Welcome to a journey on the tarmac where convenience meets innovation! Motorists, rev your engines because the gleaming new slice of asphalt heaven known as M81 is now open to whisk you away from tambon Wangtaku in Nakhon Pathom’s bustling heartland to the serene tambon Nong Khao in Kanchanaburi’s picturesque Tha Muang district. Picture this: you’re gliding along on Wednesday, the sun is shining, and life on the M81 is breezy and, oh yes, gloriously free of charge! Amid the festive cheer, imagine cruising through the countryside without the tug on your wallet. The Deputy Transport Minister, the amiable Mr. Surapong Piyachote, has played Santa, declaring a toll-free passage over the New Year holiday stretch until next Wednesday. The ribbon-cutting ceremony wasn’t just your average affair; it marked a milestone in connectivity between the illustrious Nonthaburi’s Bang Yai district to the historic charm of Kanchanaburi province. Let’s talk perks, because,…
Posts published in “Thailand”
As the clock ticks down to the New Year, the air is thick with retrospection. Among the myriad stories that have dotted the Thai landscape, a handful of jaw-dropping crimes have truly stolen the spotlight, leaving citizens both fascinated and appalled. Here lies an anthology of five such tales, each more riveting than the last, a testament to the fact that, sometimes, reality can be stranger than fiction. A Teen’s Rampage in Retail Paradise When thoughts turn to Bangkok’s Paragon shopping mall, one imagines a paradise of retail indulgence. Yet on October 3rd, that tranquility was shattered when a 14-year-old assailant unleashed terror upon unsuspecting shoppers. Pandemonium ensued as bullets flew on the M floor, claiming the lives of a diverse trio: a Thai local, a Chinese visitor, and a Myanmar national, leaving four others grievously wounded. An intense manhunt culminated in a surprising revelation: the suspect, a perplexed teenager…
Imagine this: you’re zipping through the bustling cityscape of Bangkok on the BTS Green Line, the city’s answer to lightning-fast urban travel. There’s something undeniably euphoric about travelling above the city, watching the rich tapestry of street life blur beneath you. But what’s this? News has just rolled in, and it’s time to reach for your wallets, dear commuters! The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has just announced a zesty change that’s set to kick off on the cool morning of January 2nd – a new fare for the Green Line’s eagerly anticipated second extension routes. With a sprinkle of excitement and a dash of dread, riders will bid adieu to free rides, embracing instead a flat fare fiesta of 15 baht a trip. That’s right – just 15 baht to glide along the 12.8km from Bearing to Kheha in Samut Prakan or float over the 18.4km stretch from Mo Chit…
Imagine this: a quaint, bustling school football field in the heart of Udon Thani, Thailand, where the whistle of the coach echos through the excited chatter of young athletes. Here, the beautiful game is cherished, a place where childhood dreams are meant to take flight amidst goalposts and teamwork. But beneath this veneer of innocence and camaraderie, a scandal has unfurled like a dark cloud over the green pitch, turning the trust into turmoil and dreams into nightmares. In a gripping turn of events straight out of a movie script, five brave children, aged a mere 10 to 13, have boldly taken a stance against a betrayal most foul. They have journeyed with their families, riding a wave of hope and the search for justice, to the doorstep of the renowned Pavena Hongsakula, a sentinel for the vulnerable at the Pavena Foundation for Women and Children. On a fateful Tuesday,…
With a flourish of determination and an ambition to bring dynamic evolution to policy-making, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin orchestrated a gathering of minds beneath the stately aura of Government House. The occasion? A prodigious meeting destined to breathe new life into the country’s 20-year national strategy, a framework whose original blueprints were carefully penned by predecessors but now cry out for innovation in an era that dances to the unpredictable rhythms of change. Picture the scene: the Prime Minister, with a keen eye on the ever-shifting geopolitical chessboard, presides with vigor over a committee brimming with the nation’s distinguished leaders. Comrades in change, such as House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, and the defense’s permanent secretary, joined Mr. Srettha in spirited dialogue, dissecting the very fabric of the long-term strategy birthed on October 8, 2018, under the watchful governance of the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration, a strategy…
Oh, the shifting winds of political intrigue—haven’t they always been akin to a high-stakes drama series? Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin found himself at the heart of a particularly gripping episode, one brimming with controversy and the shifting of justice-supervision duties that would make even a seasoned scriptwriter’s head spin! So, what’s the scoop? Picture this: you’ve got Somsak, who’s in charge of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and doing his thing when, suddenly, he’s handed a blinder. His oversight powers are whisked away to Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga in a move that left the corridors of power buzzing with whispers and theories. Insiders have been furiously pointing fingers at the trigger for such a seismic shift, and the arrow seems to land squarely on how Somsak has been juggling the fiery hot potato of questions surrounding certain… ahem, “privileges” reportedly cooked up for former…
A revolution in healthcare is unfolding, and it’s bridging the distance between Thailand and its citizens living across the globe. The Ministry of Public Health, under the leadership of Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, is transforming patient care with a futuristic vision: introducing telemedicine services to approximately one million Thais residing overseas. Imagine having expert medical advice and diagnosis at your fingertips, no matter where on Earth you might be – this is the promise that Minister Cholnan is dedicated to fulfilling. The plan operates under the wings of Thailand’s universal healthcare coverage, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity in health services. The beauty of this innovative venture lies in its recognition that geographic boundaries should not restrict access to quality healthcare. Amidst the complexities of life abroad, the yearning for a touch of home, especially in times of need, becomes more poignant. This new policy echoes a profound statement by…
Imagine the enduring, sun-soaked beaches of Koh Samui, where the emerald ocean kisses golden sands and whispers tales of intrigue to any soul savvy enough to listen. It was here amidst this slice of tropical paradise that a story unfolded—a tale not of serenity, but of overstay and intrigue. A Russian pseudo-psychologist with a penchant for defiance found himself a protagonist in an unsought drama that would not only capture the imagination but also serve as a cautionary fable of the modern wanderer. It was an average day on Samui, enhanced only by the lazy sway of coconut palms and the rhythmic murmur of waves, when the tranquility of the island was punctuated by the brisk action of Thai immigration police. Their target: Dmitry Odintsov, a 41-year-old Russian national whose journey had landed him adrift in the tides of Thai immigration law. His crime? Casually overstaying his welcome by a…
Imagine, if you will, an escape so daring, so fraught with perils, it could rival the plot of a blockbuster thriller. This is the true story of how one-in-three amongst 525 courageous Thais recaptured their freedom from the menacing clutches of call scam syndicates in the shadowy alleys of Laukkaing—a town ensnared in northern Myanmar’s web of intrigue. On a November eve, the first glimmer of hope pierced the darkness as the Pha Muang Task Force ushered the liberated onto an army bus in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai. Hearts heavy yet hopeful, they were the picture of resilience, a poignant snapshot captured forever (Photo: Pha Muang Task Force). The plot thickens as we delve into the heart of this harrowing tale. It’s a Wednesday evening like no other as top brass, including deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, tune into a teleconference from the pulsing heart of…
Picture this: The onset of a new year, festooned with reds and golds, where resolutions are made with an equal mix of hope and trepidation. It’s also a time when the dread of bills—those pesky monthly reminders of life’s recurring dues—begins to loom. But this year, the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has decided to add a little sparkle to the season by launching a campaign that’s like a warm hug for your wallet. Under the twinkling lights of mutual goodwill and festive cheer, the PWA has crafted the “PWA Extends Period for 3 Recurring Bills Payment” campaign. A shimmering New-Year-resoluteness of their own, PWA’s initiative is a heartfelt response to the Ministry of Interior’s call to sprinkle the festive season with joy and economic relief. This campaign is not just about numbers on a balance sheet; it’s about enhancing lives and easing the worries that keep more than 2 million…