- Thailand News
Ex-deputy health minister faces lawsuit for Khao Yai park encroachment
The state prosecutor announced plans to file a lawsuit against ex-Deputy Public Health Minister Sunthorn Wilawan, along with 11 others in connection with the encroachment of the Khao Yai National Park. The court date is set for February 28, according to Wirun Chanthananan, Director of Public Prosecution of the Office of the Attorney-General’s (OAG) Special Litigation Office. On January 4,…
- Phuket News
Tourist bus crash in Phuket injures 17 Chinese tourists
A bus journey to the picturesque Similan Islands took a horrific turn today when a vehicle ferrying 17 Chinese tourists careened off the road in Tha Chatchai, located in the northernmost part of Phuket. The incident occurred early today, January 16. Authorities were alerted to the disaster at 8.10am. Responding to the call were Tha Chatchai police officials, including Police…
- Thailand News
Thailand to tackle declining birth rate as national issue
Cholnan Srikaew, the Public Health Minister, announced the government’s intent to prioritise the country’s dwindling birth rate as a national issue. In a response to Senator Ampol Chindawattana’s query regarding the falling birth rate, Cholnan explained that the challenge isn’t straightforward to address due to shifting priorities and socioeconomic values. The government, however, recognised the urgency of the situation, given…
- Thailand News
Thai government contemplates extending humanitarian aid to Myanmar
A military source revealed that the Thai government is deliberating on extending widespread humanitarian aid to assist the vulnerable populations in Myanmar. Additionally, Thailand is considering hosting discussions with the leader of Myanmar and ethnic minority factions to resolve the country’s crisis. The Thai prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, has been engaged in conversations with Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara and the…
- Thailand News
Bangkok braces for rising dust pollution, considers work-from-home scenario
Bangkok’s City Hall is on high alert as it keeps a close watch on the escalating ultra-fine dust pollution levels. The governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, raised the possibility of initiating a work-from-home programme if alarmingly unsafe levels persist for three days in a row. Chadchart yesterday indicated that a warning would be disseminated through the City Hall’s network, which boasts over…
- Phuket News
Phuket community gathers for fun-filled Children’s Day celebrations
Phuket was brimming with joy and laughter yesterday as the community gathered to commemorate Children’s Day. A plethora of activities were arranged throughout the island, transforming the usually serene atmosphere into a vibrant, lively carnival for the younger generation. In a heartwarming gesture, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and his wife, Busadee Suwannarat, opened the doors of the Provincial Hall to…
- Phuket News
Phuket to host Thailand Biennale 2025 boosting local economy
Phuket is set to host the Thailand Biennale 2025 festival next year, which is expected to inject fresh vitality into the island’s economy. The announcement was made by the local authorities and it has sparked a wave of anticipation among the residents and businesses alike. Sophon Suwannarat, the Governor of Phuket, confirmed that the decision was taken by Sermsak Phongpanich, the…
- Thailand News
Thai data privacy watchdog uncovers massive breach involving over 5,000 organisations
Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) recently uncovered a significant privacy breach involving 5,261 organisations. Among these, a majority of 4,886 were government agencies from both central and local sectors. The lapse in data protection was observed between November 9 of the previous year and January 12. The violations were primarily due to excessively revealing personal data on various websites…
- Phuket News
Blood quest: Phuket seeks lifelines as blood centres make urgent appeal
As the Thai island of Phuket launches into another year, the Phuket Regional Blood Centre (Phuket RBC) and the Phuket Blood Bank at Vachira Phuket Hospital have once again put the call out for blood donations. This initiative, run by the Phuket branch of the Thai Red Cross Society, kicked off its annual campaign, spanning the full breadth of January and…
- Phuket News
Colombian man arrested in Patong for bag snatching incident
Friday was an unsettling day for a Russian tourist as she found herself at the receiving end of a bag snatch incident while holidaying in Patong, Thailand. The incident occurred at the entrance of Soi Suk Charoen off Phra Mettha Road as Karolina Rusaleeva was returning to her hotel room from a nearby 7-Eleven store. An unidentified man, who later…
- Phuket News
Patong’s wild night: Tipsy Ukrainian tourist tamed after rowdy escapades in Phuket
A drunken Ukrainian tourist was apprehended in the early hours of yesterday in Phuket following a succession of boisterous episodes at Patong Police Station. Displaying signs of intoxication, the Eastern European man made an appearance at Patong Police Station yesterday, January 14, instantly becoming a source of disturbance and public inconvenience, revealed the local police. According to the Patong Police,…
- Thailand News
Bank of Thailand resists calls for policy adjustments amid economic slump
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) countered government calls for monetary policy adjustments to stimulate the country’s slumping economy. Piti Disyatat, BoT Assistant Governor, stated today, January 15, that interest rates, already quite low compared to global standards, are not the solution to an economy being pummelled by external factors like dwindling global demand. Piti emphasised that the country’s lacklustre economic…
- Thailand News
Bangkok residents warned of escalating air pollution, urged to work remotely
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) warned residents of Bangkok to prepare for an escalation in ultra-fine particle pollution in the air, which is anticipated to worsen by Wednesday. As a result of this alert, the PCD has implored individuals residing in the capital to opt for remote working until the situation improves. The intensifying accumulation of PM2.5 pollutants, according to…
- Thailand News
Thai government’s plan to open drug rehab centres in army barracks raises concerns
Civil society groups are expressing apprehension regarding the Thai government’s decision to establish drug rehabilitation centres, known as Rakjai centres, in 52 army barracks across the country. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin highlighted the nation’s drug issues on social media and outlined the government’s plan to utilise military premises for drug rehabilitation programmes. Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang has since been involved…
- Thailand News
PM Srettha to pitch Land Bridge megaproject at WEF
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to entice foreign investors towards the 1 trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject during the World Economic Forum (WEF) which starts on Monday and concludes on Friday in Davos, Switzerland. PM Srettha will be accompanied by a team of cabinet ministers including Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, the Foreign Affairs Minister, and Transport Minister Suriya JungrungÂreangkit, following an invitation…
- Thailand News
Prehistoric animal footprints discovered at Thai waterfall mark country’s oldest find
A groundbreaking discovery of prehistoric animal footprints, estimated to be 225 million years old, has been made at the Tat Yai waterfalls located on the border between Phetchabun’s Nam Nao district and Khon Kaen’s Phu Pha Man district. The revelation came from the Department of Mineral Resources, which stated that a team from the Mineral Resources Office Region 2 (Khon…
- Tourism News
Thailand’s tourism authority to boost Chiang Mai visits with year-round campaigns
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is set to initiate year-round campaigns aimed at elevating tourism in Chiang Mai. The news was delivered by TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, who reported a surge in tourism in the region following the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions. From January to November of last year, Chiang Mai saw around 9.4 million tourists grace its attractions,…
- Business News
Thailand courts Hungary for investment to boost global influence
Hungary has been courted by Thailand for potential investment opportunities in a bid to broaden the Southeast Asian nation’s global influence or soft power. This strategic call for investment was made by the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Phumtham Wechayachai, in a recent conversation with Sandor Sipos, the Hungarian Ambassador to Thailand. The dialogue, which took place yesterday, comes ahead…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s Transport Ministry plans to increase airport slots for summer season
A surge in foreign arrivals expected for the summer season has prompted the Transport Ministry to direct the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to expand the number of available airport slots. These slots, which denote the time-bound authorisation for airlines to take off and land, are set to be increased at key transport hubs, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s new 30-baht plus healthcare scheme takes off
Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew expressed satisfaction with the new 30-baht plus healthcare scheme in Thailand, which was launched last Sunday in Roi Et province. The programme, operating under the One Card for All concept, allows members of the universal healthcare card scheme, also known as the gold card scheme, to access medical services from any hospital in Roi Et,…
- Thailand News
Former labour minister seeks legal advice over alleged Thailand-Finland trafficking scandal
Former Labour Minister of Thailand Suchart Chomklin is seeking legal advice following allegations of involvement in a human trafficking and bribery scandal. The case in question pertains to the deployment of Thai workers to Finland for berry picking. Suchart vehemently denied receiving payments or engaging in any human trafficking activities related to this employment scheme. An ongoing investigation into the case…
- Thailand News
Four MFP MPs resign over 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject
A quartet of MPs from the Move Forward Party (MFP) resigned from a House committee that was examining the 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject. Their reason for stepping down was their refusal to passively approve a venture they fundamentally disagreed with. MFP MP Julapong Yukate reported that the committee’s final meeting was held yesterday, where they were supposed to endorse a…
- Thailand News
Thai police raid gambling den, seize assets over 1 million baht
A gambling den in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Muang district was raided on Thursday evening, resulting in the arrest of nearly 130 people and the seizure of assets worth approximately 1 million baht. The Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) executed the raid in Soi Kru Somboon, located on Saphan Yao Road in Tambon Na Kian, following a lead hinting at the…
- Thailand News
Democrat Party leader denies ties with billion-baht pork smuggling suspect
Democrat Party leader Chalermchai Sri-on yesterday refuted whispers of familial connections with the primary suspect in a billion-baht pork smuggling saga. Li Sheng Jiao, also known as Hia Kao (Brother Kao), is among four individuals sought by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on multiple charges including money laundering, customs act infringements and tax evasion. Earlier this week, arrest warrants were…
- Thailand News
House Committee denied access to hospitalised ex-PM Thaksin
A visit to the Police General Hospital by members of the House Committee on police affairs was met with resistance yesterday, as they were denied access to the hospitalised former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The committee’s objective was to verify if Thaksin was indeed under treatment at the hospital, following approval for the visit granted on Monday. The committee, led…
- Phuket News
Promising Iranian Muay Thai fighter dies in Phuket motorcycle accident
In a tragic turn of events, celebrated Iranian Muay Thai fighter Fariyar Aminipour yesterday met his untimely demise in a motorcycle mishap in Phuket. Aged just 23, the promising athlete’s life was cut short on the west side of Chaofa Road in Rawai near the tunnel exit. The incident happened around 8am, with Lieutenant Colonel Wiriyaphong Srinuanpan from Chalong Police…
- Phuket News
American hotel worker dies in tragic Phuket road accident
A tragic event unfolded on the streets of Phuket last night as a 59 year old American man, an employee of a renowned hotel in the northern region of the island, lost his life in a devastating road accident. The mishap took place on Thepkrasattri Road, a major thoroughfare in the area, where the man was crushed by an enormous…
- Thailand News
Bangkok governor defends city’s fourth plan revision amid public criticism
Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, stood firm in defence of the city’s fourth plan revision amid public censure for its perceived favouritism towards developers. The 57 year old city chief yesterday, January 11, responded to the criticism by affirming City Hall’s receptiveness to constructive feedback while cautioning against potentially divisive comments. Chadchart explained via a Facebook post that the…
- Thailand News
Thai PM sparks a brighter future: Electric mass transit pledge to zap pollution in Chiang Mai
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin pledged to foster the development of electric mass transit systems as a solution to the persistent air pollution issues plaguing the northern province. 61 year old Thai prime minister noted that the fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) levels had considerably decreased since his last visit on November 28 of the previous year. The…
- Phuket News
Transformer-triggered blaze engulfs Phuket apartment, no casualties
In the early hours today, a transformer-triggered blaze engulfed an apartment building in the heart of Phuket Town. Fortunately, the incident did not result in any resident casualties. Phuket City Police reported that the fire started around 12.05am, right in front of the Pink Mansion residential building on Hongyok Uthit Road. On receiving the distress call, the authorities swiftly dispatched…
