Recently, three leading educational organizations in Thailand, namely the National Association of Secondary School Administrators (NASSA), the National Parents and Teachers Association, and the Basic Education Committee of Thailand, made public their declaration of the six main qualities they seek in the next Minister of Education and their deputies. Primarily, it emphasized the need for candidates with robust educational expertise capable of meeting pressing issues encountered by Thailand’s youths. The announcement was delivered by Narin Channadu, who is both the current President of NASSA and Director of Karnjananukhro School. The importance of the education sector in moulding the future of Thailand was highlighted. This brought forth the urgent necessity for ministers equipped with the enumerated qualifications by the organizations. The traits pinpointed in the statement laid substantial emphasis on considerable knowledge and management experience in the education sector, comprehensive awareness of the issues, and a far-sighted mindset to steer Thai…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Heralding from the early morning haze of Pattaya in Chon Buri, an unexpected intervention was unrolled that led to the seizure of a covert gambling operation. Undoubtedly, the dawn’s silence was shattered as the metropolitan police division, assisted by Pattaya’s local law enforcement, descended upon the seemingly innocent vicinity of a popular hotel. Located on the bustling Sai 3 road in the heart of the bustling Bang Lamung district, the hotel has seen an influx of guests from various walks of life. Yet, surprisingly, tucked away within the labyrinth of its luxury suites, underneath the glitz and glamour, an illegal establishment was functioning. In total, thirteen Vietnamese nationals were prudently apprehended from three hotel rooms that were transformed into operational hubs for this illicit virtual golf course. As the police pounded on the hotel room doors, the unexpected occupants awoke to a sight they had perhaps feared yet hoped would…
In a shocking twist of events, a 66-year-old retiree from government service found himself entangled in a trap laid by an impostor posing as renowned TV news anchor Orakarn Jivakiet. The unsuspecting retiree fell prey to the scammer’s sophisticated scheme, causing him to lose a staggering 20 million baht over a span of just two months, in the name of investing in the enigmatic world of cryptocurrencies. This grievous incident was brought to light when the retiree, along with the actual news anchor Orakarn, lodged a complaint at the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) on a breezy Monday afternoon. As per the briefing provided by the CCIB commander Pol Maj Gen Chatpanthakan Khlaikhlueng, the retiree reported that the first point of contact with the fraudster was through Facebook. Apparently, the scammer was using an ID falsely identifying as Orakarn “Kwang” Jivakiet, a highly reputable TV news anchor. Once the scammer…
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…
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…