In a bid to tackle the persistent haze shrouding Bangkok’s skyline, the charismatic city governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, has rolled out an audacious no-burn campaign aimed at curbing air pollution from fine particulate matter, particularly the notorious PM2.5. This bold initiative made its grand debut yesterday in the heart of the verdant Nong Chok district. It marks a significant step forward in managing Bangkok’s sprawling 80,000 rai of rice paddies and the collective efforts of 4,000 farming households spread across ten districts, including well-known areas like Nong Chok, Khlong Sam Wa, and Lat Krabang. Reflecting on the progress made over the last three years, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) proudly touted a series of effective measures designed to quell the rampant practice of rice field burning. Their efforts have borne tangible fruit, dramatically reducing the seared fields from a staggering 5,625 rai in 2022, to a more modest 1,582 rai in…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In the bustling city of Bangkok, a pivotal seminar unfolded at the Best Western Hotel, orchestrated by a consortium of esteemed institutions, including the Media for Health Foundation and the Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS) at Prince of Songkla University’s Faculty of Medicine. With support from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), the gathering aimed to dissect the intricacies of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Bill, a topic poised to teeter the scales between economic prosperity and community welfare. Helming the opening ceremony, ThaiHealth board member, Wichet Pichairat, addressed the necessity of modernizing the bill, originally enacted back in 2008. His call was clear: to harmonize the bill with international developments while skillfully juggling the intricate juxtaposition of economic interests and social wellbeing. A novel addition to the updated version of the bill is the entrance of the Children and Youth Council of Thailand onto provincial alcohol policy committees. This move…
In a recent turn of events, Anutin Charnvirakul, the outspoken leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, has raised eyebrows with his candid commentary on former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s rallying cries for voter support exclusively for the Pheu Thai Party. Anutin, who currently juggles the roles of interior minister and deputy premier within the Pheu Thai-led government, pointed out that living abroad for 17 years might render Thaksin somewhat out of sync with the evolving dynamics of Thai politics where coalition governments are now the norm. The political arena in Thailand, as Anutin emphasized, has transformed dramatically from the days when a single-party government, helmed by strong figures like Thaksin, wielded significant control. Today, the landscape is a complex tapestry of coalition parties, each vying to deliver impactful policies. Yet, with a shrug of possibility, Anutin raised the specter of a return to a singular power structure, should a party exhibit…
In a compelling drama unfolding within Thailand’s legislative circles, a controversial amendment to the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries is poised to reshape the country’s fishing landscape, sparking heated debates among environmental advocates, lawmakers, and industry insiders. The proposed changes, currently debated in the Senate, echo a precarious past when Thailand faced potential sanctions from the European Union (EU) for unsustainable fishing practices. The original 2015 Royal Ordinance was introduced under the governance of Prayut Chan-o-cha to curb destructive fishing practices and combat human trafficking. The ordinance drastically reduced the number of trawlers, promoted seafaring workers’ welfare, and banned fishing nets with mesh sizes under 2.5 centimeters. This decisive action led the EU to lift its “yellow card” warning against Thailand in 2019, praising the nation’s progress against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU). Fast forward to today, and the Thai Sea Watch Association’s chairman, Wichoksak Ronnarongpairee, voices adamant opposition to…
In a moment that brought sighs of relief and tears of joy across Thailand, five Thai hostages, held for an astonishing 15 months in Gaza, finally tasted freedom. Pannabha Chandraramya, the distinguished Thai Ambassador to Israel, stood alongside these resilient individuals, their poignant reunion immortalized in a photograph distributed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The joyful occasion was bittersweet, shadowed by the unresolved plight of the last lingering Thai hostage, Nattapong Pinta, originally from Phrae province. While the good news of the five releases was celebrated, a cloud of uncertainty still hangs over Nattapong’s fate. Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa reassured the nation, expressing the unwavering dedication of the government in their tireless efforts to bring Nattapong back home. Minister Sangiampongsa shared that Israel’s foreign minister had reached out with congratulations on the successful resolution for the five hostages. Discussions also included strategies not only to secure Nattapong’s safe…
In the picturesque borderlands where Thailand’s Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai province elegantly mingles with Myanmar’s Tachilek, power lines stand as silent witnesses to the energy exchange between two historically linked regions. These lines, extending gracefully from the Thai side under the auspices of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), have recently found themselves at the center of an electrifying debate that buzzes with urgent diplomatic and legal undertones. The tale turns intense as Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, representing a government growing increasingly weary of cross-border criminal activity, makes a bold move. He seeks clarity on the possibility of flicking the power switch off in Myanmar’s notorious scam-ridden zones, an initiative that has entrenched itself firmly in the public discussion. These zones are infamous hubs of call-center scams that ripple into Thai territory like an illicit broadcast, causing the minister to reach out to Thailand’s esteemed National Security Council (NSC)…
The notorious “Oreo” gang, an infamous online gaming community, has once again found itself in the spotlight, capturing attention for all the wrong reasons. A string of violent episodes has surfaced, prompting the specialist cyber police to take action. This Friday saw the arrest of another key figure in this gang, Adipat Kamlangkua, aged 23. This detention came hot on the heels of the release of a disturbing video on an account bearing the whimsical name “Reez Oreo,” where Adipat was identified as one of the culprits. According to the astute findings of Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiewpan, the commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), this footage depicted egregious acts of torture and degradation. The captured video, recorded on the chilly day of December 3rd, showcased a shocking scene—a victim was brutally forced to eat grass, strip off his clothes, and subjected to the indignity of being sprayed…
The prestigious Chulalongkorn Business School’s Master in Branding and Marketing (MBM) Program, in a grand alliance with the Stock Exchange of Thailand and Manager Online, hosted the prestigious ASEAN and Thailand’s Top Corporate Brands 2024 awards ceremony on 30 January 2025. This captivating festivity, held at the historic Chulalongkorn University Auditorium, was honored by the dignified presence of Prof. Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, the esteemed Chairman of Chulalongkorn University Council. As the event graciously tiptoed into its fabulous 15th year, it not only commemorated the pioneering research in corporate brand valuation but also showered accolades upon outstanding corporate brands from Thailand and across the ASEAN region. Truly, this was a celebration of branding excellence, one that shimmered with insight, achievement, and camaraderie amid an ever-evolving global market. A New Dawn in Corporate Branding The ever-inventive Corporate Brand Success Valuation (CBS Valuation) method, the brainchild of the illustrious Prof. Emeritus Dr. Guntalee…
Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand) Co., Ltd., the revered powerhouse of comforting and refreshing sips, is ushering in a new era as it proudly names Mr. Tanuj Chadha as its Chief Executive Officer, starting February 1, 2025. With a career that reads like an adrenaline-fueled roller coaster of achievements, Mr. Chadha brings forth a wealth of expertise in the realms of sales, marketing, and commercial leadership. His impressive journey began back in 2004 when he donned the role of a Territory Development Manager at PepsiCo India. Through the years, he has aced pivotal leadership roles such as Unit Manager at PepsiCo and Division Head at Marico Limited, all the while solidifying his reputation as a formidable leader. When Mr. Chadha joined the dynamic realm of Suntory PepsiCo Thailand in 2019 as their Sales Director, it was akin to adding a splash of invigorating zest to the company’s vision. He became the…
It was an otherwise unremarkable Friday evening in Det Udom district, a quaint nook of Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province, when drama unfurled its fiery tendrils across the state-run Detudom Hospital. As the sinking sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, a menacing plume of black smoke began to rise ominously from the hospital’s third floor, cutting a stark figure against the twilight. Pandemonium cascaded through the halls of the 437-bed hospital as the staff, a medley of white-clad angels, sprang into action. With neither time to spare nor room for error, they expertly evacuated patients, herding them away from what was rapidly becoming a potential disaster. Sirens wailed in the evening air—an ominous soundtrack to the unfolding chaos—as fire trucks screeched to a halt at the hospital’s gates, disgorging a battalion of brave firefighters clad in helmets and brimstone-defying gear. The battle against smoke and flame was…