Category: The Bangkok Post

Black-clad crowds of people converged at the Grand Palace and along the route for the transfer of the body of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit to express their loyalty and respect for their late beloved Queen Mother on Sunday.

The crowds gathered at Sanam Luang, adjacent to the Grand Palace, and queued to offer water for the royal bathing ceremony of Her Majesty The Queen Mother. The ceremony venue was arranged at the Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion within the Grand Palace grounds.

The Bureau of the Royal Household invited members of the public to attend the water presentation at the pavilion from 8.30am to noon on Sunday.

The transfer of Her Majesty’s body was scheduled to begin at 4pm the same day. The royal procession was to commence from King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, where the Queen Mother had resided prior to her passing, before proceeding along Henri Dunant, Rama IV, Phaya Thai, Si Ayutthaya, Ratchadamnoen and Na Phra Lan roads en route to the Grand Palace.

The 10-kilometre-long procession was expected to take approximately 20 minutes. Her Majesty’s body would be placed at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. Many people began gathering along the procession route near the Grand Palace from Saturday.

Aksika Kaysornsakul, 56, said she had travelled from Nonthaburi province, arriving at 6pm on Saturday, determined to pay her respects to the Queen Mother, who had tirelessly served the nation and its people throughout the seven-decade reign of King Rama IX.

‘Her Majesty the Queen Mother greatly supported all groups of Thais, particularly through her promotion of Thai craftsmanship,’ she said.

Mayuree Bandasak, 77, from Bang Khen district in Bangkok, arrived on Sunday morning. In tears, she said the Queen Mother had created employment for countless Thais without discrimination.

Thaiyaporn Arammekha, 65, recalled seeing King Rama IX and the Queen Mother during their royal visits since she was 15 years old.

‘The Queen Mother would ask young people at those events where they came from and whether they had eaten. I am deeply moved by her kindness. Her Majesty truly improved the quality of life of Thai people in all regions,’ Ms Thaiyaporn said.

Nikhom Deen-Islam, 49, from Min Buri district in Bangkok, said the Queen Mother had devoted herself to improving the well-being of all Thais, including Muslims in the South.

‘Her Majesty visited the South many times and encouraged the development of local handicrafts to help people earn a living,’ he said.

The Bureau of the Royal Household announced on Sunday that members of the public may pay their respects before the Queen Mother’s portrait and sign condolence books at the Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion in the Grand Palace between 8.30am and 4pm from Monday onwards.

From Nov 9, people will be able to pay their respects to the Queen Mother at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall between 9am and 9pm.

Re: “Govt orders study into booze curbs”, (BP, Oct 24).

So Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is ordering a study into modifying alcohol sales restrictions to help aid flagging tourist figures.

I just wish some common sense could be brought to bear on the subject.

Firstly, these restrictions have no effect on tourism. Tourists for the most part neither know nor care and if the surging popularity of destinations such as Dubai is anything to go by, alcohol sales restrictions have a minimal impact on the choice of destinations.

Secondly, the idea that you can curb the sale of alcohol based on the time of day or night is silly.

If the members of the Prevention Network against Alcohol were in the market to buy alcohol they would discover that it is freely available 24/7 in the myriad of corner stores that ignore the restriction.

The only outlets who respect this law are the major supermarkets and convenience store chains.

Thus, the only people inconvenienced by this illogical restriction are regular families doing their weekly shop who are prevented from putting a bottle of wine or a six pack of beer into their shopping trolley.

Let’s hope some common sense prevails and these restrictions are lifted once and for all.

Kleerwater

Silence no option

Re: “Letter fatigue”, (PostBag, Oct 22).

I was amused to read Ron Martin’s letter which complains that Postbag letters are so predictable that he can usually figure out who wrote the letter after reading just one or two sentences.

Some people may say the same about my letters and that’s why I no longer write so many of them.

Still, when Israel commits war crimes and tens of billions of animals are slaughtered and tortured for food, I feel that if I don’t speak out then I’m not much better than the people who commit these atrocities.

In other words, if you want to stop injustice, silence in not an option.

Eric Bahrt

MoUs which no one gets

Re: “Abhisit warns MoU plan may misfire”, (BP, Oct 20).

Voting on what you don’t understand is meaningless and could easily mislead. Prime Minister Anutin wants a referendum on the two Cambodia-related MoUs, but are our voters capable of comprehending the multi-faceted issues at stake?

We must not only know what we are against but what we are for, lest we jump from the frying pan into the fire. If we say “no”, would we evict all Cambodians from Thailand? Impose 100% tariffs on Cambodian products?

Mr Anutin says not to worry: he’ll teach us all we need to know. We have 52.2 million voters. Any good teacher gives students ample opportunities to ask questions. Dump the referendum, and work through parliament, Mr Anutin. That’s what our MPs are for.

Burin Kantabutra

Jonathan Haggerty has backed Rodtang Jitmuangnon to reclaim the ONE Championship flyweight Muay Thai title when he faces Nong-O Gaiyanghadao at ONE 173 in Tokyo – and revealed their own trilogy was closer than fans realised.

‘It’s the kicker vs the puncher,’ Haggerty told the Bangkok Post. ‘If Rodtang turns up and trains the way he trained for the Takeru fight, and he diets and is the best he can be, I believe he can win.

‘But he needs to be on top form because Nong-O is no pushover. Absolute legend in the sport. It’s going to be a tough one, but I think Rodtang might take this one.’

The 28-year-old British ‘General’ has a storied history with both men, of course.

Rodtang ended Haggerty’s first reign as ONE flyweight Muay Thai champion in Manila in 2019, then retained the belt with a third-round TKO in their January 2020 rematch in Bangkok.

Since then, Haggerty has moved up to bantamweight after struggling to make the flyweight limit. It was a decision that revitalised his career, leading to back-to-back world titles in Muay Thai and kickboxing – winning the former from Nong-O in 2023.

The proposed Rodtang trilogy was set to take place at bantamweight – a division where Haggerty has looked stronger and more durable.

‘Rodtang, yeah I believed so [it was going to happen],’ he said. ‘I signed the contract, I was ready to rock and roll from what I can remember. Maybe because he had a baby – congratulations to him – maybe that was a bit of a setback for the fight. I’m not sure what really happened there.

‘We’ve both got great fights coming up and hopefully we both come out healthy.’

ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong confirmed after ONE 172 that ‘Haggerty is next for Rodtang,’ with the fight targeted for the promotion’s planned Denver event in August. But the show was later postponed after Stamp Fairtex suffered an injury.

Rodtang, meanwhile, welcomed his son Zlatan in July with wife Aida Looksaikongdin. Now, the ‘Iron Man’ will meet legendary former ONE bantamweight champ Nong-O on November 16 at Ariake Arena, as the promotion returns to Japan for its second blockbuster card of 2025.

Haggerty will also feature on the same event, facing Nabil Anane for the bantamweight Muay Thai world title in a bid to reclaim the belt he lost to Superlek Kiatmuu9 last year.

‘Bantamweight is home to me,’ he said. ‘But catchweights or super fights – who knows. You know me, I’m willing to step up.’

‘I don’t know if I’m willing to step down to flyweight again,’ he added with a laugh – ruling out a similar move to Nong-O. ‘But who knows. Super fights, let’s entertain the crowd for sure.’

Thai police are stepping up efforts to screen more than 1,000 foreigners who have fled from scam compounds and illegal casinos in Myanmar’s Myawaddy township following a raid by the Myanmar military on KK Park, one of the biggest scam compounds on the border.

Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, deputy national police chief, chaired a meeting on Saturday to assess the situation in Tak province and outline operational guidelines for agencies handling the influx. He later visited the Mae Sot Border Checkpoint 2 to inspect the screening process for the latest arrivals.

According to Pol Gen Thatchai, 1,233 people – both Thais and foreigners – have fled across the the Moei River into Mae Sot after the recent military raid on KK Park. Of these, 124 have completed Thailand’s national referral mechanism (NRM) screening, and two were identified as victims of human trafficking. The victims are now under state protection and rehabilitation while authorities coordinate their repatriation or legal action.

Among the total, 25 are Thai nationals, while foreigners from 28 countries make up the rest. Indian nationals represent the largest group, and the Indian embassy has already sent officials to coordinate food assistance.

However, Ethiopian nationals remain a challenge, Pol Gen Thatchai said, as there is no Ethiopian diplomatic mission in Thailand or nearby countries, making repatriation coordination difficult. The full screening process is expected to take about 10 days, after which authorities will classify victims and proceed under Thai law.

On Saturday night, three loud explosions were heard from KK Park, one of Myanmar’s notorious scam centres, in Myawaddy directly opposite Mae Ku village in Mae Sot. Thick smoke and fire were seen rising from one of the buildings in an area controlled by the Karen National Army (formerly the Karen Border Guard Force).

Local residents said they saw drones with green lights flying above the complex shortly before the blasts, followed by flashes and plumes of smoke visible from the Thai side. The explosions appeared similar to those reported two days earlier, though the source of the attack remains unknown.

The United States and Thailand on Sunday announced a framework for reciprocal trade that would see the US maintain a 19% tariff on Thai products while identifying products where tariffs could potentially be adjusted or cut to zero.

Thailand would in turn eliminate tariff barriers on approximately 99% of goods, covering a full range of US industrial and food and agricultural products, the two countries said in a joint statement issued by the White House.

Thailand is also committed to addressing barriers to US exports, including the acceptance of US made vehicles, the joint statement said.

Casio’s G-Shock brand has introduced the G-Shock Nano DWN-5600, a remarkably small, finger-worn timepiece that faithfully replicates the design of the 1987 DW-5600 model. Despite its diminutive, charming appearance, the Nano is equipped with extensive functionality while admirably maintaining the signature G-Shock durability.

The dimensions of the G-Shock Nano DWN-5600 are notably compact, measuring just 23.4 x 20 x 7.5mm and weighing a mere six grammes. The case utilises glass fibre-reinforced bio-plastic for robust construction. The band is adjustable, fitting sizes ranging from 48mm to 82mm. To echo the original DW-5600, the side buttons and the band’s buckle are crafted from stainless steel. Furthermore, it retains a robust 20ATM water resistance rating, equivalent to approximately 200 metres.

The display on the G-Shock Nano DWN-5600 supports the simultaneous setting of two time zones and can display up to six digits, accommodating both 12-hour and 24-hour formats. An integrated LED backlight ensures visibility in low-light conditions. Additionally, users can set a flashing alert on the screen, which can be customised to signal specific intervals.

Battery life for the G-Shock Nano DWN-5600 is projected to be two years, and the battery is designed to be user-replaceable. The watch will be available in three colours: black (DWN-5600-1), red (DWN-5600-4), and yellow (DWN-5600-9).

This miniature, finger-worn watch is slated to begin sales in Japan starting in November 2025, with an introductory price set at 14,300 yen, which converts to approximately 3,063 Thai baht. Availability in Thailand remains subject to an official announcement from Casio Thailand.

Lucas Costa scored the winning goal as Port defeated Muang Thong United 1-0 at their PAT Stadium in Thai League 1 on Friday night.

The Brazilian was left unmarked and headed home from a Kaka Mendez corner kick in the 80th minute of the match to seal all three points for the home side.

Port moved up to third place in the 16-team standings with 16 points from nine games. The Kirins remained in ninth place with 10 points.

“Today was a big match and it was an important game for both teams. We kept our concentration and controlled the game well today,” said Port coach Alexandre Gama.

“We knew that today Muang Thong would be defensive and play a counter-attacking game. It was difficult because they defended deep and waited to counter-attack. But I have to praise our players because they kept going for the goal. Today we got our three points and did not concede.”

On Sunday, leaders and defending champions Buriram United host Rayong at their Chang Arena.

In other games on Sunday, second-placed Bangkok United face struggling Lamphun Warriors at their True BG Stadium, fifth-placed BG Pathum United visit Sukhothai, while Uthai Thani play visiting Ratchaburi.

Meanwhile, the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) announced that a minute’s silence will be observed and digital tributes will be displayed at the stadiums before all domestic matches while players, officials and match referees will wear black armbands following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother on Friday night.

The body of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother was on Sunday evening brought to the Grand Palace, where funeral rites will be held, as people gathered to pay their respects and express heartfelt gratitude to the late former queen.

Her Majesty’s body was conveyed in a royal procession that departed from King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital at 4.26pm. The procession followed a 10-kilometre route to the Grand Palace. Their Majesties the King and Queen, together with other members of the Royal Family, travelled in the procession.

The royal coffin was transported in a grey Volkswagen Caravelle T4 van that had once served as the work vehicle of His Majesty King Rama IX. The same van had also been used to carry the body of the late King in 2016.

Thousands of mourners dressed in black, along with military personnel, police officers, doctors, nurses and officials, lined the procession route along Henri Dunant, Rama IV, Phaya Thai, Si Ayutthaya and Ratchadamnoen roads.

Moments of sorrowful silence alternated with cries of grief as the royal motorcade passed by. Many mourners held portraits of the Queen Mother close to their hearts or raised them above their heads. As the cortege moved along, tears flowed freely among the crowds – and the sky, moments earlier bright and sunny, turned sombre and grey.

‘I arrived on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in front of the Supreme Court in the morning. I never once felt tired while waiting for the royal procession. It is the greatest honour of my life to have the opportunity to bid farewell to Her Majesty,’ said Nanthapop Prombut, a Bangkok resident.

‘Since my childhood, I have seen Her Majesty tirelessly helping people in need, in both urban and rural areas. She cared deeply about the environment and the welfare of all Thais. She will forever remain in the hearts of the people,’ he said.

The royal motorcade reached the Grand Palace at 5.05pm. Her Majesty’s body was first taken to the Phiman Rattaya Throne Hall, where the royal bathing ceremony was conducted.

The royal coffin was then transferred to the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall, where the royal funeral rites were performed.

From Monday onwards, the public may pay their respects before the Queen Mother’s portrait at the Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion in the Grand Palace between 8.30am and 4pm.

From 9th November, members of the public will be able to pay their respects at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall from 9am to noon.

From urban communities to remote towns, the sense of loss is felt keenly across the kingdom as Thais mourn the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother.

While expressing profound sorrow, citizens also expressed heartfelt gratitude for Her Majesty’s unparalleled grace and dedication to the nation.

In the northeastern region, government agencies, state enterprises and local organisations, as witnessed in Yasothon and Bueng Kan provinces, lowered their flags to half-mast and displayed mourning cloths as a mark of tribute.

Local clothing stores put black attire on display, allowing residents to purchase it and wear it to mourn Her Majesty’s passing.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, Prakakrong Phutklang, a retired teacher, spoke about Her Majesty’s life of service and the positive impact of her projects on the people she served.

“Her Majesty’s dedication to the people made the nation better,” the teacher said.

Kerd Chinsuk, 92, from Phimai district, recalled the time when she met King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit during their visit to the district in 1955 and fondly remembered Her Majesty’s kindness.

Ms Kerd recalled that Her Majesty asked her how old the child was.

She replied, “Six months, and he’s my only child”.

Her Majesty smiled warmly in response and looked radiant, Ms Kerd said.

She said that to honour the memory of the royal family, she has raised her family with sustainable farming principles inspired by King Rama IX (King Bhumibol Adulyadej).

In the Central Plains, locals in Uthai Thani province expressed their intention to mourn for a full year, with black attire becoming a prominent symbol of respect.

At the Saturday market in Nong Chang municipality, vendors and shoppers alike wore black. Stores quickly sold out of black attire.

A vendor tearfully shared her sorrow, calling Her Majesty the “Mother of the Land”, a title that resonated deeply with many.

In Si Racha district of Chon Buri province, residents immediately donned black clothing to express their sorrow.

In Ayutthaya province, staff at the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre have begun decorating the place with mourning cloth, and residents are joining in, reflecting on Her Majesty’s support for vocational training and community education.

In Betong district, Yala province, in the Deep South, the atmosphere was similarly sombre.

Vendors and locals recalled Her Majesty’s visits to remote areas, including a 1976 trip to Betong, where she promoted livelihoods and improved the quality of life for residents.

For them, Her Majesty was not only a queen but a mother figure who deeply cared for every citizen.

Agencies across the country are also opening condolence books for citizens.

Microsoft has unveiled a significant update for Copilot on Windows 11, fulfilling earlier cryptic hints about an upcoming feature that would allow users to “rest their fingers”. This major enhancement introduces voice interaction capabilities, allowing users to converse directly with the AI assistant, marking a crucial step in transforming Windows into a fully integrated AI-native platform.

The core addition is Copilot Voice, which will be generally available in countries supporting Copilot services on Windows 11. Users can initiate conversations with the command “Hey Copilot” and conclude them with “Goodbye”. This opt-in feature, which must be enabled within Copilot, aims for more natural interaction. It will enable tasks such as summarising webpages, setting up meetings, drafting emails or editing documents in Word, all without typing, and it supports continuous, cross-application commands, functioning much like a personal secretary.

Complementing the voice feature is Copilot Vision, which grants the AI the ability to “see” what is on the user’s screen, including tables in images, scanned documents, or PowerPoint slides. When a user shares their desktop or an application, Copilot analyses queries and offers real-time guidance through a “Highlights” feature. This can involve visually indicating where to click or demonstrating usage steps within an application. For users less inclined towards voice, Microsoft is also preparing a Text-in Text-out mode for the Windows Insider build.

The Windows 11 interface is being updated with an Ask Copilot button on the taskbar, resembling a search box, alongside new shortcuts to quickly access the Voice and Vision features, integrating Copilot into daily workflows. Microsoft has reiterated that while search responsiveness is improving, Copilot does not access files or applications directly, instead relying only on the same Windows APIs as Windows Search and requiring explicit user permission for every access request.

Further development is underway with Copilot Actions, currently being tested with Windows Insiders, and Copilot Labs. These initiatives are focused on enabling Copilot to directly manage local files – such as organising images, correcting skewed photos, deleting duplicates, or extracting data from PDFs. These background processes will allow users to monitor progress at any time, with the scope of these local file capabilities expected to expand as the feature matures.

Copilot Connectors on Windows will facilitate data linkage with services across both Microsoft and Google ecosystems, including OneDrive, Outlook, Gmail, Google Calendar, and Contacts. Once authorised, Copilot can search for and retrieve personal data based on verbal commands – for instance, locating a calendar appointment or pulling an old cloud document – and can then immediately pass the results to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint for further work.

In a move to simplify system management, Copilot will also integrate fully with Windows Settings. Users can now type or speak requests like “make the screen easier to read” or “reduce distractions during work”, and Copilot will directly open the relevant settings panel. Microsoft confirms that all new Copilot features operate on an explicit consent basis, meaning the AI only accesses data when permission is granted, and this access can be revoked at any time. While the taskbar experience does not require an NPU chip (the chip designed for AI processing) for the Voice and Vision features on Windows 11, the presence of one will ensure faster and more secure audio and visual processing.

This comprehensive update represents a significant shift, evolving Windows from a standard operating system into a more intuitive personal assistant capable of listening, seeing the screen, and acting upon request. Sound, sight, and AI are positioned to become the new cornerstones of the modern user experience, with Microsoft aiming to establish Windows as the central hub for AI-native experiences for both consumers and enterprises, promising further enterprise details at the next Microsoft Ignite event.