The Bulletin

Stephff's world

A Useful Ghost: The development of Thai film on the global stage

Talk and Q&A,
Wednesday, 3 September, 7pm

After dying from a respiratory disease, a mother's spirit possesses a vacuum cleaner to protect her husband when he begins showing the same symptoms. A Useful Ghost (2025) has been hailed as one of the most distinctive Thai films of the year, capturing attention at international film festivals. Blending folklore and social realism, the film explores life, loss and labour in post-industrial Thailand through the lens of a ghost story.The FCCT welcomes the director and the producer of A Useful Ghost to speak about the challenges and opportunities facing Thai filmmakers as they navigate global platforms and domestic realities. The conversation will reflect on how Thai cinema has evolved and where it might be heading as it gains visibility on the world stage.Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke,  director,  A Useful Ghost.Cattleya Paosrijaroen, producer, 185 Films.Moderator: Raymond Phathanavirangoon.Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.Non-members can use this link.Members free, non-members 300 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

Crashing down on us: Myanmar military junta aerial attacks, war crimes and impunity in Kachin and Karenni states

Report launch,
Thursday, 4 September, 10am

Four years after the Myanmar military junta’s illegal coup, Myanmar remains entrenched in a nationwide armed revolution. Armed conflict now affects nearly 97 percent of Myanmar's 330 townships. As resistance forces throughout the country gain ground, the junta has turned to airstrikes as its primary offensive military tactic, targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, churches and homes, as well as forcibly displacing communities.“Crashing Down on Us”: Myanmar Military Junta Aerial Attacks, War Crimes, and Impunity in Kachin and Karenni States is based on over 60 interviews from Kachin and Karenni states and documents airstrikes by the Myanmar military junta between October 2023 and November 2024. The 86-page report exposes how the junta launched indiscriminate attacks on civilians and displaced communities, amounting to war crimes. While airstrikes on civilians in Myanmar have been widely reported, accountability remains elusive. This report identifies 22 junta officials and several military commands responsible for the attacks. It also provides detailed recommendations for the international community, including urgent action to end impunity and the imposition of targeted sanctions on the junta’s access to aviation fuel and weapons.The new report -- available in English and Burmese -- will be launched during an in-person press conference with a panel discussion. The press conference will be held in English with Burmese language interpretations at the event and on Zoom.Featured speakers:Chit Seng, human rights associate, Fortify Rights.Sai Arkar, human rights associate, Fortify Rights.Nang Pu, Kachin women activist.Ya Mone, security and conflict analyst.Moderator: Patrick Phongsathorn, senior advocacy specialist, Fortify Rights. This is not an FCCT-organized event.Free and open to all.

On the frontline of Cambodia’s environmental battles

Documentary screening, panel discussion
Thursday, 4 September, 7pm

In July 2024, Cambodia jailed five activists from the award-winning environmentalist group Mother Nature Cambodia for plotting against the government, after they had sounded the alarm about river pollution and land reclamation projects. The Clearing, a film produced with support from the Pulitzer Center and Mongabay, follows activist Ly Chandaravuth -- one of the group’s most outspoken members -- and his colleagues in the months leading up to their incarceration. The film captures their relentless fight to expose state-sanctioned environmental destruction as they continue on their collision course with Cambodia’s rulers. and refuse to buckle under pressure. The human rights situation in Cambodia has been deteriorating year on year, with dozens of activists and journalists facing ever-growing threats of arrest and sometimes even death. As the crackdown continues, the future of environmental activism in Cambodia looks to be hanging in the balance.Join us for the showing of this amazing film and hear from a panel of experts who will discuss the film and the issues facing Cambodia’s environmental and rights activists.What’s happening in the forests and neighboring communities in Cambodia? How does the deepening government crackdown affect environmental defenders and their organizations? What is happening to media reporting about forest destruction amid the rapid decline of press freedom in the country? And how are regional and international actors responding to the crisis facing Cambodia’s forests, and the attacks against the country’s activists? These and other questions that speak to the current state of activism in Cambodia under PM Hun Manet will be discussed. Join us in the FCCT clubhouse to hear from the team behind The Clearing, alongside experts working on environmental and human rights issues in Cambodia. Speakers include:Andy Ball, co-director, The Clearing.‍Gerald Flynn, Southeast Asia staff writer, Mongabay.‍Lisa Mean, campaigner, Mother Nature Cambodia.Other panelists to be confirmedModerator: Jonathan Head, FCCT board member and BBC Southeast Asia correspondent.Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.Non-members can use this link.Members free, non-members 450 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

Co-working at the FCCT

Tuesday, 2 September, 10am

Need a change of scenery from your home office? Join us for a coworking day at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) -- a perfect space for working professionals, digital nomads and anyone looking to break free from the home-office routine.

Enjoy a spacious, comfortable workspace with dedicated tables, a full restaurant, café and bar and exclusive lunch specials just for this event.

Whether you're tackling deadlines or networking with like-minded professionals, this is an opportunity to be productive in a collaborative, social environment. Come work, connect, and enjoy great food because working remotely doesn’t have to mean working alone.

Hosted by Nick Bernhardt, FCCT treasurer and managing director of Khayan Consultants and Tommy Walker, FCCT broad member and digital nomad.

Free and open to all.

Board games night

Tuesday, 2 September, 7pm

Join us for a chilled night of board games with The Boring Club. Try your luck with classics like chess and backgammon or modern games including Catan and Pandemic.The bar and restaurant will be open. Try our pizzas from the new pizza oven. The Boring Club meets at the FCCT clubhouse for games every Tuesday at 7pm.

Free and open to all.Bar and restaurant open.

FCCT’s new podcast: Dateline Bangkok

For part one of this weeks episode of the Dateline Bangkok podcast, Tommy Walker speaks with Tony Cheng.Tony is a foreign correspondent who works for Al Jazeera. He has worked within the Southeast Asia region for two decades and for BBC News and CGTN covering news and conflicts in Asia and the Middle East. Tony is a former board member of the FCCT.Tony recently spent a week covering the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict from the Thai side including in red zone hotspots such as Surin and Sisaket.In this episode he speaks with Tommy about covering the conflict, who also reported from the border, with both sharing their experiences on the ground.Watch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Feeding profit, failing children (Embargoed press briefing)

Press briefing,
Monday, 8 September, 10am

*All information shared in this press briefing is strictly embargoed until 00:01 GMT / 07:01 Bangkok, 10 September 2025.

Aggressive junk food marketing is driving record levels of childhood obesity in East Asia and the Pacific.

Childhood obesity in East Asia and the Pacific is rising at alarming speed. A new UNICEF report, Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children, reveals the region is now home to 115 million children who are overweight or obese -- one in four. The number has nearly tripled since 2000.

The report highlights how junk food marketing and the flood of cheap, ultra-processed products are fueling this epidemic, putting millions of children at risk of lifelong health problems.

Join us at the FCCT for a press briefing on these urgent findings and the call for stronger policies to protect children’s right to healthy food.

Speakers:

Dr Roland Kupka, regional nutrition adviser, UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific.

Dr Saipin Chotivichian, director, bureau of nutrition, Department of Health, Thailand.

Myat Pan Khit (Florence), change maker, Myanmar.

Kindly RSVP by 5 September 2025 to Chiara Frisone cfrisone@unicef.org or call +66 626925897.

This is not an FCCT-organized event.Free and open to all. Light refreshments provided.

Fragmented aid and resistance along the India–Myanmar border

Research report launch,
Monday, 8 September, 5pm

“Fragmented aid and resistance along the India–Myanmar border” is a new research report examining how refugees from Myanmar are navigating life in India’s northeast amid weak humanitarian responses and restrictive state policies. With international aid largely absent, local communities and grassroots networks have become the backbone of support.Since the 2021 coup, over 83,000 people have crossed into Mizoram and Manipur, yet there is no refugee protection framework and little international attention compared to the Thai–Myanmar border.The findings of this report show that while grassroots support networks have provided a critical lifeline, humanitarian assistance overall remains limited due to lack of funding and resources, poor coordination, political tensions, and the fact that access to support often is mediated by social and political affiliations. The recent suspension of $39 million in U.S. aid has further intensified the crisis, forcing many organisations to scale back or close operations.The event will include a presentation of key research findings, followed by a panel discussion featuring experts and frontline actors working at the intersection of humanitarian response, regional security, and political activism.To register for the event, please email kay@exilehub.org no later than 4th September 2025.‍Organised by Exile Hub, a feminist organisation supporting Myanmar human rights defenders.

New Zealand Society & New Zealand Thai Chamber of Commerce quiz night

Wednesday, 10 September, 6.30pm

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of trivia, laughter and networking as the New Zealand Society Thailand, proudly supported by The New Zealand - Thai Chamber of Commerce - NZTCC, brings back the ever-popular quiz night!Form your dream team of 6 (or join a group on the night!) and compete in a lively quiz filled with challenging questions, fun facts and the chance to take home fantastic prizes.Tickets:500 THB (Includes 6 months NZS membership + 1 free drink -- NZ wine)What’s in store:

• Exciting trivia rounds to challenge your knowledge
• Spot prizes and surprises throughout the evening
• Raffle prizes you won’t want to miss
• A fun-filled night with great drinks, good vibes, and the best company!

We are deeply grateful to our incredible sponsors for making this night even more special with their generous raffle prize contributions:

• The Baxter Brenton
• Kai New Zealand
• Chatrium Sathon Bangkok
• Chiefs Rugby Club
• dusitD2 Samyan Bangkok
• Vines to Vino Thailand

Your support ensures that our Quiz Night is not only fun but truly memorable -- thank you!RSVP now & secure your spot: https://forms.fillout.com/t/kf8iyYCpD1usSo gather your team, bring your best trivia game, and join us for an evening where knowledge meets fun -- let’s make it a night to remember!This is not an FCCT-organized event.500 baht ticket.

Ho undercover -- Ho Chi Minh’s covert journey to independence

An evening with author Teddy Spha Palasthira
Wednesday, 24 September, 7pm

Fascinated by the life of Ho Chi Minh, unquestionably one of the most influential figures in Southeast Asian history, Teddy Spha Palasthira has significantly expanded his earlier book ‘The Siamese Trail of Ho Chi Minh’, based on the true story of the Vietnamese leader’s adventurous journey across the jungles and mountains of northeast Siam in 1928 and 1929. It also includes the fictional story of Wong, a young Thai-Vietnamese idealist who falls under the magnetic spell of Uncle Ho.Teddy has crowned his colourful careers in advertising, diplomacy and academia with a fourth as an author. A noted raconteur, he ranks among the most productive Thai writers in English today with his stylishly written and beautifully presented books.Teddy’s earlier works include ‘Siamese Anglophile’, an autobiographical work about a Siamese born in London and nicknamed ‘Teddy’ by his English nanny. ‘The Last Siamese’ relates the heroic tales of 12 exceptional characters who lived in Siam/Thailand between the 1900s and 1960s. ‘Addresses’ is the story of a Siamese boy growing up in wartime England and post-war Europe and Thailand.  

Teddy was called to the bar at London's Middle Temple in 1969, but did not pursue a career in law. After a short stint at the Thai foreign ministry, he switched to advertising, ran Ogilvy & Mather and Dentsu Young & Rubicam in Bangkok, won a Clio creative award from New York City, was a visiting professor at Missouri School of Journalism in the mid-nineties, and was appointed media adviser to Thailand’s minister of foreign affairs in 2007.A former president of the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Dante Alighieri Cultural Association, Teddy has served on the boards of the Siam Society and the Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce. He is a grand officer (first class) of the Italian Republic (2004).Join us for an evening of historical insight.Discussant: Dominic Faulder, FCCT board member and Nikkei Asia associate editor.Books will be available for signing.Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.Non-members can use this link.Members free, non-members 300 baht; students with ID, 150 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

Thabyay: Creative resistance in Myanmar

Film screening,
Thursday, 25 September, 7pm

Some take up arms while struggling to stay true to their commitment to non-violence, while others engage in “artivism,” using music, poetry and art to bring about a peaceful, free, democratic and truly inclusive future for all people in Myanmar.What happens when non-violent leaders are pushed to support armed struggle against a brutal regime in a forgotten war?The screening will explore this question through four leaders of the people-power revolution currently underway in Myanmar/Burma. The film illustrates the challenges faced by these individuals and their compatriots, and how art and music remain potent tools in their country's revolution.The panelists will include:Susanna Hla Hla Soe, NUG Minister of Women, youth and children ffairs by Zoom.Thet Swe Win, Synergy NGO in person.Phoe San, violinist and composer in person.Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.Non-members can use this link.Members free, non-members 300 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

FCCT pub trivia

Friday, 26 September, 7pm

Gather your friends and colleagues for a night of pub trivia at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.Come for a bite and a beverage and test your knowledge. 1,000 baht bar tab up for grabs for the winning team, to be redeemed on the night.Advanced table bookings encouraged here.Free and open to all.Bar and restaurant open.

Is Thailand still amazing? Thai tourism weathers challenging times

Exclusive discussion,
Thursday, 2 October, 7pm

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the governor of the tourism authority of Thailand, joins the FCCT for an exciting and exclusive discussion about the state of tourism in Thailand today and what lies ahead for Thailand in the coming months.Volatile regional and global situations, economic headwinds, and competition from other destinations are just some of the factors that have made 2025 a challenging year for Thai tourism, which accounts for about 12% of GDP in Thailand, and indirectly impacts an even greater share of the economy.Thailand is constantly looking for ways to boost tourism, from offering domestic subsidies and free plane tickets for visitors, to leveraging soft power initiatives that promote everything from food to film locations.Traditionally TAT served as the marketing arm to promote Amazing Thailand, but it increasingly finds itself in a proactive role, advising local authorities in Thailand and contributing to the discussion about the nation’s tourism policies. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and its governor Thapanee Kiaphaibool play a key role in elaborating and implementing many of these initiatives.How are source markets like China and India changing the tourism landscape? What is the role of domestic tourism? Have current events, ranging from safety concerns to natural disasters and border conflicts, impacted travel decisions? What should TAT do to temper these perceptions?Sustainability and over-tourism concern the entire industry, but are these issues compatible with the economic growth forecast by TAT? What can TAT do to promote greener practices and promote secondary destinations while respecting local communities and the environment?Visa waivers, arrival levies; MICE (meetings incentives, conventions, events); high-value, high-spending tourists; LGBT+ travel in the wake of the legalization of same-sex marriages: these are just some of the questions that Khun Thapanee will address. She will also take questions from journalists, industry leaders and the public. Please join us for this lively one-on-one discussion on this timely topic.Special guest: Thapanee Kiatphaibool joined the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in 1999 and has spent her entire career supporting the tourism industry in Thailand holding the positions of deputy governor for tourism products and business and deputy governor for domestic marketing before becoming governor in 2023Discussant: Vincent Vichit-Vadakan is a writer who covers travel, food and the tourism and hospitality industries for a number of international publications. He is a member of the FCCT program committee.Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.Non-members can use this link.Members free, non-members 300 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

The FCCT is grateful for the support of corporate sponsor Bitkub. For more information about the club's corporate sponsorship program contact: info@fccthai.com.

The FCCT expresses appreciation for the support provided by corporate sponsor Bumrungrad International Hospital. For more information about the club's corporate sponsorship program contact: info@fccthai.com.

Heart valve disease: A possible hidden danger!

The heart consists of 4 chambers with the valves opening and closing to let blood pass through between the upper and the lower chambers in one direction, and not backward.

Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of the heart valves do not open or close properly. This causes the heart muscles to work harder to pump blood for the body’s requirements. This can result in heart failure and death.

What are the symptoms of heart valve diseases?

• Fatigue, tired when doing daily activities.
• Difficulty breathing while doing activities or lying down.
• Rapid weight gain.
• Swelling in various organs such as the abdomen, legs, ankles and feet.
• Cardiac arrhythmia such as fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Fever and body aches, if due to infection.
• In severe cases, too much fluid in the lungs, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.

What is the treatment for heart valve disease?

There are many ways to treat heart valve disease. Currently, Bumrungrad Hospital has the technology for heart valve replacement without surgery, offering good results and highly safe.

Learn more about heart valve disease and treatment option here.

Send us an enquiry today by clicking here.

Advertise in the FCCT's Bulletin at special discount rates

Individuals and organisations are welcome to take out advertising in the weekly FCCT Bulletin which reaches nearly 4,000 people in the club’s network. Guidelines

• Write a catchy headline, followed by a maximum of three sentences + contact email/phone number/ link to a website for further details if applicable.

To book an ad please email: info@fccthai.com