In the tranquil yet vigilant district of Phato, Chumphon, a sign stands tall, voicing staunch opposition to the Southern Economic Corridor and the ambitious Rayong-Chumphon Land Bridge megaproject. The message is inescapable—a call to rethink a future some southern residents are far from ready to embrace. Picture this: A determined collective of around 50 impassioned citizens, proudly representing the Phato-Ranong Conservation Network, converged upon the bustling headquarters of the Bhumjaithai Party in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, last Monday. Their mission? To fervently demand the withdrawal of two consequential SEC bills poised to reshape the landscape of four southern provinces. Somchok Chungchaturan, the network’s outspoken coordinator, captured the gravity of the situation, decrying the proposed bills that could potentially create an “independent state” for investors. The implications were stark—relaxed labour regulations, flexible land use policies, and an unsettling exemption from environmental protections. “The Bhumjaithai Party should take into serious consideration the impacts…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Jirayu Houngsub has recently taken up the mantle of public relations adviser to the Prime Minister while his application for the government spokesman’s role undergoes further scrutiny. (Photo: Government House) Jirayu Houngsub, former spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, is poised to step into the shoes of the government spokesman as early as next week, insider sources divulge. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, on Tuesday, roped in Mr. Jirayu as her public relations adviser, kicking off an in-depth qualification review. The vetting process for political assignments has ramped up its rigor, driven by an uptick in ethics-related grievances. The Pheu Thai Party, along with Ms. Paetongtarn, is currently wrestling with a dozen complaints touch on appointment controversies and other issues. A past incident involving a controversial cabinet minister appointment even led to the judicial ousting of Srettha Thavisin from his prime ministerial post last month. Traditionally, verifying the criminal records of…
In the quiet Muang district of Samut Prakan, a scene unfolded on Monday that seemed straight out of a crime thriller. Sompong Sroithong, a 62-year-old woman with a past as murky as the waters she exploited, was finally apprehended by an anti-trafficking police officer. For over a decade, Sompong managed to evade capture, living in the shadows as law enforcement agencies pursued her across the country. Her arrest, a dramatic moment loaded with years of anticipation, was a testament to the relentless efforts of the police Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD). According to Pol Maj Gen Sarut Kwaengsopha, the ATPD commander, Ms. Sompong was one of the last remaining fugitives from a warrant issued by the Criminal Court back in 2012. This warrant placed her firmly on the police radar, and she became a top target following a harrowing complaint filed by a Thai-African victim the same year. The victim,…
(Bangkok Post file photo) In a tragic turn of events, a dedicated factory employee tragically lost her life after an alleged refusal from her manager to grant additional sick leave without a new medical certificate. The worker, known only as May, was a devoted 30-year-old from Sukhothai province, employed at an electronics plant nestled within the Bang Pu Industrial Estate in Muang district of Samut Prakan province. The harrowing story came to light through a series of screenshots shared on a Facebook page, capturing the conversations of her colleagues. The grim announcement detailing May’s untimely death after being denied further sick leave sent ripples of outrage across social media platforms, sparking an uproar against the company. Described by her friends as a diligent employee, May had initially taken medical leave from September 5 to 9 after being diagnosed with an inflamed large intestine. Her ailment led her to spend four…
Pol Maj Gen Withaya Sriprasertparp, head of the consumer protection police division, stands proudly on the right, holding up the recently seized insect repellent products during a press briefing in Bangkok on Tuesday. (Police photo) In a major crackdown, officials have confiscated around 7,300 Chinese-made plug-in bug repellent devices from three different warehouses in Bangkok, citing potential health hazards and fire risks associated with these products. The alarming discovery was made on Monday in warehouses located on Sukhumvit Soi 54 in Phra Khanong district, Thian Thale Doi 20 in Bang Khun Thian, and a commercial building at the bustling Sampeng 2 market on Kanlapaphruek Road in Bang Khae, as revealed by Pol Maj Gen Withaya Sriprasertparp. The raids were initiated following a report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pointing out the rampant availability of unsafe plug-in bug repellent products being sold online. These devices had made their way…
In a heart-stopping incident on Tuesday, the serenity of Chumphon was shattered as a Bangkok-bound express train clashed brutally with a pickup truck at a crossing in Lamae district. The vehicle, en route to an unknown destination, met its fate in the early hours of the morning, around 10:30 AM. Eyewitnesses described a scene of utter chaos as Special Express Train No. 40, traveling from Surat Thani to Bangkok, plowed into the pickup truck just 30 kilometers past Lamae station. The collision left the vehicle a mangled mass of metal, flipped upside down and lifeless by the tracks. The sound of the crash resonated through the air, alerting residents and rescue workers to the horrifying accident. Tragically, the adult occupants of the truck—a man and a woman—couldn’t be saved. They perished in the violent impact, leaving behind a heart-wrenching scene of destruction. However, amidst the wreckage and debris, a glimmer…
AM Best has awarded a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to Allianz Ayudhya General Insurance Public Company Limited (AAGI) in Thailand. This endorsement comes with a stable outlook for both ratings, a testament to the solid foundation of AAGI’s financial standing. But what exactly underpins these impressive ratings? Sit tight as we explore the key facets of AAGI’s robustness, one layer at a time. To kick things off, AAGI’s balance sheet strength deserves a standing ovation. According to AM Best, this financial fortitude is marked as strong, thanks to the company’s highest level of risk-adjusted capitalization at the close of 2023. Using Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR) as a yardstick, AAGI is not just strong but anticipated to stay very strong in the foreseeable future. This strength is buoyed by the company’s ability to tap into capital markets through its…
Excitement is in the air as Chubb Life Assurance Public Company Limited, known widely as Chubb Life Thailand, recently unwrapped an enticing blend of savings and life insurance to the market on 17 September 2024. Aptly named the 678 Step Savings, this innovative product is crafted especially for those keen on accomplishing their financial milestones without fuss. The 678 Step Savings plan is as elegant as it is effective. Offering a breezy, short-term premium payment window of merely six years, it provides a comforting blanket of life assurance stretching up to the ripe age of 78. What’s more, customers are welcomed with an annual step-up cashback, a delightful perk starting at 9% of the sum assured from year one and continuing until an awe-inspiring payout of up to 600% upon policy maturity. The coverage doesn’t stop there; in the face of an unforeseen accident resulting in loss of life, policyholders…
In the heart of Mae Sai district, amidst the gradually receding floodwaters, Navy personnel have become an emblem of hope, diligently delivering food and essential items to the beleaguered flood victims. The photo captured by the Royal Thai Navy encapsulates a moment of solidarity and resilience. As the floodwaters in Chiang Rai ebb away, an immense clean-up operation has swung into action. The workers face a Herculean task: cleaning, repairing, and restoring areas that were left in ruin after the vicious floods. The torrents had left behind thick layers of mud, climbing meters high, and heaps of debris, scattered like the remnants of a storm. The water started to drain away on Sunday, finally unveiling the devastating extent of damage to households in Muang and Mae Sai districts. These regions bore the brunt of the flooding, now left with a sprawling mess that clutters every corner. In the Tham Pha…
The launch of a 145-billion-baht handout programme to assist the needy next week is certain to provide a much-needed “jolt” to the economy, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced on Tuesday, as her government unveiled plans for further stimulus measures. The cabinet on Tuesday formally sanctioned the distribution of 145 billion baht, constituting about one-third of the amount earmarked in the original “digital wallet” scheme, set to commence on Sept 25. The first recipients of this highly anticipated economic boost will be low-income earners and vulnerable groups, signaling the start of an ambitious stimulus drive aimed at revitalizing an economy that managed a meager 1.9% growth last year, falling significantly behind its regional peers. The Finance Minister, Pichai Chunhavajira, revealed in a briefing post-cabinet meeting that beneficiaries would encompass 12.4 million state welfare cardholders and 2.15 million people living with disabilities. Less than 40 million Thais over the age of 16…