Posts published by “Editorial Team”

Thailand is bracing for the potential impact of two storms next week, with concerns that they may affect the crucial Election Day, scheduled for May 14. The Climate Change and Disaster Centre at Rangsit University has issued the information regarding the upcoming weather conditions. Cyclone Mocha is currently producing heavy rainfall in the Bay of Bengal, while another tropical depression is forming in the South China Sea near the Philippines, according to the center’s director, Seri Suparatit. The impact of these two storms is expected to be felt in Thailand starting from May 9. Additionally, heat and a low-pressure trough will also contribute to thunderstorms beginning on May 8 in central, eastern, northeastern, and northern regions of the country. In a recent Facebook post, Seri Suparatit highlighted a 30% chance of thunderstorms, especially in the South, on Election Day, May 14. The presence of heavy rainfall on the day could…

Sathit Chamchalaem, a 50-year-old director of the Public Works Division at Khlong Luang municipality in Pathum Thani, was arrested alongside Ekkapot Panyaem, the 53-year-old mayor, after being charged with collusion in demanding and receiving bribes. The arrests were made by the Counter Corruption Division (CCD) and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission following a complaint lodged by a man who had requested permission for a land fill from the municipality. While the usual fee for a land fill is only 500 baht, the mayor allegedly demanded 50 baht per cubic meter for the 60,000 cubic meters of soil to be used in the land fill, resulting in a total of 3 million baht. The man, fearing repercussions if he refused to pay the bribe, agreed to pay an advance of 500,000 baht to Mr. Sathit, with the remainder to be paid in installments. CCD police initiated an investigation in response to…

High-ranking members of the Democrat Party recently convened at the Thai-Japanese Youth Centre in Din Daeng district of Bangkok to discuss their vision for Thailand’s future transportation infrastructure. During the meeting, Samart Ratchapolsitte, a deputy party leader, announced plans to prioritize the expansion of inter-provincial railways and high-speed rail lines if they manage to join a coalition government after the upcoming election. Ratchapolsitte stressed the urgency of reducing Thailand’s logistics costs, which currently stand at around 14% of the nation’s GDP. In contrast, countries with well-developed railway systems usually experience logistics costs falling within the 8-9% range. Ratchapolsitte also pointed out that Thailand’s current reliance on cars and trucks for transportation is hindering the nation’s progress. Rather, he feels that investing more in railway systems would provide a cheaper and more efficient mode for transportation. As part of the Democrat Party’s grand plan for transportation, they aim to support the…

The newly implemented opening hours at the popular Rot Fai Park now span from 4:30 am to 9:00 pm, allowing locals and visitors alike even more time to enjoy the park’s array of amenities. With its expansive 375-rai (60-hectare) footprint on Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road, the park not only offers dedicated lanes for joggers and cyclists but also features a captivating butterfly garden and insectarium that welcomes guests from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm every day except for Mondays. In a concerted effort to create a haven for the city’s four-legged residents, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has joined forces with BMA’s Department of Environment and Charoen Pokphand Foods to transform a section of Rot Fai Park into an urban sanctuary for pets. This designated area provides pet owners a safe and welcoming space for their furry companions to roam, play, and interact with others, under the condition that specific…

In a recent dialogue titled “Is Thailand Ready for an Ageing Society?”, various political parties discussed their plans and promises to tackle the challenges faced by Thailand’s growing elderly population. With increasing numbers of senior citizens living below the poverty line, each party outlined their respective strategies to provide financial support, healthcare, and work opportunities for older individuals. The Move Forward party, led by Decharut Sukkumnoed, pledged to increase the monthly allowance for senior citizens to 3,000 baht by 2027. They also intend to establish a special fund to allow bedridden seniors to access 24-hour nursing care, as well as community-based treatment centers to ensure convenient medical care for the elderly. Additionally, the party is considering offering support to help individuals clear household debts. The Pheu Thai Party, represented by Theerarat Samrejvanich, aims to improve the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme to facilitate easier access to medical treatment for older individuals.…

The Interior Ministry of Thailand has set an ambitious target to reduce the rate of premature births by 50% and decrease teenage pregnancies through the promotion of preventive measures at the grassroots level. The current rate of preterm births in the country stands at approximately 12% of all births, which is slightly higher than the global average of 11% and significantly higher than China’s rate of about 7%, according to estimates by the World Health Organization. Interior Minister Suttipong Juljarern referenced the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals in a recent meeting, asserting that the ministry aims to achieve good health and well-being, quality education, and reduced inequality. Access to healthcare and prenatal care are crucial for pregnant women, as they can help prevent premature birth. “The ministry expects to reduce premature births by 50% during the 2023-24 fiscal year,” declared Minister Juljarern. He emphasized the importance of promoting prenatal…

The Public Health Ministry has announced the establishment of a new center for Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation (PPVI) through a collaboration between seven medical institutes. The goal of this partnership is to improve the treatment’s efficiency and reduce the mortality rate for children with congenital heart disease. The medical institutes involved in this venture recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a ceremony presided over by Public Health Permanent Secretary Opas Karnkawinpong. The institutions that signed the MoU are the Centre of Excellence in Paediatric Cardiology at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health; the Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Heart Centre at Songklanagarind Hospital; the Cardiovascular Excellence Centre at Rajavithi Hospital; Central Chest Institute; Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital; Surat Thani Hospital; and Hat Yai Hospital. Since 2011, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health has been collaborating with the Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Heart Centre and Rajavithi Hospital to train medical personnel in…

The campaign to integrate herbal plants into modern medicine aims to increase their market value to between 90 and 100 billion baht by 2027. This plan was devised in response to the “Herbal Champions” initiative launched by the Ministry of Public Health, which identified 15 Thai herbs for potential expansion into the global market, according to Dr. Thongchai Lertwilairatanapong, Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTTAM). An academic study estimated that domestic sales of herbal medicinal products amounted to around 43 billion baht in 2018. The Herbal Champions list categorizes the plants into two groups: those that are ripe for further development, including turmeric, green chiretta, and black galingale; and those with development potential, such as kodavan, emblic, plai, ginger, galingale, aloe vera, kwao krua kao, bitter gourd, veldt grape, kratom, hemp, and cannabis. These plants, which feature on the National List of Essential Medicines, have…

Westminster Abbey, the iconic landmark in London, will witness the splendid coronation of King Charles III on an upcoming Saturday. This historic event will be etched in the pages of British history and will be attended by royalty and dignitaries from around the globe. (Photo: Reuters) Their Majesties the King and Queen have graciously accepted the invitation from His Majesty King Charles III, and they will be embarking on a Royal Visit to the United Kingdom from May 4 to 7. The central purpose of their visit is to join in the celebrations of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, as disclosed by the Bureau of the Royal Household. During their esteemed visit, Their Majesties will attend a lavish reception hosted by King Charles, specially arranged for invited heads of state, esteemed diplomats, and foreign representatives. This opulent gathering will be held…

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam recently addressed questions from the press regarding the Election Commission’s (EC) rejection of a proposal last week. The election agency stated that the document did not include any mention of the proposal arising from a Cabinet resolution. Wissanu clarified that he was not present at the April 25 cabinet meeting when the decision was made to seek approval from the EC before providing subsidies for May electricity bills. Consequently, he did not have an opportunity to review the proposal. “It’s likely that the Secretariat of the Cabinet was not well-versed in the procedures for obtaining EC approval and missed some crucial details,” the deputy prime minister explained. “I’ve resubmitted the document to the commission, and I anticipate it will take about a week for them to reconsider.” According to election law, a caretaker Cabinet must obtain permission from the election watchdog before implementing projects that…