Thailand Roundup: Badminton stars, dismissal of Prime Minister, deadly explosion

Thai artist gives voice to Myanmar’s Shan refugees

Thai artist Jakkai Siributr collaborated with refugees from Myanmar’s Shan state in Thailand to create an embroidery project. The resulting installation, There's No Place, is displayed at the Venice Biennale as part of an exhibition exploring themes of diaspora and displacement. The embroidered pieces highlight the struggles of stateless communities and the limitations they face on a daily basis. This is not the artist's first work addressing displacement from Myanmar, as he previously created imaginary flags representing places where refugees would want to go. The exhibition aims to give a voice to unheard issues and bring attention to the experiences of Southeast Asian artists.

Badminton stars at US Open

Thai badminton stars Pakapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun won both men's and mixed doubles titles at the US Open in Texas. They secured their first title in the men's doubles, beating Taiwan's Liu Kuang Heng and Yang Po Han. This marked Thailand's first Badminton World Federation (BWF) men's doubles title since 2019. Pakkapon and Peeratchai also won their second BWF title in the mixed doubles, defeating Denmark's Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund, the Nation Thailand reports.

Verdict on potential dismissal of Prime Minister and dissolution of opposition

Thailand's constitutional court is expected to make a verdict by September in two cases that could lead to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's dismissal and the dissolution of the opposition Move Forward party. The cases have heightened political uncertainty in Southeast Asia's economy, which has struggled to recover since the COVID-19 pandemic.  Srettha, a real estate tycoon with the ruling Pheu Thai party, faces potential dismissal due to the appointment of a court-indicted lawyer to his cabinet. Meanwhile, Move Forward, a party that won the election but was blocked by conservative lawmakers, faces court proceedings over its campaign to amend Thailand's royal insult or lese majeste law.

Moroccans held by Myanmar gang seeks Thailand's help

Moroccan nationals held captive by a call centre scam gang in Myanmar have appealed to the Thai government for help. The Moroccans were coerced into working as scammers by the gang, led by Chinese nationals, in Myanmar's Karen State. They were held for ransom, with demands ranging from $6,000 to $7,000. The victims were promised e-commerce jobs in Thailand but were taken to their headquarters in Myanmar. The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) investigated and identified each Moroccan victim.

Deadly explosion

A powerful explosion occurred in front of a residential building near Bannang Sata police station, causing damage to houses and vehicles. A 45-year-old woman died, while 18 others were injured, including five seriously injured. The blast shattered glass panels and damaged apartment units, leaving the type and owner of the vehicle unknown, the Strait Times reports.