The digital realm was ablaze when Narong Junior, a renowned Facebook user, shared an intriguing video clip last Friday. It was none other than Surachate, the esteemed Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, going through a spiritual event of bare cranium at a revered monastery. This sacred ritual constitutes a crucial step as he prepares once again to enter the monastic life. Fasten your seatbelts for the upcoming ordination event scheduled for Saturday, November 25. It’s worth noting that this isn’t Surachate’s first rodeo in donning the symbolic saffron robes. In a move that speaks volumes of his committed spirit, he embraced monkhood for a fleeting moment at the venerable Wat Thai Bodhgaya. This pivotal moment parachuted into his life in the early days of 2020, trailing his appointment to the influential position of Special Adviser to the Prime Minister. However, this distinguished individual’s journey has not been without…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
In a gripping match on the global football stage, Thailand’s valiant squad faced a narrow 1-2 defeat against China in the Asian zone qualifiers of the 2023 FIFA World Cup. This thrilling encounter was held under the lights of the prestigious Rajamangala Stadium, located within the heart of the bustling city of Bangkok, on a fateful Thursday. Deeply immersed in the high stakes of the competition, attendees bore witness to a sport presented in its purest form, filled with raw emotion, impressive skills, and a ruthless ambition that spared no margin for error. Despite the loss, Thailand’s football team walked away with their heads held high, carrying with them the promise of stronger performances in the future. On this memorable evening, a special message of congratulations was extended towards President Xi, applauding China’s football team’s well-earned triumph over Thailand in the challenging World Cup qualifying round. This continued display of…
Accompanied by a host of illustrious governmental personnel, including the Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Puangpet Chunlaiad, and Deputy Finance Minister Julapan Amornvivat, Paetongtarn engaged wholeheartedly in the festivity renown as the Indian New Year. Her Day began with a visit to the Ganesha Shrine in the area known affectionately as “Little India”, immersing herself in the rituals and traditions. Her involvement wasn’t limited merely to the religious practices; she enjoyed every inch of the vibrant culture, paying rapt attention to traditional dance performances and diving headfirst into the bustling Khlong Ong Ang Market, sampling Indian tea and refreshments. The event, masterfully orchestrated in a partnership between the government and the private sector, has the overarching aim of invigorating tourism under the creative theme “One Day Trip, Three Religions, the Virtue of Merit”. An ingenious blend of cultural exploration and spiritual discovery, all in a…
As the mercury dips in the East and Central regions, including the bustling metropolitan area of Bangkok, expect a noticeable drop in temperature between 1-3°C, as reported by the department. This is a reminder for the people of upper Thailand to not only take good care of their health during this temperature drop, but also to stay vigilant for potential fires. The combination of potent winds and parched air present ideal conditions for fires to easily ignite and spread, warns the department. Furthermore, be prepared for the formidable Northeast monsoon reigning over the Gulf, the South, and the Andaman Sea to bring with it isolated bouts of heavy and sometimes, very heavy rainfall to the Southern areas. This, the department cautions, is a time for heightened awareness for those in these regions. Keep an eye out for signs of rain accumulation which could swiftly lead to flash floods and overflows.…
The groundbreaking health initiative famously known as the “treatment anywhere for just 30 baht” remains one of the triumphant electoral pledges by the reigning Pheu Thai Party. Dr. Cholnan Srikaew, the Public Health Minister, when unveiling these critical policies explained that their sole purpose was to manifest tangible results within the first 100 days. He further elaborated that several actions under these policies were already underway and are anticipated to yield fruitful outcomes just in time for the New Year, offering a welcomed gift to the populace. The “anywhere treatment” plan acts as an extension of Thaksin Shinawatra’s government’s revolutionary 30-baht universal healthcare scheme which was launched in 2002 during his tenure as the Prime Minister. In this renewed version of the ground-breaking scheme, the beneficiaries, for a mere 30 baht, would garner coverage for primary health concerns at all participating hospitals. Dr. Cholnan unveiled that the scheme was now…
Many scholars are taking a hard look at the recent government communication methods and strategies, with a notable figure like Burin Adulwattana, the managing director and chief economist at the esteemed Kasikorn Research Centre, taking the lead. He voiced apparent concerns about the decision to adopt a strategy of crisis communication in order to drum up support for the digital wallet project, warning that it might have unintended consequences. Adulwattana argued the said technique, although designed to rally public support, has unintentionally chipped away at the confidence of investors, both local and foreign. With his expertise, he shed light on an era where news propagates rapidly that leaves investors in a flurry. While some government policies remain ambiguous, a deluge of news makes its way to the public scene. He emphasized the necessity for cohesive and clear dialogue before delivering public statements. Nonarit Bisonyabut, a commendable senior researcher at the…
With an air buzzing with anticipation and speculation, Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has announced the completion of the first draft of the groundbreaking Cannabis-Hemp Act. Notwithstanding the many rumours circulating, cannabis will not be reclassified as a narcotic under this novel legislation. Officially unfurling this news was Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew, who highlighted that the fresh legislation is a more polished version of the initial draft. Where once the act sprawled over 94 sections, it has now been elegantly trimmed down to about 70. This renewed version deftly addresses public apprehensions and firmly closes the doors on any loopholes that might have inadvertently indulged recreational use of cannabis. In the words of the Ministry of Public Health, the heartbeat of the law remains constant. It considers cannabis a regulated herb. Nevertheless, it also introduces a stringent limit. Extracts boasting more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will bear the formidable label…
A quake of 6.4 magnitude shook Myanmar recently, causing tremors that could be felt across large parts of Thailand. This seismic event has led experts, in both engineering and academia, to call for the adoption of stricter regulations to bolster the resilience of standing structures against possible future tremors. The quake, registering a 6.4 magnitude, originated in Myanmar yesterday morning at 8.37am. According to the Earthquake Observation Division at the Meteorological Department, the quake’s epicenter was approximately 100 kilometer northwest of the Mae Sai district, located in the Chiang Rai province. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake hit approximately 76 kilometers southwest of Kengtung town, Shan State, plunging nine kilometers in depth. After the initial quaking event, three smaller aftershocks, with magnitudes of 4.1, 3.5 and 3.4, were recorded. The effects of the tremors could be felt in numerous districts of Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and…
The airwaves in Thailand were saturated with disbelief and sorrow as news spread about the untimely death of DJ Ko, born under the name Trin Ruangkitratanakul, a celebrated figure in the radio industry. Aged just 36, DJ Ko plunged to his tragically early demise from a towering edifice in the vibrating heart of Bangkok, on the afternoon of November 17. As it stands, local authorities are treating this heartbreaking incident, which took place in the vibrant district of Khlong Toei, as a possible suicide. Officers assigned to the case received a distress call around 1.30 pm. It was a scene of chilling silence, as DJ Ko’s motionless body was found nearby the culinary quarters of a humble two-storey domiciliary structure, just next to his temporary residence at a hotel on Soi Sukhumvit 20. Hotel employees, still reading from the shock of the incident, recalled hearing a resounding thump against the…
Legislation is advancing for a fresh agreement spearheaded by Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHSRI) to facilitate the shifting of Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok’s (RMUTTO) Uthenthawai campus. Currently, the campus is situated on the land owned by Chulalongkorn University (CU). The esteemed Supamas Isarabhakdi disclosed that representatives from both RMUTTO and CU have formed a committee to work out the details of the relocation. They’ve presented two potential solutions: first, CU can offer their land to the public, transforming the site into a vibrant park or a children’s museum. Offering a further perspective, Supamas stated, “On the inclination that CU chooses not to utilize the land for revenue generation but to entertain it for public welfare like creating a park, museum, or an art space similar to what Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Art & Cultural Centre offers, [it could be an agreeable solution for RMUTTO].” She…