Fuelled by a belief that every citizen should have a roof over their heads, the vaunted Thai Department of Social Development and Welfare, spearheaded by the accomplished Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Varawut Silpa-archa, is taking proactive measures to revamp its housing subsidies programme for the homeless, in an attempt to accommodate a larger demographic. The past year revealed sobering figures, with less than 100 forlorn souls availing the benefit of the programme, drawing attention towards an urgent need to revamp the existing initiatives. This philanthropic initiative, a collaboration with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, offers an enticing lifeline to homeless individuals, providing them with the means to acquire housing. A gleaming light at the end of the tunnel, the department generously covers half the rent for the participant’s apartment, curbing the daunting price tags and making homes an affordable reality. But their intervention goes beyond mere financial…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In a ground-breaking move from the food and beverage world, Singapore-listed ThaiBev has shared their ambitious investment plan, involving an impressive 7 billion baht aimed at augmenting their presence domestically and globally. Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, the dynamic CEO, informed that a hefty 4 billion baht has been set aside for erecting a new beverage plant in Cambodia, while the remaining 3 billion will fuel logistics facilities, a 21st-century biogas factory, and other strategic maneuvers. Aligning with the rebound in tourism and the invigoration of the food and beverage sector, ThaiBev is fortifying their brand’s robustness and polishing their competitive edge. Their expansion strategy is hinged on achieving sustainable growth resting on the triumvirate of growth, sustainability, and enablement, which includes market diversification, product portfolio enhancement, and catering to the ever-shifting consumer demands. Head of ThaiBev’s beer product group, Michael Chye Hin Fah, has disclosed an exciting venture. The company is constructing…
Unleash your hidden desires at G Boutique Hotel Surawong Bangkok, a niche destination for couples who fancy a shade darker in their romantic escapades. This boutique hotel, tucked in the heart of the buzzing Thai capital, has geared up its latest addition – a room themed after the popular erotic novel turned movie, Fifty Shades of Grey. Outfitted with BDSM accessories, this room is the newest talk of the town amongst thrill-seeking couples wanting to break from mundane hotel stays. Rated a solid 3-star, the G Boutique Hotel Surawong Bangkok is strategically placed just a hop, skip and jump from the Chong Nonsi BTS station. This prime location, coupled with superior service and contemporary facilities, has garnered it rave reviews on several renowned travel platforms. But G Boutique Hotel Surawong Bangkok is more than just a hotel – it’s an experience. Part of this ‘experience’ mark are its specially designed…
Weather experts at the Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) have issued a stern weather warning for large parts of the country, due to persistent heavy rains. A total of 44 provinces, covering a sizeable 80% of Bangkok, have been put on high alert for potential sudden flash floods and forest runoff. This warning is particularly significant for those located in mountainous and low-lying areas along waterways, as these terrains are susceptible to the adverse weather effects. The cause of this severe weather warning is the current Monsoon trough. The trough is making its way across central, lower northeastern, and eastern Thailand, gradually moving towards a low-pressure area along the central Vietnamese coast. The combination of these two weather factors with the prevailing southwestern monsoon over the Andaman Sea has led to the current undesirable weather conditions over Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand. Residents living within the highlighted areas are advised…
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…
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…