- Thailand News
Cabinet reshuffle dismissed by key ministers following budget bill
Talk of a possible Cabinet reshuffle has been dismissed by three key Cabinet ministers, following the passing of the budget expenditure bill in early April. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang, and Agriculture Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow are the ministers in question. Rumours have been circulating about a potential Cabinet reshuffle since the ministers…
- Thailand News
Don Mueang Airport combats congestion with designated drop lanes
An initiative to combat heavy traffic congestion at Don Mueang International Airport‘s Terminal 2 will see the enforcement of designated passenger drop lanes for taxi drivers starting today, March 1. This mandate is part of the Transport Ministry’s broader strategy to enhance passenger experience at the nation’s largest low-carrier hub, an imperative necessity as the Songkran holiday period is expected…
- Thailand News
Thai govt’s plan to transform southern provinces into tourist hub
The Thai government has committed to transforming the country’s three southernmost provinces into global tourist attractions and increasing investment in this region. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin gave this assurance during a three-day visit to Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala which concluded yesterday. According to the 62 year old Thai prime minister, the southernmost provinces possess the potential to rise as the…
- Thailand News
Thailand PM unveils plan to become global cargo distribution hub
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin envisions the country as a regional aviation centre and one of the world’s top five cargo distribution hubs. During a live broadcast scheduled for Friday at 9.30am, the premier will elaborate on this ambitious plan on the government’s NBT television channel and various online and social media platforms. The news of this upcoming discourse was…
- Thailand News
Thailand escapes ‘not free’ label despite election chaos
Thailand’s surge from the shackles of “not free” to “partly free” status in the annual Freedom House survey has sent ripples across the globe. Despite a rocky electoral journey that left many questioning the integrity of the democratic process, the Land of Smiles defies the odds, prompting scrutiny and speculation. Freedom House, a Washington DC-based non-profit organisation championing democracy and…
- Thailand News
Thai citizenship for migrant workers’ kids to boost birth rates
In a bid to address Thailand’s declining birth rates, the research director of inclusive development at the Thailand Research Development Institute (TDRI) has put forward a radical proposal to grant Thai citizenship to migrant workers’ children. With a projected drop of 100,000 births over the next four to five years, attributed to financial constraints and lifestyle choices, Dr Somchai Jitsuchon’s…
- Thailand News
Khon Kaen police issues urgent warning against online fraud
In a bid to tackle the rising tide of online fraud, Khon Kaen Police Station took an unprecedented step, adorning its exterior with colossal signs standing up to 3 metres tall. These giant warnings, unveiled yesterday, February 28, aim to arm citizens with crucial advice on dodging the traps set by cunning scammers. With phrases like: Do not believe, Do…
- Business News
Bangkok gems and jewellery fair exceeds expectations
The 69th Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair, held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, concluded on a high note, exceeding its initial expectations. The event, organised by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT), recorded an estimated value of orders surpassing 3.7 billion baht, a 12% increase over the target.…
- Thailand News
Bangkok gears up for grandiose govt backed Songkran festival
Bangkok is set for an unprecedented Songkran, the annual water festival. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has plans to incorporate the festivities into the government’s soft power promotion policy, making this year’s festival more grandiose. The announcement came from Chadchart Sittipunt, the governor of Bangkok, yesterday. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had a meeting discussing the city’s readiness for…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s household electricity tariffs remain unchanged
Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga affirmed that electricity tariffs for households in Thailand will remain unchanged from May to August, maintaining the current rate of 4.18 baht per unit. Pirapan, also serving as a deputy prime minister, explained that this decision has been made possible due to the continuation of gas production in the Gulf of Thailand by PTT Exploration and…
- Thailand News
Chinese city gives out lottery tickets to boost birth rates
Authorities in Xi’an, China, are rolling the dice on love with a jaw-dropping scheme aimed at tackling the nation’s plummeting birth rates. In a bold move to combat China’s declining birth rates, the city of Xi’an is set to splash a whopping 700,000 yuan (equivalent to 3.6 million baht) on lottery tickets, all in the name of encouraging newlyweds to…
- Thailand News
Hong Kong Express launches ultra-cheap route to Bangkok
Hong Kong Express announced its latest venture: a brand-new route from Hong Kong to Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), scheduled to take flight on April 25. Confirming the exciting development, the airline took to its Facebook page to share the news, revealing that the daily service will complement its existing flights to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, along with popular destinations…
- Phuket News
Phuket MP warns of fire risks amid soaring 38°C heatwave
As the mercury soars to a scorching 38°C in Phuket, local MP Somchart Techathavorncharoen has sounded the alarm, warning residents to take measures against potential fire outbreaks. This warning comes as the city braces for a heatwave that is predicted to last from today, February 28 to March 1. Somchart Techathavorncharoen, the Move Forward Party (MFP) representative for Phuket District…
- Thailand News
Early morning tremors jolt Thailand with no reported damages
A tremor registering 3.4 on the Richter scale jolted the inhabitants of the Pai district in Mae Hong Son province in the early hours of this morning. Originating from a depth of 3 kilometres within the Mae Na Toeng tambon of Pai district, the earthquake was followed by four aftershocks. The Earthquake Observation Division of the Meteorological Department reported the…
- Thailand News
Thailand and Cambodia in talks over disputed Gulf area
Negotiations are underway between Thailand and Cambodia concerning overlapping border regions in the Gulf of Thailand, according to Sutin Klungsang, Thailand’s Defence Minister. He addressed public concerns and queries from the press about the possible implications of a meeting held in Bangkok on February 21 between Hun Sen, former Prime Minister of Cambodia, and Thaksin Shinawatra, ex-Thai Prime Minister. Sutin…
- South Thailand News
Portuguese man-o-war prompts swim warning in Songkhla
Dangerous Portuguese man-of-war sightings have led the authorities to caution tourists against swimming at Songkhla’s Chala That Beach. These jellyfish-like creatures, known as one of the world’s deadliest marine species, have been spotted along the shoreline stretching from Singha Nakhon district to Mueang district. The ocean-dwelling creature is known to have caused harm to several tourists who encountered them. Songkhla…
- Thailand News
South Korean YouTuber sparks tuk tuk fare controversy in Thailand
South Korean rapper and YouTuber, Il Hong Min, commonly known as Phi Hong, recently aired his dissatisfaction with a tuk tuk service encountered during his visit to Ayutthaya, Thailand. In a video shared on his Oppa Hong channel, he revealed that he was charged 1,200 baht for a four-hour tour, a service he claimed was forcefully sold to him and…
- Thailand News
Thai minister orders demolition of illicit resorts on Khao Yai farmland
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow mandated the demolition of illicit resorts and hotels erected on Sor Por Kor land around Khao Yai National Park, designated for agricultural use and granted to landless farmers. The minister’s mandate came as he pledged to rid the land of any illicit occupations. Thamanat Prompow announced yesterday that he has commissioned a fresh inspection…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s ex-police chief indicted for aiding Red Bull heir evade justice
The ex-National Police Chief of Thailand, Somyot Poompanmoung, alongside seven other individuals, has been indicted by the Attorney General for alleged involvement in aiding Vorayuth “Boss”‘ Yoovidhya dodge prosecution regarding a 2012 hit-and-run case. Vorayuth is a member of the family that owns the Red Bull empire. Prayut Phetcharakhun, the spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), reported yesterday…
- Thailand News
Black panther spotted in Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park
A black panther sighting near Phanoen Thung in Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park has been reported by the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The department disseminated photographs of the elusive animal on its Facebook page, sparking interest among wildlife enthusiasts. The images, captured by a tourist named Sith Naowanirut on February 25, were confirmed by park…
- Thailand News
Bangkok’s eastern and central bus terminals set for relocation
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced plans yesterday to move the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) and the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) to the Krung Thep Abhiwat Central Terminal. The intention behind the move is to offer more convenience to travellers as the Central Terminal can be easily reached using the MRT electronic rail system. In the proposed new location,…
- Thailand News
Finnish national found self-harming in Pattaya, Thailand
A disturbing incident unfolded in the early hours of this morning in Pattaya, when a Finnish national was discovered in a state of severe agitation, inflicting knife wounds on himself. The man, identified as Eeuoskari Kontiainen, from Finland, was eventually subdued and rushed to the hospital. The event took place in an apartment building located in Soi Bua Khao, within…
- Thailand News
8 million meth pills seized in Chiang Mai drug courier arrest
A 24 year old drug courier named Jiraphat, hailing from the Phrao district of Chiang Mai, was apprehended by drug suppression police. The arrest took place at an intersection in Chiang Dao district. Approximately 8 million methamphetamine pills were confiscated from the pickup truck driven by Jiraphat. The seizure was made on Monday, with the methamphetamine pills found stashed in…
- Thailand News
Bangkok students protest against historical campus relocation
A protest rallied by students and alumni of the Uthenthawai campus of the Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok (RMUTTO) unfolded today. The demonstration was against the proposed move of their historical campus, nestled in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district for 68 years. The protesters, who started their march from the campus on Phayathai Road at 9.39am, first descended on the Chulalongkorn University…
- Thailand News
Thai-Chinese high-speed train project faces delay and extra costs
The Thai-Chinese high-speed train project is set to experience a delay of approximately two years, alongside an additional funding requirement of around 4 billion baht (US$111 million). This arises from a proposed track modification in Nakhon Ratchasima, according to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). The State Railway of Thailand Governor, Nirut Maneephan, disclosed that this change involves contracts numbered…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s prime minister unfazed by triple prime minister’s scenario
Despite the growing public opinion of a potential triple prime ministers scenario, Thailand’s current Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin remains unfazed. He expressed confidence in his ability to execute his duties as the nation’s sole leader, regardless of differing perceptions. Speculation about the possible return of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to politics has been rife since his parole release two weeks…
- Thailand News
Pour decisions: Thailand to splash health warnings on booze bottles
The Thai government is in the process of developing a new regulation, requiring producers of alcoholic beverages to feature large, graphic health warnings on their products, much akin to those found on cigarette packaging. This move, orchestrated by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee and the Department of Disease Control, has sparked criticism from alcohol producers and the tourism industry, who…
- Thailand News
Elderly Swiss cyclist killed in hit-and-run in Sattahip district
A 73 year old Swiss cyclist, was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident on Sukhumvit Road, in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri, late on Sunday night. The local police received a report of the incident around 11.30pm, near the vicinity of tambon Na Jomtien. On arrival, they found the senior cyclist in an unconscious state, but attempts at resuscitation…
- Thailand News
Cobra Gold military exercise introduces Muay Thai training
Cobra Gold, the annual joint military exercise, kicks off today, and for the first time, it will feature Muay Thai training as an essential component. The decision is an integral part of the government’s strategy to elevate the Thai martial arts as a symbol of the nation’s soft power. The Defence Ministry announced that the 43rd iteration of Cobra Gold…
- Thailand News
New agricultural land reform policy to implement buffer zones
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow is set to propose a new agricultural land reform policy tomorrow. The policy seeks to establish a buffer zone between forest reserves and agricultural land, with the explicit specification that this zone will not be allocated to individual farmers. This comes in the wake of an ongoing dispute between the Agricultural Land Reform Office…
