The high cost of the promises made by major parties to woo the electorate

14 Sept 03:32 Key points summarised by AI

Major Thai political parties, including the Move Forward and Pheu Thai, have pledged trillions of baht in election promises, sparking significant concerns over the nation's fiscal health.
The Move Forward Party's schemes, such as a 3,000 baht monthly elderly pension, total over 1.3 trillion baht, while Pheu Thai's proposals, including a 10,000 baht digital wallet, amount to 1.8 trillion baht, with funding strategies often relying on optimistic tax revenue projections.
Experts warn of substantial fiscal risks, highlighting underestimated costs, potential bureaucratic resistance to budget cuts, and the challenge of financing these ambitious plans given Thailand's current public debt and limited capital spending capacity.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.