Latest news with #Buddhist-majority
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
UP to highlight Buddhist heritage at Bangkok meet
The Uttar Pradesh tourism department is set to highlight the state's rich Buddhist legacy and multifaceted tourism potential at the upcoming Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart, in Bangkok, scheduled from August 26 to 28, 2025. The three-day international travel and tourism exhibition will serve as a global platform for showcasing Uttar Pradesh's spiritual, cultural, ecological, and historical assets—especially its globally revered Buddhist circuit. The state's pavilion will feature prominent sites like Sarnath, Kushinagar, and Shravasti—destinations deeply associated with the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. To enhance accessibility and engagement with Buddhist communities, all exhibits and signage will be displayed in English and local Southeast Asian languages. In addition to Buddhist heritage, the pavilion will also promote other tourism themes including spiritual journeys, cultural festivals, architectural marvels, and eco-tourism destinations across the state. The Uttar Pradesh tourism department has also planned an aggressive outreach strategy in Bangkok, including roadshows, multimedia campaigns, and promotional videos. As part of the campaign, 30-second tourism films and jingles will be aired on regional TV and radio channels, while promotional materials will be distributed at key locations across the host city. Outdoor branding and digital marketing will further amplify the presence of the Uttar Pradesh pavilion. Officials said that this international exposure is expected to attract not only global tourists but also potential investors and stakeholders from the tourism and hospitality industries. The state government hopes to boost international arrivals, particularly from Buddhist-majority countries, and strengthen tourism-related infrastructure back home. Tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh underscored the significance of participating in international forums like PATA. 'Thailand, with its strong Buddhist heritage, is an ideal destination to present Uttar Pradesh as the land where Buddhism was born. This initiative will help position the state as a spiritual and cultural tourism hub,' he said.
Daily Express
17-05-2025
- Daily Express
Thai monk spent RM36 million on gambling
Published on: Saturday, May 17, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 17, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: BANGKOK: Thai police have arrested a Buddhist monk over allegations he embezzled more than $9 million (RM36m) from the prominent temple he ran which was funded by donations from devotees. Investigators from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) accuse Abbot Phra Thammachiranuwat from Wat Rai Khing of siphoning more than 300 million baht ($9.05 million) from the temple's bank account into his own. Advertisement Investigators traced funds from the temple on Bangkok's western outskirts to an illegal online gambling network running baccarat card games, local media said. Temples in Buddhist-majority Thailand rely heavily on income from 'merit-making' ceremonies where worshippers make donations in hopes of gaining good fortune and better reincarnation. Police charged Phra Thammachiranuwat with corruption and malfeasance, CIB deputy commissioner Jaroonkiat Pankaew told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. 'This (arrest) is to help purify our religion,' Jaroonkiat said. Advertisement Authorities have arrested a second suspect and are investigating whether others were involved, while local media reported the abbot has now left the monkhood. Wat Rai Khing, believed to have been founded in 1851, houses a replica of the Buddha's footprint. The arrest from one of the Bangkok suburb's most prominent temples has triggered significant backlash on social media. 'Next time I will donate to a hospital or school for good causes, not a temple,' one user posted on social media platform X. Others cautioned their fellow Buddhists to remain firm in their faith. 'Not all monks are bad. Don't generalise,' another X user wrote. Meanwhile, a Thai court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for 17 people over the collapse of a Bangkok skyscraper that fell in a major earthquake, killing dozens of workers. The 30-storey tower being built to house the State Audit Office was reduced to rubble in seconds when a 7.7-magnitude quake struck neighbouring Myanmar on March 28, killing thousands in Thailand's wartorn neighbour. The tower was the only building in Bangkok to collapse, and the speed and suddenness with which it fell has raised questions about the quality of the construction. 'A Thai court today issued arrest warrants against three groups, comprising 17 people, related to the collapse,' Police Lieutenant-General Siam Boonsom told AFP. He did not give details of those targeted by the warrants, but Thai media reports said they include staff from Italian-Thai Development (ITD), one of the firms building the tower. Authorities say they have recovered 89 bodies from the rubble of the collapsed tower, with seven people still unaccounted for. The project was a joint venture between ITD – one of Thailand's biggest construction firms – and a Chinese conglomerate. Initial tests by Thai safety officials last month on steel rebars – struts used to reinforce concrete – recovered from the site found that some of the metal used was substandard. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
17-05-2025
- The Star
Monk held over US$9mil missing from temple
Thai police have arrested a Buddhist monk over allegations he embezzled more than US$9mil (RM38.5mil) from the prominent temple he ran which was funded by donations from devotees. Investigators from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) accuse Abbot Phra Thammachiranuwat from Wat Rai Khing of siphoning more than 300 million baht from the temple's bank account into his own. Investigators traced funds from the temple on Bangkok's western outskirts to an illegal online gambling network running baccarat card games, local media said. Temples in Buddhist-majority Thailand rely heavily on income from 'merit-making' ceremonies where worshippers make donations in hopes of gaining good fortune and better reincarnation. Police charged Phra Thammachiranuwat with corruption and malfeasance, CIB deputy commissioner Jaroonkiat Pankaew told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. Authorities have arrested a second suspect and are investigating whether others were involved, while local media reported the abbot has now left the monkhood. Wat Rai Khing, believed to have been founded in 1851, houses a replica of the Buddha's footprint. The arrest from one of the Bangkok suburb's most prominent temples has triggered significant backlash on social media. 'Next time I will donate to a hospital or school for good causes, not a temple,' one user posted on social media platform X. Others advised fellow Buddhists to remain firm in their faith. 'Not all monks are bad. Don't generalise,' another X user wrote. — AFP
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- The Hindu
Thailand monk arrested over $9 million temple embezzlement
Thai police have arrested a Buddhist monk over allegations he embezzled more than $9 million from the prominent temple he ran which was funded by donations from devotees. Investigators from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) accuse Abbot Phra Thammachiranuwat from Wat Rai Khing of siphoning more than 300 million baht ($9.05 million) from the temple's bank account into his own. Investigators traced funds from the temple on Bangkok's western outskirts to an illegal online gambling network running baccarat card games, local media said. Temples in Buddhist-majority Thailand rely heavily on income from "merit-making" ceremonies where worshippers make donations in hopes of gaining good fortune and better reincarnation. Police charged Phra Thammachiranuwat with corruption and malfeasance, CIB deputy commissioner Jaroonkiat Pankaew told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. "This (arrest) is to help purify our religion," Mr. Jaroonkiat said. Authorities have arrested a second suspect and are investigating whether others were involved, while local media reported the abbot has now left the monkhood. Wat Rai Khing, believed to have been founded in 1851, houses a replica of the Buddha's footprint. The arrest from one of the Bangkok suburb's most prominent temples has triggered significant backlash on social media. "Next time I will donate to a hospital or school for good causes, not a temple," one user posted on social media platform X. Others cautioned their fellow Buddhists to remain firm in their faith. "Not all monks are bad. Don't generalise," another X user wrote.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Monk arrested for allegedly embezzling $9 million from temple
Thai police have arrested a Buddhist monk over allegations he embezzled more than $9 million from the prominent temple he ran which was funded by donations from devotees. Investigators from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) accuse Abbot Phra Thammachiranuwat from Wat Rai Khing of siphoning more than 300 million baht ($9.05 million) from the temple's bank account into his own. Investigators traced funds from the temple on Bangkok's western outskirts to an illegal online gambling network running baccarat card games, local media said. Temples in Buddhist-majority Thailand rely heavily on income from "merit-making" ceremonies where worshippers make donations in hopes of gaining good fortune and better reincarnation. Police charged Phra Thammachiranuwat with corruption and malfeasance, CIB deputy commissioner Jaroonkiat Pankaew told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. "This (arrest) is to help purify our religion," Jaroonkiat said. Authorities have arrested a second suspect and are investigating whether others were involved, while local media reported the abbot has now left the monkhood. Wat Rai Khing, believed to have been founded in 1851, houses a replica of the Buddha's footprint. The arrest from one of the Bangkok suburb's most prominent temples has triggered significant backlash on social media. "Next time I will donate to a hospital or school for good causes, not a temple," one user posted on social media. Others cautioned their fellow Buddhists to remain firm in their faith. "Not all monks are bad. Don't generalize," another social media user wrote. Buddhist temples in Thailand have made headlines for unusual reasons before. Last November, Thai police launched an investigation of a Buddhist monastery after authorities discovered 41 bodies on site which were allegedly used for meditation practices. In 2022, every single monk at a Buddhist temple in central Thailand was defrocked after they tested positive for methamphetamine. The monks were sent to a health clinic to undergo drug rehabilitation. Sneak peek: Fatal First Date Texas mom accused of buying ammunition for son who officials say planned school attack Trump teases "good news" on Russia-Ukraine war
