In a bid to keep the wheels of education turning despite the unpredictable temperament of seasonal surges in Covid-19, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) has taken a bold stance against shutting down schools. According to the DDC, judicious screening processes and targeted isolation methods are more than adequate to keep the virus at bay in the realm of learning hubs. Dr. Jurai Wongsawat, the eloquent voice of the department, divulged that the most recent cluster outbreaks emerged from a variety of environments: a troubling six clusters in prisons with 198 cases, five discreet outbreaks in schools amassing 258 cases, two in military camps boasting 178 cases, and a lone hospital cluster totalling 35 cases. With a steady resolve, Dr. Jurai emphasized, “Schools should amplify their screening efforts, covering students and staff alike. Where infections pop up, home isolation suffices. Schools need not close their gates, except in calamitous scenarios…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In a city that seems to grow faster than a bamboo shoot during monsoon season, maintaining seamless connectivity between the bustling urban centers of Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Pathum Thani is mission critical. Enter the Department of Rural Roads (DRR) with their ambitious makeover of Chaiyaphruk Road. Once a beleaguered six-lane stretch struggling with the weight of over 40,000 vehicles daily, it now gleams magnificently as a 10-lane thoroughfare, ready to zip commuters through their day with unmatched ease. Poor old Chaiyaphruk was groaning under the pressure of buzzing motorbikes and roaring cars alike, every one of them hustling to chase the sunrise over Ratchaphruek and Kanchanaphisek roads, which had become the new expressway to the lively Pathum Thani. Enter the 10-lane miracle, a testament to the mettle of those plotting urban nirvana, and boy, is it a sight for traffic-weary eyes! With the signature flourish of a maestro finalizing his…
As Thailand braces for an unusually heavy monsoon season, the country is taking proactive measures to tackle the looming threat of flooding. With rainfall showing no signs of abating, the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) has sprung into action, establishing a temporary front-line water management centre to keep a vigilant eye on the deluge predicted to hit the northern regions. The directive for this initiative came straight from the top, courtesy of Digital Economy and Society Minister, Prasert Jantararuangtong. As the chair of the National Water Resources Committee (NWRC), Mr. Prasert has voiced genuine concerns over the potential for catastrophic flooding, a sentiment echoed by the people who have witnessed the devastation similar events have caused in the past. Recently, ONWR deputy secretary-general Paitoon Kengkarnchang convened the inaugural meeting of this newly minted committee in the province of Chiang Rai. It was a veritable who’s who of disaster…
In an investigation that rocked the hallowed corridors of Thailand’s Buddhist community, a lone investigator embarked on a mission that would uncover shocking secrets within one of the nation’s most revered temples. On a quiet May morning, officers from various anti-corruption agencies descended on Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom province, not for religious solace, but in pursuit of evidence linked to a sprawling web of online gambling. The man behind this operation, working tirelessly undercover for nearly eight months, was Pol Capt Nitithorn Prachankanchana. His journey, marked by determination and intrigue, has been nothing short of fascinating. Born in the serene backcountry of Khon Kaen, Pol Capt Nitithorn’s story is both humble and inspiring. As the eldest of four, he grew up amidst the verdant expanses of rice fields, where every baht counted. Life took a sudden turn when his father passed away, thrusting young Nitithorn into the role…
In a dramatic twist reminiscent of a political thriller, the Bhumjaithai Party leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, has ratcheted up the pressure on Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI). With the clock ticking towards the critical date of June 15, Anutin is urging swift action against Nathaporn Toprayoon, a man cast in the shadow of controversy as part of the infamous Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative scandal. Why is June 15 so pivotal, you ask? This date marks the expiration of the statute of limitations on the alleged misdeeds, which include scandalous claims of financial wizardry gone awry. The scandal, colored in shades of money-laundering intrigue involving a real-life game of Monopoly with land sales at its core, is swirling around like a cinematic drama. At the heart, a figure linked to the past and laced with legal entanglements—Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, once the golden child leading the cooperative, now a name etched in controversy.…
In the midst of swirling allegations and courtroom drama, Upakit Pachariyangkun, a former senator, is shaping up to be quite the phoenix, rising defiantly from the ashes of a legal battle that once threatened his reputation. On a brisk day in March of 2023, under the glaring lights and the scrutiny of countless eyes, Upakit confidently defended himself against the dark clouds of accusations involving drug trafficking and money laundering. In a saga that reads like a courtroom thriller, Upakit has now set his sights on legal retribution of his own: he plans to sue Rangsiman Rome, a People’s Party MP, for defamation. This comes after a resounding acquittal by the Criminal Court, which cleared him of all charges related to money laundering and associating with a transnational criminal enterprise. The allegations, thrust into the limelight by Rangsiman during a heated general debate in the 2023 House of Representatives, painted…
In a political landscape abuzz with anticipation, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took center stage this past Wednesday, gracing the House of Representatives with her presence to unveil her government’s ambitious budget bill for the fiscal year 2026, set to commence this October. Amidst the hum of excitement, the 3.78-trillion-baht proposal sparked a lively four-day debate, culminating in a scheduled vote this coming Saturday. While the administration remains hopeful about the bill’s passage, the opposition People’s Party did not hesitate to express their reservations, ready to push back against a plan they believe falls short of addressing the pressing economic challenges of the day. Undeterred by criticism, Prime Minister Paetongtarn introduced the spending plan with a confident assertion that it was thoughtfully crafted based on a positive economic forecast. She painted a hopeful picture of economic expansion, foreseeing growth between 2.3% and 3.3% fueled by a surge in domestic spending and…
In an unsettling turn of events at the Kohsathon subdistrict headquarters in Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district, an anti-drug sports event became the backdrop for a shocking act of violence. The serene surroundings of a sports day designed to champion healthy living and combat the scourge of narcotics were shattered on Wednesday afternoon when a group of gunmen executed a brazen attack that left locals reeling. The commotion unfolded at precisely 2:20pm at the heart of the subdistrict, where a lively sports day had been in full swing. This initiative, aimed at rallying the community in the fight against drug abuse, drew an unexpected and alarming twist. A calculated invasion by at least six gunmen disrupted the festivities, causing panic and chaos among the attendees. Amid the chaos, courage shone through amid the horror. Among those injured were two gallant defence volunteers. Mussalim Dosa, aged 37, sustained a wound to his…
Imagine for a moment, the sun just peeking over the horizon, painting the sky with a swirling array of oranges and pinks as the quiet before the storm looms above the serene landscape of Chong Bok. Perched at the cusp of where Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos elegantly converge, this picturesque mountain pass became the unlikely backdrop for a tense and dramatic tableau in the early hours of Wednesday morning. It wasn’t the allure of the sunrise that piqued interest, rather, it was the thunderous echo of gunfire marking yet another page in the storied saga of a border dispute long simmering between Thailand and Cambodia. On this particular day, the unfortunate theater of conflict was set in the northeastern expanse of Ubon Ratchathani, where the air was briefly punctuated by the staccato of rifles. The Cambodian Ministry of Defense, from the relative calm of Phnom Penh, solemnly confirmed the casualty…
In the bustling city of Bangkok, amidst the honking horns and vibrant tuk-tuks, a curious case of technological trickery unfolded. Officers from the Technology Crime Suppression Division were seen presenting an innocent-looking data cable, believed to be the key player in a sinister plot that turned unsuspecting ATMs in Nonthaburi into surprising money-spouting companions. The ordinary act of withdrawing cash suddenly became a jackpot experience for a lucky few. At the heart of this high-tech heist story is Ivan Valchev, a 50-year-old Bulgarian gentleman who found himself in hot water, allegedly mingling with a crafty foreign gang. The plot was simple yet ingenious: swapping out a data cable inside the ATM to unleash a wave of free cash into eager hands. Valchev’s arrest took place in a rented house in the tranquil tambon Bang Phlap of Pak Kret district, leaving locals wide-eyed with disbelief. Pol Maj Gen Siriwat Deepor, helming…