Posts published in “Thailand”

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…

In a whirlwind of scandal and intrigue, the high-profile iCon Group fraud case has taken yet another dramatic turn. A curious and somewhat star-studded spectacle unfolded as prosecutors swung the gavel of justice, indicting a total of 17 suspects, including the company’s charismatic CEO and founder, Waranthaphon “Boss Paul” Wratyaworrakul. Now, sit back, grab some popcorn, and allow me to regale you with the tale that has captured headlines and whispers in corridors. It began with a concoction of business strategies gone awry and promises that now seem as ephemeral as smoke. Accusations that these individuals cleverly masqueraded a magic show of public fraud, fraudulent borrowing, and shady direct sales practices hung heavy in the air. Enter Yuranunt Pamornmontri, affectionately known as “Boss Sam,” and the dazzling actress Pechaya Wattanamontree, whose roles in this real-life saga took an unexpected twist. Charges against the duo were dramatically dropped, leaving court-goers with…

In a fascinating turn of events, the gripping saga of Ekalak Paenoi, a Thai national, who allegedly assassinated an ex-Cambodian opposition MP in Bangkok, unfurled across the borders of Thailand and Cambodia. Arrested on a laid-back Wednesday afternoon, Ekalak’s surprisingly predictable escape halted abruptly in Battambang, Cambodia—a locale that seldom adds hitman captures to its tourist brochures. The capture was a remarkably choreographed opera featuring Cambodian police, and their counterparts from Bangkok’s elite Metropolitan Police unit, catching the slippery suspect in a local restaurant at teatime. The drama unfolded as smoothly as a made-for-TV thriller, with Ekalak being whisked away to the Battambang Provincial command center before taking a scenic route to Phnom Penh for a more intensive questioning session. The unfolding cinematic narrative revealed a storyline where Mr. Ekalak, also dramatically nicknamed “Sergeant Em,” carried the weight of a mysterious past. Once a proud member of the Royal Thai…

The world of politics, much like an electrifying rollercoaster, is loaded with its thrilling ups, downs, and twists of suspense. Take the buzz around Thailand’s current drive to manage household electricity prices. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, wielding her political prowess with enthusiasm, has dangled the charming prospect of dialing down electricity costs. It seems her father, the illustrious former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, can’t shy away from the spotlight either, crafting ambitious visions with the acumen of a seasoned wizard. Imagine this: a conversation over coffee where Thaksin casually mentions that the price of electricity could plummet to 3.70 baht per unit this year, slicing over 11% off the current 4.15 baht. Ms. Paetongtarn, echoing her father’s sentiment, assured that bringing the costs down is perched prettily atop the government’s priority list amidst soaring living expenses. “It’s time we let collaboration light the way for national prosperity,” declares Paetongtarn, her…

On a typical Wednesday morning in Thailand, as the hustle and bustle of daily life unfolds, parents line up in vehicles outside schools in Muang district, Samut Prakan. However, today, a thick, oppressive smog is the uninvited guest in the air, casting a dreary veil over the bustling scene. Only a fortunate few provinces out of the 77 in Thailand are graced with air that’s even remotely fit to breathe. The nation’s capital, along with a majority of other provinces, finds itself enveloped in a hazardous shroud of ultrafine dust particles. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) has shed light on this worrying phenomenon, reporting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday that about 39 provinces are suffering from “red” levels of PM2.5 pollutants. These particulate matters, a mere 2.5 micrometers and below in diameter, pose significant health risks. As if painting a somber picture, the PM2.5 levels oscillate between…