Welcome, dear readers, to a tale wrought with intrigue, political theater, and the undying echoes of the past reverberating into the present. It’s a story drawn from the vibrant and tumultuous tapestry of Thai politics, featuring none other than the charismatic and controversial figure, the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Picture the scene: a crowd buzzes with anticipation at Don Muang Airport on an August morning in 2023. They’ve gathered to witness a moment many thought improbable, as Thaksin returns to Thai soil after a decade and a half, only to be ushered promptly to his state-issued accommodations behind bars. The plot thickens, as we delve into the ongoing saga that has kept the nation at the edge of their seats. Imagine Thaksin, once a titan of power, confined to the clinical surroundings of the Police General Hospital. Rumors swirl and public suspicion mounts around the Department of Corrections’ tender-hearted…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Imagine cruising through the bustling streets of Bangkok, the vibrant energy of the city pulsing around you, when suddenly, out of the blue, drama unfolds—a wheel from the Yellow Line monorail makes a bid for freedom, and not in an uneventful manner. This is what happened one fine Tuesday evening when a guide wheel decided to part ways with its train, taking a little adventure of its own down Thepharak Road and fancying a tap-dance on a taxi, no less! The aftermath caught the eye of Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who, on a bright Wednesday, addressed the gathered media with a tone of accountability. According to him, a preliminary examination pointed the finger at the right side of the train as the culprit of this escapade. It seems even the bright and shiny newness of the train could not prevent what was likely a game of ball-bearing roulette gone terribly…
Twas the festive season, and all through Phuket Town, a jolly figure draped in red and white made an unexpected yet delightful appearance atop an ancient clock tower. Yes, you guessed it—Santa Claus had come to town, in the balmy, tropical paradise of Phuket, no less! A spectacle that mingled traditional Christmas cheer with the enchanting allure of Phuket Old Town, it marked not only the jubilant festivities but also the advent of the much-anticipated Discover Phuket Countdown 2024. The island was abuzz with excitement, the atmosphere as electrifying as the twinkling lights that adorned the streets. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran) Amidst this festive fervor, the ever-dynamic Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s Phuket office was cooking up plans to turn the ‘Land of Smiles’ into the ‘Island of Eternal Sunshine’, where the concept of a ‘low season’ would leap into the realm of lore. Spearheaded by the visionary office director Lertchai…
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, to witness the thrilling spectacle of the parliamentary debate! Imagine the hallowed halls buzzing with anticipation as members of the Thai House gathered to engage in a rhetorical dance over the formidable 3.48-trillion-baht juggernaut—the 2024 Budget Bill. Our astute photographers captured the scene in all its glory, as eagle-eyed politicians scrutinized the fiscal blueprint amidst the grandiose backdrop of political theater. Yet, amidst this buzz, the opposition cried foul, branding the budget a “lame duck”. The reason? Vague terminology that seemed to cloud spending objectives, leaving pundits to squint through the mists of ambiguity. They voiced concern over the sheer feasibility of injecting economic vitality with the five-month clock ticking down to the fiscal year’s finale on the 30th of September. Let’s crunch some numbers, shall we? A whopping 2.53 trillion baht, amounting to a hefty 72.8%, is earmarked for the government’s fixed annual…
Welcome to an exhilarating whisper through the corridors of power, my fellow fiscal voyagers. As the month of May dances ever closer on the calendar, the Thai government is shimmering with excitement, preparing to unveil their digital pièce de résistance: the digital wallet scheme. Yes, you heard that right – a digital wallet bursting with baht for every Thai citizen aged sweet sixteen and older. Imagine that, a financial fairy godmother for the digital age! This is not just some cyber pipe dream. Prommin Lertsuridej, the all-seeing secretary-general to the prime minister, assures us that this scheme is as legitimate as they come. With the sagacious wisdom of the Council of State, the government’s plan to secure a cool 500 billion baht to sprinkle over this techno-treasure is on track for flawlessness. The Council’s seasoned gaze is not to find fault but to finesse – like a master chef adding…
Hear ye, hear ye! Gather round as we shine a spotlight on the swashbuckling efforts of Thailand’s very own guardians in the relentless battle against the scourges of the underworld. Top brass at the National Police, Pol Lt Gen Kirisak Tantinawachai, unfurled the details of the police’s valiant ‘Quick Win’ strategy designed for the nationwide suppression of nefarious narcotics. Pristine shores of Thailand are quivering with the reverberating thwacks of law’s mighty hammer, courtesy of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), which has joined forces with authorities in the neighboring realm of Laos. Their mission? To bring to justice, the elusive Malaysian kingpin of clandestine chemistry and corner-stone of an insidious transnational drug syndicate. Like a scene plucked from an enthralling crime thriller, on a fateful day just shy of the New Year’s Eve revelries, a Malaysian suspect, none other than Ong Gim Wah, 39, was apprehended amid…
Oftentimes, the winds of change can be felt rustling through the corridors of power, bringing with them the faint whispers of political machinations and promises of reform. The air is thick with such anticipation in Thailand, where a democratic dalliance with charter amendment has been cast upon the stage, prompting the populace to ponder: Is this truly a bid to bolster governance for the greater good, or might it be a calculated tactic by the Pheu Thai-led government to anchor their authority? The initiative to overhaul the military-endorsed 2017 Constitution, a solemn vow from the ruling party’s campaign, has surged to the forefront as a matter of paramount importance for the coalition’s agenda. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, a seasoned stalwart of Pheu Thai, has been anointed to helm a panel designated by the government. Their undertaking? To craft a pathway for the populace to express their yea or nay…
Welcome to a whirlwind tour of Thailand’s labor market, adorned with facts, figures, and the startling revelations brought to light by the ever-vigilant National Statistical Office (NSO). On an average Wednesday, one might expect the predictable hustle and bustle, but the NSO dropped a narrative bombshell that could very well alter the rhythmic heartbeat of the nation’s workforce. So, grab a coffee, sit back, and let’s delve into the meaty details of joblessness, hope, and the patchwork quilt of employment in vibrant Thailand. Murmurs around the water cooler this week hint at a brewing storm in the labor sector, as our very own NSO’s deputy director, the esteemed Suwannee Wangkarn, delivered a report peppered with concern. Picture this: a staggering 150,000 freshly minted graduates waving their diplomas but with nowhere to clock in. These bright minds, once beacons of promise, now find themselves contributing to the largest slice of an…
Fasten your financial seatbelts and prepare for a launch that’s making headlines: the dynamic team-up of audit and advisory trendsetters, Mazars and FORVIS. These two titans are synchronizing their watches for a strategic merge on the first of June, 2024—ushering in the debut of Forvis Mazars, a hot new name that’s got the world of numbers buzzing! What’s cooking in the global finance kitchen? A robust revenue stew estimated at a whopping €4.7 billion (Yes, that’s billion with a ‘B’!), giving this partnership the zest it needs to shake up the top 10 power players in the network arena. In this revolutionary alliance, agility meets stability, and expansive reach goes hand-in-hand with a bespoke touch to cater to clientele crisscrossing continents. Raising the toast, Mazars Group’s Hervé Hélias beams with pride, “We’re rewriting the rulebook! With FORVIS, we’re not just expanding, we’re redefining what a global network can achieve. Think…
Welcome aboard a voyage through the choppy waters of international relations and maritime security, where Kunihiko Miyake, the esteemed president of the Foreign Policy Institute Japan and former Japanese diplomat, guides us with the finesse of a seasoned skipper. During a fascinating visit to the Japanese embassy in Thailand, Miyake met with the Bangkok Post on the fringe of an engaging discussion titled “Geopolitics of Asia: Japanese Perspective”. Here, he painted a vivid picture of Asia’s increasingly turbulent geopolitical landscape, with a particular focus on Thailand’s role amidst the brewing storm. Imagine the South China Sea as a grand chessboard where Thailand is poised as a pivotal knight; according to Miyake, its strategic geographic location is akin to a beacon of stability in an ocean of unpredictability. He asserts that Thailand’s maritime domain is a treasure trove that is not just a source of wealth but a bastion of security,…