Late on the night of September 4, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra quietly boarded a private jet at Don Mueang’s MJets terminal and touched down in Dubai — a trip he says was for medical care. The unexpected departure set off a flurry of headlines, social media chatter and accusations that he might be trying to dodge a looming court date. Thaksin, for his part, has promised to be back in Thailand by September 8 to face the music in court on September 9. The legal clouds hanging over Thaksin are hardly new. He faces charges under the Computer Crime Act and Section 112 of the Criminal Code — Thailand’s stringent lèse majesté law — tied to a 2015 interview he gave to South Korea’s The Chosun Media about the 2014 coup. On top of that, questions about his privileged stay at the Police General Hospital while serving time…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has put the nation on high alert as a robust monsoon system barrels through — bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and the risk of flash floods to 43 provinces. If you’ve been wondering why umbrellas and sandbags suddenly became trendy, blame a persistent monsoon trough cutting across the lower North, upper Central and lower Northeastern regions, combined with a steady southwest monsoon sweeping the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand. Why this matters This weather setup increases the danger of sudden flash floods and violent runoff after intense downpours. TMD warns everyone in the affected provinces to stay alert, especially those in low-lying or flood-prone areas and communities along rivers and drains. If thunderclouds roll in fast and the sky darkens, don’t take risks — move to higher ground and avoid driving through standing water. Marine bulletin — mariners, listen up Sea conditions…
Bangkok is quietly putting a new, very practical jewel into its urban crown: a covered walkway along South Sathorn Road that promises to make the daily commute less sweaty, less soggy and—dare we say—even a little more pleasant. On September 3, Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stopped by the site to check progress, calling this project a flagship initiative that aligns with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) smart city ambitions. One continuous shelter, 1.6+ kilometres of comfort The new covered walkway will stitch together Lumpini MRT station and the Chong Nonsi Skywalk, spanning more than 1.6 kilometres through one of the city’s busiest corridors. Think of it as a pedestrian lifeline for office workers grabbing an early coffee, condominium residents heading to fitness classes, and anyone who’d prefer walking without wielding an umbrella like an accessory to a battle scene. More than just a roof, the walkway will shield people from Bangkok’s…
Whispers turned into headlines this week when a well-known female spiritual medium found herself at the center of a swirl of allegations — and she’s strenuously denying them. Pornnaruemon “Jane” Riabroycharoen, who many know by her stage name Jane Yanthip (literally “Jane the clairvoyant”), has been accused in media reports of diverting donations meant for religious merit-making. The story, which began to gather momentum on September 3 after Channel 3 actor and news anchor Kanchai “Noom” Kamnerdploy mentioned it on air, has since sparked heated online debate across Thailand. Noom said he received information linking Jane to long-term misuse of funds donated by followers — allegedly over more than a decade. The claims include accusations that money and gold given for the construction of a large stupa were used instead for personal expenses. One detail that captured public attention: as the stupa campaign rolled out, Jane was reportedly seen carrying…
What began as a drab Tuesday evening in Trang province turned into a scene ripped from a thriller — only this time the protagonists were ordinary people, a temple, and an accusation that went badly wrong. Around 7:30pm on September 2, monks at Rai Pru Temple in Mueang Trang district received a frightened, wounded visitor: 22-year-old Nattawut had staggered into the compound seeking help after being shot while riding pillion on a motorcycle. Monks quickly called the Nam Phud Sub-district Office Rescue Foundation. The rescuers found Nattawut nursing three gunshot wounds to his right leg and left ankle. His 19-year-old companion — who had been driving the motorcycle — escaped without physical harm. The rescue team rushed Nattawut to hospital and alerted Mueang Trang Police Station to investigate what local media later called a tragic case of mistaken identity. By the time officers arrived on scene, the man accused of…
When Vulnerability Meets Predation: Two Recent Arrests Spotlight Safety Gaps Two unsettling incidents in the Bangkok metropolitan area and nearby provinces have once again drawn attention to the safety of vulnerable people and the responsibility of bystanders, drivers and authorities. In Pathum Thani, a 44-year-old man named Theerawat was arrested after allegedly committing indecent acts against a woman with a disability. Around the same time, police detained a 62-year-old taxi driver accused of an indecent act against a 15-year-old girl in Bangkok. Both cases raise questions about prevention, accountability and how society protects those who are most at risk. The Pathum Thani incident: a woman in a wheelchair targeted According to reports, the incident in Pathum Thani happened in July at the Pathum Thani Provincial Association for people with disabilities. The victim—identified only as B to protect her privacy—was working at the association when Theerawat, allegedly intoxicated, approached her while…
On a bright Tuesday in early September, Ban Nawang School’s multipurpose hall in Takhian Tia, Chon Buri, became the scene of something more inspiring than the usual round of school assemblies: local leaders, educators, police and health officials gathered to sign a bold pact aimed squarely at one of the most stubborn problems facing young people today — drugs and other harmful vices. A united front: who showed up and why it matters Deputy Mayor Wachira Sujoe signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on behalf of Mayor Mitchai Prabsattham, marking a formal commitment between Ban Nawang School and the Takhian Tia Subdistrict Municipality to create “Drug-Free and Vice-Free Educational Institutions.” The room was packed with the practical heavyweights of community safety: Mansruang Menanet, Director of Ban Nawang School; Police Sub-Lieutenant Suriya Klaharn, Deputy Inspector of Bang Lamung Police Station; and Phromthep Ngernmag, Acting Director of Takhian Tia Subdistrict Health Promotion…
Mumbai and Phuket just became a lot closer — and a lot more tempting. Akasa Air has announced a new non-stop route linking India’s financial powerhouse with Thailand’s sun-drenched island playground starting September 20. For travellers used to the old relay race of connecting flights and endlessly ticking layovers, this is the kind of welcome news that makes you reach for swimwear and a boarding pass at the same time. Goodbye layovers, hello beachfront cocktails Until now, flying from Mumbai to Phuket often felt like a part-time job: hop a flight, deplane, requeue, wait, repeat. Akasa Air’s new direct service rewrites that script. The quick, seamless hop promises to chop total travel time and swap the weary shuffle through transit hubs for a faster launch into Phuket’s world-famous beaches — think Patong’s electric nightlife, Karon’s wide sandy stretches, and quieter coves for anyone craving a low-key escape. More than a…
Thailand’s political pot is boiling over after caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai unexpectedly told the Palace he wanted the House of Representatives dissolved — a move that has ignited a cascade of criminal complaints, constitutional questions and accusations that the monarchy has been dragged into party politics. On September 3, a list MP and a well-known activist marched to the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok to file a formal complaint accusing Phumtham of lèse-majesté and other violations. Suratin Pichan of the New Democracy Party and activist Thaikorn Polsuwan argued that Phumtham, as a caretaker leader, lacked any legal basis to request a dissolution of Parliament. Thaikorn went a step further, saying the submission risked politicising the monarchy — a sensitive allegation that immediately amplified public outrage. To understand why this exploded so quickly, rewind a few dramatic beats: the turmoil follows the removal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra — once a leading…
An 81-year-old British expat in Udon Thani has been left both baffled and heartbroken after thieves made off with his treasured tricycle motorcycle in a brazen early-morning theft captured on nearby CCTV. Wayne, a retired restaurateur originally from Liverpool, reported the theft to Mueang Udon Thani Police Station on September 2 through a translator. His beloved blue-and-bronze three-wheeler — a Sky Lab tricycle he’d lovingly maintained — disappeared from outside his home in the Dong Udom area of Nong Bua subdistrict after being parked there for about a month. Despite being second-hand, he values the machine at 27,000 baht; more importantly, it was his pride and joy. The incident itself was quick and stealthy. CCTV footage from a nearby curtain shop shows two men, estimated to be in their mid-to-late 20s, arriving at 6:25 a.m. on Saturday, August 30, riding a white motorbike with no plates. The passenger is seen…