The winds of change are blowing through PTT Plc as they brace themselves to navigate the choppy waters of US tariffs and a slump in global oil prices. With the deft hands of strategic foresight, this titan of Thailand’s energy sector is steering its ship to calmer seas by adopting a triad of initiatives designed to slash costs and supercharge efficiency. These pivots aim not just at weathering the storm but emerging from it leaner, quicker, and profit-driven. At the helm of this transformation is Kongkrapan Intarajang, PTT’s president and CEO, whose vision pivots around three keystone strategies: Axis, D1, and Mission X. Under the Axis plan, their sails are set to maintain ample cash reserves by trimming an impressive 11 billion baht from subsidiary expenditures annually from 2025 to 2029. It’s a bold move, one that’s buoyed by the winds of digital transformation set to usher long-term savings. Then…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Stirring a vivid image of courtroom drama, rice fields, and tense legal debates, we delve into the surreal journey of former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Picture the scene: Bangkok, a bustling metropolitan hub blending modernity with tradition, as Yingluck’s tale unfolds across its societal backdrop—both controversial and captivating, an enduring saga of a once-ruling power dealing with the echoes of political and economic decisions. Flashback to November 18, 2016: Yingluck Shinawatra, the former prime minister, gracefully makes her way through a crowd of supporters outside a Bangkok courthouse. She is a figure of poise amidst turmoil, contesting allegations related to her administration’s infamous rice-pledging scheme. The canvas of her story, splashed with vibrant hues of ambition and peril, continues to intrigue global audiences. Fast forward, and the Supreme Administrative Court has decisively ruled for Yingluck to cough up a staggering 10 billion baht in compensation. This comes as a…
In the turquoise embrace of Phuket’s stunning Nui Beach, the waters have whispered yet another tragic tale, a chilling reminder of the island’s shadowy side. Yesterday afternoon, beachgoers were interrupted from their sun-drenched reverie by a grim discovery—a tattooed foreign man’s lifeless body, bobbing quietly on the gentle waves, drawing a somber crowd as lifeguards mobilized with urgency and purpose. Wielding a speedboat, they brought the unnamed man ashore, clothed in nothing but black underwear, inked in stories forever silenced. The eerie tranquility of the scene was soon enveloped by the flutter of police activity. Karon Police, joined by a forensic team from Vachira Phuket Hospital, conducted their initial examination on site. Devoid of identification or personal belongings, the man’s only legacy was etched in ink: tattoos that stretched across his right arm and leg. The absence of visible injuries or signs of struggle further mystified the somber cadre of…
In a thrilling twist of events that reads more like the plot of a gripping crime novel than a real-life legal proceeding, two Chinese nationals found themselves at the heart of a money laundering embroilment at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. If you’ve ever thought real life lacked the intrigue and drama of those high-stakes thrillers, think again. The saga unravel, starring a hotel purchase worth a jaw-dropping 5 billion baht in Bangkok as its central storyline. Picture this: Yin Qian Ying, a Chinese national currently cooling his heels at Bangkok Remand Prison, authorizes, of all people, a former police officer, Kittinan Aksornsom, to lodge a complaint against another Chinese compatriot, Zhao Chuanbo, 41. Now, Yin Qian Ying isn’t your run-of-the-mill detainee; he’s pointing fingers and claiming grand embezzlement! Allegedly, Chuanbo didn’t just pocket a few coins but instead pulled some cunning tricks to siphon off Qian Ying’s assets. And if Qian…
In the world of luxury, a new jewel is glittering on Thailand’s map—Phuket’s very own “Little Moscow.” The northern charm of the island, specifically Nai Thon Beach, is capturing the hearts and wallets of discerning foreign buyers, particularly those hailing from the cold expanses of Russia. This picturesque coastal nook, snuggled within the lush embrace of Sirinat National Park and just a stone’s throw from Phuket International Airport, has become the epicenter of a real estate metamorphosis under the orchestration of the Manothama Raksa group, masked by the Sea Heaven Phuket brand. Leading this charge for change is none other than Wiravit Manotamraksa, the Vice President of B-Start Heaven Co. Ltd., and the cerebral offspring of Bangkok’s property magnate, Songsak Manotamraksa. Over a decade ago, armed with foresight and strategic acumen, Wiravit began staking claims in Nai Thon’s lands. Back then, they were humble and affordable—now, they are the gold…
In the stillness of the early morning hours on May 22, the quiet Bang Lamung district in Chon Buri province turned into a scene befitting a dramatic screenplay. Was the stage set for a thrilling movie? Not quite. This was the backdrop against which law enforcement officers carried out a well-prepared raid, targeting a pool villa that had become the venue for a lively birthday bash. What followed was an unexpected unraveling of events that left 55 party attendees startled and in handcuffs. The clock had just ticked past 3:06 AM when the police swooped in on the scene, responding to tip-offs from concerned neighbors. Outside the villa, a cavalcade of cars and motorcycles bore testament to the number of revellers inside. As officers entered the villa, the atmosphere was palpable—a cacophony of blaring music, youth, and illicit escapades. Inside the villa, a sizable gathering of young faces quickly descended…
In a tale that seems ripped from the annals of gripping dramas, Thailand finds itself amidst a swirling vortex of scandal and intrigue, this time centered around allegations of enormous financial misconduct entwined with the Buddhist sanctuaries. As the sun rises over the revered lands adorned with golden spires, a shadow hovers over what is supposed to be places of tranquility and spiritual solace. At the heart of this tempest is the esteemed Supreme Patriarch’s radical decree for financial transparency across all Buddhist temples scattered from Chiang Mai to Songkhla. His holy directive came as the police unearthed a staggering river of funds — billions of baht — flowing through the accounts of a certain woman linked to a once-revered figure, the former abbot of a prominent temple in Nakhon Pathom. Booncherd Kittitrangkul, the astute deputy director-general of the National Office of Buddhism (NOB), revealed this unsavory narrative on a…
In the vibrant heart of Kalasin province, where tradition and festivity collide, the annual rocket festival was alight with anticipation. Villagers had gathered under the vast expanse of the northeastern Thai sky, ready to launch their handcrafted rockets to beckon the rains and outshine their neighbors in the age-old airborne competition. This year, the stakes seemed sky-high, but a dramatic turn of events would etch this particular occasion into memory. On May 21, as the late afternoon sun cast warm hues over the festival grounds, a moment of celebration turned to one of chaos when one skyrocket, ambitious in both size and spirit, exploded into a dazzling display of unintended fireworks. Fireballs soared and scattered, turning the once serene atmosphere into a flurry of running and ducking as festival-goers scurried for safety. A viral TikTok video by user @pentor227 perfectly encapsulated the pandemonium, highlighting a crucial misstep – some members…
In a legal whirlwind unfolding faster than a Bangkok rush hour, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been ordered by the Supreme Administrative Court to cough up a hefty 10 billion baht. The ruling ties back to the notorious rice-pledging scheme, a little over a decade in the making, where grand ambitions collided with financial reality, leaving the government pocketing a mammoth deficit. The courtroom drama in the heart of Bangkok echoed with the Ministry of Finance’s arguments, which were a reverberation of discontent and fiscal concern. Initially, they had thrown a sum of 35.7 billion baht into the ring, demanding this colossal compensation. But to everyone’s surprise, the court granted a reprieve by slashing the amount to a ‘lighter’ 10 billion baht — still a sum that could make anyone’s wallet frown. At the heart of this financial saga was a scheme meant to be a knight in shining…
In a spellbinding twist that whisks viewers into the whimsical yet poignant realms of the supernatural, Thai cinema has landed a memorable entry titled A Useful Ghost. This genre-defying masterpiece, steered by the creative vision of director Ratchapoon Boonbunchachoke, has soared to cinematic acclaim, snagging the Grand Prix at Critics’ Week – a coveted segment of the illustrious Cannes Film Festival. Along the cobbled path of accolades, the film carries with it a distinctive Thai charm in the form of a spectral showdown featuring a vacuum cleaner, a grief-burdened husband, and a ghostly wife. The film stars the enigmatic Davika “Mai” Hoorne, who takes on an ethereal role as a wife back from the grave. But here’s the kicker: she’s returned to this mortal coil through the nozzles and brushes of a vacuum cleaner. What initially might sound like a comedic gag unleashes an exploration of emotional profundity. Holding up…