In an intriguing turn of events, next month a team of experts from UNESCO’s esteemed World Heritage Committee is gearing up for an adventurous journey to Ayutthaya. Their mission? To inspect a section of Thailand’s high-speed rail track construction, a project that gracefully slices through the historical richness of the Ayutthaya region, much like a modern-day explorer. But fret not, history lovers! This is no ordinary inspection. It’s a meeting of technological modernity and cultural antiquity. These experts, world-renowned custodians of cultural legacy, aim to engage in spirited discussions with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). Their focus will be on the project’s Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), a report that holds the blueprint to ensuring that Ayutthaya’s cherished past isn’t overshadowed by its race to the future. While these discussions promise to be both robust and illuminating, know this: the decision to pause or continue the Ayutthaya station’s construction within…
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Carrying a bag brimming with rice and other essentials, an elderly woman makes her way through Wat Klong Toey Nok in Bangkok. Her grateful presence on that March day in 2023 was courtesy of the abbot and benevolent monks. Moments like these capture a spirit of communal support that continues to ripple throughout Thailand, especially as recent government initiatives aim to extend their reach to the nation’s most vulnerable groups. Set to roll out on October 1, 2024, new measures are in the pipeline to increase monthly allowances for newborn children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, as announced by Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Social Development and Human Security. Speaking at the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at Government House, the minister illuminated the cabinet’s decision to bolster support for these groups. The exciting development aims at a universal subsidy of 600 baht per month for each newborn child…
In an intriguing twist that reads more like a gripping detective novel than a news story, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat is spearheading a decisive move to confiscate agricultural land unlawfully used for the operations of Phu Nub Dao Farm in Saraburi. It’s an action-packed saga that has captivated both the public and the media as investigations unfold. This plot thickens with high-stakes drama, as a probe is underway to unmask the individuals who orchestrated this land’s questionable transformation. A particular shadowy figure looms large in this narrative, a person with close ties to a high-profile political figure whose identity is the subject of fevered speculation. According to Minister Narumon, the million-dollar question is how this plot of land slipped through legal fingers and into the hands of a resort operator after being officially confiscated. The mystery vendor, it turns out, was not a landless farmer, thereby violating the…
In the world of Thai politics, the air is thick with speculation and whispers circulating corridors of power and beyond. Yet, amidst all the rumors, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stands as a bastion of clarity, refuting any connection between the recent parole of former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and the potential return of ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra from her overseas exile. “It’s purely about the Department of Corrections’ regulations,” Paetongtarn asserted with unwavering confidence. She made it abundantly clear during Tuesday’s press engagement that Boonsong’s release after more than six arduous years behind bars was the result of a straightforward application of existing DoC rules. As for Yingluck, her aunt, the Prime Minister was resolute—there’d been no contact about a potential homecoming. So why the hubbub? Political pundits, conspiracy theorists, and casual onlookers alike have been swept up in a fervor of anticipation post-Boonsong’s release—a release that was meticulously orchestrated by…
On a rather uneventful Tuesday evening in the scenic district of Kanchanaburi, a routine patrol turned into a scene straight out of a crime thriller. Nestled within the lush green surroundings of Muang district’s Ban Kao area, law enforcement officers, who were on their regular patrol duty, stumbled upon a mystery that could very well be the plotline of a Tinseltown blockbuster! The sun was just dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows over the Ban Kao-Huai Nam Khao Road, when the officers’ attention was drawn to a group lurking suspiciously by the roadside. The figures, though appearing harmless at first glance, were soon revealed to be men of interest with more than just a travel story to tell. As the officers approached, it was their silence and lack of papers that painted a rather incriminating picture – illegal migrants from Myanmar without documentation, seeking refuge under the cloak of…
On a bright day in November, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham, with an air of assertiveness, stood shoulder to shoulder with the Royal Thai Navy’s Koh Kut task force on the picturesque island, reinforcing the message that the waters surrounding this island remain unmistakably Thai. There have been whispers suggesting that the infamous 2001 Memorandum of Understanding with neighboring Cambodia might unwittingly hand over a slice of Thailand’s treasure trove, but Mr. Phumtham, supported by fellow ministers, reassures everyone that such concerns are much ado about nothing. But not everyone is reclining on the sandy beaches of reassurance. Enter the opposition People’s Party, trumpeting a call for transparency and crystal-clear clarity in the thorny issue of maritime negotiations. At the heart of this diplomatic ballet is the appointment of a Joint Technical Committee, or JTC for those acronym enthusiasts out there. Their task? To artfully negotiate with Cambodia over sections of…
In the bustling corridors of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, there’s a fresh buzz of excitement and optimism, all thanks to Deputy Minister Itthi Sirilathayakorn. Enthusiastically, he addresses pilots on the inaugural day of the royal rainmaking operation, ushering in a venture hoped to clear the smog-choked skies of Bangkok and its neighboring provinces. This ambitious operation, spearheaded by the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation (DRRAA), aims to tackle the notorious PM2.5 particles—fine dust that hangs in the air like an invisible, menacing shroud. On Tuesday, as propellers whirred into action, hopes were high that this innovative approach would bring cleaner air to the tens of thousands of people affected by the pollution. Royal Rainmaking Operation Units in both Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district and Kanchanaburi province set off on their lofty mission. The strategy was as fascinating as it was unorthodox, involving the cooling of…
Picture this: You’re peacefully enjoying your morning coffee, scrolling through your favorite news site, when BAM! A headline catches your eye—a high-profile investment scam involving Dr. Boon Vanasin, the founder of the well-known Thonburi Healthcare Group. The shocking part? Over 300 people have reportedly been duped out of a staggering 9.16 billion baht. It reads like the plot of a gripping thriller, doesn’t it? But let’s pause for a moment and dive a little deeper into this real-life drama. As it unfolds, the accusations point towards Dr. Boon, an 86-year-old veteran in the hospital industry. Authorities claim he extravagantly traded on this prestige to hook unwitting investors into five fanciful medical-related projects. And just like a magician with a disappearing act, Dr. Boon is now believed to have slipped away to China, leaving a trail of empty wallets and broken dreams behind. In the middle of this enthralling drama, the…
Picture this: the sky over the picturesque resort island of Koh Chang, off the coast of Trat, painted with plumes of thick black smoke. Amidst the serene beauty of the island, a fiery spectacle unfolded on a fateful Tuesday. This was no ordinary fire; it was the blazing finale of a storied relic, an abandoned floating hotel affectionately dubbed the “ghost ship.” (Photo: Jakkrit Waewkraithong) Long untethered to its former glory, the ghost ship had become a staple of tales and snapshots, attracting tourists and serving as a backdrop for cinematic escapades. But on this particular day, it wasn’t the allure of its past grandeur drawing attention, but the voracious flames consuming it with fierce abandon. As the sun climbed higher, traffic police and JS 100 traffic radios buzzed with reports of the blaze emanating from the grounds of Koh Chang Grand Lagoona. It was just minutes to noon when…
In the bustling district of Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, a woman deftly sorts through a rainbow of lottery tickets, each one adorned with her cherished numbers, seeking a touch of fortune. This picturesque scene, captured by the keen eye of Apichart Jinakul, unwittingly heralds a new chapter in the grand tale of Thai lotteries – the inception of the intriguing “retirement lotto.” In a bid to intertwine chance with financial wisdom, the cabinet has given its nod to a draft law designed to establish this novel concept of a “retirement lotto.” Spearheading this initiative, Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul divulged on a bustling Tuesday that this legislative proposal is making its way through the corridors of power. Next stop: scrutiny by the Council of State, the venerable legal advisory of the government, before it finds its way into the parliamentary limelight. The genius of this scheme lies in its promise: no…