Posts published in “Thailand”

On a seemingly ordinary Thursday, the spotlight will shine brightly upon the halls of Thailand’s Constitutional Court, setting the stage for a drama that may well shape the country’s political future. At the heart of this riveting narrative is Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, a name now synonymous with controversy, owing to his contentious cabinet appointment that has sent ripples through the nation’s corridors of power. The air at the Thai Khu Fah building was charged with anticipation on April 29, as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stepped forward to address the media swarm. As cameras clicked and journalists scrambled for the best quotes, the underlying tension was palpable. The cause of all this frenzy? The imminent court decision on whether to entertain a petition that could spell the end of Srettha’s tenure as prime minister over his decision to appoint Pichit Chuenban to the cabinet. Pichit’s resignation just days before, ostensibly…

Imagine soaring above the bustling streets of Bangkok on a sleek Yellow Line monorail, weaving through the cityscape with the ease of a bird in flight. The vibrant heart of Thailand’s capital has been missing one of its vital beats since an unforeseen incident in March brought it to a sudden, jolting halt. But fear not, for our urban phoenix is rising from the ashes, set to resume its rhythmic dance across Lat Phrao Road’s skyline from June 10, after a period of meticulous repairs and upgrades. The tale begins on a day that seemed just like any other, until the unexpected occurred. A conductor rail, vital to the monorail’s operation, succumbed to gravity, cascading onto the road below. This episode not only halted the Yellow Line’s harmonious operations but sent a ripple of concern across Bangkok. Damage was done, vehicles bore the brunt, and the monorail’s melody was paused.…

In a country where the tides of politics flow as unpredictably as the monsoon rains, the voice of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra emerges as a beacon of hope amidst the stormy seas of Thai democracy. In a heartfelt message that marked a decade since the seismic shift of a coup d’état, Yingluck not only reminisced on the past but also cast her gaze firmly towards the future, envisioning a Thailand that reembraces the principles of real democracy. This Wednesday, on the auspicious occasion marking ten years since the event that drastically altered her life and the political landscape of Thailand, Yingluck took to X (formerly known as Twitter) with a message that was both reflective and visionary. “Ten years have passed,” she mused, a statement simple in words but heavy with the weight of a journey fraught with trials and tribulations. Since that pivotal day on May 22, 2014,…

In the heart of Lop Buri, a tale unfolds that is equal parts fascinating and unnerving, featuring a cast of furry protagonists that have turned the once-thriving city center into their personal playground. May 16 witnessed the intriguing relocation of twenty-seven monkeys, adjusting their mischievous selves to the serene confines of the Pho Khao Ton Monkey Nursery in Muang district. Their arrival, captured in a snapshot by the Lop Buri Public Relations Office, marks a critical step towards restoring harmony in a city disrupted by primate pandemonium. The vibrant city of Lop Buri, with its rich tapestry of history and culture, has found itself in a gripping conflict, pitting its human inhabitants against an increasingly bold troop of urbanized monkeys. The battleground? The city’s streets and the enchanting ruins of the ancient palace of Phra Prang Sam Yod, a sanctuary that the monkeys have claimed as their own. Residents recount…

In the heart of Switzerland’s breathtaking landscapes, where picturesque mountains meet serene lakes, a story unfolds that seems more fitting for a suspenseful novel than reality. Yet, this is the tale of Nantiwa “Noon” Saejiw, a 32-year-old Thai woman whose mysterious disappearance has sparked both concern and intrigue across continents. Noon embarked on what was supposed to be an idyllic journey to Switzerland with her boyfriend in early April, following the winds of love and adventure. However, the narrative took an unforeseen turn as her family in Thailand lost contact with her after April 27. The silence was deafening and out of character for Noon, leading to a wave of worry that washed over her loved ones. Caught in the whirlpool of concern, the Thai embassy in Switzerland took to Facebook, turning their request for help into a digital beacon of hope. The embassy aimed to harness the power of…

Airport tarmac drama unfolded in a spectacle of concern and swift action as officials converged around the grounded giant, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER, which had made an unscheduled dramatic entrance at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. The hustle around the aircraft’s ladder on that fateful Wednesday was the aftermath of a flight that had literally shaken its passengers and crew to their cores due to extreme turbulence. In the heart of Bangkok, a rigorous battle to mend the wounds inflicted by the skies was underway. Twenty souls, their lives momentarily upheaved by an unforeseen aerial tempest, found themselves under the vigilant care of medical professionals in two bustling Bangkok hospitals, their conditions warranting the utmost attention in intensive care units. Samitivej Hospital, playing a central role in this unwelcome drama, became a temporary home for 85 individuals – a mix of 79 passengers, whose journey had taken a tumultuous turn, and…

On a brisk morning in December 2020, a group of pro-democracy supporters gathered outside China’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong, their breaths visible in the cold air as they called for the release of Zhang Zhan and other activists. This wasn’t just any gathering. It was a beacon of hope for a brave citizen-journalist who dared to share the unfolding of an unprecedented global pandemic from Wuhan, China. Zhang Zhan was one of the valiant few who, in early 2020, began reporting on the emergence of Covid-19, armed with nothing but her phone and a quest for the truth. (Photo: Reuters) Fast forward to 2022, a ray of hope emerged as Zhang, aged 40, was released from her confinement. Following her sentencing in 2020 to four years for allegedly spreading “false” information about the Covid-19 outbreak, her journey back to semi-freedom was no small feat. Released to her elder brother’s…

In a shocking discovery that reads more like a sinister drama engulfed in the reverberating sounds of piano chords, Bangkok’s prestigious Phra Khanong area found itself under a grim spotlight. The central figure in this disheartening narrative is a piano teacher named Veeranan Lerdpanyaroj, age 43, known among his students as “Khru Ju”. His arrest at the 77 Musical, a revered music school nestled in the promising alley of Soi Sukhumvit 77, has struck a discordant note across the community. Seized within the muted walls of this institution were items that painted a harrowing picture far removed from the art of music-making. Among the confiscated were over 1,000 videos containing child pornography, alongside condoms, emergency birth-control pills, and lubricant gel. These unsettling artifacts were discovered tucked away in a classroom, setting a chilling scene. The arrest came as a crescendo following allegations made by a distraught mother, whose 10-year-old daughter…

Imagine a serene morning transforming into a symphony of alarms and hurried footsteps on the tarmac of Suvarnabhumi Airport. At the heart of this unexpected orchestra stands a majestic yet stricken Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER, under the fluorescent embrace of dawn. This was the scene captured in an evocative photograph, highlighting airport officials congregated near the aircraft’s ladder, a silent testament to the unforeseen drama that unfolded in the skies just hours before. What began as a routine journey from the historical grandeur of London to the futuristic skyline of Singapore took a turn towards the extraordinary. Flight SQ321, with 215 souls onboard, danced a perilous waltz with “extreme turbulence,” necessitating an emergency descent into Bangkok on Tuesday. The aftermath of this aerial tempest lay bare – 79 passengers and six valiant crew members remained in Bangkok, tenderly nursing the scars of their ordeal. Amid the whirlwind of events, six…

In a story that sounds like it’s been lifted straight from an action-packed Hollywood blockbuster, troops in Chiang Mai pulled off a dramatic arrest, bringing down an alleged drug courier, Jakha Ja-ou, 40, in a high-stakes chase through the night. This thrilling incident unfolded on Tuesday night, ending with the seizure of a staggering 4 million methamphetamine pills in Mae Ai district. Picture the scene: under the cover of darkness, soldiers were stationed at a road checkpoint in tambon Mon Pin of Fang district. Their mission was clear—thwart the smugglers’ plans to move a significant consignment of drugs inland from the porous Myanmar border. Acting on a tip-off, the stage was set for a confrontation that wouldn’t disappoint. As the clock struck 8.40 pm, a pickup truck bearing the unmistakable Chiang Mai plates casually approached the checkpoint, but what happened next was anything but casual. Instead of stopping, the driver…