Pattaya has rolled out its much-anticipated annual flu vaccination drive, turning a routine public-health task into a community-minded celebration of prevention. The campaign kicked off on Thursday, August 28, at the Pattaya Community Medical Centre (Wat Boon Kanjanaram), where deputy mayors Wuttisak Rermkitjakan and Krisana Boonsawat dropped by to cheer on medical staff, high-five volunteers and meet residents lining up for their free jabs. Organised by the Public Health Services Division of Pattaya’s Health and Environment Office, the drive aims to make flu protection easy, quick and—most importantly—free. The goal is straightforward: reduce illness, blunt the seasonal spike in cases and build community-level immunity so Pattaya’s families, workers and visitors can enjoy the city with fewer sniffles and more smiles. City officials stress that the initiative aligns with the Better Pattaya policy, a broader push to improve public health and wellbeing across the city. What happened at Wat Boon Kanjanaram…
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Get ready to rethink weekend road trips—Bangkok to Kanchanaburi might soon feel like a short, scenic hop instead of a half-day slog. Thailand’s much-anticipated M81 motorway, a 96-kilometre ribbon of asphalt stretching from Bang Yai in Nonthaburi all the way to Kanchanaburi, is rolling into its final stages and expected to be fully open before the end of the year. The Department of Highways says only the finishing touches remain. Director-General Apirat Chaiwongnoi confirmed crews are wrapping up road systems and maintenance work so the motorway can move out of trial mode and into full service. Designed to slice through four provinces—Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi—the M81 blends six-lane and four-lane sections to balance capacity with terrain and demand. But this isn’t just a wider road. Think smarter: the route will be kitted out with modern traffic-management features such as M-Flow automatic toll collection, speed detection systems and roadside…
Thailand’s Political Rollercoaster: Anutin Throws His Hat into the Interim-PM Ring Thailand has a new twist in its never-dull political drama. Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul surprised observers by declaring himself ready to lead an interim government after the Constitutional Court removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the premiership. With crucial backing from the opposition People’s Party, Anutin says he’s canvassing allies and — if the arithmetic holds — could shepherd Thailand through a short, high-stakes transition. At a press conference at Bhumjaithai headquarters on August 29, Anutin announced his willingness to assume the premiership for a temporary coalition. He emphasized the short-term nature of the plan: the interim government would govern for no more than four months before dissolving the House and paving the way for fresh political arrangements. It’s a compact, deadline-driven strategy that aims to offer a quick exit from paralysis rather than a long-lived compromise government. Numbers, Names and…
On Wednesday, August 27, a quiet ripple turned into a noticeable stir across Thailand’s activist circles and social feeds: dozens of prisoners convicted under the country’s controversial lese majeste law were released after royal pardons issued earlier this year. The Corrections Department confirmed the mass release, which included a cross-section of people long familiar to human-rights monitors — activists, artists, a grandmother, and even a mother who had been jailed while pregnant. Faces behind the headlines One of the most striking stories belongs to 65-year-old Anchan Preelert, a former civil servant who had received a jaw-dropping sentence of 43 years and six months for sharing 29 audio clips from underground radio host Banpot that were deemed insulting to the monarchy. After serving eight years, four months, and 19 days, Anchan walked free from Bangkok’s Central Women’s Correctional Institution, reentering a world that has shifted dramatically during her time inside. (Photo…
A quiet late‑afternoon drive turned tragic on August 28 when a speeding pickup truck ploughed into a motorcyclist at a U‑turn in Khao Lak, Phang Nga. The crash — which occurred at about 5:15pm near the Kukkak Subdistrict Health Centre on Phetkasem Road, en route to Thai Mueang — left the rider dead at the scene and the community shaken once again. What happened at the U‑turn Police from Khao Lak Station were called to the scene and found a badly mangled motorcycle and the wreckage of a red Isuzu pickup truck bearing Phuket plates. The driver of the pickup, identified as Samart Chiplek, was reportedly driving in the right‑hand lane at speeds in excess of 100 kilometres per hour. As the pickup approached the U‑turn, the motorcycle — which had been parked at the turning point and was preparing to head toward Thai Mueang — was struck with devastating…
The sky over Thailand is handing out umbrellas — whether you want one or not. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a blunt heads-up: heavy rain, flash floods and dangerous runoff are set to batter large swathes of the country from today, August 30, through Wednesday, September 3. The northern and northeastern regions are forecast to bear the brunt, and even Bangkok looks likely to trade commuter sunshine for a soggy commute — chance of rain there jumps from about 40% on August 29 to roughly 70% by August 31. What’s driving the deluge? A low-pressure system forming over northern Vietnam is teaming up with a mild southwesterly wind feeding in from the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. That meteorological mix is supercharging rains across much of the nation. Adding complexity, a tropical depression was detected early today in the central South China Sea, about 210 kilometres…
Pattaya’s famous Walking Street — a neon-drenched artery where partygoers weave between bars, food stalls and the occasional street performer — turned raw and chaotic late on August 28 when a night out ended in an alleged sexual assault and a violent confrontation. According to witness accounts and local reports, Italian tourist Francesco Lenza, 46, was walking back to his hotel with his Thai girlfriend, Teerada, 26, after most venues had shut for the night. The couple stopped for street food when the mood of the evening suddenly shifted. An Uzbek national, later named by police as Yerkin Abdesshov, allegedly groped Teerada. Lenza confronted the man — an understandable reaction that set off a chain of events few people expect on a casual night stroll. Instead of defusing the situation, the confrontation escalated when another Uzbek national, identified as Mukhtae Lbahan, reportedly struck Lenza in the face with enough force…
Vietjet Thailand has just pressed the accelerator on a bold growth plan that could reshape short-haul air travel in and out of the Kingdom. The low-cost carrier, led by Chief Executive Woranate Laprabang, confirmed an aggressive fleet upgrade this year with nine new Boeing 737-8 jets on order — a clear signal it intends to transition to an all-Boeing fleet within five years and target 50 aircraft by 2028. From Airbus to Boeing: A strategic pivot Mid-year the airline returned four Airbus A320s, leaving 14 of that type in operation, but the plane swap is about more than brand loyalty. The 737-8s offer longer range and operational flexibility, enabling Vietjet to chase higher-demand international sectors. With one Boeing due in October, four more in November and another four in December, the carrier will grow to 23 aircraft by year-end — a meaningful jump for a budget operator focused on rapid…
Bangkok’s political air is thick with anticipation — and a whiff of conspiracy — as whispers of a covert agreement ripple through party corridors. At the center of the storm: Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) figurehead Prawit Wongsuwan, and the embattled Pheu Thai leader and prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. According to PPRP deputy leader Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Anutin has reportedly asked Prawit to back him as a six‑month interim prime minister, should the Constitutional Court remove Paetongtarn from office amid an alleged audio clip scandal. The whisper campaign that could become a government Chaiwut says this understanding followed a meeting between Anutin and Prawit on August 28 — a rendezvous that, if true, would have come just hours before a highly anticipated court ruling. He describes the two leaders as sharing a “positive relationship” and frequently meeting informally to discuss potential political realignments. In other words: backroom…
Phuket’s paradise image — palm-fringed beaches, turquoise bays and glossy luxury villas — met a decidedly less glamorous reality this month as anti-corruption investigators took to the island’s dirt and dust. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Phuket office, under the direction of Chief Suwat Saowarat, rolled out a new initiative, “Pinning Areas at Risk of Corruption,” and spent several days combing construction sites and excavation works that locals say have raised more than a few eyebrows. From Karon to Thalang: a targeted sweep The inspections ran from August 18 to 20 and were officially reported on August 28. The NACC team didn’t go it alone — representatives from the Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office joined the fieldwork to assess whether projects complied with the Excavation and Filling Act of 2000. That law exists for a clear reason: excavation and filling can affect public safety, the environment…