Survey reveals that an astounding 96.2% of Thai internet users indulge in online shopping every week, making Thailand the undisputed champion of virtual carts and digital checkout lines. (Photo: 123RF) Touted as a global frontrunner for online shopping and a leader in weekly grocery purchases made via the magic of the Internet, Thailand has squeezed itself into the upper echelons of mobile app expenditure, according to the illustrious “Digital 2025” report composed by the creative digital tsars We Are Social and the ever-vigilant media monitors at Meltwater. But alas, even seasoned leaders have their Achilles’ heel, and for Thailand, it’s the ever-elusive prowess in data privacy. With a whopping 99.5 million mobile connections fueling the digital bonfire and an Internet-savvy crowd of 65.4 million, with 51 million exercising their thumbs on social media, out of a population of 71.6 million, Thailand is decisively in the digital fast lane. A rollicking…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In an unexpected twist, Thailand’s legal scene has witnessed a landmark decision that could send shockwaves through the traffic system. The country’s top court, the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC), delivered a verdict that rendered a host of traffic fines issued by the Royal Thai Police (RTP) since July 2020 unlawful. This ruling stands to impact millions of unsuspecting motorists caught in the web of these now-invalid penalties. The saga unfolded when the court partially overturned a prior decision by the Central Administrative Court (CAC). The CAC had initially contended that two RTP announcements in July 2020 and March 2023 had caused confusion and were not valid. The foundation of the case was spiritedly laid by Supa Chotngam, a fervent critic of the RTP’s methods, claiming they had led drivers to erroneously believe they had no recourse to challenge their tickets. In a dramatic gesture, the SAC found that these practices…
Recent developments in the world of royalty and security have unearthed fascinating news as a royal command has officially named four stalwart military officers to the esteemed role of royal bodyguards. An announcement of this magnitude sends a ripple across the kingdom, capturing attention even beyond its borders. As the Royal Gazette unveiled this pronouncement on February 5, the list of appointees, graced by Rear Admiral Wasan Traijit, Rear Admiral Yodpong Dechakup, Air Vice Marshal Nitas Yubrapat, and Colonel Apichai Thongthamnachart, earmarked a glorious chapter in their careers. Marked with impeccable precision, these appointments resonate under the authority vested by the Royal Security Act of 2017, weaving seamlessly with legacy laws dating back to the Royal Bodyguard Act of 1937. Why, you ask, such ceremonial fervor around this announcement? The essence lies in the sophisticated hierarchy that forms Thailand’s Royal Bodyguard Command—an elite unit shoulder-to-shoulder committed to safeguarding the Thai…
In a dramatic twist fit for a high-stakes thriller, the bustling Shwe Kokko entertainment and casino hub in Myanmar’s Myawaddy has unwittingly become a hotspot for large-scale call center operations targeting predominantly Chinese victims. However, in a heroic rescue mission worthy of a blockbuster movie, 61 individuals duped by these call center scammers were liberated and returned safely to Thailand on Thursday. As the sun set over the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Bridge in Mae Sot district of Tak province, these weary souls were handed over by the Myanmar Border Guard Force to the Thai authorities. The scene played out like a heartfelt reunion, as Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai welcomed the rescued group during his inspection trip to the border. Dressed in his wrinkles-and-experience suit, he oversaw their processing by immigration officers. The group was a rodeo of diversity, featuring 39 Chinese nationals, 13 Indians, a solitary Kazakh, a quintet of Indonesians,…
A tale of a mother’s desperate search has unfolded, with the dramatic backdrop of crossing international borders and delving into the dark world of call center scams. As tension mounts, the journey of Khajorn Somjai to find her son, Jetsarit Phumjai, a 21-year-old who vanished from Thailand, grips all who hear of it. Armed with determination and worry, she reported her son’s case to Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division (CSD), fearing that he has been ensnared by an insidious call scam gang in Poipet, Cambodia. The mystery began with a simple meeting planned through Instagram. One cannot help but wonder what thoughts raced through Jetsarit’s mind that fateful January 26th afternoon when he was last spotted in a green-yellow taxi. Jetsarit had left his familiar life with just the clothes on his back and no identification, every mother’s nightmare. Accompanied by her son Boonlong U-Nak, and joined by the internet personality…
In an unusual sequence of events in the charming Isaan province of Kalasin, a tale of familial discord spiraled into a shocking crime story that captured the nation’s attention. The heart of this dramatic episode was Boonliang Jannsri, a 73-year-old gentleman who met with a tragic fate, garnering headlines after his stay in a seemingly peaceful hut transformed into a perilous inferno. On what seemed like a typical January 31, the lingering aroma of burning timber led investigators to stumble upon Boonliang’s charred remains, triggering a deep dive into a perplexing narrative of familial betrayal and unexpected treachery. Boonliang’s daughter, the 26-year-old Boontiwa “Pui” Jannsri, was soon recognized as the prominent figure in this family saga. As the narrative unfolded, the storyline grew thicker with suspicion. It seemed Pui had been the final person to grace her father’s presence that fateful night, according to witnesses and CCTV footage, which showed…
In the calm, picturesque lands along the Thai-Myanmar border, a tense air of anticipation clouds the peaceful horizon. The Tak Provincial Public Health Office is all hands on deck, gearing up to brace a tidal wave of patients from the reclusive world of refugee camps. As US President Donald Trump’s unexpected decision leaves the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) treasure chest bone dry, Tak is preparing for an influx of about 40,000 to 50,000 refugees ravenous for medical care. Perched in Tak’s Umphang district, the Nu Po Refugee Camp has been the idyllic residence that now finds its serenity shattered. Healthcare services took an abrupt pause on January 27, with urgency ringing loud for emergency cases while non-urgent ailments are brushed aside like yesterday’s news. A staggering nine camps, a sanctuary for roughly 90,000 refugees, have been the lifeline for those fleeing the chaos of Myanmar. Such refuges were cradled to…
Thailand is leaping into the future on the tracks of its high-speed rail ambitions. With the recent approval from the Cabinet, the highly anticipated second phase of the Thailand-China High-Speed Rail Project has been set in motion. This grand venture aims to extend the rail line from Nakhon Ratchasima all the way to Nong Khai, mapping out a substantial 357-kilometre journey that is poised to transform the landscape of Thai transportation. With a dazzling price tag of 341.35 billion baht (US$9.8 billion), this ambitious project is an eight-year odyssey that will snake its way through lush landscapes from 2025 to 2032. When the curtains finally rise on this state-of-the-art rail spectacle, it will forge a seamless connection from the bustling metropolis of Bangkok to the serene borders of Nong Khai. But the magic doesn’t stop there! This route sets the stage for a railway romance with the Laos-China Railway, knitting…
Isn’t it absolutely wondrous how modern medicine has transformed lives? Organ transplantation stands at the forefront of these miracles, providing a lifeline to patients suffering from relentless chronic ailments like kidney disease, severe liver cirrhosis, and heart failure. And let’s not forget about the triumph of corneal transplants, which grant the gift of sight, letting individuals reclaim their life and revel in a world newly vibrant with colors. The fascinating realm of organ transplants harbors a somber dilemma: a chasm between booming demand and scarce supply. According to the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation (GODT), in the year 2022, a mere 157,494 organ transplants were conducted on a global stage. This figure primarily encompassed kidneys, with livers and hearts trailing behind. Meanwhile, a sprawling ocean of hopeful individuals remains anchored to waiting lists far and wide, longing for their lifelines. This predicament resonates in Thailand, where the Thai Red…
In the heart of Bangkok’s bustling Chatuchak district, a daring operation unfurled as law enforcement officials apprehended two Chinese nationals implicated in masterminding an elaborate call centre scam tailored to prey on the unsuspecting. The suspects, Yǐ Wănyòu, age 29, and Lǐ Wéijiā, age 30, are now at the center of an investigation into an inventive “insult to injury” scheme that capitalizes on the false fears of victims that their hard-earned money has already vanished. The intricate plot strikes at the very confidence of the victims, duping them into divulging their financial gall. It promises reclamation of purportedly stolen money, but only in exchange for sensitive financial details—a deception so cunning it seems almost like the plot of a suspense thriller! The tangled web began unraveling when officers moved in on a residence in Chatuchak, executed under the lawful commandment of the Criminal Court, with authority granted on February 5.…