It was a showdown in parliament that would have put the liveliest of reality TV dramas to shame. As we tuned into the first of the budget bill duel days, we witnessed the equivalent of political gladiators clashing swords over the nation’s fiscal future. Leading the charge with verbal jabs was Jurin, who came out swinging against the Pheu Thai Party. The crux of his fiery soliloquy? The party’s penchant for political puppetry and a seeming betrayal that would make Julius Caesar’s fall look like a friendly spat. He proclaimed with fervor that they busied themselves with backstabbing the Move Forward ally rather than getting the wheels of government turning. And, dear reader, the drama didn’t end there. “The administration,” Jurin lamented, with the pomp and circumstance of a seasoned thespian, “squandered precious months in a tangled web of treachery, dragging its feet before bestowing its royal nod on this…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Welcome back to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok’s vibrant core! As the festive shimmer of the New Year fades into memory, throngs of travelers flood into the heart of Chatuchak district, signaling the end of holiday revelries and the return to the familiar grind of daily work routines. The central terminal buzzes with activity as the city inhales the energy of its returning inhabitants. (Cue the camera flash — our thanks to Nutthawat Wichieanbut for the snapshot!) But while life resumes its speedy pace, an uninvited guest loiters amidst our midst. Yes, you’ve guessed it — the infamous Covid-19 stealthily scales our defenses. Our vigilant scientists, with their trusty microscopes and unwavering dedication, have observed a troubling uptick. A not-so-subtle 7% rise in hospital admissions, a sinister reminder of the virus’s persistence. Dr. Thira Woratanarat, an esteemed epidemiologist from Chulalongkorn University, reports with a hint of cautious urgency that…
Welcome to an insider’s look at the pulse of Thai politics, where the corridors of parliamentary power echo with a renewed sense of purpose. House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha has noticed a paradigm shift in the house’s ambiance. Gone are the days of incessant background buzzing from MPs – now, every syllable and sentence thrusts squarely at the heart of the nation’s legislative matters. The stage is set for a political ballet as the 2024 budget bill prepares for its first captivating act this Wednesday. With the coalition and opposition delicately balanced on a 20-hour tightrope of elocution, the three-day oratory marathon is primed to unfurl with precision and grace, climaxing as the weekend curtain falls. This fiscal screenplay stars a budget of a staggering 3.48 trillion baht, sporting a deficit spike to 693 billion baht, dwarfing its predecessor’s budget from the previous government. The fiscal year, which adventured…
Imagine this: lovebirds flocking to the district of Bang Rak, the so-called ‘District of Love’ in bustling Bangkok, choosing none other than Valentine’s Day to make their lifelong union official. Picture the scene captured in a 2022 snapshot by the Bangkok Post – a testament to the timeless tradition of love, commitment, and the quest for the perfect wedding date. But nestled within these celebrations, a silent but significant change is brewing, shaking the very foundations of nuptial norms in Thailand. The cabinet, in an astute move, has given the nod to a pivotal proposal: the suggestion to nudge the minimum age of matrimony from 17 up to 18. This isn’t just a whimsical change; it’s about aligning with international standards of what adulthood means. The drivers behind this societal shift? None other than the vigilant National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), with the indefatigable deputy government spokesperson, Rudklao Suwankiri, eloquently…
Imagine cruising along Thepharak Road in the bustling province of Samut Prakan, when suddenly an event unfolds that’s straight out of a Hollywood action flick—a wheel spirals down from the sky like a meteor in slow-motion. But this isn’t cinema; it’s the curious case of a monorail mishap that occurred one fateful Tuesday evening. It was around 6:30 PM, the golden hour when day gives way to night, that a Yellow Line monorail train decided to give its wheel a tour of the town—without the rest of the train in tow. The rubber wheel, embarking on an unexpected solo voyage, made a dramatic entrance onto the outbound lane and performed a gymnastic bounce onto a taxi’s bonnet, starring a green-yellow cab and bewildered onlookers. The taxi’s front end, now suddenly accessorized with monorail paraphernalia, was driven by the seasoned Wirat Khumsap. Age 73 and not a stranger to extraordinary events,…
Imagine, if you will, a pulsing throng of eager faces, a myriad of languages spilling out under the warm Bangkok sun, all converging upon the iconic Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Cameras clicking in symphony, the air tinged with excitement—that, my friends, was the scene at one of Thailand’s most revered sites this Tuesday. But behind the collage of selfies and sunhats, history was unfurling, as Thailand’s very own Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin dropped a tantalizing tidbit that’s set tongues wagging and travel planners buzzing: the land of smiles and the giant of Asia are about to get cozier! Wisps of exuberance could be felt emanating from the corridors of power as Mr. Srettha, in his dual hat as finance minister, announced after precise cabinet orchestration, the dawn of a perpetual vacation celebration—Thais and Chinese will soon frolic freely within each other’s borders! Picture this: zero visa fuss, 100% cultural…
Imagine the idyllic beauty of Krabi, where crystal-clear seas kiss powdery white shores, and towering limestone cliffs etch the horizon. In this slice of paradise, the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park stands as a beacon of natural allure, tempting adventurers and serenity-seekers alike. Yet, amid the usual tranquility, an alarming disruption recently shattered the calm—a scuffle between two keepers of this Eden, culminating in gunshots piercing the quietude. Yutthapong Damsrisuk, the park’s seasoned chief, was aghast to disclose that one of the park’s stewards now faced the battle of his life. Ambience turned amiss at their shared quarters within the lush embrace of Maya Bay—arguably one of the planet’s most sought-after coves. The quarrel, as heated as the midday tropical sun, saw one employee lose his grip on composure, resorting to the cold steel of a firearm. Not once, but twice, bullets found their mark, yielding an…
Step aboard the eco-friendly revolution with Thai Smile Bus (TSB) as they wave a fond farewell to their legion of 350 natural gas-fuelled vehicles (NGVs), in a bold move towards a greener, more sustainable future. As the month draws to a close, the company is on the verge of completing an impressive transition that makes green commuting not just a statement but a reality. The dynamic Kulpornpath Wongmajarapinya, TSB’s chief executive officer, proudly announced that the wheels have stopped spinning for more than 95% of their NGV buses, with a striking flotilla of 58 buses having taken their final bow just this Monday. The remaining 16 NGV champions of the road are set to join their predecessors by month’s end, each one having played its part in the company’s ambitious push towards supporting net zero emissions. And that’s just the start! In an electrifying reveal, Ms. Kulpornpath shared that TSB…
Imagine stepping into a realm where the whispers of the wild beckon, where the regal stripes of the tiger still roam with an untamed grace. This is what lies at the heart of Thailand’s conservation efforts—the majestic Huay Kha Kaeng wildlife sanctuary. Nestled within the verdant embrace of nature, this oasis has become a pivotal sanctuary for the world’s most charismatic big cat. But there’s a bigger picture unfolding that’s as thrilling as it is vital for the future of these magnificent creatures. With a vision as bold and boundless as the territories tigers once roamed, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has embarked on a pioneering initiative that promises to reinvigorate the pulse of the wild across Thailand’s western forest complex. The future is wild, indeed, with plans to establish new wildlife reserves in Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi. Picture this: a living bridge of natural wonder, an…
It seems like yesterday when the bustling streets of Thailand buzzed with anticipation around the corridors of Government House, as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin detailed the exciting rollout of a digital wallet programme that captured the nation’s collective imagination. But like a plot twist in a gripping novel, unforeseen delays have paused this financial fable—at least, that’s the scene from the last snapshot released to the public. “We’ve put in the elbow grease and rolled up our sleeves, pushing forward with a glass-half-full outlook,” shared Mr. Srettha, sporting an air of resolute optimism, even as the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme has hit a speed bump. The economic landscape, he expressed at a recent cabinet meeting, is poised for a glow-up, as Q1 forecasts have the team brimming with enthusiasm. The plot, originally set for a release date somewhere between February and March, has been nudged back in the calendar, but…