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,…
Posts published in “Thailand”
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…
In the bustling town of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, Surangkhana Khunsri’s world turned upside down when a late-night call informed her about the death of her 25-year-old son, Pongsathorn, who was working miles away in war-stricken Israel. Surangkhana, a resident of the quaint Moo 5 village nestled in the serene Nong Yang tambon in Chalerm Phra Kiat district, was awash with grief and disbelief at the horrifying news. Before this harrowing turn of events, Surangkhana had been grappling with worry over reports that suggested her son had been taken captive by the Hamas militants. Yet, even amid despair, she clung on to a ray of hope—hope that her son was alive, albeit held hostage. Sadly, that glimmer of optimism faded when she received the dreaded call from the Thai embassy in Israel. The time was around 9pm; one could imagine the deafening silence that enveloped her as she absorbed the news…
In the quiet hours of a late Wednesday evening in Samut Prakan province, life took a grim turn on Thepparat Road, an essential passage leading to the popular Suvarnabhumi airport. Nestled within the boundaries of tambon Bang Chalong, Bang Phli district, a horrific accident transpired about a kilometre from the airport, claiming a life and leaving calamitous shock in its wake. The unfortunate incident unfolded around 11:30 pm, when the Bang Kaeo police station’s investigation commander, Pol Lt Col Damrong Sukchusri, was alerted of an accident on the Bang Na-Trat route. The responding police, joined by hospital staff and rescue teams, quickly made for the distress scene. What looked like a tragic still-life awaited them: a Toyota Alphard van, adorned with Bangkok license plates, lay wrecked by the roadside, its frontal wedged with crushing finality under the hind of an 18-wheeler container trailer truck. The truck also bore Bangkok license…
On a crisp, Thursday morning, a poignant scene unfolded at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand – a place renowned as a bustling gateway to astonishing destinations. This time, however, it was not the starting point of an adventure but rather the end. Forty-one Thai workers who had braved dangerous conditions and hostility in Israel were finally home, greeted by the heartwarmingly familiar faces of their loved ones and a well-deserved sigh of relief. Of these returning citizens, fifteen were escorted home by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the rest had organized their personal plans to return home. They all disembarked from El Al Flight LY083, their feet touching their native soil at 11.22 am. Several high-ranking officials were present to welcome them, including Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang, and the Deputy Public Health Minister, Santi Promphat. One individual who particularly stood out…
Set in the backdrop of the lush durian orchards of Moo 9 village, nestled in the seamless transition between urban sprawl and the wild greens of Tai Rom Yen National Park, is a heart-wrenching incident of two elephants losing their lives in the wake of human encroachment. This incident occurred in the quaint village situated in the Kanchanadit district, belonging to the vast province of Surat Thani, Thailand. Two innocent wild elephants were fatally electrocuted by a live wire firmly placed to protect the durian fruits that lay abundant in a local plantation. The owner of the plantation was a woman known as Suwannee, who is now facing charges for violating the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act enacted in 2018. The alarm bells for this tragic incident were sounded by attentive local residents, who reported the sight of two immobile elephants to Chaiyaporn Chaiyos, the park’s chief officer. Responding to…
In the bustling metropolis of Bangkok, the Royal Thai Police department made quite a spectacle on Thursday, showcasing over 2,000 confiscated illegal firearms and a staggering 75,000 rounds of ammunition. The display was a result of a rigorous three-day crackdown carried out across the nation, following a tragic shooting incident at a popular shopping mall in the city. According to reports, the nationwide operation was led by none other than the National Police Chief Torsak Sukvimol. Between October 9th and 11th, law enforcement officers orchestrated a total of 3,224 meticulously planned raids across the country. Their tireless efforts bore fruit, leading to the arrest of 1,593 suspects in connection with the unlawful arms and ammunition. The crackdown saw officers seizing 1,789 unauthorized firearms ranging from blank guns to BB guns. In addition, they confiscated 219 registered firearms involved in illegal transactions and a mind-blowing total of 75,973 rounds of bullets.…
Unpredictable twists and turns can occur in life without warning, even on an ordinary day at a shopping mall, particularly when shoelaces are involved! The good people of Chiang Mai recently experienced a nerve-wracking instance firsthand when an escalator at a bustling shopping centre unexpectedly decided to perform a bizarre act of thievery! It’s a charm of life that sometimes events are entertaining and concerning all at once, especially when they happen in public spaces like shopping malls. In the middle of what seemed like a serene afternoon, precisely around 3:30 P.M., a female student turned into an unfortunate central figure in an escapade involving, of all things, an escalator. She found herself in a precarious position when her canvas shoe lace got ominously caught in the unforgiving teeth of a descending escalator. A pitiful plight for anyone in such circumstances, especially considering escalators rarely show such a voracious appetite…
In a recent drama that could easily be mistaken for a plot of a Thai soap opera, a former Thai TV star, Wanitha Watcharobon, and her spouse have become victims of an alleged investment scam reportedly orchestrated by the offspring of a renowned Bangkok-based musical artist. They were seduced into investing into a gold trading venture that touted a substantial yield of 10%, costing them an astonishing 2.4 million baht. 63-year-old Wanitha Watcharobon, renowned for her acting talents, and her husband visited the headquarters of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on the 11th of October. They were there to present their case and evidence, seeking justice against the cunning investment scheme masterminded by the unnamed son of another high-profile entertainer, a songstress who had also enjoyed a vibrant film career. The ex-actress exposed the details of how she and her husband were inveigled into the gold trading operation by the…