Tourists strolling down Pattaya’s legendary Walking Street during this year’s Chinese New Year festivities found themselves enveloped by more than just the vibrant neon lights and pulsating nightlife the area is famous for. A bustling scene unfolded as a formidable army of law enforcement descended, shining the spotlight on safety in this much-loved tourist haunt. The holiday revelry, a magnet for thousands, saw a formidable blend of Pattaya Tourist Police, local enforcers, and none other than the US Navy’s Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) joining hands for a charm offensive like no other. Helming this impressive wave of security was Police Major General Noraseth Suwannnikka, the acting force behind the Tourist Police Division 1. A swarm of officers, both uniformed and undercover, was strategically deployed, sweeping through high-risk zones with the precision of a watchmaker amidst a festival of timepieces. Unwilling to leave anything to chance with such an influx of…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
Reporting straight from the heart of Thailand and Southeast Asia, Alex and Jay serve up the latest dose of tantalizing news, weaving through a tapestry of tourism, politics, and cultural extravaganzas. Amidst the sun-soaked shores and bustling streets of Phuket, a tourist brawl coupled with an avalanche of dine-and-dash antics has reignited fiery debates on Thailand’s ever-evolving visa policies. Adding a twist to the tale, a British woman’s tussle with the Thai legal system throws the spotlight on justice concerns for foreigners in the land of smiles. In policy announcements that are turning heads, Thailand is ready to roll out digital TM6 immigration forms, yet the much-discussed tourism fee has been hit with a sneaky delay. Meanwhile, in the northern realms, Chiang Mai is on a quest for UNESCO World Heritage status. On the festive front, Chinese New Year spending has smashed records in Thailand, Vietnam doles out free access…
In the early hours of January 28th, a dramatic police chase unfolded in the tranquil district of Sai Noi, Nonthaburi, turning a quiet morning into a scene straight out of an action-packed thriller. It all began when the diligent officers of Metropolitan Police Division 9, led by the astute Police Major General Khomsit Rangsai, received a tip-off about a hefty stash of drugs being ferried through their jurisdiction. Determined to intercept this illicit cargo, the officers, like shadowy figures from a noir film, discreetly positioned themselves along a road in tambon Khunsri around 3 am. As the moments ticked by, suspense hung in the air like fog. Then, piercing the quiet, headlights appeared – the suspect’s vehicle, easily identifiable by its Bangkok registration plates, cruised into view. The officers, high on anticipation, signaled for it to halt. But this wasn’t going to be an easy catch. In a burst of…
In a recent twist of events in Surat Thani province, three young men have found themselves on the wrong side of the law after engaging in a rather electrifying escapade. The trio, caught in the act of pilfering highway street lighting cables, added a spark to the otherwise serene landscape, prompting an action-packed response from local law enforcers. Just yesterday, on January 28, Kritsada Khongplot, with his keen sense of duty and flair for adventure, received a hot tip-off. The scene: Highway 44 at kilometre marker 67+400, near Ban Bang Yai in the district of Khian Sa. Here, the criminals had embarked on a clandestine quest, armed with shovels, to liberate the electrical cables from their subterranean abode. Armed with this knowledge, Kritsada, his band of six intrepid officials, and two brave hearts from the Kuson Sattha Foundation’s rescue team, joined forces with the Khian Sa district police and set…
In the vibrant, bustling streets of Chon Buri, Thailand—a place that knows how to celebrate with gusto—an American visitor found himself at the center of an unexpectedly touching story. Amid the vibrant fireworks and the lively crescendo of a Chinese New Year celebration, the crackle and boom of firecrackers turned into a tale of kindness, compassion, and newfound companionship. This charming episode unraveled at a convenience store in the lively district of Sattahip, as ThaiRath chronicled in a surprising twist of events that seemed scripted by fate itself. It all began with a startled stray—a gentle, white and light brown dog—who, startled by the festive riot of firecrackers lit by a Thai-Chinese family, dashed into the store, his heart racing faster than his tiny legs. The joyful bangs that signified good luck and prosperity sent him scurrying for a safe haven between two product shelves. There, he huddled, nose to…
In a tragic sequence of events that has left a community reeling with shock and questions, an evening of what should have been casual camaraderie ended in calamity with one life cut short and another hanging by a thread. The incident occurred within the familiar confines of a six-story dormitory in Samut Sakhon province’s Krathum Baen district, but the shadows it cast stretch far and wide. Police Lt. Thiwatpol Tawitsangkhasak was among the first responders who received a harrowing call detailing an accident that transpired on January 28. The sun had just dipped beyond the horizon when a commotion on the third floor drew not just attention, but dreadful foreboding. A confrontation, raised voices, and a piercing scream cleaved the evening air, only to be followed by the sickening sounds of bodies impacting the earth. The lives entwined in this tale are A and B, two young women tethered by…
In an adrenaline-filled drama that unfolded on the bustling streets of Bangkok, a routine patrol led to the apprehension of a bold motorcycle thief. The renegade in question, a 47-year-old man by the name of Nui Somchai, was nabbed by the astute officers of Sutthisan Police after an attempted getaway involving a stolen motorcycle and a chilling knife threat. It all went down yesterday, January 28, when Police Colonel Siam Boonsom, orchestrating from the Sutthisan Police Station, powered up a team including the vigilant Police Colonel Porntep Chalermkiat to swoop down on the suspect. The officers were doing rounds near Ratchadaphisek Road when they spotted something straight out of an action movie—a suspicious character riding a two-toned Honda Scoopy in grey and yellow. Nui, trying to keep his cool, was actually riding someone else’s ride. And not in a “borrowed from a friend” kind of way, but more in the…
The atmosphere in Thailand is temporarily shedding its polluting mask, as the Ministry of Public Health predicts a short-lived spell of crystal-clear air. Until tomorrow, the air quality in various parts of the country, including major urban hubs, is expected to register in the ‘good’ category, with the infamous PM2.5 particles behaving themselves for a change. But like all good things, this too may end, with early February waving in the ominous rise of PM2.5 levels once more. The ever-watchful Doctor Warat Chotipitayasunont, the government mouthpiece when it comes to PM2.5 pollution crises, broke this both sweet and sour news from the Ministry of Public Health’s Health Information Center. Thanks to Mother Nature’s timely intervention, six lucky provinces – Surin, Sa Kaeo, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Nayok, Suphan Buri, and Bueng Kan – are reveling in a blue-zone bonanza of remarkably good air quality. Concurrently, 41 provinces have been experiencing the…
In an unfortunate twist of fate, Pathum Thani Hospital became the scene of heartbreak as a 31-year-old mother, lovingly nicknamed Bee, suffered a tragic accident that claimed her life. This mother of newborn twins plunged from the hospital’s 18th floor, a tragedy that has cast a long shadow over the institution and her grieving family. The hospital released a deeply moving statement, offering heartfelt condolences to Bee’s family and vowing full assistance in the police investigation that followed. The young mother had only just welcomed her premature twins into the world on January 22 and, after being discharged on January 25, had returned to visit them. It was on the morning of January 27, at around 9 AM, that her lifeless body was discovered on the medical center’s second-floor balcony. Police and forensic specialists are meticulously piecing together the events that led to this disturbing incident. The very next afternoon,…
As the lush, sun-kissed island of Phuket gears up for an exciting electoral event, the vibrant buzz is palpable in every street corner. Governor Sophon Suwannarat is steering the ship of final preparations for the eagerly awaited Election Big Day of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) elections, happening on February 1. Fueled by the collaborative spirit of both the Election Commission of Thailand’s Phuket office (ECT Phuket) and the PPAO, this event promises to be a milestone of democratic action. During an energetic ceremony that was not without its fair share of fanfare, Akarawat Sirithanthanakorn, who dons the duel hats of PPAO Secretary and Director of Elections, heralded the careful planning that’s been undertaken. He revealed the intriguing roster of candidates: three aspirants vying for the prestigious PPAO President post and a robust lineup of 58 names contesting the council seats. With a staggering 314,408 people ready to cast…