Posts published in “Thailand”

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,…

In the heart of Yarang district, Patanni – as the moon sat high in the sky and the peaceful locals tucked safely into their beds, a horrific ambush wasfalling onto the brave security forces. At exact 10.50 pm in front of the Tambon Yarang Municipal office on Yarang-Mayo Road, tragedy struck. Precisely calculated and executed with chilling precision, assailants rained down a shower of terror that the peaceful district of Yarang would remember for years to come. A sturdy, four-door police pickup truck, a swift police motorcyclist, and a daring duo of defense volunteers aboard a motorcycle hemmed the streets. Together, they were a formidable force to be reckoned with – a comforting presence for the villagers asleep in their homes. Little did they know that their peaceful night-patrol would end in a rain of terror thought only possible in the darkest of nightmares. Without warning and showing no mercy,…

In the heart of the buzzing metropolis of Bangkok, outside the imposing South Bangkok Criminal Court, three formidable figures in the world of human rights, Angkhana Neelapaijit, Puttanee Kangkun and Thanaporn Saleephol, were photographed on May 24, 2023, alongside their attorneys. The accusations against them could only be characterized as daunting: defamation charges brought forward by Thammakaset, a prominent poultry company with deep roots in the farming industry. When the verdict finally came, the dissipated tension gave way to relief but not satisfaction. Despite being cleared of the criminal charges, the triumphant trio expressed their dissatisfaction at the laws that allowed such a scenario to unfold. The events stemmed from their revealing posts regarding grueling working hours and debilitating conditions at a poultry farm under the dominion of Thammakaset. It was 2019, and the internet was aflame with their revelations. The farm, unfortunately, was just the tip of the iceberg…