Remarkable Measures by Thailand’s Government-Owned Banks Creating a Wave of Change Thailand is known for its captivating culture, mouth-watering cuisine, remarkable beaches, and lately, an innovative approach to support vulnerable communities experiencing the brunt of high interest rates. The country’s public-sector banks, led by the Government Savings Bank (GSB), have extraordinarily hit the pause button on their loan rates, creating a ripple effect of admiration and relief among their clients. Vitai Ratanakorn, the President and Chief Executive of GSB, confirmed this progressive development designed to aid low-income individuals and Small to Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs). This bank, which prides itself in servicing a considerable six million loan customers, came to this decision owing to the compassionate guidance of the nation’s government. This drastic step springs forth in response to the Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee’s recent action, boosting its benchmark interest rate to a staggering 2.5%. This record high catapulted…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In the wake of a sizeable plunge of over 1.5% in the previous trading session, Thailand’s premier trading platform, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), slipped beneath the critical threshold of 1,450 points. This unsettling occurrence surfaced on the heels of mounting anxieties regarding an escalating public deficit and a potential slump in economic growth. This pessimistic sentiment stirred after the World Bank revised its forecast for Thailand’s GDP growth in a downward trajectory. Keen observers from Daol Securities (Thailand), indicating an intensifying selling pressure exerted by a gamut of investor groups, attributed the fears of an imminent interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve as a primary contributor. Concurrently, the Thai baht, reacting to the relentless surge in the yield on US bonds and the strength of the dollar, slumped to its lowest value in 11 months, falling beneath the threshold of 37 baht against the US dollar. This…
A 71-year-old Buddhist monk presided over a unique, ancient healing practice at the serene surroundings of Wat Pa Theppitaks Daennabun, nestled in the verdant landscapes of Nong Mod Daeng, within the Lahan Sai District of Buriram Province. A sacred relic of history, this ancient method of fire-stepping is regarded as a potent medium to alleviate a range of ailments and purify one’s karma. Popularized through the medium of social media, a video has surfaced revealing the moving act of the monk trudging onto a blazing iron plate or a tractor blade, and following this, imprinting footprints onto the patient’s body. Revered as Ajarn Surat Rattanyano, the elderly monk deconstructed the healing process for the unversed. The start of the entire process is depicted by the patient lying face-down, shielded by a virginal white cloth. Following this, the monk immerses his foot in a concoction of sesame oil imbued with a…
The Department of Disease Control (DCD) in the region of Songkhla, is on high-alert as they have noticed a worrying spike in cases of pertussis, more widely known as ‘whooping cough’. The disease particularly seems to have targeted children. Pertussis, caused by B. pertussis, a bacterium, is a highly potent contagion, usually transmitted through actions like coughing, sneezing, or via sharing space with infected respiratory secretions. An unfortunate incident was reported in Pattani province, the death of a patient diagnosed with the deadly cough. The most susceptible group seems to be those under a year old, representing nearly half of all the cases – 46.15% to be precise, as observed by the DCD. Describing the nature of the disease, Dr. Chalermphon Osothphrom, leading the charge in Songkhla’s DCD, explains how this particular bacterium causes significant inflammation of the respiratory tract, which then spreads with ease through respiratory secretions and shared…
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…
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…