Posts published by “Editorial Team”

What began as a late-night encounter on Pattaya Beach turned ugly in the early hours of September 5, when a 25-year-old Indian tourist was left bloodied after being struck in the head with a high-heeled shoe. The incident — part squabble, part spectacle — unfolded around 3:00 a.m. along the neon-lit beachfront in Chon Buri province and has since landed both parties in the orbit of Pattaya police. The exchange that escalated According to the victim, identified as 25-year-old Suresh, the confrontation started when he approached a 29-year-old transgender sex worker to ask about prices. The sex worker reportedly quoted 1,000 baht for a short service and 4,000 baht for an overnight stay. Suresh agreed to the higher rate but then, investigators say, demanded to “verify” the woman’s gender before proceeding. Police statements indicate the situation rapidly deteriorated when Suresh allegedly touched the worker’s private parts. Feeling humiliated and provoked,…

Thailand’s political rollercoaster appears to be pulling into another dramatic station today as Anutin Charnvirakul is widely expected to be confirmed as the country’s next prime minister. House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha made it official: the parliamentary vote to choose the new prime minister will be held on September 5. The announcement caps a frenetic few days of alliance-shifting and strategic dealmaking that have left the Pheu Thai candidate, Chaikasem Nitisiri, trailing in the scramble for the top job. A minority government, but not a quiet one On Wednesday, September 3, Anutin signalled he would head a minority government — a move that surprised some and delighted others. He also revealed he had secured the backing of the People’s Party, a development that appears to have tipped the balance in his favour. Rather than a broad coalition spanning dozens of ministries, this arrangement points to a more curated power-sharing…

Late on the night of September 4, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra quietly boarded a private jet at Don Mueang’s MJets terminal and touched down in Dubai — a trip he says was for medical care. The unexpected departure set off a flurry of headlines, social media chatter and accusations that he might be trying to dodge a looming court date. Thaksin, for his part, has promised to be back in Thailand by September 8 to face the music in court on September 9. The legal clouds hanging over Thaksin are hardly new. He faces charges under the Computer Crime Act and Section 112 of the Criminal Code — Thailand’s stringent lèse majesté law — tied to a 2015 interview he gave to South Korea’s The Chosun Media about the 2014 coup. On top of that, questions about his privileged stay at the Police General Hospital while serving time…

Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has put the nation on high alert as a robust monsoon system barrels through — bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and the risk of flash floods to 43 provinces. If you’ve been wondering why umbrellas and sandbags suddenly became trendy, blame a persistent monsoon trough cutting across the lower North, upper Central and lower Northeastern regions, combined with a steady southwest monsoon sweeping the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand. Why this matters This weather setup increases the danger of sudden flash floods and violent runoff after intense downpours. TMD warns everyone in the affected provinces to stay alert, especially those in low-lying or flood-prone areas and communities along rivers and drains. If thunderclouds roll in fast and the sky darkens, don’t take risks — move to higher ground and avoid driving through standing water. Marine bulletin — mariners, listen up Sea conditions…

Bangkok is quietly putting a new, very practical jewel into its urban crown: a covered walkway along South Sathorn Road that promises to make the daily commute less sweaty, less soggy and—dare we say—even a little more pleasant. On September 3, Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stopped by the site to check progress, calling this project a flagship initiative that aligns with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) smart city ambitions. One continuous shelter, 1.6+ kilometres of comfort The new covered walkway will stitch together Lumpini MRT station and the Chong Nonsi Skywalk, spanning more than 1.6 kilometres through one of the city’s busiest corridors. Think of it as a pedestrian lifeline for office workers grabbing an early coffee, condominium residents heading to fitness classes, and anyone who’d prefer walking without wielding an umbrella like an accessory to a battle scene. More than just a roof, the walkway will shield people from Bangkok’s…

Whispers turned into headlines this week when a well-known female spiritual medium found herself at the center of a swirl of allegations — and she’s strenuously denying them. Pornnaruemon “Jane” Riabroycharoen, who many know by her stage name Jane Yanthip (literally “Jane the clairvoyant”), has been accused in media reports of diverting donations meant for religious merit-making. The story, which began to gather momentum on September 3 after Channel 3 actor and news anchor Kanchai “Noom” Kamnerdploy mentioned it on air, has since sparked heated online debate across Thailand. Noom said he received information linking Jane to long-term misuse of funds donated by followers — allegedly over more than a decade. The claims include accusations that money and gold given for the construction of a large stupa were used instead for personal expenses. One detail that captured public attention: as the stupa campaign rolled out, Jane was reportedly seen carrying…

What began as a drab Tuesday evening in Trang province turned into a scene ripped from a thriller — only this time the protagonists were ordinary people, a temple, and an accusation that went badly wrong. Around 7:30pm on September 2, monks at Rai Pru Temple in Mueang Trang district received a frightened, wounded visitor: 22-year-old Nattawut had staggered into the compound seeking help after being shot while riding pillion on a motorcycle. Monks quickly called the Nam Phud Sub-district Office Rescue Foundation. The rescuers found Nattawut nursing three gunshot wounds to his right leg and left ankle. His 19-year-old companion — who had been driving the motorcycle — escaped without physical harm. The rescue team rushed Nattawut to hospital and alerted Mueang Trang Police Station to investigate what local media later called a tragic case of mistaken identity. By the time officers arrived on scene, the man accused of…

When Vulnerability Meets Predation: Two Recent Arrests Spotlight Safety Gaps Two unsettling incidents in the Bangkok metropolitan area and nearby provinces have once again drawn attention to the safety of vulnerable people and the responsibility of bystanders, drivers and authorities. In Pathum Thani, a 44-year-old man named Theerawat was arrested after allegedly committing indecent acts against a woman with a disability. Around the same time, police detained a 62-year-old taxi driver accused of an indecent act against a 15-year-old girl in Bangkok. Both cases raise questions about prevention, accountability and how society protects those who are most at risk. The Pathum Thani incident: a woman in a wheelchair targeted According to reports, the incident in Pathum Thani happened in July at the Pathum Thani Provincial Association for people with disabilities. The victim—identified only as B to protect her privacy—was working at the association when Theerawat, allegedly intoxicated, approached her while…

On a bright Tuesday in early September, Ban Nawang School’s multipurpose hall in Takhian Tia, Chon Buri, became the scene of something more inspiring than the usual round of school assemblies: local leaders, educators, police and health officials gathered to sign a bold pact aimed squarely at one of the most stubborn problems facing young people today — drugs and other harmful vices. A united front: who showed up and why it matters Deputy Mayor Wachira Sujoe signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on behalf of Mayor Mitchai Prabsattham, marking a formal commitment between Ban Nawang School and the Takhian Tia Subdistrict Municipality to create “Drug-Free and Vice-Free Educational Institutions.” The room was packed with the practical heavyweights of community safety: Mansruang Menanet, Director of Ban Nawang School; Police Sub-Lieutenant Suriya Klaharn, Deputy Inspector of Bang Lamung Police Station; and Phromthep Ngernmag, Acting Director of Takhian Tia Subdistrict Health Promotion…