People gathered in protest following the tragic assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, with demonstrators expressing their outrage near the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan, on July 31, 2024. (Reuters photo) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has issued a stark warning to the approximately 2,000 Thai nationals working in northern Israel, alerting them to the looming threat of an attack from Hezbollah, Hezbollah being a staunch ally of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The MFA spokesperson, Nikorndej Balankura, made this announcement on Wednesday in light of the escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah that could potentially lead to an all-out conflict. In a recent media briefing, Israeli troops disclosed details of their ambitious operation in Beirut, Lebanon, targeting those they claim are responsible for the harrowing attack on Majdal Sham City which left 12 children dead on July 27. This bold move has heightened the likelihood of…
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Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira took the floor in parliament, providing an impassioned explanation of the much-anticipated digital wallet handout scheme, a keystone policy of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. The backdrop of the discussion was brilliantly set with the grandeur of parliamentary proceedings, evoking both skepticism and anticipation among the lawmakers present. The supplementary bill that seeks an impressive budget increase of 122 billion baht for the current fiscal year, aimed at bolstering the digital wallet initiative, finally crossed the finish line after its third and final reading in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Following a heated five-hour debate, the bill clinched the support of 292 MPs, faced opposition from 161, while one chose to abstain. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, who played a pivotal role as the deputy chairman of the House committee overseeing the bill, extended his gratitude to the supportive lawmakers. He emphasized the bill’s paramount…
In a dramatic twist reminiscent of a political thriller, the Bhumjaithai Party is gearing up to possibly seize the coveted position of first deputy House speaker. This power play unfolds as the Move Forward Party faces potential dissolution in the coming week. Currently, the esteemed position is held by Padipat Suntiphada, a Fair Party MP for Phitsanulok. Once aligned with Move Forward, Padipat nabbed the role amid political reshuffling. Unfortunately, if the Move Forward Party is disbanded, Padipat’s tenure will be abruptly curtailed under legal constraints. By law, the main opposition party cannot have its members holding key parliamentary roles. Demonstrating political finesse, Padipat had himself expelled from Move Forward, allowing him to cling to his deputy speaker seat while enabling the party to spearhead the opposition. A ticking clock hangs over Move Forward as the Constitutional Court preps for an August 7 ruling. Should the gavel fall against them,…
The Talat Kao community in Kabin Buri district of Prachin Buri faced significant flooding after relentless heavy rainfall and runoff from Khao Yai, as snapped through the lens by Manit Sanabboon. The community was submerged under water up to an alarming height of 50-70cm, causing disruptions to everyday life. Students had to trudge through floodwaters to get to their classes, and some ailing residents had to be relocated to the safety of their relatives’ homes. Residents across Bangkok and five other provinces, namely Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan, have been put on high alert. The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) warned that a confluence of high tides and continuous rainfall until August 8 threatens to swell rivers to dangerous levels, imperiling low-lying riverside communities outside flood embankments along the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong, Thachin, and Bang Pakong rivers. The situation is especially dire…
Siapo Po-arnon is escorted by armed police after being arrested at his house in Bangkok in February 2021. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) A high-profile incident has erupted as a lawyer advocates for an investigation into what is being labeled an “assassination attempt” against the notorious celebrity gambler Siapo Po-arnon, previously known by the name Apirak Chat-anont, who is currently incarcerated in the notorious Bang Kwang Prison. Back in 2022, the Criminal Court slapped Siapo — a famed internet personality with connections to a House panel advising on gambling — with a staggering 54-year prison sentence for deceiving people into gambling online. In a twist of fate, this sentence was later reduced to a 20-year term, the maximum permissible under the Criminal Code. Not out of the legal woods yet, Siapo was additionally hit with a 13-year sentence by the Thon Buri Criminal Court in 2023 for an attempted murder that took…
A section of metal sheet found itself lodged in a passing pickup truck after a dramatic fall from the elevated highway under construction above the bustling Rama II Road. This gripping incident on Monday set off a flurry of activity among the Department of Highways as they sprang into action to investigate the unsettling occurrence. The scene of this unexpected plunge was near the Wat Pak Bo junction, around 11:45 AM. Helming the department, Director-General Sarawut Songsivilai has been leading the charge to uncover the specifics behind this metal rain. The stories since shared by Arjin Rodthani, the 46-year-old owner of the ill-fated pickup, paint a vivid picture: a 50cm sheet of metal embedded itself into the hood of his vehicle, sending shockwaves through him and his family, who were also in the car when this steel missile struck. In the age of digital connectivity, the news spread like wildfire…
Amid the bustling hum of Sukhumvit Road in front of Thai Oil’s Refinery in the scenic Si Racha District, Chonburi Province, an unfolding drama captured the attention of many from 24 to 26 July 2024, and again on 30 and 31 July 2024. A group of unpaid subcontractor workers from the Unincorporated Joint Venture (UJV) of Petrofac South East Asia Pte. Ltd. (Petrofac), Saipem Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Saipem), and Samsung E&A (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (formerly Samsung Engineering (Thailand) Co., Ltd.) gathered, demanding their overdue wages. Following an inquiry by Thai Oil Public Company Limited (“the Company”), it was revealed that the frustrated workers were employees of One Turn Ten Company Limited (“One Turn Ten”), EMCO LTD (Thailand) Company Limited (“EMCO”), and Thai Fong Engineering and Construction Company Limited (“Thai Fong”). These companies are subcontractors of Sinopec Engineering Group (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (“Sinopec”), which itself is a subcontractor of the UJV,…
Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke has made it clear that the fate of Vietnamese activist Y Quynh Bdap, who was apprehended in Bangkok this past June, must ultimately be decided within the judicial system. (File photo) According to Chai Wacharonke, the Thai government steers clear from meddling in the legal process concerning a Vietnamese activist potentially facing extradition. This decision follows a plea from a group of US lawmakers who have called for Bdap’s release. In a response to a letter addressed to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin by four US House of Representatives members, requesting the release of Y Quynh Bdap, aged 32, Chai remarked that any decisions regarding Bdap’s release or extradition must be made in court. Y Quynh Bdap is the orchestrator behind Montagnards Stand for Justice, an advocacy group dedicated to advocating for religious freedom for ethnic minorities and indigenous tribes within Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Critics assert that…
Mongkol Preesukkasem’s world came crashing down when it was discovered that he had been posing as a level-five prosecutor, having been illicitly appointed by the Thanya Buri Provincial Office of the Attorney just last year. The dramatic revelation sent shockwaves through the judicial community, particularly after a picture of a certificate letter, allegedly signed and issued by the Thanya Buri Provincial Office of the Attorney, began making rounds in a Line chat group of prosecutors. The controversial certificate, dated March 26 of the previous year, ominously stated that Mongkol, an advisor to the erstwhile director-general of the Office of the Attorney General’s investigative office, Pol Lt Uthai Artiwet, held a status equivalent to that of a level-five prosecutor. Worth noting is that Pol Lt Uthai, currently stepping in as an acting deputy attorney general, seemingly vouched for Mongkol’s credentials. Positively glowing with praise, the letter described Mr. Mongkol as a…
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul spoke to reporters with an air of determination, his words charging the atmosphere after the signing of a pivotal memorandum of understanding on Wednesday. This historic event was captured in a photograph by Supoj Wancharoen, marking a significant step toward a drug-free future for Thailand. Three crucial ministries have come together in this effort: the Ministry of Interior (MoI), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. They’ve agreed to intensify drug testing for staff involved in drug suppression, while ensuring that testing remains voluntary to respect workers’ rights. “The government has put drug suppression on the national agenda,” Minister Anutin stated boldly. “Along with heightening our crackdown on drugs, we also have to reduce the number of addicts by preventing children and other young people from becoming addicts.” As part of this new initiative, the ministries will maintain a…