In the world of aviation, where the skies give no quarter for errors and every decision can take flight or land with a thud, the happenings at Thai Airways International (THAI) have caught more than just the airline industry’s attention. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has unveiled a saga of intrigue, financial misadventure, and executive-level blunders that read like a gripping drama more than just a mundane scandal. Fasten your seatbelts, dear reader, as we taxi down the runway of this dramatic tale. Our story begins in the not-so-distant world of 2009, where Thai Airways entered into a seemingly straightforward deal with Southern Air Inc (SAI) that involved the leasing of cargo space. The Aircraft Block Space Agreement (BSA) had THAI reserving all available cargo quarters on two B777-200 long-range freighters—an arrangement described in corporate jargon that might make the layman wonder if they were securing space on a space…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In the lush province of Chiang Rai, known for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultural heritage, political theatrics are reaching a crescendo. This weekend, an intriguing twist in the political saga unfolds as the enigmatic figure, Thaksin Shinawatra, the alleged de facto leader of the Pheu Thai party, makes an intriguing appearance. Thaksin is rumored to be venturing into Chiang Rai this Sunday, not for a leisurely escapade, but to pull the strings in the political theater, rallying support for a key candidate in the impending Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) election. The buzz around town is that Thaksin’s whirlwind visit is orchestrated to bolster the campaign of Salakjit Tiyapairat. She’s not just an ex-PAO chief of Chiang Rai; she’s also the better half of Yongyuth Tiyapairat, an erstwhile House Speaker and a close confidant to Thaksin in Northern Thailand’s political circles. Adding more spice to this political pot, she’s the…
In a twist of political intrigue and legislative maneuvering, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown in the Thai parliament, where a charter amendment bill seeks to establish a Charter Drafting Assembly (CDA). Yet, according to the astute observations of Nikorn Chamnong, the ever-vigilant secretary of the joint committee on the referendum bill, its fate may hang by a thread. As the clock strikes January 14-15, parliamentarians are gearing up to dissect an array of amendment bills with surgical precision. At the center of this political tempest stands the embattled Section 256 and its potential transformation into a gateway for the CDA. Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the parliament’s president, signals his intent to place the bill — championed by the opposition People’s Party (PP) — front and center on the debating stage. But the road to charter reform is fraught with peril. The ghost of a 2021 Constitutional Court…
The sun had barely dipped below the horizon when a rather unconventional gathering began to take shape in the heart of Bangkok. Imagine a hotel, nestled in Watthana district, filled to the brim with over a hundred sprightly gentlemen, their party attire consisting of nothing more than some snug underwear. It was an exclusive fiesta, the kind that had tongues wagging long before, and even more so after, the fuzz decided to chime in. This was no ordinary shindig—it was a party that soon found itself under the critical eye of law enforcement. On December 8th, the tranquil hotel ambiance transformed into a flurry of activity as the police conducted a raid. Of the 124 revelers, a staggering number found their night taking an unexpected turn. More than half tested positive for substances that aren’t exactly celebrated in polite society, swiftly being whisked away to embark on an involuntary rehab…
In the tranquil waters of Tang Khen Bay, Phuket, a serene yet profound spectacle unfolded as a graceful group of dugongs emerged, captured by the watchful eyes of a drone from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. This moment of beauty takes place against a backdrop of urgency as recent measures are rolled out to safeguard these gentle sea creatures whose very existence teeters on a delicate balance. Recently, the gentle giants of the sea found themselves thrust into the spotlight, but not for the reasons they might wish. Several dugongs were discovered lifeless along the shores, prompting a proactive response from Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on. The primary culprit behind their plight? Declining seagrass meadows, which are essential to the diet of these herbivorous marine mammals, making them the only kind of their species dependent on seagrasses for sustenance. As the lush underwater pastures dwindle, dugongs…
Imagine sitting at home, a mere phone call away from booking your physical therapy appointments without the grueling hours spent waiting in hospital queues. That dream has become a delightful reality for patients across 67 provinces, thanks to the innovative strides of the National Health Security Office (NHSO). The program, spearheaded by NHSO’s visionary secretary-general, Jadej Thammatacharee, ensures that individuals in bustling metropolises like Bangkok, the tranquil streets of Chiang Mai, and the scenic spots of Songkhla can access top-notch physiotherapy clinics close to home. This groundbreaking initiative is part of the esteemed universal healthcare scheme, fondly known as the 30-baht gold card program. It opens the doors to private clinics, now bustling hubs of healing, offering a convenient escape from the traditional labyrinth of hospital systems. As Jadej succinctly puts it, “This allows patients quick access to physical therapy services at clinics near their homes. They don’t have to…
In the bustling academic corridors of Suranari University of Technology, an innovation has emerged that is poised to turn heads and possibly the entire gemstone market. Researchers have pushed the boundaries of traditional ceramic engineering to devise a novel method for creating exquisite ceramic gemstones from the unglamorous confines of agricultural waste, achieving a jaw-dropping price increase of 6,000 times over the original raw material. A feat that promises not only visual splendor but also a resounding environmental impact, courtesy of the creative minds of senior students at the School of Ceramic Engineering: Parnpailin Jaichuei, Chatcha Chuma, and Saowalak Boonpakdi. Ms. Saowalak enthusiastically states that their inspiration was deeply rooted in the fertile agricultural fields of Thailand. With rice and sugarcane as primary contributors to the country’s thriving agro-economy, the inevitable by-product is heaps of agricultural refuse – straw, husks, and most notably, bagasse. Typically, this waste faces a monotonous…
Welcome to the serene sanctuary of wellness nestled within the picturesque grounds of Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) in Chiang Rai! The MFU Wellness Center isn’t just any wellness hub—it’s a blossoming beacon of well-being and health preservation, uniquely tailored to battle the rising tide of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) sweeping across northern Thailand and the vibrant Greater Mekong Subregion. Recently unveiled in its expanded glory, the MFU Wellness Center has actively set its sights on the future of healthcare—emphasizing early health screening as its linchpin strategy. This proactive approach is spearheaded by none other than the center’s dynamic and resolute acting director, Pol Lt Col Boontiwa Boonyuen, whose mission is to nip illness in the bud before it can take root and blossom. It’s a mission rooted in the visionary foundation laid by Adj Prof Vanchai Sirichana, the university’s catalyst founder, back in 2018. Determined to stem the spiraling healthcare…
Picture this: an idyllic evening in Surat Thani’s Chaiya district, turned into a heart-wrenching scene on Wednesday night. A tour bus, filled with hopeful travelers, plunged into a ditch, leaving behind a trail of tragedy. With five souls taken too soon and thirty more injured, the grim reality of road safety in Thailand struck once again. As the courageous rescue workers toiled to retrieve the victims, the nation’s heart ached for the families affected. In a single day—Wednesday, to be exact—Thailand’s roads became a sobering statistic. A heart-stopping fifty lives were lost, and another 346 people were injured amidst the chaos of 339 road crashes. It was a deadly count as the New Year holidays unfolded, already marking 272 lives lost in the first six days of what has been dubbed the “10 dangerous days,” a well-intentioned campaign by the Road Safety Directing Centre of the Department of Disaster Prevention…
The government has undertaken a groundbreaking initiative by linking business registration applicants with a list of individuals flagged as high-risk for money laundering. This move, part of a larger strategy to clobber economic crime, became effective as of yesterday. Names appearing on this high-risk list will face deferred processing in their applications, necessitating the submission of valid supporting documents. Deputy government spokesman Karom Phonphonklang has shed light on a prevalent conundrum: scammers are capitalizing on legal entity registrations to hoodwink the public. By exploiting the credibility and operational leeway businesses offer, these tricksters weave a web of economic crime that the government is urgently striving to untangle. Scammers, with their savvy utilization of legal entity business registration documents, stealthily open bank accounts. This cunning method allows them to channel funds while sidestepping the meticulous financial scrutiny that banks usually enforce. Such fraudulent endeavors have inflicted severe damage on Thailand’s economic…