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The Senate yesterday set up a committee to probe the background, conduct and ethics of the 15 nominees to be selected as new members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

The nominees, who must assume their duties within 60 days pending Senate approval, are Pol Col Kob Ajanakitti, Kiattichai Maitriwong, Noraset Pratchayakon, Nirat Yuphakdi, Niwet Phancharoenworakul, Prapas Pintoptaeng, Prayat Jatupornphithakkul, Soot Rattanawong, Phaibul Nabutchom, Wirat Rakphan, Wiwat Rungkaeo, Wirayut Sroithong, Wutthichai Kalayanamit, Gen Sawas Thatsana, and Anek Wiraphotchananan. The NACC consists of nine members, including one chairman, each serving a seven-year term.

During yesterday’s Senate session, Senator Tewarit Maneechai proposed extending the deadline for considering the nominations by 30 days, to 90 days.

He said the extension was necessary because a petition signed by 105 Senators had just been submitted to the NACC, accusing former justice minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong and Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam, director-general of the Department of Special Investigation, of unfair treatment toward 138 Senators allegedly involved in the Senate election collusion case.

If a probe was to proceed now, he said, it could raise concerns about conflicts of interest.

The Senate committee is also being accused of partiality by Senator Nantana Nantavaropas, leader of a Senate minority group calling itself “independent”.

Ms Nantana reiterated her group’s opposition to the Senate’s involvement in reviewing and approving appointments to key positions in independent bodies, especially amid allegations that many senators were implicated in vote-rigging during the 2024 Senate election.

She added that since the majority dominate the Upper House, membership in such scrutiny committees has always been limited to their allies, leaving no opportunity for members of her group to participate.

Senator Seranee Anilbol, a member of the independent Senate group, said the 21 Senators who filed a petition concerning the qualifications of the 138 Senators allegedly involved in vote rigging, are now being sidelined in the Upper House, and given a seat in any committee.

Thai League 1 leaders Buriram United have parted ways with their Brazilian coach Osmar Loss Vieira, the defending champions announced on Tuesday.

Osmar became the third coach in the top flight to lose his job only seven weeks into the new season. Dusit Chalermsan (Kanchanaburi Power) and Supachai Komsilp (BG Pathum United) were the first two coaches to be dismissed this season.

The Brazilian joined Buriram United last season and helped the Thunder Castle lift the Thai League 1, FA Cup, League Cup, and Shopee Cup trophies.

A short statement by the club on Tuesday said: “Buriram United Football Club would like to express its gratitude to Osmar Loss Vieira, the head coach who led the team to success and created memorable moments with the club.

“For the management of the team moving forward, the club has appointed Emerson Pereira da Silva as the acting head coach on a temporary basis.”

While Buriram lead the Thai League 1 table, their performances in the regional Shopee Cup and the AFC Champions League Elite group stage have been lacklustre.

Buriram drew 1-1 with Malaysia’s Selangor in their opening Group A match of the Shopee Cup at home, and the defending champions were then held 2-2 by hosts BG Pathum United, leaving them winless in the Asean club championship.

The northeastern giants are currently in fifth place with two points in Group A.

Buriram’s unbeaten run since the start of the season was halted on the night of Sept 30, when the Thai League 1 holders suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to FC Seoul in their AFC Champions League Elite clash at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

This was followed by a 2-2 draw against BG Pathum United at home in a pulsating encounter that kept the hosts atop the Thai League 1 table but cut their lead to three points.

It marked the first time the Thunder Castle have dropped points in seven league games this season.

Tourists are being warned to stop plastering stickers over a big road sign in Thong Pha Phum district that has become an unofficial ‘check-in’ point for visitors travelling the highway.

Local Department of Highways chief Apilak Tosaporn issued the warning on Wednesday, saying the culprits could face legal action.

The sign is on a tall gantry above highway 3272 and informs motorists they are approaching Ban Pilok.

‘Tourists have attached stickers to the poles and also climbed up to attach more on the Ban Pilok sign itself,” Mr Apilak said. “Tourists frequently stop there and take photos of the sign, which has become a sort of ‘check-in’ point.’

He said after passing the sign motorists must negotiate 399 curves over the next 63 kilometres of road to visit Ban E-Tong, where there is a popular ancient mine.

The local highway office will erect signs prohibiting attaching stickers and climbing up to the sign.

He said the sticker-fiends are effectively damaging government property, obscuring the sign and breaking the highway law. Offenders were liable to up to six months in prison and/or a fine of 10,000 baht.

They also put themselves at risk and litter the area, Mr Apilak said.

The recent road collapse caused by a sinkhole in front of Vajira Hospital has drawn attention to insurance coverage for large-scale construction projects in Bangkok, with industry executives saying rising risks in the capital could push up premiums for large projects in the future.

The incident occurred near the future Vajira Hospital Station, prompting the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand to order a temporary halt to construction on the project, which is part of the new MRT Purple Line.

According to industry sources, the project was insured for a combined value of 19.4 billion baht by three major insurers: Bangkok Insurance (BKI) (40%), Dhipaya Insurance (40%), and Muang Thai Insurance (20%).

The policies cover assets under construction, machinery, third-party property damage, and accidents affecting external parties. The cause of the collapse, whether due to a water pipe leak or ongoing construction, remains under investigation.

If construction is found to have been the trigger, liability is covered by the project’s insurance policy.

BKI chief executive Apisit Anantanatarat said despite the recent incident, insurers expect more large projects to proceed under government stimulus measures, including high-speed and dual-track rail developments. They said rising risks mean “higher premiums are likely”.

Global reinsurers have reduced renewal premiums over the past 2-3 years, increasing insurers’ profitability.

“With disaster risks in Thailand rising, reinsurance costs, particularly for excess of loss coverage, are expected to climb,” said Mr Apisit.

For instance, BKI’s earthquake protection covers up to 5 billion baht per event, with reinsurers absorbing 4.9 billion baht and BKI 100 million. To strengthen resilience, he said BKI topped up its protection to 8 billion baht, though this added 400 million baht in costs this year, weighing on profits.

Flooding in October also poses a major concern, with forecasts pointing to water levels comparable to 2011. This could trigger a spike in auto claims, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs), which carry higher risks.

BKI is the only insurer to expand its catastrophe coverage to 8 billion baht this year, the highest level in the industry, said Mr Apisit.

GROWTH AMID HEADWINDS

Thailand’s insurance sector faces headwinds from the economic slowdown caused by sluggish exports, a high level of household debt, and the impact of cheaper Chinese imports on small local producers. GDP growth is projected at less than 2% this year.

Against this backdrop, the insurance industry grew 3% in the first half of the year, with full-year growth forecast at 1.5-2%. Government stimulus programmes such as the 60-billion-baht “Khon La Khrueng” co-payment scheme are expected to provide a temporary boost.

Auto insurance remains a key driver, with total car sales estimated at 600,000 units. EV sales have surged nearly 40% year-on-year in 2025 to around 120,000 units, lifting the demand for insurance. However, BKI’s motor insurance portfolio contracted by 5% as the company avoided aggressive price competition in the high-risk EV segment.

Fire insurance is expected to expand by 1% in the second half, while large projects such as the 200-billion-baht high-speed rail linking three airports, dual-track railways, and new data centres are set to support premium growth.

BKI targets premium growth of 2.6-3% in 2025 and 5-6% by 2026, though the short government tenure (4-8 months) limits near-term economic recovery.

With exports and tourism, traditional growth engines, remaining weak, Thailand’s economy is likely to see subdued growth over the next 2-3 years, said Mr Apisit.

England and Portugal are in pole position to win their respective 2026 World Cup qualifying groups with two games to spare, with several other European nations also hoping to secure berths at the finals in the upcoming matches.

Norway may also be only one victory away from reaching the tournament for the first time since 1998, which would leave Italy staring at a third successive World Cup watching from the sidelines.

Thomas Tuchel’s England laid down a marker last month with an impressive 5-0 thrashing of Serbia in Belgrade and are yet to concede a goal in five qualifiers.

They are not in Group K action until Tuesday when a victory over Latvia in Riga would secure a place at next year’s finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada, if Serbia do not beat Albania on Saturday.

England boast a seven-point lead over Albania with three matches to play, with Serbia a point further back but with a game in hand.

Several players who were not previously considered first-choice starred in Serbia, leading Tuchel to leave out big names Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his latest squad.

“Keep on pushing,” Tuchel, whose side play Wales in a friendly on Thursday, said as his message to those missing out.

“It is a decision for this camp, it was the best camp (in September) in terms of team spirit and team work, this was the best camp so far.

“We decided to invite the same group of players to make more stable what we built on.”

Serbia’s clash with Albania could prove crucial in deciding which team finishes second and goes into the play-offs.

In-form Portugal eye early qualification

Portugal racked up eight goals in their first two qualifiers in September and will likely need just two more wins over this international break to wrap up top spot in Group F.

Roberto Martinez’s side will qualify with victories against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and Hungary on Tuesday, unless Armenia beat both those same opponents.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals in September, including one in a tense 3-2 success against Hungary in Budapest, sealed by a late Joao Cancelo penalty.

Portugal are targeting a seventh successive World Cup appearance.

Norway have enjoyed a dream start to qualifying, scoring 24 goals in five successive wins to move to the brink of the finals.

Erling Haaland, who is yet to play at a major tournament, already has a remarkable nine goals in their group, after netting five in the 11-1 thumping of Moldova last time out.

Norway host Israel on Saturday, knowing that victory would end their 28-year absence from the World Cup if Italy fail to beat either Estonia or Israel in Group I.

But the Scandinavians will be without skipper Martin Odegaard after he suffered a knee injury playing for Arsenal last weekend.

“We lost our captain, and we have to live with that,” said coach Stale Solbakken.

“Of course you get angry and upset and those kinds of feelings, but then you quickly get into a mode where you have to think constructively.”

Four-time world champions Italy will be desperate to avoid the play-offs, after losing at that stage in qualifying for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Sweden and North Macedonia respectively.

France, the 2018 World Cup winners and runners-up three years ago, could also qualify with victories against Azerbaijan and Iceland, if Iceland draw with Ukraine.

European champions Spain too have an opportunity to book a ticket to North and Central America if they defeat both Georgia and Bulgaria, but only if multiple other results go their way in Group E.

Croatia and Switzerland could also qualify in the coming week.

Germany, though, have little margin for error in Group A after a shock defeat by Slovakia in their opening qualifier.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side face Luxembourg on Friday before heading to Windsor Park to take on Northern Ireland three days later.

Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside, has once again excelled on the global academic stage, announcing its exceptional 2025 examination results and underscoring its position as one of the Thailand’s leading international schools. The Class of 2025 achieved outstanding academic outcomes whilst also securing places at many of the world’s most prestigious universities.

Graduates from the Class of 2025 are set to continue their studies at more than 65 top universities worldwide, including four Ivy League institutions, 38 Russell Group universities, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Exeter. Over 40% will attend leading UK universities such as UCL, Imperial College London, University of Bath, University of Exeter, and University of Warwick, while 25% will study in the United States at institutions including Cornell University, New York University, Babson College, Boston University, and Columbia University. The others will join top universities in Thailand, across Europe, Asia, and Australia, affirming Shrewsbury Bangkok Riverside’s role as a gateway for global academic excellence. In addition, graduates are pursuing diverse fields of study, spanning Business, Science, Medicine, Law, Humanities, and Creative Arts, reflecting the diversity of interests across the cohort.

Shrewsbury Bangkok Riverside also reported record success across examination results. At A-Level, 65% of grades were awarded at A*/A. At AS-Level, 90% of students achieved grades A/B, while at IGCSE, 74% of grades were awarded at A*/A. These results further highlight the school’s commitment to academic excellence and consistent delivery of world-class outcomes across all stages of senior school examinations.

The Revenue Department has been instructed to expedite the refund of outstanding value-added tax (VAT) amounting to 160 billion baht to enhance liquidity in the business sector.

According to Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, he ordered the department to speed up the refunds of VAT owed to the business sector, amounting to a total of 160 billion baht, as a way to inject liquidity into the economy.

“The economic engine is running low on fuel and we need to inject liquidity into it, using financial and tax measures. For small and medium-sized enterprises [SMEs] and firms in the supply chain, we will provide loans of up to 1 million baht each. For large businesses, we will use tax measures to encourage them to assist SMEs,” he said.

“For example, under the ‘Big Brother Helps Little Brother’ programme, we will speed up tax refunds for large firms that help SMEs. There is about 160 billion baht in tax refunds pending review.”

As for the refund process, normally the department must complete full verification of information before issuing refunds. However, this time the department will review only 60-70% of the data first, and then conduct post-audit inspections, said Mr Ekniti.

This approach was previously implemented during the pandemic to help inject liquidity into the system.

In addition, he said the ministry will introduce stimulus measures to promote tourism in secondary cities, allowing hotel operators in those areas to deduct renovation expenses from their taxes at an increased rate — possibly 1.5 to 2 times the actual cost.

The ministry is also preparing to propose to the cabinet that government agencies accelerate disbursement of budgets for training and seminars, known as “front-loading”, with a requirement that such training and seminars be held in secondary cities by January 2026.

This budget is expected to total 10 billion baht, consisting of 3.6 billion from government agencies, 3 billion from state enterprises, and the remainder from local administrative organisations.

Football Association of Thailand president Nualphan Lamsam, known as Madam Pang, has been appointed chair of the International Federation of Football Associations (Fifa) Development Committee, the first woman to hold the position.

The announcement was made by Fifa on Oct 7, the Football Association of Thailand said in a post on its FA Thailand Facebook page on Wednesday.

Ms Nualphan confirmed her appointment via her Facebook account on Wednesday. Her term runs from 2025 to 2029.

The Development Committee is one of Fifa’s key standing committees, reporting directly to Fifa president Gianni Infantino and the Fifa Council. The committee plays a pivotal role in overseeing the global development initiatives of the organisation across all 211 member associations.

The committee is tasked with formulating and proposing strategic development plans, conducting regular reviews of these strategies and analysing the support provided to member associations, confederations, and regional bodies worldwide.

In another notable appointment, Lertsak Pattanachaikul, executive committee member of the Football Association of Thailand, was made a membr of Fifa’s Member Associations Committee.

When the opening scene of Tempest hits, viewers are immediately drawn into a world of political deceit, shadowy operatives and fragile trust — the kind of high-stakes storytelling that South Korean dramas have become renowned for.

But Tempest, premiering exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar, raises the bar even higher. Helmed by Queen Of Tears (2024) director Kim Hee-won and Little Women (2022) screenwriter Jung Seok-kyung, the nine-episode series pairs two of South Korea’s biggest stars — Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won — in a story that fuses global espionage with an aching undercurrent of romance.

The result is a show that’s as emotionally charged as it is politically explosive.

When a presidential candidate becomes the target of an assassination attempt, former diplomat Seo Mun-ju (Jun Ji-hyun) finds herself caught in the eye of an international storm. As she unravels a conspiracy that spans rogue nations and intelligence agencies, her only protection comes from Paik San-ho (Gang Dong-won), a mysterious mercenary with a shadowy past. But trust, in this world of lies and shifting alliances, may be the most dangerous gamble of all.

To understand how a story this intricate and emotionally layered came together, one must look at Disney’s growing investment in Korean storytelling. “Tempest is our tentpole original of the year,” said Carol Choi, executive vice-president of Original Content Strategy at The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific.

“It represents our creative ambition to produce a high-quality collection of premium, talent-driven originals from APAC for global audiences and solidify Disney+ Hotstar as the home to new worlds of entertainment for fans to discover and celebrate.”

That ambition is visible in every detail of Tempest. With its cinematic scope, globe-spanning espionage plot and richly textured performances, the series brings the polish of an international spy thriller to the deeply emotional terrain that South Korean dramas excel in. But at its heart lies a story about human connection — about what it means to trust, to sacrifice and to love in a world built on secrets.

Jun Ji-hyun’s casting as Seo Mun-ju is a coup for Disney+. Known for portraying strong, complex women, the actress brings gravitas and vulnerability to her role as a diplomat forced to question the very ideals she once defended.

Opposite her, Gang Dong-won’s portrayal of Paik San-ho adds magnetic ambiguity — a man who protects but also conceals, a mercenary whose motives blur the line between duty and affection. Their chemistry is electric, threading emotional depth through the series’ high-octane action.

“Tempest is centred on a gripping narrative as a high-stakes, cross-genre spy romance that masterfully blends action, political intrigue and romantic drama,” Choi explained. “Like our most successful global hits, it achieves rich cultural specificity while exploring universal tensions between power and ambition, truth and trust.”

It’s that balance — the Korean sensibility rooted in global relevance — that continues to propel the country’s content to the forefront of the international streaming scene. Disney’s role in this ecosystem has been steadily expanding, building a portfolio that includes Moving (2023), A Shop For Killers (2024) and this year’s Nine Puzzles, all of which topped charts across Asia-Pacific.

For Choi, Tempest is not just another addition, but a statement of intent.

“Korea plays a critical role in Disney’s streaming strategy as a key content development hub and a source for great stories that resonate with international audiences,” she said. “We know Tempest will continue this momentum and captivate audiences worldwide.”

Indeed, Tempest seems to embody that which makes Korean storytelling globally magnetic — its ability to weave deeply emotional character arcs into genre frameworks that feel both intimate and grand. From the sterile corridors of government power to the quiet, tender moments shared between two people who might be enemies or lovers, the show captures the full spectrum of human contradictions.

“The stories and projects we are seeing from Korea are world-class,” said Choi. “They have rich specificity in the storyline but are woven with universal values that speak to global audiences.

“Directors Kim Hee-won and Heo Myeong-haeng, and writer Jung Seok-kyung possess a keen sense of the cultural zeitgeist and craft characters and storylines that move the hearts and minds of audiences.”

That craftsmanship is unmistakable in Tempest. Kim Hee-won, whose previous work Queen Of Tears became a cultural phenomenon, brings her signature blend of emotional realism and visual sophistication.

Jung Seok-kyung, who co-wrote Little Women, once again crafts a narrative driven by moral ambiguity and female agency. Together, they create a series that feels both meticulously grounded and operatically intense — a hallmark of Korea’s best modern television.

Disney’s involvement, Choi emphasises, goes beyond simply acquiring titles. It’s about fostering collaboration and creative growth.

“We believe in the long-term potential of Korea’s storytelling and have been an integral part of the local creative community for the past three decades,” she said.

“Beyond our content investments, we have adopted a long-term collaborative approach with our creators. We connect APAC creators with top Hollywood filmmakers and executives and are always looking at ways to bridge and inspire creators from around the world.”

That cross-cultural dialogue is visible in Tempest’s casting as well. Alongside Korean leads, the series features Korean-American actor John Cho, whose inclusion further amplifies the show’s international appeal. Cho’s presence reflects Disney’s commitment to telling stories that transcend borders, bringing together diverse perspectives within a cohesive, emotionally resonant narrative.

When it comes to greenlighting such projects, Choi insists that storytelling remains at the core.

“Ultimately, a key consideration is how compelling and unique the story is, as well as the calibre of the creative team,” she pointed out. “Our role is to support the creators’ artistic vision and create an environment for them to do their best work.”

That trust in creators seems to mirror the central theme of Tempest itself — trust between allies, between lovers, and between storyteller and audience. As the Korean entertainment industry continues to mature, Choi acknowledges that competition is fierce, but the appetite for innovation remains strong.

“The creative industry in Korea has evolved and matured with changes in the supply and demand of local content,” she explained. “There is a large volume of Korean content available, which means international success is never an easy path — but we are committed to uncovering the most unique and compelling stories that will resonate with audiences in Korea and beyond.”

For Disney+, Tempest represents more than just another global release. It’s a benchmark — a testament to how the company envisions the future of storytelling in Asia-Pacific.

“APAC is at the forefront of new, innovative trends that are inspiring global storytellers,” the Disney executive vice president concluded. “It’s exciting to see how audiences are embracing complex, serialised storytelling with intricate plots and emotionally rich characters. Tempest embodies all of that.”

When a bad man does a good thing, we should honour him for it, even if his motives are selfish.

Donald Trump is only trying to “bring peace to the Middle East” because he wants the Nobel Prize, they say. He blusters and threatens and lies. He boasts about the seven wars he claims to have settled/ended/avoided, but he cannot even tell the difference between Armenia (which did recently have a war) and Albania (which didn’t).

All true, but so what? Mr Trump’s motives don’t matter, and neither does his geopolitical ignorance. As US president, he is the only person with the power to force the Hamas group in Gaza and the current Israeli government to discuss making peace, and after long hesitation, he has finally deployed that power.

That certainly does not guarantee success. Neither the Hamas extremists who rule the Gaza Strip nor Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu actually want peace on the terms implicit in Mr Trump’s draft 20-point peace plan.

Hamas would definitely welcome a lengthy ceasefire. Most of its leaders and at least half its fighters have been killed in the past two years of fighting. The dead leaders have been replaced by less experienced men and the rank-and-file by new recruits, but there has been a steep drop in their combat efficiency.

However, the draft peace plan does not offer them that. It requires the prompt return of all the Israeli hostages, Hamas’s last bargaining chip, in return for nothing except the freedom of 1,950 Palestinians held in Israeli jails and a ceasefire of unspecified length. Israel could arrest them all again if the shooting restarts, and it broke the last ceasefire only six months ago.

It gets worse for Hamas if the peace talks make further progress: it would have to hand over all its weapons and disband its organisation. This is an Islamist organisation whose members truly believe that they will go instantly to paradise if they die in battle with the infidel. They might play for time, but they will always choose glorious death over unconditional surrender.

The resistance to a peace deal is also strong right inside the leadership on the Israeli side. Many Israelis believe that the prime minister needs the war to continue to placate extreme nationalist members of his cabinet who would bring the government down if he made any concessions to the Palestinians.

That doubtless plays a major role in “Bibi” Netanyahu’s calculations, but there is also a real ideologue hiding inside the wily and apparently cynical tactician. That fanatical Bibi was on show last month when he launched what he hoped would be the final offensive in Gaza and urged Israelis to become a “super-Sparta”. If the expulsion of the Palestinians would lead to an isolated, militarised and widely hated Israel, he implied, that would still be a price worth paying.

Bibi’s entire political career has been devoted to preventing the creation of a Palestinian state. Why? Because the emergence of a genuine Palestinian state would foreclose the option of building a ‘Greater Israel’ by annexing the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and replacing the existing Arab population with Jews.

That project has been doing well recently — one-quarter of the West Bank’s population is now Jewish settlers — but the Gaza war has created the opportunity for a rapid expulsion of all two million Palestinians in the Strip.

All of Mr Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza this year, like breaking the last ceasefire, driving Gaza’s whole population to the southwest corner of the Strip and starving them, have been directed at making that outcome more likely. However, they were only possible thanks to Mr Trump’s unquestioning support.

Sometimes Mr Trump seemed aware of the implications of his actions and unashamed by them. At other times, he seemed to be just blindly following Mr Netanyahu’s lead. But for the moment, at least, Mr Trump seems fully awake.

This may not last — but he was able to bully Mr Netanyahu into at least the opening stages of a ceasefire. However, Bibi will sabotage the process every chance he gets, and the plan is full of holes he can exploit.

Hamas will also turn against the plan as soon as negotiations get into critical issues like surrendering its weapons and going into exile. The plan may not be dead on arrival, but it is extremely vulnerable.

There will be some performative peace mongering for a while, but the plan to cleanse Gaza of its Palestinians could be back on track well before the end of the year.