In the beautiful sunny city of Phuket, a tactical maneuver is underway to launch into the high season with fervor and aplomb – the city is motivating the owners and operators of boutique hotels to secure a license to operate. This enthusiastic incentive doesn’t come out of the blue; it is an integral part of the city’s detailed planning for hosting a staggering daily influx of more than 10,000 travelers. Multiply that by 365 days in a year, and Phuket is about to open its arms to an estimated 2.19 million sightseers from all corners of the globe. On September 7, a seminar spearheaded by the Phuket Boutique Accommodation Consortium (BAC) became the catalyst for bringing to light a ministerial regulation embraced by the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning of the Interior Ministry. This significant ruling, launched initially in June, refreshingly refines the criteria required to…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
The alarming increase in suicide rates in Thailand has raised considerable concern, with figures soaring steadily over the past half-decade to reach a tragic peak of 4,800 deaths in the previous year, according to the country’s Department of Mental Health (DMH). In the face of these distressing statistics, the globe marked the arrival of World Suicide Prevention Day, a groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at reducing these unsettling numbers by uniting global forces. Rising magnificently to this challenge, mental health professionals from across Thailand’s public health sector, including committed teams from the DMH and National Health Security Office (NHSO), pooled their efforts to actively contribute to this vital campaign. World Suicide Prevention Day was conceived in the wake of a deeply troubling WHO report indicating that a minimum of one million lives is claimed annually by suicide globally. This alarming fact equates to one life…
In an astonishing turn of events that played out like an adrenaline-fueled action movie, a Japanese fugitive known as Yuki Yanagi made a bold break for freedom right under the nose of Thailand’s Immigration Bureau on Saturday, September 9th. Staging a daring escape in a commandeered police vehicle, Yuki initially left authorities perplexed and is still currently on the run. Famous for his notorious fraud activities against innocent Japanese citizens, to the tune of over 20 million yen (equivalent to 4.8 million baht), Yuki Yanagi was a high-profile criminal. His felonious actions had led him to abscond to Thailand, outstaying his visa in the process, and eventually leading to his apprehension by local authorities. The thrilling escape occurred when Yuki was in transit for a scheduled court hearing at the Ratchada Criminal Court. Upon being returned to the Immigration Bureau for further questioning and detention, Yuki pulled off an Oscar-worthy…
In a chilling turn of events, a brutal homicide confession has shocked a small community in southern Thailand. Muhammad Rusli, a 24-year-old man, turned himself in to authorities, confessing to the murder of Jaelong Baluebae, a 71-year-old durian buyer. Rusli revealed the grim details of the murder, confessing that he buried the older man’s body near a canal in Taya village, situated in the Narathiwat province, thereby placing the tragic event on September 6. The victim’s body was discovered on Saturday, September 9, sending waves of shock and sorrow through the local community. This shocking reveal became public after Rusli surrendered, narrating how an argument between the two men escalated into the harrowing crime. The events unfolded in Rusli’s durian orchard, where the victim had gone to make a purchase. Amidst heated words and rising tempers, Rusli confessed that he struck Jaelong with a spade, causing fatal injuries. To hide…
In the midst of a bustling construction site nestled within the premises of Srinakharinwirot University, located in the Asoke district of the lively city of Bangkok, a horrifying incident unfolded as a crane came crashing down. The accident had devastating repercussions, claiming the life of a local engineer and causing physical harm to two foreign workers hailing from Burma. The very operator assigned to control and manage the crane, was reported to have vanished from the scene post the tragic event. With haste and urgency, officials from the Thong Lor Police Station swiftly arrived at the accident site at around 4 in the afternoon. In tow with them were rescue personnel and medical professionals with the hope of providing immediate assistance and medical attention. The unfortunate mishap transpired on the balcony of the third floor of a structure which was currently under construction. Upon the balcony, the remnants of the…
The recent times have seen a passionate bid for the safeguarding of the cultural legacy and standard of living for the Maniq tribe of Thailand. The call to action has been made by an encamped Buddhist assembly known as the Five Precept Protection Committee found in the southern region of Thailand. The core apprehension the committee holds is regarding the potential effects of outside factors on the community. During their tour of Satun province, the plea was voiced. The purpose of their tour was to assess the advancement of a unified national project. Their visit extended to the community of the Maniq tribe, more commonly referred to as Sakai, within the Thung Wa district. Encompassing a population of 382 members, the Maniq tribe resides in the expansive Bantad mountain range that traverses through Satun, Trang, and Phatthalung districts. These nomadic hunter-gatherers live in harmonious coexistence with nature. They usually communicate…
In a significant crackdown on transnational cybercrime networks, Cambodian authorities have apprehended four Thai individuals, alleged for their leading roles in a notorious call centre scam operation. Supol Wongwian led the coordinated operations of the scam network, assisted by his accomplices – young females Nisarat Sukasem, Kanokporn Kraisuk, and Kornkanok Singthit. Hailing from Thailand, they are suspected of making fraudulent calls to unsuspecting victims. The allegations levelled against them, ranging from participation in a transnational crime syndicate to fraud and numerous computer crimes, will see them deported to their home country of Thailand to face corresponding legal sanctions. During their arrest, authorities seized various items including mobile phones, bank books, ATM cards and an amount close to 240,000 baht in cash. Supposedly, these individuals were not operating in isolation. Deputy National Police Chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn unveiled a shocking revelation – that the four apprehended in Poipet, Cambodia, formed…
The Department of Agriculture, in an effort to alleviate farmers’ debt, is strategizing to put central funds into use should the forthcoming budgetary year experience any hold-ups. This initiative is part and parcel of the existing government’s strategies, notably the approach put forth by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, which seeks to downscale production costs. Prior to the public announcement, the Deputy Ministers of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Chaiya Phromma, revealed during an interview that the delivery of this urgent debt-relief policy for farmers would predominantly fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance. As part of the initiative’s blueprint, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has been tasked with the planning and preparation stages, having held various discussions with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is also the Finance Minister. Beyond the debt-relief policy, the Ministry of Agriculture is dedicated to providing ongoing support to the farming community for…
As the government finds itself on the brink of unveiling its policy statement to Parliament in the present day, the nation collectively holds its breath. The public anticipates a document that will manifest into actions, to ease everyday tribulations and breathe new life into the economy. Various sector moguls have extended their petitions, thereby imploring the freshly instated government to attend closely to the requisites of their respective industries in their exciting new policy. At the forefront of their voices, we find Thaniwan Koonmongkon, the steward of the Thai Restaurant Association. She proposes that the government takes under serious consideration the soaring production costs in their fresh policy venture. She particularly focuses on the escalating energy prices, which indirectly amplifies the cost of consumer goods. Her arguments lean towards the implementation of strategies to control current liquefied petroleum gas and transportation charges that disproportionately affect larger establishments. This is contrary…
In a fascinatingly unusual occurrence set in the heart of Surin’s Isaan province, a bewildered Thai homeowner found himself in the midst of an odd tale involving a thief who swiped his food cupboard. Now, this was no ordinary thief – abandoning the food pantry close by, thanks to an adventurous stumble into ‘muddy munch’. The hapless hero of our story, Weerayut Choowa, shared his peculiar incident with the Daily News. Weerayut explained that he was no stranger to the petty crimes of the region – having previously seen thieves filch bags of rice and other agricultural yields. However, he was left dumbfounded when his kitchen cupboard, of all things, went missing. As daylight broke, Weerayut woke to find his cupboard had taken a hike, leaving behind smatterings of leftover food, a rice cooker, and assorted condiments. To add more absurdity to the tale, the lopsided cupboard had a broken…