- 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
Chiang Mai tops world’s most polluted cities
Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand has been blanketed by worsening haze, catapulting it to the top of the list of the world’s ten most polluted cities. The thick smog is a direct consequence of forest fires that have been burning unabated for approximately two weeks. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) detected 1,420 hotspots on Monday alone.…
- 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
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
Thailand’s State Audit Office to streamline large-scale govt projects
In a recent development, the State Audit Office (SAO) of Thailand announced the inauguration of a new section dedicated solely to auditing large-scale government projects. This new initiative will come into effect from April 1, as per the announcement made by the State Audit Commission in the Royal Gazette last month. The SAO Auditor-General, Prajuck Boonyoung, highlighted the necessity of…
- 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
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
Power bank explosion sparks panic on Thai AirAsia flight
An explosion of a power bank on a Thai AirAsia flight destined for Nakhon Si Thammarat sparked alarm on a recent Saturday morning. Pimphattra Wichaikul, the Industry Minister, who was among the 186 passengers on the flight, witnessed the incident that filled the cabin with smoke. The crew, however, managed to extinguish the fire within two minutes, enabling the flight…
- 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
Ancient painting discovered in Nam Phong National Park
Rangers in Nam Phong National Park, Nong Ruea district, Khon Kaen stumbled upon an ancient painting whilst combating local forest fires. The discovery was made within the grounds of the Hin Chang Si Protection Unit, roughly 4 kilometres from its headquarters, according to a Facebook post by the rangers yesterday. The team, having extinguished the forest fire, took a moment…
- Thailand News
Buddha sculpture found in Thai-US navy salvage operation of sunken HTMS Sukhothai
The collaborative salvage operation between the Royal Thai Navy and the United States Navy unearthed a Buddha sculpture and several documents from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai on its third day. This information was relayed by Royal Admiral Veerudom Muangjin, a spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy, who shared that these items were found by a combined diving team near the…
- Thailand News
Bangkok breathes easier as PM2.5 levels fall but north faces rise
The upcoming week brings a breath of fresh air for Bangkok locals as levels of harmful PM2.5 pollutants, ultra-fine particulars, are expected to decrease. However, residents in the north and northeast are being warned of an imminent rise in air pollution due to prevalent wildfires in these regions. Sunday morning data from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) air quality monitoring…
- Thailand News
PM Srettha orders immigration control improvement at Suvarnabhumi
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered improvements to the immigration control services at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, citing concerns over long queues and excessive waiting times. PM Srettha conducted an unexpected inspection of the airport on Saturday evening, his second unannounced visit since February 5. The prime minister revealed that he had personally timed the duration of various procedures from the…
- Thailand News
High-profile online gambling case sees 8 police officers reassigned
A high-profile online gambling case involving Suchanun Minnie Sucharitchinsri has led to the temporary reassignment of eight linked officers. National Police Chief Torsak Sukvimol sanctioned the move to prevent any potential interference with the ongoing investigation. A spokesman for the police, Siriwat Deepo revealed that the order for the transfer was signed by Torsak yesterday, February 24. The transferred officers…
- Thailand News
Betong tourism association pushes for airport runway extension
The Betong District Tourism Association is pressing for an extension of the runway at Betong International Airport. The expansion is integral to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s tourism enhancement agenda. The longer runway is anticipated to allow larger aircraft to land, subsequently increasing the influx of tourists. Deputy President of the association, Narin Ruangwongsa, expressed the intention to propose this expansion…
- Thailand News
Krabi national park makes astonishing revenue in tourism boom
In less than four months, Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi has become a gold mine, pulling in nearly 300,000,000 baht in entry fees from over 126,000 tourists. This meteoric rise in revenue dwarfs the previous fiscal year’s earnings, ringing in at 276 million baht. National park chief Yutthaphong Damsrisuk noted that the park has witnessed…
- Thailand News
Drunken argument leads to violence on Pattaya Beach
A domestic argument between a couple turned violent on the Pattaya beachfront, shocking onlookers on Wednesday evening, February 21. Responding promptly to distress signals, authorities and rescue teams discovered a 53 year old Thai man, Sommai, gravely injured and bleeding profusely near a trash receptacle, the aftermath of a fiery altercation with his spouse. Concerned bystanders had congregated around him,…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s state railway to construct three new double-track routes
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is advancing with plans to construct three double-track railroad routes that will span a total of 634 kilometres. The project, which will require a combined investment of 113.14 billion baht, has been approved by the SRT board and is due to be submitted to the Transport Ministry later this month. SRT governor Nirut Maneepan…
- Thailand News
Controversial sticker-covered Pai highway sign sparks fury
In Mae Hong Son’s Pai district, the highway sign that reads Welcome to Pai has found itself at the centre of a heated controversy. Adorned with an array of stickers, the sign has divided opinion on whether it’s a quirky tradition or a potential road hazard. The viral photo, widely circulated on social media over the past week, showcases the…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s traffic crisis: over 500,000 vehicles clog the island’s roads
The Thai holiday resort of Phuket is grappling with a serious traffic problem. Senate Transportation Commission Chairman, General Yodyut Bunyathikarn, was informed on his recent visit to the island that over half a million vehicles are congesting the roads. Gen. Yodyut’s two-day visit aimed to understand the issues and challenges in implementing transportation and infrastructure projects in Phuket. During a meeting at…
- Thailand News
Thai foundation advocates green switch for Makha Bucha day
The Tree Planting Foundation is advocating for Thais tomorrow to make a green switch from the traditional practice of burning candles and incense sticks during the imminent Makha Bucha day candle processions. The campaign is aimed at fostering environmentally friendly merit-making customs that contribute to the expansion of green spaces in Thailand. Tawatchai Tositrakul, leading the Tree Planting Foundation, voiced…
- Thailand News
Thailand boosts welfare benefits for elderly, infants, and disabled
Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has taken a momentous step forward to enhance welfare benefits for the elderly, infants, and individuals with disabilities. The sub-committee under the ministry assented to this significant development. According to Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, the proposed scheme would offer a flat rate welfare payment of 1,000 baht…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Thailand’s summer sun takes the heat up a notch: Temperatures set to sizzle at 45°c
The summer sun has begun its sizzling reign over Thailand, officially declared by the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD), with temperatures set to soar to a scorching 45°C on some days. Daily averages are predicted to hover around a balmy 36°C. This surge in heat is credited to the blazing rays of sunshine blanketing the nation’s northern reaches, then whisked…
- Thailand News
South Korean man arrested by Thai police for fraud
Chon Buri Immigration Bureau arrested a notorious South Korean fugitive for fraud and a call centre syndicate on Wednesday. Acting swiftly on intelligence shared by foreign counterparts, immigration officers seized 51 year old Oh Suk Yeon in Pattaya for orchestrating a call centre fraud ring that preyed on unsuspecting victims back in South Korea. According to Chon Buri Immigration, this…
- Thailand News
Ex-politician’s son causes deadly accident in Sadao district
A devastating accident unfolded in Tambon Samnak Kham, Sadao district on Wednesday when 35 year old Wissanu Tongsai lost control of his pickup truck and ploughed into a group of students, resulting in two fatalities and 13 injuries. Wissanu, the son of an ex-politician from Samnak Kham Municipal Council, was later charged with reckless driving and illegal drug use. Chanaporn…
- Thailand News
Calls for government subsidy on all Bangkok public transport
A call for government subsidisation of all public transportation in Bangkok was made at a forum aiming to alleviate the city’s commuting issues. The event, attended by approximately 100 individuals including locals, was a collaboration between the House Committee on Consumer Protection, the Thailand Consumers Council and the Foundation for Consumers. The agenda was to gather consumer perspectives on the…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s ex-PM Thaksin paroled raising legal questions
Convicted former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra has been granted parole in compliance with legal criteria, according to Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, the Justice Minister. This comes following Thaskin’s return to Thailand last year, during which he did not serve any jail time. This development sparked questions from Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, a Bangkok MP for the Move Forward Party (MFP),…
