Low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia has announced that it will launch a new route connecting Bangkok and Kathmandu, Nepal, from October 2, 2024.

The flight will operate four round trips per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The aircraft used will be an Airbus A320neo (186 economy seats).

The planned schedule is as follows:
Bangkok (Don Mueang) ⇔ Kathmandu (from October 2, 2024)
FD182 DMK12:00 KTM14:00 Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
FD183 KTM15:00 DMK19:35 Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays

Thai AirAsia is also holding a launch sale (until August 25th). There are cheap flights available from Bangkok for 2,990 baht including all fees, and from Kathmandu for 9,990 rupees.

For details and reservations, please refer to the AirAsia official website.

On August 9, 2024, Thai representative Weeraphon Wichuma won the silver medal in the men's 73kg weightlifting at the Paris 2024 Olympics, lifting a total weight of 346kg.

Weeraphon Wichuma is a 19-year-old from Surin Province in the northeast. Weeraphon Wichuma has a great track record of achievements, including winning two gold medals and one silver medal at the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships held in Saudi Arabia.

Congratulations on winning the silver medal.

Cebu Pacific, a Philippine LLC, has announced that it will launch Davao-Bangkok and Manila-Chiang Mai routes from late October 2024.

Both routes will operate three round trips per week, using Airbus A320-200 aircraft (180 economy seats).

The planned flight schedule is as follows:
Davao⇔Bangkok (Don Muang) (From October 28, 2024)
5J5964 DVO16:55 DMK20:30 Mon/Wed/Fri
5J5965 DMK21:25 DVO02:50(+1) Mon/Wed/Fri

Manila⇔Chiang Mai (From October 29, 2024)
5J874 MNL20:35 CNX23:35 Tue/Thu/Sat
5J874 CNX00:45 MNL05:55 Wed/Fri/Sun

For reservations and details, please refer to the Cebu Pacific official website.

On August 6, 2024, Thailand's Chanchaem Suwannapen faced Algeria's Imane Kherif in the semi-finals of the women's welterweight (66kg) boxing competition at the Paris Olympics. Although she lost 0-5, Chanchaem Suwannapen won the bronze medal. This is Thailand's second medal, following her recent silver medal in badminton.

Chanchaem Suwannapen is 23 years old and was born in Nong Khai, northeastern Thailand. As her family runs a Muay Thai gym, she started Muay Thai at the age of 12 and joined a boxing club in high school. She is currently a member of the Royal Thai Air Force.

Congratulations on winning the bronze medal!

On August 5, the 11th day of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the men's singles final of badminton took place, with Thailand's Kunrawut Wititsarn facing Denmark's Viktor Axelsen. Although he lost 2-0, he won the silver medal. This medal brought Thailand its first medal of the tournament.

Congratulations.

Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn has advanced to the men's badminton semifinals at the Paris Olympics.

The current world champion defeated China's top-ranked player Shi Yuqi 21-12, 21-10 in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics 2024. The 23-year-old Thai star showed great defense and control against Shi, finishing the match in just 44 minutes. Shi's loss means China will not produce a men's singles medalist for the first time in 20 years. With this victory, he became the first Thai man to reach the Olympic semifinals in men's singles in 20 years since Boonsak Ponsana's feat at the Athens Games in 2004.

In his Olympic debut, Kunlavut will face Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in the semifinals. Li defeated Denmark's Anders Antonsen 21-17, 21-15 in the quarterfinals to reach his first Olympic semifinal.

Duty-free shops available upon entry into Thailand will cease operations at five airports: Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang Airport, Chiang Mai Airport, Phuket Airport, and Hat Yai Airport, at the end of July 2024.

The aim is to encourage consumption within Thailand by abolishing duty-free shops available upon entry. The abolition of duty-free shops was decided at a cabinet meeting in July 2024 by the Thai government, and duty-free shops will be closed at five airports.

The Thai baht closed at 35.64 baht per US dollar on July 31, 2024. This closing price is the highest in 4.5 months.

The rise in the Thai baht was due to several factors. First, the Japanese yen strengthened due to the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) decision to raise interest rates and gradually reduce government bond purchases. In addition, rising global gold prices and net inflows into Thai bonds and stocks from foreign investors also contributed to the strengthening of the baht.

August 1st is Thai Women's Day. Treat Thai women well and have fun with them.