The tranquility of the Ukedo fishing port in Namie town, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan was slightly stirred on the 25th of August, when the nearby Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant started discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the vast Pacific Ocean, stirring a wave of anxiety across global markets. This image, captured by Reuters, reflects the maelish seen as the first drops of wastewater touched the surface of the Pacific. The Thailand Consumer Council (TCC), being one of the concerned international bodies, took swift action and appealed to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Fisheries for stringent actions. All seafood imports from Japan now stand in the dock on account of potential radioactive contamination. Announced on the 24th of August, Japan began wastewater expulsion from the infamous Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, alarming the global community. Panuchote Thongyang, chairperson of TCC’s sub-committee on food, drugs, and health products,…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Recently, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin made a pledge to boost the tourism industry on the picturesque island of Phuket. He is determined to expand airport facilities in anticipation of a projected rise in global visitor traffic during the much-awaited high season in November. Friday found Mr. Srettha and the Pheu Thai Party’s tourism policy committee, led by Dr. Prommin Lertsuridej, in Phuket engaging with locals, and gathering views from private sector representatives on prospective avenues for bolstering the tourism sector on the island. On their itinerary, a scheduled visit to Phangnga was set for the following day. A flying visit to Phuket airport brought Mr. Srettha and his team across with the airport’s officials for an update on the ongoing expansion of the airport. This expansion is aimed to embolden its capacity to accommodate an escalating number of tourists. Later in the day, Mr. Srettha discussed Phuket’s development strategies with…
Pol Gen Sompong Chingduang, a primary advisor to the Royal Thai Police, is cautioning the public about a fraudulent mobile application promoted by virtual fraudsters. Bearing a striking resemblance to the Pheu Thai Party’s projected 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme, this unauthorized app is engaging in an online scam, fooling people heeding its fake advertisements. The scam circulates around an ersatz ‘Digital Wallet’ application which deceives its users into thinking they can avail themselves of a generous 10,000 baht digital reward upon its installation. Followers of this illusory promise soon find themselves victimized through a link that directs them to a disguised malware operating under the disguise of a Line mobile app. Subsequent to this manipulative maneuver, the fraudsters gain access to potential financial data available on the victims’ mobile phone,” Pol Gen Sompong revealed earnestly. “In a shocking turn of events, the Public Relations Department corroborated the fraudulent nature of…
Exciting news hitting the travel industry is Air Japan’s proclamation of its decision to cater to the Thai travel audience, launching a new direct route between Bangkok and Tokyo in the forthcoming calendar year. The recently introduced Air Japan, a financially-friendly subsidiary under the umbrella of ANA Holdings, is gearing up to launch a maiden voyage from the illustrious Narita International Airport in Tokyo to Thailand’s bustling Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. The noteworthy flight is set to lift off the runway on 10th February 2024, illuminating the sky. Air Japan appears poised to take to the skies with a state-of-the-art Boeing 784-9 at its disposal, a machine equipped to seat up to 324 passengers in a single journey. Interestingly, the flights have been fashioned with an economy-only setting to accommodate and cater to a diverse audience. The airline’s President, Minekuji Hideki, unveiled plans to set in motion six flights…
The Thai Immigration Bureau (IB) is being lauded for their powerful crackdown on a multinational motorcycle gang and a prominent Indonesian drug outfit that had sought refuge on their soil. The operation, which cast its net far and wide, also swept up key players of a sinister human trafficking loop rooted in the Sa Kaeo province. The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Police Lieutenant General Roy Ingkapairoj, handed this task to the Chief of the Immigration Bureau, Police Lieutenant General Phakphumpipat Sajjapun. Sharing the responsibility were Police Lieutenant Colonel Pattana Nutchanat, Police Lieutenant Colonel Thanit Thaiwatcharamas, and Police Lieutenant Colonel Woritsiri Lelasiri, reported KhaoSod. In an exhilarating turn of events, the operation scored its first major capture with the arrest of ‘Den’, a German national. This proved to be a significant addition to the mission’s success, given that Den had unfavourable notoriety in his homeland. His offences ran…
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has sounded an alarm for severe weather conditions enveloping the entire nation today. As per their predictions, 32 provinces will witness heavy downpours and thunderstorms. Bangkok seems to be on track for an approximate 70% rainfall commencing from the afternoon and potentially extending till dusk. Such a scenario raises the potential threat of flash floods in the city. Concurrent advice has been issued to boat operators, particularly those plying the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. These regions are prone to storms, capable of escalating the sea waves up to 1 to 2 meters high. It’s a direct consequence of the monsoon trough hitting Myanmar and Laos, resulting in a low-pressure zone over northern Vietnam. Simultaneously, the dominant southwest monsoon is affecting the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand. Given these weather conditions, Thailand is headed towards wide-spread thunderstorms, with regions in…
In an effort to reestablish the balance in fuel prices, the government plans to re-implement the 5-baht reduction of diesel excise taxes. A decision taken by the previous government saw this deduction exercised for two full years, ending recently. The initiative relies on subsidies from the Oil Fuel Fund to cap the retail price at a threshold of 35 baht per litre. However, it is crucial that the timing of this measure’s reinstatement aligns with the global oil market situation. This is to avoid imposing an untenable strain on the fund. The goal is to ensure the fuel fund’s capacity to sustain subsidies without being overwhelmed, highlighted a governmental source. The next step in the plan involves lowering contributions from diesel and benzine retail prices towards the Oil Fuel Fund. By successfully achieving this, a subsequent decrease in these fuels’ retail prices would be witnessed. To implement this effectively, enhanced…
Tasked with carving a fresh trajectory for Thailand’s proactive agricultural approach to combat climate change, the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) has undertaken a comprehensive review and rethinking of its working strategies. Overseeing the task under its aegis, Chantanon Wannakhejorn, secretary-general of the OAE ushered in the unveiling of a new development plan. This initiative was born out of the necessity of time as the previous five-year plan dated 2017-2022 recently reached its conclusion. The authority to devise a fresh approach on environmental conservation, sustainable land use, and climate-smart agriculture was granted to the OAE by the subcommittee assigned for enforcing such policies. Stepping up to the challenge, the OAE is working in collaboration with both public and private entities, blending a symphony of diverse thoughts and innovative ideas. The newly constructed plan is a pledge of Thailand’s commitment to the Food and Agricultural Organisation’s SCALA programme (Scaling up Climate…
In a bid to quell the rising tide of rumors concerning Thaksin’s whereabouts, both Sahakarn Phetnarin, deputy permanent secretary for the Justice Ministry, and Nassathee Thongplad, commander of the Bangkok Remand Prison, convened press conferences separately. Their goal: to debunk any speculation that Thaksin had been stealthily relocated from the police hospital to Phraram 9 Hospital–an institution where Thaksin’s family happens to have sizable agricultural holdings. News broke that, in the dead hours of early Wednesday at 1 am, Thaksin was hastily moved from the prison hospital located inside the Bangkok Remand Prison to the Police General Hospital. This sudden action was triggered by the discovery of persistent high blood pressure and chest pain symptoms by the medical staff at the prison facility. This raised eyebrows and fueled widespread controversy, sparking rumors that he might be enjoying VIP treatment in a luxury-filled 14th-floor suite with a stunning view overlooking a…
Nestled within the lush woodlands of the Chachoengsao Province, tucked into the far recesses of eastern Thailand, sits an unassuming cluster of houses. A protective presence is tangible, thanks to the stern-faced security guards vigilant against potential dangers. Within one of these structures, Piyawan Unaha maintains an unwavering focus on her monitors, awaiting the majestic sighting of an elusive Asian elephant. An esteemed employee at the Bajrasudha Gajanurak Command Center, Piyawan is part of an innovative early-warning system tailored to detect potential disruptions caused by wild elephants in five eastern provinces of Thailand. These aromas include the provinces of Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Sa Kaeo, the home of nearly 600 majestic, wild elephants. Born from the thoughtful generosity of the Thai royal family, the project seeks to soothe the increasingly intricate conflict between human and elephant communities. Both complete for resources as the astonishing animals venture into farmlands…