In a decidedly anticipatory strategy, the customary weekly Cabinet session was held a day early in the wake of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s impending visit to China. This maneuver was shared by Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, who highlighted the implementation of the 20-baht fare policy, a crucial feature in the “Quick Win” election pledges that were made to the electorate by the dominant political party, Pheu Thai Party. Before this modification, the tariff for the two railway lines varied, fluctuating between 14 baht and 42 baht, the determining factor being the journey distance. In this setup, a standard 20-baht rate was initially experimented with on two specific routes: the Purple Line running from Taopoon to Bang Phai, a distance of 23 kilometres hosting 16 stations, and the Red Line connecting Bang Sue to Taling Chan over 26 kilometres with 10 stations, and from Bang Sue to Rangsit, spanning 15 kilometres…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In Thailand, the path to democracy has been an ongoing and intense struggle. This was emphasised at a recent public forum organized in honor of the gallant students and pro-democracy advocates who lost their lives during a period of military tyranny, half a century ago. This event served as a stark reminder of the distance yet to be covered since the notable October 14, 1973, revolt. The forum, engineered by the October 14 Institute Foundation, was held at the esteemed Royal Rattanakosin Hotel. The event attracted a wide spectrum of attendees, ranging from survivors of the historic uprising to those intrigued by Thailand’s democratic evolution. The forum’s leading speaker, Peerapol Triyakasem, the foundation’s chairman, shed light on the pivotal nature of the 1973 student revolt, which sowed the seed of Thailand’s democratic movement. According to him, the rebel movement was an attempt to liberate the nation from the stranglehold of…
Dive into the heart of Thailand’s government strategies, as they strategize ways to minimize operational expenses in public transportation, anchored on the idea of reducing fuel costs for motorcycle taxi drivers. A second wave of the energy cost subsidy for these drivers is in the pipeline, uncovered none other than by the permanent secretary for energy, Prasert Sinsukprasert. This idea, solidified into a proposal by the Department of Energy Business, is currently under the scrutinizing eyes of the Ministry of Energy for approval. Secure in this proposal is the crisp, cool 600 million baht fund assigned for this subsidy scheme. Interestingly, this vast fund does not require the cabinet’s concurrence for approval. Prasert Sinsukprasert, the energy tycoon himself, elucidates that sanctioning power lies in the hands of the Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, and the Energy Minister, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga. In a reassuring gesture, Sinsukprasert emphasizes that the fund will not call…
The Thai economy, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years due to geopolitical tensions, now braces for potential impact stemming from the hostility between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East. Unsurprisingly, this volatility signals an opportunity for global corporations and governments to rationalize increased pricing, a strategy repeated from similar scenarios such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Israel is a significant constituent in Thailand’s commercial tapestry. Being the sixth-largest trading partner in the Middle East and the 40th on a global scale, any disruption can have significant fallout on Thailand’s economy. Trade volumes between the two nations have shown growth, hitting the US$857 million mark from January through August, reflecting an increase of 1.15%. Thai exports to Israel, estimated at US$546 million, demonstrated a year-on-year growth of 12.6% while imports fell by 14.2%, equal to US$311 million. Aside from trade, Israel has been a burgeoning market for Thai tourism.…
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (THPF) recently stirred up an important conversation on the rising consumption of sodium amongst the Thai populace, accentuating the inherent risks particularly for the younger generation. Assistant Manager, Dr Pairoj Saonuam puts forth what seems to be a foolproof plan – pivoting to healthier dietary alternatives to mitigate this dietary risk factor. Disturbingly enough, the trend of adhering to a vegetarian diet doesn’t seem to curb the menace of high sodium consumption, as most vegetarian cuisines tend to be rather sweet, fatty and high in salt content. The World Health Organization (WHO) outlines a standard daily intake of sodium not exceeding 2,000 milligrammes – merely 5 grammes per day. Contrarily, retrospective data gathered between 2019-2022 unveils a concerning dietary pattern amongst Thais, where their sodium intake is almost double the designated healthy quantity. Most alarmingly, it’s the young adults aged between 17 and 24 who…
Thailand has implemented stringent measures for prohibition on unrestricted pork imports, even for individual use. These strategies are emerging crucial, especially with recent major findings of illicit pork imports at international airports. The distinctive canine unit known as Inspector Beagle is the prime actor in such airport inspections, effectively sniffing out all meat-based products that could conceivably harbor fatal strains of African Swine Fever (ASF). In a recent event dated October 13, Inspector Beagle discovered nearly 31 kilogrammes of pork sausages hidden in the baggage of a passenger who had just arrived at Bangkok’s leading Suvarnabhumi Airport from the Philippines. The passenger travelled in via a Cebu Pacific Airlines flight, which touched down at 11.05 am. The suspected pork products, potentially putting Thailand’s ecosystem at risk, were instantly confiscated. This case is not unique. Several similar instances have been reported by the Department of Livestock Development’s (DLD) K9 Unit, including…
In the wake of an excessive water discharge from the Chao Phraya Dam, Ayutthaya, a historically rich city in Thailand, is buckling under an expansive flood. As of this moment, this has wreaked havoc on an alarmingly high figure of approximately 11,950 households, not to mention an array of cultural and educational institutions, and productive fruit farms. Despite being the third day in a row, the dam shows no signs of reducing its water discharge, maintaining a rate of 1,800 cubic metres per second. This persistent high-volume outflow has propelled the water levels in the Chao Phraya River through Ayutthaya to considerable heights, and consequently inflating the volume in its tributaries. The immediate surroundings of Wat Ko Phai in the Bang Luang Dod sub-district along with the Bang Ban district of Ayutthaya and its adjoining communities bear the brunt heavily as the Bang Luang Canal spills over its banks. This…
Clutching Thai flags tightly to their chests, a group of Thais disembarked from an air force flight at the Don Mueang airport early Monday morning. They were part of the fourth wave of Thai repatriates returning home from Israel since the uproar of the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7. This latest group comprised of 130 individuals, all of whom arrived safely on home soil through a flight relayed by the Royal Thai Air Force. The A340-500 air force plane assigned to this repatriation mission took off from Ben Gurion airport, Israel, at 7.27pm Thailand time Sunday evening, and touched down at the Don Mueang airport at 6.50am on Monday. The latest group of returnees consisted of 127 men, two women, and a young five-year-old girl. Welcoming them at the Wing 6 terminal upon their arrival were none other than Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang and Air Force Chief-of-Staff ACM Seksan…
Thrilling news hit the city when the cabinet gave approval for a 20-baht flat fare for both the Red and Purple line trains in Bangkok. The decision was effective immediately, announced the Transport Minister, Mr Suriya Juangroongruangkit. He affirmed that the State Railway Authority had given a nod, and the system was up and running. The excitement was palpable as the official inauguration of the 20 baht fare took place in the heart of town. The event began at 11 a.m. at the bustling Krung Thep Aphjiwat Central Terminal, the main railway station of Bangkok, situated in the bustling district of Chatuchak. However, there’s a catch for regular commuters who switch lines at Bang Sue. Despite the flat fare, if you’re changing between the Red and Purple lines at Bang Sue, you’re still required to pay twice. Regardless, with a minimum estimation of 100,000 daily commuters expected to use both…
Residing in Klong Toey, one of Bangkok’s poorest regions, Chusri Kaewkhio, 73, and her 75-year-old spouse Suchart, are two among many aged individuals struggling to handle the spiraling living costs in Thailand. Unless going out to brave the scorching sun for a free meal, Noi, 73, manages to live with the ketchup smeared bread, her only sustenance. This Thai widow’s monthly governmental pension offering of around 82 US cents daily renders home cooking nearly impracticable. “If the weather is too austere, I relish 7-Eleven bread dunked in ketchup,” shares Noi in a conversation with AFP at a food distribution camp set up by the Bangkok Community Help Foundation, a support line for around 500 of Bangkok’s underprivileged residents. Shaping up as one of the swiftest ageing societies across the globe, Thailand, according to WHO, is woefully underprepared to accept the economic implications. As per the research drafted by Kasikorn Bank,…