Pattaya’s famous Walking Street — a neon-drenched artery where partygoers weave between bars, food stalls and the occasional street performer — turned raw and chaotic late on August 28 when a night out ended in an alleged sexual assault and a violent confrontation. According to witness accounts and local reports, Italian tourist Francesco Lenza, 46, was walking back to his hotel with his Thai girlfriend, Teerada, 26, after most venues had shut for the night. The couple stopped for street food when the mood of the evening suddenly shifted. An Uzbek national, later named by police as Yerkin Abdesshov, allegedly groped Teerada. Lenza confronted the man — an understandable reaction that set off a chain of events few people expect on a casual night stroll. Instead of defusing the situation, the confrontation escalated when another Uzbek national, identified as Mukhtae Lbahan, reportedly struck Lenza in the face with enough force…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Vietjet Thailand has just pressed the accelerator on a bold growth plan that could reshape short-haul air travel in and out of the Kingdom. The low-cost carrier, led by Chief Executive Woranate Laprabang, confirmed an aggressive fleet upgrade this year with nine new Boeing 737-8 jets on order — a clear signal it intends to transition to an all-Boeing fleet within five years and target 50 aircraft by 2028. From Airbus to Boeing: A strategic pivot Mid-year the airline returned four Airbus A320s, leaving 14 of that type in operation, but the plane swap is about more than brand loyalty. The 737-8s offer longer range and operational flexibility, enabling Vietjet to chase higher-demand international sectors. With one Boeing due in October, four more in November and another four in December, the carrier will grow to 23 aircraft by year-end — a meaningful jump for a budget operator focused on rapid…
Bangkok’s political air is thick with anticipation — and a whiff of conspiracy — as whispers of a covert agreement ripple through party corridors. At the center of the storm: Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) figurehead Prawit Wongsuwan, and the embattled Pheu Thai leader and prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. According to PPRP deputy leader Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Anutin has reportedly asked Prawit to back him as a six‑month interim prime minister, should the Constitutional Court remove Paetongtarn from office amid an alleged audio clip scandal. The whisper campaign that could become a government Chaiwut says this understanding followed a meeting between Anutin and Prawit on August 28 — a rendezvous that, if true, would have come just hours before a highly anticipated court ruling. He describes the two leaders as sharing a “positive relationship” and frequently meeting informally to discuss potential political realignments. In other words: backroom…
Phuket’s paradise image — palm-fringed beaches, turquoise bays and glossy luxury villas — met a decidedly less glamorous reality this month as anti-corruption investigators took to the island’s dirt and dust. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Phuket office, under the direction of Chief Suwat Saowarat, rolled out a new initiative, “Pinning Areas at Risk of Corruption,” and spent several days combing construction sites and excavation works that locals say have raised more than a few eyebrows. From Karon to Thalang: a targeted sweep The inspections ran from August 18 to 20 and were officially reported on August 28. The NACC team didn’t go it alone — representatives from the Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office joined the fieldwork to assess whether projects complied with the Excavation and Filling Act of 2000. That law exists for a clear reason: excavation and filling can affect public safety, the environment…
What started as an ordinary motorbike commute turned into a race against time for 36-year-old Sakol Saowapakkul when a single bee sting sent him spiraling into a life-threatening allergic reaction on the road to Sattahip. The incident, which unfolded just after 11:30am on August 28 along Highway 331 near a construction materials shop, serves as a startling reminder that sometimes the smallest things—quite literally—can cause the biggest problems. According to rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation who arrived at the scene, Sakol was found slumped at the roadside, visibly distressed and struggling to breathe. A dramatic swelling had developed between his thumb and index finger where the sting landed, and his breathing had become labored—textbook signs of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can quickly become fatal without prompt treatment. “I felt a sharp pain in my left hand while I was riding to work in Bo Win,…
Thailand is stepping into a week that reads like a political thriller with side plots that range from courtroom showdowns to seaside thefts and eco-friendly ambitions. From the hush of Government House to the clamor of Pattaya’s Walking Street, the country is juggling legal drama, social flashpoints and bold infrastructure plans — all at once. Here’s a clearer, livelier look at what’s driving the headlines. Paused Premier Watches from Afar Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has chosen not to appear in person for a highly anticipated Constitutional Court ruling tied to a leaked phone call with Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Instead, she’ll watch the decision from the relative safety of Government House. The move has added fuel to political speculation: is it a tactical retreat or a show of confidence that she’ll manage fallout from inside the corridors of power? Either way, the absence leaves a vacuum for pundits and…
Traffic on Phra Barami Road took a heart-stopping turn for the dramatic yesterday when a six-wheeled truck registered in Bangkok careered off the roadway and plunged into a roadside ditch just metres from Wat Suwannakhiriwong (better known locally as Wat Patong). The scene — at the notorious Pla Ra curve on the steep Patong Hill — looked like something from an action movie: dust clouds, a mangled front end, broken railings and two downed light poles. Thankfully, this story ends with a deep breath rather than a tragedy. The descent that went wrong The incident unfolded at about 11:10am on August 28. According to Patong Police, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Rapiphan Chumtham, the 38-year-old driver, identified only as Thanongsak from Kanchanaburi province, says his brakes failed while descending the steep stretch. Facing the terrifying prospect of smashing into other vehicles on the busy slope, he made a split-second decision:…
In the kind of late-night drama Pattaya’s neon-soaked streets sometimes attract, a 35-year-old Thai woman named Angkana and her foreign boyfriend found themselves at the center of an ugly scene that has since sparked outrage online and a formal police complaint. The couple say they were physically assaulted inside Laila Bar, a venue tucked near the Marine Plaza Hotel in South Pattaya, after a night out on Wednesday, August 27. Angkana reported the incident to Mueang Pattaya Police Station at roughly 5 a.m. on August 28, alleging that what began as an ordinary bar visit quickly escalated into a violent confrontation. According to her statement, she and her partner bought drinks for some of the bar’s hostesses that night but did not hire anyone to join them. The trouble, she says, ignited when an Arab man approached the couple and asked to sit with them. They politely declined, wanting some…
Lights, Laughter and Local Flavours: Pattaya’s Film Frenzy Takes Centre Stage Pattaya rolled out the cinematic red carpet this week as the third Pattaya Film Festival exploded into life, turning the seaside city into a buzzing movie-lovers’ playground. From August 28–30, SF Cinema Central Pattaya and several outdoor stages around the city hosted filmmakers, actors and fans — local and international — all united by popcorn, passion and a shared love of cinema. Far from being a one-note beach town, Pattaya is pushing hard to be known for more than nightlife. Organised by Pattaya City, the festival is a deliberate stride toward cementing the city’s growing reputation as a UNESCO Creative City for Film and positioning it as a regional creative hub. If the first two editions were a rehearsed scene, this third festival was full-blown premiere night energy — lights, cameras and plenty of conversation afterwards. Mayor’s Message &…
Thailand is gearing up for a dramatic weather performance as the Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of widespread thunderstorms and torrential downpours sweeping across 37 provinces today. From 6:00 AM on August 29 until 6:00 AM on August 30, a moody monsoon trough draped over the North and a steady southwesterly monsoon pushing across the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf will make sure umbrellas and rain boots are back in the spotlight. Who’s in the line of fire? The TMD’s alert is particularly stern for northern provinces famous for stunning mountains and narrow roads—Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Nan. Residents there should brace for flash floods and forest runoff that can turn familiar paths into fast-moving waterways in no time. In the North broadly, about 60% of the region is expected to see thunderstorms, with heavy rain targeted at Phayao, Nan and the four high-risk provinces listed…