Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia, located on the Indochinese Peninsula. It is officially known as the Kingdom of Thailand and historically Siam until 1939. With a population of almost 66 million, it spans 513,115 square kilometres (198,115 sq mi). Thailand is bordered to the northwest by Myanmar, to the northeast and east by Laos, to the southeast by Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the southwest by the Andaman Sea; it also shares maritime borders with Vietnam to the southeast and Indonesia and India to the southwest. Bangkok is the state capital and largest city.
Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) or Skytrain (Thai: รถไฟฟ้า) is the elevated metro system in Bangkok, Thailand, operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The Skytrain with 23 stations along 2 lines, was opened on December 5, 1999 by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The Sukhumvit line runs northwards and eastwards, terminating at Mo Chit and On Nut respectively; the Silom line plies Silom and Sathon, the Central Business District of Bangkok, terminating at the National Stadium and the Taksin Bridge. The lines interchange at Siam station and have a combined route distance of 23 km. The Skytrain is formally known as the Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday (รถไฟฟ้าเฉลิมพระเกียรติ 6 รอบ พระชนมพรรษา) because it was opened to the public on HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 72nd birthday.
14: Television station TITV is closed. The channel will become a public broadcasting station as part of the Thai Public Broadcasting Service Act. In the interim, commercial-free programming will be provided by Channel 11.
2: Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana(pictured) dies at age 84. She had been treated cancer since June 15 at Siriraj Hospital. Government workers are ordered to wear black for a 15-day mourning period. The palace will observe a 100-day mourning period.
