Bangkok, a city known for its vibrant life and bustling streets, is now finding itself under a suffocating blanket of smog. On January 23rd, a thick haze engulfed the city, leaving its government pondering, once again, the gravity of Bangkok’s air quality crisis. As the haze looms large, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) seeks action, ready to propose the designation of Bangkok as an air pollution control area. A move orchestrated by Bangkok’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, this proposal is set to take center stage at the cabinet meeting next week. When declared a pollution control zone, Bangkok could wield newfound power against the relentless PM2.5 pollution—a power that includes tapping into the environment fund created under the Act on the Promotion and Preservation of the Quality of the Environment. This fund could serve as a financial powerhouse fueling the city’s battle against the notorious haze. As the city grapples with…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In a world where ideas often clash like titans in an epic battle, one recent suggestion has stirred up quite the tempest in the teacup—or should we say, the Senate chamber. Enter the arena: the audacious proposal of Senator Amat Ayukhen, a man on a mission to combat the drug epidemic in Thailand with a highly controversial twist. Imagine, if you will, the gravity of a public event that no one can unsee: live executions of drug convicts. Senator Ayukhen, with a flair for the dramatic, proposed this macabre spectacle as a deterrent to drug-related crimes. It’s a proposal that has sent shivers down many spines and raised eyebrows higher than the summit of Mt. Everest. Jumping into the fray with principled fervor, Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit was swift to voice her aversion. A former chief of the prestigious National Human Rights Commission, Ms. Angkhana has always been the steadfast guardian…
In the bustling corridors of justice in Bangkok, a drama of considerable intrigue unfolds. Warathaphon “Boss Paul” Waratyaworrakul, a name once synonymous with entrepreneurial ambition as the founder and CEO of The iCon Group, now finds himself at the heart of a gripping legal saga. Accompanied by his mother, Wilawan Phutthasamrit, and former politician Samart Janechaijittawanich, all are ensnared by accusations of a high-profile conspiracy to launder money. On a significant day, October 18, Waratyaworrakul was escorted from the Central Investigation Bureau to the Criminal Court, a scene captured with sharp clarity by Nutthawat Wichieanbut. The photograph paints a stark picture of a leader fallen from grace, now embroiled in a battle over fraud charges that echo loudly across media platforms. The pages of the report against these prominent figures are as numerous as they are damning—3,000 pages, to be precise. As exhibited by the intricate web of details laid…
In the bustling, border-hugging district of Mae Sot, nestled in Tak Province, the hum of anticipation had reached a crescendo. The day was marked by the greetings of dust-strewn streets as a high-profile Chinese delegation, led by the formidable Liu Zhongyi, an assistant minister of public security, arrived with a pronounced purpose. The midday sun witnessed this cross-cultural diplomatic ballet, showcasing a union between Chinese momentum and Thai resolve, all captured amidst the serene backdrop of Mae Sot’s rustic charm. Accompanying Liu were senior Thai police officers and officials, as they embarked on an inspection tour, pensively nodding as the day unfolded. Their shared mission? To unlock a collaborative strategy against the wily machinations of Chinese scam gangs, allegedly operating from Myawaddy, just a river’s breath away in Myanmar. Wednesday painted a vivid tableau of transnational camaraderie—Thai and Chinese security forces combining efforts, eyes keen on rescuing communities from the…
In a bustling boardroom echoing with the hum of strategic discussions, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took the helm on a Wednesday meeting, urging action with the gusto and appeal of a motivational speaker rallying a winning team. The flickering images on Thai Khu Fah Facebook captured her as she commanded attention, emphasizing the urgent need to accelerate the disbursement of the nation’s investment budget, which, surprisingly, was inching forward like a cautious tortoise in its race with inefficiency. Having waved goodbye to the old fiscal year on the cheerful notes of October 1st, the disbursement figures pegging at a mere 18% since then seemed a slow waltz that failed the tempo. The impeccably suited officials, including the revered permanent secretaries, leaned in as Ms. Paetongtarn — with the eloquence of a practiced orator — expressed her concerns. The snail-paced spending was not just a numbers game; it held the ominous…
In the vibrant tapestry of northeastern Thailand, where the lush greens of rice paddies stretch as far as the eye can see, a saga of corporate intrigue and local resistance unfolds. At the heart of Dan Khun Thot, a district nestled in Nakhon Ratchasima, the echoes of potash mining have stirred the voices of dissent. Imagine a land where 9,005 rai—equivalent to approximately 14.4 square kilometers—once promised tranquility, now buzzing with controversy over digging for potash, a key ingredient for plant fertilizers. The drama unfolds against the backdrop of Bangchak Plc’s investment crescendo. A name that resonates on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Bangchak stands as the stalwart majority owner of Thai Kali Co, a mining entity sitting comfortably on a 25-year concession. But, alas, the tranquility is but a distant dream for the locals who call this land home. Last month, Bangchak intensified its roots in Thai Kali, buying…
In a swirling storm of allegations and international intrigue, Thailand finds itself on the defensive over the alleged mistreatment of She Zhijiang, a high-profile gambling tycoon currently in detention. Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong firmly dismissed these accusations, asserting that She is afforded the same treatment as any other inmate, complete with regular legal consultations and stringent security measures in place to avert any form of abuse. Such is the drama that unfolds when power, politics, and the law converge, with this scenario unfolding like a complex chess game on the global stage. She Zhijiang, a dual citizen of China and Cambodia, was nabbed by authorities in Bangkok back in 2022, courtesy of an international arrest warrant and an Interpol red notice issued by Beijing. The backdrop to this legal saga is She’s alleged involvement in orchestrating extensive illegal online gambling operations across Southeast Asia. According to Chinese authorities, the evidence…
In a tale that’s as dramatic as it is true, one Bangkok pedestrian decided that enough was enough, and the remarkable incident has caught the attention of people from all walks of life. It was a regular day at the bustling zebra crossing on Ratchadamri Road near Chulalongkorn University—notorious for its frenetic pace and pushy traffic. Yet, this time, the usual chaos turned into a viral spectacle. Enter our hero for today, a dedicated TikToker donning a punchy pink shirt and shorts, known to his followers as @p_is_myname on the popular video-sharing platform. In a moment that could easily have been a scene from an action movie, the TikToker found himself caught amidst a group of more than ten pedestrians, patiently waiting for vehicles to heed the glaring red light. In an unexpected twist, a daredevil motorcyclist, later identified as 26-year-old Jadesada, boldly charged through the crowd, paying no mind…
In the heart of an ordinary day in Cherng Talay, a scene unfolded that was anything but mundane. A brash pickup truck driver, seemingly in a hurry to outsmart traffic chaos, danced with danger in an attempt to cut off an 18-wheeler—a gargantuan beast of a vehicle, no less—hauling a towering crane. The escapade, captured in gritty detail by the CCTV cameras of the vigilant Cherng Talay Police, tells a tale that veers precariously close to catastrophe. The drama played out on a Monday, January 27th, etched into local lore more for its improbability than its devastation. The footage reveals a nail-biting attempt by the pickup truck to squeeze past the lumbering giant. Alas, gravity and momentum are unforgiving mistresses, and the pickup met the cold, hard embrace of the truck’s might. Though the collision happened at low speed, the pickup was swept effortlessly down the road, caught in a…
The bustling city of Bangkok finds itself in the throes of an air quality predicament that has sparked a call to action from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). As an uninvited guest, PM2.5, the tiny villain with a diameter no larger than 2.5 micrometers, threatens to crash the city’s party with a seven-day residency starting this Thursday. This microscopic miscreant is notorious for sneaking into lungs and bloodstream, leaving behind a trail of respiratory and cardiovascular mischief. BMA’s charismatic spokesman, Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, painted a vivid image of what’s to come at Wednesday’s press conference. He noted that Mother Nature herself seemed to hand the keys to PM2.5 by offering low air ventilation and frequent temperature inversions. “Imagine pollution as a bothersome party crasher refusing to leave,” he quipped, adding, “These meteorological conditions will reduce its exit points, escalating the potential for fine dust dominance in our beloved Bangkok.” The air…