Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa extended a firm handshake to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the second Bimstec foreign ministers’ retreat in vibrant New Delhi. (Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Enthusiastically, Minister Maris announced that Thailand is all set to host the sixth Bimstec Summit on September 4 in the bustling heart of Bangkok. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or Bimstec, is a coalition of seven South and Southeast Asian nations dedicated to fostering collaborative progress. These member states—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—rely economically and geographically on the Bay of Bengal. Mr. Maris actively participated in the second Bimstec foreign ministers’ retreat held on a lively Thursday in New Delhi, proudly asserting Thailand’s readiness to serve as the event’s gracious host. He emphasized the indispensable role of the private sector in transforming government policies into palpable results. Reflecting…
Posts published in “Thailand”
On a somber Saturday in Muang district of Chachoengsao province, rescue workers made a grim discovery—a human skeleton, legs included—at a deserted site. This chilling find is believed to belong to a Chinese woman, missing for nearly two weeks, who authorities believe was abducted for ransom by a fellow national. The remains were uncovered amidst an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty, deepening the mystery surrounding her disappearance. The search, led by Pol Maj Gen Noppasil Poolsawat, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), took the team to a desolate area near a housing estate in tambon Bang Phra, Muang district. Around noon, they stumbled upon the skeletal remains they suspect might be of 38-year-old Yan Ruimin. Investigators are now working closely with forensic experts to conduct DNA tests on the body parts to confirm the identity. The discovery has escalated the urgency and gravity of the investigation. The breakthrough…
In the otherwise tranquil town of Surat Thani, a scene out of an action movie unfolded as a 50-year-old man, furiously waving around two lethal firearms, stormed the Provincial Electricity Authority office on Friday. This dramatic incident, set in the usually serene surroundings of tambon Ipan in Phra Saeng district, sent shockwaves through the local community. The unhappy gentleman, whose power had evidently been cut off, took matters into his own hands in an extreme attempt to restore his electricity. Pol Col Pornnarong Karnorathai, the chief of the Phra Saeng police station, reported that officers rushed to the scene with urgency upon receiving reports of an armed individual threatening the PEA office. Upon arrival, the police were greeted by chaos: the building’s large glass door lay in ruins, bearing the mark of a single gunshot. The assailant, now riding away on a motorcycle, had left a scene of hurried employees…
Last May, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai gave reporters a behind-the-scenes look at the aging rice stocks in Surin (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Commerce). With the government’s focus on winding down leftover rice from the Yingluck Shinawatra administration’s rice-pledging scheme, Phumtham announced plans to auction off 15,000 tonnes of this surplus. This initiative aims to clear out these reserves, according to rising demand and market needs. The Public Warehouse Organization (PWO) has received marching orders to hasten negotiations with the three final bidders. Initially, three other companies, including the top bidder, were disqualified due to connections with entities embroiled in legal troubles from previous PWO auctions. These disqualified participants, namely V8 Intertrading Co, Thanasan Rice Co, and SSMR Karnkaset Plc, had indirect links to entities that botched earlier auctions involving cassava and rice, though they hadn’t personally caused direct harm at the time, as per…
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra received a warm reception from the red-shirt supporters in Nakhon Ratchasima this past May. Thaksin, now on parole, is on a mission, traversing the former strongholds of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Pathum Thani. His itinerary included informal meetings with key political dynasties, the power brokers behind the red shirts, at various ceremonies and parties. Although these gatherings seemed casual, the underlying intent was profoundly serious. The ruling Pheu Thai Party is striving to reclaim its dominance after losing its status as the leading party to the Move Forward Party in the last general election. Despite Thaksin’s consistent denial of any involvement with Pheu Thai — he is not formally a member — his provincial tours were clearly a strategic move to rekindle waning support for the party, which traces its origins back to the…
An early Saturday blaze wreaked havoc on Karon Plaza, a beloved shopping and dining destination in tambon Karon, Muang district, Phuket. While the fire left a trail of destruction, there were fortunately no casualties reported. The inferno erupted around 1:30 AM, as confirmed by Pol Maj Ekkasak Khwanwan, the chief investigator at the Karon police station. As the flames crackled and roared through the night, it wasn’t long before firefighters and fire trucks rushed to the scene. Despite their swift response, it took nearly two grueling hours to tame the fiery beast. Unfortunately, many cherished shops and restaurants couldn’t be saved from the blaze’s clutches. As dawn began to break and the smoke started to clear, investigations into the cause of the fire were already underway. Police, determined to pinpoint the fire’s origins, began a meticulous examination of the charred remains. Karon tambon municipality mayor Jadet Witcharasorn shared harrowing details…
Early Saturday morning, a voracious fire wreaked havoc on Karon Plaza, a bustling shopping and dining destination in the Muang district of Phuket. Fortunately, amidst the chaotic flames and plumes of smoke, no casualties were reported. The inferno erupted around 1:30 AM, as detailed by Pol Maj Ekkasak Khwanwan, the chief investigator at the Karon police station. As the alarm was raised, firefighters and fire trucks were promptly dispatched to the scene, battling the fierce blaze for nearly two agonizing hours before finally bringing it under control. Despite their determined efforts, the fire had already ravaged a significant portion of the area. Numerous shops and restaurants, once teeming with life and activity, were left in charred ruins. The Karon tambon municipality mayor, Jadet Witcharasorn, revealed that the fire rapidly spread to various shops peddling a variety of goods such as clothes, body oil, cream conditioners, and soap. The quick spread…
The Election Commission (EC) has been thrown into the spotlight as they’ve been called to scrutinize the eligibility of the candidate who amassed the highest votes in the recent Senate election. Sonthiya Sawatdee, a former adviser to the House Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights, took a bold step on Friday, filing a petition demanding an investigation into Senator Keskamol Pleansamai’s qualifications. Sonthiya claimed to possess a revealing document that the senator used to promote her credentials during the election campaign. He alleged that the educational history outlined in the document might be fabricated. According to Sonthiya, he has urged the EC to verify whether Dr. Keskamol meets the standards prescribed by the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) and to assess if any false information was relayed to government officials. Citing the organic law governing Senate elections, Sonthiya stressed that it is a serious offense for candidates…
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is back in the spotlight, stirring up a storm as he attempts to reconnect with his once-loyal red shirt supporters across Thailand. Thaksin, who is now on parole, paused his political exile to visit former red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) strongholds in Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Pathum Thani. His visits, though wrapped in informal settings like ceremonies and parties, had a very clear objective—regain support for the Pheu Thai Party. Despite denying any direct ties to Pheu Thai—he’s technically not a member—Thaksin’s provincial tours seem meticulously designed to revive the eroded base of a party that evolved from the Thai Rak Thai Party, once led by Thaksin himself before it crumbled under electoral fraud allegations in 2007. The strategy is clear: reconnect with the red shirts who helped secure a landslide victory for Pheu Thai in the July 2011 general…
In a rather curious turn of events, a man from Cyprus found himself in hot water for allegedly conducting some rather underhanded practices in Thailand. The 36-year-old, who authorities have chosen to identify only as Nicholas (surname withheld), was apprehended following a warrant issued by the Nakhon Pathom Provincial Court. The charges? Trespassing and property damage during the twilight hours, all in the quest to stalk his ex-Thai girlfriend. The specifics of Nicholas’s nocturnal activities remain shrouded in mystery as the authorities have been tight-lipped about the exact nature of his transgressions. However, what we do know is that his antics were intrusive enough to warrant legal action. The case came to light after his suspected escapades were allegedly recorded, culminating in a rather dramatic arrest late Thursday night in the Ratchathewi vicinity. Returning to his temporary lodgings around 9 PM, Nicholas was greeted not by the warm bed he…