Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, second left, walks with his son Panthongtae, his daughters Pinthongta and Paetongtarn, second right, as he arrives at Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI, BANGKOK — Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who last year returned from more than a decade of self-imposed exile to serve a prison sentence for misdeeds committed while in office, has been granted parole and could be released this weekend, the country’s justice minister announced Tuesday.
Parole for Thaksin would be a symbol of reconciliation between his populist political party and the country’s conservative establishment, a rivalry that defined Thai politics for nearly 20 years and led to two military coups.
Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong told reporters ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting in Bangkok that Thaksin qualified for early release because he is in the eligible category of inmates who have serious illnesses, are disabled or are aged over 70. Thaksin is 74 years old.
Tawee did not confirm the date that Thaksin will be released, but it is widely expected he could be released as soon as this weekend.
Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, center, arrives at Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
He is currently confined to a police hospital in Bangkok where he is serving time for convictions related to corruption and abuse of power while in office, convictions he decried as politically motivated.
Opponents have charged that serving his sentence in a hospital was a special privilege, suggesting that it was part of a part of a political deal between his party and the military.
Thaksin had been in exile since 2008, but voluntarily returned to Thailand in August last year and reported to prison to begin serving an eight-year sentence. He arrived back in his homeland the same day Srettha Thavisin of the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai party secured the post of Prime Minister with the support of military-linked parties.
He was moved almost immediately to the hospital on grounds of ill health and about a week after that, King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced his sentence to a single year.
Thaksin, a telecommunications billionaire who used his fortune to build a populist political party, served as prime minister from 2001 to 2006, when he was ousted by a military coup.
He fled the country in 2008 to avoid arrest, but his allies remained a major force in Thai politics. His sister led the country from 2011 to 2014, when she left office weeks before another coup that installed a military government that held power until elections last year.
Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, center, arrives at Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023.
Srettha told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that Thaksin’s parole is in line with Corrections Department rules as he has already served his time. Srettha praised Thaksin as “one of the most popular prime ministers in the Thai political history” and someone who has long worked for the good of the country.
Srettha represents the Pheu Thai party, the latest incarnation of the party Thaksin founded as Thai Rak Thai, and which he’s still considered the de facto leader of.
Thaksin is not yet clear of all legal hurdles. Thai officials said last week they have reopened an investigation into allegations of defaming the monarchy made against Thaksin almost nine years ago. If the Office of the Attorney General decides to indict him, Thaksin could be detained again as soon as he is released.
Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who heads the Pheu Thai party, told reporters last week that she has prepared his residence in Bangkok in anticipation of his release.
Military-backed parties fared badly in last year’s general election, and Thailand’s royalist conservative establishment was believed to have favored reconciliation with Thaksin’s political machine in order to keep the more progressive Move Forward party out of power.
Moved Forward placed first in the polls but was blocked from taking power when the members of the military-appointed Senate refused to approve its candidate for prime minister.
A customer watches menu of marijuana at Highland cafe shop in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI, BANGKOK — Two years after Thailand made pot legal, the country appears set to crack down on its freewheeling drug market with a ban on “recreational” use.
The Cabinet is expected to consider a law that would ban recreational cannabis use while allowing medical as soon as Tuesday. If approved, it would go to parliament, where support for more restrictions is widespread.
Founder of Highland cafe Rattapon Sanrak prepares flower bud of marijuana for customers at his shop in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A draft version of the law that was circulated for public comment in January would make using cannabis “for entertainment or pleasure” a crime punishable by a 60,000 baht (about $1,700) fine. It would allow medical marijuana, but didn’t give details of how it would be controlled.
Thailand was the first country in Asia to legalize cannabis. Decriminalization was spearheaded by the Bhumjaithai Party, which made it a major part of its platform in the 2019 general election campaign. The party’s stronghold is in the poor Northeast, where it promised farmers cannabis would be a new cash crop.
Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul became health minister and an important member of the military-led coalition, pushing through a 2022 amendment to the Narcotics Law that dropped cannabis from the list of controlled drugs.
Anutin had promised that cannabis would be allowed only for medical use, but in practice the market was nearly unregulated.
Thailand almost two years ago spawned a highly visible retail industry when it decriminalized the sale and possession of cannabis, but now appears set to tighten controls to ban its recreational use. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The Health Ministry issued regulations that made cannabis a “controlled herb” that requires a license for planting or selling, as well as banning online sales, sales to pregnant women and people under 20, and public smoking. But cannabis can be purchased easily by practically anyone at many unlicensed establishments or online.
Thai media was quickly filled with reports of drug-fueled violence and abuse, including among young people, who were not supposed to have access to the drug.
The Health Ministry reported a spike in people seeking treatment cannabis-related psychological issues, from more than 37,000 patients in fiscal year 2022 to more than 63,000 patients in 2023. Other studies pointed to more young people using the drug.
In the 2023 election campaign, all major parties — including Bhumjaithai — promised to limit cannabis to medical use.
Kalyapat Rachitroj, a lawmaker from the opposition Move Forward Party who has a medical degree, said the plant has economic benefits, and has uses in health care to relieve pain and for terminally ill patients. But, she said, widespread recreational cannabis has created social problems such as youth drug abuse.
Given the current situation, “we have no option but to put marijuana back to be classified as narcotics once again.”
Cannabis advocates and entrepreneurs oppose a radical rollback.
Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka, a cannabis shop owner and activist in Bangkok, acknowledged problems involving cannabis use but said they are due to lax enforcement of existing regulations.
She said many officials still see cannabis as a dangerous narcotic. “Where we, on the other hand, see it as a plant. It’s an herb. It’s something that we have had traditionally for a very long time.”
Rattapon Sanrak, the founder of Thailand’s first legal cannabis shop, said it would be an overreaction to put cannabis back on the narcotics list.
Founder of Highland cafe Rattapon Sanrak prepares flower bud of marijuana for customers at his shop in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
He also said the move would be impractical or even impossible, given how big the industry has grown.
“I don’t think there’s anyone who disagrees with the control of use for underage children. No one wants to see people puffing weed on the street,” he said. “Sellers … also don’t want to see those street vendors who sell without a license.”
He called for more discussion on the best way to control the drug.
“People who don’t like it, people who are users, people who operate businesses, I think these parties have to find a common ground on how to exist together.”
BANGKOK – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thermsak Srikirian, Director of the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), announced the research direction for this year, which is for MTEC to focus on the public and prioritize solving important national problems.
“We don’t just want to do research, we want to make it accessible to users. So we are concentrating on answering the entire value chain. With the policy of the Ministry of Industry, which sees research as an investment, not research for the sake of research, but research to solve important problems for the country or problems for the private sector. So we are focusing on that direction,” said Dr. Thermsak.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thermsak Srikirian, Director of the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC)Matichon Group’s Executive Committees attended to listening to the MTEC research team discuss the future direction of driving research and activities.
What are the obstacles that prevent research from being applied in the real world?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thermsak invited us to question the things we have been pushing for, such as Doing The Project Right.
“I believe that our researchers have no problem, everyone is talented and capable. But doing the right project, choosing a project that has an impact or solves the right problem is difficult.”
Cooperation with interest groups is also important, because research and development are only the beginning.
Incubate technology: Transferring knowledge into the economy
As one of the key players, MTEC knows how important it is to build on existing technologies.
“I believe that we can achieve technology localization (the development of foreign technology for strategic industries) as China has done in the last 20 years. They imported the technology first and used it immediately. I looked at ‘bamboo’, it is an interesting plant, it grows fast and has good properties. But there is still a lack of research to support it. There should be a scout to analyze what we should put into it.”
JOEY the active bed
“The private sector is already good at research and development, but it still lacks the push for standards. The private sector cannot be the regulator. So you need a third party that is independent and unbiased.
“We will be the Account Third Party in this matter. We will start to find projects that do the right thing by analyzing the entire value chain and looking at the downstream players. In medicine alone, we have made a lot of mistakes because we have not looked at the whole process, whether there are regulations to support the project. When we do that, we do research to our heart’s content, but we end up not being able to invest.” The MTEC director clearly pointed out the obstacles.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thermsak said that the organization is well positioned. It does not want to compete with the private sector. It is there to connect and create a mechanism to transfer knowledge to the economy.
“But there is a role I call incubation technology. That’s something we are going to focus a lot on.”
He emphasized his position and welcomed all sectors to join. There is a business development unit that provides specific advice.
Looking at the country as a company: Older people must be able to live independently.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thermsak said that many companies are not big enough to do their own research and development and that managing intellectual property is a big task.
“We assume that one thing that will be very useful is the model of looking at the ‘country as a company’. We want to be like an outsourced R&D unit that supports the corporate sector, which we see as a sales and production department, and we do research for the industry that we use. We keep joint development confidential, which allows more flexibility and removes the headaches of research.”
Ross and Rachel motion-assist bodysuits
Smart Life and Well Living:
For Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thermsak, a good life is becoming increasingly important. This is because Thailand is about to enter an aging society in which people will have to live alone in the future. There is therefore a need for various aids, from wearables to medical devices and household aids. Currently, Ross has been developed for caregivers, nurses, carers or generally for people who care for elderly people at home. They need to lift and move patients.
“It is an exoskeleton that is worn as a back-supporting body suit. It’s a device like in the movies. It will help reduce the strain of walking or lifting things. I expect it to arrive.” The MTEC director is confident.
Batteries are the future: Changing the energy structure of the country
“When we do research, we have to be one step ahead of the trends. Just like the question of batteries today. Look at the sunlight that shines all day, with solar cells that capture it, but there is still no unit that stores electricity for the night. It’s like water that needs a reservoir to collect itself,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thermsak.
He emphasized that these energies are crucial and different from fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, which are produced when carbon is extracted and ultimately released into the atmosphere, presumably contributing to global warming. Therefore MTEC is trying to do something from the ground up and use it here.
“As for the TRIS ACADEMY CLUB, which describes itself as an intelligent entity that studies issues of world concern, such as the release of carbon emissions, this could become another important trade mechanism that works closely with the aluminum and steel groups in the industry association. The next important step is ‘serious reduction’, so how to help reduce carbon emissions. Another part is assessing the carbon footprint. We need to develop these parts together.”
In addition to the economic costs, we must also consider the environmental costs,” said the Director of MTEC.
Carbon neutrality across industries
Dr. Asira Fuongfuchat, Deputy Director of MTEC, explained 4 strategies to promote Thailand’s industrial potential with ‘material technology’.
The first theme is the development of the country towards a carbon-neutral status through material technology and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to zero.
“This is one of the tasks of material scientists. We have to take care of our environment and our world,” said Doctor Asira.
She added: “We are focusing on NET ZERO, we have a DATABASE to show the carbon issue, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the chemicals in products (CiP), we are also emphasizing the plastics that we want to bring into the circular economy, looking at the end of waste and considering how we can capture carbon from the atmosphere in materials,” explained Dr. Asira.”
Kenzai Rapidly permeable concrete is made from recycled materials
She also mentioned water, which is vital as our bodies are made up of over 90 percent water. Therefore, creating a circulatory system for water is another important focus.
The second theme is innovative medical and health devices that are both integrated into the body and external. Active devices help older people, but passive devices that do not require energy are also being developed. There are plant-based foods that support the future trend towards a healthier lifestyle.
The third theme is the development of material technology for the manufacturing and transportation industry.
“This pillar is comparatively massive. It is the most important pillar that will help the manufacturing and transportation industries. We are trying to focus on Industry 4.0 to move Thailand towards 4.0. Another important aspect is modern vehicles and road safety, considering people, vehicles and roads at the same time,” explained the MTEC deputy director.
Ventilation blocks made from tile waste and green building products under the Kenzai brand
The fourth theme is the development of bio-based materials into high-quality specialty products. Our country has a rich biological base, such as ‘rubber’, from a green perspective. The use of agricultural residues, the extraction of lignin from plants, the production of seat cushions for health purposes, the relief of pressure and the development of polymers such as PLA for environmentally friendly food packaging.
“We are interested in this topic because a significant portion of emissions, over 60 percent, is due to production and energy consumption and another 10 percent is due to industrial processes. As Thailand aims for carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero emissions by 2065, it is inevitable that we need to research and innovate to meet the challenges and support industry partners,” concluded Dr. Asira.
Ve-Chick, a plant-based protein from AUROMEX Food
Making research usable
For the 5 projects funded by the Competitiveness Development Committee to bring material innovation to leading markets and create a better standard of living.
“We equipped innovation for small individuals, small and medium enterprises and intermediaries, promoting sustainable growth in all sectors. We have selected 5 leading companies,” explained Rapiphan Rahong, Senior Analyst in Business Development at MTEC, before unveiling the top products worth buying.
MTEC selected projects such as the ‘Power Lift Bed’ for senior citizens. SB Design Square received technology transfers for the ‘Joey the Active Bed’ technology or the ‘Awakening Bed’, which is currently in the innovation pipeline and ready to conquer new markets such as elderly care facilities.
The ‘Safe Ambulance with MTEC Technology’, with a robust structure, lightweight, manufactured by Suprera Innovation, distributed with ‘PETE Protective Covers’ (PPC) to combat negative pressure, supported by Matichon during the COVID-19 period.
PETE Protective Covers
There is also the Ve-Chick, a plant-based protein from AUROMEX Food, under the Goodies brand, which is aimed at health-conscious consumers and uses natural ingredients, including cat litter made from cassava pulp and pineapple fiber waste. There are also snacks that promote long-term health.
On the construction side, there is fast-permeable concrete, ventilation blocks made from tile waste and green building products under the Kenzai brand.
Working with materials, preserving these valuable resources for as long as possible, is at the heart of it all. It’s not about getting rid of waste, but about finding innovations that bring what is dead back to life, which comes closer to a true circular economy.
Cat litter made from cassava pulp and pineapple fiber waste
Officials in Surat Thani province are still searching for a 24-year-old British tourist on the second day after Mr. Gowribalan Shanghaman fell from a kayak into the Ratchaprapha Reservoir.
SURAT THANI – Officials in Surat Thani province are still searching for Mr. Gowribalan Shanghaman, a 24-year-old British tourist who fell from a kayak into the Ratchaprapha Reservoir (Cheow Lan) in Khao Phang Subdistrict, Ban Ta Khun District, on the morning of February 11, 2024. They are using sonar to search the underwater area.
At this stage, officials believe he is unlikely to have survived.
Mr. Shanghaman’s foreign friends said he was not wearing a life jacket when he set off from Khao Soi Pier in a kayak. He paddled out without permission from the Khao Sok National Park rangers. A friend who kayaked with him said Mr Shanghaman fell into the water in the Klong Wang area, about 500 meters from the pier.
After searching the surface of the water all day Sunday, four divers from the Ban Chiew Lan community rescue team and rangers from Khao Sok National Park were unable to find Mr. Shanghaman.
The underwater search was hampered by the cold water temperature and murky water below the surface, making it impossible to see anything. Officials used sonar equipment from the Mangkorn Chonburi Rescue Team, which specializes in underwater search and rescue.
Officials held a meeting to discuss the search operation for the British tourist at the Missing Persons Search Center in the meeting room of Khao Sok National Park Tourist Service Center, Ban Chiew Lan Municipality Pier. The meeting was attended by Ban Ta Khun district chief, Khao Sok National Park chief, Tourist Assistance Center, Ban Ta Khun police station, tourist police, Khao Phang sub-district chief and rescue units.
At the meeting, a target was set for the search for Mr. Shanghaman, at the location with coordinates WGS 84 Zone 47P 0458220E 1003875N, about 500 meters from Khao Soi Pier. The water depth is about 42 meters. The search will be conducted during the hours of brightest sunlight to maximize visibility.
Palestinians mourn relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip at a hospital morgue in Rafah, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces rescued two hostages early Monday, storming a heavily guarded apartment in the Gaza Strip and extracting the captives under fire in a dramatic raid that was a small but symbolically significant success for Israel. Heavy airstrikes that provided cover for the operation killed at least 67 Palestinians, according to health officials in the beleaguered territory.
The plight of the hostages has profoundly shaken Israelis, and the rescue in densely populated Rafah briefly lifted the spirits of a nation still reeling from Hamas’ cross-border raid last year that started the war. Israel has described Rafah — a city on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip where 1.4 million Palestinians have fled fighting elsewhere — as the last remaining Hamas stronghold in the territory and signaled that its ground offensive may soon target the city.
In Gaza, the operation unleashed another tragedy in a war that has killed 28,340 Palestinians in the territory, displaced over 80% of the population and set off a massive humanitarian crisis.
More than 12,300 Palestinian minors — children and young teens — have been killed in the conflict, the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Monday. About 8,400 women were also among those killed. That means minors make up about 43% of the dead and women and minors together they make up 73% of the dead.
Palestinians sit by the destruction from the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)
The ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, provided the breakdown at the request of The Associated Press. Israel claims to have killed about 10,000 Hamas fighters.
In Hamas’ cross-border raid on Oct. 7, an estimated 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and militants took 250 people captive, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity after dozens were freed during a cease-fire in November. Hamas also holds the remains of roughly 30 others who were either killed on Oct. 7 or died in captivity.
The government has made freeing the over 100 remaining hostages a top aim of its war, along with destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities. But as the fighting drags on, now in its fifth month, their freedom remains elusive and rifts have emerged in Israel over the best approach to end their ordeal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted persistent military pressure will bring about the captives’ freedom — a position he repeated on Monday — even as other top officials have opposed this, saying a deal is the only way to secure their release.
A DRAMATIC RAID
Israeli military spokesman Read Adm. Daniel Hagari said special forces broke into a second-floor apartment in Rafah under fire at 1:49 a.m. Monday, accompanied a minute later by airstrikes on surrounding areas. He said the hostages were being guarded by armed Hamas militants and that members of the rescue team shielded the hostages with their bodies as a heavy battle erupted in several places at once with Hamas gunmen.
The army identified those rescued as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, abducted by Hamas militants from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on Oct. 7. Netanyahu’s office said they also hold Argentinian citizenship.
The hostages were airlifted to Sheba Medical Center in central Israel, and their condition was reported to be good. They are just the second and third hostages to be rescued safely; a female soldier was rescued in November.
Hostage Luis Har, left, is hugged by relatives after being rescued from captivity in the Gaza Strip, at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (Israeli Army via AP)
The rescue, which Hagari said was based on precise intelligence and planned for some time, is a morale booster for Israelis but a small step toward winning the release of the remaining hostages, who are believed to be spread out and hidden in tunnels, likely in poor condition.
Har’s son-in-law, Idan Begerano, who saw the released captives at the hospital, said the two men were thin and pale, but communicating well and aware of their surroundings.
Begerano said Har told him immediately upon seeing him: “You have a birthday today, mazal tov.” The men, wearing sweatsuits, held long, tearful embraces with their relatives at hospital, according to video released by Netanyahu’s office.
DOZENS KILLED IN STRIKES
The airstrikes that backed up the Israeli forces hit jam-packed Rafah in the middle of the night and dozens of explosions could be heard around 2 a.m. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Health Ministry, said at least 67 people, including women and children, were killed in the strikes.
Al-Qidra said rescuers were still searching the rubble; an Associated Press journalist counted at least 50 bodies at the Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah.
Mohamed Zoghroub, a Palestinian living in Rafah, said he saw a black jeep speeding near the Shaboura refugee camp in the town followed by clashes and heavy airstrikes.
“We found ourselves running with our children, from the airstrikes, in every direction,” he said, speaking from an area flattened by the heavy strikes overnight.
Palestinians mourn a child killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip at a hospital morgue in Rafah, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)
Footage circulating on social media from Rafah’s Kuwaiti hospital showed dead or wounded children. The footage could not immediately be verified but was consistent with AP reporting.
A young man can be seen carrying the body of an infant who he said was killed in the attacks. He said the girl, the daughter of his neighbor, was born and killed during the war.
“Let Netanyahu come and see: Is this (infant) one of your designated targets?” he said.
CONCERNS ABOUT RAFAH
Netanyahu has said sending ground troops into Rafah is essential to meeting Israel’s war goals. On Sunday, the White House said President Joe Biden had warned Netanyahu that Israel should not conduct a military operation against Hamas in Rafah without a “credible and executable” plan to protect civilians.
More than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population is now crammed into Rafah, where hundreds of thousands live in sprawling tent camps and overcrowded U.N. shelters.
Hostage Fernando Simon Marman, right, hugs a relative after being rescued from captivity in the Gaza Strip, at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (Israeli Army via AP)
Discussion of the potential for a cease-fire agreement took up much of the call, a senior U.S. administration official said, and after weeks of diplomacy, a “framework” is now “pretty much” in place for a deal that could see the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a halt to fighting.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations, acknowledged that “gaps remain,” but declined to give details. The official said military pressure on Hamas in the southern city of Khan Younis in recent weeks helped bring the group closer to accepting a deal.
Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the call. Hamas’ Al-Aqsa television station earlier quoted an unnamed Hamas official as saying any invasion of Rafah would “blow up” the talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
Biden and Netanyahu spoke after two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat said Egypt threatened to suspend its peace treaty with Israel if troops are sent into Rafah.
BANGKOK – Great Wall Motor (GWM) has been present in the Thai market for 3 years, anticipates 70% growth in EV cars, unveils a strategy for introducing 15 new models by 2025, and aims to secure its position among the top 3 xEV manufacturers by 2026.
As it enters its fourth year, the company is poised to expand its product lineup with new models.
Mr. Clyde Cheng, Chairman of Great Wall Motor, along with Mr. Wutthikorn Suriyachanthanon, Vice President of Marketing for the ASEAN Region, and Mr. Narong Sitalayon, Managing Director of Great Wall Motor (Thailand), unveiled the company’s strategic direction for 2024 at the ICONSIAM Cineconic movie theater.
GWM anticipates that the Thai car market will reach approximately 820,000 total sales, marking a 6% increase from the previous year. The xEV segment is expected to grow by about 40%, constituting 33% of the total market with approximately 270,000 units sold.
Mr. Clyde Cheng (centre), Chairman of Great Wall Motor, along with Mr. Wutthikorn Suriyachanthanon, Vice President of Marketing for the ASEAN Region, and Mr. Narong Sitalayon, Managing Director of Great Wall Motor (Thailand), unveiled the company’s strategic direction for 2024
Notably, the market for 100% electric cars is projected to expand, driven by government incentives and the introduction of new brands. Thailand is forecasted to see electric car sales of around 130,000 vehicles in 2024, representing 16% of the total market—a 70% increase from 2023.
Mr. Clyde highlighted Great Wall Motors global success in 2023, with a total of 1,230,704 vehicles sold worldwide, marking a 15.29% increase from the previous year. Of these, 316,018 units were sold in overseas markets, reflecting an 82.48% surge. Impressively, the company recorded sales of 262,000 new energy vehicles, a 98% increase, solidifying its position as the first Chinese car manufacturer to expand successfully across nine ASEAN countries.
Mr. Narong emphasized Great Wall Motor’s pivotal role in shaping Thailand’s electric vehicle landscape over the past three years. The company introduced innovative business models like New Retail Business and One Price Policy, setting new standards in the automotive industry.
Great Wall Motor also actively participated in government initiatives supporting EV 3.0 and EV 3.5, contributing to ORA Good Cat’s status as the most registered electric car in Thailand in 2022. Successfully achieving Mission 9 in 3, the company launched nine complete car models within three years.
Entering the 4th year of GWM, projections suggest that the Thai car market will witness a total estimated sales figure of 820,000 vehicles, marking a roughly 6% increase compared to the previous year. Specifically, the electric vehicle (xEV) segment is expected to experience substantial growth, constituting around 40% of the market or approximately 270,000 units.
This growth is attributed to various factors including governmental support policies for EV 3.5 and the introduction of new brands. Forecasts indicate that Thailand will see sales of electric cars reach approximately 130,000 units in 2024, comprising about 16% of the total market—a remarkable surge of almost 70% from the preceding year, 2023.
Looking ahead to 2025, Great Wall Motor plans to expand its electric vehicle lineup in Thailand by introducing 15 new models of electric vehicles or xEVs. In 2024, the company aims to launch at least three additional models of new energy vehicles in Thailand, with a specific focus on marketing 100% electric SUVs.
Mr. Narong reiterated the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality cars with advanced technology and value for Thai customers. He emphasized GWM’s role in positioning Thailand as a regional and global hub for electric car production and distribution.
Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Moments earlier, Swift smiled with her eyes looking misty from tears as she stood next to Kelce’s mother while he held aloft the Lombardi Trophy, shouting “Chiefs nation!” and bellowing a chorus of “Viva Las Vegas.”
Minutes before that, she was smothered by celebrity suite mates, who at various points included Blake Lively, Ice Spice and Lana Del Rey, when the Chiefs scored the winning touchdown in overtime, set up by a key reception by Kelce for a first down.
Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22 against the 49ers. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
It was the second straight Super Bowl win for the Chiefs, but the first since Swift became fan-in-chief. She and Kelce began dating shortly before the season started.
“Well, you know the goal has always been to get three,” Kelce screamed on stage after sharing a kiss with Swift. “But we couldn’t get here without getting that two, and having that target on our back all year. … How about that. We get a chance to do it three times in a row.”
Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, and Andy Reid have made the Kansas City Chiefs a dynasty.
They’re already thinking three-peat.
First, they had to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions in 19 years.
Mahomes made sure of it, leading another super comeback on the NFL’s biggest stage in America’s showcase capital.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Kansas City Chiefs won 25-22 against the San Francisco 49ers. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman in overtime, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 on Sunday, becoming the NFL’s ninth repeat Super Bowl champs.
The NFL’s first Super Bowl in Las Vegas was a sloppy, mistake-filled affair that was mostly boring until the back-and-forth fourth quarter and OT. It was the second of 58 Super Bowls to be tied after regulation, and the first played under new overtime rules that ensured both teams got the ball.
The Chiefs (15-6) trailed 22-19 after Jake Moody kicked a 27-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime, but Mahomes rallied the Chiefs, completing another impressive comeback in a rematch of the Super Bowl four years ago.
Mahomes ran 8 yards on fourth-and-1 to keep the Chiefs’ chances alive and then scrambled 19 yards to set up the winning score, which came 14:57 into the extra period — just before what would have been the second OT.
The Kansas City Chiefs celebrate after their victory over the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
“With all the adversity we’ve been through this season to come through tonight. … I’m proud of the guys,” said Mahomes, who earned his third Super Bowl MVP award. “This is awesome. Legendary.”
After he connected with a wide-open Hardman, the Chiefs ran on the field as red-and-yellow confetti fell onto the turf.
Mahomes and Reid are now halfway to Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, who won six championships in 20 years together with the New England Patriots and were the most recent team to go back-to-back following the 2003-04 seasons.
The 28-year-old Mahomes becomes the fourth starting QB to win three Super Bowls — joining Brady, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman — and second-youngest.
“I am going to celebrate tonight, celebrate at the parade and then work my way to get back in this game next year,” Mahomes said. “I am going to do whatever I can to be back in this game next year. Three-peat.”
The most excitement in the first half came when a frustrated Kelce bumped Reid on the sideline, knocking the Chiefs’ 65-year-old coach a few steps back after teammate Isiah Pacheco fumbled inside the red zone during the second quarter.
“You guys saw that?” Kelce said. “I’m going to keep it between us unless my ‘mic’d up’ tells the world. I was just telling him how much I loved him.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Kansas City Chiefs won 25-22 against the San Francisco 49ers. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The action picked up after a crucial blunder by San Francisco’s special teams set up Mahomes’ 16-yard TD pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 13-10 lead.
Brock Purdy and the 49ers (14-6) answered but they couldn’t make enough plays, denying Mr. Irrelevant an opportunity to go from last pick in the 2022 NFL draft to Super Bowl champion.
“We have the offense to score touchdowns and I failed to put the team in position to do that,” Purdy said.
Niners wide receiver Jauan Jennings threw a TD pass and caught one, joining Eagles quarterback Nick Foles six years ago as the only players to do both in the Super Bowl.
After Moody’s 53-yard field goal gave the Niners a 19-16 lead with 1:53 remaining, Mahomes and Kelce went to work. Mahomes connected with Kelce for a 22-yard gain to set up Harrison Butker’s tying kick, a 29-yarder with 3 seconds left.
A holding call on Kansas City’s Trent McDuffie extended San Francisco’s opening drive of overtime and Purdy made key throws to drive the 49ers to the Chiefs 9. But San Francisco settled for a field goal.
Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and the Niners jumped ahead 10-0, but that’s no big deal for Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. They’ve trailed by 10 points in all three of their victories, including last year’s 38-35 win over Philadelphia.
Mahomes wasn’t at his best early and threw an interception. But with the game on the line, he was a magician once again. He finished 34 of 46 for 333 yards and two TDs.
The Chiefs were hardly dominant during the regular season and entered the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 3 seed. They won at Buffalo and at Baltimore in the postseason — the first road playoff games of Mahomes’ career — and entered the Super Bowl as 2 1/2-point underdogs, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
“The Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs. Just know that,” Mahomes said.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) scrambles against the San Francisco 49ers during overtime in the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
They became the first team to win consecutive Super Bowls as underdogs; the Philadelphia Eagles were slight favorites a year ago.
The game turned when San Francisco’s Ray-Ray McCloud couldn’t scoop a punt that hit teammate Darrell Luter Jr.’s leg and the Chiefs recovered at the 49ers 16, leading to Mahomes’ go-ahead TD pass to Valdes-Scantling.
The Niners answered on the next possession with Purdy tossing a 10-yard TD pass to Jennings for a 16-13 lead. Moody’s extra point was blocked.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan gambled on fourth-and-3 from the Chiefs 15, passing up a chance for a tying field goal. Purdy hit George Kittle for a 4-yard gain and then found Jennings for the score.
Shanahan resorted to trickery for the only touchdown of the first half.
Jennings, a wide receiver who had never thrown a pass in an NFL game, tossed a 21-yard TD to McCaffrey. He was hit as he threw a wobbly pass across the field, but McCaffrey snagged it and sprinted to the end zone.
Shanahan fell to 0-2 as a head coach in Super Bowls and 0-3 overall, including a loss when he was offensive coordinator for Atlanta. That was the game in which Brady and the Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit to win in OT.
“When you go against guys like Tom Brady and Pat Mahomes, you never feel comfortable with a lead. Those guys are two of the best to ever play the game,” Shanahan said.
Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Kansas City Chiefs won 25-22 against the San Francisco 49ers. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
There were plenty of stars in the building as the NFL brought its biggest game to this gambling mecca — once a taboo idea. Jay-Z, LeBron James and Paul McCartney were among the celebrities in the crowd.
Post Malone sang “America the Beautiful,” Reba McEntire performed the national anthem and Usher electrified the crowd at halftime. He brought out a number of guests, including Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon and Ludacris.
Attendance was announced at 61,629 at the relatively compact Allegiant Stadium, the smallest crowd in Super Bowl history except for the pandemic game in Tampa, Florida, three years ago.
It didn’t start out well, but thanks to Mahomes, those fans ended up seeing one of the best Super Bowl finishes.
Mr. Daniel, a 24-year-old British national, expresses gratitude to the police officer who was able to apprehend the thief and immediately recover all of his belongings.
NONTHABURI – A British male tourist commended the Thai police for catching the person who stole his belongings and swiftly retrieving them.
According to Pol. Col. Ronnapat Thapthimthongchai, superintendent of Bang Yai Police Station, on February 10, Mr. Daniel, a 24-year-old British national, reported that many valuable items, totaling around 200,000 baht, were stolen from his room in a condominium in Bang Yai District, Nonthaburi Province, on the late Friday night, February 9.
On that night, his British friend went to Khao San Road in Bangkok, but he did not. His companion got to know the suspect and invited her back to the condo room for a drink. The next morning, at 9:00 a.m., Daniel discovered his assets gone, including $1,500 and £100 in cash, two Acer laptops, an iPhone XR mobile phone, two British credit cards, a Canon camera, and a lens.
A 40-year-old transgender suspect from Bangkok was admitted to all charges at Bangyai Police Station in Nonthaburi on February 11, 2024.
The investigating officers reviewed the CCTV footage and conducted an inquiry until they identified the offender. They later requested an arrest warrant from the Nonthaburi Provincial Court.
On February 11, around 8:00 p.m., police arrested Yanpat, or Khao Sunthornchot, a 40-year-old transgender woman from Bangkok, in front of Phibun Condo Ville on Soi Sa Ruam in Wong Sawang Subdistrict, Bang Sue District, Bangkok, with many pieces of evidence.
She was taken to Bang Yai Police Station in Nonthaburi Province and charged with stealing from a residence as well as unauthorised use of another person’s credit cards. She admitted to all charges.
LAMPANG – Pang Dummy (Miss Dummy), a 23-year-old popular elephant, has begun her new life at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre Lampang, in northern Thailand, after spending many years in the south.
She became famous after a photo of her sitting and admiring the sea in Phuket Province, and she also produces a talking sound. Her habit of making sounds like she is talking comes from the way she was raised by her mahout, Kanya Panthuwiset, or Brother Rae, who did not use chains or hooks but rather communication.
Miss Dummy’s fans have seen her as charming and adorable.
Pang Dummy arrived at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang on February 7 after travelling over 1,400 kilometres in 38 hours from Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province.
They bought Pang Dummy from her previous owner and hired a truck to transport her from Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, over 1,400 kilometres in 38 hours to the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre Lampang as the 125th elephant member.
Brother Rae also travelled with Pang Dummy and stayed to care for her at this location. To avoid epidemics, she must be confined for at least 14 days under procedures for adopting new elephants. The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre Lampang’s Facebook page now posts updated photos of Pang Dummy for admirers to appreciate.
On the night of February 7, “Phrakhru Aod,” or Phrakhru Sangkharak Wirawat Weerawatthano, a lecturer at Mahamakut Rajavidyalaya University Lanna Campus, Wat Chedi Luang, Chiang Mai Province, arrived at the Elephant Conservation Centre to greet the elephant. He was the leader of a group of elephant lovers who led a fundraising campaign to purchase Pang Dummy.
Phrakru Aod stated that he renamed Pang Dummy “Pang Saen Roo” in praise of her intelligence, and that she is the 16th elephant whose name begins with the word “Saen” for which he has launched a fundraising drive since 2021.
Phrakhru Aod welcomes Pang Dummy at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang on February 7, 2024.
This time, they raised 2.1 million baht, with one million coming from Ms. Kanchana Silpa-Archa, a politician who loves elephants. Ms. Kanchana also came to feed the elephant as the truck drove through Supanburi Province. Last year, she assisted in the return of the famed elephant Plai Sak Surin from Sri Lanka to Thailand.
“This conservation centre covers around 2,500 rai of forests. It is a suitable location for elephants. There’s no reason to let elephants wander. Pang Saen Roo will have a permanent home. Phrakhru Aod said, “There is a place to eat, food security, and health stability.”
Ms. Kanchana Silpa-Archa, an elephant lover, came to feed Pang Dummy as the truck drove through Supanburi Province on February 6, 2024.
However, Suratchai Inwiset, director of the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, is concerned about elephant care at this location because elephant food, particularly grass, reduces during the dry season. Normally, the institution purchases 60–70 tonnes of grass every day from local peasants and community entrepreneurs groups.
“Those who love elephants can help to care for and raise them. You can pay 500 baht per person per month and 6,000 baht per year, which is coordinated with the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre Lampang on workday,” Phrakhru Aod said, asking people to participate in the fundraising effort.
PATTAYA – Pattaya Police officials, working with the Chonburi Forensics Division police and the Pattaya Rescue Unit, examined a case in which a foreigner fell from a building and died at a condominium on Pattaya Sai 2 Road in Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.
Officials spotted the body of a Chinese man, surnamed Lai, 35, in a garden close to a 31-story condominium, with his Chinese wife and children sitting and crying nearby.
Lai’s relatives told the police that he and his family had travelled from Guangdong to Pattaya during Chinese New Year vacation. They lived on the 18th floor of the condominium.
According to eyewitnesses, Lai and his wife argued before he leaped out of a window and died.
The police sent Lai’s body to the Institute of Forensic Medicine police hospital for a complete examination, and they coordinated with the Chinese embassy to return the body to his family.
