As Monday’s sun rose to illuminate the bustling streets of Thailand, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department buzzed with the fervent energy of an imminent press conference. The agenda? Revelations from a nationwide road monitoring initiative that started on the breathless precipice of the new year, December 29th. It wasn’t just numbers they were declaring; rather, these were stark tales scripted on tarmac across the country. Enter Deputy national police chief Pol General Surachate Hakparn, a man who reads the stark statistics with the gravity they warrant. “On the Sabbath day alone,” he declaimed, with a solemn nod to the third day of their vigilant surveillance, “our roads were the stage for 424 separate sonnets of misfortune.” Imagine: 51 lives snuffed out in the prime of existence, 416 others ensnared in the web of trauma and injury. And the villain in this modern-day tragedy? None other than the notorious fiend…
Posts published in “Thailand”
The morning was awash with the spirit of optimism as the Prime Minister, flanked by an entourage of high-ranking officials, made a ceremonious visit to the resplendent halls of the Palace. It was a day steeped in tradition and good tidings, with each member of the delegation inscribing heartfelt hopes and dreams into a book dedicated to the ushering in of the New Year—a tome that symbolized the collective aspirations of a nation poised on the cusp of another twelve months of possibilities. Amid the reverence and the grandeur of the New Year’s proceedings, Srettha, accompanied by his wife, embarked on a sacred journey to Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Ratchaworawihan. The hallowed grounds of the temple resonated with the solemnity of their mission—to seek blessings and offer their reverence and sustenance to the venerable Supreme Patriarch. It was an encounter that transcended the mere exchange of pleasantries, bridging the secular and…
In a twist of legal drama, the halls of justice reverberated with the clang of a gavel as a young soul found himself momentarily unfettered. The courtroom was abuzz on a fateful Monday when an order cascaded down, freeing a 14-year-old from the cold grasp of detention. The clock had struck a resounding peal; the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection investigators had strolled past the Sunday night deadline without a case, and thus, unwittingly, dropped the bars that caged the adolescent. Now, this wasn’t just any boy. The one at the heart of this story had seen the wretched gloom of a once vibrant luxury mall turned into a tableau of horror, all unfolding in the bustling heart of downtown Bangkok. His was a tale wrapped in tragedy and perplexity, finding himself in the stern care of the Galya Rajanagarindra Institute’s psychiatric ward shortly after that unforgettable, ghastly mass…
Imagine strolling through the vibrant, bustling streets of Bangkok on a sun-drenched December morning, feeling a sense of history being crafted as you watch individuals line up to cast their votes, reshaping the Social Security landscape in a democratic flourish. On December 24th, 2023, that’s precisely the momentous occasion that played out as subscribers of the Thai Social Security Fund finally had the chance to select their champions to safeguard their welfare on the Social Security Board. It was an electoral debut, etching a new milestone into Thailand’s annals of social security progression. Now, let’s concoct a distillation of the most riveting and impactful labour and social narratives that captivated us throughout the year… Democracy in Action: The Inauguration of Voice The once elusive dream for the public to take the reins in managing the Social Security Fund turned tangible in 2023, with a heralded election ushering in an era…
As the year 2023 drew to a close, the echoes of both joy and discontentment could be felt across the nation, painting a picture more multifaceted than a Monet masterpiece. The National Institute of Development Administration, affectionately known as Nida Poll, put their finger on the pulse of the nation’s heart through a comprehensive survey. They dialed numbers and engaged in earnest conversation with 1,310 individuals from the lush highlands in the north to the balmy coasts of the south, cutting across a spectrum of ages, professions, and socio-economic backgrounds. The sweetness of familial bonds and the security of employment without the chains of debt or the shadow of ill health had 42.75% of respondents humming a melody of moderate happiness. On the other hand, the bitter brew of economic downturn made 27.86% balk at the mention of happiness. The high cost of living, low farm produce prices, and the…
Imagine this: on a seemingly typical Saturday evening in the Muang district of Phitsanulok, the tranquil atmosphere was abruptly shattered. Out of nowhere, a pickup truck transformed into an unguided missile, hurtling into a multitude of vehicles, leaving an astonishing scene of metal and mayhem in its wake. As if choreographed by a director of disaster movies, passersby couldn’t help but be witness to this spectacle of destruction (Photo: Chinnawat Singha). But this was just the tip of the iceberg. As it turns out, Saturday was a notorious day on the streets across the Land of Smiles. And please, folks, don’t let the nickname fool you – the day was anything but smiling. There were 385 calamities dubbed “road accidents” shaking up the nation, and boy, oh boy, the aftermath was a sobering collage of numbers: 404 souls injured, 37 unfortunate beings departed from this world. Stats wizard and Justice…
Picture the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, its vibrant streets humming with activity. Then, amidst this daily dance of life, there’s a somber moment of stillness as a woman extends her arm to receive a flu shot, a scene set against the bureaucratic backdrop of the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road. But this is no ordinary flu season—it’s a tapestry of afflictions that has unfurled across Thailand this year, interweaving the unpredictable patterns of influenza, the biting sting of haemorrhagic dengue fever, and the relentless surge of Covid-19. These illnesses have painted an intricate mosaic of public health concerns, as described by the revered Department of Disease Control. Dr. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, the department’s acting helmsman, charts a map of maladies from his authoritative desk. From the outset of the year, through to the waning days of December, a staggering tally of 460,325 individuals succumbed to the clutches of influenza—a…
Once upon a not-so-distant yesterday, nestled between the whispering waves of nostalgia in Phichit province, a gold mining enterprise by the name of Akara Resources unfurled its industrious arms under the watchful skies. But not all that glitters is gold, my friends, for this tale takes a twist into the thickets of law and order. Let’s delve into the curious case of Akara Resources and its entourage, caught in the web of legal entanglements as thick as the jungle surrounding their golden venture. It was back in the simmering summer of 2016 when detectives from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) donned their sleuthing hats and embarked on a journey to unravel the allegations that Akara Resources—alongside three intriguing individuals—had trespassed upon lands not theirs to claim. Now, these weren’t your run-of-the-mill trespassers; we’re spinning a yarn about Pakorn Sukhum, the CEO; Michael Patrick Monaghan, the COO; and Cherdsak Atha-arun,…
Gather ’round, dear Starfish—true aficionados of the dazzling Thai-German star, Patrick-Nattawat Finkler, or as he’s adored in the Mandarin-speaking world, 尹浩宇 (Yin Haoyu). The spotlight is on Patrick, our beloved Asian sensation who’s making waves deep into the seas of the highly competitive Chinese boy-band arena. Imagine the scene: the clock strikes 1 am, December 30th. The air at Suvarnabhumi Airport is charged with anticipation. A sea of fans, eyes twinkling with excitement, erupts in cheers as Patrick steps onto Thai soil, returning to wrap his Starfish in a New Year’s embrace, ready to dazzle and mesmerize with a show unlike any other. There’s something about Patrick’s velvety tones that transcends language barriers—his voice, a rich symphony capable of beckoning even the most distant hearts closer to the stage. His performance? Nothing short of electric, promising to captivate all of CentralWorld with his larger-than-life presence this December 31st. Our beloved…