Let’s dispel some myths and spread the truth brighter than sunshine on a clear day. The folks over at MINT are clearing the air, and boy do they have news for you! What’s the buzz around town, you ask? There’s been some chatter, a little gossip, about MINT possibly venturing into the world of perpetual bonds. But hold your horses! MINT has stepped in and announced that there’s absolutely no plan for such a move. The market’s rumor mill might need a little oiling because MINT’s financial health is robust, thriving on potent liquidity and cash flow from operations that are as strong as an ox. The company is not just sitting back and resting on its laurels. Oh, no. They’re charging ahead, full steam, in this high interest rate seascape with a clear strategy to de-leverage. That’s fancy talk for reducing debt, folks. Their intention is to deflate the…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Imagine waking up to a world dimmed by a grey veil, where the city’s once-soaring skyscrapers are reduced to mere silhouettes against a choked sky. That’s not a scene from a dystopian novel — it’s just another Wednesday morning in bustling Bangkok, where smog took a front-row seat and simply refused to budge. The air we breathe is our lifeline, yet on this very morning in 55 out of Thailand’s 77 vibrant provinces, this lifeline was tainted with a haze of particulate intruders. Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), our watchful eye on the environmental skies, tolled the bell of warning at 9am sharp. It disclosed a rather unsettling tapestry of numbers, with PM2.5 levels – those tiny hazardous particles you can’t see but certainly can feel – ranging from 38.7 to an alarming 113.6 microgrammes per cubic meter of air over the course of 24 hours. Anything beyond…
Welcome to the intrigue and drama surrounding the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his current residency at the Police General Hospital. Now, there’s a plot twist you might not have expected: a group of investigative souls from the House committee on police affairs are lining up to play detective this Friday. They’re not after a game of Cluedo, though,—they’re sleuthing out the truth about whether the high-flyer Thaksin is receiving star treatment or the same medical care as any other inmate. Think of it as a real-life episode of your favorite hospital drama, with a sprinkle of political mystery. Chairman Chaichana Detdecho is our protagonist in this narrative, setting the scene on Wednesday with the confirmation that the hospital is rolling out the red carpet (or at least opening its doors) for the committee’s Friday visit. They’re scheduled to tour the exclusive sixth floor of the Sriyanont Building…
Imagine yourself strolling down the vibrant, bustling streets of Khao San Road in Bangkok—a place where the air is filled with the eclectic aromas of street food and the faint hint of something more…herbal. Amid this lively scene, health officials are ticking off their to-do lists, inspecting cannabis shops that have popped up like mushrooms after a tropical rainstorm. This is Bangkok’s own little “Amsterdam,” a place where the tendrils of cannabis smoke curl into the air and mingle with the beats of Thai pop music. The snapshot: a candid photo capturing the whimsical dance between tradition and progressivism in the land of smiles. The winds of change have been blowing across Thailand’s cannabis landscape, and Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew has found himself at the helm of this ship, navigating through waves of legislative reform. It’s Wednesday, and Dr. Cholnan is like a chef working on a delicate recipe…
In the bustling heart of Tha Sala district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, a scene straight from a suspense thriller unfolded as forensic officials meticulously combed through the aftermath of a brazen gold heist at the Siriporn gold shop. As the daylight waned on that fateful Tuesday afternoon, the glint of scattered gold and the spectral presence of law enforcement conjured an eerie tableau, one captured evocatively in the flashbulbs of the media’s cameras. But the drama had only begun; the case that was sending shockwaves through the local community was swiftly unraveling as the police force, relentless in their pursuit of justice, had zeroed in on their prime suspect. Like a character plucked from a detective novel, the enigmatic Chaiwut Wethayawong, a 54-year-old man with presumably as many secrets as he has years, became the central figure in this high-stakes narrative. The authorities were hot on his trail, hunting down leads…
Welcome to the digital age of wallets and wonders! In a turn of events that seems to have fused cutting-edge technology with economic strategy, the Thai government’s conceptualization of digital wallets has become the talk of the town, and it’s a cocktail of opinions, folks! These are not just any wallets; they’re designed to give a helping hand to those who need it most in these trying times. Let’s zoom in on the man with the plan, the Prime Minister himself. He’s essentially said, “Hold onto your hats,” because he’s about to unravel the intricacies of this digital marvel in a press conference that’s sure to grab headlines. That’s right, in less than forty-eight hours, we’ll have the inside scoop on how this virtual monetary magic is going to work. But the PM’s not going solo on this journey – no sir! He’s got a VIP pass to the Council…
Imagine a world where healthcare isn’t just a privilege for the few but a readily accessible right for the masses. This isn’t just a dream for the future; it’s a swiftly materializing reality in the vibrant and bustling heart of Thailand. Excitement ripples through the air as the nation proudly adopts an upgraded healthcare model under the sparkling initiative of “30-baht, healthcare everywhere, single ID card.” The hum of anticipation is tangible as this fresh approach promises to redefine medical inclusivity. Gone are the days of being tethered to a single hospital for your health needs. With the expansive wave of this scheme, healthcare cardholders can now seek medical solace in any hospital sprawled across their province of residence. The winds of change are blowing, and they herald a future of comprehensive care. The groundbreaking kickoff was a grand affair peppered with dignitaries and led by none other than the…
Welcome to the intriguing world of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), a high-tech division operating under the auspices of Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation. This beacon of innovation has recently turned its analytical eye towards an issue that’s closer to ground than space: the air quality that we breathe every single day. In a flurry of digits and data, three provinces have been spotlighted in a hue less desired; a crimson alarm, or what the experts dub a “red condition,” has thrown a spotlight on Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, and Nakhon Pathom, where the lingering particles in the air have dared to dance beyond the threshold of what’s deemed healthy. The numbers speak, and they don’t whisper—112.3 micrograms in Samut Songkhram, a stern 92.7 micrograms in Samut Sakhon, while Nakhon Pathom weighs in at 76.7 micrograms. These figures might seem abstract, but when…
Welcome to the bustling world of Thailand’s motorcycle market, where the hum of engines and the clink of sales are as vibrant as the country’s famed street markets. Fasten your helmets, dear readers, as we zoom through the latest figures: a whopping 1.72 million vehicles have been sold in the Land of Smiles from January to November of 2023. That’s a hair-raising 4.67% climb compared to the same time in the previous year, and with December’s numbers revving up, we’re throttling towards an impressive finish line of 1.85 to 1.9 million motorcycles for the year. Vroom, vroom! But wait, there’s a twist in the tale! Come January 9th of the previous year, Thailand’s monetary mavens threw a spanner in the works with an announcement that would set the maximum interest rate for bike loans at a strict 23%. Banks and lenders had to hit the brakes, peering through their financial…
Meet Srettha, a man of two formidable titles: the nation’s finance minister and relentless advocate for fiscal prudence. It was in the bustling halls of the Royal Thai Police head office, amidst the fanfare of launching an executive upskilling project, that Srettha shared his economic musings with eager reporters. “In a territory where inflation whispers rather than roars,” Srettha remarked, “I extend a cordial yet firm invitation to our venerable Bank of Thailand: let’s turn the tide, let’s lower the policy rate.” A statement brimming with conviction, yet tempered by his admission that the reins to the policy rate horse belonged firmly to the central bank’s hands, impervious to the government’s grip. The air at the Bank of Thailand is thick with contemplation as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) convened. With synchrony that would rival any orchestra, late November saw them cast a unanimous vote – the policy rate would…