In the tranquil turquoise waters surrounding Phuket, a thrilling incident unfolded recently. The warm Thai waters, generally known for their captivating allure, became the stage for a significant maritime interception executed by none other than the formidable Royal Thai Navy (RTN). The RTN swooped down on three Indonesian fishing vessels which had unwittingly wandered into Thai territory, triggering an engaging chain of events. The drama began to roll out just a day prior when the three offending vessels were captured within Thai waters. The incident escalated rapidly when all 40 crew members aboard the ships were detained, underlining the severity of the transgression. The dealings grew intriguing when the Navy vessel HTMS Klaeng, steered by the adept Deputy Commander of the 3rd Naval Area, Puchong Rodnikorn, set out to probe into the situation after the fishing vessels were visually confirmed to be west of Phuket, within the Thai waters, on…
Posts published in “Thailand”
The sun had barely begun its climb as Itthipol stepped off the plane, arriving from Phnom Penh, and breathed in the air of Suvarnabhumi Airport. The time was 10 am sharp, but this was no leisurely vacation return. Instead, awaiting him were the stern faces of the immigration police, promptly snapping into action and taking him into their custody. Itthipol, a former minister, was the person of interest in an elaborate vortex of alleged corruption surrounding the construction of the eye-catching Waterfront Suites and Residences that rose and fell in Pattaya back in September 2008. The fleeting freedom he enjoyed came to an end as an arrest warrant, issued a month prior, finally caught up to him. This manhunt was instigated when Itthipol opted to leave Thailand on August 30, a single day after the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) explicitly ordered him to face prosecution. This prosecution mandate…
It was just past 9 at night when the protective embankment of the Tha Kor Phai community, located in the downtown district, suffered significant damage. This occurred shortly after the governor of Ubon Ratchathani departed from inspecting the site. This process of inspection was carried out due to the imminent rise of the Mool River and the potential danger it presented to the community. Radarat Chadthaisong, a respected 50-year-old community official bore witness to the governor’s inspection. The sole purpose of his visit was to ascertain the readiness of the community to face the looming rise of the river. The situation, even though threatening, was not unexpected. The locals were aware and slightly prepared for the encroaching tug of nature. The Mun River, a local water body, faced a similar fate. It too was unable to contain its might and ended up overflowing its boundaries, breaching the embankment in multiple…
Crafting a tale of recent events, we find ourselves in the captivating city of Chiang Rai, where the might of the mountain deluge took control, leading the Chan River to a state of overflow. The fallout resulted in at least eight peaceful villages in the scenic Mae Chan district succumbing to the severe flooding. The report released on Monday indicated that even the vital connectivity passage, the Chan-Mae Ai highway, found itself engulfed under 30 centimetres of relentless floodwater. In response to the raging water crisis, the provincial ringmaster, Governor Puttipong Sirimat, swiftly ordered local officials to safeguard the vulnerable. He directed them to help villagers, especially the elderly and disabled, seek refuge on higher ground. The intrinsic fortitude of the governor’s leadership was evident as he also decreed swift repairs to a steel bridge in Huai Ya No, which had become a casualty of the unforgiving floodwaters, thus cutting…
In the quest to cultivate awareness and encourage actions towards sustainable development, ThaiBev’s Chief Executive Officer, Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdit, has remarked on the triumph of this mission. At the event’s final ceremony on Sunday, Thapana spoke about the promising increase of participants at this year’s gathering, seeing it as a clear sign of ever-growing acknowledgment of sustainability matters, especially amongst upcoming generations. The convention, expertly orchestrated by ThaiBev, saw its commencement on September 29 at the prestigious Queen Sirikit Convention Centre, located in Bangkok’s bustling business district. Packed from corner to corner, it displayed a bountiful array of activities, exhibits, and engaging discussions centralised around the compelling theme of sustainability. Beaming with gratitude, Thapana expressed his thanks towards all collaborating partners for their immense contributions, which undeniably led to the massive success of this event. But he was not just filled with gratitude; Thapana also shared his ambitious dream of elevating…
In a recent announcement, Chanin Rungthanakiat, the deputy secretary-general to the Prime Minister, noted that Thailand’s economic resurgence was trailing compared to other nations in the Southeast Asian region. Serving a dual role, Chanin also voices his opinions as the deputy spokesperson for Pheu Thai. He firmly believes that his strategies have the potential to impressively push the nation towards the government’s set objective of witnessing a 5% economic growth during the current administrative tenure. The deputy secretary-general believes that providing a specific handout to citizens could significantly escalate their buying power, fundamentally diminishing their living expenditure. Not only can this approach lower the cost of living, but it can also serve as an incentive to drive further investment intended to maintain an increased rate of consumption. The Thai government is intent on drastically enhancing the economy to bring the nation out of what Chanin refers to as a ‘coma’.…
In the midst of the current Israeli situation, statements from the Thai Government about the safety of its citizens abroad are eagerly anticipated. Phumtham Wechayachai has been acting as the speaking authority on this matter, as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is engaged in pressing international affairs. While waiting for clarity from the Israeli administration, he has directed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to liaise with nearby nations to ensure safe evacuation of Thai citizens. The governmental update was provided by Phumtham at a conference held by the government’s critical response unit. This meeting was organized in response to the sudden military aggression seen in Israel on Saturday, when Hamas militants launched thousands of rockets and dispatched numerous fighters into Israeli territories bordering the Gaza Strip. Post-attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a proclamation declaring Israel to be in a state of conflict with Hamas. In this scenario, we received gruesome updates…
Relishing in the rich history of almost half a century of diplomacy with Thailand, Mongolia marked a landmark occasion. Nestled in the heart of Phuket, on the bustling Soi Bangla in the Patong district, Mongolia raised the curtains of its honorary consulate. Placed strategically at the Gig Hotel, the new office’s inauguration was timed perfectly to coincide with the 49th anniversary of solid bilateral ties between Mongolia and Thailand. This event of international significance was graced by the presence of luminaries such as Tumur Amarsanaa, ambassador of Mongolia to Thailand, Nutthaphong Phathakiatpaisan, the Honorary Consul of Mongolia, and Phuket’s governor, Sophon Suwannarat. The consulate, manned by expert staff, is all geared up to extend services to Mongolian tourists in Phuket and its neighbouring provinces, announced the ambassador. Nutthaphong, who officially took over the reins as Mongolia’s Honorary Consul for Phuket on August 28th, highlighted the shared goal that strengthens the…
Marking a progressive step towards ensuring public safety, Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Phuridej launched an operation aimed at eradicating illegal firearms distribution throughout the length and breadth of Thailand. Collaborating with an elite task force of over 800 officers, named “Hanuman”, from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), this crackdown came on the heels of a sharp spike in the online trading of weapons ranging from illegal firearms to homemade guns, not excluding the modified versions and blank guns. This commendable initiative, which covers a total of 114 identified targets in 47 provinces, focusses primarily on the arrest and subsequent prosecution of anyone found guilty of illegal possession, use, or sale of such unlawful weapons. Every CIB division, as Jiraphop stated, has been instructed to mobilise its forces with an aim to systematically dismantle the criminal activities prevalent. A special emphasis is being placed on apprehending those involved in the illicit…
In today’s business landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is paving the way for unprecedented innovation, increasing productivity exponentially, and encouraging seamless cooperation across different generations. The surge in AI has led to the establishment of more than 14,700 AI startups in the United States alone, as identified by McKinsey, and new startups are coming into existence every day. Future predictions suggest that, thanks to AI’s far-reaching potential and the rapid rate of digitisation, between 30% and 40% of current jobs are set to be automated. In addition, AI can augment from 50 to 60% of job tasks, bringing about a massive transformation in 300 million full-time roles by 2030. And it doesn’t stop there. It’s anticipated that 14% of the workforce will be seeking new career paths due to the transformative impact of AI and digitisation. Companies’ reactions to this burgeoning trend are quite diverse. While some organisations have banned the…