Chiang Mai’s bid to become UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in jeopardy

10 Sept 13:32 Key points summarised by AI

Chiang Mai's aspiration for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status faces jeopardy due to unresolved issues like pigeon droppings, excessive advertising billboards, and widespread graffiti.
A UNESCO international advisory team is scheduled to assess the city's compliance with listing criteria within the next six weeks, prompting urgent calls for rectification.
Local authorities are implementing short-term fixes, such as repainting vandalized equipment, and proposing mid-term solutions like designated street art spaces to combat graffiti.
A draft ordinance to regulate pigeon feeding and manage droppings is awaiting city council consideration, with a public signature campaign underway to support its passage.

Thailand’s FDI reaches Bt271bn as high-tech projects expand

Yesterday 10:54 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's foreign direct investment (FDI) surged by 26% year-on-year to Bt271 billion across 971 projects in the first nine months, with a significant portion (494 projects) driven by high-tech industries.
Growth was spearheaded by sectors like digital technology, AI, electric vehicles, and clean energy, largely concentrated in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with China, the US, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong as the top five investment sources.