In a recent development that’s causing tensions to flare between the Bank of Thailand (BOT) and Srettha Thavisin’s nascent administration, BOT personnel are drawing parallels between the proposed 560-billion-baht welfare program and ‘gifting venomous honey’ to the public. They further warn that the proposed dispatch of a digital sum of 10,000 baht to every Thai individual above sixteen years of age might not proceed as smoothly as planned. The inclusion of digital wallet provision in the top five priority policies to be enforced following the ascendance of a Pheu Thai-led coalition government to power sparked a widespread backlash. The incumbent government is banking on this digital payout to give a shot in the arm to the Thai economy looking to rebound from the throes of slowdown. The government has affirmed that from February 1 of the upcoming year, an eligible count of 56 million Thai citizens of sixteen years or…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In Tambon Jed Yod, in the early hours of the morning at 1AM, a 27-year-old individual named Brian Andrew Burggraf was apprehended by the police. As he traversed the road on foot, law enforcement spotted him and decided to conduct a search. The search unearthed a potentially lethal item – a knife approximately 15 centimeters in length hidden in the man’s trouser pocket. Alongside it was a packet of hashish marijuana. The police argue that Burggraf openly confessed to executing a brutal assault on a Dutch father-son duo – Erik Jan, 52, and his son Colin Mike, 20. The victims were a part of a group of eight Dutch tourists. They were leisurely ambling along the historical Chiang Mai moat in the region at about 9pm when this dreadful ordeal unfolded. When questioned, the suspect refrained from explaining his motive behind this horrendous act. Several eyewitnesses conveyed their account of…
NACC secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol made it public that the committee has already started the process of electing specialists for the panel. This announcement followed after the signing of a petition by 99 academics and former heads of the central bank, who called on the government to abandon their plan to distribute 10,000 baht to every Thai citizen aged 16 and over, using a Blockchain digital pocketbook. The leading party of the Coalition, the Pheu Thai, made this scheme a key element of its electoral campaign. The Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, has made a strong commitment to the scheme even with its opposition, stating that it’s necessary to stimulate the economy. Niwatchai, in his role as the head of the NACC, revealed that the panel would examine the scheme, uncover flaws, and spot potential corruption. He also pointed out that the anti-corruption agency can initiate such investigations without being prompted by…
Set in what was originally a verdant forest christened “Dong Phaeng”, began the humble beginnings of a settlement led by four pioneering families. Their tales of high-spirited adventure and a newfound life enticed more individuals from their place of origin to embark on this pioneering journey. As time flew by, the idyllic village morphed into a bustling hub christened “Ban Chiang”. In the initial stages, the locals lived a simple life, oblivious to the historical treasure trove that lay beneath them, just waiting to be uncovered. The significant archaeological discovery was made inadvertently in 1966 by Steve Young, an eager Harvard student on a research expedition. His walk down a dusty Ban Chiang pathway accompanied by his assistant, a local art teacher, led to a profound discovery. A tripping incident over an innocuous tree root unveiled a spectacle of small and medium pottery jars, their tops exposed, showcasing a myriad…
Recently, a significant meeting took place between Nalinee Taveesin, Thailand’s International Trade Representative, and Serap Ersoy, Turkey’s Ambassador to Thailand. Following their discourse on Tuesday, Taveesin reported to the press that a formal invitation had been extended to Srettha for making an official visit to Turkey, an event that hasn’t seen the light of day for over two decades. Ersoy, expressing her gratitude towards the Thai Royal Family, Government, NGOs and fellow citizens for their generous help to the Turkish citizens post the seismic disaster in February, also hinted at her urge to resume the longstanding free-trade talks. This was echoed by Nalinee as well, who said that Thailand and Turkey had already reached a general agreement to establish a bilateral free-trade zone. She shared that seven rounds of talks concerning the FTA had already taken place, but they encountered a disruption in 2021 due to certain internal issues. Nevertheless,…
In a significant departure from the policing history of Thailand, the national police chief has ushered in new modifications to the police uniform regulations, setting the hair length allowance at 5 centimetres for male officers. This change is a divergence from the usual stringent standards of the 2018 uniform practice code which dictated on-duty men to carry a military-style haircut with completely shaven sides and back. In this progressive turn, the 2023 uniform practice code provides for male officers to uphold a slightly freer style, allowing the hair on top of their heads to extend up to 5cm long. However, the grooming rules command that hair on the back and sides of the officers’ heads should not surpass 1cm. Expanding the new mandate, Police General Torsak Sukvimol mentioned that male officers working in divisions such as investigation, intelligence, narcotics suppression, or those positioned in high-risk areas, can now seek permission…
Amidst the sorrow and shock of a recent tragedy that unfolded in Israel, a Thai family has implored their government to assist in the repatriation of their loved one who was tragically killed in a mortar attack. The incident occurred on Tuesday and resulted in the unfortunate demise of a Thai labourer named, Phongphat Suchat, a native of Si Sa Ket province in Thailand. The sudden surge of disaster found its target near Phongphat Suchat along with another Thai worker while they were at their work location. The 29-year-old man’s elder brother, Surat Suchat, was present at the scene when the merciless incident punctuated a tragic end to his brother’s life, manifesting the capricious nature of existence. Recalling the harrowing events, Surat stated that the mortar round had detonated with barely a warning. In a chilling recount of the incident, he shared that a siren had sounded a mere five…
In their latest research, the venerable World Bank stresses the untapped potential for economic traction in Thailand’s birthing metropolises like Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, and Rayong. The study, titled ‘Thailand Urban Infrastructure Finance Assessment,’ conjectures that investment in building effective transit systems and eco-friendly power supplies may invigorate these budding urban cores, contributing to an overall boost in Thailand’s economic machinery. However, a crucial caveat exists – the onus of financing these pivotal undertakings lies in private capital’s lap, rather than being a burden on the central exchequer. For the longest time, Bangkok has been the heart pumping lifeblood into Thailand’s economy. However, today, this central artery is losing its vigor, battling decelerating growth. The World Bank believes that lesser-known urban brethren, if adequately financed, can surface as the new economic warriors, bolstering Thailand’s battle against slowing growth by investing in their infrastructure. The spin-off benefits, as per the study,…
On a day that shook the quiet province of Phetchabun to its core, illicit pork operations turned deadly as a storage facility raid spiraled into homicide. A 57-year-old man, Mr. Anusorn Donsawat, fatally shot the Director of Phetchabun Provincial Animal Quarantine Centre during an audit of illegal pork imports, also injuring another officer in the ensuing turmoil. The incident occurred at a chilled storage warehouse as well as a residential building in Lom Sak district, Phetchabun province, both owned by Mr. Donsawat. Acting on a tip-off concerning unlawful pork imports, authorities from the Phetchabun Provincial Animal Quarantine Centre paid a visit to these facilities for a thorough inspection. Upon their arrival, the officials were confronted by a defiant Mr. Donsawat, who staunchly refused to have the pork in his possession subjected to mandatory testing. His confrontational stance halted the ongoing investigation, culminating in a heated dispute between him and Sarawut…
On a sunny day in July 2022, amidst the lush greens of Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, wild elephants were captured strolling freely in their natural habitat. The park has been home to these magnificent creatures for decades. However, the harmony between these elephants and the surrounding human residents has increasingly been under strain. This deep-seated concern led the Human-Elephant Conflict Network, a group of individuals affected by the threats posed by these wild animals, to take their grievances to the House of Representatives. Their solemn plea, tendered on a fateful Wednesday, narrated their coexistence challenges with the mighty mammals from the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary spans across the provinces of Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Rayong, and Prachin Buri. This meeting was received by none other than the Director of the complaint-receiving office of the House, Jet Anukulpokarat, who acted in the…