In the picturesque yet bustling Koh Phangan district of Surat Thani, a scene straight out of a high-stakes thriller unfolded when tourist police nabbed a Nigerian man over the weekend. Kenneth Nnwanelobi, a 47-year-old, was arrested for allegedly possessing cocaine and overstaying his welcome in Thailand—by nearly nine years. The dramatic apprehension took place at a hotel in tambon Koh Phangan, carried out by a meticulous squad from Tourist Police Division 3. The mission was part of a broader crackdown aimed at foreigners dabbling in restricted jobs and illicit activities on this otherwise serene tourist island. Swooping in with precision, the tourist police inspector, Pol Lt Col Winit Boonchit, led the operation. According to Pol Lt Col Winit, Mr. Kenneth was a cog in a sophisticated Nigerian-led drug syndicate. When the police confronted him in the hotel corridor and asked to see his passport, Kenneth bolted towards his room. However,…
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Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, right, visits a school in Nonthaburi province on July 11. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb) In an unexpected turn of events, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has emerged as the people’s favorite politician, outshining even the much-celebrated Move Forward Party (MFP) adviser Pita Limjaroenrat. This surprising revelation comes from a recent LINE TODAY survey that ran from July 1 to July 20. With an impressive total of around 21,000 participants, the poll asked citizens to pick their preferred political figure. When the results were announced on Sunday, Mr. Srettha captured the spotlight with a striking 8,742 votes, which equates to roughly 40.13% of the overall tally. Trailing behind, albeit closely, was Mr. Pita, who garnered 7,425 votes, or about 34.09% of the vote count. Democrat leader Chalermchai Sri-on secured the third spot with 1,966 votes, translating to 9.03%. In a somewhat surprising twist, Sirikanya Tansakul, the deputy leader of…
As global sustainability efforts pick up steam, Bangkok is taking strides in redefining its environmental agenda under the stewardship of Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. Shifting focus from the Green Bangkok 2030 initiative that his predecessors initiated, the governor is now pushing forward with an even more ambitious vision. Mr. Chadchart aims to create what he calls a “15-minute city” where residents can access green spaces within a short stroll. This plan involves adding 130 parks and doubling the original tree-planting goal to two million trees by 2026, a significant leap after Bangkok successfully hit its initial target of one million trees within just two years. “The first thing he did when he came into office was he went to a park and planted the first tree,” says Pornphrom Vikitsreth, the BMA’s Chief of Sustainability and advisor to the governor. Thailand faces a slew of environmental problems, including rampant deforestation, diminishing biodiversity,…
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua has unveiled a grand vision for a 300-rai plot in the Rangsit Khlong Hok area of Pathum Thani’s Thanya Buri district. This sprawling tract, three times the size of the former Dusit Zoo in Bangkok which closed its gates in 2018 after 80 memorable years, is set to become a sanctuary where animals can thrive in their natural habitat. Attapon Srihayrun, director of the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under Royal Patronage, shared these exciting developments in July 2022. With a blueprint grounded in respect for all living beings, the design philosophy positions visitors as mere observers, while animals enjoy the status of esteemed owners. Attapon emphasizes that visitors should immerse themselves in the experience with minimal disturbance to the true inhabitants. Reimagining Animal Welfare Attapon shared that global zoo management trends are shifting focus towards animal welfare. The era of animals confined…
In a dramatic twist of fate, a man was saved by the unlikely combination of roadside plants and the goodwill of locals as his small electric car teetered on the brink of being washed into a waterway. The surge of run-off hit the center of the eastern province of Trat hard on Sunday, turning a routine drive into a hair-raising ordeal. Meet Dentist Amnuay Roek-amnuaychoke, our unsuspecting hero. At around 1:30 PM, Amnuay had just crossed a bridge over a waterway on Soi Moo Ban Krung Thai road in Ban Nong Bua, located in tambon Wang Krajae, Muang district. The water level, which had been a manageable 30 centimeters earlier, had surged to an intimidating 100 centimeters. As the floodwater rapidly rose, local residents and soldiers distributing essentials to flood victims sprang into action. They initially secured the car using a small rope. Within ten minutes, a stronger rope was…
On 24 April 2023, Chalerm Ubumrung and his son Wan Ubumrung electrified the crowd at a Pheu Thai election campaign rally held at the iconic Rama VIII Bridge in Bangkok. This father-son duo has been a significant force in Thai politics, making headlines once again. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) Recently, former Pheu Thai Party MP for Bangkok, Wan Ubumrung, squashed rumors that his son, Archawin Ubumrung, would be following him and his grandfather, Chalerm, in deflecting to the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP). Wan addressed these speculations directly, stating clearly on Sunday, “Some news outlets claimed that the whole Ubumrung family will leave Pheu Thai. This is not true.” Making his point unequivocally, Wan continued, “Mr. Archawin still works as an advisor to Mr. Prasert Jantararuangtong, the Digital Economy and Society (DES) minister. I never asked him to resign from Pheu Thai like I did, and neither did his grandfather.” Amidst this…
Under the vibrant Bangkok sun on April 24, 2023, Chalerm Ubumrung and his son Wan Ubumrung stood confidently at the Pheu Thai election campaign rally held near the iconic Rama VIII Bridge. The father-son duo, central figures on the political stage, addressed the crowd with a fervor that resonated through the air, painted with the narrative of political shifts and family dynamics. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) Despite swirling rumors and speculative headlines, former Pheu Thai Party MP for Bangkok, Wan Ubumrung, made it absolutely clear on Sunday that his son, Archawin Ubumrung, has no intention of jumping ship from Pheu Thai to join Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP). Eager to quell any misinformation, Mr. Wan emphasized that Archawin remains a steadfast member of Pheu Thai, actively serving as an adviser to Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong. Addressing the circulation of false reports, Mr. Wan stated firmly, “Some news outlets…
Run-off floods Sukhumvit Highway between Khao Saming and Muang districts of Thailand’s Trat province on Sunday morning. (Photo: Jakkrit Waewkhlaihong) TRAT: Imagine waking up to a Sunday deluge! Heavy downpours turned sections of the renowned Sukhumvit Highway into torrents of water between Khao Saming and Muang district in Thailand’s picturesque eastern province. Communities there received urgent warnings about impending floods as water needed to be released posthaste from a local reservoir, teetering on the brink. The drama unfolded early on Sunday morning, around 5am, when the skies opened up, unleashing run-offs along an eight-section, 20-kilometre stretch of Sukhumvit Highway. These areas, connecting Khao Saming and Muang districts, experienced nature’s wrath after enduring relentless rain for two days. On Saturday alone, Khao Saming district bore witness to a staggering 245 millimetres of rainwater, setting the stage for a watery spectacle on Sunday. The municipality roads of Muang Trat also weren’t spared,…
The serene charm of Koh Phangan in Surat Thani couldn’t mask the stirring events this past Saturday. Tourist police, led by the astute inspector, Pol Lt Col Winit Boonchit, struck a major blow against illegal activities on the picturesque island by apprehending Kenneth Nnwanelobi, a 47-year-old Nigerian national. This arrest, part of an intense crackdown on foreigners involved in unlawful enterprises, uncovered not just a drug operation but also a tale that could rival a spy thriller. Cloaked in the assumed hospitality of a hotel in Moo 8, tambon Koh Phangan, Mr. Nnwanelobi’s facade of normalcy crumbled dramatically when police arrived for a routine inspection. As he stood in the corridor, perhaps believing in his own cloak of invincibility, the request to view his passport initiated a series of events that culminated in an attempted dash into his room — a fruitless endeavor, as quick-thinking officers swiftly pursued and detained…
Blackchin tilapia, a predatory fish species originating from Africa, have taken Thailand’s waterways by storm. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut) Thailand’s Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has put the Fisheries Department on a deadline: seven days to pinpoint the source of this sudden surge in the blackchin tilapia population. Prayoon Inskul, the ministry’s permanent secretary, stated on Saturday that a comprehensive plan to tackle this fishy invasion has been drawn up, targeting an outbreak spanning 16 provinces. Initially, a committee will be tasked with reigning in the tilapia population by September of next year and bumping its market price to 15 baht per kilogram, up from the current rate of eight baht. Mr. Prayoon mentioned that the committee will delve into how the import of this species is impacting local ecosystems and investigate how this explosion began. The department must have its findings wrapped up and ready within the seven-day window, after which…