In a historic turn of events, the longstanding rivalry between Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party and the Democrat Party seems to be reaching a surprising conclusion. On Wednesday, Pheu Thai secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong extended a formal invitation to Democrat secretary-general Det-it Khaothong at the parliament, signaling a potential coalition government. This much-anticipated gesture was witnessed by MPs from both camps, marking a significant moment in Thai politics. The invitation letter, which circulated among media outlets, read: “The Pheu Thai Party, as the leader in the formation of the government, believes the Democrats have the capabilities, knowledge, and ideologies to work with Pheu Thai. So, we would like to invite the Democrat Party to join the government and work together in running the country for the benefit of the people.” When questioned about the allocation of cabinet posts to the Democrats, Mr. Sorawong mentioned that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra would make the…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Attention all travelers to the United Kingdom from Thailand, Canada, and the United States: the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued a stern warning that any attempt to bring cannabis into the country could lead to serious jail time. This alert follows a significant spike in the number of arrests reported this year, painting a concerning picture for unwitting visitors. According to the British embassy in Bangkok, a staggering 378 air passengers have already been apprehended for smuggling cannabis into the UK. Even more alarming, an astonishing 15 tonnes of the substance have been seized at UK airports so far in 2024. To put this into perspective, this amount is nearly triple the five tonnes seized in 2023, when 136 people were arrested. Diving deeper into the details, it’s evident that Thailand, Canada, and the United States are the principal sources of the seized cannabis. Out of all the…
Airports of Thailand (AoT) has big plans for Suvarnabhumi International Airport, aiming to transform it into a hub capable of accommodating a whopping 80 million passengers annually by 2031. AoT president Kerati Kijmanawat recently shared that the agency is meticulously revising its master plan to expand the airport’s capacity over the next decade. This ambitious infrastructure initiative is part of the government’s vision to secure a spot for Suvarnabhumi in the world’s top 20 airports within the next five years. The centerpiece of this colossal undertaking is the brand-new South Terminal, which will be constructed on the southern flank of the airport. With a hefty price tag of 120 billion baht, this state-of-the-art terminal promises to significantly bolster the airport’s passenger handling capability. Additionally, a fourth runway, costing an estimated 20 billion baht, will be built to ensure smooth operations and enhanced flight efficiency. With these transformative upgrades, Suvarnabhumi will…
In a startling turn of events, a comprehensive case summary involving 31 suspects, including law enforcement officers who allegedly conspired with civilians to extort a staggering 140 million baht from six online gambling suspects last year, has been officially submitted to prosecutors. Watcharin Phanurat, the deputy spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), shared this critical update yesterday. An extensive dossier, spanning more than 20,000 pages, was meticulously handed over to the OAG’s Corruption Litigation Office, as confirmed by Mr. Watcharin, who also serves as the deputy director-general of the Office of Investigation. The Corruption Litigation Office now faces the pivotal decision of whether to proceed with prosecuting the suspects in the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. The investigation, which has gripped the public’s attention, began in response to serious complaints lodged by six suspects embroiled in an online gambling case. These individuals accused the investigation…
In a chilling turn of events in Samut Prakan’s serene Bang Phli district, authorities have made a breakthrough in the ghastly murder of a local taxi driver. The victim, identified as a 63-year-old man named Meechai (last name withheld), met a horrendous fate that has left the community in shock. Early Tuesday morning, his lifeless body was discovered concealed among the weeds in a fish pond, eerily close to the Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute (CNMI). The investigation swiftly led police from the Bang Bua Thong station to a 42-year-old Myanmar national known only as Mr. Sun. His arrest took place late Tuesday night at a residence within the Buathong Thani housing estate in Nonthaburi’s Bang Bua Thong district. The heinous crime scene still bore the traces of the tragedy, with Meechai’s taxi and mobile phone being discovered at the location. Mr. Sun admitted to driving the taxi but staunchly denied…
As the glamorous Bangkok night unfolded at the illustrious Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park Hotel, the air buzzed with anticipation and camaraderie. The evening was special—not just for the vibrant banquet that lay ahead but for the celebration of a momentous milestone: the 80th anniversary of the India-Thai Chamber of Commerce (ITCC). Illuminated by elegant chandeliers, the gathering was a testament to the enduring and prospering relationship between India and Thailand. Prominent dignitaries adorned the occasion, among them, Sushil Kumar Dhanuka, the president of ITCC, Nagesh Singh, the Indian Ambassador to Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, former Prime Minister, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the House President, Anutin Charnvirakul, the caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, and Chadchart Sittipunt, the Bangkok governor. Captured in vivid photographs by Varuth Hirunyatheb, the evening was a mélange of history and future aspirations. But what stood out the most was the distinguished “Lifetime Achievement Award” presented…
In a significant turn of events, the Surat Thani court has commanded a couple to cease dissemination of their own interpretation of Lord Buddha’s teachings and to ensure their eight-year-old son, whom they argue possesses unique mind-connecting abilities, undergoes psychiatric evaluation. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday by the Juvenile and Family Court, originated from a petition by local Social Development and Human Security officers, who are striving to safeguard the child’s wellbeing under the Child Protection Act of 2003. The court has urged the couple to collaborate with the petitioning authorities, which entails devising an appropriate plan for the child’s upbringing. Additionally, the court ruling unequivocally bars the dissemination of their teachings through any media outlets or social media platforms, banning photos or video clips that promote so-called mind-connection practices. Moreover, the court has decreed a ban on the publicising of any distorted Buddhist teachings or unauthorized interpretations not congruent…
The Pheu Thai Party extended an olive branch to the Democrat Party on Wednesday, officially inviting them to join the new coalition government, thereby putting longstanding rivalries to rest. The symbolic gesture took place at the parliament where Pheu Thai’s secretary-general, Sorawong Thienthong, handed over the formal invitation to his Democrat counterpart, Det-it Khaothong. The invite wasn’t just a paper exchange; it was a headline-grabbing event with MPs from both parties in attendance. The invitation, which the media quickly pounced on, read: “The Pheu Thai Party, as the leader in the formation of the government, believes the Democrats have the capabilities, knowledge, and ideologies to work with Pheu Thai. We would like to invite the Democrat Party to join the government and work together in running the country for the benefit of the people.” When probed about the cabinet post distribution to the Democrats, Mr. Sorawong mentioned that Prime Minister…
Water from the Nam Songkhram River, a vital tributary of the mighty Mekong, overstepped its boundaries and inundated about 5,000 rai of paddy fields in Sri Songkhram district of Nakhon Phanom province on Wednesday. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai) Speculation had been circulating that the Jinghong Dam in Yunnan, China, might’ve played a significant role in causing the overflow that wreaked havoc in Thailand’s northern and northeastern regions. However, China swiftly debunked these theories. In a statement from its Bangkok embassy, China firmly asserted that their dam had not been up to anything fishy, emphasizing that no water had been released recently from the reservoir. The embassy took a proactive approach by consulting with various state agencies, which confirmed that Chinese rivers were behaving as expected for this time of the year. From August 18 to 25, reservoirs attached to the Lancang River—the name for the Mekong in China—were actually holding back…
In a dramatic turn of events, the teenage son of a Chaiyaphum mayor’s secretary was safely returned to Thailand on Wednesday after being kidnapped to Cambodia for ransom. Chaitawat Keeratirat, the worried father, rushed to file a complaint with Muang Chaiyaphum police on Tuesday when he discovered his 17-year-old son had vanished from his university dormitory in Pathum Thani, only to be taken across the border to Cambodia. The harrowing ordeal began when the young man contacted his father through the Line app, revealing his captivity in an unknown Cambodian location. Panic-stricken, Mr. Chaitawat soon received a chilling online message demanding a ransom of 2 million baht for his son’s release. The kidnappers ruthlessly threatened to end the teenager’s life if their demands were not met, plunging Mr. Chaitawat and his family into a nightmare. With time running out, Mr. Chaitawat immediately involved the police. Analysis of the boy’s mobile…