Momentum is building for the historical drama series "When Light Fades," as four actors—Bass Asawapolpol, Lonchang Atthip Kosinkoed, Pean Tai Nattanich Pradisathan, and Kate Katreeya Bowens—gathered today to discuss the series and their roles.

**Is the series based on history?** Pean Tai explained: "It takes inspiration from a historical period and uses a specific timeline as a base, but the events are rewritten. It serves as a framework so we understand the era, people's values, and social structures. Then we zoom in on character relationships—not just between two men, but also between men and women in love, or parent and child, like Lonchang's relationship with Khun Teneng, or my own character as a father with a son in the military. This story delves deeply into character relationships."

**What was your first impression reading the script?** Kate shared: "When I was cast, I found out my character 'Mada' was quite different from myself, which felt interesting. Since Mada has diverse relationships—romantic, with a child, sibling dynamics—I wanted to make her as complete and layered as possible."

Lonchang noted: "I auditioned for two roles and ultimately got 'Rawin,' a student who flees into the forest and encounters a communist base. I was happy with it. When I auditioned opposite Bass, who played my comrade Yew, I realized Rawin is someone with conviction and ideology. I had to do homework to build that inner confidence and certainty before the audition."

Bass added: "I play Comrade Yew. During casting, I read opposite several potential Rawins—about five or six. When I worked opposite Lonchang, there was chemistry. What drew me to Yew initially was his quiet, introspective nature. I loved that because Korean dramas often have brooding male leads, and I wanted to try that. It felt like a challenge."

Pean Tai continued: "I auditioned for Yew as well, and it was the only role I auditioned for. The production team called back saying yes and that we'd work together. I became 'Dandin' instead—I laughed at that. Since I didn't get that audition, I reviewed the character list and found Dandin interesting. He's similar to Yew but carries internal drama from family relationships suppressed under military duty and loyalty."

**Did you do workshops together?** Bass explained: "We had several workshops, including weapons training since the series requires it. We learned proper, safe handling for shooting."

**Are there romantic scenes? How are they handled?** Lonchang said with a laugh: "They're intense. The first episode is already intense."

Bass described: "Since NC—the communist cadre—is set in the forest and it's my first time filming outdoors, we shot by a riverside. We had to communicate to make both actors as comfortable as possible. Once we're in character, things flow naturally."

Lonchang agreed: "When I'm in character, it flows on its own."

**What locations did you visit?** Kate mentioned: "We filmed in many places—Pathum Thani, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok. Each location was beautiful."

Pean Tai noted: "About 80-90 percent is forest scenes."

Bass added: "I'm in the forest basically 100 percent. The main set is in Pathum Thani, a military camp they built a whole village set for."

Lonchang concluded: "It was great for the actors. It helps us immerse ourselves in our characters and believe in the story.

The Commerce Ministry has ordered swift assistance for people disqualified from Thailand's 2025 state welfare card program because they hold shares, serve as directors, or are partners in businesses. Poonpong Naiyanaphakorn, director-general of the Department of Business Development under the Commerce Ministry, revealed that of 9.3 million people who failed to meet the welfare card criteria announced by the Finance Ministry on July 17, 2025, a significant portion were rejected due to business ownership or directorship. The ministry instructed department staff and provincial commerce offices nationwide to help and facilitate this group urgently.

Preliminary checks of the business database identified 139,804 applicants with business stakes—41,007 as partners in partnerships and 98,797 as directors or shareholders in limited companies spread across the country. The department forwarded this data to the Finance Ministry for further review. Those disqualified can file appeals between July 17 and 31, 2025.

The Commerce Ministry has coordinated with provincial offices to help people verify their business records for appeal purposes. Applicants can check their status personally or authorize someone else using a simple power of attorney stating the purpose as "verification of qualification status under the state welfare card program" and providing the applicant's ID number. The check is free.

After verification, the department will issue a letter with attached documentation of business ownership. Those wishing to verify their information can visit the Department of Business Development, regional offices in Bangkok (districts 2–5), or provincial commerce offices nationwide, or call the helpline at 1570. The Commerce Ministry is committed to assisting genuinely disadvantaged people in preparing their appeals with the necessary documentation.

On December 20, the SAKAD Scenic Trail Facebook page posted a tribute to the deceased runner, offering condolences to the family. The running community page "Vee Noi Roi Roop" also shared details of the incident, describing how the runner, known as Nong Ko, collapsed during the trail run at Doi Saked.

According to the account, at 6:00 a.m., runners were released onto the 2.4-kilometer course. About 2.4 kilometers in, Nong Ko collapsed suddenly while running with two friends. The group behind him, approximately 14 people, immediately provided assistance—applying oil, fanning for air circulation, and massaging the runner's limbs to restore circulation.

Two male runners with the group attempted to contact race organizers and emergency services, while the women took turns massaging. When the runner's condition worsened and pulse weakened, CPR was initiated. The runner responded momentarily but then lost consciousness again. For 38 minutes, the runners continued CPR and rescue attempts, but when emergency responders finally arrived at the 42-minute mark with only two personnel and no equipment, the runner could not be revived.

The Facebook post criticized race organizers for inadequate safety measures, noting that the 2.4-kilometer route was accessible by motorcycle and car, yet there were no medical staff positioned along the course and rescue personnel arrived without proper equipment. The post expressed disappointment at leaving runners to face dangers alone.

Naff Chatchanan, a representative from the Thai Thai application, attended the Creator Commerce Society event to connect with content creators, marketers, and digital entrepreneurs and exchange ideas about creator economy growth and business opportunities through online platforms.

At the event, Naff spoke about his path from influencer and brand owner to developing a logistics business, before leveraging that experience to co-found Thai Thai. The app aims to connect creators, products, sales systems, and shipping within a single ecosystem.

Thai Thai's participation reflects the app's commitment to supporting Thailand's creator community and creating new opportunities for users and business partners through networking and knowledge-sharing in the growing digital industry.

Naff Chatchanan Tao Siriphand, marketing director and co-founder of Thai Thai, explained that the event brings creators together with product brands, drawing approximately 600 attendees. "Thai Thai joins because we want to offer entrepreneurs another platform option," he said.

Before co-founding Thai Thai, Naff gained experience in logistics through ECO Express, which processed approximately 300 million baht in shipments last year, primarily from entrepreneurs selling through social commerce channels. This demonstrated strong potential for Thai online commerce, and Naff believes additional platforms will help circulate more money through the domestic economy.

Naff, who is simultaneously a creator, business owner, and co-founder, views the proliferation of platforms as beneficial. "Thai Thai's advantage is that we don't charge GP fees, we connect creators with products, and we include shipping—everything is integrated," he explained. The platform supports typical consumer behavior through clip consumption, feed browsing, live streaming, and cart functionality.

Naff's journey began as an influencer and product reviewer before becoming a brand owner and running an online business independently. Along the way, he identified multiple pain points for entrepreneurs, particularly around costs, order management, and logistics, which led him to develop ECO Express and eventually Thai Thai.

Naff hopes Thai Thai becomes a trusted marketplace and has committed to coordinating with relevant agencies to create more opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs, OTOP operators, and SMEs to access online channels.

Oil prices matter to everyone because they affect daily life and the broader economy. Oil drives nearly all economic activity—from cars and buses to aircraft and industrial transport—making it a critical cost throughout the economic chain. When oil prices rise, transportation and production costs increase, pushing up prices for goods and services and raising the cost of living. Conversely, falling oil prices reduce business and transport costs, allowing the economy to move more smoothly. This means oil prices impact not just drivers but the entire economy and quality of life for all citizens.

Oil is a global commodity traded worldwide, with no single country setting its price alone. Major crude oil benchmarks include Dubai (Middle East), Brent (North Sea), and West Texas Intermediate or WTI (United States), which serve as regional price indicators. Key global oil trading markets include the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), London's Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), and Singapore's Singapore International Monetary Exchange (SIMEX)—the trading hub for refined oil in Asia. Prices in these markets reflect global supply and demand.

Many factors cause oil price swings: industrial and consumer demand, OPEC production policies, global economic crises, the rise of electric vehicles, and wars or geopolitical tensions. For example, conflict in oil-producing nations or disruptions to key shipping routes often spike prices immediately due to supply concerns, even if production hasn't actually stopped.

Thailand produces oil but not enough. Although Thailand has crude oil reserves in the Gulf of Thailand and refining capacity, output meets only about 10 percent of national demand. The remaining 90 percent must be imported, mainly from the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. For this reason, Thailand's refined fuel prices are pegged to Singapore market prices, which serve as the regional energy trading hub and standard for many Asian nations. Singapore prices reflect real market conditions, have high liquidity, and use internationally recognized pricing standards.