The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has cast a spotlight on a high-profile scandal involving a former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Culture and more than 20 other individuals. They’ve been indicted for allegedly helping a firm secure a 485-million-baht contract to provide ceremonial materials for royally sponsored funerals back in 2020. This dramatic turn of events was unveiled yesterday, according to a source, shattering the cloak of secrecy surrounding the issue. The main character in this unfolding drama is none other than Kitsayapong Siri, the former permanent secretary of the Culture Ministry. Alongside him, a cast of over 20 other individuals, including top-ranking officials, members from both the Terms of Reference Committee and Procurement Committee, and personnel from private companies, have found themselves ensnared in the legal net. The plot thickens as we delve into the origins of the case, which saw the light of day after Isara News…
Posts published in “Thailand”
The serene tranquility of the Northern and Northeastern provinces is about to be challenged by Mother Nature herself. Starting Monday, these twelve provinces need to tighten their belts and brace for deluges as Typhoon Yagi slams into Vietnam today. According to the National Hydroinformatics Data Center (NHC), the typhoon is on its way to being downgraded to a low-pressure area as it snakes its way inland over the upper reaches of Laos. From today, expect torrents of rain to drench the scenic northern provinces of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Tak, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Phayao, and Nan. Not to be left out, the northeastern provinces of Loei, Nong Khai, Bung Kan, and Nakhon Phanom are also on the list to get soaked. The Meteorological Department didn’t hold back either, urging the eastern region and the western edges of the South to prepare for intense rainfall and potential flash flooding,…
The Upper House is gearing up to conduct all three readings of the 3.75-trillion-baht budget bill for the 2025 fiscal year this Monday, with the bill’s approval potentially on the horizon the very same day, reveals Deputy Senate Speaker Gen Kriangkrai Srirak. Thanks to a meticulously planned expedition, the Senate had earlier set up a special committee, allowing for simultaneous deliberation while the bill was under scrutiny in the Lower House from Tuesday to Thursday this week. This dual-track deliberation, lauded by Gen Kriangkrai, significantly boosts the chances that the Senate’s planned one-day examination of the bill will proceed smoothly and finish without a hitch. Late on Thursday, the House of Representatives gave the green light to the budget bill, empowering newly appointed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to amplify state spending and kickstart an economic recovery that’s still in its early stages. The budget bill outlines a 4.2% uptick in…
Officials have released an announcement mandating the closure of the Myinttar Yeink Bang Kung Learning Centre in Surat Thani province. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan) The Education Ministry has stepped up its efforts, instructing local authorities to investigate the presence of potentially illegal Burmese language learning centres across their provinces. This initiative follows the discovery of six such centres in Surat Thani, all of which have now been ordered to close. The impetus for this action was a viral clip showing students at the Myinttar Yeink Bang Kung Learning Centre singing both the Thai and Myanmar national anthems during a school assembly. This specific learning centre was found illegally operating on the grounds of the former Bang Kung Technological College in tambon Bang Kung, located in Surat Thani’s Muang district. Once the complaint reached the Education Ministry’s ears, Education Minister Pol Gen Permpoon Chidchob and the ministry’s permanent secretary, Suthep Kaengsanthia, were…
The northern province of Nan, a hidden gem nestled in Thailand, houses one of the country’s most vital watershed forests. This lush expanse has long been the cradle of several major waterways, including the life-giving Chao Phraya River. Declared a first-grade national forest back in the 1960s, this area once stood as an unyielding testament to nature’s grandeur. However, fast forward half a century, and you’ll find that about 28% of this invaluable forestland has succumbed to the plows and hoes of agricultural activities. Banthoon Lamsam, a revered figure in Nan, calls this predicament an “intractable malady.” As the Chairman Emeritus of Kasikorn Bank, his voice carries weight, and he doesn’t mince words when he says that Nan’s forests and its people are crying out for urgent aid. Mr. Banthoon recently made a heartfelt plea during a keynote address at the charity gala, “Together for Nan and Beyond.” This event,…
Senator Keskamol Pleansamai has sparked quite the controversy by proposing a new agency to regulate social media content, complete with the authority to take legal action against those responsible for harmful or illegal posts. In a fiery address to the Senate this past Thursday, Dr. Keskamol lamented the lack of a specific agency able to effectively oversee social media. The current divisions of responsibility between the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry seem to fall short. The NBTC has its hands full regulating broadcasting media and telecommunications, but it has no jurisdiction over social media. Meanwhile, the DES Ministry oversees online media yet lacks the clout to regulate the actual content appearing on these platforms. This oversight vacuum results in unchecked harmful content that could pose serious risks to national security, according to the senator. Dr. Keskamol didn’t just highlight the issue;…
(Photo: Reuters) The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has recently made headlines by setting aside a substantial budget of 21 million baht for the acquisition of 3,000 doses of the MVA-BN mpox vaccine from Denmark. Dr. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, the director-general of the DDC, shared more about this strategic move, emphasizing that these precious doses are expected to land in the country within four months and will be reserved strictly for high-risk groups. Dr. Thongchai clarified, “The vaccination program is designed to control the spread of the disease, focusing only on those who fall within high-risk categories, based on stringent medical guidelines.” Hence, a blanket vaccination for the general populace isn’t on the agenda. The high-risk groups are divided primarily into two categories. The first category comprises individuals who are at risk prior to exposure, such as disease control staff positioned at international airports, border health-check units, those in medical roles,…
In a dramatic turn of events, law enforcement officials swooped in and arrested Parveen “Kala” Kumar at a bustling restaurant in the lively Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok this past Thursday. The arrest, which took place in the charming Bang Khun Phrom area, pulls back the curtain on a spine-chilling narrative that spans several international borders. The arrest was executed by vigilant officers of the Immigration Bureau, led by Deputy Chief Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart, who unveiled the astonishing details during a Friday press briefing. Parveen Kumar, a 27-year-old Indian national, wasn’t just on a casual vacation; instead, he was on the run, attempting to escape the long arm of justice from back home in India. Kumar is implicated in a staggering 13 criminal cases, accusatorily involving an extensive roster of serious charges such as murder, abduction, attempted murder, robbery, and various weapons offenses. The dramatic unfolding of the…
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, donning a confident smile, posed with her cabinet members at Government House, exuding a palpable sense of enthusiasm ahead of a royal oath-taking ceremony on Friday. The photograph, captured by Reuters, portrayed a moment steeped in historical significance, emblematic of a new chapter in the country’s governance. With elegance and precision, Prime Minister Paetongtarn, accompanied by her distinguished colleagues, took the solemn oath of office before His Majesty the King. This event signified a crucial milestone in the formal establishment of the new administration. As the sun cast long shadows over Dusit Palace, the Amporn Sathan Residential Hall echoed with the hallowed words of commitment, resonating with a unified determination to steer the nation forward. In the wake of this dignified ceremony, Ms. Paetongtarn swiftly moved to convene an informal gathering of her cabinet on Saturday. The agenda: to meticulously review the policy statement she is…
In an unexpected twist of fate beneath the bustling streets of Bangkok’s Sathon district, rescue workers prepared to transport the body of an unidentified man found in a hidden service space under a skywalk. The discovery, deeply unsettling, added an eerie undertone to the evening. The body, deteriorated almost beyond recognition, was found in a state suggesting it had been there for at least four to five months. Authorities quickly formed a theory: the man, likely attempting a risky heist to steal electric wires, met his end through electrocution under the skywalk positioned above the Sathon-Narathiwat intersection. It all began when a city electrician, tasked to investigate a power outage, stumbled upon the grim scene. What started as a routine check swiftly turned into a scene from a forensic detective novel. The electrician’s initial shock paved the way for a quick call to the police, bringing the evening into a…