of human beings and carries many layers of emotion. On the outside she seems composed, but inside she is filled with mixed feelings. Portraying that quiet exterior while letting the audience feel the storm within was one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever faced.

‘Studying and preparing for this role allowed me to better understand Ingkhwan’s journey. She taught me so much about how countless factors from past traumas to memories you wish you could forget but can’t, shapes a person’s reactions and choices, Everything makes sense with her character.

‘Another thing I really appreciated about this film is that it gave me the chance to try so many things I had never done before. They were challenging but incredibly fun like working with animals, children, special effects, even stunt wires. Another first for me was learning to speak in the Northern dialect,’ says Baipor.

Aim, played by Perth, the head student and right hand to Mother Pritsana, rules with leadership. She enforces the school’s laws with an iron grip, ensuring no one dares to violate the order. With fear of being punished by Mother Pritsana, Aim will do whatever it takes to protect herself. The only lesson she has learned and mastered by imitating the teacher is how to wield her power: to harm, punish and instil fear to keep everyone under her control.

This is Perth’s first horror film as it was filmed before Attack13. Landing a lead role in a horror film was a long-time dream for her. Despite her fear of ghosts, Perth saw this role as the perfect challenge to test how well she could face her fears and deliver a compelling performance.

‘When I was first contacted to audition, I was so excited, I’m a horror film fan. I get scared easily, but I’ve always enjoyed watching and listening to ghost stories. I’d never had the chance to try it myself. Whenever people asked me what I wanted to do in this industry in the future, I always answered that I wanted to act in a film, especially in a horror film. I’m afraid of ghosts, so I wanted to challenge myself and see how far I could push my limits.

‘This film gave me the chance to do so many things I’d never done before. I put everything into Aim, trying to bring her to life exactly as I imagined. Aim was a very difficult character for me because she’s so different from who I really am – the way she speaks, expresses herself and thinks,’ says Perth.

Jump portrays Pin, a young orphan who spent his life at sea. Pin is innocent, kind-hearted and harmless. He values justice and freedom and can survive on his own, making him a steady refuge for those around him. Older and more grounded than his peers, Pin embodies the straightforward, resilient spirit of fishermen. He may be Ing’s only chance to escape the island before Aim turns the reformatory into her hell.

Host also marks a return to horror for Jump, but this time with a new challenge: portraying Pin, a character who influences the other characters in the story and differs from Jump in many ways. Pin pushed the actor into a deep dive of preparation and research into the life of a fisherman.

‘While reading the script, I immediately knew this was a role that required special preparation. Pin’s background and skills are very far from my own. He’s a fisherman who’s highly skilled at repairing boats and fixing tools, and I wanted to portray him as authentically as possible. So, I went to study real fishermen’s lives. I talked with them, asked questions and observed how they worked and carried themselves. I wanted to capture their spirit so that audiences see Pin as a true fisherman.

‘I dedicated myself to the role of Pin because his presence shapes the entire story. Pin steps into an environment and a situation that is far from ordinary. He’s the only man in an all-girls’ school. I wanted audiences to keep questioning: why is he here, and where does he truly fit in the equation of the story?,’ she says.

Mother Pritsana (portrayed by Narinthorn ‘Ae’ Na Bangchang) is in charge of keeping the students in line. She appears outwardly caring, treating every girl as if they were her own, yet beneath this facade lies a manipulative woman: she believes that every child must live within the boundaries she deems correct and she will do anything to mold the students into reflections of her own rigid ideology.

Maprang (portrayed by Weeraya ‘Wee’ Zhang) is Aim’s close friend and loyal right-hand, carrying out her orders without question. She wields her power by oppressing and tormenting others and seems to relish every moment of it. She caters to both Aim and Mother Pritsana, believing that Aim is the teacher’s pet and destined to leave the reformatory first. When that day comes, Maprang intends to seize power for herself.

‘Are you talking to your Mae Sue?’, a common and playful tease many Thais may remember hearing when someone seemed to be talking to themselves. But as times have changed, the very idea of Mae Sue has faded, to the point where some may have forgotten, or perhaps never even known, what Mae Sue truly is.

According to the Office of the Royal Society of Thailand, Mae Sue is defined as ‘a guardian spirit who protects children from birth until the age of 12. Traditionally, it was believed that every child was born under the care of a specific Mae Sue of the day, based on their birthday. This belief was shared across all regions of Thailand, though in the North and Central areas, the names and forms of the guardians of each day varied.”

Rooted deeply in Thai folklore, Mae Sue has long been part of cultural belief. Based on this tradition, Pokpong, the director of Host, was inspired to dig deeper by researching the folklore and then reimagining it through a chilling question: ‘What if the guardian spirit that protects children were to turn into the very ghost that harms them?’ This idea became the seed that grew into the film Host.

‘Every region in Thailand, North, South, Central and Northeastern, has its own version of the Mae Sue legend. What’s fascinating is how their forms differ. In some regions, Mae Sue takes the form of animals, like a cow or a horse. We researched extensively to decide how to bring Mae Sue to life on screen because most people may have heard the name, but they’ve never truly pictured what Mae Sue should look like. That gave us room to shape and create an original legend for this film,’ he says.

Based on the obtained data on Mae Sue, Pokpong partnered with Chanchana ‘Pap’ Homsap, the screenwriter to develop the script further. Pap delved into information on Mae Sue provided by the Fine Arts Department and at Wat Pho to shape Mae Sue into a ghost with greater clarity and cinematic presence.

Host streams on Oct 23 on Prime Video.

Thailand now ranks among the world’s top five countries with the highest number of centenarians, boasting more than 45,000 people aged 100 and above. With over 20% of the population now aged 60 or older, the country’s ageing demographics reflect significant progress in healthcare, nutrition and overall well-being.

But as life expectancy rises, experts warn that happiness and quality of life must keep pace.

Speaking at the Bangkok Post Forum ‘Living Well, Living Long: Inspiring the Future of Ageing’, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, vice-chair of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, shared insights from her personal journey toward better health and mindfulness.

Ms Kobkarn, a former president of Toshiba Thailand, recalled how sudden illnesses among her once-healthy family members prompted her to re-evaluate her own lifestyle.

‘The doctor told me that the three essential elements for health are good exercise, a good diet, and clean air,’ she said.

Taking that advice to heart, she began jogging regularly at Lumphini Park, gradually working up to six laps per session. Physically, her concentration improved; mentally, she found that slowing down and appreciating life’s small joys brought deeper fulfilment.

‘You don’t need to wait until you’re 50 to start exercising. Find a sport that fits your ability and interests – there’s no right or wrong,’ she said.

She emphasised that consistency in building a healthy routine must go hand in hand with a balanced diet. Sharing nutritious meals with loved ones, she added, transforms ordinary moments into meaningful connections.

Now focused on giving back, Ms Kobkarn believes Thailand has the potential to become a global Blue Zone – regions known for longevity and well-being. Many local communities already embody this lifestyle through traditional diets, local plants and sustainable living.

She also promotes the philosophy of a sufficiency economy and supports young people working to preserve local wisdom and create global impact.

‘Sometimes, we forget our purpose,’ she said. ‘Reconnect with your passion and your goals.’

Also speaking at the forum, Wasu Sangsingkaew – a well-known celebrity and former diplomat – shared how discipline and self-awareness developed through sport helped shape his approach to ageing.

‘Being aware of your body’s signals is crucial,’ he said. ‘Even if you’ve been healthy, you must accept the changes that come with age. We are our own best doctors.’

Though tennis once fuelled his competitive drive, recurring injuries led him to shift toward gentler activities such as swimming and fun runs.

On diet, he follows a simple principle: ‘You are what you eat.’ Mr Wasu also adopted mindful eating habits from his time as a Buddhist monk, including stopping before feeling full. He now prefers white meat and plant-based drinks.

‘Dying quickly and peacefully is life’s greatest achievement,’ he reflected. ‘We’re all going to die, but we should strive to live each moment with joy – and that’s the direction modern medicine is heading.’

Looking back, Mr Wasu said true happiness comes from giving – not just material things, but time, kindness and presence.

Quoting former prime minister, the late MR Kukrit Pramoj, he said: ‘True happiness is a small bed and having everything you need within reach.’

‘To reach that state,’ he added, ‘we must first be healthy. Only then can we truly live with peace and joy.’

After three months of catastrophic relations, Thailand and Cambodia are starting to turn confrontation into cooperation, but such efforts will be obstructed by on-the-ground realities and invisible barriers.

This week is highly significant, as the two countries’ technical teams are convening the anticipated second Special General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur. If everything goes as planned, both sides will agree on the drafted two-page document with which they must comply in totality.

Once US President Donald Trump arrives in Malaysia’s capital on Sunday, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Prime Minister Hun Manet will be ready to sign on the document, which could be called the Kuala Lumpur Accord. The Asean chair, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Mr Trump will witness the signing ceremony on the sidelines of the Asean-US Summit.

The accord will be a strictly bilateral document, but the timing is strategic. Mr Trump’s presence also coincides with the goal of the current Asean chair to promote regional peace and real dialogue.

For the two neighbours, it will jumpstart the efforts to reset ties after years of mistrust and competing narratives. Cambodia has been trying hard to portray Thailand as the aggressor — an image Thailand firmly rejects. Bangkok insists that its actions have always been defensive and guided by international law.

On the other hand, Phnom Penh has been quite successful in playing the underdog by using emotional appeals and historical grievances to arouse sympathy at the regional and international levels.

These heart-wrenching storylines, amplified by the echo-chamber of social media, have added fuel to the fire, feeding misinformation and worsening the mutual hatred as never before.

Under the Anutin government, Thailand wants to steer away from this disastrous path. Bangkok is projecting itself as the mature and responsible player (suphab-burut or gentleman) in the region. This declaration shows that Thailand can settle disputes through peaceful means rather than confrontation.

Across the border, Cambodia’s challenge is to go beyond the current brinkmanship and respond as a serious and respected partner.

The world is watching — especially Mr Trump’s team — whether Bangkok and Phnom Penh can move beyond the past and translate words into action. Washington has dispatched Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, Kevin Kim, to follow up on the negotiations and prepare for Mr Trump’s visit.

It is hoped that the declaration on Sunday will restore diplomatic and economic cooperation sooner rather than later. Admittedly, both sides have suffered great damage to their economies and people-to-people links, especially those who live along the common border.

At the four-party meeting last week, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow was succinct in stating that Thailand is committed to “building trust and confidence” with Cambodia. He also noted that every step must be clearly defined. “Otherwise,” he said, “the agreement will be only symbolic.”

This straightforward message reflects Thailand’s determination not to repeat past mistakes when political excitement overshadowed concrete progress.

The fate of the 18 Cambodian detainees in Thai custody illustrates this approach. Phnom Penh has pushed for their release as a goodwill gesture. However, Bangkok reiterates that the decision would be part of a structured process tied to verified progress under the accord.

Mr Sihasak confirmed that the detainees’ release is mentioned in the draft, but the technical teams will be working on details. “If the process moves forward, the release will be one of the confidence-building measures between the two countries,” he said.

Throughout the four-party dialogue and consultations, Thailand has emphasised that implementation procedures must be spot-on, practical, and reciprocal.

Without these clear steps, Mr Sihasak pointed out that the agreement would not have credibility. Before this weekend, both Thai and Cambodian defence chiefs are scheduled to meet before their respective governments give the rubber stamp to the accord.

It is notable that the Asean chair has also played a quiet but useful role. As host of the summit, Malaysia has facilitated communication and encouraged both sides to resolve their differences peacefully.

The fact that the accord will be signed alongside the Asean-related summit underscores the regional dimension of this bilateral breakthrough.

For the time being, the defence attachés from Asean members are participating in the interim observation team along the Thailand-Cambodia border.

The new deal, if agreed, will provide a timeframe for the so-called Asean Observer Team, headed by Malaysia, to oversee its implementation. It includes the removal of heavy weapons, the clearing of landmines, the joint task force against online scams, and the relocation of illegal villagers.

Obviously, with Mr Trump’s participation, the upcoming Asean-related summit has received wider media coverage. Bangkok wants the world to see it as a constructive player that can settle disputes through diplomacy and negotiation. By signing the declaration, Thailand will reinforce its image as a peacemaker — so will Cambodia’s prime minister.

Still, the road ahead will not be easy. Currently, Cambodia is under heavy international pressure to tackle the widely reported scam centres inside the country. Transnational crimes will certainly dominate the agenda among the leaders from Asean and dialogue partners.

It is imperative that Thailand and Cambodia break the current cycle of anger and blame, especially nationalistic outrage in all manifestations. For better or worse, they have to coexist. Furthermore, at this juncture, they can also do Asean a big favour by showing the international community that its quiet diplomacy and good office can still bring peace and stability to the region.

City Dynamic, a joint venture between City Realty and Swire Properties, and Swire Hotels will bring the internationally-acclaimed Upper House brand to Thailand.

The collaboration introduces Upper House Residences Bangkok, the world’s first Upper House branded residences, and The Wireless Residences by Upper House, extending the brand’s renowned hospitality to residential living. The two ultra-luxury freehold residential towers, situated on Bangkok’s Wireless Road, offer panoramic views of Lumphini Park and Benjakitti Park, while being steps away from the city’s premier shopping destinations, five-star hotels, international schools and embassies.

The project presents world-class design and hospitality with a commitment to sustainability, setting a new benchmark for premium living in Southeast Asia. With construction having begun in April and completion expected by 2030, these high-quality residences represent a significant milestone for Bangkok’s luxury property market.

On Wireless Road, Upper House Residences Bangkok and The Wireless Residences by Upper House integrate wellness and sustainability with timeless design. The architecture, shaped by Foster + Partners through F and P (Thailand) Ltd, focuses on proportion, light and orientation, while PLandscape creates gardens and sky terraces.

The two projects are distinguished by their interior design approach. Upper House Residences Bangkok, a 52-storey tower comprising 156 units, offers an immersive brand experience. From its interior design to the full-suite of amenities and wellness programmes for residents, it represents a complete expression of the Upper House brand. Interiors by Bar Studio blend warmth, texture, and everyday comfort with hospitality-inspired design, while wellness facilities, created in collaboration with global wellness specialist Goco, deliver a holistic living experience.

The Wireless Residences by Upper House, a 71-storey tower with 239 units, is designed by PIA Interior, incorporating local context and functional elements. The Wireless Residences also feature front-of-house services managed by Upper House, ensuring residents experience the brand’s signature hospitality.

Upper House is a collection of properties managed by Swire Hotels, renowned for their distinctive designs and exceptional service. The brand’s flagship property, Upper House Hong Kong, was ranked among the top five hotels in The World’s 50 Best Hotels for 2023 and 2024, and was awarded a coveted Two Keys in the Michelin Keys 2025.

With six hotels operating across Hong Kong, China and the United States, and five additional hotels under development in China and Japan, Swire Hotels continues to expand its presence in the region.