Showing 1 - 10 of 172
An open road ahead
Spectrum, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Published on 16/10/2016
» The Department of Land Transport is getting used to visits from people looking to invest in a driving school. A decade ago, there was only one private driving school registered under the department. But that quickly changed last year when at least one person visited every week to ask about the qualifications needed to open a school. The department now answers similar queries on a daily basis.
Forest clampdown hurts poor
Spectrum, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Published on 11/09/2016
» For the past 39 years, Anutas Pleeta's family have made a living out of growing para rubber on their four-rai plantation in the southern province of Phangnga. By this time of the year, the trees would have been ready for tapping and Mr Anutas would have had more money to support his family of five, who currently live off an average income of 45,000 baht per year -- less than half the daily minimum wage -- from rubber grown on another six rai of land.
Fancy a job? You might get shot and it takes five years to earn full pay
Spectrum, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Published on 07/08/2016
» Forest ranger Warak Ngernyu and his eight colleagues were on foot patrol on the morning of July 10, 2013, when they saw the wheel tracks. Sensing that the tracks would lead to wood poachers, the team followed the trail for four hours until they reached the suspects: three Khmer-speaking men sitting on rocks.
Enforcing the law in the wild
Spectrum, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Published on 24/07/2016
» Four Thai staff sit in the small Bangkok office of the world's oldest and biggest intergovernmental wildlife enforcement network.
Seeking treatment for bill shock
Spectrum, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Published on 03/07/2016
» When Nancy Cuevas Guzman came to Thailand for abdominal and arm liposuction, she initially intended to have the surgery at Bangkok Hospital, which provided an estimate of 280,000 baht using the Body Tite technique.
Making megabucks from trips to Mecca
Spectrum, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Published on 15/05/2016
» Like all Muslims, Lukman Baik has been looking forward to the once-in-a-lifetime hajj pilgrimage. Despite being a mandatory religious duty provided one is physically and financially capable, Mr Lukman has been trying hard to save money for the trip. For the 35-year-old rubber farmer, doing so has been difficult, especially at a time when Thailand is struggling with falling rubber prices.
A complete waste
Spectrum, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Published on 01/05/2016
» When the Samart Corporation partnered in a lucrative deal to dispose of waste at Suvarnabhumi Airport in 2006, questions were raised as to why a telecommunications company was awarded the contract. The 600 million baht agreement with the Airports of Thailand (AoT) called for the construction of two incinerators to handle all waste generated at the country's biggest airport.
The top 10 don’t-do list
Spectrum, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Published on 03/04/2016
» A 57-year-old Chiang Mai woman was charged with inciting rebellion last week for posting a photo of herself with a red plastic bowl on Facebook. The bowl, to sprinkle people with water during Songkran, also happened to carry a message from fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. She faces the prospect of up to seven years’ jail if convicted of sedition.
Waves of fear over phone tower claims
Spectrum, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Published on 27/03/2016
» ‘Radio waves from cell phone towers are not as harmful as you think” has become the official government tagline. It’s heard on radio spots, published in leaflets and banners on song thaew vehicles, as well as printed on billboards in front of schools and government buildings.
Beyond the call of duty free
Spectrum, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, Published on 14/02/2016
» Giant billboards advertising Lotte Duty Free surround the 150,000 square metre shopping and entertainment complex on Rama IX Road, opposite the Grand Tulip Hotel. The tourist-oriented complex is due to open in June, but behind the glass shopfronts where the duty-free stores are supposed to be, the interior is empty.