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Pavilion restaurant at Dusit Thani Bangkok joins the celebration of the 2025 Vegetarian Festival with a specially curated selection of vegetarian dishes that blend Thai authenticity with refined culinary craftsmanship.

Chef de cuisine Rosarin Sriprathum has reinterpreted some of Thailand’s most beloved classics, thoughtfully reimagined to meet the strict standards of the festival’s vegetarian practice. Among the highlights is pomelo salad, one of Pavilion’s signature dishes, prepared with ruby Siam pomelo from southern Thailand. The addition of crispy fried taro and pickled chestnuts creates a contrast in texture.

For those who prefer comforting curries, chef Rosarin’s green curry with mixed vegetables is a wholesome choice. Each serving features freshly-made curry paste, slow-simmered to bring out delicate layers of spice and aroma and accompanied by fragrant steamed jasmine rice.

Another dish that celebrates the art of slow dining is the crispy rice salad (yum khao tod). Organic jasmine rice from the Thung Kula Ronghai region is crafted into deep-fried rice balls and mixed with shredded coconut and red curry paste. Guests are invited to wrap the crispy rice mixture in betel leaves, the traditional Thai way, allowing the flavours and textures to unfold gradually.

Two SET-listed firms have made Thailand’s first commercial sales of biofuel for ships, according to PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR), the oil trade flagship of national oil and gas conglomerate, PTT Group.

OR on Friday announced a partnership with Regional Container Lines Plc (RCL), a Bangkok-based shipping company, to pilot the distribution of B24, a very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) for cargo ships, driving clean energy towards sustainable maritime transport.

OR’s vice president for aviation and marine marketing, Mr. Chaipruet Watchareecupt, presided over the first distribution ceremony of B24 VLSFO to the Piya Bhum, a vessel in RCL’s fleet, at Laem Chabang Port, Chonburi Province.

This operation was supported by Interbunker Supply and Transport Co, using the Dragon Ten as an oil tanker for transportation.

The delivery of renewable energy-sourced marine fuel to RCL marks a significant collaboration between the energy and maritime sectors to enhance the use of clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the industry.

This distribution marks another important step for OR and RCL, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in July. This collaboration will help propel Thailand’s maritime transport industry towards carbon reduction and sustainable growth.

The use of clean energy in Thailand’s maritime transport sector aligns with the OR 2030 Goals, which aim to create a healthy environment and prepare for climate change.

The government has expanded its double tax deduction programme for corporate expenses on training, seminars and domestic travel, extending eligibility to selected districts in major tourist provinces to help stimulate local economies and promote regional tourism.

Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Perdwiwattana said the Revenue Department issued the announcement outlining criteria and conditions for the corporate income tax exemptions, which run from Oct 28 to Dec 15 this year.

Under the measure, certain districts in major tourist provinces such as Krabi, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chon Buri and Surat Thani are included in the double tax deduction programme as well. They include Khao Phanom, Lam Thap and Plai Phraya in Krabi; San Sai, Saraphi, Mae Taeng and Mae Wang in Chiang Mai; Pak Thong Chai, Phimai, Sikhiu and Soeng Sang in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Businesses that hold seminars or trainings in the designated areas will receive a double tax deduction, while those in other locations can claim a 1.5-times deduction in line with the Revenue Department’s regulations.

Ms Lalida said the scheme allows companies to benefit from tax deductions during year-end, when corporate events and meetings typically increase, while also boosting local tourism and distributing income more evenly among regional communities.

“It reflects the government’s focus on strengthening the grassroots economy and tourism incentives,” she added.

The Labour Ministry has warned that tour guiding is a profession strictly reserved for Thai nationals, and that foreigners working as guides will face legal action or deportation.

Those who employ foreigners as tour guides will also face action, it said.

Labour Minister Trinuch Thienthong said that with the high season approaching some tour group operators, in order to fulfil demand, will hire foreign tour guides, which violates labour laws.

A tour guide is one of 27 protected occupations. This means a foreigner cannot obtain a work permit for the job of tour guide, nor can those with valid permits for other occupations legally act as guides.

Ms Trinuch said the government is focused on boosting the economy and promoting tourism to bring revenue into the country, so hiring foreign guides not only breaks the law but also takes jobs away from Thai citizens.

According to the minister, if foreigners are found working without a permit or doing a job beyond what their permit allows, they could be subject to a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 baht, deportation and a ban from applying for another work permit for two years. Employers who hire unlicensed foreign workers face fines ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 baht per worker.

New Thailand coach Anthony Hudson said he is relishing the pressure after being thrown into the hot seat, tasked with leading the War Elephants to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking during his unveiling at the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) headquarters on Thursday, the Englishman, who replaced the dismissed Masatada Ishii, said his top priority is to take Thailand to the Asian Cup.

Thailand are scheduled to play Sri Lanka in their fifth qualifier in Colombo on Nov 18, with the final group match against Turkmenistan set for March next year.

Both teams have nine points from four games, but Turkmenistan hold the edge with a superior head-to-head record against the War Elephants.

“My dream is to help Thailand qualify for the Asian Cup, to do everything I can to improve the team, help the players and fans be proud of the Thai team. And I will do everything I can to achieve that,” said Hudson, who added that his contract with the FAT will be finalised in the coming days.

“I have due respect for Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan, and I expect both games to be difficult. However, I have full confidence that Thailand will qualify. The team are in a good spot right now. With proper preparation, Thailand can make it to the Asian Cup.”

Hudson added: “I’ve been in this situation a few times. When I took over Bahrain 10 years ago as a very young coach, the remit was to qualify for the Asian Cup. And we did that in difficult circumstances. When I took over the US national team, the remit was to qualify for the Nations League finals. We did that too. So I’ve been in a few situations like this, where you come in and you’ve got to win and qualify.”

Hudson, who previously served as technical director for Thailand’s U23s, also praised Ishii for his work with the national team and insisted he will build on the Japanese coach’s foundation while adding his own personality.

“Firstly, I need to send my respect to Ishii. He did a very good job. It would be foolish of me to come in and change everything. I also have my own strong personal ideas. The team right now are doing some really good things. It’s about identifying those that are effective and, over time, implementing the things I feel strongly about to put my personality on the team. But it is more evolution than revolution,” he said.

Hudson admitted the angry reaction to Ishii’s dismissal was “difficult to read” but preferred to see it as passion from the fans.

“One thing I love about Thailand is that they care and love their team so much. The reaction was difficult to read. I felt bad because I can see how much Madam President [FAT chief Nualphan Lamsam] loves Thai football. I also respect the fans’ response. I love the passion. I just hope over time I can deliver big results that the fans can be proud of. There’s nothing I want more than to get the team to the Asian Cup and make the fans proud.”

‘Thank you very much’

Meanwhile, Ishii thanked fans for their support and said he wants to continue coaching in his latest Instagram post.

“To everyone who sent me a message, thank you very much. I still want to work as a coach and plan to coach in Thailand or other countries. I can no longer work as coach of the Thai national team, but I would like to continue to support the team just like everyone else,” the Japanese coach wrote.

Ishii’s dismissal on Tuesday followed a meeting at FAT headquarters with the association’s technical committee.

According to Ishii, he was abruptly dismissed during what was supposed to be a routine performance review after the national team’s Asian Cup qualifiers.

“They weren’t sincere,” he wrote on an Instagram story immediately after his sacking.

The surprise decision drew heavy criticism from furious football fans, who flooded social media platforms including the FAT president’s Facebook page.

FAT vice-president Dr Charnwit Polcheewin and board member Piyapong Pue-on also faced backlash, accused of orchestrating Ishii’s ouster.

The Police Complaints Review Board (PCRB) has reportedly found grounds to accuse former national police chief Torsak Sukvimol and more than 200 other officers of disciplinary offences linked to bribes from online gambling networks.

A source said the finding followed a seven-month investigation prompted by a complaint filed by lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd in March 2024. Mr Sittra, who had developed a high profile as a crusader, was himself charged with fraud a few months later.

The PCRB gathered evidence and documents from multiple agencies before concluding on Wednesday that there were sufficient grounds to pursue misconduct cases, the source said.

No direct money trail to Pol Gen Torsak’s personal accounts was found, though some funds were linked to temple donations, the person added.

The accused will be given an opportunity to present explanations before penalties are decided, he said.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission is also looking into bribery allegations against Pol Gen Torsak.

Pol Gen Torsak served as national police chief from October 2023 until his retirement on Sept 30, 2024. The months leading up to his retirement were marked by a bitter feud with one of his deputies, Pol Gen Surachate ‘Big Joke’ Hakparn.

The two accused each other of having links to online gamblers, and Pol Gen Surachate was ultimately dismissed from the force without a pension. He continues to pursue legal cases against the police department.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he was ending trade talks with Canada over an anti-tariff advertising campaign, a sudden about-face soon after a cordial White House meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

On his Truth Social network, Trump vented fury at what he called a “fake” ad that he said misquoted former president Ronald Reagan discussing tariff policy.

Trump said the campaign — produced by the Canadian province of Ontario to be aired on US television channels — was designed to “interfere with the decision of the US Supreme Court,” which is due to rule on his sweeping global tariffs.

“Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED,” Trump posted.

There was no immediate comment from officials in Canada, where Carney said in a budget speech on Wednesday that Washington’s “fundamentally changed” trade policy required a revamp of Ottawa’s economic strategy.

Trump said “the Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs.”

The foundation wrote on X that the Ontario government had used “selective audio and video” from a radio address on trade that Reagan had delivered in 1987.

It said the ad “misrepresents” what the former Republican president said, adding that it was “reviewing its legal options”.

The ad used quotes from Reagan’s speech, in which he warned against some of the ramifications that high tariffs on foreign imports could have on the US economy.

It cited Reagan as saying that “high tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars,” a quote that matches a transcript of his speech on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library’s website.

– ‘Rupture’ –

The latest twist in relations between the United States and Canada came just over two weeks after Carney visited Trump at the White House to seek a relaxation of stiff US tariffs.

At that meeting, Trump described Carney as a “world-class leader” and said the Canadian would “walk away very happy” from their discussion.

Trump’s global sectoral tariffs — particularly on steel, aluminum, and autos — have hit Canada hard, forcing job losses and squeezing businesses.

For now, the United States and Canada continue to adhere to an existing North American trade deal called the USMCA, which ensures that roughly 85 percent of cross-border trade in both directions remains tariff-free.

In his speech on Wednesday, ahead of the unveiling of the 2025 federal budget next month, Carney said that the United States has raised “its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression”.

“The scale and speed of these developments are not a smooth transition, they’re a rupture. They mean our economic strategy needs to change dramatically,” Carney added, saying the process “will take some sacrifices and some time.”

Both Trump and the Canadian prime minister are due to attend gatherings in the coming days — the regional summit of Southeast Asian nations (Asean) in Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Forum in South Korea.

Earlier this week, Carney had said Ottawa was in “intensive negotiations” with Washington for a trade deal.

Canada is a major supplier of steel and aluminum for US businesses, and Carney had expressed optimism about the prospects of a breakthrough in those sectors.

Carney has also said his government is focused on preserving the USMCA, which was signed during Trump’s first term and is scheduled for review in 2026.

While most cross-border food trade has remained tariff-free, some US tariffs and Canadian countermeasures have forced some suppliers to raise prices.

Data released Tuesday showed Canada’s annual inflation rate rising to 2.4% in September — slightly above analyst expectations, with rising grocery prices partly driving the inflation bump.

Canadian grocery stores have historically relied heavily on US imports.

Following the unveiling of the Tatler Best 100 on the opening day, the Tatler Best Awards 2025 culminated in a glittering black-tie gala dinner celebrating Asia-Pacific’s and, for the first time, the Middle East’s Best-in-Class winners.

Presented in partnership with Mastercard and Priceless, SJM Resorts, S.A., Siam Paragon, and Amazing Thailand, the event honoured 51 exceptional award recipients across categories including Hotel of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, and Bar of the Year, recognising the highest standards of excellence in the hospitality industry.

Asia-Pacific Winners

Hotel of the Year: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailan

dRestaurant of the Year: Sézanne, Japan

Bar of the Year: Bar Leone, Hong Kong

Middle East Winners

Hotel of the Year: Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Saudi Arabia

Restaurant of the Year: Trèsind Studio, Dubai

Bar of the Year: Honeycomb Hi-Fi, Dubai

The Legacy Award was presented to Michelle Garnaut, founder of M on the Bund, in recognition of her pioneering influence on Mainland China’s dining and cultural landscape. Since opening in 1999, her Shanghai institution has not only redefined fine dining but also fostered a vibrant space for creativity and community.

The evening embodied Tatler’s signature blend of sophistication and celebration. Over 400 distinguished guests gathered at Paragon Hall for a multi-course gala dinner curated by five acclaimed chefs: Sujira Pongmorn (Khaan, Thailand), Herlander Fernandes (Mesa, Macau), Dej Kewkacha (Gaggan at Louis Vuitton, Thailand), and Henrik Yde-Andersen with Chayawee Sutcharitchan (Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin, Thailand).

Notable attendees included Tunku Jamie Nadzimuddin of Malaysia’s royal family, HRH Sarimah Ibrahim and Awal Ashaari of Malaysia, and Mond Gutierrez from the Philippines, lending the event an international flair. Guests were also treated to an evocative opening performance by Jodokcello, the Swiss cellist famed for blending classical and contemporary styles.

‘Tonight reflects what Tatler Best is all about – bringing together the people, stories, and passions that define excellence across our region,’ said Michel Lamunière, Chairman and CEO of Tatler Asia. ‘It’s a celebration not only of the winners, but of a community that continues to inspire creativity and innovation in hospitality.’

The celebrations continued with an after-party led by DJ and Music Director Daryll Griggs, keeping the energy high late into the night – a fitting finale to an unforgettable evening.

Recognising True Excellence

The Tatler Best Awards serve as Tatler Asia’s flagship regional platform, distinct from national Tatler Best lists across markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Winners are determined through the collective input of Tatler’s trusted community – tastemakers with influence, discernment, and appreciation for quality – ensuring the awards reflect genuine recognition from those shaping Asia-Pacific’s luxury landscape.

Tatler Best Takeover Series in Bangkok

Extending the celebration beyond the gala, the Tatler Best Takeover Series runs from 17 to 25 October, featuring one-night-only chef and mixologist collaborations across Bangkok’s leading venues. Bringing together award-winning talents from Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand, the series offers diners a front-row seat to the creativity shaping Asia-Pacific’s culinary future.

The initial sessions have drawn enthusiastic participation from Bangkok’s tastemakers and visiting award winners, with upcoming events continuing to spotlight bold cross-cultural collaborations that embody Tatler’s ongoing commitment to connection and innovation.

Award Highlights

Hotel of the Year: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (Thailand); Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (Saudi Arabia)

Restaurant of the Year: Sézanne (Japan); Trèsind Studio (Dubai, UAE)

Bar of the Year: Bar Leone (Hong Kong SAR); Honeycomb Hi-Fi (Dubai, UAE)

Rising Stars: Zhanxu Li (Qu Lang Yuan, Mainland China), Pei Liu (Under Lab, Taiwan), Sara Aqel (Dara Dining by Sara Aqel, Jordan), and Mauro Cortese – showcasing a new wave of culinary and mixology talent across 16 destinations.

A brothel in Khlung district that was found to be employing girls under the age of 18 has been shut down following a raid early yesterday, according to the police.

The raid followed tip-offs from local informants about a brothel on a highway in tambon Sueng, which said that it was providing sexual services involving minors.

A woman identified only as Amitada, 56, was arrested and charged with multiple offences, including human trafficking for prostitution, said Pol Maj Gen Wittaya Sriserthipap, commander of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD).

The raid was carried out by officers from the AHTD, Khlung district police, and officials from the provincial Social Development and Human Security Office.

Officers seized several pieces of evidence, including used condoms, marked banknotes used in the sting operation, a mobile phone, and a QR code payment slip linked to the suspect.

Investigators began monitoring the brothel after receiving reports that the brothel’s owner was offering underage girls to clients.

Before the raid took place, undercover police agents contacted the brothel to engage the services of a 16-year-old girl. The brothel agreed and asked the agents to pay 3,500 baht. The girl was told to transfer a 300-baht commission to the brothel’s account, registered under Ms Amitada’s name, before she was told to go to a nearby hotel.

Once the payment was verified, officers raided the premises and found several girls aged 16 to 17 working as “drinking companions”. Over half of the staff were reportedly minors.

Police rescued the girls, who were sent to a centre for victims of human trafficking.

Readiness, unified quality data, the resilience of cybersecurity, and high-performance modernised infrastructure are the driving forces behind successfully implementing enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) projects, according to NetApp, a data infrastructure company.

“Thailand’s digital ambitions under the Thailand 4.0 framework have made AI a national priority. As enterprises look to scale AI across operations, success will depend on having a secure, unified data foundation that supports rapid deployment and governance,” said Unnop Wadithee, country manager at NetApp Thailand.

Thailand has approved an investment of 25 billion baht over fiscal 2026 and 2027 to fast-track AI development and achieve regional leadership.

Mr Unnop cited the NetApp Data Complexity Report from December 2024 that said 85% of Asia-Pacific tech executives recognise the importance of unified data to achieve optimal AI outcomes in 2025.

Meanwhile, Gartner Inc states that 60% of AI projects will be abandoned in 2026 due to the lack of AI-ready data.

“This means that the AI challenge is a data challenge. Fast AI adoption demands modernised enterprise storage infrastructure,” Mr Unnop added.

To meet customer needs, the company has introduced the NetApp AFX Disaggregated Storage System, a high-performance all-flash solution built for AI. It separates performance from capacity for greater scalability and speed, supporting exabyte-scale storage and terabytes-per-second bandwidth for large AI workloads.

Moreover, NetApp has also enhanced its Ransomware Resilience service to help drive comprehensive, orchestrated, workload-centric ransomware defences across file and block storage, all via a single control plane.

Mr Unnop said cyber-resilience is paramount for maintaining stability and trust. This will help organisations to handle the rise of ransomware-as-a-service.

According to data from the National Cyber Security Agency, Thailand faced more than 1,000 cyber-incidents in early 2025. Data leaks, a denial-of-service attack and ransomware hit over half of Thai firms.

“As Thailand accelerates its Thailand 4.0 vision, data has become the lifeblood of innovation across industries. Our Ransomware Resilience empowers organisations to recover swiftly and without compromise,” said Mr Unnop.

He said the rise of AI introduces complex data and security challenges across multi-cloud, hybrid, and on-premise environments — spanning various data types such as files, objects, and block storage format — driving the need for intelligent data infrastructure.

To stay competitive, organisations must prioritise four key areas: AI, data infrastructure modernisation, cyber-resilience and cloud transformation.

Mr Unnop said that despite the challenging economy, enterprises are still investing in technology in order to fuel growth.

For example, usually telecom operators and financial firms spend 15% of total revenue on technology, but they will now reprioritise, with cloud investment and cybersecurity being the top priorities.

Modernising existing storage infrastructure helps to optimise the overall cost of ownership by reducing maintenance costs and enabling AI readiness.

In Thailand, finance, the public sector, healthcare and manufacturing are the top potential markets.

“NetApp has achieved 145% year-on-year global growth in AI revenue, along with a threefold increase in qualified partners across APAC selling our AI solutions,” said Mr Unnop.