Penguin

  • World NewsMove over Moo Deng: Penguin Pesto steals the spotlight

    Move over Moo Deng: Penguin Pesto steals the spotlight

    Among the sea of monochrome penguins at Melbourne’s Sea Life Aquarium, one fluffy superstar is stealing the show – and the Internet can’t get enough of him. Meet Pesto, the penguin chick who’s gone from a 200-gramme hatchling to a massive 22.5 kilogrammes in just nine months! Affectionately dubbed an “absolute unit” and a “linebacker,” Pesto’s viral fame has eclipsed…

  • World NewsBeloved gay penguin dies in Sydney (video)

    Beloved gay penguin dies in Sydney (video)

    In a tearful farewell, Sphen, the gentoo penguin who captivated the world as part of a famous same-sex power couple, has died at the age of 11. Sphen and his partner, Magic, shot to global fame in 2018 after falling in love at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and later adopting and raising two chicks. Their heartwarming story touched millions and…

  • Thailand NewsPenguins parade scores big with Khao Kheow Zoo euro 2024 flag frenzy

    Penguins parade scores big with Khao Kheow Zoo euro 2024 flag frenzy

    Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Sri Racha district, Chon Buri province, this weekend marked the current European Football Championship (Euro 2024) by adorning the zoo with national flags from various participating nations while officials wore shirts representing the teams, adding to the festive vibe. Visitors were treated to a delightful parade featuring over 40 Humboldt penguins. These charming birds paraded,…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Bangkok protests erupt, Phuket murder update | August 9

    Thailand News Today | Bangkok protests erupt, Phuket murder update | August 9

    Officials in Phuket are pulling out all stops in a bid to restore tourist confidence, following the murder of a 57 year old Swiss national last week. Following a Civil Court ruling against PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, Thai media organisations are calling on the government to abide by the court’s decision. Police have also arrested 14 other activists, who face charges…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Covid case jump, Airlines ask for loans, Penguin hunger strike over | May 13

    Thailand News Today | Covid case jump, Airlines ask for loans, Penguin hunger strike over | May 13

    4,887 new infections from the past 24 hours, 7 member airlines are pushing for a meeting with PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to discuss the option of soft loans, and Chiang Mai has reported a new cluster of Covid-19 after 3 patients lied about being infected.

  • Covid-19 NewsActivist who was denied bail tests positive for Covid-19 in jail

    Activist who was denied bail tests positive for Covid-19 in jail

    Activist leader Panupong Jadnok, or Mike, has tested positive for Covid-19 while remaining in jail after the Criminal Court has denied his requests for bail. The news, according to Noraset Nanongtoom, his lawyer, is that now Panupong will ask the Criminal Court to consider a bail request by video conference. If granted, he would be released and able to be…

  • Thailand News“Penguin” publishes letter 1 day after being granted bail, says hunger strike is over

    “Penguin” publishes letter 1 day after being granted bail, says hunger strike is over

    Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, a student activist who was charged with violating Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, or lese majeste, has penned his first letter after being released on bail Tuesday. He calls it “Letter of Freedom,” and says more will come. He published the letter 1 day after being released on bail, or May 12. He has also announced…

  • Thailand Protest NewsUniversity student carves “112” into chest after being charged with violating lèse-majesté law

    University student carves “112” into chest after being charged with violating lèse-majesté law

    A Chiang Mai University student now has the numbers of “112” carved across his chest after using a razor blade on himself in defiance of the Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lèse-majesté law. The student took to cutting himself after arriving at the police station to face charges of violating the law. He was also…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | 31 Covid-related deaths, more flight restrictions | May 3

    Thailand News Today | 31 Covid-related deaths, more flight restrictions | May 3

    The daily 24 hour infection report has jumped to back over the 2,000 mark, Disease prevention measures are being tightened for passengers taking to the skies after several cases of Covid-19 were found on flights from Bangkok to Phuket, Angry supporters of the pro-democracy movement gathered outside Bangkok’s Criminal Court yesterday, A new Suan Dusit Poll shows that Thai people…

  • Thailand Protest NewsProtesters rally at Criminal Court after detainees’ bail request denied again

    Protesters rally at Criminal Court after detainees’ bail request denied again

    Angry supporters of the pro-democracy movement gathered outside Bangkok’s Criminal Court yesterday, after bail requests for detained activists were rejected for the ninth time. Those who had their bail applications refused include Parit Chiwarak, aka, “Penguin”, who has been transferred to Ramathibodi Hospital due to his weakened condition. Parit has been on hunger strike for nearly 50 days. The Bangkok…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Phuket’s new arrival restrictions, ‘home quarantine’ under consideration | April 20

    Thailand News Today | Phuket’s new arrival restrictions, ‘home quarantine’ under consideration | April 20

    Starting today with the Covid figures… and after a 20% drop in new infections reported yesterday by the CCSA, Thailand has today recorded 1,443 cases. 4 more Covid-related deaths have also been recorded and 55 people are currently on ventilators under state care. The government claims there are 10,000 ventilators available while over 666,000 people in Thailand have now received…

  • Thailand Protest NewsPro-democracy leader “Penguin” has bail application rejected – again

    Pro-democracy leader “Penguin” has bail application rejected – again

    The Criminal Court in Bangkok has once again rejected a bail application from anti-government activist, Parit Chiwarak, aka, “Penguin”. The leader of the pro-democracy Ratsadon group had his application refused yesterday, on the basis that there was no reason to overturn previous decisions made by the Criminal and Appeals courts. The bail application had been lodged by Parit’s mother, Sureerat…

  • Thailand Protest NewsProtest leader Parit sentenced to 15 days’ additional detention for contempt of court

    Protest leader Parit sentenced to 15 days’ additional detention for contempt of court

    Pro-democracy activist Parit Chiwarak, aka, “Penguin”, has been handed an additional 15 days’ detention for contempt of court. The leader of the Ratsadon group is already being held at Bangkok Remand Prison on other charges. The new ruling relates to a March 15 incident, in which Parit tried to read a statement at the end of a court hearing, during…

  • Thailand Protest NewsParit threatens hunger strike if activists charged with lèse majesté are not released

    Parit threatens hunger strike if activists charged with lèse majesté are not released

    Protest leader and co-founder of the Ratsadon pro-democracy group, Parit Chiwarak, has threatened to go on hunger strike if fellow activists charged with lèse majesté offences are not released. Thailand’s lèse majesté law, officially known as section 112 of the Criminal Code, prohibits criticising, insulting, or otherwise defaming the monarchy. A number of activists have been hit with the charge…

  • Thailand Protest NewsThai protesters come out of hibernation, but has the movement run out of steam? | VIDEO

    Thai protesters come out of hibernation, but has the movement run out of steam? | VIDEO

    After a few month’s hibernation, the pro-democracy movement is back in full swing. Some skirmishes earlier this week and court cases related to last year’s rallies have been hot news. So are we in for a few more months of cat and mouse protests? And has the protest movement lost some of its impetus? Now we hear that more than…

  • Thailand Protest NewsProtest leader Parit distances himself from Free Youth’s justification of communism

    Protest leader Parit distances himself from Free Youth’s justification of communism

    Pro-democracy protest leader Parit Chiwarak, aka “Penguin”, has sought to distance himself from the Free Youth group, following the movement’s defence of republicanism and communism. Thai PBS World reports that Parit’s move comes after a statement by the group, declaring that communism does not mean dictatorship. The statement, which appeared on a banner posted online by Free Youth, came shortly…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Burmese border #&#!!!, Charges for Penguin, 9 dead in floods | Dec 4

    Thailand News Today | Burmese border #&#!!!, Charges for Penguin, 9 dead in floods | Dec 4

    Thailand News Today, coming to you from the relatively dry Phuket, compared to the horrible flooding in parts of southern Thailand. 5 shot and in critical condition after gang clash in Phitsanulok 5 people have been shot and critically wounded in what police believe to be a turf war between 2 rival gangs in Phitsanulok, Central Thailand. Police say gang…

  • Thailand Protest NewsFour released, three re-arrested, drama outside the Bangkok Remand Prison

    Four released, three re-arrested, drama outside the Bangkok Remand Prison

    Another evening of drama, but this time not in the streets but during the release and re-arrest of several of the key anti-government protest leaders. 3 of 4 protest leaders who were released on bail by the Criminal Court yesterday, after the court rejected a police request to keep them detained on remand, were re-arrested. The court rejected a police…

  • Thailand Protest NewsContempt charge dropped against protest leader Parit

    Contempt charge dropped against protest leader Parit

    The leader of the Free People protest group, Parit Chiwarak, aka, “Penguin”, has had a charge of contempt dropped. He had been charged after calling on activists to gather at the court on August 8 to obstruct proceedings in a case against fellow protest leaders, Anon Nampa and Panupong Jadnok. The Bangkok Post reports that the Criminal Court dropped the…

  • Thailand Protest News2 Thai protest leaders immediately re-arrested after being released on bail

    2 Thai protest leaders immediately re-arrested after being released on bail

    Authorities have re-arrested 2 of the leaders at the centre of anti-government protests right after they were granted temporary release on bail. Panasaya Sitthijirawattanakul, known as “Rung”, and Parit Chivarak, aka “Penguin”, were released yesterday from Patum Thani prison, north of Bangkok. They were being held on charges of violating the emergency decree and released alongside fellow protester Nutchanon Pairote,…

  • Thailand Protest NewsProtest leader Arnon calls impromptu demo to push for release of activists

    Protest leader Arnon calls impromptu demo to push for release of activists

    Anti-government protest leader Arnon Nampa took to social media yesterday to call on fellow activists to assemble at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre for a pre-protest protest. They are demanding the release of 21 arrested protesters who were rounded up by police yesterday whilst setting up for today’s scheduled rally around the Democracy Monument. In a live broadcast on…

  • Thailand Protest NewsProtest organisers have been silenced for Tuesday’s anniversary of the Thammasat University Massacre

    Protest organisers have been silenced for Tuesday’s anniversary of the Thammasat University Massacre

    The 44th anniversary of the 1976 Thammasat University massacre on October 6 will be commemorated by the university. But 3 prominent organisers of the latest round of student protests, attracting up to 30,000 people, will be denied an opportunity to speak at the event. Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak and Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, and human…

  • Thailand Protest NewsProtesters not “tough enough” – Thai security official

    Protesters not “tough enough” – Thai security official

    Thai security agencies are downplaying this weekend’s anti-government student rally, predicting that it will only attract 20,000 people and not the 50,000 predicted by the protest organisers. They’ve also said they’re confident it won’t become violent. The last big rally, early in this phase of opposition demonstrations, was on August 16 and was held at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument. It attracted…

  • Politics NewsThammasat University officials ban September 19 protest

    Thammasat University officials ban September 19 protest

    Thammasat University, once a bastion of democratic voices and student expression, has refused permission for an anti-government protest, set to take place on its Tha Phra Chan campus in Bangkok, on September 19. University officials say they are banning the gathering as organisers have “failed to follow the institution’s guidelines” on hosting political events on campus. Officials are referring to…

  • Politics NewsActivist vows university rally will take place, with or without permission

    Activist vows university rally will take place, with or without permission

    The political activist Parit Chiwarak, aka. “Penguin”, says a rally planned for September 19 at Thammasat University will go ahead, even if permission is refused from the University’s management. The gathering is set to take place at the university’s Tha Phra Chan campus in Bangkok, with Parit saying he expects around 50,000 people to attend. Khaosod English reports that the…

  • Politics NewsFormer human rights commissioner accuses government loyalists of distorting protesters’ demands

    Former human rights commissioner accuses government loyalists of distorting protesters’ demands

    The former commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, Angkhana Neelapaijit, has taken to Facebook to defend the rights of student protesters. In her post, she also accuses those loyal to the government of misconstruing the protesters’ demands, saying the activists are being incorrectly accused of wishing to abolish the monarchy. Angkhana defends the protesters’ rights to freedom of speech…

  • Politics NewsWarrants issued for key members of Free People movement

    Warrants issued for key members of Free People movement

    The Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for 15 prominent members of the Free People movement, which organised the protest held at the Democracy Monument on July 18. 3 of the 15, Thammasat University student Prit “Penguin” Chivarak, human rights lawyer Anon Nampa and Panupong Jaadnok, aka “Mike Rayong”, have already been arrested before and released on bail. The 12…

  • Politics News“Penguin” released on bail

    “Penguin” released on bail

    22 year old anti-government activist Parit Chiwarak, known by his nickname “Penguin”, was released on bail this afternoon around 2:15 in Bangkok. He was arrested yesterday and charged with breaching internal security rules and breaking the Emergency Decree enacted in April to stop the spread of Covid-19, among other charges, by co-organising a protest on July 18. Since that July…

  • Politics NewsPolice pinch “Penguin” ahead of student rally

    Police pinch “Penguin” ahead of student rally

    Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, the outspoken leader of recent student protests, was arrested yesterday as tensions mount ahead of a major pro-democracy rally planned for tomorrow afternoon in Bangkok. He faces multiple charges, including sedition. The arrest was made as the Thammasat University student prepared to join a pro-democracy event at the campus in Nonthaburi. After a policeman read out the…