- Politics News
Democrat demands probe into Thaksin’s hospital stay amid preferential treatment claims
Watchara Phetthong, a veteran Democrat and former Member of Parliament, urged the House panel overseeing police affairs to investigate the circumstances surrounding the hospitalisation of the ex-prime minister, 74 years old Thaksin Shinawatra. Accusations of preferential treatment have been fuelled by an undisclosed photograph of Thaksin seen enjoying pool time with his grandchild. At a press conference to highlight his…
- Politics News
Thai Cabinet approves assembly for constitutional referendum, amid MFP exit
The assembly to draft a referendum on revising the constitution is set to convene on Tuesday, following the Cabinet’s recent approval of its 35 members, reveals Chusak Sirinil, a member of the assembly. The assembly, under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Phumtham Wechayachai, will deliberate on modifications to the committee after the exit of the…
- Thailand News
Thai government boosts safety measures after Siam Paragon shooting incident
Heightened safety measures are set to be implemented by the Thai government in a bid to restore the confidence of foreign tourists, following the recent shooting incident at Siam Paragon. Two foreigners, one from China and the other from Myanmar, lost their lives in the incident which also left five others injured, including another Chinese national, a person from Laos,…
- Economy News
Thai government to give 10,000-baht digital wallet to citizens despite criticism
Despite facing staunch criticism from experts, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed on Friday that the Thai government will proceed with its plan to distribute a 10,000-baht digital wallet to every Thai citizen over the age of 16. This announcement comes in response to comments from Bank of Thailand (BoT) governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, who criticised the economic stimulus policy. PM Srettha…
- Thailand News
Bluffing in Bangkok: How ‘lying’ is perceived in Thailand
Playing poker in Thailand? Is it right to bluff or tell lies in general conversation? Thai culture can be different from its Western counterparts, so how does it affect the game of poker when playing it in Thailand? And is it even allowed there? Dispelling Historical Myths For many years there was an unfair rumour among expats living in Thailand…
- Thailand News
Decomposing whale carcass found in Phetchaburi, Thailand
A distressing discovery greeted the crew members of a fishing boat off the coast of Cha-am Beach in the Cha-am district of Phetchaburi. While navigating the waters, they happened upon the lifeless body of a Bryde’s whale, a sombre encounter that prompted immediate action. Responding to the call, a team comprising marine experts, and disaster prevention and mitigation officials, led…
- Politics News
Internal feud rocks Pheu Thai Party: Chalerm Ubumrung severs ties with Thaksin Shinawatra
An internal feud within the ruling Pheu Thai Party is causing ripples in Thailand’s political circles, with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin calling for dialogue to resolve the conflict. The dispute involves long-standing party member Chalerm Ubumrung and the party’s executives, including the influential Thaksin Shinawatra, a respected figure within the party and the former prime minister, currently residing in the…
- Crime News
Online fraud cases in Thailand soar to 365,000 with 45 billion baht loss
Over the past one and a half years, a staggering 365,000 online fraud cases have been reported, inflicting a massive loss of 45 billion baht, revealed Deputy Government Spokesperson, Karom Phonphonklang. This was in reference to the cumulative data gathered from the thaipoliceonline.com website, available from March 1 of last year until September 30 this year, provided by the Royal…
- Thailand News
Thai PM visits flood-hit provinces as 1,600 villages grapple with damage
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to visit flood-stricken communities in Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, and Roi Et today. The severity of Thai floods in these areas is still under assessment, with aid strategies being formulated. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke reported that the ongoing heavy rains have triggered Thai floods, engulfing over 1,600 villages across 28 provinces from September 26 until…
- Thailand News
Rare sun bear cub arrives, ‘pawsitively’ brightening the day at Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo
In a ‘bear-y’ rare occurrence, a one-month-old sun bear, a species on the brink of extinction and under protection, has been joyfully welcomed at Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo Zoo director, Thanachon Khensing, shared the news of the cub’s arrival today, October 5, stating that the young bear is robust and in good health. Its parents, both sun bears aged 10 years,…
- Crime News
Thai PM vows enhanced security after deadly Siam Paragon shooting
Two people, both foreign nationals, met their unfortunate end while five others sustained injuries in a shocking shooting incident at the Siam Paragon shopping mall on Tuesday. In response to the tragic event, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed various state agencies to enhance security precautions to avert future occurrences. The 61 year old Srettha took to Twitter to express his…
- Thailand News
Siam Paragon shooting prompts new mental health unit
A new mental health consultation unit, established to assist individuals emotionally distressed by the recent fatal shooting in Siam Paragon, started operations yesterday. The tragic incident, involving a teenage boy who killed two women, left many feeling traumatised and in need of psychological support. Amporn Benjaponpitak, the leading authority of the Department of Mental Health, revealed that she, along with…
- Thailand News
Thai defence minister proposes public distribution of military-owned land
Sutin Klungsang, the Defence Minister, put forth a proposition to distribute some military-owned land to the local populace, as part of the governmental strategy to modernise the armed forces. This was revealed by the Defence Ministry’s spokesperson, Thanitpong Sirisawetsak, post a Defence Council meeting. The 62 year old Sutin presented policies to the ministry’s department heads and the leaders of…
- Thailand News
Thai Cabinet approves panel to draft charter amendment referendum
The Thai Cabinet greenlighted the formation of a 35-member panel yesterday, tasked with drafting a prospective charter amendment referendum, as disclosed by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Serving as the chair of the committee, Phumtham revealed that the panel will comprise representatives from both the government and opposition parties, as well as legal experts, scholars, social activists,…
- Business News
Thailand’s digital wallet project: Green light to make cash splash
The government of Thailand has given the green light for the formation of a committee for its ambitious digital money handout scheme, otherwise known as the digital wallet project. Slated for launch in February, the initiative aims to stimulate the economy by providing each Thai citizen above the age of 16 with 10,000 baht (US$269) in digital money. The project, requiring…
- Economy News
Weakening baht boosts Thailand’s exports and tourism
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin pointed out yesterday that the weakening baht, despite its potential negative impact on energy import costs, is actually proving to be a boon for the country’s exports and tourism. The baht had earlier plummeted to an 11-month low against the US dollar, trading at 37.095. According to the 61 year old prime minister, who also…
- Thailand News
MRTA advances 220 billion baht mass-transit projects in Bangkok and Phuket
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is set to implore the Transport Ministry to advance three significant mass-transit projects in the regions of Bangkok and Phuket. The ambitious trio of projects come with an estimated investment value of approximately 220 billion baht. Pakapong Sirikantaramas, the governor of MRTA, declared yesterday that these projects include the Orange and Brown…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s unlucky 13: Immigration crackdown reveals rule-breaking escapades
Immigration authorities in Phuket apprehended 13 individuals and charged them with violations of the Immigration Act. This information was disclosed yesterday in the Phuket Overstay Report, issued by the local Immigration department. Of the 13 arrested, seven were detained for overstaying their visas from September 1-30. Also noted in the report was the charging of one individual for failing to…
- Thailand News
Bangkok slum advocates unite: Demand for affordable housing echoes on World Habitat Day
Advocates from the Four Regions Slum Network approached Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, demanding immediate action to alleviate the city’s affordable housing crisis for its underprivileged citizens. The plea took place during a protest at Lan Khon Muang Plaza yesterday, October 2, coinciding with World Habitat Day, an annual event observed. The protesters submitted a list of requests to the 57…
- Thailand News
Thai students shoot for the stars, clinch triple gold at Astronomy Olympiad in Greece
Thai students shone brightly at the second International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics Juniors (IOAA-Jr) 2023, bringing home three coveted gold medals. The event, which ran from September 24 to 30, took place in Volos, Greece, and saw high school students from around the globe vie for honours in these challenging scientific disciplines. Apiwit Channarong and Chayapol Nontasut, both studying…
- Thailand News
Thailand and Italy cook up a delicious deal for gastronomy and tourism
A mutual agreement has been reached between Thailand and Italy to collaboratively promote the gastronomy and tourism sectors of both nations, according to Thai trade representative, Nalinee Taveesin. The Thai-Italian collaboration announcement was made on Sunday, with Italy expressing an increased interest in investing in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Such an understanding was gleaned from a recent meeting between…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Thailand’s heavy rain forecast puts regions on alert for more flooding ahead
Several regions across Thailand are bracing for more flooding following warnings of heavy rain from tomorrow until next Wednesday. The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) delivered this warning yesterday after much of the north and northeast regions of the country already experienced floods due to days of incessant rain. The impending heavy rain, which is set to last until Saturday,…
- Thailand News
Thai and Hong Kong police unite to dismantle human trafficking
The Thai Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) is intensifying its efforts to dismantle international human trafficking rings, particularly those involving Thai women being forced into prostitution in Hong Kong. The mission to reinforce collaborative measures with Hong Kong law enforcement was led by the ATPD’s deputy, Marut Kanchanakanthakul, who travelled to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for an anti-human…
- Thailand News
Discovering the unknown card games in Thailand
Different cultures have taken to card games and ‘playing for money’ in various different ways, with poker being the primary card game to gamble at the world over. Thailand is no exception, but if you look beyond the more common games, there’s a rich history of ancient card games which originated here and it’s fascinating to see how they’ve stood the…
- Thailand News
New pit viper species discovered in Thailand’s Thale Ban National Park
A novel species of pit viper, the smallest in its venomous subfamily, has been discovered by personnel at Thale Ban National Park in Satun, a southern province of Thailand. Saengsuree Songthong, the national park’s chief, along with his assistant Nakhen Kaweethanatham and research official Bunyarit Dechochai, stumbled upon the hitherto unknown species of pit vipers during a short break under a…
- Tourism News
Thai visa-free scheme boosts Chinese tourism, domestic travel surges
The Thai government’s visa-free scheme for Chinese and Kazakh tourists is proving to be a success, according to the country’s Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Srettha Thavisin. Running from September 25 to February 29, the scheme coincides with several significant Chinese holidays and forms part of the government’s Quick Win strategy to stimulate the economy. PM Srettha, who shared his…
- Thailand News
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights honoured at Clooney’s Justice for Democracy Defenders gala
The Clooney Foundation for Justice recognised the efforts of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) at The Albies, a gala held in New York City. The TLHR was among six honorees from around the globe, celebrated for their work towards defending democracy activists and others who have been the target of legal harassment and persecution. The award ceremony was named…
- Thailand News
Thai express train derails in Phrae due to flooding
Water runoffs between Phrae‘s Kaeng Luang and Ban Pin stations triggered the derailment of Special Express Train 13 early this morning. The train, which was travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, came off the tracks at 5.48am as a result of the runoff. The locomotive, a baggage car, and a sleeper car were the three carriages that succumbed to the…
- Thailand News
Undercover operation hits Jackpot: 50 busted in illegal gambling den in northern Thailand
A high-stakes illegal gambling den, operating for nearly two months in the heart of Rom Klao’s bustling Kriangkrai Market, was stormed by a special operation team from the Department of Provincial Administration (DPA) yesterday. The crackdown at about 5pm yesterday, September 28, resulted in the arrest of 50 gamblers and 17 gambling organisers. The fallout from the illegal gambling den…
- Thailand News
Phuket set for 148 billion baht infrastructure boost to uplift tourism
The renowned resort island of Phuket is set to undergo a significant infrastructural facelift, courtesy of a proposed budget of 148 billion baht by the Transport Ministry. The ambitious Phuket infrastructure upgrade plan includes the addition of a second airport on the island, a move aimed at transforming Phuket into a prime regional tourism hub. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit disclosed the…
