Imagine the serene heart of Thailand, in the central province of Lop Buri, suddenly thrust into a whirlwind of mystery and suspense. On June 23, a disturbing discovery unfolded—one that reads like a tale spun for a crime novel, yet it starkly exists within our reality. A Thai woman, currently fighting for her life, emerged from this enigma, having been found submerged in a tank full of asphalt. The questions are as sticky as the substance that nearly claimed her life: Who is she, how did she end up there, and most importantly, why? The saga began with Chanon, a local 52-year-old, who was probably expecting a regular day when he stumbled upon an unusual sight beside the roadworks on Lam Laleng Road in the Khok Samrong district. This wasn’t just any sight—it was the kind that would flip his day upside down. There, within the confines of a 200-litre…

Under the grand arches of the Bangkok City Hall in Din Daeng, the atmosphere was filled with anticipation as Wirat Manassanitwong, the esteemed Deputy Permanent Secretary for the BMA, took the helm of the first 2025 assembly of the BMA Committee for the Promotion and Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The room was a tableau of cultural custodians, eager to embark on another year of vital preservation work this past Monday, June 23. The day’s agenda kicked off with a reflective glance at the cultural treasures designated in 2024, each a jewel in the cultural crown of Bangkok. The dashing and melodious performances from Ban Duriyapraneet School took center stage, showcasing the vibrancy of traditional performing arts. Meanwhile, cherished social rituals and festivals like Mon Songkran, celebrated with joyous water festivities at Ban Bang Kradi in Bang Khun Thian, and the spiritual Navaratri Festival in the bustling Bang Rak district…

Hold on to your hats, folks—we’re diving into the thrilling and sometimes perplexing world of Thai cannabis legislation! It’s a story filled with fiery debates, unexpected twists, and a cast of political characters that keep you on the edge of your seat. Our main character today? None other than the Bhumjaithai Party’s seniormost maestro, Supachai Jaisamut. Supachai Jaisamut, a leading figure in the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), has come out guns blazing, urging the prompt passage of a much-debated cannabis control bill. His frustration is primarily aimed at the Pheu Thai Party’s Ministry of Public Health, which he accuses of dragging its feet on the issue. His main gripe? The perceived inaction has allowed cannabis to flourish with wild abandon, leading to challenges galore. Supachai takes us on a trip down memory lane, reminding everyone that the BJT has been a staunch supporter of cannabis use, but, wait for it, only…

The winds of change are sweeping across Sa Kaeo, as the Royal Thai Army has decisively shut the gates at all Thai-Cambodian border crossings. This stringent move, ordered by the RTA chiefs, echoes a tale of sovereignty breaches, escalating tensions, and a spike in cross-border crime that could rival any dramatized saga of international relations. On June 23, Lieutenant General Amorn Boonsuya, Commander of the 1st Army Area, issued an emergency order halting the passage of vehicles and travelers—both Thai and foreign—across the Sa Kaeo border, with an immediacy that left no room for dithering. The heart of this prohibitive measure stems from alarming reports of Cambodian troops allegedly stretching their shadow onto Thai soil, erecting strongholds, rearranging terrain, and staging audacious symbolic protests near the 2nd Army Region. It’s a soap opera of military posturing that has stoked fears for safety and destabilized the region. The curtain rose on…

Picture this—a sunny morning in the tranquil Chae subdistrict of Khon Buri, when an unexpected drama was set in motion on an ordinary bathroom wall! Now, you must agree, this isn’t the usual place where tales of adventure unfold. But hey, welcome to Thailand, where even the mundane can transform into a spectacle of awe. Pira Pitaktrakul, a 53-year-old local, certainly didn’t expect to encounter this peculiar scene as he approached his bathroom this morning. With the morning sun glinting off the lush and vibrant greenery, his eyes caught a glint of emerald—and what a slithery spectacle it was! An over 1-meter-long green snake, apparently after a lavish feast, was attempting to defy gravity and wisdom in its bid to navigate a vertical bathroom wall. This audacious reptile wasn’t just any ordinary wall-climber; it was a snake with a bulging belly—wrapped not-so-neatly within was a 7-inch long gecko! Needless to…

Nobody did it better.

An SA F1 GP deal could be clinched this weekend in Austria, as Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie and other officials jet off to Europe …

DONEGAL goalkeeper Shaun Patton hopes his ankle injury proves a blessing in disguise as he looks to edge glove rival Gavin Mulreany for the No  1 jersey in Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Monaghan at Croke Park.

The St Eunan’s man suffered the problem in the latter stages of last month’s Ulster final win over Armagh and missed the All-Ireland group-stage clashes with Tyrone and Cavan.

Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Mulreany deputised in the opening-round loss to the Red Hands in Ballybofey — Jim McGuinness’ first-ever defeat at MacCumhaill Park — but Donegal rebounded with a convincing victory over the Breffni Blues.

Patton returned for the final-round win over Mayo and his booming kick-out created the last-gasp Ciarán Moore point that won the game and snatched second place in Group 1.

Donegal powered past Leinster champions Louth in Sunday’s preliminary quarter-final to set up a last-eight clash with the Farney at Croke Park.

It will be their third game in 14 days but Patton feels fresh ahead of the trip to HQ.

The 29-year-old said: “It is an intense schedule. I’m not running the legs off myself like the other boys, but it’s intense and you can’t afford to be picking up knocks when it’s week on week.

“But that’s the structure of the Championship, there’s no point complaining about it.

“I had a wee break to myself, so I’m feeling quite good and I’m delighted to be back in.”

And Patton insists the Ulster kingpins are in safe hands if Mulreany gets the nod again.

He said: “It’s tough to watch on from the sidelines but Gavin stepped in and did really well.

“You look at the Tyrone game and it was a tough game to go into. The game was flat from our perspective so I’m delighted to get back in but we have a fantastic goalkeeper in Gavin behind me.”

Donegal also struggled against Ger Brennan’s men in the opening half on Sunday, kicking five wides and three shots that fell short.

But another Patton kick-out sparked them to life.

The ball was flicked on by Michael Murphy. Moore then set up Conor O’Donnell, who fired to the net.

The hosts surged clear in the second half to KO the Wee County.

But Patton has warned that another sluggish start could cost Donegal against Monaghan.

He said: “The whole point was getting the result and getting to Croke Park for the quarter-final, so we’re happy to get that box ticked.

“It’s the performances we’ll have to look at, that first half we wouldn’t be too happy with, but the job is done and we’ll get the bodies right.

“I don’t really know what the cause of it was, whether it was poor shot selection which cost us at the other end.

“We were happy to get into half-time and we’re happy with the second-half performance, but we can’t really allow a first half like that to happen.”

GAVIN WHITE hopes Kerry are ready for road against Armagh after breaking down in their Meath showdown.

The wheels came off in Tullamore the Saturday before last when Kingdom blew top spot in their All-Ireland group with a shock nine-point loss to the Royals.

Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

But with star man David Clifford hitting top gear by firing 3-7 at Fitzgerald Stadium last Saturday, Jack O’Connor’s men raced past Cavan, 3-20 to 1-17, in Killarney.

Skipper White struck the post in a rip-roaring first half against the Breffni as they cruised 2-12 to 0-8 in front.

The Dr Crokes clubman admits tough questions were asked when the Kingdom convoy stalled against Meath but now all roads lead to Croke Park to face the All-Ireland champions.

White said: “We were very disappointed in the way we played against Meath. It was hard to put your finger on exactly what happened. It was a complete malfunction all over the pitch. We were disappointed with the way we performed. But the main thing is that we were still in the Championship and we still had a chance to rectify it and put on a performance to try to get the win.

“It was a mixed bag against Cavan. The main thing was that we got a result, maybe fixed a couple things from Meath and just look forward to a quarter-final now in Croke Park.

“That was the be all and end all — get to Croke Park and see how we go from there.”

Revved-up White knows Jones’ Road is where the Kingdom can truly fire.

Kerry have been able to navigate Munster without issue, the only speed bump being needing extra-time to see off Cork in the semi-final.

O’Connor’s men made sure of a provincial five in a row with victory over Clare, before romping home against Roscommon and in the Rebels rematch, which preceded the Meath mishap.

Seánie O’Shea returned from a knee problem against the Breffni and fired 0-4, which was a huge boost.

Armagh may have sent them packing in last year’s semi-finals but White hopes they can cope with Kieran McGeeney’s men this time around — especially with O’Shea back in the driver’s seat.

The 2022 All-Star full-back said: “Seánie is one of the best players in the country and a serious leader on and off the pitch.

“To have him on the pitch was a huge bonus and that showed with the performance he put in.

“Last week, he did his best when he wasn’t playing to try to motivate fellas on the line, which shows the character that he is.

“He’s a serious player for us to have on the pitch and we’re very grateful that he was able to make it back from injury.

“We’ll take the positives and look at the negatives maybe over the week.

“We’ll train during the week, try to rectify some of the mistakes we’ve made and go up to Croke Park in the best possible shape that we possibly can and have a good crack off it.”

The Kingdom may be without midfielder Diarmuid O’Connor after he suffered a recurrence of a shoulder problem against Cavan. Defender Mike Breen suffered a muscle issue before the game too.

Paul Geaney has a shoulder injury and was not risked in Killarney, while Barry Dan O’Sullivan’s campaign is over due to a torn ACL he suffered against Cork in the All-Ireland series.

White believes his team-mates are suffering because of the new rules but hopes they can recover quickly to help end a three-year wait for Sam Maguire.

He said: “I said a couple of weeks ago at the launch of the Munster Championship that the new rules were going to have a serious impact on injuries.

“We seem to be impacted an awful lot. I don’t know what other teams are like. I suppose in both games against Cork we picked up a lot of injuries.

“I think we had three substitutes in the first half in the second game. Look, it’s just the next man in.

“But Diarmuid is a big leader for us as well. If he doesn’t make it back for this weekend, he’ll certainly be a loss. But we’ll go out and try to put in a performance for him.”

OISÍN O’DONOGHUE credited Tipperary’s experienced stars for making his step up to senior hurling so smooth.

The goal-poaching prodigy netted game-clinching strikes against Waterford and Galway off the bench.

He joined Darragh McCarthy and Sam O’Farrell in winning an All-Ireland Under-20 title last month and remains eligible for another tilt at that grade next year.

Tipp are blending a youthful team around an established core and O’Donoghue feels that has made the adjustment more straightforward.

He said: “To play with the likes of Noel McGrath, Ronan Maher, John McGrath, Jason Forde and the boys is huge.

“They make it very easy for us. All they do is show you the way and you follow them.

“They’re real leaders, so if you’re following them, you’re not doing too badly.

“Séamus Kennedy, Eoghan Connolly and Jake Morris . . . every single one of them.

“It’s a dressing room of lads just trying to help each other out and a group of lads looking to achieve the same goal. When that’s the case, it’s a breeze.

“It’s having a chat with them when you need it. They’re always there — just top men.”

Tipp will make their first Croke Park appearance since 2019 in Sunday week’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Kilkenny.

Twelve players who featured against Galway will be playing their first Championship game at HQ and O’Donoghue cannot wait.

He said: “It’s a dream to get to Croke Park and it’s another step forward for this team.

“It’s something that we set as a target at the start of the year, to get back there. We’re looking forward to it.

“We know the Tipp and Kilkenny rivalry and it’s a big opportunity for us to perform.”

O’Donoghue began the Championship outside the matchday panel but forced his way into the fold with his eye for goal.

He has more than repaid Liam Cahill’s faith with his impact off the bench.

The Cashel King Cormacs teen found the net within 20 seconds of his introduction against Waterford.

He whistled a shot inches over the bar against Laois before he buried Galway’s hopes when picked out by Noel McGrath.

He returned the favour by unselfishly teeing up a point for the Loughmore veteran.

O’Donoghue recalled: “Noel being Noel McGrath passed me the ball. He’ll put it wherever you want so that’s just Noel McGrath for you.

“He put it on a plate for me and it was up to me to finish it. Thank God it hit the back of the net.”

Ray McManus/Sportsfile