When former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made an appearance at the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) on a bustling Tuesday afternoon, it seemed as if the winds of rumor had nothing on his lingering presence. Dressed to the nines in a sharp black suit, white shirt, and dashing pink tie, Thaksin waved off speculation with a charming, boyish smile. “I’m old now, over 70 years old. Take it easy,” he casually quipped, the words rolling off his tongue like a seasoned raconteur. While whispers had been swirling that Thaksin was ready to pull a disappearing act to dodge a potential legal fiasco linked to his infamous and rather plush hospital stay during his nominal prison term, his arrival at the ONCB was decidedly firm-footed and notably public. Riding in with a motorcade that wouldn’t be out of place in a Bond film, Thaksin came on the official invitation to…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
In a determined bid to curb traffic accidents, Thailand’s police are launching a nationwide Road Safety Project on Sunday, June 1st. This initiative aggressively targets drivers and passengers who neglect the safety protocol of wearing helmets during motorcycle rides. Defying the law may now lead to substantial fines—up to 2,000 baht—and for motorcyclists carrying non-helmeted passengers, the consequences are doubled. On May 27th, Police Lieutenant General Nitithorn Jintakanon, the Commander of the Police Education Bureau, emphasized this renewed enforcement directive. As per Police General Kraibhun Trawadsong, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, all police units have been ordered to stringently enforce helmet laws as part of a broader campaign aiming to enhance traffic discipline and cut down road accidents across the nation. The heart of the Road Safety Project is focused on high-traffic roads, notorious accident spots, and areas bustling with schools and universities. The police are robustly enforcing…
In a dramatic turn of events, a house in the Mueang Samut Prakan district, just a stone’s throw from the bustling heart of Bangkok, came tumbling down earlier today. It was a typical morning in Soi Thepharak 70 when suddenly, the unexpected struck: a perfectly standard demolition task went awry, causing the structure to collapse atop its four hardworking demolition crew members. Despite the terrifying incident, fortune smiled upon them as all were rescued unharmed. This two-story house, featuring a sturdy concrete ground floor beneath an aged wooden upper level, had been earmarked for renovation. Notably absent from the premises, the homeowner had entrusted the project to a quartet of locally hired construction workers. Though the report respectfully withheld their names, their dramatic morning plunge into chaos will certainly be a tale told at future gatherings. By stander, 30-year-old Komsan, found himself playing an unexpected hero’s role in the unfolding…
In a twist of events that can only be described as surreal, the serene evening along the Bang Pakong River was abruptly overshadowed by a mysterious incident that has left both locals and authorities baffled. The usually peaceful waters of Chachoengsao became the backdrop for an unexpected drama when a man and woman were seen holding hands just before they vanished over the edge of the Chalerm Phrakiat Bridge. The clock had just ticked past 8:32pm on May 26th when patrons at a riverside restaurant noticed the unexpected scene unfold. It was a leisure-filled evening until startled voices rippled across the air, diverting everyone’s attention to the couple who seemed to be sharing a quiet moment on the bridge. The restaurant’s diners, with half-eaten meals and bewildered expressions, watched as the pair, entangled in what appeared to be an intimate moment, was suddenly enveloped by the dimming sky and the…
Amid the lush landscapes of northern Thailand, at the Saim Lom Joy market teetering at the brim near the Myanmar border, there’s a peculiar buzz in the air. This bustling market, nestled in the naturally verdant Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai, has undergone an unexpected transformation. Thanks to the torrential downpours that swelled the mighty Sai River beyond its banks, the persistent floodwaters have given a new—and rather wet—kind of charm to the place. Now, as the waters steadily retreat, a different kind of tide is washing across the marketplace: the allure of clearance prices. On a bright Tuesday morning, against the backdrop of a receding muddied landscape, vendors, armed with determination and resolve, began showcasing an array of flood-damaged goods at irresistible discounts. The scene was vibrant, albeit a little sticky, as the market sprung to life with residents and sellers cleaning off layers of stubborn mud, all…
In a heart-wrenching incident that sent shockwaves through the tranquil region of Nakhon Nayok’s Pak Phli district, tragedy struck at the hands of a cruel twist of fate. On May 26, as the sun dipped beyond the horizon and painted the sky with hues of amber and gold, a devastating accident was unfolding that would forever mark the lives of those involved. 32-year-old Porntep, a dedicated fishpond owner with dreams as expansive as the waters he tended, was engrossed in his daily routine. His day took an unexpected turn when his trusty tractor, an E-Taen, veered off course into the adjacent canal. Little did he know that this routine task of pulling morning glory from the canal edges would cascade into a nightmare—a dropped curtain on a life cut short. Responding swiftly, officers from Pak Phli Police Station and the dedicated rescue teams from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation arrived at the…
Pattaya, a city that never fails to capture the heart and imagination, is proving that its allure extends throughout the year, rain or shine. Despite the so-called low season, when other destinations might dim their lights, this vibrant city has managed to shine even brighter, thanks to its latest urban rejuvenations and the magnetic charm of the nearby island paradise, Koh Larn. On a sunny Sunday, May 25, reporters took a trip to the famed Khao Phra Tamnak—or as the locals affectionately call it, Naval Radio Station Hill. Here, the iconic Pattaya City sign holds court over the bay, a silent yet powerful testament to the city’s spirit. This landmark spot has recently undergone a transformation nothing short of miraculous. Gone are the days of mundane surroundings; instead, visitors are greeted by a striking expanse of bright blue flooring, turning the area into a lively backdrop perfect for selfies and…
Picture the vibrant city of Bangkok, a fusion of tradition and modernity, gearing up to host a stellar gathering of some of the brightest minds in journalism! Scheduled to unfold from May 29, 2025, at the prestigious Chulalongkorn University, this year’s New.Now.Next Media Conference (N3Con) marks its 15th edition. Spearheaded by the Asia Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA-Asia), this event promises to be an exhilarating confluence of journalists, editors, tech-savvy innovators, and media professionals from all corners of the region. The focus? Delving into the groundbreaking and, at times, disruptive innovations reshaping the face of journalism as we know it, with a special spotlight on the enigmatic world of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Generative AI: Disruption and Opportunity Generative AI is like the wild card of the news domain, a revolutionary force bent on reshaping the landscape in dramatic ways. Imagine navigating a world where the authenticity…
In a whirlwind weekend saga encapsulating the dynamic nightlife of Phuket, a foreign visitor found herself at the center of a bar debacle that quickly escalated to a run-in with local law enforcement. The vibrant but tranquil streets of the Talat Yai sub-district were anything but peaceful as this unexpected episode unfolded at the well-known Nine Smith entertainment venue. The story broke when a Thai TikTok user, operating under the moniker @tunroychannel, broadcasted a video capturing the commotion. The incident involved a visiting woman, who, to the dismay of the bar’s management, was unable to settle her tab. As she enjoyed the culinary and cocktail delights the bar had to offer, payment was nowhere to be seen except in the realm of excuses. The reason? An alleged financial blunder involving the stock market and stubbornly malfunctioning bank cards, neither of which were particularly sympathetic to the bar staff. As the…
In the picturesque town of Samut Prakan’s Muang district, a sense of chaos and urgency filled the air on a seemingly ordinary Tuesday morning. Amidst the backdrop of a serene neighborhood, a house that had stood tall for three decades crumbled with an unexpected ferocity, dramatically altering the day’s landscape and turning an ordinary demolition into a headline-grabbing event. It was just around 8:40 am when the peaceful morning was shattered by the tremendous sound of collapse echoing through Thepharak Soi 70. What was meant to be the careful dismantling of a once sturdy abode, to pave the way for modern development, swiftly transformed into a heart-pounding rescue operation. The old structure, a two-storey concoction of concrete and wood, succumbed to a perfect storm of age, decay, and the relentless wear of heavy rainfalls that had turned once-solid ground to quicksand beneath its feet. Understandably, panic ensued. Sirens wailed as…