Posts published by “Editorial Team”

Unsettling Growth In Zika Virus Infections Lead To Urgent Alert From Disease Control Department Having witnessed an alarming upsurge in the Zika Virus cases, the Department of Disease Control (DDC), Thailand, resonated a stern warning, revealing how the sudden peak has become an imminent public health threat. The countdown to panic began as a startling number of 266 cases were reported this past month alone. Rather worryingly, expectant mothers find themselves increasingly at risk from the virus that could result in their newborns suffering from microcephaly, a condition characterized by an underdeveloped brain—an indelible mark that the Zika Virus leaves. The public health announcement, issued on August 27, warned the masses about the recent meteorological changes. The monsoon season, characterized by consistent rainfall, appears to be the main culprit behind these increasingly ideal conditions that the disease-bearing mosquitoes need to thrive, multiplying the risk of Zika and other mosquito-related infections.…

Big waves are being made in Thailand’s financial landscape. The country’s second-largest financial institution in terms of total assets, Kasikornbank, aka KBank, recently announced an extensive overhaul of its business structure. Strategic changes include the appointment of a new president and co-president and the implementation of a strategic business spin-off. News of these pivotal changes reached the forefront after an official announcement was made to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) concerning the appointment of banking veteran Chongrak Rattanapian as the new president and executive director. Leaving behind his former position as executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), Chongrak is expected to step into his new role from August 29. With over two decades of experience and comprehensive knowledge of KBank’s operations, he is slated to execute critical functions pertaining to risk management, as well as KBank’s environmental, social, and governance strategies. Awaiting approval from the Bank of…

During the second quarter of 2023, Thailand witnessed a deceleration in its economic rebound, with the GDP growth slipping from a 2.6% year-on-year increase in Q1 to just 1.8%. This report, released by the National Economic and Social Development Council on August 21, significantly missed the consensus forecast of 3.1% and anticipated growth of 2.9%. Post seasonal adjustments, the quarter’s economic growth merely nudged 0.2%. This sluggish performance and persistent economic challenges led BMI, a venture by Fitch Solutions, to scale back its annual growth prediction for the current year from 3.0% to 2.8%. This is notably lower than the consensus forecast of 3.6% and the 3.6% average recorded between the years 2010 and 2019. To highlight a few weak spots in the economy, government consumption suffered a 4.3% annual contraction in the second quarter, primarily due to prolonged political instability post the May general elections. Tight credit conditions and…

Attention, the Thai Meteorological Agency, a superstar in weather prognostication, has sounded the gong, reminding us once again of its unmatched alert system. Why, you ask? A formidable monsoon wind is barging across the land, unleashing torrents of rain in its path. It’s not just a drizzle! It’s the cloud enraged, pouring its wrath in drops of water over the nation. The lowlands and the imposing mountain slopes aren’t spared either. Picture roaring waterfalls cascading down lush green slopes, gushing through forgotten trails, painting the serene lowland a terrifying shade of murky brown – what a sight! For those who call these terrains home and the travelers who dare the adventurous winding roads, vigilance is golden. Are you nestled safely away from the deluge in the city’s heart? Don’t grin just yet! The monsoon isn’t picky. When emboldened by the rumbling southwestern monsoon winds, it gallantly marches into upper central…

The Ministry of Interior, in a bid to curb corruption, has established a firm alliance with various anti-corruption bodies. The senior official from the Ministry, Suttipong Juljarern, hosted a seminar to elaborate strategies and multidimensional efforts to triumph over the rampant corruption in public departments. The forum took place in the regal setting of the Royal City Hotel, Bangkok, attended by more than two hundred individuals, including a key consultant to the chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). “Having experienced professionals from anti-corruption arenas sharing their hands-on experiences and suggestions is a privilege. It indeed serves as a motivational force for public officials to amplify their endeavors in the fight against corruption” remarked Mr. Suttipong. He emphasized that the ministry is profoundly committed to confronting corruption as it erodes the structural functionality of state mechanisms and diminishes public trust in government affairs. The Interior Ministry, he acknowledged, has been…

In the heartland of Chon Buri emerges an esteemed paradigm of smart urban planning. A dynamic locale nestled in Thailand’s eastern province, Saensuk Municipality of Muang district has been hailed globally for its progressive strides in smart city development. Notably, its focussed efforts on constructing the first ever smart city dedicated to the needs of the elderly has been pronounced with resounding appreciation. Fast-tracked some fifteen years back with collaborative zeal from sizable corporations like Dell and Intel Microelectronic, Saensuk bagged the golden award for its trailblazing pursuits in urban development. A visionary at its helm, Narongchai Khunplome, the Mayor of Saensuk Municipality, reflected – the bygone decade has been spent judiciously carving a living space that truly respects the nuances of its demographic fabric. The numbers tell a compelling tale; about 20% of Saensuk’s 47,000 inhabitants are on the other side of 60. The leadership in Saensuk rationalized that…

In a stride toward improved public transport, the Pheu Thai-led coalition under the Department of Rail Transport has begun unravelling the intricacies of standardizing a flat fare of 20 baht per trip on Bangkok’s electric train network, according to a department insider. The conclusions of this investigation will be offered to the incoming administration at the start of its mandate. The department insider informs that there are essentially two scenarios in review. The first plan proposes introducing a flat fare of 20 baht per trip exclusively for low-income individuals, specifically those in possession of a state welfare card. The alternative plan entails extending the flat rate to all travellers on the electric train network in the capital, without any distinctions. The implementation of the initial scenario would be more financially feasible, as the government would simply have to fund trips made by state welfare cardholders. Currently, 31,019 welfare cardholders rely…

The freshly-inducted Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin organised a high-profile meeting with the representatives of eight key airlines on a recent Monday, to strategise ways to maximise profits from the upswing in tourist influx expected in the forthcoming holiday season. The representatives in question were: CEO of Thai Airways International, Chai Eamsiri; CEO of Thai VietJet Air, Woranate Laprabang; CEO of Thai AirAsia, Santisuk Klongchaiya; CEO of Thai AirAsia X, Tassapon Bijleveld; Acting CEO of Thai Smile Airways, Chaiyong Rattanapaisansuk; CEO of Bangkok Airways, Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth; CEO of Thai Lion Air, Aswin Yangkirativorn; and CEO of Nok Air, Wutthiphum Jurangkool. Kerati Kijmanawat, the director of Airports of Thailand (AOT), and Suttipong Kongpool, the director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), were other distinguished attendees of the important discussion. The meeting served as a platform for Prime Minister Srettha to acquaint himself with the latest developments in domestic and international…

In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, amidst the shadows of the bustling city, the Pattaya police in collaboration with investigators from the Metropolitan Police Division 5 executed a successful raid on three hotel rooms nestled within Pattaya Sai 3 road, Bang Lamung district. It wasn’t just any raid. Thirteen members of a Vietnamese online gambling syndicate joined hands for unlawful activities had their operation exposed by this decisive action. Like a scene pulled straight from a crime procedural, when the authorities entered the hotel rooms, they uncovered a well-oiled machine of illicit online gambling. Thirteen Vietnamese men – the puppet masters behind this elaborate operation – were taken into custody. This was no small-time band of miscreants, the evidence seized from the premise – 25 high-end computers and 58 smartphones along with other menacing paraphernalia – pointed to a large-scale operation expertly managed and conducted with an alarming efficiency.…

Accompanied by cybercrime investigators, esteemed TV news anchor Orakan Jivakiet, dressed in pristine white, recently took up a heart-wrenching case revolving around the lucrative realm of cryptocurrencies. The complainant, a 66-year-old government pensioner, claimed a loss of an astounding 20 million baht within a short span of two months, with the orchestrator of the scam allegedly posing as the respected news anchor herself on the popular social network, Facebook. It was a lamentable tale of deceptive online traps, as the elderly man, drawn into the intertwined web of intrigue and the prospect of exponential financial growth, lost his extensive savings to his false confidante. His quest to gain substantial returns through cryptocurrency investments saw him transferring about 20 million baht in a series of 33 transactions across 10 different banking accounts. The case was duly reported to the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), where detailed discussions with the victim ensued,…