Last August, commuters enjoyed traveling along Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem on boats. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu) Get ready, Bangkok! Starting this July, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is rolling out an innovative on-demand electric boat taxi service, promising to revolutionize your daily commute. This new service, unveiled by Krung Thep Thanakom Co (KT)—the BMA’s dynamic business wing—coincides with another major launch: the city-wide expansion of an app-based motorcycle taxi-hailing service. The electric boat taxi service is engineered to seamlessly integrate with Bangkok’s existing electric rail systems, public buses, and motorcycle taxis. The primary goal? To boost Bangkok’s thriving tourism sector. Tharatporn Techakitkachorn, KT’s forward-thinking managing director, announced that the initial phase would commence in Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem and its tributaries, including Khlong Bang Lamphu, starting next month. “Once we have fully deployed the city-wide service,” Mr. Tharatporn explained, “electric boat taxis will be cruising along several main canals like Khlong…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In an electrifying turn of events, eight individuals suspected of operating a ruthless loan shark operation were nabbed in a dramatic police raid at a house in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district on Sunday. The operation was spearheaded by no less than Pol Maj Gen Montree Theskhan, the commander of the Crime Suppression Division, whose team executed a well-planned search warrant to crack down on these financial marauders. The suspenseful showdown took place on Phahon Yothin 59 Road, following a harrowing complaint from a local vendor. The distressed vendor claimed to have faced alarming threats of physical assault after she failed to comply with the exorbitant interest rate of 2% per day imposed by the shadowy group. As the raid unfolded, police charged the eight suspects with unlawfully running a lending business and levying extortionate interest rates. The head honcho of the gang was identified solely as Mr. Montri, who clocks…
Early on Sunday morning, tragedy struck in Petchaburi’s Khao Yoi district as two big-bike riders were killed in a catastrophic road accident involving an 18-wheeled truck. The ill-fated incident took place outside a PTT petrol station on the outbound Phetkasem Road in the tambon Huay Rong area. Kee p your eyes peeled for the details—this tale is as riveting as it is heartbreaking. The victims, identified as Supatchatra Jit-ngarm, 22, and Rachata Boon-sra, 27, were part of a roaring convoy of more than 100 motorcyclists. The group, speeding through the morning mist, dominated three lanes of traffic, overtaking each other with thrill-seeking flair and reckless abandon. The thrill ride turned tragic when Supatchatra’s and Rachata’s bikes grazed one another, sending them spiraling onto the asphalt. In an instant, their joyride morphed into a nightmare. Both riders were struck by an 18-wheeler trailing closely behind them. The force of the collision…
Pita Limjaroenrat, former leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), addressed an anticipatory crowd at the party headquarters on Sunday, amidst the swirling political drama concerning the Constitutional Court’s acceptance to trial the case for the party’s dissolution. Standing firm at the podium, Mr. Pita’s charismatic resolve emanated through his words as he declared that the Constitutional Court has no jurisdiction to dismantle the MFP. He emphasized that a prior ruling about the party’s stance on the lese majeste law bore no relevance to the present trial. The seasoned politician, flanked by his legal team, offered a meticulously prepared argument. They combed through the constitution with the utmost attention to detail, concluding that no clause therein granted the Constitutional Court the authority to dissolve a political party or strip its members of their political rights. “We’ve been thwarted from accessing crucial information and denied the opportunity to adequately defend ourselves,”…
Pita Limjaroenrat, the former leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), addressed a captivated audience at the party’s headquarters on Sunday to speak about the high-stakes disbandment case the Constitutional Court has taken up. Amid flashing cameras and an air of defiance, Limjaroenrat argued passionately that the court has no authority to dissolve the MFP and that previous rulings about the party’s stance on the lese majeste law are entirely irrelevant to the current proceedings. With a mix of gravitas and fervor, Pita revealed that he, along with the party’s legal team, meticulously combed through the constitution and found not a single clause granting the Constitutional Court the power to disband a political party or revoke political rights. “It’s not there,” he declared, “We’ve checked and double-checked. This just isn’t within their jurisdiction.” Lamenting the lack of transparency, Pita contended that the MFP had not been provided with sufficient information…
Under the leadership of Mr. Srettha Thavisin, the new cabinet members gathered for a memorable photo session in front of the iconic Santi Maitree Building at Government House. This significant event took place just before their inaugural meeting on May 7, 2024, and was captured beautifully by Chanat Katanyu. However, despite the picturesque start, the road ahead for Srettha’s administration appears to be bumpy, if public sentiment is any guide. An opinion poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed a rather grim outlook regarding the government’s performance and its ability to address national problems. Surveyed on June 4-5, 1,310 Thais—spanning a spectrum of ages, educational backgrounds, and occupations—voiced their thoughts about the administration since it officially took the reins in September last year. When asked about their satisfaction with the government’s performance over the past nine months, the responses were a mixed bag: 34.35% were mildly…
Imagine the grandeur of a fresh political dawn! The Santi Maitree Building buzzed with anticipation as Mr. Srettha Thavisin led his new cabinet for an inaugural photo op before their very first meeting. It’s a moment worthy of history books and definitely one to catch the eye of public scrutiny, but how do the people of Thailand really feel about this new administration? Ah, the art of governing in today’s digital age, where the court of public opinion rules supreme! A recent opinion poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration revealed some rather telling insights. Conducted on June 4-5, the poll captured the voices of 1,310 people from diverse backgrounds, ranging from fresh-faced high school graduates to seasoned professionals, all to measure the pulse of the nation regarding Mr. Srettha’s leadership since taking office last September. So, how does Mr. Srettha fare in this grand popularity contest? To…
In an unexpected twist that gripped not just a family but an international audience, Lu Xinlei, a 27-year-old woman from China, was found at a shopping mall in Bang Na district, dispelling fears of a grim disappearance. This extraordinary episode unfolded on a Saturday evening, taking center stage amidst the bustling corridors of HomePro Bangna. The initial stages of the investigation were akin to a suspenseful thriller. Xinlei was ushered to Phra Khanong police station, where an emotional reunion with her mother and elder sister ensued. They had flown in from China, hearts heavy with concern after receiving alarming news of her alleged abduction. The plot thickens as Xinlei’s story unravels. Working for a Japanese property company, she found herself ensnared in a sophisticated call scam. Masquerading as Japanese authorities, the perpetrators accused her of violating anti-money-laundering laws. The remedy? A hefty transfer of 17 million yen for a supposed…
The Senate race kicked off on Sunday across 928 districts nationwide, and there’s a buzz in the air. But not the kind of buzz you might expect—folks are concerned that the new election system may not quite hit the mark that the charter drafters aimed for. HOW IT WORKS According to the 2017 constitution, the soon-to-be-formed Senate replacing the junta-appointed chamber is slated to have 200 members. These members will be cherry-picked from 20 professional groups, with each group snagging 10 seats. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. The Election Commission (EC) is orchestrating this election through a three-phase process that’s intricately designed to ensure fairness—or so they hope. Here’s how it will go down: District Level: Candidates within their own professional groups vote among themselves. The top five from each group then get to compete on an inter-group level. Provincial Level: The top three candidates from each of these inter-group elections…
Lu Xinlei, a 27-year-old Chinese woman, found herself at the epicenter of a harrowing and bewildering saga. Believed to be abducted with a ransom demand of an eye-watering 25 million baht, her astonishing journey came to an unexpected end at a seemingly ordinary shopping mall in Bang Na district, last Saturday evening. According to initial media reports, it was the diligent work of law enforcement that finally led to her discovery at the HomePro Bangna. The police promptly escorted her to the Phra Khanong police station, where an emotionally charged reunion took place with her mother and elder sister, who had hastily flown in from China amidst the chaos of the alleged abduction. Lu Xinlei’s twisting tale begins with her employment at a property company in Japan. It was here that she unwittingly crossed paths with a devious call scam gang masquerading as Japanese authorities. The gang fabricated a convincing…