Today, as we step into another February day, things are getting a bit chilly down here in Thailand, thanks to those cool breezes blowing from the north. It’s time for our annual game of ‘How Many Layers Can You Really Take Off Once the Sun Comes Out?’. The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) just gave us our weather tea for February 4th, and, oh boy, it looks like Mother Nature is in quite the mood. There’s a fresh, crisp wave of cold air making its way from China, and it’s splashing right into our lives and wardrobes. We’ve got ourselves a bit of an Arctic guest with the moderate high-pressure system straight from China, chilling in northeast Thailand and lounging around the South China Sea. This cold air knows how to make an entrance, sweeping through with some feisty winds and dropping the temps. For our friends up in the…
Posts published in “Thailand”
It was a smoggy Tuesday morning in the vibrant city of Bangkok when the Air Quality Information Centre of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) sounded the alarm. The air across the sprawling metropolis was more than just a whiff of the usual city hustle; it was tinged with an invisible but insidious enemy—pollution. Despite Bangkok’s usual charms, its air was certainly not worthy of a postcard. As dawn stretched its rosy fingers over the city, the daily ballet of tuk-tuks, motorbikes, and bustling commuters was performed under a veil of concern. The numbers were in, and they were not pretty. The city’s PM2.5 levels, those tiny troublemakers with a penchant for entering lungs and bloodstream, averaged a worrisome 44.9 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). This measurement, just calculated in the fresh hours of 5 am to 7 am, ominously exceeded Thailand’s safe threshold of 37.5 µg/m³. To put this into…
In a resounding echo of political resilience, the ever-charismatic Narumon Pinyosinwat has clinched her second term at the helm of the Kla Dharma Party! Amidst a whirlwind of political maneuvering and a stern promise to steer clear of being a mere puppet for any major political entity, Narumon’s re-election has set the stage for a dynamic chapter in the party’s journey. As the party gathered for its annual assembly on a rather eventful Monday, members rallied behind Ms. Narumon, reaffirming their trust in her leadership. Alongside her, Phai Lik, the determined MP for Kamphaeng Phet, was appointed as the new secretary-general, ushering in a fresh breeze of synergy in the party’s operations. Captivatingly, the enigmatic Capt Thammanat Prompow, a former agriculture minister and often regarded as the intrinsic force within the party, was reinstated as the chief adviser. His indelible influence and deep-rooted connections have often been the stuff of…
As the cool breeze of December sweeps through Phuket’s vibrant airport, travelers bustle with excitement and anticipation for the adventures that await. Behind the scenes, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has been diligently working on an initiative that promises not just to spur wanderlust, but to spare wallets everywhere during the travel-heavy times of the year. Driven by a directive from none other than Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, CAAT’s prime mission is to combat the soaring airfares that often accompany peak travel periods, like the exuberant Songkran holiday. Aware that high ticket prices can clip even the most eager traveler’s wings, CAAT Director Suttipong Kongpool stepped forward with an announcement that aims to keep airfares in check. And just how is CAAT planning to perform such a Herculean task? By instituting a savvy price ceiling. This ingenious cap is determined based on flight distance,…
In a dynamic move set to revolutionize the Thai e-commerce landscape, the Commerce Ministry has teamed up with 16 robust government agencies and some of the digital world’s titans to purge the market of products that don’t quite make the grade. This collective initiative envisions a sweeping transformation that will shield unwary consumers from potentially dodgy deals, all thanks to the vigilant efforts spearheaded by Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan. Picture this: you’re scrolling through an online marketplace, your virtual shopping cart at the ready, when suddenly an alert flashes—beware of such warnings no longer! With the ministry’s new notice and takedown policy, policies of the past become tales of yesteryears. Products that dare to masquerade without meeting standards will be shown the door, quicker than you can say “non-compliant”! It’s a bold step aimed at injecting trust and quality assurance back into our digital shopping sprees. But wait, there’s more!…
On an eventful Sunday, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met in Malaysia, sharing a cordial handshake that marked the beginning of an insightful discussion. The rendezvous, vividly captured in a photo shared by Anwar Ibrahim’s Facebook page, has sparked intrigue about the topics that graced their conversation—most notably the situation in Myanmar and the burgeoning world of cryptocurrencies. Anwar, in a social media post dated February 2nd, hinted at the nature of their productive dialogue, which included the intricate dynamics unfolding in Myanmar and the burgeoning impact of cryptocurrencies. While the specifics of this high-level conversation remained under wraps, the picture painted was one of mutual understanding and collaboration, adorned with the inclusion of former Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo, who joined the meeting later. The gathering is believed to have taken place in the bustling heart of Kuala Lumpur, a serendipitous venue,…
As the sun cast its morning glow over Thailand, an eclectic mix of news dominated Tuesday’s headlines. At the heart of the stories stood a brave helicopter, valiantly dousing the relentless forest fires in the eastern province of Trat. The striking image captured by Jakkrit Waewkhlaihong depicted more than just a firefighting marvel but symbolized humanity’s ongoing quest to tame the fiery wilds. Beyond these mountainous terrains, a new kind of battle ensued silently in the skies – a battle against the invisible foe of air pollution. As per the insights from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), Tuesday morning unfolded with both sighs of relief and cautious frowns. Out of Thailand’s sprawling 77 provinces, people in 41 of them awoke to breathe deeply without a worry, their skies whispering promises of safe air. However, elsewhere, particularly in parts of the North, the Central Plain, and the East,…
In the vibrant city of Bangkok, where bustling streets are frequently adorned with tea shops and vibrant stalls, today’s incident turned an otherwise ordinary day into one for the books. An 18-year-old found himself on the receiving end of an unexpected altercation, courtesy of four agitated teenagers. Picture this: a simple misstep outside a quaint tea shop in Bangkok’s Nong Khang Phlu district led to a minor injury and a tale worth recounting. The sequence of chaos began with the unmistakable sound of a stumble and an ensuing explicit expletive. What should have been a moments’ embarrassment instead escalated into a situation that seemed straight out of a Bangkok drama. The group of teenagers took umbrage at the language and decided the best course of action was assault. Call it a peculiar blend of cultural expectations and teenage bravado. Located at the entrance of Soi Phetkasem 108, this verbal trigger…
Hold onto your hats, folks, because the gold market is dazzling brighter than ever, sparking excitement among enthusiasts and aficionados alike! Our beloved lustrous metal has caught the limelight yet again, crossing a mind-boggling 45,000 baht. This spectacular news comes hot off the press from the Gold Traders Association (GTA). Picture this: as of February 3, gold jewelry is flaunting a shiny new price tag of 45,250 baht per baht weight, with prices escalating by a noteworthy 150 baht in just a single day. The drama began early as the sun rose, precisely at 9:07 am, when the GTA delivered their first announcement of this golden hike. Gold bars, the timeless favorite, were changing hands at a buying price of 44,650 baht and a selling rate of 44,750 baht per baht weight. For those craving that extra bling, the shimmering 96.5% gold jewelry was being purchased at 43,842.72 baht and…
Amidst the serene, mountainous landscapes of Tak province, a scene unfolded that could have easily belonged to a high-stakes suspense thriller. On the calm morning of February 1, the usual tranquility was disrupted when a combined force of soldiers from the Ratchamanu Task Force, border patrol police, and local administrative officials set up a meticulous operation along the Thai-Myanmar border in tambon Mae Ramat. But this was no ordinary mission – their agenda was to tackle the growing menace of call centre scams that had been slyly creeping across the region. The crack team established checkpoints and it wasn’t long before their vigilance bore fruit. They spotted a Toyota pickup truck and, upon inspection, unearthed a shocking treasure trove of illicit goods: a staggering 1,251 mobile phones, 274 SIM cards, and 19 computers. Standing nervously beside his vehicle, the driver – only identified as 45-year-old Tid – could hardly deny…