Imagine breath-taking views of crystal-clear waters and sandy shores marred by the site of monkeys rifling through garbage or scattered litter across the scenic vista of Samila Beach in Songkhla. While the monkeys, belonging to the macaque species, were endearing at first sight, they soon revealed their destructive potential when they began rummaging through cluttered dustbins, tossing waste everywhere, and basking in malodorous mounds of rubbish. Their reckless abandonment caused distress among locals and visitors, instilled fear, and littered the serene landscape of the beach. This was the grim reality facing the picturesque locale and was brought to a halt thanks to an ingenious intervention. The mischievous marauders were known to occupy the space in front of the Laem Samila Cave in Songkhla. The discarded flamboyant feast from restaurant waste bins drew them like a moth to a flame. Their reckless tryst with leftovers had a dangerous side too, as…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
As the impending deluge looms across Thailand’s picturesque landscapes, the kindly officials at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration stand guard. Armed with 1.5 million little soldiers – not of war, but of preservation, in the form of sandbags – they gear up to shield Bangkok from the expanding belly of the Chao Phraya River. The Chao Phraya Dam, a usually mild-mannered guardian of the waterway, has in recent times had to unleash a greater volume of water owing to a heightened inflow from above – a product of the skies’ enthusiastic weeping across the city’s domains. Surat Charoenchaisakul, the diligent watchman of city drainage and sewerage, assures the citizens that eyes are on the different tributaries, the likes of Bangkok Noi, Maha Sawat and the Phra Khanong canals. The lifesaving sandbags stand ready to be deployed by mid-October, their mission to subdue the swelling waters. Avid avatars of help cater to…
Effervescent with political fervor and the promise of innovative economic strategies, Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister and Finance Minister of the Pheu Thai Party, unveiled the party’s grand plan for a 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme during a resonant campaign rally back in April. This significant policy announcement came during a momentous gathering that stirred optimistic chatter in all corridors of Thai politics. The cabinet, on a balmy Tuesday, arrived at a consensus decision: the formation of a dedicated committee. This committee’s primary mission? To navigate the intricacies of implementing the government’s ambitious digital money handout scheme— christened as the digital wallet project. The project’s light is expected to start burning bright from February next year, marking a new era in the nation’s economy. Estimated to require a staggering 560 billion baht for efficacious execution, this project’s bold goal is to disperse 10,000 baht in digital currency to every Thai citizen aged…
On Tuesday, the council, which included Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, heralded the formalization of a committee tasked with crafting a blueprint for a constitutional amendment referendum. Prestigious Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin graced the occasion, which took place at the Government House (captured in an exquisite photo by Chanat Katanyu). Serving as the committee’s custodian, Mr. Phumtham unveiled that the eclectic 35-member panel encompasses representatives from various government and opposition parties, eminent legal scholars, renowned social activists, and seasoned lawyers. The politicos’ list reads like a who’s who of Thai politics, with Chusak Sirinil, a party-list MP from the Pheu Thai Party; Nikorn Chamong from the Chartthaipattana Party; Kittipong Kittiyarak, former permanent secretary for justice; Supachai Jaisamut from the Bhumjaithai Party; Dech-it Khaothong of the Democrat Party and Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana of the United Thai Nation Party. The committee also boasts a diverse raft of representations from other…
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) eyes significant movement on three flagship mass-transit infrastructure projects in Bangkok and Phuket, with a projected investment of a whopping 220 billion baht, according to governor Pakapong Sirikantaramas. These are hinged on the Orange and Brown transit lines in Bangkok and a substantial mass-transit project in the captivating island province of Phuket. Diving into the specifics, the Orange Line serves as a critical nexus between the scenic Bang Khun Non region in Bangkok Noi district – located on the verdant western banks of the serpentine Chao Phraya River – and the vibrant Min Buri district in the eastern part of the sprawling city. As of now, the eastern portion stretching 22.57 kilometers from the iconic Thailand Cultural Centre station to Min Buri is near completion, although work remains stalled on the 13.4 kilometers western extension connecting the Cultural Centre station to Bang…
In the heart of Thailand, a health issue may be yawning wide and deep, stretching its arms in the still of the night. Sleep disorders plague an estimated 19 million of Thai’s population, and a staggering figure of more than 2 billion worldwide. A concern that should not be snoozed on, sleep is a vital component of life because – let’s face it – we spend about a third of our existence wrapped up in dreamland. If that alone doesn’t emphasize its importance, a lack of significant sleep drags the remnants of the night into our day. The ensuing projection makes us look and feel like the walking dead, energy-drained and aloof. However, insomnia doesn’t stop at merely making someone feel like a zombified shadow of their flagship self. The repercussions of inadequate sleep wade through psychological and physiological corridors alike. It amounts to an elevated stress level, an outpour…
In the heart of Bangkok, there lies a vision of sustainable innovation and technological superiority; welcome to One Bangkok, the largest integrated district in the capital city. Unraveling its comprehensive sustainability vision, One Bangkok recently launched the One Bangkok Immersive Pavilion at Sustainability Expo 2023 (SX2023). Positioned as ASEAN’s most significant sustainability exposition, the event is host to developer Frasers Property’s exposition, where the ambitious One Bangkok project is displayed. Panels discussions titled “The Future of Sustainability and Smart City Living for Better Community” and “Masterplan Design for Smart Sustainable Cities” are lined up, allowing visitors to dip into the ocean of innovation and sustainable models proposed by industry leaders. Remarkably, these discussions occur within the majestic walls of Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, starting from today until 8 October 2023. Mr. Urasate Navanugraha, the Chief Investment Officer of One Bangkok, quotes “It delights us to partake in Sustainability Expo…
Captivating the attention of numerous attendees at the Sustainability Expo 2023 (SX2023), held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, was the Pracharath Rak Samakkee (PRS), an innovative social enterprise network. It was reported, at an enlightening seminar, that PRS has effectively channeled more than 2 billion baht into communities throughout Thailand. The remarkable figure was cited by Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, the esteemed president of Thai Beverage Plc (ThaiBev) and the spearhead of the Pracharath working team. Sculpted around the ‘social enterprise’ model, the PRS network spreads its influential wing over 76 provinces in the heart of Thailand. With a keen eye on the global market, it strives unstintingly to groom community products to compete on an international stage, consequently attracting the discerning modern consumers. Fostering 1,552 successful projects, PRS has infused an impressive 2.14 billion baht into 114,362 households since its inception seven years ago. Only last year,…
In the wake of a devastating shooting at a shopping center in Bangkok, resulting in two casualties, unprecedentedly stringent gun control measures are being put into place by the Thai authorities. Thailand’s National Police Chief, Torsak Sukvimol, highlighted this on Wednesday following the tragic incident. The shooter, a teenager, used a converted firearm, initially made to discharge blank rounds, hence not initially classified as a lethal weapon, likely procured online. The juvenile shooter is currently facing criminal charges and is held in a detention center for the underaged, where he will receive psychiatric evaluation. Alarmingly, there are over 10,000 of these legally brought in firearms, converted later into deadly weapons, in Thailand. Police and other government bodies are collaborating to have them reclassified as deadly firearms, thereby blocking an easy channel for their import. The former police officer and presently a criminologist at Rangsit University, Kritsanapong Phutrakul, disclosed explicitly that…
High-ranking official, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin marked his presence at the Siam Paragon shopping complex. A tribute was offered to the victims who tragically lost their lives in the shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday. His touch point with the general public was carried out via the medium of the X account, previously known as Twitter, where he shared his directives to government bodies. In response to the tragic incident that killed two people and injured five at the Siam Paragon shopping mall on Tuesday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has instructed key government bodies to devise preventive strategies. His orders were clear and forthright, stating that a repetition of such violence at the shopping mall must be avoided under any circumstances. The unfortunate shootout that unravelled on Tuesday afternoon claimed the lives of two foreign individuals originating from China and Myanmar. This tragic event also saw injuries being inflicted upon…