Imagine the buzz of excitement among the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) agents as they embark on a mission shrouded in mystery and deception. With keen eyes and a sense of purpose, they made their way through the urban labyrinth of Bangkok and muted alleyways of Pathum Thani, ready to unearth an illicit trove of chemicals masquerading as a friend to farmers and a foe to weeds. It was on December 19th, battalions of justice, flanked by the agrarian experts from the Department of Agriculture, unveiled almost 150,000 litres of the clandestine cargo: glyphosate. This isn’t your average garden variety weed-killer; it’s a substance so cunningly controlled, its presence outside tight regulations drums up the beat for a thrilling chase. The reveal, which would make any detective novelist’s heart skip a beat, was set in motion by a tip as sharp as Occam’s razor, suggesting that the offending herbicide was…
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On a crisp October morning, as the sun cast its golden rays over the bustling Armed Forces headquarters, Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang found himself immersed in the gravity of a serious briefing. The picturesque Autumn day, captured elegantly by the lens of photographer Varuth Hirunyatheb, provided a stark contrast to the dark allegations at hand. Minister Sutin, tasked with the role of protector and arbiter, faced the urgent call to delve into a troubling situation that had been unveiled by the relentless efforts of social media activist Guntouch Pongpaiboonwet, more commonly known by his moniker, Gun Jompalang. It was Friday when Guntouch stood resolutely at the Royal Thai Army Headquarters, with a purpose that echoed through the halls. Accompanied by a 28-year-old female ranger, whose identity is protected amidst a swirling storm of anxiety and distress, the activist sought to shine a light on an alleged atrocity. The ranger, brave…
In the serene precincts of Chiang Mai’s venerated Wat Suan Dok, a tranquil Friday evening was shattered by the sound of clanging metal. As golden hues washed over ancient bricks, a scene of chaos unfurled outside the stupa – a repository of rich history and spiritual reverence. Amidst the fragments of scattered debris, it was clear that this was no ordinary disturbance at a place of worship. Enter the heart of the tempest, a 36-year-old man from Lamphun, embroiled in an act that would echo through the walls of this sacred temple. Thanadol, as the man was known, found himself in the grip of law enforcement, charged with a grave deed against the monumental stupa housing none other than the revered bones of Chao Inthawichayanon, Chiang Mai’s seventh monarch. As the sun waned, Thanadol’s shadow loomed large by the stupa; a hammer in one hand, a knife in the other,…
Imagine a scene right out of a Hollywood crime thriller: a high-powered Taiwanese tycoon, a decorated ex-navy admiral, and a rough-and-tumble former navy SEAL, all ensnared in a gritty urban drama set against the sweltering backdrop of Bangkok. The tale that unfolded in the Criminal Court yesterday was one of betrayal and shadowy motives, worthy of a blockbuster script—but for Feng-Hao Chang and his alleged accomplices, the stakes were all too real. In a startling turn of events, the court firmly slammed the cell door on the prospect of bail for Chang, aged 68, alongside his two accused cohorts: Rear Adm Prakaipruek Srifa, aged 64, and Tewarat Mangkorn, aged 66. The trio faced the music, charged with plotting a deadly gambit straight out of a noir novel: orchestrating hits on family and foe alike as part of a sinister plot driven by corporate discord within the lucrative realm of electronic…
On a balmy Saturday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin journeyed to the lush landscapes of Nan province, on a mission that lies at the heart of countless Thai people: solving the pressing issue of informal debt. Picturing Prime Minister Thavisin deep in discussion amid the tranquil scenes of Nan, one can sense the government’s determination as they claim a notable progress—they’ve tackled the debts of 233 registered debtors. The breeze might have carried whispers of relief that day. Ambitious strides are indeed being made, as Government Spokesman Chai Wacharonke delves into the data from the Interior Ministry, unveiling the proactive measures being taken to untangle the complicated web of informal debt. With 106,863 souls entrusting their financial woes to the government’s initiative, the figures present a stark reality: a staggering 6.69 billion baht swirling in the shadows of informality, with 77,525 lenders lurking in the framings of these clandestine transactions. Imagine,…
Oh, to be a student in the enchanting kingdom of Thailand, land of smiles and now, a rather perplexed frown directed squarely at its education system. The most recent results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) have trickled in, carrying the weight of mathematic equations, scientific theories, and prose hefty enough to make bookworms blush. Yet it seems this weight was a tad too heavy, as rankings have taken a spirited dive into the pools of dismay. Let’s talk numbers, shall we? In the grand testing escapades of 2022, our diligent Thai teens mustered a score of 394 in mathematics—a not-so-gentle descent from 419 in 2018. Science scores followed suit, dropping from 426 to 409, while reading tiptoed behind from 393 to a demure 379. With the world ranking of 58th in math and science and 64th in reading, one might hear the echos of a woeful academic…
Imagine the scene – a horde of enthusiastic supporters, fervent in their adorations, eagerly greet former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as he touches down at Don Mueang airport on a fateful August evening. The air is electric, the excitement palpable, and the moments are frozen beautifully in the click of a camera, captured for posterity (Photo courtesy of Pattarapong Chatpattarasill). The wheels of justice and procedure spin silently behind the scenes as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin steps up to the podium, to diffuse the whispers and uproars alike concerning the decision to allow Thaksin to luxuriate in the plush confines of the Police General Hospital’s premium ward. “Regulations,” he declares. “They’ve followed them to the letter.” Thus was the saga of Thaksin’s hospital stay, one that began swiftly after his grand return, ending his years of self-imposed exile, only to be whisked from the austere Bangkok Remand Prison to the…
Imagine, if you will, a scene so idyllic it could be plucked straight from a postcard. We journey to a serene oasis in the midst of urban thrive – Wachirabenchathat Park, known affectionately by locales as Suan Rod Fai, in the bustling Chatuchak district. Here, amidst the symphony of nature, a whimsical moment is captured: a girl, with her father close at heel, donning cozy jackets against the nipping air – a tandem cycling adventure on a crisp Saturday morning. What enchantment! The cool breath of the coming days whispers secrets of a temperature range that dances from a fresh 18°C to a comfortable 32°C on Sunday, teasing a slight incline to a balmy 20-35°C as December 25th-29th approaches. A snapshot by none other than Nutthawat Wicheanbut has encapsulated this tableau, heralding the flurry of the holiday spirits! Yet, the tale of the mercury does not end here. The stage…
Greetings to all the fuel-conscious consumers out there! In today’s scoop, we delve into the hearts of engines and the wallets of drivers, as we discuss a sizzling hot topic that’s been igniting opinions all over social media. The pursuit of fair play has reached the fuel industry, where every drop counts and the noble Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has leaped into action with a legislative zeal worthy of applause. If you’ve been cruising the information highway, you might have run across a certain TikTok sensation, Ritdech Daengpradit, who, with the tenacity of a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, uncovered a mystery at a PTT petrol station in Saraburi. Picture this: Ritdech expected a cavalcade of fuel, precisely five litres, corresponding perfectly with the digits that danced off his credit card. And yet, when he played the role of a scientist, his measuring escapade revealed a curious case…
Ah, residents of Nonthaburi province awoke to an unexpected metallic symphony early Sunday morning, as a conductor rail from the Pink Line electric train decided to take a dive onto terra firma. The spectacle occurred under the veil of dawn, leaving the streets bedecked with aluminum splendor and beleaguered vehicles in its wake. Fortunately, no human casualties marred this tale of unruly infrastructure. Imagine the scene: the sky blushes with the first light, vendors line the road with their assortments of goods, and suddenly, the tranquility is pierced by the clatter of bolts freeing themselves from their metallic host. This was not a magician’s trick; this was the 5 km stretch of conductor rail on the beloved Pink Line, making its unplanned descent from Chon Prathan market to Khae Rai intersection. One cannot ignore the audacious grace with which this rail, tasked with energizing the electric trains, swept down onto…