The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) made a big announcement that has train enthusiasts and travelers buzzing with anticipation. Mark your calendars for July 19, because that’s when the international train service connecting the bustling city of Bangkok with the serene capital of Laos, Vientiane, is set to officially launch. (Photo: @pr.railway Facebook) This new railway journey is an exciting extension of the existing Bangkok-Nong Khai route. The inaugural trip will kick off from the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station, also known as Bangkok Central, at precisely 9.25 PM on July 19. After a night under the stars and through the landscapes, passengers will roll into Vientiane’s Khamsavath station at 9.05 AM on July 20. Talk about an overnight adventure! Once you’ve stepped off the train in Vientiane, the adventure is far from over. Public transport options, including vans and taxis, are readily available to whisk you off to…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Omega-3 fish oil capsules and a whole array of similar health-boosting products have become staples for consumers keen on boosting their overall well-being. (Photo: Jernej Furman via Wikimedia Commons) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently provided clear guidelines regarding the conditions under which producers of so-called functional food products can make basic health claims on their packaging without necessitating prior approval from the regulator. This move aims to enhance the prospects for the thriving food supplements and related products sector, which is estimated to be a 100-billion-baht-a-year industry, according to Lertchai Lertvut, the deputy secretary-general of the FDA. Presenting accurate and factual information about the nutritional and health benefits of products empowers consumers to make well-informed choices. The FDA permits only those health claims that are substantiated, credible, and validated, underscoring Mr. Lertchai. The messaging on a product’s package must comply with at least one of the three…
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, in a groundbreaking meeting at Government House in Bangkok, welcomed Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the influential group chairman and CEO of DP World, on a bright Wednesday morning. (Photo: Government House) DP World, the Dubai-based colossus in global supply chain and logistics, has expressed a keen interest in diving into ambitious domestic projects, notably the mammoth 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject. In this high-stakes rendezvous, Prime Minister Srettha and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem explored a treasure trove of investment opportunities that could very well reshape the economic landscape of Thailand. During the engaging discussion, the prime minister passionately articulated his visionary outlook for Thailand, spotlighting the kingdom’s potential to morph into a bustling regional transport hub. “We delved deep into the economic pulse and charted the future course for investments across various projects in Thailand. It’s about leveraging our prized geographical location, bridging the Indian Ocean and…
In a sudden and shocking turn of events, a highly respected senior judge has found himself in the midst of an intense legal storm. With allegations of inappropriate conduct clouding his once stellar reputation, the judge has been temporarily reassigned to an inactive post as an investigation gets underway. According to an inside source within the Court of Justice, this dramatic shift is set to shake up the judiciary. The Supreme Court president, wielding the gavel of authority, executed the order on Tuesday, confirming the judge’s temporary reassignment to the Office of the President of the Supreme Court. In a swift response to maintain judicial order, Judge Jumpol Chuwong has been appointed to act as the interim chief judge. The entire legal community is abuzz with the news that this transfer stems from a formal complaint filed on June 25 with both the Office of the Court of Justice and…
The Election Commission chairman, Ittiporn Boonpracong, addressed the media in Nonthaburi on June 26, coinciding with the final stage of the Senate election process. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut) The Election Commission (EC) has put off indefinitely the official announcement of the certified results from the Senate election, citing pending issues that still need resolution. Ittiporn Boonpracong, the EC’s chairman, clarified that this action should not be regarded as a postponement. He emphasized that the originally planned date of July 3 was merely a tentative one for announcing the results. The organic law governing Senate composition doesn’t specify an exact timeline for declaring the vote results. It mandates only that the EC reserves five days post-final round of the election to handle any complaints. “The EC will announce the certified results once it is assured the election was clean, fair, and lawful,” assured Mr. Ittiporn. When pressed about the specific issues delaying…
As thick clouds of smoke rise into the azure sky of Nonthaburi, the sight is a testament to the age-old practice of setting rice fields ablaze to clear away the dry rice straw left after the harvest. While this might be a familiar scene in the rural heartlands of Thailand, it has sparked a series of dedicated actions at the highest levels to combat the resulting haze pollution. This commitment was recently reaffirmed by Thailand’s Environment Minister, Phatcharavat Wongsuwan. In a prominent assembly on Wednesday, held as part of an ASEAN sub-regional ministerial committee on haze pollution in bustling Bangkok, the minister underscored Thailand’s enduring pledge to tackle the pervasive problem of transboundary haze pollution. The event boasted an impressive gathering of delegates from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, with Timor-Leste, an aspiring ASEAN member, attending as an observer. Minister Phatcharavat passionately acknowledged the unwavering efforts of these member…
The tropical breezes of the Gulf of Thailand carry tales of adventure and intrigue, but none quite as captivating as the saga that unfurled last month. Picture a crisp marine police boat gliding through the waves, escorting not one, not two, but three oil-smuggling ships that had mysteriously vanished. These elusive vessels, spotted skirting dangerously close to Malaysian waters, were finally returning to the bustling Port of Songkhla. And just like that, the first chapter of this nautical mystery came to a dramatic close. Yet, the story behind the scenes was even more complex. Three marine police officers are now staring down the barrel of severe disciplinary action after failing to keep tabs on the impounded oil smugglers’ vessels. June 11 was a fateful day at the marine police pier in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district, where the ships pulled a vanishing act worthy of a Houdini encore. Pol Maj Gen…
The fighting in Myanmar resumed this week after a fragile five-month ceasefire brokered by China between the junta forces and ethnic minority insurgents apparently unraveled. Ironically, the renewed strife erupted mere days after the global community marked World Refugee Day last Thursday. By the end of 2023, there were a staggering 117.3 million forcibly displaced people globally, according to the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Of these, an estimated 47 million (40%) were children under 18. Moreover, between 2018 and 2023, 2 million children were born into refugee status, with an average of 339,000 refugee births annually. Thailand, sharing its longest border with Myanmar, has been a sanctuary for refugees. The escalating conflict in Myawaddy since 2024 has driven tens of thousands, primarily women and children, to seek refuge in Thailand. Given the dire and unwavering situation in Myanmar, these refugees are poised to remain in Thailand for months, if…
The Ministry of Education is engineering an ambitious revamp of the core curriculum, a move that heralds shorter school hours and the rise of non-classroom learning. At the forefront of this transformative initiative is the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec). They’ve proposed to the ministry to approve the appointment of a dedicated panel tasked with overseeing a comprehensive review of the basic studies curriculum, which has remained unchanged since 2008, according to Thanu Wongjinda, Obec’s secretary-general. This overhaul aims to drag the nation’s foundational education into the modern age. The office has already tweaked individual courses to stay in step with global advancements, peppering in more technology-driven subjects. Yet, the upcoming changes represent a giant leap for the country’s education system. Thanu emphasized that if the approval for the revision panel comes through, they’ll waste no time getting down to business. The panel’s primary mission will be to…
In the bustling region of Nakhon Ratchasima, a palpable tension is brewing. It stems from an outcry by the Northeast’s truckers’ association that has decided it’s time to hit the road—in protest. The rising cost of diesel fuel has tipped the scales, compelling them to form a convoy of trucks, demanding the government cap the diesel price at 30 baht per litre. Leading the charge is Somkid Kingkrodklang, a stalwart in the transport sector and the head honcho of the Land Transport Federation of Thailand in the Northeast. On a recent Wednesday, he vocalized the struggles plaguing transport businesses, bound tightly to their dependence on diesel fuel. With B7 diesel hovering at 32.94 baht per litre, the pinch is evident. “It’s still brutally high,” Somkid lamented, emphasizing the urgent need for the government to regulate the price at 30 baht. For many in the business, this adjustment is a necessity…