Posts published in “Thailand”

Phuket is famous for sun, sand and smiles — but right now the island urgently needs something less glamorous and infinitely more vital: blood. The Phuket Red Cross Blood Centre (PRBC) has issued a high-priority appeal after type O supplies dropped to dangerously low levels. Hospitals across the province are feeling the squeeze, and donors — both residents and visitors — are being asked to roll up their sleeves and help keep the lifeline flowing. Why the rush? The numbers you should know As of 9:30 a.m. on September 4, the National Blood Service in Phuket reported a daily requirement of 390 units to meet demand. That breaks down to: 200 units of type O 100 units of type A 70 units of type AB 20 units of type B Type O is especially critical because it’s universally compatible in emergencies — when every minute counts, O+ and O- packs…

A startling scene at Kim Yong Market: French tourist stabs himself with scissors Hat Yai’s bustling Kim Yong Market – famed for its chicken rice and lively pavements – turned suddenly grim on the afternoon of September 4. Around 3:30pm, officers from Hat Yai Police Station were summoned after a foreign man reportedly stabbed himself outside a chicken rice restaurant in the market. Rescuers from the Tong Sia Siang Teung Foundation arrived quickly, and the footage and photos that circulated on local Facebook pages captured shocked onlookers and a tight-knit crowd gathering at the scene. Police found the wounded man, later identified as 25-year-old French national Anu, kneeling on the footpath with a severe wound to his stomach. First responders applied emergency aid on-site before he was rushed to a nearby hospital. Witnesses told police the incident was abrupt and inexplicable: the French visitor had been walking alone along the…

What began as a late-night encounter on Pattaya Beach turned ugly in the early hours of September 5, when a 25-year-old Indian tourist was left bloodied after being struck in the head with a high-heeled shoe. The incident — part squabble, part spectacle — unfolded around 3:00 a.m. along the neon-lit beachfront in Chon Buri province and has since landed both parties in the orbit of Pattaya police. The exchange that escalated According to the victim, identified as 25-year-old Suresh, the confrontation started when he approached a 29-year-old transgender sex worker to ask about prices. The sex worker reportedly quoted 1,000 baht for a short service and 4,000 baht for an overnight stay. Suresh agreed to the higher rate but then, investigators say, demanded to “verify” the woman’s gender before proceeding. Police statements indicate the situation rapidly deteriorated when Suresh allegedly touched the worker’s private parts. Feeling humiliated and provoked,…

Thailand’s political rollercoaster appears to be pulling into another dramatic station today as Anutin Charnvirakul is widely expected to be confirmed as the country’s next prime minister. House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha made it official: the parliamentary vote to choose the new prime minister will be held on September 5. The announcement caps a frenetic few days of alliance-shifting and strategic dealmaking that have left the Pheu Thai candidate, Chaikasem Nitisiri, trailing in the scramble for the top job. A minority government, but not a quiet one On Wednesday, September 3, Anutin signalled he would head a minority government — a move that surprised some and delighted others. He also revealed he had secured the backing of the People’s Party, a development that appears to have tipped the balance in his favour. Rather than a broad coalition spanning dozens of ministries, this arrangement points to a more curated power-sharing…

Late on the night of September 4, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra quietly boarded a private jet at Don Mueang’s MJets terminal and touched down in Dubai — a trip he says was for medical care. The unexpected departure set off a flurry of headlines, social media chatter and accusations that he might be trying to dodge a looming court date. Thaksin, for his part, has promised to be back in Thailand by September 8 to face the music in court on September 9. The legal clouds hanging over Thaksin are hardly new. He faces charges under the Computer Crime Act and Section 112 of the Criminal Code — Thailand’s stringent lèse majesté law — tied to a 2015 interview he gave to South Korea’s The Chosun Media about the 2014 coup. On top of that, questions about his privileged stay at the Police General Hospital while serving time…

Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has put the nation on high alert as a robust monsoon system barrels through — bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and the risk of flash floods to 43 provinces. If you’ve been wondering why umbrellas and sandbags suddenly became trendy, blame a persistent monsoon trough cutting across the lower North, upper Central and lower Northeastern regions, combined with a steady southwest monsoon sweeping the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand. Why this matters This weather setup increases the danger of sudden flash floods and violent runoff after intense downpours. TMD warns everyone in the affected provinces to stay alert, especially those in low-lying or flood-prone areas and communities along rivers and drains. If thunderclouds roll in fast and the sky darkens, don’t take risks — move to higher ground and avoid driving through standing water. Marine bulletin — mariners, listen up Sea conditions…

Bangkok is quietly putting a new, very practical jewel into its urban crown: a covered walkway along South Sathorn Road that promises to make the daily commute less sweaty, less soggy and—dare we say—even a little more pleasant. On September 3, Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stopped by the site to check progress, calling this project a flagship initiative that aligns with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) smart city ambitions. One continuous shelter, 1.6+ kilometres of comfort The new covered walkway will stitch together Lumpini MRT station and the Chong Nonsi Skywalk, spanning more than 1.6 kilometres through one of the city’s busiest corridors. Think of it as a pedestrian lifeline for office workers grabbing an early coffee, condominium residents heading to fitness classes, and anyone who’d prefer walking without wielding an umbrella like an accessory to a battle scene. More than just a roof, the walkway will shield people from Bangkok’s…