Volunteers from the Rural Doctor Society were seen actively conducting Covid-19 tests at Rangsit University in Pathum Thani on Aug 10, 2021. (Photo: Arnun Cholmahatrakool) The tireless efforts of the rural doctors’ movement in Thailand have not gone unnoticed. This esteemed group has been named one of the five distinguished recipients of the illustrious Ramon Magsaysay Award—often lauded as the Nobel Prize of Asia. The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation made the thrilling announcement on Saturday, acknowledging the doctors’ unwavering commitment to public health and upholding the fundamental rights of citizens. In their statement, the Foundation remarked, “By championing the rural poor, the movement ensured that no one was left behind as the nation progressed toward economic prosperity and modernisation.” Among other luminaries recognized were the acclaimed Japanese anime filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki; Karma Phuntsho, the visionary founder of an educational charity in Bhutan; and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, a Vietnamese physician…
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Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s arrival at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok on August 18 has set off a whirlwind of activity and investigation. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb) The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is delving into whether Thaksin received special treatment during his stay at the Police General Hospital. On Friday, NACC Secretary-General Niwatchai Kasemmongkol shared that they have amassed a significant amount of information and are inching closer to determining if there’s enough evidence to launch formal questioning. Despite their efforts, footage from the hospital’s 14th floor, where Thaksin was treated, remains elusive. Mr. Niwatchai stated that both the Department of Corrections and Police General Hospital had been approached for this footage, but nothing has been handed over yet. When questioned about the delay, he suggested the NACC might first need to confirm the footage’s existence and usability. Moreover, the NACC has been hunting down Thaksin’s medical records…
Chon Buri province witnessed a dramatic turn of events on Friday evening, as immigration police swooped in on a serene neighborhood with a rented luxury house nestled on a sprawling four-rai (1.58 acres) land plot in tambon Pong of Bang Lamung district. The mission? To dismantle an elaborate fraudulent investment scheme allegedly masterminded by fifteen Chinese nationals. This picturesque corner of Chon Buri, often associated with its idyllic landscapes, became the epicenter of a high-stakes raid led by Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart, the deputy chief of the Immigration Bureau. As the sun began to set, creating a visually cinematic backdrop, the police officers converged on the house. The result? Fourteen men and one woman, caught red-handed, allegedly in the midst of defrauding their fellow countrymen. The foyer of the rented mansion was soon filled with the sounds of 18 computers whirring to a stop and 90 mobile phones rendered…
The Caretaker Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister has sparked an intensive investigation into 12 durian exporters after Chinese authorities detected cadmium in their shipments. Capt Thamanat Prompow has instructed the Department of Agriculture (DoA) to suspend these exporters and initiate thorough probes to trace the contamination back to its source. Capt Thamanat made it clear that any export agents from Thailand found to be circumventing or forging the Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) certification will face criminal charges. China mandates GAP certification for 22 Thai fruits, durians included, to ensure the highest standards of quality. As of early this year, a ministry report revealed that Thailand had issued GAP certification to 218,922 farms and 2,038 packaging plants. Capt Thamanat emphasized that these measures are designed to safeguard the quality of Thai agricultural exports, which significantly benefits local economies and communities. This order followed the discovery of contamination in 16 shipments linked to…
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, newly endorsed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn on August 18, has officially become Thailand’s youngest prime minister. The new cabinet’s line-up awaits royal endorsement this coming weekend, bringing a wave of excitement and anticipation across the nation. (Photo: Government House) The newly formed coalition between the former opposition Democrat Party and the ruling Pheu Thai Party is set to boast a stronghold of 322 MPs within parliament. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who stepped into the role after Srettha Thavisin’s dismissal by the Constitutional Court, emphasized the meticulous vetting process Pheu Thai is conducting to ensure each minister is aptly suited for their role. “Pheu Thai is trying to ensure each cabinet minister is a good fit,” Phumtham stated, embodying the careful deliberation behind every decision. “The cabinet line-up is almost finalised. After it is royally endorsed, it will get straight to work.” Prommin Lertsuridej, the…
Amid the unyielding deluge sweeping the northern provinces of Thailand—Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao, and Phrae—the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) makes unrelenting efforts to ensure the well-being and safety of residents. Tasked with a mission to bring relief during this challenging period, the PWA has ramped up its operations to supply essential resources, including bottled drinking water emblazoned with their iconic logo, indispensable supplies, and clean water trucks, all to make sure that no one is left thirsty or in dire need. Mr. Chakapong Kamchan, the stalwart Deputy Governor (Operations 2) and Acting Governor of the PWA, shared some heartfelt words, “Due to the severe flooding in the upper northern region, which affects Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao, and Phrae provinces, we are seeing an ebb in heavy rains; however, we remain vigilant regarding the water mass navigating through various river basins. It is in these trying times that we at the…
This week, Phitsanulok’s Muang district became the epicenter of an electrifying crackdown. In a dramatic operation led by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), two sisters found themselves in handcuffs, exposing an elaborate network entangled in document forgery. Poised for justice, Pol Col Anek Taosuphap, the CSD’s astute deputy commander, briefed us on the captivating details of this high-stakes mission. Meet the suspects: Kanokwan Nonwisit, 25, and her slightly older sister, Amornrat, 27. Their arrest unfolded like a scene from a crime thriller, as part of an ambitious sting operation spanning a jaw-dropping 30 locations nationwide. These two sisters had no inkling that their world would soon come crashing down. What did the authorities uncover? Quite the treasure trove of incriminating evidence. Among the seized items were a notebook computer, a PC, a printer – the usual suspects. But then, things got even more intriguing: a book meticulously listing their alleged…
A stunning revelation has emerged surrounding Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya and the infamous 2012 hit-and-run case that left a policeman tragically dead. Former senior prosecutor Chainarong Saengthong-aram has come forward, declaring that his assistance to Mr. Vorayuth was an act stemming from deep compassion, as the young driver was a friend of his niece. Chainarong is now one of eight defendants facing allegations of mishandling this highly scrutinized case. The controversy centers on accusations that he deliberately understated the speed of Mr. Vorayuth’s Ferrari at the time of the accident. Official estimates suggest the car was hurtling down the road at 177kph, but records were allegedly doctored to report a more palatable, legal speed of under 80kph. As the clock ticks down to the trial, scheduled at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on September 10 at 9:30 am, Chainarong expressed a curious mix of…
The harrowing tale of a collapsed rail tunnel in Nakhon Ratchasima reached its somber conclusion yesterday morning. After an intense five-day search and rescue mission, the bodies of the two remaining trapped workers were finally recovered. Ekkarat Sriarayanpong, the head of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor’s office, shared the bittersweet news. The two victims, both Chinese nationals, had been found just three meters from where the first worker’s body had been discovered. Identified as Hu Xiangmin, a diligent supervisor, and Tong Xinlin, a skilled backhoe operator, both men had been working arduously inside the tunnel when disaster struck late Saturday night. The tunnel had succumbed to the relentless pressure of prolonged rainfall, leading to the devastating collapse. The traumatic ordeal of the two Chinese workers was compounded by the recovery of another worker’s body, a Myanmar national, the day before. The collapse transpired approximately 1.5 kilometers from the…
Feathers are being ruffled and the undercurrent runs deep in the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), but not quite deep enough to go unnoticed. Cracks within the senior ranks of the coalition party have been visible for some time, only coming to a head when an outspoken member began chastising Srettha Thavisin while the latter was prime minister over his performance in running the country. The PPRP is now bitterly split down the middle, with party leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon leading one side, and party secretary-general and Caretaker Agriculture Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow leading the other. Samat Jenchaijitwanich, a former vice minister for justice, is teetering on the edge of losing his PPRP membership following a conflict with Capt Thamanat. An observer noted that Capt Thamanat had every reason to be displeased when Wan Ubumrung fell out with the ruling Pheu Thai Party at the end of June. Mr. Wan was…