Showing 1 - 10 of 24
Soft power struggles
Life, Published on 05/06/2024
» Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's 10 months in office have proven to be full of optimism, entertainment and drama. His non-stop whirlwind trips to lure investors including Microsoft, Tesla, Formula One, Tomorrowland and Art Basel to Thailand earned him the image of the salesman on a Time magazine cover. With the government's 10-month report card out and future plans in discussion, there has been both applause and confusion.
Reforming Thai cinema
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 03/06/2024
» It has been eight months since the National Soft Power Strategy Committee was established under the government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Meanwhile, the Thai film industry, supported by the Thailand Creative Culture Agency, has not seen any significant changes.
Pride month celebration
Published on 01/06/2024
» Bangkok Pride Parade marked Bangkok’s grand celebration of Pride Month and marked a major milestone for Thailand to become the first Southeast Asia country to legalize same-sex marriage. The rainbow parade attracted more than 200,000 attendees and spectators and spanning along the bustling Rama 1 Road.
Foreign buyers show interest in Thai films at Cannes
Aekarach Sattaburuth, Published on 15/05/2024
» CANNES, France: Thai films being showcased at the 77th Cannes Film Festival are attracting attention from prospective international buyers, a development that promises a brighter outlook for both the Thai film and tourism industries, the government says.
‘Summer Sonic' could draw 350,000
News, Mongkol Bangprapa, Published on 27/03/2024
» Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is confident that Summer Sonic, a music festival from Japan that will be organised in Bangkok in August, will attract 350,000 people out, just as it regularly does in Japan.
‘Empower, Inspire, Transform’
News, Published on 11/03/2024
» Marking International Women’s Day this month, 10 extraordinary women from a wide range of fields who have empowered, inspired and transformed change in their communities through their pursuit of excellence have been named the Bangkok Post’s Women of the Year 2024.
Getting soft power right
Life, Published on 08/01/2024
» After three months in office, the Srettha Thavisin government has raved on about populist policies in the guise of digital wallets and soft power projects that will create income to boost our declining economy. With optimism, we learned that Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thai party leader and head of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee (NSPSC), has drafted a budget of 5.1 billion baht to boost festivals and creative industries. It is welcoming news to hear this government is priortising art, music, literature, design, fashion, film, food, games, sports and festivals as essential sources for the creative economy. Where this enormous chunk of budget will come from, like digital wallets, remains to be seen.
Very soft Thai power in the making
Life, Published on 20/09/2023
» Since the recent return of Thaksin Shinawatra after 15 years of self-exile to Bangkok and the parliamentary selection of Srettha Thavisin as Thailand's 30th prime minister on the same day, politics and culture have unfolded with drama and excitement.
Memes of dissent
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 14/08/2023
» It is not as whimsical as it seems. After the onset of the largest pro-democracy movement since the military coup in 2014, university and high school students cuddled hamster dolls and ran around in circles. "Delicious tax!", hundreds of them sang, from a cartoon jingle at Democracy Monument in late July 2020. Crowdsourced from a social media platform, Hamtaro, a shorthand for caged mice demanding freedom, spawned many internet memes, including a greedy caricature of junta leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Class is in session
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 10/05/2023
» Last Saturday, a crowd of children with their families, as well as politicians and their supporters, braved the blistering summer heat to gather at the "Candidate Classroom" event where representatives of six political parties discussed Thai education and the rights of children within schools. Styled as a game show, "Candidate Classroom" saw politicians face off in a lively debate with cheers, boos and music filling the One Arena at Stadium One in Bangkok.