In a chilling update from the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, viewers were presented with images of a mangled police truck, bearing the brunt of a lethal ambush. The attack unfolded under the cloak of darkness on Monday night in Yarang district, Pattani, a hotspot of political unrest and conflict. One brave policeman, alongside two defence volunteers, breathed their last during this surprise assault, with another five police personnel suffering injuries. The chilling ambush took place with the tambon Yarang municipal office as the backdrop; the quiet Yarang-Mayo Road in tambon Yarang found itself in the grip of an unscheduled upheaval around 10:50 PM. The squadron that screeched to an abrupt halt and was ushered into the jaws of death constituted a four-door police pick-up truck, a police motorcyclist, and a motorcycle manned by two defence volunteers. The stillness of the night was broken by the chilling echoes of assault…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
On May 24, 2023, three Thai human rights activists celebrated a hard-fought but bittersweet victory as they walked out of the South Bangkok Criminal Court as free people. These activists, namely, Angkhana Neelapaijit, Puttanee Kangkun, and Thanaporn Saleephol, had been embroiled in a contentious legal battle with Thammakaset, a poultry production company accusing them of defamation. The bone of contention? The galling working conditions and punishingly long hours at a chicken farm owned by Thammakaset, which the activists bravely brought to light on social media during 2019 and 2020. Critics have long held Thailand’s stringent defamation laws, which carry a penalty of up to two years imprisonment or a hefty fine of up to 200,000 baht (US$5,719), in contempt. Despite the ominous implications of these laws, the activists’ lawyer, Tittasat Soodsan, presented a convincing case. Outside the South Criminal Court, he informed AFP that the court took into consideration that…
Amidst rising concerns, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter to Thaksin Shinawatra, affirmed on Tuesday that her father will remain at the Police General Hospital as opposed to being transferred to a private facility. Her stated concerns revolved around her father’s heart condition. On a separate front, a political petitioner signaled intentions to approach the Ombudsman asking for details about the seriousness of Thaksin’s alleged medical condition in consideration of his hospital stay instead of detention. In a recent visit to Thaksin at the Police Hospital, Ms. Paetongtarn expressed worries over her father’s tiredness and physical exhaustion, though he could still engage in conversations. “My major concern centers on his heart health. Yes, he does have a lung condition, but it’s historical and shouldn’t be cause for immediate alarm.”, Ms. Paetongtarn stated empathetically. She added that her father had been continually exhausted following his return to Thailand. Ms. Paetongtarn revealed that news of…
In an unfortunate turn of events, an incident occurred outside the Yarang Municipality Office at around 10:50 pm. This location was under the scrutiny of the local police officers, who were on their usual patrol in an automobile, with two community volunteers accompanying by motorbike, assessing the safety standards of their jurisdiction. It has been reported that insurgents had engineered a strategic plan and executed it at the perfect time. The situation escalated when a bomb was detonated, timed to coincide with the arrival of the patrol team, thereby inflicting damage to their vehicles. This was no mere act of vandalism; it was a well-planned ambush designed to strike fear and cause chaos. The attackers did not stop at this explosive disruption; they took the reigns of terror a step further. Military-grade firearms were at their disposal, and with no qualms or hesitations, they opened fire. The relentless firing resulted…
The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) of Thailand, in its recent analysis of the local economic state, relayed the National Credit Bureau’s data demonstrating that Thai citizens have aggregated debts in a staggering 83.1 million accounts recorded as of the culmination of Q1. Strikingly, only a third of these NPLs (Non-performing loans) originated from commercial banks, accounting for a meagre 2.6% of total household debts. This essentially infers that many Thais have acquired a substantial portion of debts from non-banking financial institutions. These insights were put forth by NESDC’s Deputy Secretary-General, Vorawan Plikamin. It is noteworthy that Plikamin emphasised monitoring young professionals (under 30) and older individuals between 50-59 years, as these age categories have led to notable elevation in NPLs with a yearly increment of 4.1%. She expressed deep concern regarding the Gen Y (18 to 32 years) demographic as these individuals frequently invest in high-end commodities,…
Exploring the digital divide and mapping out the terrain of a digital era, this timely and relevant study zones in on the importance of digital inclusion. It keeps its focus on elevating the lifestyle of all citizens while providing valuable input for future policy directives, capturing the essence of Thailand’s journey into the digital universe. As relayed by Wisit Wisitsora, the ministry’s permanent secretary, marked indicators are noteworthy. This includes impressive internet access for Thai households, standing at an evolved 89.50% this year, representing an uptick from last year’s 88%. Furthermore, 87.60% of the population is connected to the vast online universe, up from 85% in 2022. These achievements, unfortunately, are not devoid of pitfalls, with personal data and privacy breaches affecting 14.52% of the users. Another revelatory statistic is the resurgence observed in internet usage among individuals in the age bracket of 55-74 years. Recording a significant leap from…
Thailand’s formidable progress in sustainability efforts was highlighted recently when its ranking rose to the 43rd position from last year’s 44th, according to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). This bit of information was shared by Thanyaporn Krichtitayawuth, the network’s executive director, who was referencing the figures from the Sustainable Development Report 2023. Discussing the performance, Thanyaporn Krichtitayawuth revealed that Thailand’s impressive score of 74.7 in 2023 strikingly outweighed the East and South Asia average score of 67.2. While the rise in the global ranking is a remarkable feat, this 74.7 score further fortified Thailand’s position as a sustainability leader in the region. As for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Thailand has been the exquisite leader for the past five years (2019-2023), sitting firmly at the top of the rankings. This exceptional performance is followed by countries like Vietnam securing 55th position globally, Singapore trailing at the 64th…
In a recent announcement, Veeris Ammarapala, the acting governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), underscored a strategic effort to transform the energy landscape. This is to be accomplished with the embrace of cutting-edge technology and clean energy within the Eastern Economic Corridor’s pivotal Industrial estates, namely Map Ta Phut and Smart Park. This innovative venture is a collaborative brainchild of an impressive consortium featuring both global and domestic stalwarts from diverse sectors. The partners include Bangkok Industrial Gas, the technology-driven Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Thailand’s state-owned PTT, the efficient Thai Takasago, and a powerful representation from the automobile sector – Toyota Motor Thailand along with Toyota Tsusho (Thailand). New age and green energy solutions are the key themes of the study, which aims to primarily explore the coherent potential of hydrogen fuel for powering electric buses and generating electricity. The governor further noted that the study will also…
From the insightful corner of the Department of Fisheries comes a voice of both authority and concern, Ratnavali Poosawat – a trained ecologist. Ratnavali sheds light on an alarming issue: the oceans, which serve as sponges, absorbing nearly 90% of our planet’s heat energy. With escalating global temperatures and the oceans absorbing roughly 30% of CO2 emissions, oxygen levels in the waters are plummeting, leading to an unsettling phenomenon known as ‘ocean acidification’. According to Ratnavali, global warming doesn’t work solo, it also disrupts wind patterns and degrades water quality in our seas. When we add the complications brought on by human activities, such as littering in the oceans, the impact on marine life becomes undeniably severe. Any living creature that depends on seafood for survival will face increasing struggles to obtain nourishments. Obviously, this chain reaction poses direct implications on human food supplies, Ratnavali remarked. Picture this – on…
Published in the 23rd issue of the “Tropical Natural History” journal, an exciting discovery has emerged from the thickets of Thai research. The man leading the charge was the esteemed Pan Yeesin, an influential figure from the Technology and Industries Department, housed under the Faculty of Science and Technology at Prince of Songkla University, nestled in Pattani province. Collaboratively, they worked diligently alongside other experts from the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Natural History Museum in Songkhla province. Their team was further strengthened by the experienced Professor Peter Ng from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum at the National University of Singapore. Unveiling their findings, Pan declared the spotting of the Geosesarma Todaeng vampire crabs, unearthed within the intricate root system of Lum Phee (eleiodoxa conferta). This unique plant belongs to the palm family and thrives in a swamp forest located in Narathiwat. The discovered vampire crabs belong to the…