In a bold and unexpected move, Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has decided to roll the dice on poker, lifting a decades-old ban and setting the wheels in motion for the card game to be recognized as an official international sport. With a slight flick of his writer, Phumtham signed a ministerial order to legalize poker gambling under specific, clearly delineated conditions. The announcement sent ripples through the media yesterday, August 4, with Phumtham affirming that this decision required meticulous legal evaluation. “Poker is not merely a game of chance for us; we see it as a competitive sport that needs structured regulations to ensure it matches our country’s standards.” The revival of poker legality arrived in the form of Ministry of Interior Order No. 2253/2568, a significant decree that officially overhauled the well-embraced Ministry of Interior Order No. 490/2501, which dates back to July 28, 1958. This antiquated order…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
The scene was one of organized chaos at the Ban Khlong Luek permanent border crossing in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province. Scores of Cambodian workers—about 500 to be exact—were lined up, eager to make their way back into Cambodia. It was a heartwarming and tumultuous day, a blend of emotions swirling amidst the crowd, as many were accompanied by young children and held onto possessions they deemed necessary for their journey home. The impetus for this unexpected mass exodus? Family phone calls. Voices from across the border insisting on immediate returns. While some travelers were simply looking to reconnect with loved ones, whispers of potential threats to family properties had begun to circulate. These rumors, suggesting possible seizure of assets or loss of benefits if expatriates didn’t return, left many bewildered. “Is it true?” asked many, their faces painted with concern, unsure of what awaited them across the border. Yet,…
In a tale more rattling than a palm truck bouncing over potholes, the peaceful tranquility of Phuket’s scenic roads was shattered in a moment of reckless chaos. Picture this: a palm oil truck, on a seemingly innocuous drive through Phuket’s Darasamut Underpass, finds itself in a catastrophic encounter with reality, leading to a scene fit for a Hollywood thriller. Let’s set the stage—it’s a casual Friday, August 1, when jaws around the city would drop. The heavy hum of a truck laden with Malaysian gold (palm oil, for those not in the know) barreled unrestrained into four unsuspecting vehicles making their way to Chalong. It was a miscalculation as much as it was a spectacle. The driver’s protestations pinned the blame on a sudden roadblock—a delivery truck that, unexpectedly, did what delivery trucks do: deliver surprises. As the delivery truck hit the brakes faster than a caffeine-deprived reporter can hit…
Thailand Weather Report If you find yourself in the heart of Thailand, batten down the hatches and grab an umbrella. The Thai Meteorological Department has dropped a weather forecast extraordinaire, announcing that Mother Nature has decided to unleash a symphony of rain and thunderstorms across 32 provinces within the next 24 hours! While the skies are busy orchestrating their dramatic show, the thermometer seems to be channelling its inner firecracker, particularly in bustling Bangkok, where temperatures flirt dangerously close to a scorching 37 degrees Celsius. So, what’s stirring up this atmospheric cocktail? The southwest monsoon, it seems, has lost a bit of its roaring gusto as it blankets the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the balmy Gulf of Thailand. Paired with a mischievous low-pressure hooligan over northern Vietnam, they’re making all sorts of mischief together. Starting off our thunderous tour in the northern region, we find a cool concoction of thunderstorms…
In an unfolding drama that has captivated the hearts and minds of Thailand, three young girls from the tranquil environs of Chiang Mai have mysteriously vanished after leaving their school. Natnicha Phewkaew, charmingly innocent at just seven years, and her two comrades, nine-year-olds Jomkwan Siamlai and Kamonnit Wilai, set the northern province of Chiang Mai abuzz following their unexpected disappearance from Rajaprajanugroh 30 School in the Tha Ton sub-district. The sun had barely set on August 3 when the girls wandered away from the school premises. Vigilant officers from the Mae Ai Police Station have embarked on an urgent quest, reaching out to residents of Chiang Mai and its neighboring provinces for any clue, any inkling that might lead them to the three girls. CCTV cameras, those ever-watchful electronic eyes, caught glimpses of the trio meandering along a shadowy road under the cloak of night. In an almost surreal image,…
In the enchanting and mysterious forests of Phitsanulok province, a heartwarming tale unfolded that could rival any adventure novel. It was early on a misty Friday morning, August 1st, when 79-year-old Pim embarked on a customary journey into the Khao Nam Dam mountain range. Little did she know, her simple quest for bamboo shoots would transform into an extraordinary saga of survival. As the sun barely peeked over the horizon, Pim stepped into the lush greenery with the vigor of a woman half her age. The forest, still echoing with the lingering memories of past motocross races, held a quiet promise of discovery. Yet, among the familiar paths marked by motorcycle tracks, Pim found herself tangling not only with the underbrush but with a confounding maze that led her astray. Local authorities and villagers, who knew her well, sprang into action as the sun set and Pim remained unseen. Dressed…
In a chilling confession that has sent ripples through the community, a 33-year-old Thai man named Tarn has turned himself in at the Romklao Police Station, Bangkok, on this fateful day, August 4th. Tarn revealed a grim secret he had been harbouring for two weeks — the murder of his own mother, whose body he concealed underneath a bathtub filled with cement. The shocking revelation has thrust the serene streets of Soi Romklao 27 into a maelstrom of police activity and grief. When Tarn approached the police, his admission seemed almost unfathomable in its grotesque nature. The officers, spurred into action by the gravity of his confession, couldn’t have prepared themselves for the ghastly scene that awaited them. The air in Tarn’s home was thick with an overpowering odor that led them straight to the bathroom. It was there that they discovered the bathtub, cement-filled and still, a poignant reminder…
In a harrowing incident that underscores the perils of tampering with explosive devices, a Thai man from Lop Buri province experienced a life-altering injury when an M79 grenade detonated in his home. An unsuspecting proprietor of homemade resilience, Wuttichai Tathong, had been known around the Thasala district for his resourceful knack for scavenging and repurposing materials. However, this particular foray into disassembling a grenade with intentions to salvage its copper components culminated in disaster, costing him his left leg and gravely injuring the right one. When officers from the Mueang Lop Buri Police Station received alerts of the explosion, they rushed alongside rescue workers to the scene, albeit with a sense of trepidation over potential additional explosions. Captured on Channel 8’s footage, two rescuers cautiously navigated through Wuttichai’s home to carry him out on a stretcher, a task made more challenging by the severity of his injuries. The calamitous blast…
In a startling incident that unfolded in Thanyaburi district today, a 14-year-old girl unexpectedly found herself and her younger siblings embroiled in a dramatic clash between youthful recklessness and the harsh reality of road safety. Armed with the thrill of driving a motorcycle, albeit with limited experience and no license, the young girl zoomed into a harrowing collision with a seven-seater Isuzu MU-7, setting off a chain of rapid responses and heroic feats by locals to rescue the children. On this seemingly ordinary day, August 4, the Ruamkatanyu Foundation was jolted into action, responding to urgent reports that a potentially disastrous motorcycle accident had taken place. The winding streets of Ban Green Garden Home Road bore witness to an event that would be talked about for days, if not weeks, to come. As emergency services raced towards the incident site, the chaotic aftermath of the crash began to unfold like…
Imagine being adrift in the vastness of the sea, with no communication device, no engine power, and only the relentless roll of the waves for company. For three courageous fishermen off the coast of Thailand, this wasn’t the plot of a thrilling adventure novel, but a harrowing two-day ordeal that finally saw salvation thanks to the diligent efforts of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai MECC 3). The tale began on August 3, with an urgent call lighting up the 1465 maritime emergency hotline around noon. On the other end was Pratakorn, whose urgent voice carried both panic and hope, describing how a sunny yellow fishing boat, though now riding the ocean swells without steerage, had been missing. The vessel, once nestled safely at Kata’s dock, had ventured into the sea, unwittingly poised for an unscheduled adventure courtesy of an untimely engine failure. As strong coastal winds…