As Thaksin Shinawatra waded through a sea of supporters, the atmosphere inside the headquarters of the Pheu Thai Party in Bangkok buzzed with anticipation. It was a pivotal meeting with the party’s MPs held in March, and the energy was palpable. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb) In what has become a whirlwind of political intrigue, Election Commission (EC) chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong found himself in the eye of the storm. During a visit to the quaint province of Ratchaburi on Sunday, Mr. Ittiporn addressed the rumor mill that’s been churning with reports of an anonymous request to dissolve the coalition-core Pheu Thai Party. “I haven’t seen any such request,” Mr. Ittiporn declared, his tone a mix of calm assurance and underlying exasperation. “The Office of the EC hasn’t informed me about any such petition either.” The chairman’s words were like a cool breeze in the sweltering heat of political speculation. The process, as…
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Police and volunteer rescuers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation were dispatched to a tragic scene at a family residence in Muang Lop Buri district, Lop Buri province, on Saturday. The youngest son of the family had been viciously attacked and killed by three dogs that had been brought home by his older brother. (Photo: Ruamkatanyu Foundation’s branch in Lop Buri) In the central province of Lop Buri, an 18-year-old man named Adisak Chansakulnee met a grim fate on Friday night, felled by the very pets his brother had recently acquired. These formidable American Bully dogs were brought into the household by 23-year-old Abhisit Chansakulnee, who had acquired them from Bangkok just a week prior, according to Pol Maj Nattapong Wongwang, a police investigator from Tha Hin police station. Security camera footage from the room where the dogs were kept reveals a heart-wrenching story. Adisak entered the room on the second floor,…
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is embracing modern technology in an effort to care for Thai nationals living overseas through the gold card universal health scheme. On January 17, the NHSO introduced an innovative telemedicine service tailored for Thais abroad, ensuring they have reliable access to primary healthcare. Imagine being miles away from home but having the comfort of your local healthcare available at your fingertips! It’s a game-changer for many, especially considering how surpassing cultural and linguistic barriers can be in foreign lands. Let’s talk specifics. To support approximately 20,000 Thai nationals in Singapore, the local Thai embassy recently hosted NHSO officials, providing the community with comprehensive details about this game-changing telemedicine service. It’s the NHSO’s way of saying, “No matter where you are, we’ve got your health covered.” Dr. Atthaporn Limpanyalert, the NHSO’s deputy secretary-general, emphasized that this initiative isn’t just about health—it’s about reducing the financial…
Thaksin Shinawatra, once a Thai Prime Minister, is now enveloped by a sea of fervent supporters as he strides into the headquarters of the Pheu Thai Party in bustling Bangkok. Known for his magnetic political presence, Thaksin makes his way to a meeting with the party’s MPs in March, eliciting waves of excitement among his loyalists. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb) Amid this electrifying scene, Election Commission (EC) chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong offers his take on recent swirling rumors. Addressing the media while on a visit to the scenic Ratchaburi province on Sunday, Mr. Ittiporn was clear: he hasn’t come across any mysterious requests to dissolve the Pheu Thai Party, a key player in the country’s political arena. Despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise, Mr. Ittiporn emphasized that neither he nor the Office of the EC had received such a request. Should the EC stumble upon a complaint, the process is straightforward but meticulous.…
On a somber Sunday, the charming district of Mae Rim in Chiang Mai still found itself grappling with the aftermath of a sudden and intense flood. This natural calamity hit over 200 villages on Saturday night, leaving a watery trail in its wake. (Photo: Mae Rim district of Chiang Mai) But Mae Rim wasn’t alone in its watery ordeal. Across Thailand, other regions were also feeling the brunt of relentless rainfall. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that the flooding stretched across three northern provinces—Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, and Sukhothai—as well as Nong Khai in the Northeast. These water woes impacted a staggering 3,979 families spread over 223 villages in the four provinces. Director-General Chaiwat Chuntirapong of the department noted the widespread suffering: Chiang Rai: The picturesque districts of Khun Tan, Phaya Mengrai, Thoeng, and Wiang Kaen were hit hard. Nong Khai: Floodwaters swept through Muang, Ratana Wapi, Sangkhom,…
Chiang Mai residents woke up to a watery surprise on a rather somber Sunday, as floodwaters from Doi Moncham mountain showed no signs of retreating in Mae Rim district. This deluge didn’t come unannounced; on Saturday night, it ransacked over 200 villages, giving new meaning to the phrase ‘when it rains, it pours.’ It’s a sight to behold—if only it weren’t so catastrophic. (Photo: Mae Rim district of Chiang Mai) The challenge didn’t limit itself to Chiang Mai alone. Flooding was still rampant in three northern provinces and one northeastern province as of Sunday. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation painted a grim picture, listing Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, and Sukhothai in the North, and Nong Khai in the Northeast as affected provinces. Chaiwat Chuntirapong, the director-general of the department, not-so-cheerfully informed that relentless rainfall had orchestrated this chaos. Families? 3,979 to be exact, spanning 223 villages, found themselves at…
A landslide on August 23 is vividly captured in a picture from the Phuket Info Center, illustrating the dramatic event that unfolded in Phuket, Thailand. This alarming incident spurred immediate action, as the Royal Forest Department (RFD) seized about 5 rai of land at the summit of Nak Koet hill in Phuket’s Muang district. This land is suspected to be intricately linked to the landslides that tragically claimed 13 lives. Sorasak Rananan, the director of Phuket’s Royal Forest Centre, remarked that the concerned land lies within the sacrosanct boundaries of the Wat Phra Yai temple grounds, designated as a reserve forest. During an initial investigation, it was discovered that a car park had been illicitly constructed within the monastery’s domain, provoking more questions than answers. In response, Mr. Sorasak stated that the RFD had filed a formal complaint with Karon police station, and the seizure of the land had been…
It was a picturesque scene in Sukhothai Province last Friday as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made her much-anticipated visit. Yet, not everything was serene. What followed unravelled into a heated political discourse loaded with punchy exchanges and simmering tensions. In a blazing retort on Saturday, Ramate Rattanachaweng, a former spokesman for the Democrat Party, didn’t hold back. He directed sharp words towards Prime Minister Paetongtarn in response to her dismay over past actions by some former Democrat executives. “Let me ask [her], has there been any former Democrat Party leader who was jailed for corruption?” he questioned. “Have any of them fled the country to dodge a corruption sentence?” The Prime Minister’s comments came against the backdrop of friction within her own political allies, especially the fervent red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). This animosity emerged after Pheu Thai’s contentious decision to form an alliance with the Democrat…
Visitors thronged the bustling Sadao checkpoint in Songkhla this past Saturday as Malaysia celebrated its beloved National Day, Merdeka Day. These snapshots, captured by the ever-diligent Assawin Pakkawan, tell a story of vibrant activity and cross-border unity. The southern region of Thailand felt an economic pulse from over 18,000 Malaysian tourists who chose this long weekend to explore its beauty. With more than 13,000 of these spirited travelers streaming through the Sadao checkpoint and around 5,000 more pouring in through the Betong checkpoint in Yala, expectations for a hefty economic impact, estimated at a staggering 100 million baht, soared. Authorities at Sadao checkpoint were quick to respond to the throng, opening two additional lanes to accommodate the influx. Yet, Sadao wasn’t the only gateway to paradise. Padang Besar and Prakob checkpoints too saw a surge in eager Malaysian visitors, with local officials beaming about the anticipated economic boost hovering around…
Ambulances were dispatched promptly to the entrance of the railway tunnel in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand last Thursday. This urgent response unfolded in the wake of a tragic incident, where the unforgiving earth swallowed a portion of the tunnel, resulting in the untimely deaths of three diligent workers. (Photo: State Railway of Thailand) In the tranquil yet bustling Nakhon Ratchasima province, an air of somber determination enveloped the Pak Chong police station as it took the helm of a critical investigation. The superintendent, Pol Col Veerapol Rabiappho, was resolute in his commitment to uncover the truth. He announced the formation of an investigative team tasked with probing the collapse that rocked the community. Pol Col Veerapol explained, “We will conduct thorough interviews with the workers, scrutinize the contractor’s actions, and liaise with representatives from the Council of Engineers, the Engineering Council of Thailand (ECO), and the Engineering Institute…