PHUKET – A collision on Phuket Road before 3 a.m. on Sunday killed three individuals riding motorcycles, both Thai and foreigners. There was just one survivor.
Three individuals perished on the scene: Mr. Franz Joseph, a Russian, aged 36; Mr. Magnus Stefan Anderson, a Swedish, aged 52; and Ms. Kanokkan Taphao, a Thai, aged 44, who lived in the neighbourhood. The only survivor, Miss Phattharawarin Phontham, an 18-year-old from Sichon District in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, suffered serious injuries. She was brought to Chalong Hospital.
The tragic collision occurred at the Chalong Intersection Roundabout.
The motorcycles that collided were a Honda Click in white with a Phuket licence plate and a Yamaha YZF-R1 in blue with a Bangkok licence plate. Moreover, the collision caused damage to two nearby motorcycles.
According to the early investigation, Mr Kristofer, a Russian national, was riding a Honda Click motorcycle. Mr. Kristofer, accompanied by Ms. Phattharawarin, was travelling from Rawai Beach to the Chalong Intersection Roundabout. The vehicle crashed with Mr Magnus’ motorbike, which was carrying Ms Kanokkan on the back.
The police recorded evidence at the scene and notified the embassies of the deceased in both countries.
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse greets students during a visit to Kanchanaburi Provincial Deaf School in Kanchanaburi province on March 12, 2024.
Earlier this week, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, estranged son of HM the King, who grew up in the United States, told the AFP he wants to return to Thailand permanently after living there for 27 years.
He later told the Bangkok Post he is not representing anyone. “I don’t want to compete for anything … I have no resources, no power. I don’t have aspirations beyond providing value in my own capacity.”
New York’s tabloid New York Post meanwhile claims that the 42-year-old Vacharaesorn may not be qualified as Thai succession law stipulates that the person must not be married to a foreigner, while the paper insists Vacharaesorn is still married to a foreigner and has two children with the person.
Let’s not go far as to speculate about him being a possible candidate for the succession of the throne just yet, the lack of transparency in many aspects of the Thai monarchy means we here in Thailand do not even know what exactly Vacharaesorn’s status is now. Is he still estranged? Is he a prince since his sister is currently and has always been a princess? How should we address him?
For the meantime, the Thai media sticks with a vague prefix of “Thaun Oun” (ท่านอ้น) or honorable Oun, Oun being his nickname, when referring to him. And that is how he is tagged on social media for the meantime as well.
We hope there will be some clarity from the Royal Household Bureau soon, but perhaps I am being too optimistic since the current visit to Thailand, after 27 years of being absent and treated by the Thai media as if Vacharaesorn did not exist at all, is already his third high-profile visit. The Thai press, disturbingly enough, started reporting about his return while failing to note to the readers that for 27 years, they have “mysteriously” failed to even mention about his existence.
This is why when it comes to the Thai monarchy, gossip is prevalent and much more so with the advent of social media. People who “crossed the line” and deemed by police and judges as violating the royal defamation law, also known as the lese majeste law, risk being handed long prison sentences.
A 26-year-old Twitter user was recently sentenced to 25 years for 14 tweets under the law, and the Computer Crime Act, just less than two weeks ago. It is a testament to the risk one takes when tweeting or posting on X and Facebook about the Thai monarchy.
Vacharaesorn has all the rights as a Thai citizen to move back and his remarks suggest the situation may be changing. That is why he is back now after 27 years of conspicuous absence. It is hoped that it will eventually usher a more relaxed climate for critical and open discussion about the future of the monarchy although the prosecutions under the lese majeste law suggests otherwise.
It is precisely the widespread self-censorship practiced by the Thai media compared to the glaring critical reports and analysis by the foreign press about the Thai monarchy that convinced many Thais, particularly young Thais, that the institution and the law need to be reformed.
Vacharaesorn’s mysterious act of reappearance in Thailand after 27 years of equally mysterious absence is a glaring reminder of that very bizarre situation in Thailand.
BANGKOK – Leading businessmen and academics attended the Prachachat Business Forum to share their perspectives on the topic “Unlock Thailand.” The event took place in two sessions on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at the Pullman Bangkok Hotel.
Revoke outdated laws
The important key to unlocking Thailand is to know that the country needs to revoke outdated laws that hinder economic progress, said Somkiat Tangjitvanich, President of the Thailand Development Research Institute.
Somkiat said laws and regulations such as requiring foreigners in Thailand to report to immigration police every 90 days hinder economic development because it discourages foreigners working in Thailand. The government should instead seek to ensure a climate of ease of doing business. He estimates that around 30 to 40 percent of laws and regulations need to be abolished.
Somkiat Tangjitvanich, President of the Thailand Development Research Institute
Two other suggestions are to abolish the education system based on rote memorization which induces people to think alike, hindering the development of arts and science. “The Thai education system has always been terrible and if this continues it’s hard for us to prosper,” Somkiat said.
He said the third issue is that the government must learn from the past. He casts doubt on the Srettha government’s proposed Landbridge project and the 10,000 baht digital wallet handouts are not worth the money to be borrowed and spent.
The academic claimed that previous cash handouts in some countries, including Thailand, were ineffective at boosting the economy, especially given that they would increase the level of public debt. “Please consider carefully,” he urges.
Deal with VUCA
Athid Nanthawithaya, CEO of SCBX PCL, said Thai society will have to try to be able to work out their political differences without stalling each and every new administration. He said political distrust runs deep no matter who is in power. This, he adds, will require that all sides accept common rules in order to allow the government to work.
Athid Nanthawithaya, CEO of SCBX PCL,
Under the changing world, Athid stated that problems such as geopolitics, climate change, and disruptive technologies contribute to the result of the word “VUCA” (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity), which Thais would also have to deal with to assure business achievement and growth.
“There is no real success because you have to continually adjust yourself. If you stop walking then you start declining. You must run fast and have endurance.” he said.
SCBX values AI since it has the potential to impact the world in the future. As a result, there is a course for 20,000 employees to attend in order to gain the skills needed to work in the technological field. At the same time, the original corporate structure must be preserved while focusing on investment. Effective cost management enables sustained growth.
A Metropolis of Asia
Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi, CEO of Frasers Property Ltd., predicts that the next ten years would be more challenging as global growth slows. However, he believes Thailand still has a lot of promise, as the government aims to become a metropolis of Asia.
As a result, Frasers Group has organised its businesses in accordance with government policy, with seven projects currently in the works to complement the city, including one in Bangkok that will contribute significantly to the development of a new central business district around Rama IV Road. They already have significant buildings, such as the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre and Samyan Mitrtown.
Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi, CEO of Frasers Property Ltd
Highlights include a pedestrian boulevard that’s 250 metres in length and 33 metres wide next to Lumpini Park and planted with golden trees that will bloom every April and will attract people year round.
Panote added that One Bangkok project will not only be a smart city when opens late this year but will become an important part of Bangkok and Thailand, and placemaking project that inspires users with art installations, and more, dotting the group of mixed use buildings with two million square metres of space. It will also be a green area that helps reduce the heat in the area.
Improve the education
Thailand should speed up rail links between China and Thailand as well as other ASEAN member states because it will boost the kingdom’s position as a logistic hub in the ASEAN region, said Suphachai Chearavaranont, CEO of Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group.
Without naming the country, Suphachai said a superpower is not supportive of the move so the name should be changed to Thailand-ASEAN railway instead. the CEO of CP said Thailand’s strategic location is a “God given gift”.
He added Thailand’s export is growing again and factory workers are employed and these are good indications for 2024. But the country needs to improve on many fronts including a better and more extensive irrigation system that if done could increase agricultural yield of the kingdom by ten fold, attract more foreign skilled workforce like Singapore and push the kingdom into becoming a tech and digital hub.
Suphachai Chearavaranont, CEO of Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group
Challenges include the need to address economic inequality where many poor and elderly people have no life insurance.
The government, Suphachai added, must set a benchmark for its works, improve the education system, empower citizens through digital technology and enable each student to have a computer in order to aid their learning process.
Singapore, he said, has attracted 50,000 startups while Thailand only has 1,000. Leading Thai universities, said Suphachai, should focus on excelling in specific fields, such as Kasetsart University can be a leader in biotech while King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology at Ladkrabang focus on robotics.
Twists And Turns
Former Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said on Wednesday Thailand should be impartial but firm in dealing with China and the US and other foreign states. Surakiart, who was speaking at Prachachat Business Forum 2024 yesterday cited Singapore as an example in its willingness to side with the US when it benefits them and with China when it aligns with Singapore’s national interest. On Myanmar, Surakiart said it’s time for the government to establish contact with ethnic groups fighting the Burmese junta because they could one day be in power.
Without going into details, Surakiart, who was also a former Deputy PM under PM Thaksin Shinwatra, said the Srettha government made some mistakes in the early days of the Israel-Hamas conflicts causing some of its foreign friends to be disappointed. On the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said the Thai government should have had the courage to tell Russia that the invasion was wrong.
Santitarn and Surakiart Sathirathai
Surakiart predicts that 2024 will be volatile and the Thai tourism industry could be heavily affected if a terror attack happens elsewhere but affects international travel and tourism.
“We live in a world without order. Today’s world is entering a period that is more than merely volatile. It is poised to turn a corner into twists and turns,” said his son, Santitarn Sathirathai, an economist at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).
There are three areas that greatly affect the Thai economy and business: fierce war, fierce competition, and ASEAN standing out as not being overly hostile to anyone. International companies that want to avoid risks plan to invest more in ASEAN.
The future economy will have numerous dimensions, but the three main ones are the related to technology war, the green economy war, and the talent war.
He sees opportunity for ASEAN and India if international disputes continue, as they are not clearly aligned with either side, have a combined population of 2 billion, and are seeing reasonably strong economic growth.
Seriously, use of AI
Wifi access to the internet should be a public good provided by the government to all Thais in order for people to make the most of technologies and the arrival of AI, said Jirayut Srupsrisopa, founder and CEO of Bitkub Capital Group Holdings.
“The change in the world from the advancement of AI is not just a temporary change but has a huge impact on every industry, including the knowledge and skills of the world’s population,” he said.
Jirayut Srupsrisopa and Parith Rungsimanond
He emphasised that 2024 is the year where companies and people seriously use AI to assist them, and access to the internet should be a fundamental right for all Thais.
Co-speaker Parith Rungsimanond co-founder and executive at Looloo Technology said Thai workforce and businesses will need to retrain themselves to make the most of AI-related apps. Parith said artificial intelligence is a harbinger of a new revolution not unlike that of the invention of light bulbs.
World-class products
A company needs perseverance and consistency in order to create a world-class brand and it cannot be done within three to five years, said Sathian Sathianthamma, CEO of energy-drink Carabao Group Public Company.
Sathian Sathianthamma, Chief Executive Officer Carabao Group Public Company Limited (CBG)
He said in the end, the product must be a quality product as well. The company has sponsored the Carabao Football Cup (formerly EFL Cup) in the UK since 2017 because the UK is a large market for energy drinks and football is a global sport. The company also signed a sponsorship with Chelsea Football Club as the official training wear partner in 2015.
He admits that expanding the sale of its energy drink in the UK was tough because Carabao is a relative newcomer and some consumers identify it with Chelsea FC so they won’t buy it if they root for another team.
Sathian admits that although the company has been sponsoring Carabao Cup for over a decade now, the sale of its energy drink in the UK and Europe have yet to meet the target but it will continue to use the strategy as it sees the sponsorship as the best way to eventually penetrate the markets around the world.
PHUKET – Phuket police detained an Egyptian male tourist seen on CCTV ruthlessly smashing a taxi after clashing with the driver.
The CCTV clip’s owner, Adisorn Sutthiphonnam, informed “Khaosod” on March 23 that the incident occurred around 10:00 p.m. on Friday. He was inside the house at the time and noticed a big noise. He turned on the CCTV camera and noticed an Egyptian man named Ismail getting out of a taxi., followed by the taxi driver. The two fought with one another.
The Egyptian man then used a pipe to smash the taxi’s window. When the glass did not break, he grabbed a piece of cement from the side of the road and bashed it until it shattered. After that, he took off his coat and kicked a foreigner’s parked motorcycle. This upset the owner of the motorcycle, who is a boxer. Two people got into a fight for a while, then the Egyptian man gave up fighting and fled.
When the police arrived, Adisorn told them the route the Egyptian had taken. The police tracked down the Egyptian man, who was still in a state of craziness, and sent him to Vajira Phuket Hospital. The cab driver, Suriya, went to report the incident at Choeng Thale Police Station.
The car had damage in numerous spots.
Adisorn also stated that Ismail had leased a room in the area and gone for around three days, but had left his clothes behind. It is thought that he returned on the night of the incident to get clothes and other items. However, he went on a rampage.
The taxi driver stated that he picked up Ismail from the Patong Beach area to Ban Bang Tao, Village No. 2, Choeng Thale Subdistrict, Thalang District, for 450 baht. When they arrived at the location, Ismail requested to borrow Suriya’s phone to call his friend. However, after using it, he refused to return it.
Ismail used Mr. Suriya’s Xiaomi phone 12, which he had demanded, to smash Mr. Suriya’s other phone, the Samsung A54S, resulting in both phones breaking. Ismail went on a rampage, attacking Mr. Suriya and smashing his car, as shown in the video.
The broken window from the car dropped on the side of the road.There is a piece of cement at the scene that the Egyptian man used to break the car windows.Two phones of the taxi driver are damaged.
Yaowarat 4 Gold Shop, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
BANGKOK – The gold price in Thailand reached a new all-time high three times in a single day on 21 March 2024. This confirms the upward trend of Thai gold prices since the end of 2022, which have already risen by more than 25 percent.
On that day, there were 7 price changes in total, resulting in a total increase of 800 baht for the day. This brought the price of 96.5-percent gold bars to 37,650 baht per baht, in line with the global gold price, which hit a new high of 2,222 US dollar per troy ounce.
Mr. Jitti Tangsitpakdee, President of the Gold Traders Association, told Khaosod on March 22 that the gold price has been rising continuously, and the sharp rise this time is not only due to the US Federal Reserve’s signal to cut interest rates three times this year but also because large investors have been buying gold continuously this time.
It is expected that the central banks of various countries will buy gold to hold as reserves, as it is a safe haven given concerns about the instability of the US dollar.
“This has never happened before in history, especially as it is only 3 months into the year and the price has already risen by more than 10 percent,” he said.
Mr. Jitti analyzed that the short-term trend of gold bullion prices is likely to reach 38,000 baht per baht of gold in the second quarter of this year and may even reach 40,000 baht if the Fed cuts interest rates, which is expected to happen in June this year. He recommends investors to buy gold when the price drops slightly.
Ms. Pawan Nawawattanasap, CEO of YLG Bullion International Co., Ltd. (YLG), said that for the Thai gold price to reach 40,000 baht per baht of gold, there must be a factor of the baht’s value. If it depreciates to 37 baht per US dollar, it is possible to see 40,000 baht.
The Ministry of Commerce said that during this period of rising gold prices, there have been complaints about the fraudulent sale of “counterfeit gold”, both gold bars and gold ornaments, which surged to more than 1,600 cases in 2023.
Mr. Naphinthorn Srisanphan, Deputy Minister of Commerce, explained that the ministry has commissioned the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT) to test the purity of precious metals and the purity of gold using ultrasonic waves that do not damage the workpiece.
The GIT issues quality certificates to interested persons before buying and selling under the Buy With Confidence (BWC) project. The Ministry also works with trusted government agencies such as the Consumer Protection Bureau and the Domestic Trade Department.
counterfeit gold
The deputy minister also warned the public against buying gold through online channels where there is a risk of gold counterfeiting and urged gold sellers to strictly abide by the law. Failure to display the price tag is punishable by a fine of up to 10,000 baht. Selling goods at an unreasonably high price, hoarding goods or refusing to sell them is punishable by imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of up to 140,000 baht, or both.
Using a scale that has not been certified by the Department of Internal Trade is punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both. Tampering with the weighing elements of the scale is punishable by imprisonment of up to 7 years or a fine of up to 280,000 baht.
A Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen secures an area as a massive blaze seen over the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)
MOSCOW (AP) — The death toll in the Moscow concert hall attack has risen to 133, Russia’s top state investigative agency said Saturday.
The update from the Investigative Committee comes as authorities are combing the charrred wreckage of the Crocus City Hall on Moscow’s western edge for more victims. Officials previously put the death toll from Friday’s raid at 115.
The attack also left many wounded.
The Islamic State group’s Afghanistan branch claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on affiliated channels on social media. A U.S. intelligence official told The Associated Press that U.S. agencies had confirmed that the group was responsible for the attack.
In an address to the nation on Saturday, Russian President said authorities had detained 11 people, including four who took part in the attack. He also suggested they had been trying to cross the border into Ukraine which, he said, tried to create a “window” to help them escape.
Russian Emergency Ministry rescuers work inside the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, Saturday, March 23, 2024, following an attack Friday, for which the Islamic State group claimed responsibility. (Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service via AP)
Ukraine has strongly denied any involvement and accused Moscow of using the attack to try to stoke fervor in its war effort.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that authorities have detained 11 people in the attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people and left the sprawling venue a smoldering ruin.
In an address to the nation, Putin called it “a bloody, barbaric terrorist act” and said all four people who were directly involved had been taken into custody. He suggested they had been trying to cross the border into Ukraine which, he said, tried to create a “window” to help them escape.
Ukraine has strongly denied any involvement in the attack. Putin said Saturday that additional security measures have been imposed throughout the country and declared March 24 a day of national mourning.
The Islamic State group’s Afghanistan branch claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack in a statement posted on affiliated channels on social media. A U.S. intelligence official told The Associated Press that U.S. agencies had confirmed that the group was responsible for the attack.
In this photo taken from video released by Investigative Committee of Russia on Saturday, March 23, 2024, a Kalashnikov assault rifle lies on the ground as Investigators from the Investigative Committee of Russia together with the operational units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB, work the scene after a terrorist attack. (Investigative Committee of Russia via AP)
The attack, which was the deadliest in Russia in years, came just days after Putin cemented his grip on power in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide and as the country’s war in Ukraine dragged into a third year.
Some Russian lawmakers pointed the finger at Ukraine immediately after the attack. But Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, denied any involvement.
“Ukraine has never resorted to the use of terrorist methods,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Everything in this war will be decided only on the battlefield.”
Ukraine’s foreign ministry also denied that the country had any involvement and accused Moscow of using the attack to try to stoke fervor for its war efforts.
A massive blaze is seen over the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Sergei Vedyashkin/Moscow News Agency via AP)
“We consider such accusations to be a planned provocation by the Kremlin to further fuel anti-Ukrainian hysteria in Russian society, create conditions for increased mobilization of Russian citizens to participate in the criminal aggression against our country and discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the international community,” a ministry said in a statement.
Images shared by Russian state media Saturday showed a fleet of emergency vehicles still gathered outside the ruins of Crocus City Hall, which had a maximum capacity of more than 6,000 people.
Videos posted online showed gunmen in the venue shooting civilians at point-blank range. Russian news reports cited authorities and witnesses as saying the attackers threw explosive devices that started the fire. The roof of the theater, where crowds had gathered for a performance by the Russian rock band Picnic, collapsed early Saturday as firefighters spent hours fighting the blaze.
A view of the Crocus City Hall burned after an attack is seen on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Vitaly Smolnikov)
In a statement posted by its Aamaq news agency, the IS’s Afghanistan affiliate said it had attacked a large gathering of “Christians” in Krasnogorsk. It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the claim.
A U.S. intelligence official told the AP that American intelligence agencies had gathered information in recent weeks that the IS branch was planning an attack in Moscow, and that U.S. officials had privately shared the intelligence earlier this month with Russian officials.
The official was briefed on the matter but was not authorized to publicly discuss the intelligence information and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Messages of outrage, shock and support for the victims and their families have streamed in from around the world.
Ambulances are parked near the burning building of the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Sergei Vedyashkin)/Moscow News Agency via AP)
On Friday, the U.N. Security Council condemned “the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack” and underlined the need for the perpetrators to be held accountable. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the terrorist attack “in the strongest possible terms,” his spokesman said.
Meanwhile hundreds of people stood in line on Saturday in Moscow to donate blood and plasma, Russia’s health ministry said.
Putin, who extended his grip on Russia for another six years in this week’s presidential vote after a sweeping crackdown on dissent, had publicly denounced the Western warnings of a potential terrorist attack as an attempt to intimidate Russians. “All that resembles open blackmail and an attempt to frighten and destabilize our society,” he said earlier this week.
In October 2015, a bomb planted by IS downed a Russian passenger plane over Sinai, killing all 224 people on board, most of them Russian vacation-goers returning from Egypt. The group, which operates mainly in Syria and Iraq but also in Afghanistan and Africa, also has claimed several attacks in Russia’s volatile Caucasus and other regions in the past years. It recruited fighters from Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union.
This grab taken from a video released by the BBC Studios on Friday March 22, 2024, shows Britain's Kate, the Princess of Wales recording her message announcing that following her abdominal surgery in January "tests after the operation found cancer had been present." Kate, said Friday she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. (BBC Studios via AP)
Kate had what was described as abdominal surgery on Jan. 16. The news wasn’t announced until the next day, when Kensington Palace revealed that Kate was recovering from a planned operation.
At the time, officials said her condition wasn’t cancerous but did not specify what kind of surgery, saying only that it was successful.
When was Kate’s cancer found?
During the video announcement Friday, Kate said: “Tests after the operation found cancer had been present,” and that she was in the early stages of treatment.
She didn’t say what kind of cancer was found, nor did she give details of her chemotherapy. The statement from Kensington Palace said Kate found out about the cancer after post-surgery tests were done.
Is it unusual to find cancer after surgery?
While it’s rare to find cancer after surgery for a noncancerous problem, it does happen in about 4% of such surgeries, said Dr. Yuman Fong, a surgeon at City of Hope cancer center in Southern California.
“That 4% figure represents someone who’s going to the operating room for what is thought to be benign disease” such as a procedure to remove the gallbladder or ovarian cysts, Fong said.
Is it unusual to find cancer in someone so young?
Yes, cancer is rare in young adults. But in developed countries, rates of some cancers are rising among younger adults. Kate is 42.
“We hate it when young people get cancer, but at the same time, they are the ones that recover best,” Fong said.
What kind of treatment is Kate having?
The palace statement said no details would be provided about her cancer or her treatment, other than she started it in late February.
“We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The Princess has a right to medical privacy as we all do,” the statement said.
After successful surgery, chemotherapy is often used to help kill any stray cancer cells and to prevent the cancer from coming back. Treatments have evolved, and when chemo is used now, it’s sometimes for shorter periods or lower doses than it once was.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
Fatigue, nausea, tingling in the hands and feet, and sometimes hair loss are side effects of chemotherapy, said Dr. Monica Avila of Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. But there are medications for improving these side effects. And cold caps that cool the scalp can prevent hair loss, Avila said.
“A patient can take anywhere from a few weeks to a month or two to recover from those effects,” Avila said. Numbness and tingling can take longer to disappear, she said.
How long will Kate’s treatment last?
The palace statement said that will be up to her doctors. “The princess is now on a recovery pathway,” the statement said.
BANGKOK – Anankorn Amornwatee, managing director of Master Plan 101 Co., Ltd., a luxury home construction company, told Matichon that most of the company’s customers are wealthy individuals or entrepreneurs, such as hotel owners, rice mills, ice factories, and online businesses.
Currently, the largest customer group, around 30 percent, is located in Northeast Thailand, or Isan, mainly in the provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Kalasin, Yasothon, and Roi Et.
The rest is spread over Bangkok and its surroundings, Chiang Mai in the north and Chanthaburi, Rayong and Chonburi in the east. There are also foreign clients who are married to Thais and build houses worth 40-50 million baht each.
The Central and Southern regions have fewer customers because they do not build very large houses.
Master Plan, Surin Province
As far as the housing market is concerned, there is still no policy to increase housing prices, as costs have not risen sharply. There is also no problem with the shortage of labor.
In the first quarter of 2024, the high-end segment with a price of 20 million baht and above is still doing well because it is not affected by the economic situation, interest rate hikes and loan rejections from financial institutions. This is because they are borrowing less and have a good credit rating.
However, compared to the same period in 2023, the market is not as buoyant as the overall economy is not good. This is reflected in a slight decrease in the number of the company’s customers, but the value is still high. For example, the number of houses priced at 50 million baht has dropped from 50 percent to 30 percent, a decline of 20 percent. This may be partly due to the fact that the company closed deals and signed contracts with many customers at the end of 2023, resulting in a decline in the first quarter.
Master Plan has more than 10 customers and a turnover of 1 billion baht. The average customer builds a house worth 50 million baht, but there are some worth 100-500 million baht. The trend is likely to continue in the second quarter and is expected to continue in 2024.
Master Plan, Ubon Ratchathani
Although the first and second quarters are not as buoyant, the third quarter is expected to be busier. The house building business is subject to a seasonal pattern. There are currently around 30 customers waiting for the company to review the design and sign the construction contracts. The company has set a sales target of more than 1 billion baht for 2024.
“Customers come to build luxury houses with us, some for 50 million baht, some for 100-200 million baht, and the most expensive is 500 million baht, which is a mansion. In 2023, there was one client, and in 2024, there was already one client in Bangkok who is a businessman, and another one in Chiang Mai for 200 million baht,” Mr. Anankorn said.
Currently, the company organizes promotions every month to promote purchasing power. There are also promotions such as free interior design and landscaping for customers worth 10 percent of the house value.
For example, those who build a luxury house worth 100 million baht will receive a discount of 10 million baht. There is also free solar roof installation, which is currently a trend that customers are interested in because it allows them to save electricity in their homes.
FILE - Germany's national player Lukas Podolski leaves the pitch with the World Cup trophy in his hand, wearing Adidas after winning the World Cup final soccer match in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, July 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
BERLIN (AP) — German soccer and Adidas are breaking up.
American sportswear giant Nike will supply all of Germany’s national teams with its apparel and equipment from 2027, the German soccer federation (DFB) surprisingly announced Thursday.
The new deal extends to 2034 and ends Germany’s long-standing relationship with Adidas, which goes back some 70 years and had appeared unshakeable.
Germany’s men’s team is using Adidas’ headquarters in Herzogenaurach, near Nuremberg, as its team base for the European Championship, which Germany is hosting this summer.
Adidas appeared to be surprised by the DFB’s decision to switch to its biggest rival, only confirming in a brief statement: “We were informed by the DFB today that the association will have a new supplier from 2027.”
FILE – West German national soccer team captain Franz Beckenbauer embraces his team mate, forward Juergen Grabowski after West Germany beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the Football World Cup Final game at the Olympic Stadium in Munich, Germany, on July 7, 1974. (AP Photo, File)
German teams wore Adidas gear for all four of the men’s World Cup titles, their three European titles, and the women’s two World Cup and eight European titles.
The DFB later defended its switch to the American kit supplier.
“We understand every emotion. It’s also a drastic event for us as an association when it becomes clear that a partnership that was and is characterized by many special moments is coming to an end after more than 70 years. That doesn’t leave us cold,” the DFB wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
It said its first priority is soccer and its development in Germany, where it is responsible for more than 24,000 clubs and 2.2 million active players. It said it invests money in member clubs and its amateur base so soccer remains a sport for the people.
“The DFB has to make economic decisions against this background. Nike made by far the best financial offer in the transparent and non-discriminatory tender process,” the DFB wrote.
FILE – Germany players celebrate after Andreas Brehme scores the winning goal in the World Cup soccer final match against Argentina, in the Olympic Stadium, in Rome, July 8, 1990. (AP Photo/Carlo Fumagalli, File)
Earlier, DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said, “We’re looking forward to working with Nike and the trust they’ve placed in us. The future partnership will enable the DFB to continue to carry out key tasks in the coming decade with regard to the comprehensive development of soccer in Germany.”
Neuendorf pointed out that Adidas will remain the DFB’s supplier until December 2026 and “we will do everything we can to achieve shared success with our long-standing and current partner Adidas, to whom German soccer has owed a lot for more than seven decades.”
Adi Dassler, the founder of the German sportswear brand, sat on the bench beside West Germany coach Sepp Herberger when the German men’s team won the World Cup for the first time in 1954, wearing his company’s screw-in stud boots.
Germany took the World Cup title in a 1-0 match against Argentina, 14 July 2014.Dassler did not invent the boots with changeable studs, as many believe. They were invented some years before by German shoemaker Alexander Salot, who registered his invention with the German patent office on Aug. 30, 1949.
But they certainly helped the Germans beat Hungary in the 1954 World Cup final. Dassler’s company has been supplying German soccer with its gear ever since, and only last week it presented the new jerseys for Euro 2024, which Germany will host between June 14 and July 14.
Germany’s under-21 coach Antonio Di Salvo said the decision to change kit supplier was “very surprising for everyone … especially now when the new jersey for the European Championship was presented. I did not expect that.”
The switch was driven by financial and other concerns.
Germany took the World Cup title in a 1-0 match against Argentina, 14 July 2014.
“Nike made by far the best economic offer and also impressed with its substantive vision, which includes a clear commitment to the promotion of amateur and grassroots sports as well as the sustainable development of women’s soccer in Germany,” DFB chief executive Holger Blask said.
DFB treasurer Stephan Grunwald also pointed to a rosier future for German soccer as a result of the new deal.
“We are grateful to be able to look forward to an economically stable future as an association thanks to Nike’s commitment,” Grunwald said, without providing details of what the American company will pay.
It’s clearly more than Adidas was prepared to invest to extend its existing deal. But the DFB’s decision has not met universal approval at home.
“I can hardly imagine the German jersey without the three stripes,” German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said. “Adidas and black-red-gold always belonged together for me, a piece of German identity. I would have liked a bit more local patriotism.”
Phyathai-Paolo Hospital Group Expands into EEC Market with New Hospital Launch – Phayathai Sriracha 2 Hospital Leads Thailand in Medical Tourism
Phyathai-Paolo Hospital Group is expanding its medical services in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) region, with the official opening of Phyathai Sriracha 2 Hospital. Aligned with government policies aimed at shifting Thailand, especially the EEC special economic area, to the forefront of comprehensive healthcare in ASEAN, the hospital is a cornerstone in the medical landscape.
This move is a huge step forward in the group’s efforts to provide cutting-edge healthcare in the eastern area. Phyathai Sriracha 2 Hospital is prepared to become an entire medical hub, serving both local and foreign patients. Furthermore, it reflects Thailand’s rising importance in health tourism, establishing the country as a pioneer in promoting wellness-oriented travel experiences.
Phyathai Sriracha 2 Hospital is a general hospital with a capacity of 1,500 outpatient visits per day and 113 inpatient beds. Following the success of the first branch of Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, which has been providing care to the community for over 28 years, the growth of this hospital intends to address the health care demands of the residents of Chonburi and the surrounding areas. The hospital, which is part of the Phyathai-Paolo Hospital Group under the BDMS, focuses on delivering specialist medical services in a variety of professions, offering comprehensive and high-quality care for both typical patients and insurance holders. It has gained trust and worth in EEC, a crucial economic expansion area for the country.
Mr. Att Thongtang, CEO of Phyathai-Paolo Hospital Group, revealed that “Phyathai Sriracha Hospital is committed to continually enhancing its service capabilities to provide continuous patient care. We understand the significance of every step in the treatment process. Furthermore, the readiness of our experienced professional medical staff and cutting-edge technologies will improve the efficacy and safety of patient care.”
Mr. Att underlined the significance of strengthening medical professionals at the hospital. The Phyathai-Paolo Hospital Group actively employs professionals from various medical fields and provides scholarships to physicians and nurses for academic pursuits. Special training programs have been created for interdisciplinary healthcare teams, which include nurses, scientists, pharmacists, and medical technicians, to help them improve their medical treatment expertise. This ensures that the community accesses full healthcare services without needing to travel to Bangkok.
By integrating the Health Up application, patients can easily access medical services with just a click on their mobile devices. They can view treatment histories, schedule appointments with doctors, access health information, and utilize Telecare services, all in line. This is particularly crucial in the EEC region, where more than 400,000 people have moved and adapted modern lifestyles.
Mr. Att stated that Phyathai Sriracha Hospital has been operating since 1995 and began delivering social security services in 1999, with a focus on quality and standards. This resulted in an increase in insured individuals to around 250,000 and earned the hospital the Social Security Hospital of the Year award in the past year. Subsequently, an additional quota of 115,000 insured individuals was obtained this year. Recognizing the growing needs of service recipients, the hospital expanded its facilities to accommodate them, especially in the EEC region, where industrial and business development is continuous.
With the increasing demand for healthcare to support workers and labor groups, the Phyathai-Paolo Hospital Group invested in expanding hospital facilities in Chonburi Province. The expansion involves the launch of the new Phyathai Sriracha 2 Hospital, which intends to relieve congestion in current hospitals and develop into an essential medical center in the future. In 2025, the company plans to invest in another 225-bed hospital in the Bo Win Industrial Estate, which will serve as a healthcare hub for Chonburi residents and those in the surrounding districts.
Dr. Chanchai Leesomprasong, Director of Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, provided information stating that the first Phyathai Sriracha Hospital has been serving the community for almost three decades, continuously developing medical skills and knowledge to keep up with modern standards. This has transformed the hospital into a reliable healthcare provider for the local population, ensuring that insured individuals receive valuable services.
He emphasized the hospital’s dedication to becoming a cornerstone for the EEC community, focusing on providing quality services at reasonable prices, with a secure and accessible network, especially in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), an industrial area. The hospital aims to provide comprehensive care, hence expanding its services to accommodate approximately 500,000 insured individuals.
Phyathai Sriracha 2 Hospital was established to serve both general patients and those on social security. The first Phyathai Sriracha Hospital is being transformed into a center of medical excellence, with enhanced amenities to serve privileged and social security patients who are in need of complicated or specialized medical care. Services including minimally invasive surgery, heart surgery, and cancer chemotherapy have been started. In addition, plans call for the expansion of wellness and health promotion services, as well as a number of medical specialties with over 280 highly qualified doctors.
In the past year, the Hospital’s Infertility Center has been internationally recognized for its quality, receiving the AACI certification from the United States, and has been certified as a Trauma 3 center for emergency management.
Furthermore, it is currently in the process of obtaining TEMSA certification, which adheres to safety principles in three target groups: patient safety, personnel safety, and public safety, ensuring efficient emergency medical services. Phyathai Sriracha Hospital and its network are able to promptly, safely, and reliably respond to various emergency situations, serving as a cornerstone for the people of Chonburi Province and nearby areas, both Thai and international, who encounter emergency accidents.
Ms. Pramaporn Prasatthong-ost, Chief Executive Officer of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited (BDMS), commented on the expansion of the medical business in the EEC, stating, “BDMS is committed to driving Thailand’s healthcare industry towards sustainable global standards, particularly in reducing disparities in access to healthcare services nationwide.
Currently, BDMS operates over 50 hospitals nationwide, with the latest addition being Piyathai Sriracha 2 Hospital under the Phyathai-Paolo Hospital Group in the Sriracha area. This expansion aims to meet the needs of the local population and support the growing industries in this area, especially in response to the continuous increase in demand for medical services.”
Expanding business in the EEC is not only about meeting market demands and fostering economic growth but also about shaping the organization’s image as a leader in medical services in the EEC area. This is part of the strategy to expand the hospital group’s business. Furthermore, it aims to help develop Thailand into an international health hub, attracting foreign investors and supporting health tourism in line with government policy. This is a proactive response to global changes and developments, ensuring effective and sustainable progress on a global scale.
Ms. Pramaporn further stated, “BDMS has been recognized as the most robust organization in the EEC area, with a clear vision to lead in medical services and healthcare excellence on an international standard. Our commitment to conducting business responsibly towards society, communities, and the environment consistently earns us wide acceptance and trust in healthcare provision across Thailand, particularly in the rapidly developing EEC region.
Additionally, we aim to create opportunities for communities in the area to benefit from medical development and investments in facilities and amenities. This stimulation contributes to long-term economic growth in the region.”
Mr. Att concluded by saying, “The BDMS group is proud of its ability to grow and cater to the requirements of all societal groups while maintaining its emphasis on offering the best possible healthcare. Phayathai Sriracha 2 Hospital will contribute to sustainable development in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) by providing services that address community needs. We aim to provide patients with experiences of excellent care and state-of-the-art technology, all the while concentrating on training medical professionals to successfully meet our patients’ demands with top-notch medical services.”
