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Jane Goodall, the world’s most celebrated primatologist and one of the most influential environmental voices of the past century, has died at the age of 91. Her passing marks the end of an era for conservation, empathy and scientific discovery. The Jane Goodall Institute announced that she died of natural causes while on a speaking tour in California doing what she had done all her life — sharing her message of hope for the planet.

Goodall was only 26 when she arrived at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania in 1960 as a young woman with a notebook, binoculars and an unshakable curiosity about the natural world. Without formal scientific training, she observed chimpanzees not as specimens, but as individuals — with emotions, personalities and family bonds. Her discoveries forever changed our understanding of the line between humans and animals. She was the first to document chimpanzees making and using tools, a finding that rewrote the definition of humankind itself.

Remembering the life and message of Jane Goodall

Over the following six decades, Goodall became more than a scientist; she became a global advocate. Her pioneering work bridged the worlds of research and activism, illuminating the shared behaviours and emotional intelligence of primates, while confronting the threats they face from deforestation, poaching and the accelerating effects of climate change. Her empathy for animals became a moral force that reshaped how society viewed the natural world.

When one of her beloved study subjects, the chimpanzee Flo, died in 1972, The Sunday Times published an obituary — an extraordinary testament to how deeply Goodall’s work had entered the public consciousness.

In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which began as a research and conservation organisation and grew into a global movement promoting wildlife protection, community health and environmental education. Through her Roots and Shoots programme, she inspired young people in over 60 countries to take action for animals, people and the planet. Her belief that “every individual matters” became the guiding principle of her life’s work.

Honoured throughout her career — from her Damehood in the United Kingdom to the US Presidential Medal of Freedom — Goodall remained remarkably humble, devoting her later years to tireless travel and advocacy. Even into her nineties, she could be found on stage, her voice calm but urgent, reminding audiences that the fate of the natural world lies in human hands.

Back in 2020, Life was honoured to have an exclusive interview opportunity with Goodall, in which she reflected on humanity’s role in the ongoing environmental crisis. “We are in the midst of the sixth great extinction,” she said. “But if we all get together and start making little changes in the way we live, we can turn it around.” She urged compassion not just for animals, but for the planet itself — insisting that hope, grounded in action, was our most powerful tool.

Jane Goodall’s life was a long conversation with nature — one marked by wonder, courage and responsibility. Her message endures: that every creature, no matter how small, has meaning and that it is never too late for humanity to choose respect over destruction and hope over despair.

PostBag column’s regular contributor Felix Qui raised an often asked question about whether there is progress and evidence of drug suppression by the authorities. Unfortunately, as always, there aren’t any except photo ops that appear from time to time on news reports when the politician or top cops need them for publicity.

Just last week, in Udon Thani, a father shot dead his drug-addicted son. I wish I were wrong, illicit drugs are so commonly used among the young people in the province that it is disturbing and is no longer a secret to hide.

The only time I can remember when the authorities had taken drug suppression seriously was when Thaksin Shinawatra was prime minister. Perhaps this is the only good thing that he did that the Isan villagers still remember him for.

Yingwai Suchaovanich

Selective logic

Re: “Weed ruins lives”, (PostBag, Oct 2).

In his unqualified, unequivocal pronouncement that “Weed ruins young lives, period”, Jason A Jellison has yet again jumped from one or two personal anecdotes to a universal claim about cannabis.

Consider a different anecdote: Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote Kubla Khan under the influence of opium. Similarly, Mick Jagger and other highly successful musicians might also offer themselves as examples that “prove” (in Mr Jellison’s sense) the absolute efficacy of cannabis for musical excellence over many decades, period.

And of course, we likely all know one or two people whose lives have been ruined by alcohol. Therefore, alcohol ruins young lives, period.

Certainly, it is a fact that cannabis use can and does harm lives. It is equally a fact that alcohol use can and does, far more often than cannabis, ruin lives. Ask any member of Alcoholics Anonymous for pertinent personal anecdotes, or simply review the literature. Unlike Mr Jellison, I do not think it therefore follows that the addictive drug alcohol “ruins young lives, period”, and must therefore be criminalised, period.

Felix Qui

Shoddy Thai service

Re: “Confidence declines as foreigners avoid Thailand”, (Business, Sept 29).

Thailand overcomplicates everything. It prides itself on 98% employment, but how many actually work? People in A/C offices give the appearance of work without actually doing very much. From banking to immigration, there’s so much unnecessary garbage.

I am just back from 90-day reporting because I had the temerity to go on holiday and, therefore, could not do it online despite having a multi-entry permit AND a TDAC certificate! I had to hand in copies of the same passport pages I have done so many times before for the past 20+ years. The data has not changed in decades! I know all this information is on a computer, yet more trees have to be felled for the appearance of work.

I have waited over one hour in a bank whilst three assistants managed to serve ONE customer before I walked out, angrily denouncing the poor service.

Both examples are of how badly Thai workers lord it over the customers who pay their wages. Perhaps this attitude to service across the country may explain why Vietnam’s tourism is booming, whilst here it is in decline.

RevisionSuccess Co Ltd, a student-led startup focused on bringing artificial intelligence (AI) into classrooms, established a landmark partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with HOG International Academy and House of Griffin Tutorial School on Oct 7, 2025. This begins a special mission-building the first AI-hybrid school in Thailand.

This partnership aims to show how learning can be more personalised and interactive using AI-powered tools, while keeping teachers at the heart of education

‘Our mission is to enable students to study faster, easier and smarter using new technology,’ said Phonlawat Sirajindapirom, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of RevisionSuccess.

‘Partnering with HOG International Academy allows us to showcase how AI can transform theclassroom experience for both students and teachers.’

Phuwadit Sutthaporn, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of RevisionSuccess, concluded, ‘The mission of both our organisations is to prove that Thai students can be greater than any nation.’

With innovation and technology, RevisionSuccess and HOG International Academy are creating a new standard of learning to ensure every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

While many may fear that AI would replace teachers, this project wants to prove the opposite. Santivipa Phanichkul, Founder of House of Griffin, explained, ‘AI should make teaching more human, not less. Through this collaboration, our educators gain tools that make learning more human, personalised and effective.’

Starting January 2026, RevisionSuccess will work closely with the school to begin piloting the system for nine months to build, test and improve the best study platform for both teachers and students.

RevisionSuccess, the startup founded by young entrepreneurs from Chulalongkorn University, believes that Thai education has many problems, ranging from teacher shortages to unequal access to quality education. This is why RevisionSuccess aims to use technology to personalise learning, connect teachers and students and make quality education accessible nationwide.

For RevisionSuccess, the partnership is a new step in their long-term vision to make AI-powered education in every student’s hands.

Two unlicensed schools were raided in Samut Sakhon province on Thursday, uncovering more than 900 migrant students and teachers.

The operation, involving police, education and administrative officials, targeted two school buildings in Krathum Baen district.

One of the locations was a three-storey building in tambon Tha Mai. Although its licence had been revoked, it reportedly continued operating, providing education to 900 migrant children and employing 27 migrants as staff.

The Thai national in charge claimed it was a youth camp with an approved licence, but officials confirmed the site was unapproved for education or camp activities.

It was also noted that the 27 staff members held blue-collar labour permits which did not allow them to teach.

Provincial deputy governor Pol Lt Col Khetrat Chansin said on Friday that the migrant children will be transferred to authorised educational institutions, and those operating the illegal camp will face legal action.

According to estimates from 2021-2022, Samut Sakhon was home to about 660,000 migrant workers, with around 60% listed as undocumented. Of these migrant workers, approximately 400,000 came from Myanmar.

The Ministry of Finance insists all of the new nominees for the board of directors of Thai Airways International are professionals.

According to Lavaron Sangsnit, the ministry’s permanent secretary, 17 people have been nominated as potential new directors of THAI, not including nominees from shareholders who hold at least 5%, who are entitled to propose candidates for consideration by the selection committee.

The selection committee is expected to choose eight qualified candidates by Oct 19: four to replace directors whose terms have ended, and four new ones. These names are to be submitted for approval by the THAI board, which is scheduled to meet on Oct 23.

The board will then propose the list to the shareholders’ meeting for final approval, slated for December.

‘Thai Airways must have a professional board of directors, and we affirm that all the nominees we have proposed are top-tier and highly professional,’ Mr Lavaron said on Friday.

In his capacity as chairman of the board, he said he guarantees all processes are conducted with transparency, and there is no intention to return the airline to a state enterprise, nor will it be managed as one, but rather as a listed company.

Shares of Thai Airways resumed trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in August after a four-year business rehabilitation period. The Ministry of Finance is still the major shareholder, with 38.9% of the company’s shares, down from 47.9% in December 2024, according to SET records.

THAI lost its state enterprise status during the rehabilitation period when the total shareholding of the ministry and other state entities fell below 51%. The change was sought by creditors and shareholders as a way to reduce the bureaucratic inefficiency and political interference that used to plague the carrier.

Banyong Pongpanich, a former THAI board member, recently called on the government to sell all its shares in the airline, arguing that it would be the best way to ensure business efficiency.

Mr Lavaron maintains that the current board is working in the best interests of the business, its shareholders and customers.

‘The board members are true professionals who work for the genuine benefit of Thai Airways,’ he said. ‘Of course, during board meetings not everyone will agree on every issue, but all are professionals. What is discussed in the boardroom should not be disclosed outside.

‘As long as I remain chairman, there will be no corruption – everything must be transparent in every aspect.’

Bigger board

Mr Lavaron also explained the necessity of increasing the number of board members to 15.

‘There are 11 directors, which creates some operational limitations. Certain committees cannot be established because the board is incomplete. For example, the risk management committee is essential, but it cannot be formed at present,’ he said.

‘Only two committees exist: audit as well as nomination and remuneration, as required by the stock exchange regulations.

‘Under Thai Airways’ rules, all audit committee members must be independent directors. As three independent directors already serve on the audit committee, they cannot serve on any other, reducing the total by three. Another three are assigned to the nomination committee, making six in total that are ineligible for other committees.

‘The chairman should not serve on any committee, leaving seven. This leaves only four directors available, which makes it impossible to form the risk management committee. This is why it’s necessary to increase the number of board members to 15.’

Speculation is mounting that the Pheu Thai Party has approached Varawut Silpa-archa, leader of the Chartthaipattana Party, to serve as one of its prime ministerial candidates, amid reports of efforts by the Shinawatra family to salvage Pheu Thai’s image.

A source in Pheu Thai said former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, seen as the de facto leader of the party, approached Mr Varawut to take the helm and possibly become one of its three prime ministerial candidates. Mr Varawut, who is reported to be away overseas, has yet to respond.

Mr Varawut, whose party holds 10 House seats, is the son of the late former premier Banharn Silpa-arch. He is seen as a rising new-generation politician with a conciliatory image that could help broaden Pheu Thai’s appeal.

The source added that Thaksin, serving a one-year jail term, reportedly offered Mr Varawut the post of foreign minister in exchange for merging Chartthaipattana with Pheu Thai when the Bhumjaithai Party exited the coalition government — a proposal Mr Varawut declined at the time.

Pheu Thai veteran Somsak Thepsutin said on Thursday that Mr Varawut enjoys considerable support. He described him as a young, well-mannered politician, but said it is too early to say whether he will accept the offer.

Pheu Thai secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong said the report caught him off guard and questioned its origin.

He said the matter should first be discussed between the leaders of the two parties.

Thanaporn Sriyakul, director of the Institute of Political and Policy Analysis, said Mr Varawut could be an attractive candidate for Pheu Thai given his calibre and network.

Severe flooding has submerged 11 districts in Ayutthaya province, affecting more than 46,000 households, with Bang Ban district described as looking like a vast lake.

The flooding followed the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat province maintaining its discharge rate at 2,300 cubic metres per second, sending large volumes of water downstream into the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries. Although water levels in some areas have begun to fall by 5-10 centimetres, many communities remain under water.

The Ayutthaya Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office reported on Friday that 11 districts – Sena, Phak Hai, Bang Ban, Bang Sai, Bang Pa-in, Tha Rua, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Maha Rat, Bang Pahan, Ban Phraek and Nakhon Luang – have been affected.

A total of 46,273 households have suffered from the floods, which have claimed eight lives in Sena, Bang Ban and Bang Sai districts. Thirty-three schools, two mosques and 38 temples have been submerged, while 58 community roads have become impassable. Around 390 rai of farmland – mostly rice paddies and other crops – have been damaged.

In Bang Ban district alone, floodwaters have covered 101 villages across 16 tambons, affecting 6,425 households. Many homes and communities along the Chao Phraya River and nearby canals remain inundated.

Although the water has started to recede, many areas are still under two to three metres of water. Some homes are flooded to their floors, while others are almost half-submerged.

Local roads have turned into waterways, forcing residents to use boats to travel in and out of their communities. Aerial images show entire communities in Bang Ban resembling a vast lake.

Residents said water levels have started to recede slightly, but they remain anxious as continued rainfall and high-volume discharges from upstream have kept large areas under water.

A fire broke out in a 38-storey condominium building on Somdet Phra Pin Klao Road in Bangkok Noi district of the capital on Thursday, with multiple occupants trapped inside.

Thick smoke was first seen emerging from the 16th floor of the building, located opposite Pata department store.

Fire crews and rescue teams arrived at the scene at 2pm, with rescuers inside the building helping to evacuate people trapped on various floors.

As of 2.20pm, authorities reported several people remaining inside, mainly on the 17th and 24th floors as well as the balcony of the 33rd floor, a particularly challenging area for rescue operations.

By 2.40pm, two residents trapped in an elevator were rescued without injury, and a foreign man trapped on the 15th floor was safely guided to the ground floor.

At 3pm, officials reported that the fire was under control. Smoke was being ventilated, and rescue personnel continued to check for anyone remaining inside the building.

More leading brands are now on board with Central Department Store in evolving its annual watch fair, enriching the variety from three-hand models to sophisticated timepieces.

The latest releases were worn by celebrities led by actor Harit Buayoi at the grand opening of the Central International Watch Fair 2025, held on Oct 1 at Central Chidlom, aka The Store Of Bangkok.

The renovated second floor include the whimsically-named Watch Watch zone, which serves as the main venue for exploring the novelties.

Harit wore the Grand Seiko SLGW007 with a textured navy-blue dial and matching strap evoking the bark of a white birch tree bathed in moonlight.

From the Evolution 9 collection, the stainless steel dress watch is powered by a hand-wound high-beat movement (36,000 vibrations per hour or 10 beats per second), which assures accuracy and a generous power reserve of up to 80 hours.

Grand Seiko doubled its presence with a counter at the Watch Watch department and a pop-up exhibition at the Atrium on the ground floor. Under the concept “Feel The Nature Of Grand Seiko”, the exhibition presents exquisite timepieces, inspired by Japan’s seasonal beauty and landscape.

Frederique Constant has reinterpreted its Classic Tourbillon Manufacture in a white gold case and an aventurine dial for a limited edition of 36 pieces. The tourbillon spins inside the “Heart Beat” window at 6 o’clock while the self-winding movement is revealed by the transparent caseback.

Redesigned models include Longines PrimaLuna with refined case proportions and a new date display in the moon phase complication. The new collection includes a self-winding model with a mother-of-pearl dial in a Celestial Blue shade and a bezel set with blue sapphires in a subtle gradation of hues and sizes.

Japanese brand Orient Star has also refreshed the moon phase display on the Mechanical Classic M45 with a motif made from mother of pearl. The dial has a stamped pattern expressing the beauty of the M45 Pleiades star cluster, and a monotone gradation transitioning from grey in the centre to black on the outer edge.

Casio transferred the Japanese art of hammering to G-Shock MR-G, with master tsuiki artisan Kazuya Watanabe crafting a relief pattern on the bezel and bracelet, making each timepiece unique. The artistry is complemented by the execution on DAT55G, a special alloy that is three times harder than pure titanium. Moreover, this extra-hard metal material is finished with a diamond-like carbon, or DLC, coating for enhanced scratch- and abrasion-resistance.

The watchmaking at Oris employs a material made from carbon fibre using an additive manufacturing and moulding technique. As light as plastic and yet stronger than most metals, the innovative carbon-fibre composite is used to make the case of the ProPilot Altimeter Mission Control — a collab between Oris and the Bamford Watch Department.

The ProPilot Altimeter is the only watch in the world to house a “Swiss Made” automatic mechanical movement alongside a mechanical altimeter that can relay readings up to 6km.

The Swiss brand also launched the Oris Big Crown Calibre 113 featuring a business calendar at the Central International Watch Fair 2025.

Seiko debuted a limited edition of 500 pieces in partnership with Thai product design company PDM, with its signature stride pattern in navy blue adorning the dial of Seiko Prospex.

During the watch fair, The Citizen will celebrate its 30th anniversary and introduce two models, exclusively available at Central Chidlom.

Under Central Retail, Central Department Store has dedicated the Luxury Watch Week to showcasing exceptional timepieces.

Blancpain, Bulgari and Omega as well as Cortina Watch participated in the first round of the Luxury Watch Week. The second round scheduled from Oct 17-19 will present a selection from Pendulum — the authorised retailer of various luxury and independent watch brands.

Likewise the three-day Distinguished Brand Showcase starting from Oct 31 will introduce new participants with a rich heritage.

Rudis Sylva dates way back to 1384, while Charles Girardier is named after a master watchmaker active in Geneva from the second half of the 18th century to the early 19th century.

Cuervo y Sobrinos is the only luxury watch brand with a Latin legacy, as it was born in Havana in 1882. Seven years later, Doxa was established in Le Locle, Switzerland’s cradle of watchmaking.

While founded in 2019, BA111OD is rooted in more than 250 years of the Baillod family’s horological heritage in NeuchStel.

The Central International Watch Fair 2025 will also feature Austrian maison Carl Suchy and Söhne in an exclusive workshop on Nov 2. Owner Robert Punkenhofer will trace the history back to 1822 and update on the revival since 2017.

People’s Party (PP) MP Rangsiman Rome insisted that the move by 44 former MPs of the now-dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP) to seek amendments to the lese majeste law did not breach ethical standards.

Mr Rangsiman, one of the 44 being investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), said on Thursday that the amendment proposal was conducted transparently, through proper parliamentary procedures and in accordance with the MPs’ duties.

He also noted that the amendment bill had never been formally placed on the House agenda.

He made the statement as the probe is drawing to a close, probably by next month or in December.

Mr Rangsiman called on the public to avoid rushing to the conclusion that these former MPs would be found in the wrong, saying the assumption would imply that a proper justice process did not exist.

“Many of us have been accused, and we deserve the right to explain ourselves. To be fair, the NACC has given us time, so let’s not jump to the conclusion that we will be found guilty,” he said.

He expressed hope that both state authorities and the NACC would perform their duties impartially, free from political motivation or bias.

The NACC probe followed a Constitutional Court ruling on Jan 31 last year, which found that the MFP’s push to amend the lese majeste law, or Section 112 of the Criminal Code, was deemed an attempt to undermine the constitutional monarchy.

Mr Rangsiman also denied rumours that the PP, an offshoot of the MFP, had sought help from the ruling Bhumjaithai Party over the matter.

The PP MP’s remarks came as Surapong Intarathawon, spokesman of the Office of the NACC, said the accused were formally informed of the charges and given 15 days to submit explanations.

He said the inquiry panel would review all statements before presenting its findings to the full commission.