In the breathtaking region of Phuket, nestled amidst the turquoise waters off Freedom Beach in the Karon district of Muang, a bitter-sweet story unfolded recently. A story that will sadly take its place among the annals of unfortunate incidents that sometimes taint the sunlit shores of this tropical paradise. Early one Friday morning, a tourist from Senegal disappeared while swimming, and the subsequent search resulted in the recovery of his body a day later. The unfortunate tourist, named Cheikhouna Ba, aged a tender 22 years, was reported missing after he ventured into the undulating waves off Freedom Beach. Unfortunately, his solo adventure turned into an unexpected tragedy when he failed to return. His disappearance stimulated an immediate response from the local community and lifeguard teams, leading to an intensive search operation. The Karon municipality mayor, Lieutenant Jadet Vachirasorn, released the distressing news the following morning. A team of committed and…
Posts published in “Thailand”
The high-ranking Election Commission (EC) is setting the stage to engage in both criminal and civil proceedings against a prominent member of the Move Forward Party, based on his participation in the May 14th election, despite having a previous conviction and serving time for theft under his belt. This information was relayed by none other than the chairman of the EC, Ittiporn Boonpracong. Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong examined the situation and detailed how the campaign of MP Nakhonchai Khunnarong, the representative from Rayong, directly contravened Section 98 of the constitution. This specific section outlines the eligibility criteria for those seeking parliamentary office and expressly forbids candidates with criminal convictions, subject to certain exemptions, from standing for election. These guidelines stipulate that candidates who knowingly participate in a general election, being fully aware of their ineligibility, are actually breaking the law. This action could be seen as a direct breach of Section…
In a series of coordinated crackdowns across Bangkok and Loei, authorities seized three individuals on Saturday for their alleged association with online gambling platforms. Pol Gen Roy Ingkapairote, the deputy national police chief, revealed the details in a press briefing, stating that the Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT) led the operation against the suspected operators of multiple betting portals that included betfixroyal.com. The individuals under custody were identified by their first names only – Suchanan, Oranee, and Natthawat. The policing agency managed to confiscate a raft of items during the operation, which included 100 bank passbooks, 55 ATM cards, a fleet of 30 mobile phones, and a significant cash total of 920,000 baht. Other seized assets include electronic devices like laptops and iPads, and a luxurious white Toyota vehicle assessed to be worth a million baht, narrated Pol Gen Roy. Highlighting the scale of the illegal gambling operation, Pol Gen Roy…
The illustrious Royal Thai Consulate General in Kunming has recently issued an advisory for Thai women contemplating marriage with Chinese men. The counsel delivered by the Thai Consul General in Kunming, Ms Bhavivarn Noraphallop, emphasises on the importance of examining the prospective groom’s history meticulously and securely, safeguarding proper visa documentation, and registering their marriage with Thai authorities. This essential advice was presented during a vibrant interaction shared between journalists and Ms. Noraphallop at a workshop titled “China in the New Era: What the Thai Media Should Know”. This worthwhile event was gracefully arranged by the Embassy of China to Thailand in collaboration with the Thai Journalist Association in Kunming during the period of the 24th to 27th of July. As stated by the illustrious Ms Noraphallop, priority issues concerning the consulate-general include border security and Thai expatriates’ welfare. Given Yunnan province’s proximity to Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand, the…
Roughly 5 million Thai citizens are making the most of the extended weekend, embarking on nationwide journeys that will infuse a whopping 16.6 billion baht into various vacation spots across the country. This heavy outpouring of recreational expenditure is all according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Due to a cabinet decision just last week, the common working weekend has been extended from Friday to Wednesday, spurring an impressive increase in tourism spending, adds the aforementioned authority. The Tourism Authority anticipates close to 4.96 million local tourism trips, packing a punch of 16.6 billion baht in expenditure during the extended holiday period. The TAT governor, Yuthasak Supasorn, anticipates an average hotel occupancy rate of 63% throughout this window. In the first couple of days of the elongated holiday, Supasorn observed that the tourists principally explored destinations within a 200-300 kilometre radius of their residences. “Despite the temptation to travel, inhibitors…
An eye-stopping image greets viewers from the sky – the alarming aftermath of a fireworks eruption that claimed a dozen lives and inflicted injuries on scores of people in Sungai Kolok district, Narathiwat. Mid-afternoon on Saturday, the clock hands came to a halt as tragedy unfolded. The news broke out with urgency. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha demanded immediate aid for the victims. In a statement made by the deputy government spokesperson, Rachada Dhnadirek, assurances of encompassing aid – financial and emotional – were expressed for the survivors. The devastation from the blast was not only emotional, but physical. Over 290 homes were damaged, fifty among them were completely destroyed. The blast painted a grim picture on the canvas of tambon Muno around 3pm. Rachada confirmed that unconditional emergency assistance had been provided to all victims, and the governor of Narathiwat orchestrated temporary accommodation arrangements at the athletic field of the…
What led to the unsuccessful government bid by the Move Forward Party (MFP) with Pita Limjaroenrat at its helm? According to a survey conducted by Nida Poll, it was the party’s unyielding stand on certain policies that became its undoing. In the eyes of most people, the party’s inability to secure a compromise on these key policies was the primary catalyst for their failure. The poll, which was carried out over the course of three days between the 24th and 26th of July, received responses from over a thousand people. These respondents, ringing in at a total of 1,310, represented a broad demographic mix. They spanned various age groups, starting from 18 years and upwards, and came from diverse professional, educational, and income backgrounds from across the country. When quizzed about the potential missteps that led to the MFP’s downfall, a compelling 42.98% identified the party’s refusal to relinquish some…
After a self-imposed exile that has spanned over 17 years, rumors are circulating about the potential homecoming of Thailand’s former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. Reliable sources within both the Pheu Thai Party and the Royal Thai Police (RTP) have confirmed plans for Thaksin’s arrival at Don Mueang airport on August 10 at approximately 10.30 am. However, skepticism surrounds this announcement, with detractors Jatuporn Prompan and Chuvit Kamolwisit publicly questioning the legitimacy of such claims, dismissing Thaksin’s return plans as mere rumors. In an apparent gesture of support, the Pheu Thai Party has been releasing a series of video chronicles via its Facebook page, documenting the significant highs and lows of Thaksin Shinawatra’s political journey. This video series includes Thaksin’s rise to the country’s premier in 2001, through to the political shift in 2014 when a military coup designed by the National Council for Peace and Order resulted in the overthrow…
At 23 years old, Chainarong Maneewong is passionate about education, all thanks to the Bangkok Post Foundation scholarship that funded his studies in Thai language from the Faculty of Education at Chiang Mai University. Now a proud graduate, Chainarong is bracing himself to fulfill his childhood passion of fostering knowledge, teaching in his home province of Chiang Mai. Chainarong’s passion for the underprivileged is part of his future teaching career. He aspires to use his gained knowledge to give back and help a great number of needy children, securing scholarships for them to make their educational dreams a reality. Chainarong’s strong dedication to education was fuelled by his humble background. His father, a taxi driver, and his mother, a jewelry store assistant, struggled to make ends meet. However, his father’s untimely demise left his mother the Herculean task of catering to Chainarong and his elder brother. Although Chainarong’s brother had…
From crisis emerges a beacon of hope, and that beacon in Thailand was no other than Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM). Following the striking onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, this age-old discipline has made great strides forward. It has been identified as a vital part of the Thai cultural tapestry, tying together various aspects from age-old religious convictions to mouth-watering street delicacies. The 20th National Herbs Expo, which fell between June 28 and July 2, facilitated by the Ministry of Public Health, solidified this position. An overarching increase in Thai herb usage was noticeably evident — an outcome, experts believe, of the ongoing pandemic. This forum allowed attendees – comprised of experts, entrepreneurs, and visitors – to share and acquire wisdom on the marvel that is Thai traditional medicine. Unfortunately, a cloud of doubt engulfs the effectiveness of herbal remedies, however, the pandemic saw the demand for traditional herbs skyrocket. The…