Category: The Bangkok Post

An Indian man was arrested and charged after a man was seen wildly threatening people with a pistol-shaped lighter in Siam Square in Bangkok.

The incident occurred about 4pm on Monday in front of Novotel Bangkok in Siam Square soi 6, Pathum Wan district.

Police called to the scene were confronted by a man, later identified as Indian national Sahil Ram Thadani, 41.

A video shown by news outlets showed an Indian man walking around making loud noises and pointing a gun-shaped object at members of the public.

Police and security guards worked to control the situation, but the man disobeyed and threatened officers with the object in his hand, which was later found to be a cigarette lighter.

Mr Thadani was taken to Pathum Wan police station where he was charged with threatening behaviour and causing a public disturbance. Police said his behaviour was believed to be a result of hallucinations from ingesting cannabis.

A police report revealed the man used to be a director of three companies in India that had all ceased operations.

OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Go in Thailand, offering access to its GPT-5 model for 259 baht a month – providing 10 times the usage limits that free users receive.

ChatGPT Go aims to compete directly with Gemini Plus from Google, which costs 189 baht a month and is being offered locally ay 95 baht a month for the first 6 months.

OpenAI said its new package targets everyday users who want access to advanced AI tools without the higher subscription costs of premium plans. It positions ChatGPT Go as an affordable option for people seeking more power and flexibility in daily tasks, from document writing to learning support.

ChatGPT Go was first introduced in India earlier this year, priced at 399 rupees per month – roughly 149 baht. The Thai pricing is slightly higher at 259 baht, reflecting regional adjustments while still remaining well below the standard ChatGPT Plus tier.

Subscribers to ChatGPT Go gain expanded access to GPT-5, the ability to upload more files and generate additional images, and a larger memory for longer, more consistent conversations. They can also use the CustomGPTs tool to create their own tailored AI assistants.

OpenAI said the plan is designed for users who rely on AI for everyday productivity – such as managing basic work tasks, handling documents or supporting education – but who may not need the full capabilities of business-level AI plans.

The screenshots below compare the options offered by ChatGPT and Gemini.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), the US and the Wi-Fi Alliance have discussed ways to utilise the 6GHz spectrum to drive Thailand’s digital economy.

The talks focused on three topics, with the first the result of tests of WiFi technology at Ramathibodi Hospital that used the full 6GHz band.

Late last year the Wi-Fi Alliance, some of its members, and the Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, completed a pilot trial showcasing the value of full-band 6GHz WiFi in healthcare. The test was supported by the NBTC.

The testing revealed an increase in network data throughput of more than two times and a 400% reduction in latency when using full-band 6GHz compared with using only the lower part of the band.

According to the NBTC, this indicates the full band can efficiently serve virtual medical learning in a dense internet usage environment, as well as distance learning.

The Wi-Fi Alliance is a non-profit organisation that owns the WiFi trademark.

The second topic was an economic study estimating utilisation of the 6GHz spectrum could generate more than 1.8 trillion baht in value for the Thai economy by 2030.

The third issue was a potential trial of an Automated Frequency Coordination system to efficiently manage spectrum use in dense internet-use areas.

Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, NBTC chairman, said the commission will carefully consider all approaches regarding use of the 6GHz band to ensure the public interest is maximised.

The regulator is open to collaboration with all parties on spectrum development, he said.

The discussion included Dr Sarana, some NBTC commissioners, Catherine Spillman, minister counsellor at the US embassy in Thailand, and representatives from the Wi-Fi Alliance and the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, as well as global technology firms HPE Aruba, Meta and Cisco.

According to the NBTC, Ms Spillman said the US is proud to partner with the regulator to exchange knowledge and test new technologies to promote modern and secure connectivity in the region.

The Wi-Fi Alliance said the ecosystems for WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 equipment are now ready.

Thailand’s WiFi network operates on the 2400MHz-2483.5MHz, 5150MHz-5850MHz, and 5925-6425MHz bands, with the last one the lower part of the 6GHz spectrum.

The upper band of 6GHz is being tested for telecom service.

A source at the Digital Economy and Society Ministry who requested anonymity previously told the Bangkok Post the US said Thailand should fully open up its local telecom market as part of tariff negotiations between the nations.

The source said the US also asked Thailand to define the WiFi frequency standard here to include the upper band of 6GHz.

Strengthening its long-standing support for Thailand’s coffee-growing communities, Nestlé (Thai) Ltd. has renewed its partnership with the Thai Coffee Farmers Association through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing sustainability and improving livelihoods. The agreement covers the purchase of coffee beans from Thai farmers for the 2025/2026 production season and includes initiatives to promote Regenerative Agriculture, improve yields and coffee quality, and protect the environment. Nestlé will also continue its research and development of high-yield coffee plantlets, enabling farmers to increase productivity, income and quality of life. The MoU signing ceremony was honoured by the presence of the Governor of Chumphon Province.

Ms Salinla Seehaphan, Corporate Affairs Director, Nestlé (Thai) Ltd., said: ‘For several decades, Nestlé has continuously supported our local coffee farmers. Additionally, Nestlé has consistently been the largest purchaser of locally grown Robusta beans in Thailand.

‘The signing of this MoU each year reaffirms our commitment to purchasing Robusta coffee beans directly from Thai farmers. Moreover, we encourage farmers to adopt Regenerative Agriculture practices in their coffee plantations through knowledge-sharing programmes and training sessions. This approach not only enhances coffee production in both quantity and quality but also helps restore ecosystems, protect soil and water resources, and strengthen resilience against climate change.’

Mr Thianchai Chookittiwiboon, Governor of Chumphon Province, added: ‘We are very pleased that Nestlé continues to support our coffee farmers through the direct purchase of locally grown beans. Coffee is a key economic crop for Chumphon, and we have great potential to make our cultivation more efficient and responsive to market demand. These efforts will help farmers improve their income and quality of life while boosting the provincial economy. This aligns with our goal to develop Chumphon into a ‘Robusta Metropolis’ recognised both domestically and globally.’

Mr Prayoon Songprasert, Chairman of the Thai Coffee Farmers Association, said: ‘For decades, Chumphon’s coffee farmers have benefited from Nestlé’s support – not only through direct bean purchases but also via training on sustainable cultivation methods. The coffee plantlets developed by Nestlé consistently deliver high yields and quality, helping farmers increase income and living standards. This ongoing partnership motivates farmers to continue their craft with confidence and pride.’

Timor-Leste will be made a full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Oct 26. President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste often joked that joining Asean was more difficult than going to heaven. Not anymore.

After more than two decades of aspiration, the world’s youngest Asian nation has finally realised its dream of joining the regional bloc. When Dili gained independence in 2002, its leaders repeatedly declared that Timor-Leste would one day become an Asean member. For the record, the 11th membership holds the longest accession process for any new member in Asean’s history. It was granted observer status in 2023.

Lest we forget, Brunei joined Asean on Jan 7, 1984, barely a week after its independence. Vietnam was the first of the former Indochinese countries to join the bloc. Laos and Myanmar joined in 1997, while it took two additional years for Cambodia to join in 1999 due to its domestic situation.

At the time, Asean had no formal rules or criteria for admission. Economic and institutional readiness was not the issue. After all, it was the post-Cold War era, and young Asean simply wanted to promote regional peace and cooperation. After the signing of the Paris Peace Accord, Southeast Asia was able to consolidate further, enhancing stability and economic growth.

For various reasons, it has taken Asean a long time to decide to bring Timor-Leste into the fold. With the Asean charter in place in 2008, the bloc has become a rule-based organisation with political-security, economic, and socio-cultural frameworks. Some members preferred to delay Dilli’s membership for as long as possible, arguing that this small half-island nation lacked the necessary preparedness to comply with all these rules.

Furthermore, the country was simply too different from the rest of Southeast Asia. After all, Timor-Leste is the only Asean country where Portuguese is an official language, alongside the local tongue, Tetum. The Indonesian language is a working language.

Truth be told, the biggest barrier in the last lapse for joining Asean was Myanmar’s staunch opposition. Nay Pyi Taw has experienced both the best and worst of times with Timor-Leste.

During Myanmar’s democratic period between 2011 and 2021, especially after 2015, its ties with Timor-Leste blossomed. The two countries shared democratic ideals and even boasted the Nobel Peace Prize-winning leaders Ramos-Horta and Aung San Suu Kyi. The two nations supported each other in various international fora.

However, after the military coup in February 2021, their relations turned upside down. Dili became the region’s harshest critic of the Tatmadaw — Myanmar’s junta. It openly condemned the Tatmadaw’s power seizure and strongly supported the National Unity Government (NUG), Myanmar’s opposition group in exile. It even allowed the NUG to establish a liaison office in Dili early last year, much to Nay Pyi Taw’s fury.

Apparently, the two countries have already reached out to each other during Timor Leste’s Foreign Minister Bandito dos Santos Freitas’s visit to Nay Pyi Taw on Sept 17-19. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the bloc’s fundamental principles and its charter, particularly non-interference in the internal affairs of member states. They also agreed to reopen their diplomatic missions and restore visa exemption.

Looking back at the 46th Asean Summit in late May, except for Malaysia, other members were uncertain whether Timor-Leste would be accepted this month. Indeed, just one day before their summit retreat, their foreign ministers were still insisting that Timor-Leste must stick to the roadmap prepared by the Asean Secretariat. If that were indeed the case, then it would take additional months or even years.

However, the next morning, when the heads of government held their retreat, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim managed to get a consensus with strong support from Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong that Timor-Leste should be admitted as its 11th member in October.

Myanmar, isolated and silenced, could not object. However, on June 14, Nay Pyi Taw sent a letter to the Asean chair threatening to block the membership, accusing Dili of “interfering in internal affairs”. The letter warned that if “Timor Leste persists [with] its blatant violation of the principles of non-interference”, Asean should reject its membership “and suspend all procedural steps until Dili rectifies its approach”.

As part of the accession process, at the recent Asean Economic Ministerial meeting, the ministers reviewed the progress made and gave Dilli a collective thumbs-up. As of Sept 26, it has already fulfilled most of the technical and institutional requirements for full membership that are enshrined in 66 key Asean Economic Agreements. For the other two pillars — political/security, as well as social and cultural, it has aligned with nearly all of them.

As a vibrant democracy, Timor-Leste’s entry will enhance Asean’s international image. The West must now have second thoughts about the bloc being a club of one-party rule or dictatorial despots. This Christian nation has one of the world’s freest presses and the region’s strongest democratic credentials — alongside some of the world’s highest-income economies.

“Democracy is our identity. We fought for it, and we will not change,” said a senior aide to President Ramos-Horta during a recent conversation in Jakarta. That statement captures the spirit of the youngest member of the Asean family.

Dili can also serve as a bridge between Asean and the Portuguese-speaking world. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will attend the upcoming Asean Summit as a special guest of the Asean chair — a symbolic sign of Timor-Leste’s expanding diplomatic reach. The new member is also part of the South Pacific Forum, linking Asean more closely with the Pacific community.

One frequently asked question is whether Timor-Leste will align itself with Western positions on key geopolitical issues. Asean members have long maintained diverse but moderate foreign policy outlooks, avoiding extremist approaches. The bloc’s collective decisions are based on resilience, pragmatism and consensus.

For Thailand, Timor-Leste carries very special meanings. The Chuan government (1997-2000) played a crucial role in the nation-building there.

Thailand led the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor during the 1999-2002 period. The late Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan and former commander of UN East Timor forces, Gen Boonserng Niemprasert, are still household names there.

At a recent conference in Jakarta, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow posited that in a world of confrontation and division, Asean stands as a modest yet vital example of regional coexistence. No matter how uncertain the global environment becomes, he reiterated, Asean is here to stay — and to keep the region’s dream of unity alive.

With a new, young, bold member, the future of Asean looks more exciting.

When the promise of easy money appears, can anyone truly escape the cost?

Thai film, Everybody Loves Me When I’m Dead, premieres on Oct 14 and is a gripping drama where desperation, ambition and family ties collide with the shadows of the underworld.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Nithiwat Tharatorn, the film explores the tangled web of middle-class aspirations, family dysfunction and the high-stakes world of banking, all set against the backdrop of a society where the lines between right and wrong are blurred. Known for his heartwarming series Analog Squad, Nithiwat ventures into the drama-thriller genre for the first time, portraying human and family relationships with a new perspective and flavour.

“Everybody Loves Me When I’m Dead started with the concept of dormant accounts – something people might not realise is actually very close to their daily lives – merged with the high-stakes narrative,’ he says. ‘While this may appear to have a different mood from my previous works, the core theme of relationships between people and families remains at the heart of the film. My intention is to gently provoke viewers into contemplating the true purpose behind life struggles. I believe it will resonate with everyone.’

The film leads viewers go on a suspenseful ride with two bank employees pushed to the brink. Toh and Petch plan to steal money from the dormant account of an elderly woman who dies alone, unaware that this decision will lead them to face a dangerous path that spirals out of control.

Theeradej Wongpuapan makes a rare and powerful return to film. Also joining the cast is Chulachak Chakrabongse, who brings a mysterious edge to the criminal underworld, and introduces newcomers Vachirawich Wattanapakdeepaisan and Fatima Dechawaleekul.

Theeradej, who plays Toh, a bank employee and the sole breadwinner for his family, faces a midlife crisis as his career is threatened by technology while he shoulders all the household expenses. Speaking about returning to acting in a film after a long hiatus, he says, ‘It took a lot of adjustment. I had to read the script, rehearse, and workshop to truly understand Toh. He’s lived by the rules his whole life, so breaking them opens him up to a completely unknown world. He loses all sense of reason and goes too far, reaching a point of no return. The film makes you question how far someone will go for the ones they love. It’s unique, tackles fresh issues, and is incredibly thought-provoking.”

Vachirawich plays Petch, a young bank employee who discovers B30 million lying in a dormant account and ultimately persuades Toh to take the money out. ‘This film isn’t just thrilling; it’s relatable. It explores family, relationships, and even dormant bank accounts. That makes it more personal than other thrillers. Petch, the character I play, is laid-back but driven to survive. Dig deeper, and you’ll find reasons behind his actions and valuable lessons for the audience,” he says.

Chulachak plays Vodka, a cold-blooded hitman working for Kamnan Mhu, a powerful local figure determined to track down the B30 million in the elderly woman’s dormant account. Fatima plays the deceased woman’s daughter, abandoned at a young age. As the sole legal heir to the fortune, she becomes Vodka’s target despite being estranged from her mother.

Everybody Loves Me When I’m Dead premieres on Oct 14 on Netflix.

Problems with an escape route and inadequate smoke ventilation are suspected to have contributed to the death of a doctor during a fire at a Bangkok condominium on Oct 9.

The fire broke out in a unit on the 16th floor of the 38-storey building on Pin Klao Road, opposite the Pata department store in Bangkok Noi district. The cause has not yet been determined as the fire destroyed the 60-square-metre unit before it was brought under control.

The fatality was reported on the Facebook page Medical Civil Society. It said that the doctor, who was also an associate professor, died inside the building’s fire escape, while 14 other people were injured.

Upon inspection, the condominium was found to have a fully installed fire alarm and pressurised fan system, which are designed to help during fire emergencies and were functioning normally.

The family of the deceased said he had followed all proper safety procedures during the fire – using a smoke mask and choosing to evacuate via the fire escape. However, the safe route turned dangerous, they said.

It is suspected that someone might have left a fire escape door open previously. When the fire broke out, smoke could have flowed back into the stairwell, turning it into a chimney-like shaft and allowing smoke to accumulate, ultimately causing suffocation.

An official cause of death has not been released. The family has called for safety improvements and emphasised the importance of building safety systems to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The government plans to attract 12 million foreign arrivals during its four-month tenure, driven by four events: the Amazing Marathon, Maha Loy Krathong 2025, Vijit Chao Phraya Light Festival and Amazing Thailand Countdown.

Nat Kruthasoot, deputy governor for tourism products and business at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the agency is preparing major events for the high season to welcome both short- and long-haul tourists.

He said following the success of the branded Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025, the agency is launching the 30-million-baht Maha Loy Krathong 2025 in November, aiming to reach a global level of recognition.

The celebrations are planned for Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, and are expected to generate 800 million baht in revenue from at least 450,000 visitors.

Meanwhile, the Amazing Thailand Marathon 2025 is expected to be a spearhead for sports tourism.

The event, slated for the end of November, features Olympic runner Eliud Kipchoge as ambassador for the second year.

The marathon is expected to draw at least 36,000 local and foreign participants, generating 894 million baht in revenue.

Mr Nat said although tourism spending power might be constrained due to the sluggish economy, the TAT still wants to expand every event to a larger scale.

Another highlight later this year is Vijit Chao Phraya, a light festival along the river in Bangkok, scheduled from Nov 1 to Dec 15 with a budget of 50 million baht. The duration was extended to 45 days from 30 days last year.

He said tourist bookings for boat cruises during this period are nearly full. The event is expected to attract at least 1.5 million visitors, generating 500 million baht in revenue.

For the New Year countdown, Mr Nat said the agency is focusing on regional celebrations, as Bangkok already hosts numerous events organised by strong private networks. Chiang Mai and Phayao are hosts of the TAT’s countdown events with a budget of 25 million baht, expected to attract more than 150,000 visitors.

“Thailand’s natural attractions have become familiar to tourists, so we are creating new events and celebrations to draw demand,” he said.

“We remain focused on high-value tourism, with less dependence on volume and price discounts.”

Prof Dr Somsak Tiamkao, a neurologist and director of Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Medicine’s Srinagarind Hospital, is urging reform of universal healthcare funding, calling for public co-payments to sustain services amid budget constraints and mounting hospital debts.

Prof Dr Somsak on Monday said the National Health Security Office (NHSO) must acknowledge its mismanagement of the “Gold Card” scheme and communicate more transparently with the public.

He stressed that Thailand is not wealthy enough to offer unlimited free healthcare and that laws prohibiting co-payment should be amended to reflect current realities.

He stated that the NHSO must stop promoting misleading slogans like “30 baht treats all diseases” and clarify that only medically necessary treatments listed in the official catalogue are free. Patients should be informed when certain services require out-of-pocket payment.

He criticised the erosion of the referral system, saying campaigns like “one ID card for all hospitals” and “cancer care anywhere” have led to overcrowding and delayed care at major hospitals. He called for a return to the original gatekeeper model in which local health centres were the first point of entry to the service.

He also urged citizens to take greater responsibility for their health by preventing avoidable illnesses and using medication properly, rather than relying solely on government support.

NHSO should cut nonessential benefits and unnecessary spending, he said, noting that the NHSO continues to add new entitlements as if Thailand were among the world’s richest nations.

He also demanded that the NHSO admit its financial difficulties and disclose hospital debts in its annual reports. Only honest acknowledgement and systemic reform, he said, can ensure the sustainability of Thailand’s healthcare system.

Previously, Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Somrerk Jungsaman confirmed that four billion baht from the central budget will be allocated to hospitals struggling under the Gold Card scheme while reforms are considered.

Interested people are invited to trace the unseen lives of Thai workers in Scandinavia and migrant communities in Bangkok through vibrant paintings during “Flowers For Everyone”, which is running at Crystal Court, M floor, North Zone of Siam Paragon, Rama I Road, until Nov 7.

Presented by SAC Gallery, this is a pop-up solo exhibition by Juli Baker and Summer, one of Thailand’s most beloved contemporary artists, whose work is celebrated for its radiant colour, bold brushwork and narrative sensibility that fills each canvas with life, emotion and imagination.

On display are two interconnected chapters of her practice. Created during her time in Scandinavia, “The Journal Of The Nordic Lands” series features paintings that depict skies, gardens and forests that glow with luminous colour and appear serene and idyllic.

Hidden from view in these landscapes, however, are Thai migrant workers who travel north each year to harvest berries. Their lives become part of the scenes themselves, reminding us that beauty can also hold stories of endurance, distance and struggle far from home.

Back in Bangkok, the artist began a new chapter from her small apartment near a public park. She observed the delicate rhythms of the city — couples on picnic mats, housekeepers resting between shifts, expatriates practising yoga, migrant workers caring for children and students gathering after school. These fleeting moments form a fragile weave of connection, moments of togetherness that exist alongside absence.

From these encounters came a new series of works including You Can Look At These Flowers, They’re For Everyone and The Flowers I Saw In My Dream Last Night.

Part observation and part imagination, the flowers are symbols of urban life — ordinary yet radiant, rooted yet displaced. They reflect the artist’s wish to share beauty openly while quietly honouring the unseen workers whose labour sustains the rhythm of the city.