Category: The Bangkok Post

New releases that hit cinemas in Thailand this week.

Showtime 7

Directed by Kazutaka Watanabe.

Who’s in it?

Hiroshi Abe, Tamae Andô and Tetsu Hirahara.

What’s it about?

Shinnosuke Orimoto was forced out as the main anchor for news programme ‘Showtime 7′. Now, while doing a live radio programme, he receives a phone call.

Why watch it?

Remake of The Terror Live (2013).

Virgin Punk Clockwork Girl

Directed by Yasuomi Umetsu.

Who’s in it?

The voices of Katsuyuki Konishi, Sumire Uesaka and Norio Wakamoto.

What’s it about?

A young woman becomes a bounty hunter, navigating danger while wrestling with personal conflicts. She’s drawn into a web of turmoil amid powerful figures’ schemes and society’s eccentric elite.

Housenka (The Last Blossom)

Directed by Baku Kinoshita.

Who’s in it?

The voices of Kaoru Kobayashi, Hikari Mitsushima and Yoshiko Miyazaki.

What’s it about?

A dying prisoner reflects on his final summer of freedom in 1986, when he lived with a woman and her son surrounded by Housenka flowers. As death approaches, one of these flowers guides him through memories of his past as a yakuza.

Garo Taiga

Directed by Keita Amemiya and Masaki Suzumura.

Who’s in it?

Rika Kashima, Shoichiro Kitada and Kazuki Namioka.

What’s it about?

A prequel where Taiga Saejima, a young Makai knight, battles a horror who stole the compass and seeks to retrieve it.

Tatsuki Fujimoto 17 To 26

Directed by Naoya Andô, Osamu Honma and Nobukage Kimura.

What’s it about?

An upcoming anthology anime series adapting eight short stories by the Chainsaw Man creator, Tatsuki Fujimoto, written between the ages of 17 and 26.

Bryan Bell

Directed by Stephan Yip Tin-Hang.

Who’s in it?

Warinrat Yolprasong, Michael Thomsen, Jarupong Kluaymaingam and Nattapong Chatpong.

What’s it about?

Bell is blind. Her Doberman named Bryan is murdered. A suspect is arrested but commits suicide. But the real killer lurks in the shadows.

Why watch it?

A Thai-HK-China production.

Tôi yama-nami no hikari (A Pale View Of Hills)

Directed by Kei Ishikawa.

Who’s in it?

Suzu Hirose, Fumi Nikaidô and Yoh Yoshida.

What’s it about?

Dual timelines explore a Japanese widow’s memories spanning post-war Nagasaki in 1950s and England during 1980s Cold War era, unraveling secrets that intertwine her past and present experiences across borders.

Why watch it?

An adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Nobel prize-winning writer’s 1982 debut novel.

The Black Phone 2

Directed by Scott Derrickson.

Who’s in it?

Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames and Arianna Rivas.

What’s it about?

As Finn, now 17, struggles with life after his captivity, his sister begins receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp known as Alpine Lake.

Why watch it?

Hawke, Thames, Madeleine McGraw and Jeremy Davies reprise their roles from The Black Phone (2021).

Ito and Her Brother

Directed by Miki Koichiro.

Who’s in it?

Hata Mei, Sakuma Ryuto, Nasu Yuto, Oriyama Nao and Uchida Kirato.

What’s it about?

A love comedy that takes place under one roof.

Why watch it?

A live-action adaptation of the comic of the same name by Ozaki Akira.

A Big Bold Beautiful

Directed by Kogonada.

Who’s in it?

Colin Farrell, Margot Robbie and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

What’s it about?

An imaginative tale of two strangers and the unbelievable journey that connects them.

Why watch it?

Marks celebrated composer Joe Hisaishi’s first score for a Hollywood film.

Premieres on Oct 19

Gen Hoshino presents Mad Hope

What’s it about?

The final performance of Gen Hoshino’s “Mad Hope” tour on Oct 19, which will be broadcast live.

Why watch it?

It’s Gen Hoshino’s first nationwide tour in six years.

Premieres on Oct 22

Tomorrow X Together VR Concert: Heart Attack

Directed by

Who’s in it?

Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Huening Kai.

What’s it about?

In a 30-second video also released, the group said, ‘It will be a VR concert filled with refreshment and love. Since we found more of a sense this time compared to our first VR concert, I think there will be more ‘face attacks’ this time.’

Why watch it?

The concert combines AI-based video processing with Unreal Engine-based VFX, enabling more precise scenes that blur reality and fantasy. Performances set against diverse backdrops, pink skies, fantastical racing tracks and frozen winter landscapes, offer audiences a unique viewing experience.

Flooding remained in 15 provinces on Thursday morning, mostly with unchanged levels and affecting mainly the Central Plains.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported flooding in eight central provinces:

Uthai Thani in Muang district with lower floodwater

Chai Nat in Sapphaya district with stable flood levels

Sing Buri in In Buri, Phrom Buri and Muang districts with stable flood levels

Ang Thong in Pa Mok, Wiset Chai Chan, Chai Yo and Muang districts with stable flood levels

Suphan Buri in Muang, Bang Pla Ma, Song Phi Nong, Don Chedi, Doembang Nangbuat, U Thong, Nong Yasai, Sam Chuk and Dan Chang districts with stable flood levels

Ayutthaya in the districts of Sena, Phak Hai, Bang Ban, Bang Sai, Bang Pa-in, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Mara Rat, Bang Pahan, Ban Phraek, Tha Rua, Nakhon Luang and Ban Sa-ai with stable flood levels

Pathum Thani in Sam Khok and Muang districts with stable flood levels

Nakhon Pathom in Bang Len, Sam Phran and Nakhon Chai Si districts with stable flood levels.

Ayutthaya still had the most affected households, 50,128, of any of the 15 inundated provinces nationwide.

In the North, flooding was in four provinces:

Phitsanulok in Wang Thong and Bang Rakam districts with lower floodwater

Sukhothai in Muang, Sri Samrong and Sawankhalok districts with lower flood levels

Phichit in Sam Ngam, Pho Thale, Pho Prathap Chang, Bung Narang, Bang Mun Nak, Thap Khlo, Muang, Dong Charoen, Sak Lek, Wan Sai Phun, Taphan Hin and Wachira Barami districts with lower floodwater

Nakhon Sawan in Chumsaeng, Muang, Phaisali, Phayuha Khiri, Krok Phra and Tha Tako districts with stable flood levels.

In the Northeast, flooding was reported in:

Ubon Ratchathani in Muang, Warin Chamrap, Phibun Mangsahan, Sawang Wirawong, Trakan Phuetphon and Don Mot Daeng with stable flood levels

Udon Thani in Phibun Rak, Sang Khom, Nong Han, Ban Dung, Phen, Kut Chap, Muang, Nong Wua So, Na Yoong and Kumphawapi districts with stable flood levels.

In the East, flooding affected only Chachoengsao, in Bang Nam Priao district, and the water level was lower.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Laotian counterpart pledged to intensify efforts against cross-border crime and promote trade during talks in Vientiane on Thursday, during the Thai premier’s first official international trip.

During the visit, Mr Anutin, accompanied by his wife Thananon Niramit, attended a formal welcoming ceremony hosted by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his spouse.

Both leaders also inspected a guard of honour before beginning the talks.

Thai government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said Mr Anutin expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended by the Lao government, noting that this was his first official overseas visit as prime minister.

The occasion also marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries, reflecting their long-standing and close partnership.

Mr Anutin invited Mr Sonexay to attend the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Summit, to be hosted by Thailand later this year, and confirmed Thailand’s readiness to attend the upcoming Joint Commission (JC) and Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meetings in Laos.

Mr Sonexay congratulated Mr Anutin on his appointment as premier, expressing confidence in his leadership and reaffirming Laos’ commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation on shared interests.

The two sides discussed key areas of collaboration.

On security, both governments agreed to intensify efforts against transnational crime, particularly drug trafficking, online fraud and human trafficking.

Thailand pledged to support Laos with funding, training and information exchanges to enhance law enforcement capabilities.

In addition, Thailand has requested that Laos designate its main law enforcement agency to serve as a contact point for coordination with Thailand’s International Call Centre Scam and Human Trafficking Operations Centre, under the Royal Thai Police.

The aim is to enhance cooperation in preventing and suppressing online fraud and human trafficking along the border.

On environmental issues, both sides prioritised tackling transboundary haze and improving Mekong River water management through the CLEAR Sky Strategy, with Thailand offering technological assistance for data collection and public warning systems.

Mr Anutin reaffirmed Thailand’s readiness to host the 8th Meeting of the Cooperation Committee between Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and Laos’ Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The meeting aims to outline strategies to boost bilateral trade, with a particular focus on promoting border trade and strengthening small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs), in order to achieve a trade target of US$11 billion by 2027.

Progress in transport and logistics projects – including the upcoming fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Bueng Kan-Bolikhamxay) – was welcomed to improve connectivity and tourism.

Thailand is also considering providing assistance for Laos in cross-border infrastructure, such as financing a new Mekong Bridge (Chiang Khong-Luang Prabang) and a rail bridge, alongside a comprehensive Thai-Lao logistics strategy.

The leaders further agreed to deepen energy cooperation to attract green investment and expand joint solar power production.

Both nations reaffirmed collaboration in multilateral forums, with Thailand committing to a constructive role in promoting peace in Myanmar and expressing hope that the upcoming Myanmar elections will mark a key political transition.

The two premiers also witnessed the signings of five agreements, including memorandums of understandings between banks of the two countries on trade, for funding anti-drug cooperation, vocational training equipment and water infrastructure design.

In an age of shifting geopolitics, many countries’ strategic planning includes imaginative exercises in weaponising their positions in the world. While Russia and China have been moderately successful at this game, America’s efforts have already boomeranged back on it.

Russia thought energy dependence would force Europe to accept its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and that calculation was partly right: Europe has found it hard to wean itself off of Russian oil. Moreover, energy deals are at the heart of Russia’s improved relations with both India and China, providing the economic underpinning for a new anti-American coalition.

China is in an equally strong position, owing to its control over strategic raw materials and their processing, particularly rare earths and other critical minerals. Gallium and germanium are key ingredients only in not green energy technologies, but also in LEDs, fibre optics, and high-performance electronic devices. And antimony, also predominantly sourced from China, is crucial for high-performance military equipment and as a fire retardant.

In response to US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement in April, China imposed new restrictions on seven additional rare earths: samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium. Having demonstrated little previous awareness of their importance, the Trump administration had to backpedal almost immediately on multiple fronts of its trade war.

The US has been scrambling to imitate the Russian and Chinese strategies, ramping up energy production and pouring public money into promoting the development of rare-earth production. But both efforts are problematic.

While short-term oil and gas production may have increased, new investment in drilling and pipelines will be required in the long run. And yet, with marginal costs of non-carbon energy continuing to fall rapidly, energy companies are wisely reluctant to devote resources to fossil fuels. That means the current US push will be a flash in the pan.

Developing rare earths is more plausible, but it will take time. From the 1960s to the 1990s, the Mountain Pass mine in southern California was a major world source of rare earths. But in recent decades, various US operators who have jumped into this business have ended up in bankruptcy.

So, in its desperation to do something more immediately effective, the Trump administration has reached for the most obvious and widely discussed lever: the dollar. Back in the 1960s, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, then France’s finance minister, famously complained that the greenback’s global primacy gave America an “exorbitant privilege” within the global economy. Now, Mr Trump seems to want to test the limits of that privilege, even as he pursues other priorities (such as threatening the independence of the US Federal Reserve) that undermine it.

There is a long tradition of contemplating the various, and precarious, roles of international currencies over time. Early in the British pound’s long ascendancy, Walter Bagehot, the great nineteenth-century editor of The Economist, wrote that the “briefest and truest way of describing” Britain’s financial system was to call it “by far the greatest combination of economical power and economical delicacy that the world has even seen”.

The same argument can be applied to the US dollar today.

As a recent International Monetary Fund report makes clear, the dollar is indisputably at the centre of the global financial system. But trade and finance move at different speeds, because the former depends on the exchange of production, while the latter is simply a platform. If one financial platform has problems, it can be changed. Substantial sunk costs did not prevent Genoa, Antwerp, or Amsterdam from losing their positions as global financial centres.

Moreover, it is easier, and much quicker, for other countries to develop alternatives to the dollar than for America suddenly to develop its own rare-earths industry. You need only open your eyes to see currencies not weighed down with immense fiscal problems, high deficits, and spiraling debt levels.

Recall Facebook’s Libra initiative, undertaken in a much more stable world, to launch a blockchain-based currency benchmarked to a basket of other currencies. While this effort immediately ran into opposition from the United States and the European Union, there were no technical hurdles to pulling it off. While alternatives to the dollar — such as the euro or renminbi — looked implausible in the past, blockchain makes possible the old dream of a world currency.

To be sure, the Trump administration believes that stablecoins secured against the US dollar will increase demand for Treasury bills and bonds, thus allowing the US to service its vast national debt more easily.

But while almost all stablecoins are indeed dollar-pegged, it would take only one financial crisis in the US, or even just the hint of one, to create an impetus for coins pegged to a basket of other strong currencies (such as the Australian, Canadian, and Hong Kong dollar, the Norwegian and Swedish krone, and the Swiss franc). An imaginative issuer of a new synthetic currency could even add in some pure cryptocurrencies, and almost certainly would also include the world’s most enduring monetary backstop, gold.

In any case, Mr Trump is impatient about asserting America’s role in the world. He likes quick results and disdains losers. But despite the country’s abundance of talent and ingenuity, he has picked a fight that he is unlikely to win. The growing risk to the dollar’s global role will see to that.?©2025 Project Syndicate

Harold James, Professor of History and International Affairs at Princeton University, is the author, most recently, of ‘Seven Crashes: The Economic Crises That Shaped Globalization’ (Yale University Press, 2023).

The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) has joined forces with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to promote the certification of local Internet of Things (IoT) and service robotics industries with the former’s P-mark label.

The initiative aims to enhance consumer confidence, pave the way for product exports to Southeast Asian markets, and strengthen Thailand’s technological sovereignty.

“By having the country’s own capability in emerging technologies, it will change the game in terms of embracing science and technology to drive economic growth and social development, overcoming constraints of workforces and capital,” said NSTDA president Sukit Limpijumnong.

To elevate Thailand’s service robotics and IoT product industries, NSTDA receives financial support from the NBTC’s Broadcasting and Telecommunications Research and Development Fund for Public Interest to nurture developers and entrepreneurs in the field.

The service robotics and IoT products with high-quality standards earn the P-mark, a performance certification that serves not only as a domestic quality assurance but also as a powerful passport for Thai innovations.

Mr Sukit said that receiving the P-mark affirms that local robotics and IoT products’ quality, performance, and reliability are on par with regional and global standards.

He added that the emergence of strong Deep Tech companies with the P-mark certification will attract investment, create high-value jobs, and elevate the economic structure beyond traditional manufacturing.

This will position the country as a true hub of technology and innovation in the region, said Mr Sukit.

Once entrepreneurs obtain the P-mark, they can further enhance their capabilities, gaining valuable experience that serves as a shortcut to applying for international standards certification, facilitating exports to markets in the US and Europe, he added.

Kraisorn Anchaleeworaphan, director of the Electrical and Electronic Products Testing Center (PTEC), under NSTDA, said the funding of 20 million baht from NBTC over three years allows PTEC to expand standards testing in emerging technology, in particular service robots and IoT.

Under this project, 10 entrepreneurs have developed innovations in service robotics and IoT, while 11 entrepreneurs have undergone quality testing and received the P-mark certification from PTEC.

“This project has established a platform to promote and support entrepreneurs in developing innovations and undergoing product certification for service robotics and IoT. It marks the first structured certification system based on international standards in the region,” said Mr Kraisorn.

Mr Kraisorn said PTEC will expand to test smart farming using IoT or artificial intelligence on edge devices, as well as electric wheelchairs.

“We have a lot of robotic uses in daily life. Thailand needs to have mandatory standards rather than voluntary-based ones in order to control non-standard electronic products that harm the lives of users,” he said.

In the next 5-6 years, various home robotics and industries will gain the momentum that Thailand needs to have its own standard to protect local products’ competitiveness, safety and cybersecurity, he said.

Panita Meananeatra, a researcher at the Software Quality Testing Laboratory, or SQUAT, under NSTDA, said it plans to test three key areas — artificial intelligence, medical devices, and biometrics.

While PTEC gives the P-mark to hardware devices, SQUAT does so for software.

At the heart of Asia’s vibrant film scene, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) once again shone as a global stage for creativity and cultural exchange – with Hylife Group joining the red carpet as sponsor of the ‘Hylife Vision Award.’ The company’s participation reaffirmed its dedication to nurturing artistic innovation and supporting the international film industry.

The Hylife Vision Award is presented to two films that demonstrate outstanding vision, creativity and bold storytelling, offering fresh perspectives that powerfully reflect social, cultural and human themes. This year, the awardees are Tiger from Japan, directed by Anshul Chauhan, and If on a Winter’s Night from India, directed by Sanju Surendran. The award aims to inspire emerging filmmakers worldwide to push the boundaries of traditional storytelling and cinematic techniques.

The award presentation was graced by Mr Dhanush R. Nair, Co-Group CEO of Hylife Group, who represented the company in presenting the awards and walking the red carpet, alongside Mrs Pola Mazumdar Nair, Non-Executive Director, amid applause and congratulations from entertainment industry figures and international guests.

Mr Shubhodeep Prasanta Das, Chairman of Hylife Group, stated, ‘Participating in and supporting the Hylife Vision Award at the Busan International Film Festival marks a significant step for Hylife Group in promoting creative vision and supporting the film industry. Being part of an international film platform allows us to encourage inspiration.’

The event also welcomed high-level representatives from Grenada, including Ambassador Dr Richard A. Nixon, Senior Resident Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Grenada, and Mr Cory Francis Zufelt, Chairman of Zute Group Ltd, who attended as distinguished guests of Hylife Group.

This year, Hylife Group is proud to be a key sponsor of the festival, not only presenting the Hylife Vision Award but also supporting the Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) to drive sustainable development in the global film industry. This reflects Hylife Group’s increasingly prominent role in connecting Asia with the international film community.

Bangkok police arrested eight suspects including six foreign men, a Thai woman and a Myanmar woman at a barber shop on Nana Road (Sukhumvit Soi 3) where they said narcotics were available.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau said that while strolling on Nana Road at 11pm on Wednesday, plainclothes officers were greeted by two foreign men who offered them ‘a single snort that will bring you to a pyramid peak’.

The foreigners then brought the undercover policemen to a barber shop on the top floor of a five-storey building on Nana Road. They were taken to a secret room where the suspects showed them pills priced at 2,000 baht each.

Bangkok police chief Pol Lt Gen Sayam Boonsom was monitoring the sting operation remotely and ordered their arrest.

The suspects included six men aged between 21 and 41: two Pakistanis, and one each from Egypt, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Iraq. The Thai woman was 50 and the other Myanmar national was 40.

Police found four sachets of methamphetamine weighing 3.3 grammes in total; two sachets of cocaine weighing 1.7g, two speed pills, four ecstasy pills, seven packs of magic mushroom, 23 hookahs, 55 boxes of snuff, 125 packs of smuggled cigarettes, three bank passbooks and 125,000 baht in cash.

Three suspects were charged with trafficking drugs. The Pakistani was found to be working illegally as a barber. Others were charged with illegal entry, overstaying or having banned products.

The Koh Phangan Hotel and Tourism Association has sought cooperation from a local religious leader to encourage Israeli tourists to respect Thai laws and local customs amid rising tensions on the island.

Naruemon Maisopa, president of the association, said on Wednesday she had met Dovber Deutsch, head of the Chabad Centre, to discuss ways to promote better understanding and responsible behaviour among Israeli visitors.

The meeting followed growing online criticism of Israeli tourists’ conduct. She said Rabbi Deutsch agreed to work with the association to issue notices in Hebrew and English, to be displayed in hotels, restaurants, cafés and public places, reminding visitors to act respectfully and in compliance with the law.

Ms Naruemon said the association supports strict enforcement of business regulations for foreigners to ensure fair competition and boost state tax revenue. She added rapid tourism growth has strained infrastructure, with more than 500 accommodation sites and over 8,000 rooms on the island.

Meanwhile, Pol Col Naruwat Phuttawiro, Surat Thani Immigration chief, said that between January and September, 2,711 Israelis entered via Samui Airport, ranked 12th in terms of foreign visitors to the island. The top three foreign visitors are Australians (26,268), British (19,120), and Germans (14,048).

Authorities have since arrested more than 20 Israeli nationals for offences including illegal business operations, counterfeit currency use, and visa violations.

He said immigration officers, in coordination with security agencies, are tightening checks on foreign property and business ownership.

“These efforts aim to maintain public confidence and ensure a safe and lawful environment,” he said.

Student Care Co Ltd, the pioneer of Thailand’s leading all-in-one school management and student welfare system, is transforming the nation’s education landscape with its smart and sustainable school platform.

Supported by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), the company recently represented Thailand’s ed-tech innovation sector at Expand North Star 2025, one of the world’s largest tech and startup exhibitions, which is held alongside GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai.

Developed entirely by Thai engineers, the Student Care platform is recognised as Thailand’s No.1 all-in-one ed-tech and green school platform.

Featuring more than 70 integrated modules, it addresses real challenges faced by teachers, students and parents, ranging from administrative management and communication to AI-powered analytics that support evidence-based decisions.

“Our goal is to help Thai schools transition into smart and sustainable schools using digital tools that streamline operations and promote equitable learning,” said Somporn Pukittivarangoon, chief executive of Student Care.

Founded 12 years ago, the 100% Thai-owned company connects educators, administrators, students, and families via a single intelligent platform.

“Our platform is designed not only for students but also for teachers,” Mr Somporn noted.

“By using the Student Care platform daily, teachers can manage tasks efficiently while developing digital skills and confidence in technology.”

One of Student Care’s flagship solutions is its intelligent AI camera system, developed in-house to enhance safety and efficiency.

Capable of recognising up to 30 faces simultaneously, it allows instant check-in and check-out while sending real-time notifications to teachers and parents via the company’s Student Messenger app.

“This innovation improves safety, communication, and reduces teachers’ workload, reflecting our mission to combine technology with empathy, AI that cares with heart,” said Mr Somporn.

The platform was first piloted at Samsenwittayalai School, whose feedback helped refine the system’s features such as the student screening system.

Today, more than 400 schools across Thailand, of which 80% are public and 20% private, use the Student Care platform, with over 600,000 students logging in daily.

The system enables more effective care and closer monitoring of each student’s wellbeing and learning progress, Mr Somporn said.

Student Care operates on a subscription-based model, with annual fees determined by student numbers.

In 2024, the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand invested in the company to support its growth.

The company reported strong growth of 25-30% in 2025, driven by wider adoption of its all-in-one school management and student welfare platform.

Student Care is targeting another 25-30% revenue increase, expansion to over 500 schools, and more than 750,000 users next year. Its goal is to reach 1 million students on the platform by 2027, advancing Thailand’s move toward smart and sustainable education.

Through its corporate social responsibility programme — Step Forward Together — the company provides free access to its platform for small rural schools with fewer than 200 students.

Once the project reaches full implementation, it will impact more than 2 million students nationwide.

The DITP’s support has been pivotal to Student Care’s global expansion. Participation in the Expand North Star 2025 event allowed Student Care to showcase Thai-developed technology to the world and seek new international partnerships.

The initiative aligns with the DITP’s Thai Tech to Global Market campaign, which promotes “Tech Thailand” as a hub for innovation and empowers local startups to expand internationally.

Student Care’s innovations align with Thailand’s Digital Education 5.0 policy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, creating a measurable impact by enhancing education quality through AI-driven analytics, reducing inequality through support for rural schools, and promoting sustainability by cutting paper use by over 90%.

“By bringing our green school platform to the international stage, we aim to show how Thai innovation can advance sustainable education and improve lives,” Mr Somporn said.

The company is now developing AI Guardian School, a new module designed to assess students’ behaviour and emotional wellbeing.

The system will detect early signs of stress, attention deficit, or gaming and gambling addictions, enabling timely intervention and proactive care.

POSITIVE MINDSET

Currently employing over 100 staff, including 21 developers, 8 technical specialists, 22 customer service officers, and 32 salespeople, Student Care fosters a culture of trust and innovation.

“When recruiting, we look for people with a positive mindset,” Mr Somporn said. “Skills can be developed, but attitude and integrity are the foundation of long-term success.”

With a cloud-based system, partnerships in the Philippines, and plans for an initial public offering in early 2027, Student Care aims to lead Thailand’s ed-tech revolution toward a smarter and more sustainable future.

GITEX Global 2025, the world’s largest technology and AI showcase, got underway on Oct 13 and ends tomorrow. The event, which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, highlights breakthroughs in biotechnology, physical AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and data centres.

The event features more than 6,800 tech enterprises and 2,000 startups from 180 countries.

Expand North Star 2025, which was held alongside GITEX Global 2025 at Dubai Harbour, came to a close yesterday. The event connected 2,000 startups with 1,200 investors.

The Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) rose for the first time in seven months to 87.8 points in September, thanks to the speedy establishment of the new government and promising policies to deal with economic woes, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

The indicator tallied 86.4 points in August, the lowest level recorded since June 2022.

The Anutin Charnvirakul government spent less than a month to form a new cabinet after his predecessor Paetongtarn Shinawatra was dismissed as the prime minister by the Constitutional Court on Aug 29 for an ethics violation.

The new government has launched many policies to retore the economy, boosting confidence among businesses, said Apichit Prasoprat, vice-chairman of the FTI.

He applauded the Finance Ministry’s measure to help small and medium-sized enterprises gain better access to financial sources.

“This measure significantly enhanced liquidity for business operators,” said Mr Apichit.

The increase in the TISI in September was attributed to higher exports of agricultural and electronic products, especially to the Malaysian, Vietnamese and Taiwanese markets, he said.

Domestic sales of electric vehicles continued to increase this month, driven partly by the BIG Motor Sale 2025, a 10-day car event that ended on Aug 31.

Foreign direct investment also showed a positive trend, after the January to August period, it rose by 125% year-on-year to 225.5 billion baht, said Mr Apichit.

In September, besides the negative impact of baht appreciation on exports, agricultural output was adversely affected by heavy monsoon rains and flooding in many provinces, disrupting raw material supplies for the agricultural and food processing industries, he said.

The September TISI was based on a survey of 1,356 entrepreneurs across 47 industry clubs under the FTI. Domestic economic conditions topped the list of their concerns, gaining the votes of 66.8%, followed by government policies (54.6%) and loan access (30.3%).

Global economic uncertainties were on the top of respondents’ growing concerns with the votes of 62.4%, followed by foreign exchange rate fluctuations (47.4%).