Posts published in “Thailand”

In a spirited defense of marine conservation, the Federation of Thai Fisherfolk Association (FTFA) has taken a stand by filing a petition with the esteemed Senate. Their plea calls for a reconsideration of proposed changes to the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries (2015), particularly regarding allowing nighttime fishing with fine-mesh nets beyond the 12 nautical mile mark from the shoreline. This formidable move, spearheaded by the dedicated FTFA President, Piya Tetyam, underscores the gravity of their concerns. On a bustling Wednesday, a delegation of FTFA representatives made their way to present their case to the Senate Speaker, Mongkol Surasajja. With a sense of urgency and commitment, they voiced their apprehensions over the proposed legislation targeting amendments to Article 69 of the ordinance—a piece of law central to maintaining Thailand’s marine balance. The crux of FTFA’s argument is simple yet powerful: introducing these fishing methods—especially the dazzling spectacle of bright lights that…

In the heart of the sizzling tropics, the island of Phuket found itself center stage to a real-life crime caper plucked straight from the imagination of a savvy crime novelist. The sun-baked shores, swaying palms, and azure waters served as the backdrop for an unexpected and shocking tale of cunning, betrayal, and midnight heists. Intrigue had its day when a Russian national by the name of Andrei Veselov found himself in the hot seat, under intense scrutiny by the adept detectives of Provincial Police Region 8. This unit, which keeps watch over the often idyllic Phuket and its neighboring southern locales, showcased its erudite prowess in piecing together a convoluted narrative involving extortion, deception, and cryptocurrency quarrels. Leading the charge was the astute Pol Maj Gen Saranyu Chamnanrat, whose keen eye for detail played a pivotal role in unveiling the complexities of the case. The saga that unfurled was nothing…

In an exciting development on the social welfare front, the Deputy Finance Minister, Julapun Amornvivat, has announced that a fresh round of registrations for state welfare cards is on the horizon. If all goes according to plan, this new wave of registrations could kick off as early as March 31. But before the ink dries on those application forms, there’s a re-evaluation process in full swing that’s shaking up the eligibility criteria for an astounding 14.5 million hopefuls for the next phase of the program. The committee responsible is deep in discussions, tasked with a comprehensive review to ensure that the criteria are as fair and effective as possible. Meanwhile, the Fiscal Policy Office is buckling down to revise the parameters that have been in play for the past couple of years. Among the key changes on the table are considerations of land ownership and asset holdings. It’s an adjustment…

As the political winds of February 1st sweep across the nation, the Election Commission (EC) is rolling up its sleeves and bracing for a bustling turnout in the provincial administration organizations (PAO) elections. With an optimistic forecast of a 65% voter turnout, EC chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong is crossing his fingers for a slight uptick from the 62.86% seen during the last local polls in 2020. The call to action is loud and clear: let’s surpass those past numbers and make this a historic voter engagement! Rewinding back to 2020, the provinces of Phatthalung, Satun, and Chiang Mai boasted impressive turnouts of 78%, 77%, and 72%, respectively. A round of applause for those civic-minded citizenry! Meanwhile, the likes of Nonthaburi and Buri Ram lagged behind with a modest 50% turnout. But, fear not dear reader, as there’s a fresh rallying cry from the EC to galvanize even the most apathetic voter…

In the land of smiles, where spices and flavors blend seamlessly into a culinary paradise, a new concoction is brewing that veers away from the usual mouthwatering delicacies. At the heart of Thailand’s bustling pharmaceutical sector, a quiet yet determined storm is brewing—a storm designed not to sizzle tongues but to eradicate a much-feared nemesis, the bird flu. Strutting on the forefront of this initiative is the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO), headed by the indefatigable Dr. Mingkwan Suphanpong. With the zeal of a chef concocting an elixir to save the kingdom, Dr. Mingkwan and her team are gearing up to unleash an army of vaccines—200,000 doses to start—in a bid to fend off the avian adversary. Come March, these vials of immunity will begin rolling off the production line, crafted with precision from the formidable H5N2 strain. Despite the clockwork efficiency of the production schedule, the GPO isn’t cutting corners.…

It seems like the winds of change are stirring in Thailand, especially when it comes to the ever-persuasive topic of reducing those ever-climbing electricity bills! The esteemed Deputy Prime Minister, Pichai Chunhavajira, recently shed some light on this matter, and it’s enough to get an entire nation buzzing. The saga began with the charismatic former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who dropped a bombshell promise in Chiang Rai that had voters on the edge of their seats. Thaksin boldly declared that the government would soon slash energy costs, dipping them as low as 3.70 baht per unit by the end of the year. Now, that’s music to the ears of anyone trying to keep cool in the tropical heat! At the moment, households are bracing themselves for energy bills pegged at 4.15 baht per unit from January through April. However, Pichai, who also doubles as the finance minister (because why have…

When you picture the grand, awe-inspiring festival of ice and snow sculptures in Harbin, China, you might imagine an array of gleaming white masterpieces standing proudly amidst a frosty wonderland. Well, that vision doesn’t stray far from reality, particularly during the majestically celebrated 17th International Collegiate Snow Sculpture Contest. As the flurry of creativity blanketed the competition from January 4th to the 7th, the sheer brilliance of artistry was undeniably epitomized by Thai teams from Saowabha Vocational College and Saraburi Vocational College. The event, hosted by Harbin Engineering University in the heart of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, witnessed the participation of a whopping 55 teams from eight diverse corners of the globe. Countries including Thailand, China, Italy, Germany, Russia, Malaysia, Portugal, and Belarus all contributed their own cultural flair, each vying for that prestigious top spot. From Thailand, the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (Ovec) took…

Tucked away among the bustling streets and vibrant culture of Bangkok, a wave of change is set to make its debut at an event of historic importance. The Interior Ministry is rolling out the red carpet for the much-anticipated launch of the Marriage Equality Act, which will take place next Monday at none other than the distinguished halls of the United Nations (UN) Convention Centre in Bangkok. It’s a date marked in the calendar not just for Thailand, but for lovers and advocates of equality across the globe. The dawn of January 23 marks a new chapter for the nation, as Thailand readies itself to enter the annals of history as a proud pioneer in the region—championing marriage equality with the very first legislation of its kind in the country. Traisulee Taisaranakul, the passionate spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, shared the buzz surrounding the event, proudly detailing the collaborative efforts…

Exciting times are airborne at the Airport of Thailand (AoT), as the metropolis of travel gears up with cutting-edge advancements in biometric identification systems. In a leap towards even swifter service times, AoT’s director, the ever-innovative Kerati Kijmanawat, unveiled the tech-savvy expansion across Thailand’s six bustling international airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai, and Hat Yai. While these futuristic systems are already skillfully scanning faces at all these locations, there’s a catch – they don’t entirely play ball with Thai ID cards, just yet! But fret not, fellow traveler! From January 15 onwards, the tech wizards at AoT promise that their biometric marvels will embrace the super-senior citizen’s ID cards – yes, the no-expiration-date kind issued for those esteemed trudgers of time, 70 years and older. And if you’ve got a last name that seems to be writing a novel – names with more…