Welcome to the kaleidoscope of colors and causes that was Bangkok Pride 2023! This exhilarating celebration in June was more than just a jubilant parade of rainbows and glitter; it was a powerful declaration of determination and solidarity. Imagine beating drums, waves of vibrant flags, and a community united with a singular vision – the promotion of gender recognition, same-sex marriage, rights for sex workers, and universal welfare for all under the broad and beautiful LGBTQIA2S+ umbrella. The city’s streets danced to the rhythm of progress as thousands thronged, each step a stamp on stigma, each cheer a chorus for change. The Thai House, breaking news from within its esteemed walls, recently resonated with unprecedented energy as it gave the green light to not one, but four landmark bills! This legislative quartet, aimed at amending the Civil and Commercial Code, has set the stage for same-sex marriages to bloom in…
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Have you heard the latest buzz shaking up the nightlife in Thailand? The night owls among us might soon be hooting with joy, for none other than Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul is spearheading a move that could push last call back to the unholy hour of 4am! And it’s not just any old bars that are getting this VIP treatment, we’re talking about a host of lively pubs and bars flourishing far from the neon glow of designated zones. Strap in, because this could be the game-changer for night-time merrymaking! Imagine strolling through the bustling streets of Chiang Mai as the twilight fades. There’s a palpable buzz in the air, one that could intensify thanks to a policy designed to jet fuel the economy with a shot of adrenaline (or should I say, more nightlife?). Initially, this nocturnal nirvana was trialed in hip hotspots like…
Imagine the buzz and anticipation that filled the air as over 800,000 savvy members of the Social Security Fund geared up for a historic rendezvous on a sunny Sunday morning. The occasion? To flex their democratic muscles in the first-ever election of Social Security Board members. It was a landmark moment and the talk of the town, as noted by the Social Security Office’s esteemed secretary-general Boonsong Thapchaiyuth. Hoards of members, out of an impressive ensemble of 12 million, had inked their intent to vote. I bet you, the number was startling but just a drop in the ocean of the SSF’s vast membership. Let’s talk money, honey. A cool 207 million baht was plunked down for this electoral extravaganza. The board, akin to an all-star cast, features luminaries from the crème de la crème of Thai ministries such as labour, finance, interior, and public health, not to forget the…
As the political theater unfolds like a high-octane drama series, we’re treated to the latest act featuring the charismatic Korn Chatikavanij. Once an eminent figure within the venerable ranks of Thailand’s Democrat Party, Korn has now flung wide the doors of his political destiny, stepping into the freewheeling world of independence after a tumultuous dance with the Chartpattanakla Party that saw as many twists and turns as a Chiang Mai mountain road. Picture this – a seasoned political craftsman leaving his roots in the Democrat Party in 2020, just when the party found itself in a leadership limbo, shuffling for someone to fill the shoes of Abhisit Vejjajiva post the 2019 election showdown. Korn, brimming with optimism, tossed his hat into the ring, amidst the heady cocktail of gossip, speculation, and the intoxicating allure of power. Alas, fate had a different script in store. It was Jurin Laksanawisit, Chuan Leekpai’s…
Welcome to a wild Saturday night that took a turn into an episode of “Cops” in Phetchaburi’s Ban Lat district, where the local police haven’t just thrown a wrench into party plans—they’ve tossed in the whole toolbox. Imagine the scene, where the rhythms of music bump against the walls of a popular local resort, flashing lights not from a disco ball, but from police cruisers illuminate the night as unsuspecting revelers suddenly find themselves in the spotlight of a rather unexpected event. In the wee hours of the morning, when most of the world was lost in slumber, over 60 teenagers found themselves caught in the net of a police raid that turned their drug-filled escapade into an abrupt nightmare. It must’ve been a sight to see these young night-owls suddenly turned into wide-eyed, jittery parakeets as the boys and girls in brown stormed their once-cozy haven. Our heroes of…
Picture this: The sun was cresting the horizon over the emerald waters that thorugh the Surin Islands, transforming the Andaman Sea into a canvas of breathtaking hues. Aquatic adventurers, with their hearts brimming with excitement, had set sail aboard the stately vessel Porn Sawan, eager for the underwater escapades that awaited them in Phangnga’s rich underwater realms. But fate took a drastic turn that fateful Saturday morning. Just as the warm Thai sun began its climb into the sky, the sailing conditions shifted from serene to sinister. The Porn Sawan, with its 14 eager passengers, met its match against the tempestuous sea near Torinla island—a picturesque locale affectionately known as Koh Kai to the locals. This expedition, intended for the annals of delightful marine memories, morphed into a suspenseful tale of survival when, amidst the azure depths, the boat foundered and began to succumb to the inexorable embrace of the…
In the quaint, picturesque province of Phetchaburi, a tale of intrigue and deceit recently unfolded that could rival the plot of any soap opera. Nattasilp Chaiwisit and his wife, Nattawanon, both seemingly unassuming characters, found themselves the masterminds behind a deceptive Ponzi scheme that swindled an eye-watering 54 million baht ($1.61 million USD approx.) from the pockets of 73 individuals. The saga began to unravel on a sunny Friday when the couple, who had become Phetchaburi’s own Bonnie and Clyde, were flanked by an entourage of police officers following their long-awaited arrest. Their mugshots, a testament to their downfall, were plastered across the local press, the story an alarming reminder to the unsuspecting public. The narrative of their criminal enterprise stretches back to 2017, when the couple, driven by greed, weaved a web of lies and deceit, operating through a Facebook group whimsically named Aom Ngen Baan Nam Whan. It…
In a gripping turn of events fit for a blockbuster thriller, the bustling streets of Bangkok bore witness to an unfolding saga of alleged betrayal and nefarious schemes within a business empire worth over a billion baht. At the heart of this scandal is Feng-Hao Chang, a Taiwanese tycoon entangled in an insidious plot suggesting blood ties are no shield against the allure of avarice and power. Under the vigilant gaze of law enforcers, Feng-Hao Chang, accompanied by a duo of intimidating figures—a grizzled retired navy admiral and a former navy Seal with a shadowy past—were escorted into the solemn halls of the Criminal Court. As if plucked from a gritty crime series, the scene was rife with a sense of foreboding. However, unlike a suspenseful episode ending in a cliffhanger, the court unfurled a decisive hand, detaining the trio without bail in the impenetrable confines of the Bangkok Remand…
As the clock ticks towards the end of the year, Bangkok’s buzzing streets and vibrant skyline are set to witness an extension in the throbbing pulse of its transportation heartbeat—the MRT, also affectionately known as the lifeline of the city’s transit system. Gearing up for a night where the entire city comes alive to welcome the new year, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has decided to sprinkle a little extra convenience onto the revelry. For the New Year’s countdown delight, the Blue Line train stands ready at Tao Poon station, preparing to carry the city’s excited partygoers into the early hours of the new dawn. Imagine basking in the festivity of New Year’s Eve without needing to glance anxiously at your watch. Thanks to MRTA’s season’s gift to the city, trains on the Blue, Purple, Yellow, and Pink lines will sweep through the city until the wee…
As the orange hues of the setting sun kissed the facade of the iconic Democracy Monument in Bangkok, there was a buzz of activity that resonated through the Thai capital. (Image courtesy of the talented Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) The evening sky, acting as a theatrical backdrop, provided the perfect setting for what could be considered as the heralding of a new chapter in Thailand’s governance. It has been announced with a flourish of anticipation that a fresh team tasked with the monumental challenge of crafting a new constitution is soon to be assembled. This assembly, a melting pot of regional wisdom and specialized knowledge, will consist of 77 representatives sprinkled from the vast expanse of Thailand’s provinces, alongside 23 additional individuals selected for their expertise in various pertinent fields, declares Nikon Jamnong, who spearheads the sub-committee dedicated to this constitutional transformation. The makeup of this assembly is nothing short of a…