Welcome to the ongoing saga of the Phu Kradueng cable car, an eco-narrative filled with twists and turns akin to the trails of the mountain it hopes to scale. Amid the lush landscapes of Loei, Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister Patcharawat Wongsuwan delivered news that stilled the hearts of aspiring visitors: the project has hit a red light over environmental concerns, as unveiled after a mobile cabinet session in scenic Nong Bua Lamphu. Hinging on the cliff-edge of progress, the cabinet held back the waterfall of funds necessary to breathe life into a refreshed cable car design. This stands as a significant boulder in the path, for without a new blueprint, teams can’t embark on the necessary environmental impact assessment (EIA) adventures–a trek mandated by law. Adding complication, the map guiding the project, the original EIA, is older than a two-decade sun cycle. General Patcharawat’s directives were clear as…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Picture this: a world where bitter political adversaries come together, joining hands under a banner of forgiveness and unity. This is the captivating vision conjured up by the Move Forward Party’s (MFP) latest legislative maneuver, an amnesty bill that’s been sparking fireworks quicker than you can say “national reconciliation.” But here comes the twist in our tale – not all heroes wear capes, and not all amnesty proposals fly smoothly through the parliamentary gauntlet. Enter Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, a man balancing the scales of justice with the acuity of a seasoned commerce minister. He has unveiled a cornucopia of concerns, not least of which is this hot potato issue: should those ensnared by the gossamer threads of lese majeste statutes be given a get-out-of-jail-free card? The ruling Pheu Thai Party, where Mr. Phumtham has planted his flag, isn’t shy to voice its support, provided the battlefield of public…
In the stunning seaside province of Rayong, a narrative unfolds that reads like a heart-wrenching drama woven into the fabric of this otherwise tranquil place. Imagine, for a moment, the sunny beaches and the whispering palms suddenly overshadowed by a tale of shadowy misdemeanors. Amongst such picturesque settings, two souls emerged from a place of darkness into the spotlight of a scandal that has now gripped the local community. The epicenter of this storm? A house in the unassuming tambon Phe—a house that hides more than its walls would betray. Here, inside these walls, a cruel truth was lived by unsuspecting minors, forced into a life that no one would choose willingly. Their voices, for so long suppressed, finally found an outlet through a message to “Zoom Rayong,” a local Facebook beacon of hope. They claimed that they weren’t just locked away; they were traded like commodities in this twisted…
Imagine a serene Sunday afternoon in the idyllic surroundings of Kanchanaburi, Thailand, where the rhythmic hum of a motorcycle is synonymous with freedom and the open road. However, this tranquility was shattered in a split second when revelry turned to tragedy on Ban Tham-Muang Chum road. It was around the quiet hour of 4pm that the unforeseen chaos unfolded, with a crash that reverberated through the hearts of the townsfolk. A local police officer, Pol Sub Lt Somya Bantaotuk, sitting behind his steering wheel after imbibing in excess, his bloodstream tainted with a glaring 300 milligrammes per decilitre of alcohol, became the harbinger of doom as his pick-up swerved with a lethal unpredictability. The law’s bastion became its transgressor, as his path collided with Daorung Klinhom’s, a 48-year-old on her humble blue motorcycle – a symphony of life interrupted by a grim cadence. The scene was strewn with poignant echoes…
The serene campus of Mae Fah Luang University was recently thrust into the limelight, but not for its academic achievements. At the heart of a swirling controversy is former academic Dr. Keng, whose departure from the ivory tower has led to a legal battleground over a substantial sum of money and the intricacies of mental health considerations in financial obligations. The tale begins like many, with dreams and aspirations. Dr. Keng, on a path to enlighten minds, embarked on a journey with the support of her academic institution and the ever-watchful Ministry of Science and Technology. Their investment? A hefty scholarship aiming to shape Dr. Keng into a beacon of knowledge at the prestigious University of Kent – a ticket to bring back to Thailand a wealth of newfound expertise. However, fate had its own curriculum in store. The University, with its side of the story sounding as crisp as…
A lively thrum of enthusiastic shoppers buzzes around the Uniqlo store at Future Park Rangsit—a scene reflective of the Thai economy’s pulsing heartbeat. Speaking of which, it seems the financial maestros at the cabinet have concocted a clever strategy to turbocharge that heartbeat even further. On a fine Monday, the Finance Ministry announced the cabinet’s nod to a nifty tax refund scheme set to invigorate domestic bonanza with a sprinkle of tech-savvy flair: the Easy E-Receipt programme. Here’s the juicy bit: Between the dawn of 2023 and February 15th, Thai shoppers can bag themselves a pretty sweet tax deduction—up to a cool 50,000 baht—when they shop till they drop, using electronic invoices with participating businesses. However, before you race off with visions of tax-free tipple and tobaccos, hold your horses. This scheme’s steering clear of the vices and luxuries like alcohol, tobacco, swanky cars and such. Makes sense, right? Refuel…
Imagine yourself in the very heart of Nong Bua Lam Phu province, amidst the grandeur of the Nattapon Grand Hotel. It was here that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stepped up to the podium with the gravitas and purpose that only a head of state can muster. With cameras flashing and journalists poised with pens at the ready, the Prime Minister’s voice would shape the future of Thailand’s vibrant arts and culture scene. His subject for the day? A staggering 5.1-billion-baht budget previously set aside for a national cultural extravaganza. Parsing through the financial blueprint, Prime Minister Thavisin voiced a poignant concern; could the budget truly fund the advancement of Thai culture without undue excess? His poignant gaze seemed to survey the horizon of possible futures as he laid out the committee’s extensive – and well-budgeted – wishlist following their closing symposium on November 30th. Envision this: a plenitude of festival…
Ah, the neon oasis of Khao San Road, a sparkling jewel in the urban jungle of Bangkok, beckoning travelers from near and far with its siren call! (Let’s picture a photo by the Bangkok Post here, full of technicolor brilliance). But now, a debate stirs—an uproar among the vigilant temperance troops and the steadfast guardians of road safety. They are sounding the alarm, raising their voices in tandem to challenge the powers-that-be on a bold, new decree: the proposal to keep the joyous symphony of clinking glasses and thumping beats alive until the wee hours of 4 am. This, my friends, is not your ordinary night on the town; this is a matter of hot dispute, inciting waves of concern a mere week after the Interior Ministry heralded this night-time renaissance in not only Bangkok but also Phuket, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and the lively Koh Samui in Surat Thani…
Imagine the hallowed halls of Thailand’s Parliament humming with anticipation as another round of consequential decisions awaits. There’s a tangible buzz in the air—after all, we’re talking about the fate of the nation’s charter, the very DNA of Thai democracy. It’s August 22, and both MPs and senators are diving headfirst into a joint parliamentary meeting, a prelude to a much larger spectacle of political finesse and debate (see, there’s the photo by Chanat Katanyu to prove it wasn’t all a dream). Flash forward to December, and the plot thickens. The scene is set for a new act in this intricate political dance as parliament swings open its doors once more. Nikorn Chamnong, a maestro of referenda and head of a special sub-panel, steps into the limelight with news that’s going to get every lawmaker’s pen scribbling. He’s dispatching a missive to the podiums of House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor…
Scandal has struck the heart of Thailand’s agricultural sector with whispers of corruption resonating through the corridors of power. At the epicenter of this storm is a tantalizing audio recording, a voice mired in controversy demanding the hefty sum of 10 million baht – the price for freedom offered to a desperate pork smuggler. As the country listens with bated breath, the intrepid Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, the enigmatic Capt Thamanat Prompow, embarks on a quest to unmask the identity of this mysterious official. Amid the plush settings of the Nattapon Grand Hotel, nestled in the province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, Capt Thamanat faced the media’s barrage of questions. It was here, in these opulent confines, that the whispered deal surfaced, revealing an insidious exchange – criminal charges dropped for a pile of cash. As though peeling the layers of an onion, Capt Thamanat alluded to the identity of…