Category: The Bangkok Post

LONDON – England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hopes her team of “outsiders” can thrive at the Women’s Cricket World Cup as they seek to end a painful eight-year trophy drought.

The team are one of the best-funded in the women’s game but have been overshadowed in recent years by Australia and India.

Since winning the 50-over World Cup at Lord’s in 2017, England have fallen short on the global stage, raising questions about their ability to cope under intense pressure.

They were beaten finalists in 2022, losing by 71 runs to Australia despite an impressive 148 not out from Sciver-Brunt.

England have also underperformed at T20 World Cups, losing to South Africa in the semi-finals in 2023 and failing to make it out of the group stage last year.

Earlier this year they were put firmly in their place by Australia, suffering a humiliating 16-0 loss in the multi-format Women’s Ashes.

But there have been signs of progress under the leadership of all-rounder Sciver-Brunt and coach Charlotte Edwards, both of whom have only been in their posts since April.

England defeated reigning world champions Australia and co-hosts India in tournament warm-up matches, though Sciver-Brunt accepts they will still be the teams to beat.

– ‘Outsiders’ –

“We were never going to be going in as favourites, that’s India and Australia, but not having that label will hopefully free us up,” she said.

“The expectation of being outsiders will spur us on, I guess, but internally we have certain expectations to put something out that we are proud of and compete against the very best teams.

“In terms of the last few world tournaments we’ve been disappointed not to get the results we wanted because we set standards as an England side.

“But having a new coach and new captain, hopefully that is a fresh start in terms of not dwelling on previous tournaments.”

England begin their campaign against South Africa in Guwahati on Friday.

And while a winning start is clearly the aim, the round-robin format of the one-day international tournament, also featuring matches in Sri Lanka, means there is plenty of time to overcome a loss.

Sciver-Brunt, 33, is one of four survivors in the England squad from the victorious 2017 side, together with former skipper Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont and Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

Back then, England opened their tournament with a defeat by India before recovering strongly.

“We lost our first game in 2017 and came full circle to beat the same team in the final,” said Sciver-Brunt.

“In these tournaments it’s not about how you start, it’s how you finish and if you peak at the right time.”

The minimum expectation for England, whose players now enjoy high-profile domestic competition thanks to the women’s Hundred, will be a semi-final spot.

Mindful of the slow, turning pitches they will encounter in the subcontinent, England have travelled with a quartet of spinners — a decision that led to veteran seamer Kate Cross’s omission from their 15-strong squad.

England’s Sophie Ecclestone is the world’s top-ranked bowler in women’s ODIs, with fellow slow left-armer Linsey Smith, off-spinner Charlie Dean and leg-spinner Sarah Glenn also available to Sciver-Brunt.

To celebrate spooktacular Halloween, Central Pattana unleashes 13 haunted houses featuring Thai ghosts at 13 Central shopping centres, nationwide.

Until Oct 31, “Thailand’s Halloween Fest 2025” is held under the concept of “House Of Horror: One House, Every Kind Of Monster” and offers special activities and promotions throughout the month.

At CentralWorld, visitors can expect a fancy parade, trick-or-treating, mini concerts, face-painting as well as costumes and accessories for everyone to dress up and immerse themselves in Halloween festivities.

Thirteen haunted houses with 13 concepts at 13 Central shopping centres nationwide are as follows:

Central Rama 3 hosts “The Haunted Farm” until Oct 18.

Brave “The Ward – The Haunted Hospital” at Central Udon until Oct 31.

Experience immersive horror “Nightmare District” at Central Hatyai from Oct 9-31.

Central Pinklao hosts “Unleash The Fear” from Oct 11-31 where visitors must survive five scary rooms.

For an extended Halloween, Central Ayutthaya’s “Scream House” awaits brave souls from Oct 15-Nov13.

Central Mahachai’s haunted house summons all spooky Thai ghosts from Oct 16-Nov 2.

Brave Central Salaya’s “Haunted School” from Oct 21-Nov 3.

“The Cursed 4th Floor” haunts Central Suratthani from Oct 21-29.

Central Si Racha stands out with a Japan-inspired haunted house. “Yurei Night – The Legend Of A Haunted Night In The Edo Period Of Japan” runs from Oct 22-31.

“Freeze – The Ghost Freezer” at Central Rayong challenges the brave ones to survive the nerve-wracking horror of an abandoned building from Oct 23-26.

Another extended Halloween takes place at Esplanade Ratchada from Oct 24-Nov 16. Experience horrors through all senses with “Art Meets Fear”.

Central Ladprao debuts its first haunted house, “Haunted Passage, The Cursed Tunnel”, from Oct 27-31.

The brave little ones are invited to join the inflatable “Halloween – Haunted House Maze” at Central Chanthaburi from Oct 31-Nov 2.

At CentralWorld, there are other Halloween-inspired activities to enjoy. On Oct 31, dress up in adorable ‘Little Monster’ costumes and enjoy trick-or-treating with candy and treats distributed throughout the shopping centre. From Oct 25-31, join Halloween workshops on the sixth floor. Find mini concerts on the first floor. Lastly, brave ‘The Haunted Gallery’ where Thai folklore and Japanese yokai culture are unleashed through the lens of various artists.

The other activities include Central Ramindra’s Halloween yoga on Oct 4, Central Udon hosts “Monsters On The Race” on Oct 26, while Central Korat hosts a Halloween run where participants run away from ghosts on Oct 31. Expect spooky parades at 20 Central branches nationwide! Spooky workshops take place at 28 Central branches nationwide. Some Central host Halloween-inspired markets, too!

Lastly, new Central X members who meet spending conditions at participating shops and F and B outlets between Oct 10-31 at Central shopping centres nationwide (except Central Rattanathibet and Central Krabi), receive a movie ticket from SF Cinema or Major Cineplex.

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has underscored the urgent need to accelerate government spending, describing it as the only remaining engine capable of rescuing Thailand’s economy from its current malaise.

Speaking on the second day of the government’s policy statement presentation to parliament on Tuesday, Mr Ekniti, who also serves as a deputy prime minister, warned that Thailand’s economy this year is akin to a vehicle “heading off a cliff”, powered by four main engines — most of which are now faltering or stalling.

Exports, which were previously bolstered by front-loaded shipments ahead of US tariff measures under the Trump administration, saw healthy growth of around 3% in the first half of the year. However, following the imposition of tariffs, this momentum has slowed significantly.

According to the Bank of Thailand’s data, private consumption in July experienced negative growth for the first time in over a year. This decline is attributed to waning consumer confidence, longstanding household debt problems, and stagnant incomes. As a result, this economic engine is weakening and on the verge of stalling as well.

Regarding private sector investment, capacity utilisation currently stands below 60%, a figure showing that this third engine is also nearing a standstill, he said. “Although the smallest in scale, government spending is now the only engine still operational and thus critical to economic recovery,” Mr Ekniti said.

He said projections from three state economic agencies suggest Thai GDP will grow by 1.7% this year. However, the outlook for the fourth quarter is bleak, with forecasted growth of just 0.3%.

“It is clear that the economic engine is already bogged down. The question now is: should we stimulate the economy so aggressively that it risks undermining fiscal discipline? Should we spend all available resources? These are questions I constantly weigh carefully. But as of now, this is the only functioning engine we have to pull the economy out of the mud.

“If we don’t use this engine — if we choose to do nothing — we won’t just remain stuck. We’ll plunge off a cliff. The damage will be immense and far more difficult to reverse,” Mr Ekniti said.

He stated that the government’s economic challenges encompass both immediate issues and long-standing problems. These encompass economic slowdown, reduced purchasing power, diminished liquidity, high household debt, and declining productivity.

He said that he has been in frequent discussions with fellow economic ministers to formulate and coordinate economic policies. They have agreed on an approach described as “short-term stimulus with long-term benefits and broad-based distribution”.

Short-term stimulus refers to the government’s limited timeframe of just four months to deliver effective economic stimulus.

Long-term benefits mean that efforts should go beyond merely distributing cash, and the focus must also be on enhancing the economy’s sustainable potential.

Finally, “broad-based distribution” emphasises the need for economic policies to reach all regions and citizens, with particular attention to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Mr Ekniti said that in response to the challenges mentioned, the government’s policy focuses on a “Quick Big Win” approach.

“Quick” means acting swiftly, immediately, and within a short timeframe, while “Big” refers to the scale of the stimulus — large enough to get the struggling economic engine out of the ditch. “Win” means ensuring the benefits reach the people, small businesses, and micro-enterprises, distributed widely across all regions.

Mr Ekniti said the government’s economic policy will be structured around five key pillars supported by one foundational element.

They include stimulating the economy and tourism, driven by the upcoming “Khon La Khrueng Plus” (co-payment plus) scheme aimed at easing the cost of living for citizens.

The scheme targets small vendors, including street sellers, market stalls, and taxi drivers. Importantly, no additional borrowing will be incurred, and no new funds will be introduced. The programme will utilise the existing budget framework approved by the government, combining 25 billion baht from the economic stimulus budget with 19 billion baht from the central contingency fund, all without jeopardising fiscal discipline.

Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon said the government is committed to advancing key energy initiatives. A central focus is the People’s Solar Energy Programme, aimed at reducing energy costs.

The initiative includes a 1,500-megawatt community solar farm project, covering over 15,000 households and a solar-powered water pumping scheme for agriculture, with a target of 1,200 projects spanning 700,000 rai.

GreenIO, a Bangkok-based artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) solutions company, has developed an AI-powered air quality monitoring system to help safeguard underserved communities from the harmful effects of PM2.5 pollution.

The company is the first in Thailand to receive support under a corporate social responsibility programme run by Qualcomm Inc aimed at promoting collaboration and developing AI-powered air quality monitoring systems.

GreenIO also plans to develop and commercialise AI-on-device technology by designing and manufacturing the devices in Thailand to reduce imports, build domestic technological capabilities, and capitalise on AI-on-device market opportunities.

The company’s ambition is to make Thailand a regional leader in AI-on-devices in the long term, said Ittichai Phoomsirivilai, managing director and co-founder of GreenIO.

According to Grand View Research, the global AI on-device market was estimated at US$8.60 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $36.6 billion by 2030.

“Thailand has its own capabilities for designing and manufacturing AI-on-devices but needs to build a community and an ecosystem of universities and developers to build our own local products,” he said.

By integrating Qualcomm’s advanced AI-on-device technology into GreenIO’s intelligence sensors, this AI smart-edge network air pollution detection programme enables real-time detection of air quality and smoke to help safeguard communities, particularly those that are underserved, face budget constraints and are located in remote areas.

Mr Ittichai said the monitoring device can detect humidity, PM2.5, PM10, total volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide, and can generate real-time alerts with a dedicated dashboard.

“The device also transforms raw environment data into actionable intelligence,” he said.

By having its own design and manufacturing partners, it can make the device price around 20% cheaper than an imported device.

The company deployed the devices with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, public hospitals, and schools with 200 monitoring units across 10 provinces reaching 200,000 people. GreenIO aims to scale this proven model nationwide, engaging ministries, universities, and hospitals to integrate air quality data into health protocols and school safety policies, said Mr Ittichai.

The collaboration with Qualcomm is also exploring commercialising the expansion of AI-on-device solutions beyond air quality, with projects such as a visual impairment navigator already under development, showcasing how this innovation can drive sustainable progress across multiple sectors.

Sharon Alalouf, sales director for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd, said as a CSR programme, the Qualcomm Wireless Reach initiative is a global programme that leverages wireless innovation to drive social and economic progress.

Since 2006, the initiative has implemented 150 programmes across 75 countries, impacting more than 27 million people.

Ms Alalouf said with the Thailand 4.0 strategy, the government is pushing for innovation to address environmental challenges.

“We see high potential in Thailand, which is driving a digital transformation that is among the most advanced in the region,” she said.

“The collaboration with GreenIO will drive innovative local companies to adapt this technology to address other solutions to serve local pain points.”

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has defended the government’s push to roll out the “Khon La Khrueng” co-payment economic stimulus scheme, dismissing criticism that the scheme is a thinly veiled attempt at pre-election campaigning.

Speaking during the government’s policy statement to parliament on Tuesday, Mr Anutin stressed that the administration has only four months in office and therefore must act swiftly on measures deemed feasible and beneficial.

“There is no such thing as rushing. There is only working quickly, transparently and in the people’s best interest,” he said.

He maintained that the co-payment scheme is designed around public participation, with citizens contributing half the cost and the state subsidising the rest.

“If people do not join, the project has no effect. But if they do, spending will circulate and help stimulate the economy,” he added.

When asked about accusations of premature electioneering, Mr Anutin replied that every party engages in political messaging in parliament.

“Debate itself is also a form of campaigning,” he said, before laughing off further questions about concerns over the use of taxpayers’ money.

Opposition criticism was led by Sirikanya Tansakun, deputy leader of the People’s Party, who said the government’s policy statement lacked clarity and urgency. While acknowledging the administration’s time and budgetary constraints, she said its role should be to manage the country responsibly until the next election without making irreversible decisions or exploiting public funds.

She further questioned why it was deemed necessary for unspent stimulus funds from the previous government, which had already helped reduce the deficit and borrowing needs, to be now deployed in full by the current administration.

A man was electrocuted and engulfed in flames before being swept away by strong currents in the Nan River after coming into contact with a high-voltage power line hanging from a bridge in Pichai district of Utttaradit province on Wednesday morning.

The man was attempting to secure a drifting fish raft to the bridge when the tragic incident happened in Ban Dong village Moo 3 in tambon Phaya Man of Phichai district in the northern province.

The fish raft, believed to have broken loose in tambon Tha Mafueang, was seen floating rapidly downstream due to strong currents.

Video captured the moment the raft passed under the bridge, showing a man aboard attempting to tie a rope to the structure. As the raft drifted past, the man came into contact with a hanging high-voltage cable, resulting in a powerful electric shock that engulfed his body in sparks.

He then fell into the river and disappeared beneath the fast-moving water, leaving onlookers in shock.

Jakapan Chanthrathippayarak, who chairs the Taluk Krathiam tambon administration in Phrom Phiram district of Phitsanulok province, told reporters that he had been alerted by officials in tambon Phichai earlier that a raft was drifting downstream towards his community.

A rescue volunteer and owner of the JT Motor Sound Audio business, Mr Jakapan said he drove to the bridge to assist. When the raft arrived, he recorded the video of the incident.

‘The raft was moving very fast. As soon as it passed under the bridge, the man tried to tie it but was suddenly electrocuted. His body fell into the river and disappeared,’ he said.

Rescuers later managed to retrieve the raft along the Nan River bank, but the man’s body has not yet been found.

A 21-year-old man set himself on fire at a bus stop and ran out into the traffic on Phahon Yothin Road in Bangkok on Tuesday, horrifying pedestrians and motorists.

It happened around 10am at a bus stop in front of the Land Development Department office in Chatuchak district.

A CCTV recording showed the man, whose name has not been released, standing behind the bus stop and holding a large jar containing a liquid believed to be petrol.

He poured the liquid over his body before setting himself on fire with a lighter.

According to 3 Plus News, he walked around while on fire, terrifying two university students waiting for a bus, before running out onto the road and falling to the ground, underneath Senanikom BTS Station.

The sight of his burning body shocked motorists. One motorcyclist fell off his bike and was injured. He was taken to nearby Paolo Hospital along with the burned man.

A witness told police the man had a heated phone conversation with someone before setting himself ablaze. His mother said she learned her son had been having a problem with his girlfriend over the past few days.

His condition was not known.

Central Pinklao, Central Pattana’s third shopping centre and a fixture in Bangkok for more than 30 years, is set to redefine retail in western Bangkok with its most significant transformation in three decades. Backed by an investment of over 1.7 billion baht, the redevelopment introduces the concept of the ‘New Soul of the District,’ positioning the complex as the area’s premier lifestyle landmark across 360,000 square metres of space.

The new Central Pinklao aims to meet the demands of customers with strong purchasing power across all generations, featuring more than 500 leading brands and over 150 new trending names. Its refreshed design combines a classic-modern façade with an interior that balances elegance and creativity. The grand reopening is scheduled for 6 November 2025, with expectations that ‘quality traffic’ will rise by 25-30%.

Dr. Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, Chief Marketing Officer of Central Pattana Plc, said: ‘Throughout its 30 years, Central Pinklao has grown into a lifestyle hub for the people of Pinklao. This transformation is a new sensation for Bangkokians that reflects the potential of Thonburi. We have curated more than 500 leading brands across fashion, lifestyle, health, beauty, technology and education, making Central Pinklao the city’s new landmark. Over 150 new and popular brands will appeal to the ‘Young Gen’ and ‘New Wealth,’ while we continue to serve our loyal base of residents and families within a catchment of over three million people.’

A highlight of the redesign is ‘The Park on Fifth,’ an open-air lifestyle destination on the fifth floor featuring dining, cafés and food patios surrounded by greenery and natural light – a first for Bangkok. The renovation also includes the revival of the 6.2-metre-tall Statue of Augustus, restored with a new look.

As the first mixed-use project in the area, Central Pinklao combines a shopping centre with two office towers in a prime location connected to Silom, Sathorn and Yaowarat CBDs, along with three train lines: the MRT Blue and Orange lines, and the SRT Light Red line. Surrounded by schools, hospitals, government offices and premium residences, the revamped Central Pinklao is expected to strengthen Central Pattana’s western Bangkok portfolio. Notably, Tops Food Hall at Central Pinklao ranked third nationwide in sales in 2025, while the Central department store branch ranked fourth, underscoring its role as a premium retail and lifestyle hub.

Over 500 Leading Brands Defining the City’s New Landmark

International Culinary Hub – discover over 200 brands such as Tops Food Hall with ‘New Variety’ from premium dining, casual lifestyle, grab and go, street food, Michelin restaurants, authentic cuisine, international restaurants, organic healthy restaurants, family restaurants, sweets and desserts, speciality coffee, matcha and tea. The G Floor features the ‘Gastronomy Hub’ for food lovers, while the 5th Floor debuts the ‘Brand New Soul Green Wonder’ with refreshing hangout spaces.

First-time in Thailand – welcoming Hama Sushi, a popular conveyor-belt sushi brand with high quality and affordable prices; Ootoya Oki, Thailand’s first ‘crab fat shabu’; and Sotory, offering steak and French fries in a hand-held portable container, among others.

Popular restaurants with new concepts such as Bar B.Q. Plaza, Ootoya Tokusen, On the Table, The Pizza Company Express, Mister Donut, Kumpoon and Baan Bangkok are ready to serve exclusive menu choices only at Central Pinklao.

First branch in the neighbourhood – discover BHC Chicken, Canton Paradise, Hasul, Kiani, La Meow, Lehaha Lanzhou Noodles, Long John Silver’s, LT FISH, Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi, Nong Geng Ji, ONKIJUNG, Pasta Ama, PONN, Ramen Neo, Ramyun Kitchen, RED PANDA Yakiniku, SHABU BARU, Songfa, Sukiya, Xiao Gu Jie Jie, YAKINIKU LIKE, Yonny, YUENAN, Zaabeli, Phra Nakhon Boat Noodles, Krua Muang Ve, An’s Fried Chicken Noodles, Ohkajhu and many more.

Popularly queued restaurants such as Chicha San Chen, Gongcha, One to Two, Solsot, Sushiro, Yolk and Uno Coffee.

Coffee, Tea and Dessert Paradise – 50 popular brands including Bake a Wish, Barron’s Bar, BEARHOUSE, BLENDIES, Boost Juice Bar, Bonjour, BreadTalk, CHONGDEE, D Bake, Eric Kayser, Fruit Slush, HAAB, Jian Cha Tea, Karamizu, KIKI Matcha, Luca, Matcha Eki, Mikka, Minimelts, Molly Tea, Mr Shake, Molto, MX Cake and Bakery, Nose Tea, Old School Brownies, Oranginal, o-li-no, Rowie’s, Saint Etoile, Self, SOOD’s, Sotory, Souri, The Summer Coffee, Tokyo Sweets, TP Tea, Teaory Teahouse, Umami, Yolé Yoghurt, Yoguruto, Zus Coffee, Kin Tokyo, Khem, Everyday Thai Tea, Namtaohuu Pu Pla, Pung Siam, Yok Sod, Luemton, Roon Egg Cake, Fighting Thai Tea, and more.

Leading fashion and lifestyle brands such as Adidas, Anta, Bath and Body Works, Beyond the Vines, Birkenstock, Carnival, Calvin Klein, Charles and Keith, Gentlewoman, JD Sports, Mango, Marimekko, MUJI, MLAB, New Balance, Nike, Pandora, Rituals, Sephora, Skechers, Swarovski, Wilson, Victoria’s Secret, Uniqlo, Zara, and more.

Central Group companies join forces to present new concepts – led by Central Department Store as a flagship branch, unveiling ‘The Brightest Star to the West’ to inspire and elevate a complete lifestyle shopping experience for every generation. Highlights include world-class brands at Beauty Galerie: Armani Beauty, Burberry, Chanel, Charlotte Tilbury, Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, Elemis, Gucci Beauty, La Mer; Contemporary Fashion Shop-in-Shop: Coccinelle, Furla, Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith; the new Central Home with a modern design for home and small appliances; plus Family and Kids, Fashion Men and Women, and Watch and Jewellery. Food lovers can indulge at Central Eats and Treats with Muumuu Mama Italian cuisine, Chamcham herbal drinks, Thawang Songkhla egg cake, 96 Chá milk tea, PASH cold-pressed juices, Praow coconut yoghurt, Kaew Boutique Thai desserts, and a pop-up My Eureka Popcorn from Malaysia-bringing the best experiences to Thonburi and nearby provinces.

B2S will debut a new concept, while Power Buy launches ‘Power Buy 3.0’, a technology hub designed to elevate shopping in the digital era and enhance the seamless omnichannel experience. Supersports will unveil ‘Supersports 3.0 – Sports Destination for All’, offering a new look and experience that highlights its leading position as Thailand’s number one sports retailer. Spanning over 2,000 m², it brings together products and services from over 2,000 global sports brands.

37 leading ‘Edutainment’ and ‘Play Land’ brands including First Class Preschool, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools and Kidzoona Safari.

Wellness Hub – discover more than 72 beauty centres and clinics and experience the new-look Fitness First.

Entertainment – Major Cineplex IMAX with Laser and Soundcheck Karaoke.

Central Pinklao has enjoyed continued success as one of the company’s main assets and remains a key driving force for CPNREIT’s stable income, supporting long-term growth potential. Get ready for the grand re-opening celebrations on 6 November 2025 at Central Pinklao.

The government’s Khon La Khrueng (half-half) co-payment economic stimulus scheme will begin on Oct 29, with registration expected to open soon after cabinet approval next week, according to Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

Mr Ekniti, also deputy prime minister, said registration would use the same system, based on the Pao Tang app, that consumers are familiar with from 2020-22 when the programme was first introduced to stimulate the pandemic-hit economy.

The programme will last for two months, with the daily co-payment limit increased to 200 baht from 150 baht previously, aimed at delivering a ‘quick big win’ to stimulate spending and the economy.

The increase is part of a dual-pronged ‘Plus’ enhancement – a higher subsidy and broader inclusion, said the minister.

‘Quick’ refers to the speed of implementation – with the project ready for immediate rollout following cabinet approval. ‘Big’ represents an increase in the co-payment share, said Mr Ekniti.

‘Win’ means this round will be expanded to include small legal entities in addition to individual vendors, in response to public feedback and a desire to distribute benefits more broadly among small business operators and taxpayers.

‘Plus’ means that people who pay tax will qualify for an additional 2,400 baht in co-payment benefits, reflecting the government’s intent to reward those who participate in the tax system. ‘Plus’ also represents the focus on digital skill development, said the minister. Participating vendors will be encouraged to adopt digital tools, use e-commerce platforms, and basic accounting systems to enhance financial literacy and competitiveness among Thai small businesses.

During the debate on the government’s policy statement on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dismissed criticism that the scheme is a thinly veiled attempt at pre-election campaigning.

Khon La Khrueng proved popular and effective during the pandemic, as it subsidised purchases of selected daily-use goods, easing household burdens while injecting cash directly into the economy.

The scheme had a total budget of 208 billion baht from 2020-22. Thais 18 and older who did not hold state welfare cards were eligible, with about 30 million participants in total.

The budget for the 2025 version of the programme has not been confirmed but it is expected to be around 50 billion baht.

An Asian man fell from a condominium tower in Pattaya, landing on a wall below that tore his body apart, early on Wednesday morning.

The gruesome discovery was reported to Pattaya City police about 12.30am, Pol Lt Col Sutheeraphan Thapsri, a chief investigator, said.

The condominium complex consists of three buildings: Tower A with 44 floors, Tower B with 32 floors, and Tower C with 7 floors. The body was discovered between Towers A and B. The dead man was believed to be an Asian male aged 30 to 40 years and was found wearing a black T-shirt and shorts.

His falling body landed on top of the condo wall, which split it into upper and lower halves and scattered his internal organs across the road.

Police investigators had yet to confirm which floor of which building he fell from. (continues below)

A witness reported hearing a loud thud, as though an object had landed violently on the ground. On investigating, he found the man’s body in its gruesome condition.

Investigators did find cigarette butts on the 32nd floor rooftop balcony of Tower C and traces indicating someone may have been sitting on the ledge.

The investigation was ongoing.