When the Floodwaters Recede, the Unexpected Comes Out to Play Residents of Nikhom Phatthana district in Rayong were left with more than soggy floors and damp furniture this week — they were startled by a two-metre crocodile casually sunning (or rather, road-laying) itself on a stretch of pavement as floodwaters began to fall back. Persistent rains have hammered parts of Rayong for days, sending sudden flash floods through low-lying neighborhoods. The Makham Khu sub-district, close to the local spillway, has been among the worst hit. As water levels rose, local rescuers from the Sawang Porakul Foundation (หน่วยกู้ภัยมูลนิธิสว่างพรกุศล จุดนิคมพัฒนา) moved through the community, hauling electrical appliances and furniture to upper floors and checking on vulnerable residents. They did what emergency crews do best: practical help with a steady hand and a calm voice. But after the initial panic of flooding passed, a different kind of panic set in. A motorist passing…
Posts published in “Thailand”
The Criminal Court has sentenced Chonthicha Jangrew, a People’s Party MP representing Pathum Thani, to two years and eight months in prison after finding her guilty of lese majeste and related online offences. Prosecutors said posts that appeared on a Facebook page she owned, published on 8 November 2020, insulted the monarchy, stoked social unrest and endangered national security. The ruling cited violations of Section 112 of the Criminal Code and Section 4 of the Computer Crime Act. Chonthicha has long been a polarising figure in Thai politics — an outspoken lawmaker who has used social media to critique public institutions and leaders. In court, she insisted that the Facebook posts were expressions of political opinion protected by the constitution. “The posts were intended to exercise my right to free speech and were not meant to defame the monarchy,” she said, according to reporting. Despite that defence, the court concluded…
Thailand’s tourism chiefs are sounding the alarm bell — but instead of an ominous siren, they’re handing the new tourism minister a bright stack of travel coupons and a to-do list. With the cool breezes of high season still whispering promises, industry leaders want fast, bold action to protect against the usual post-peak slump and to keep Thailand shining as Asia’s go-to holiday playground. Cash coupons: the quick, localised stimulus Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, is urging the incoming minister to roll out travel cash vouchers for international visitors — a simple, battle-tested tactic that has worked well in neighbouring markets such as Taiwan. Imagine a foreign family arriving in Bangkok, given a colourful coupon they can spend at street-food stalls, boutique guesthouses, or island souvenir shops. The money doesn’t just prop up airlines and five-star hotels; it trickles directly into local communities where a…
For anyone who had been tracking dots on Flightradar24 with the intensity of a mystery novel fan, the answer arrived in real time: former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra kept his promise. On the afternoon of September 8, 2025, his Bombardier Global 7500 touched down at Don Mueang International Airport, bringing to a close a brief overseas trip that had set political chatrooms and newsrooms alight. The drama began days earlier, on the night of September 4, when that same private jet was seen leaving the MJets terminal at Don Mueang. The sight of the sleek aircraft — and the sudden disappearance of Thailand’s most talked-about political exile-turned-returnee — sent speculation into overdrive. Would he run? Had he slipped out to avoid a court appearance set for September 9 about his hospital stay? Theories proliferated across social media and in the corners of cafés where political debate functions as sport.…
Bangkok traded traffic and tuk-tuks for teapots and typewriters on Sunday, September 7, when Baan Dusit Thani played host to the launch of a fresh, globe-spanning Chinese novel-writing competition. The event — a collaboration between Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao and SPH Media — felt less like a press conference and more like a backstage pass to the future of Chinese-language storytelling in Southeast Asia. Writers, publishers and cultural figures from across the region gathered to swap ideas, clap for new voices and, perhaps most importantly, remind everyone that great stories travel faster than planes. A literary roadshow with regional swagger Bangkok was only the first stop. After the warm Thai welcome, the competition caravan heads to Penang, Malaysia, then on to the scenic Nusa Island in Indonesia. Over 200 participants of all ages attended the Bangkok launch, signaling a vibrant appetite for Chinese-language literature across generations. The crowd included emerging writers…
Customs officers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport pulled off a bold interception on Saturday, September 6, when they arrested a Vietnamese man accused of attempting to traffic rhino horns valued at roughly 6.9 million baht. The dramatic seizure — five horn pieces weighing about 6.9 kilograms in total — underscores how vigilant screening and modern intelligence are being used to snuff out wildlife trafficking at major travel hubs. How the operation unfolded Thai Customs spokesperson Phanthong Loykunlanan said the arrest was made under a department policy driven by director Teerat Auttanawanit, who has prioritised cracking down on illegal wildlife trade. Using the advance passenger screening and verification system — a blend of passenger data and news intelligence — officials flagged the traveller as high-risk and moved to intercept him. The suspect arrived at Suvarnabhumi at 7:45 pm after an unusual routing: Luanda, Angola → Addis Ababa, Ethiopia → Bangkok, with plans…
Thailand Braces for Heavy Rain — TMD Warns 50 Provinces, Including Bangkok The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a serious weather alert for September 8: heavy rainfall is expected across 50 provinces — yes, that includes Bangkok and its surrounding areas. Forecasters say intense downpours could cover around 80% of the country in the impacted zones, with some pockets facing exceptionally heavy rain. If you live in eastern Bangkok, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi or Trat, it’s time to get your umbrella, waterproof boots and a healthy respect for puddles. What’s causing this soggy spell? The TMD points to a classic monsoon play: a trough sweeping through the lower northern, upper central and northeastern regions, combined with a moderately strong southwest monsoon blowing over the Andaman Sea, southern Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand. Those two weather players together are signing up for a very wet performance. Tropical…
Bangkok’s latest education forum felt a bit like a cinematic wake-up call: dignitaries in crisp suits, spirited panel debates and, tucked between coffee breaks, a stark reality check — Thailand’s students are drifting toward the lower half of international performance tables. That sobering message came into sharp focus at the Beyond Assessment: Driving Educational Change Forum last week, and it has stirred educators, policymakers and parents into an urgent conversation about what comes next. The numbers that won’t sit still According to the World Population Review 2025, Thailand’s literacy rate sits at 94.1%. It’s respectable, yet it’s trailed by regional peers: Brunei (97.6%), Singapore (97.5%), the Philippines (96.3%), Indonesia (96%), Vietnam (95.8%) and Malaysia (95%). Meanwhile, Thai students continue to underperform in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which tests maths, science and reading literacy — an issue that can no longer be papered over with platitudes. “We…
What should have been an ordinary afternoon at a Udon Thani shopping centre turned into an unexpected scene straight out of a soap opera when a 39-year-old South Korean man punched an 81-year-old British national in the face on September 7. Security staff intervened, police were called, and a translation service was pressed into action — all over a dispute that began, apparently, with a dog at the entrance. According to staff at the mall and reports to Mueang Udon Thani Police Station, the British man arrived with his pet dog. The security guard stopped him at the entrance because animals were not allowed inside the shopping centre. Shortly afterwards a taxi pulled up and the South Korean man arrived. The guard said he watched the two foreigners speak briefly — and then, without warning, the South Korean struck the British man. The guard didn’t see what happened before the…
Hat Yai Bust: Woman Caught Trying to Deliver Drugs Hidden in Her Brassiere Police in southern Thailand made a striking arrest on September 6 after a 25‑year‑old woman was intercepted while attempting to deliver illegal drugs to customers in the outskirts of Hat Yai. The operation, led by Police Colonel Thammarat Phetnongchum and units from the Royal Thai Police together with Provincial Police Region 9, unfolded in the Saphan Dam community of Khlong Hae municipality, Hat Yai district, Songkhla province. The suspect, identified as Suttikarn from Moo 3, Tha Chamuang subdistrict, Rattaphum district, was standing outside a neighborhood convenience store when officers moved in. What began as a routine stop quickly turned into an unusual discovery: as she reached into her purse, a small packet of crystal methamphetamine tumbled to the ground. That one falling bag prompted a more thorough search. A female officer carried out a body search and…