In an economy that’s sailing through stormy waters, the Thai government has whipped out its compass and is navigating towards a beacon of hope for its citizens. Anchored at the heart of this journey is the digital wallet handout scheme, a bold initiative that’s causing quite the buzz in the corridors of power and the streets alike. With the indomitable Lawaron Saengsanit steering the ship as the Finance Ministry’s permanent secretary, we’re on a quest to uncover the treasure chest that will fund this adventurous voyage. As the plot thickens, a recent gathering of the digital wallet policy committee, with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at the helm, has set the scene. The mandate? To chart the waters and identify the X marks the spot for the scheme’s funding. Amid the flurry of parchment and quills, three potential islands of gold have been marked on the map: a robust borrowing bill,…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In a tale that’s more twisting and convoluted than the streets of Bangkok, Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, a name synonymous not just with forensic science but now with a bomb detector drama that gripped a nation, finds herself in the eye of a judicial storm. Picture this: a high-stakes courtroom drama, where the line between the quest for justice and the specter of corruption blurs, all playing out in the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. At the heart of the controversy? The infamous GT200 devices – gadgets that promised to sniff out danger but instead smelt more of scandal. Why, you ask, were all eyes on Khunying Porntip, the erstwhile director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS), and her merry band of nine accused souls? Well, between the years 2007 and 2009, there was quite the shopping spree for these now-discredited bomb detectors. But when skepticism…
Imagine whisking through airport immigration with the speed of The Flash, bypassing the snaking queues, and diving straight into the heart of your vacation without the dreaded wait. It sounds like a dream, right? Well, it seems that a certain car rental company, Richcarsbangkok, tried to sell this very dream as a premium service. The tag? A seemingly reasonable 2,900 baht per flight at the bustling hubs of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. The plot twist? The Immigration Bureau has stepped in, waving a big, red flag of caution against these enticing offers. At the heart of this intriguing tale is Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimphadee, the dashing commander of Immigration Division 2, who took the matter into his own hands. It all started when the folks at Richcarsbangkok decided to jazz up their website with ads that promised “Fast track arrival-departure 2,900 baht/flight”. The slogan might as well have…
In what sounds like the plot of a thrilling crime drama, the quiet streets of Nonthaburi were rocked by a shocking discovery that unfolded late on a Tuesday night. The central characters of this real-life drama? None other than a deputy school director and his accomplice, believed to be moonlighting as drug dealers catering to a clientele comprising mostly of civil servants. Amidst the serenity of suburban life and the sanctity of education, Sretthayos “Jae Keng” Khumnark, the 42-year-old deputy director of a renowned school in Pak Kret, and Kritchaphat “Top” Udomanuphapsuk, a 37-year-old from the bustling city of Bangkok, found themselves in handcuffs and at the centre of a major police operation. The duo was nabbed in a condominium that seemed to be far from your typical abode; nestled on Rattanathibet Road, this condo secretly played host to illicit drug transactions. Leading the operation was Pol Maj Gen Theeradet…
In the heart of Bangkok’s bustling district of Ratchathewi, an event unfolded on Tuesday that seemed more akin to a climatic scene from a high-octane thriller than everyday life. The local constabulary, in a move that rippled through the community, descended upon an unsuspecting hi-lo gambling den, arresting a whopping 40 gamblers in a raid that would put any Hollywood heist movie to shame. The location, tucked away in Uruphong Soi 19 on the pulsating Rama VI Road, had, until this moment, been the secret haunt of many a gambler. Masterminding the operation was none other than Pol Maj Gen Atthaporn Wongsiripreeda, the commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1. With a flick of his wrist, Wongsiripreeda orchestrated a scenario that would not only rock the local gambling scene but also send a clear message to illicit operations everywhere. The raid yielded not just culprits caught red-handed but also their tools…
It was a historic Wednesday in the hallowed halls of the parliamentary debate, where the air buzzed with anticipation and the weight of impending change. A landslide of 399 lawmakers cast their votes in favor of the equal marriage bill, while a mere 10 stood in opposition, 2 maintained their silence, and 3 hovered in the realm of abstentions. The scene was not just a vote; it was a vivid tapestry of democracy in action, painting a future where love knows no bounds. Enter Danuporn Punnakan, not merely a member of the committee vetting the bill but a beacon of progress in a sea of tradition. Danuporn, with the poise of a statesman, reminded all that this legislative leap forward was for every Thai citizen, echoing the principles enshrined in Section 4 of the current Constitution: “the dignity, rights, and freedom of people must be equally protected.” This wasn’t just…
In a twist that feels like it’s straight out of an epic saga, Jakrapop took to Facebook on a seemingly ordinary Wednesday to make an announcement that sent ripples across Thailand. With the simple words, “At 7.35am on March 28 [Thursday], I will return to serve Thailand,” he set the stage for a dramatic comeback. This wasn’t just any ordinary claim – it was a declaration by a man who once held the reins of power, only to be accused, resign, and flee into self-imposed exile. Let’s rewind a bit, shall we? Picture Thailand back in 2008 – a country steeped in rich cultural heritage yet bubbling with political tensions. Jakrapop found himself right in the eye of the storm as a minister under the regime of then-PM Samak Sundaravej. However, his tenure was cut short in May 2008 after allegations of slander against the monarchy, stemming from a speech…
In the heart of Southeast Asia, under the sweltering sun and amidst the whispers of ancient forests, something extraordinary unfolded this past week. The picturesque, yet tumultuous Karen State of Myanmar became the backdrop for an act of cross-border kindness that felt like a scene from a high-stakes adventure novel. It was an early Wednesday morning when the rumble of trucks began to fill the air, a sound akin to rain after a long drought, bringing with it a promise of relief and hope. These weren’t ordinary trucks; they were vehicles of change, carrying an astonishing total of 4,000 sets of basic necessities. Their destination? Three villages in the Karen State, where displaced individuals awaited, their eyes filled with the cautious optimism that accompanies the arrival of unexpected allies. The orchestrators of this mission? A coalition of compassion, comprised of the Myanmar Red Cross Society representatives and tenacious Karen leaders.…
In an astounding twist of financial strategizing, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s government is on the verge of revolutionizing support for millions of its citizens. Drawing upon a blend of fiscal ingenuity and responsive governance, the plan set to unfold will see a whopping 10,000 baht land in the digital wallets of some 50 million eligible individuals in the closing chapter of this year. The meticulous weave of anticipation had initially been knotted around the tale of a proposed bill. This bill, ambitious at its core, aimed to secure a staggering off-budget loan amounting to 500 billion baht, destined to fund this monumental handout as soon as next month. Yet, it seems the plot took an unexpected turn. Raising their voices in a chorus of caution, eminent bodies such as the Office of the Council of State and the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission cast a shadow of doubt. Their…
In Thailand’s lively political arena, where intrigue and drama unfold with the speed of a soap opera, two major parties found themselves at the edge of their seats, entangled in legal battles that could spell their doom. At the heart of this political saga is EC Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong, a man tasked with navigating the stormy seas of the Political Parties Act with the discernment of a seasoned captain. On a day that felt charged with the anticipation of impending news, Ittiporn made it clear that the cases against the Bhumjaithai and Move Forward parties were as different as night and day, rooted in separate provisions of the Political Parties Act. It was like comparing apples to oranges, he suggested. The scrutiny faced by Bhumjaithai was drawn from the depths of Article 93, whereas Move Forward’s drama unfolded under the shadow of Article 92. The plot thickened dramatically when the…