The story of Theephat Liangwatthanatham, a 43-year-old former bank employee, is nothing short of a twisted crime novel. On a rather unremarkable Tuesday, Theephat was caught red-handed with his mobile phone in front of a convenience store in Muang district of Phitsanulok. Despite the mundane setting, the charges against him were anything but ordinary. This arrest was the culmination of a convoluted saga involving fraudulent loan and auto leasing contracts, and it became the talk of the town. Pol Col Sanuwong Khongkha-in, the superintendent of sub-division 4 of the Anti-Corruption Police Division (ACPD), couldn’t have been more pleased. According to him, the suspect’s misdeeds were well-documented and now well-contained. The details of the story began to unravel swiftly after Theephat was apprehended. Apparently, back on November 28th of the previous year, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases had issued an arrest warrant for Theephat. The charges? Malfeasance…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
Over 470 enthusiastic Thai Union employees from Thailand, the United States, Africa, and Europe came together on World Oceans Day, making a significant impact by collecting over 11 tons of trash. This commendable effort aligns with the company’s ambitious target of diverting 1,500 tons of ocean-bound plastic by 2030. Volunteers from nine strategic locations spanning four continents rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to clean up various sites. The tireless Thai Union teams amassed an impressive 11,036 kilograms of trash from diverse clean-up sites, including mangroves, rivers, beaches, and urban areas in Thailand, the U.S., Ghana, the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, France, and Italy. Among the haul were common pollutants such as plastic bags, plastic bottles, foam, old fishing gear, and a staggering 10,000+ cigarette butts. Thai Union CEO Thiraphong Chansiri remarked, “As a global seafood company, protecting the ecosystems we operate in is fundamental to our purpose. Our…
Bunge (NYSE: BG), a prominent leader in agribusiness and food industries, has teamed up with Bangkok Produce Merchandising Public Company Limited (BKP), a subsidiary of Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF or CP Foods), a global titan in food production, to venture into the realm of blockchain technology. Their mission? To ensure a sustainable and deforestation-free supply chain for soy. So far, three colossal shipments, collectively weighing in at 185,000 metric tonnes of deforestation-free soybean meal, have sailed from Brazil on a destined course to Thailand, allowing CP Foods to trace the soybeans’ journey from the farm of origin right through to their processed state, subsequent transportation, and final delivery in Thailand. On the horizon, another trio of ships is ready to set sail by July 2024, bringing along an additional 180,000 metric tonnes of soybean meal. These soy products strictly adhere to both Bunge’s and BKP’s rigorous socio-environmental…
The suspects point at packets of crystal meth after their arrest on Monday night. (Police photo) In a dramatic twist that could rival any Netflix thriller, a high-profile arrest rocked Bangkok’s Huai Kwang district on Monday night. The central figure in this real-life drama? None other than Norased Thaised, the nephew of the Deputy Interior Minister, Chada Thaised. It seems the reality of their lives is more scandalous than fiction! It was around 10pm when detectives from the Metropolitan Police Bureau swooped down on a nondescript hotel, the name of which remains shrouded in mystery. In a covert operation that could put ‘Cops’ to shame, officers discovered Norased in a hotel room, accompanied by another man and two women, each entwined in this illicit saga of drugs and firearms. What did the police find? Well, apart from the quartet of dubious characters, the room bore a sinister array of illegal…
The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has unveiled the 2024 PWA Father’s Land Project, a heartfelt initiative to honor His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great. On a vibrant Friday morning, 7 June 2024, the scenic village of Ban Pa Sakngam in Luang Nuea, Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, was abuzz with activity and excitement. Chakapong Kamchan, the Deputy Governor (Operation 2) and current acting Governor, passionately shared, “In line with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great’s unwavering dedication to forest conservation, the PWA is fervently advancing the Father’s Land project through the Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) framework at Ban Pa Sakngam, Luang Nuea, Chiang Mai. Beyond simply planting more trees to expand the local forest, this endeavor plays a critical role in restoring ecosystem balance.” Imagine walking through lush green landscapes where the hum of bees is a sweet symphony of nature. Yes, this project also encourages apiculture farming,…
On a serene yet fateful Tuesday morning in Phuket, the unexpected roar of the ocean reminded us of its formidable power. Rescuers discovered the lifeless body of James Du Bois, an American tourist, nestled within the rocky enclave of Nai Harn Beach. This heart-wrenching discovery brought a somber conclusion to a desperate search that had gripped the community since Sunday. The 48-year-old Du Bois had ventured into the inviting waves of Nai Harn Beach with his beloved wife and child. The trio’s sunny afternoon quickly turned perilous as a robust current ensnared them, transforming a picturesque day into a frantic struggle for survival. While the vigilant efforts of lifeguards successfully saved his wife and child, Du Bois tragically vanished into the treacherous depths. Amidst the crashing waves and under the stern gaze of grey skies, the search for Du Bois became an arduous journey. Tambon Rawai Municipality officials coordinated a…
Flashing lights and the powerful spray of fire hoses marked a distressing scene at the still-smoldering Sri Somrat animal market in Chatuchak district early Tuesday morning. Firefighters fought valiantly to tame the inferno, but as the smoke cleared, the scale of the devastation was heart-wrenchingly apparent. The blaze, which erupted at around 4:10 AM, tore mercilessly through the market, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The Chatuchak district office reported that the Sri Somrat market, home to 118 pet shops sprawled across a 1,400-square-meter area, was the epicenter of the tragedy. Nestled behind the bustling JJ Mall shopping center on Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road, the market had been a haven for animal lovers and exotic pet enthusiasts alike. Firefighting teams from numerous local stations raced to the scene, battling the flames for a grueling half-hour before finally bringing the blaze under control. Despite their best efforts, the devastation…
Bagna-Trad is the star of the year, serving as the essential gateway to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) special development zone. With the government pouring investments into transport infrastructure, the EEC line stretches to three coastal airports and runs along the busy Bangna-Trad highway, making it a prime hub of activity and opportunity. Landmark Location and Future Innovation District The announcement of the EEC special development zone has spurred a whirlwind of activity, drawing investors and developers to hotspots like Bangna-Trad. Projects have proliferated along the Bangna-Trad highway to Chonburi and from Sukhumvit Road to Samut Prakan, stretching all the way to Bangna-Trad KM10. Enterprising visionaries are back in the game, crafting remarkable landmarks after a brief hiatus during the COVID-19 crisis. Since the pandemic subsided in 2022, Bangna-Trad has witnessed a renaissance of sorts, outpacing other locations with a diverse array of property developments. Investments—ranging from tens to hundreds…
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has dutifully submitted his defense to the Constitutional Court, following intense scrutiny over the much-debated appointment of Pichit Chuenban as a PM’s Office minister. While Mr. Srettha confirmed that his defense was handed to the court last Friday, he deftly sidestepped discussing the intricate details of his argument when probed by the media. “It’s more of a clarification. I have the duty to clarify, and I think I’ve covered it all,” Mr. Srettha stated with an air of composure, leaving the press to speculate over the crux of his written defense. The prime minister faced a looming deadline, needing to submit his defense by Saturday. This urgency followed the Constitutional Court’s decision to entertain a petition calling for his removal—an outgrowth of a controversial cabinet reshuffle that saw Pichit’s contentious appointment. The petition, spearheaded by a faction of caretaker senators, raised questions under Section 170 (4)…
The upcoming round of Senate elections is stirring up controversy, with caretaker senator Somchai Swangkarn raising red flags about potential manipulation. According to Senator Swangkarn, several individuals have been strategically hired to influence the votes, aligning with certain political parties or interest groups. As he reviewed last Sunday’s district-level voting outcomes, he noticed an alarming trend: while some candidates were overwhelmingly favored, others didn’t receive a single vote. Senator Somchai pointed out a critical loophole in the organic Senate election law, which permits candidates to cast votes for themselves or other candidates. This gap, he alleges, has been exploited by some parties or interest groups, funding individuals to run for election merely to tip the scales in their favor. “It’s a game being played. If we closely monitor the provincial voting on June 16, collusion will become evident. Only those backed by strong parties and interest groups will advance,” he…