Yesterday, Thailand’s government denied the suggestion of boosting Value-Added Tax (VAT) from its current level at 7%, to 10%. Despite this stance, dialogue continues around this prospect, reasoned with an anticipated requirement for supplemental finances to adequately meet the burgeoning demands of Thailand’s rapidly growing senior population. The concept originated from the National Economic and Social Development Council, presented by Pornchai Thiravej, the director of the Office of Fiscal Economy. It proposes a VAT rate hike, with the potential to provide a stable source of funds to address the financial needs of the country’s retired communities. The core of the proposal being, the surfeit 3% that the VAT increment would generate would be allocated directly for the aid of elderly citizens. Regardless of these ongoing conversations, Thailand’s Ministry of Finance holds firm, yet to announce a concrete policy intending to increase VAT, according to the government agency’s official correspondence. Despite…
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As the sun rises over the Royal Cliff Hotel Group in Pattaya on the 4th of November, two long-time companions and renowned Thai boxers, Sombat “Buakaw” Banchamek and Supachai “Saenchai” Saepong will take center stage. They are set to showcase their extraordinary skills in the ring for the 5th Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Thailand – Legend of Siam competition. This riveting clash underlines a historical first – friends Buakaw and Saenchai locking horns in the ring. In a twist of excitement, a novel rule for the fight has been enacted – the fighting duo will spar without gloves. As spectators brace themselves, the face-off is set for two rounds where each lasts for a nerve-wracking two minutes. In a recent press conference, Buakaw insisted on a genuine match despite the closeness between the fighters, saying, “Our friendship may run deep, but there will be no quarter given when we…
In the wake of rising global concerns over the release of treated radioactive water from Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) has issued an unequivocal call to the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Fisheries. The strongly worded plea urges both bodies to enforce stricter regulations and apply tighter controls on imported Japanese seafood products. Following a series of bans instituted by several countries, the TCC official, Panuchot Tongyang voiced out his concern yesterday. Among those that have decided to suspend imports of Japanese seafood such as live sea animals, frozen and dried seafood, sea salt, and seaweed, are China, Hong Kong, and South Korea, largely due to rising apprehensions about potential radioactive contamination. The TCC official drew attention to the wreckage left by the year 2011’s nuclear catastrophe that led to Fukushima’s temporary shut down, further spreading radioactive material into the…
As the sun set on the Thai Government House this July, the countdown ticked for the outgoing Deputy Prime Minister, Prawit Wongsuwon. The enduring image captured in a Bangkok Post file photo will be one of the defining moments of his tenure. One of the top decisions during his term, the imposition of an emergency decree on the three southern border provinces – Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat – is set to continue. This Monday saw the committee for the administration of the emergency situation convene via a virtual conference. At the helm was Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who managed the meeting remotely from the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation’s office. The verdict? To extend the decree for a further three months, stretching from September 20th to December 19th, 2023. First-person accounts paint a vivid picture, relayed via Lieutenant General Pacharasak Patirupanon, the assistant spokesman for General Prawit. The…
The Revolutionary Transformation: Srettha Thavisin’s Cabinet With the political pendulum having swung in his favor, the newly minted Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has confidently declared that his upcoming executive team is all geared up and ready for action. This bold pronouncement comes despite growing curiosity in political circles about whether the highly coveted defence portfolio could be handed to a non-military member of his Pheu Thai Party. Speaking from the party’s nerve centre, Mr. Srettha made it unmistakably clear that as far as he’s concerned, the roster for his cabinet is set in stone. It is now up to the cabinet secretary-general to vet the credentials of the appointed ministers before seeking the coveted royal seal of approval. Aware of the buzzing whispers that some Pheu Thai members and red-shirt affiliates are uncomfortable with the idea of Gen. Natthapol Nakpanich as the defense minister, Mr. Srettha chose to remain tight-lipped.…
Tonight, Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun in our solar system, will be the closest it gets to our home planet this year. However, the Moon is not staying behind and will make its nearest approach to the Earth on the following Wednesday. This celestial ballroom dance will present a breathtaking spectacle for observers on our blue planet. According to Suparerk Khaehanon, the director of communications for the institute, this cosmic alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Saturn, will bring the gas giant a mere 1.31 billion kilometres close to our world. This might sound like an astronomical number, but in the grand scheme of cosmic distances, it’s like having your neighbour over for tea. If conditions are favourable, and the sky presents a clear canvas, Saturn should be discernible to the unaided eye from the eastern regions of Thailand. This mesmerizing view will be available from sunset on…
In a statement attributed to Pornchai Thiravej, the director of the Office of Fiscal Economy, the National Economic and Social Development Council has offered a proposition that the Thai government could augment the requisite funds for supporting the elderly population. This can be accomplished by escalating the Value Added Tax (VAT) from a current 7% to a proposed 10%. The amplification of 3 percentage points in VAT presents a realistic prospect of increased financial backing for the retired community. This upgraded revenue can be responsibly directed towards enhancing the lives of the elderly. At this current juncture, however, the proposal is solely advisory and the Finance Ministry has yet to progress towards formulating a policy to enact this VAT modification, disclosed Thiravej. Recent data from the Council unveils a sobering statistic: There are about 13.5 million older adults in Thailand, accounting for roughly 20% of the overall populace. This demographic…
Celebrating two auspicious occasions; His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s Birthday Anniversary on 28th July 2023, and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother’s Birthday Anniversary on 12th August 2023, the Ministry organised a special Study Visit. The organised trip aimed to pay tribute as well as showcase the royal projects suggested by their Highnesses that are a continuation of the work started by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. The celebratory event was graced by 26 Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Representatives along with their spouses, from across 21 different nations. The 904 Royal Volunteers Training Center, established under the esteemed guidance of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, is a hub for learning royal works and varied projects that take place all over Thailand. It heavily focuses on the application of the…
Nestled snugly in the elegant landscape of neighbouring Saraburi province, is an enigmatic old town named Lopburi. This idyllic locale is well-known on the international circuit for its captivating annual ritual, the Monkey Buffet. On this special day, the diligent townsfolk generously dole out a smorgasbord of delectable treats to the town’s resident Whiskered Macaques. A charismatic local, Suttipong Kamtaptim, who bears the mantle of Director of the Wildlife Conservation Division in Saraburi province, went into some detail about a recent venture of his department. The macaques, though a charming novelty, were processed to strike a balance between their burgeoning population numbers and their increasingly audacious behaviour- a regular source of entertainment and occasional concern to both locals and tourists alike. “Sterilisation of these macaques transpired at a place that embraces animal care wholeheartedly – The Monkey Hospital at Lopburi Zoo,” Suttipong added revealingly. The process adopted was thorough and…
In the heart of Thailand, a notorious couple was apprehended for illicitly residing within the country’s borders. The dynamic duo who fell afoul of the law were identified as Boy “Bui” Yangha, a 31-year-old male, and his accomplice in crime, a 27-year-old woman named Som “Mary” Jean. This milestone development was made public during a press conference convened on a sunny Sunday. Held under the careful supervision of the Bureau Chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol Lt-General Thiti Saengsawang, the arrest announcement struck a significant blow to the rampant pickpocketing menace plaguing the region. The arrest scene unfolded in Samut Prakan, a bustling locale in front of the couple’s rental accommodation at the Sup Asia Apartment on Soi Sukhumvit 111. It wasn’t good old-fashioned luck that led to their arrest; instead, the sharp and agile eyes of an undercover cop played instrumental roles in undermining the organized criminal operation.…