The ebb and flow of the Mekong river in Nakhon Phanom province has always held a rhythm for the locals; a natural cycle they’ve graciously lived with for centuries. Yet, in recent times, this rhythm has been interrupted. The bounteous Mekong river is receding at a significant pace, dropping 10-20 centimetres a day. Its depth, as per Monday morning’s readings, stood at 10.70 metres, a whole 1.30 metres below the overflow point. As a hub for phlegmatic local life and a lifeline for agriculture in the region, these fluctuations hold prominence. The current undulations in the river level bring not only a sigh of relief but also a glimmer of hope for Nakhon Phanom, a serene northeastern border province of Thailand. Local authorities now see a silver lining, a faster pace for water drainage from thousands of rai of flooded rice fields. The mighty Mekong’s retreat welcomes these prospects, which…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Caught amidst an intense political climate, the streets of Bangkok vibrate with tension. Two parties, the Move Forward and Thai Sang Thai, have expressed public outrage against the current caretaker administration led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The reason? A new controversial legislation that caps income-earning ceilings for those who are eligible for elderly pensions. This regulation, which was recently signed into law by the interim Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, and propagated in the Royal Gazette, has become effective since August 12. The earlier legislation promised monthly stipends ranging between 600 and 1000 baht to every senior citizen. Payments increased proportionally with age, with the oldest demographic, 90 years and above, receiving the maximum amount. The key distinction lays in Item 6 (4) of the newest regulation: only those devoid of income, or those with income levels inadequate for sustenance, are considered viable candidates for such age-based allowances. This is…
Marking another orbit around the sun today at 78, General Prawit welcomed his well-wishers in the office room of the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation. During a breakfast meeting that spanned over approximately half an hour, General Prayut, who made recent headlines with his announcement of stepping down from politics, arrived on the premises around the break of the day. Prayut extended his personal greetings to Prawit, bearing a vibrant basket of blooms complemented by a thoughtful present. General Anupong got a bit creative and gifted Prawit a small carousel model, conveying to the inquisitive reporters that his intention was to bestow an “endless flow of happiness” upon the celebrant. The president of the Constitutional Court, Pornpetch, mentioned that his objective was simply to offer Prawit best wishes on his special day. The assembly saw General Prayut’s departure shortly, post the conclusion of the closed-door meeting. Despite the media’s…
As articulated by Paopoom Rojanasakul, Pheu Thai’s deputy secretary-general and economic committee spokesperson, a coalition government spearheaded by Pheu Thai has a solid strategy in pipeline. Their main goal is to fulfill the election commitments, being the major coalition associate. This is their highest responsibility towards their people, besides tending to the nation’s economic welfare and people’s contentment. In the bid to achieve these goals, a significant policy is under consideration—granting a handout of 10,000 baht. The money would be directly transferred into the digital wallet of the recipient. The interesting part is that this digital money can exclusively be spent at local businesses. However, the recipient needs to adhere to certain conditions—they need to be in a 4-kilometer radius of their recorded address and the cash should be used within six months. Undoubtedly, this huge handout, which might necessitate around 500 billion baht from the state treasury, has a…
The curtain of mystery surrounding the persistent series of thefts in the Sai Noi community in the Nonthaburi province close to Bangkok has lifted when the mastermind behind the deeds was finally apprehended. Relentless pursuance from the Sai Noi Police Station staff bore fruit in the form of a successful arrest warrant executed on August 10 after an exhaustive search spanning a challenging three-year period. The slippery suspect, now known as Mr. Nattawut Jirawatwanich, aged 54, deftly averted law enforcement officers by exploiting policing strategies he gleaned from YouTube videos. For the past three years, the tranquil neighbourhood residents witnessed a chain of theft incidents, each more audacious than the last, all pointing towards a singular miscreant. The mystery unraveled when earlier this month, on August 6, two high-end houses in the locale became the thief’s latest victims. Nattawut’s streak of luck ran out when the authorities nabbed him at…
Incepted just over a decade ago in the heart-filled realm of Thailand, ‘World Elephant Day’ makes a grand stride towards elevating global awareness about these grand mammals while rallying robust support around the intricate issues they grapple with. It hails the doctrine of collective exertions at its epicenter, aspiring to incite a vigorous amalgamation of governments, private sectors, societal configurations, and citizens towards the conservation endeavors for these wild beasts. “World Elephant Day is hinged on the spirit of global unity and meaningful collective action,” shared Natalie Phaholyothin, the dynamic CEO of WWF-Thailand. She believes in the power of partnership for breaking the solitary barriers that barricade the path towards addressing the challenges elephants endure in South-East Asia. Though endangered worldwide, the Asian elephants find themselves specifically targeted in the Southeast Asian regions and China, with only approximately 8,000 to 11,000 of these majestic creatures dispersed across the eight range…
In the heart of Thailand’s eastern province of Rayong, nestled within the industrial expanse of the Amata City Rayong Industrial Estate, lies the Bueang Pradit Wastewater Treatment Pond. Recently, this unassuming spot witnessed an event of shocking proportions. A security officer on patrol had the grim misfortune of discovering a lifeless body floating in its murky waters, suspected to belong to a Chinese national, as confirmed by a group of fellow expatriates. The deceased, a thirty-year-old man named Zhang Fei, was found late Wednesday night, August 10th, while the vigilant security officer was going about his routine inspection of the area. Alerted by the gruesome find, he immediately contacted Pluak Daeng Police Station, setting into motion a whirl of investigative activities that stretched into the late hours of the night. Songphon Chantaklai, the leader of the security team, delivered a detailed recount of the circumstances leading to the sinister discovery.…
The esteemed Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), in a state of pressing urgency, has issued a notification to the Secretariat of the Mekong River Commission (MRCS), earnestly asking the countries bordering the Lower Mekong River Basin and China to judiciously control their water discharge levels. The primary objective is to counteract burgeoning flood situations with effective preventative measures. This significant request stems from the office of Surasri Kidtimonton, the respected secretary-general of ONWR, and the deputy director of the crucial National Water Command Centre (NWCC). Mr. Surasri Kidtimonton drew attention yesterday to the inundating rainfalls that have been persistently battering the lower basin. These relentless showers have instigated devastating flash floods in the Bolikhamxay province, located in Laos. A potent low-pressure trough that spans southern China and extends up to northern Vietnam has been identified as the instigator of these heavy downpours. These downpours have primarily targeted the North…
Following an almost consistent rise since April 2021, the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) took a fall in July, recording a dip to 55.6 from the prior month’s figure of 56.7. The revelation of this slight downtrend was announced by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC)’s Economic and Business Forecasting Centre, an authoritative source that reveals the economic networking insights. The primary cause triggering this decline, as stated by UTCC president Thanawat Phonwichai, is the growing consumer apprehension concerning political ambiguity in assembling the government. The worry has been festering for almost a quarter since the last general elections. Furthermore, consumers are experiencing bouts of anxiety due to the escalating cost of lifestyle, with electricity bills ringing a special alarm. Pandemic-induced economic halt at the global level, coupled with international disputes, also contributed to these rising worries. Compounding the fear are the recent interest rate increases by foreign…
Unfolding in the tranquil setting of Ban Bueng, Chon Buri province, a tale of deceit and abuse touches upon the struggles borne by a woman named Thanpimon. Driven by fear and desperation, Thanpimon navigated a course of fabricating an assault by reporting a false robbery claim to the local authorities. However, an attentive police force, equipped with modern technology, began the process of dismantling this web of confusion. Counseled by dread and the expectation of her partner’s mounting anger, Thanpimon reported to the Ban Bueng police about her purse and smartphone being forcefully taken by a pair of thieves on a motorcycle. Standing at the epicenter of her tumultuous life, Thanpimon painted the horrid incident that occurred at an alley on Nong Chak 2/5 street just after the clock passed 5.42pm. Sporting a deep green hue, her handbag was carrying an amount of 300 baht and a mobile phone priced…