Posts published in “Thailand”

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…

Mumbai and Phuket just became a lot closer — and a lot more tempting. Akasa Air has announced a new non-stop route linking India’s financial powerhouse with Thailand’s sun-drenched island playground starting September 20. For travellers used to the old relay race of connecting flights and endlessly ticking layovers, this is the kind of welcome news that makes you reach for swimwear and a boarding pass at the same time. Goodbye layovers, hello beachfront cocktails Until now, flying from Mumbai to Phuket often felt like a part-time job: hop a flight, deplane, requeue, wait, repeat. Akasa Air’s new direct service rewrites that script. The quick, seamless hop promises to chop total travel time and swap the weary shuffle through transit hubs for a faster launch into Phuket’s world-famous beaches — think Patong’s electric nightlife, Karon’s wide sandy stretches, and quieter coves for anyone craving a low-key escape. More than a…