Good news for motorists battered by the recent southern floods: Thailand’s Transport Ministry has waved through a practical, people-first shortcut to replace ruined vehicle documents and licence plates. Announced on December 5 by Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn together with Deputy Transport Minister Mallika Chirawongwanich, the policy relaxes paperwork requirements so flood-hit drivers don’t have to hunt down soaked or missing registration books and ID cards just to get back on the road. What’s changed — the practical bits Department of Land Transport (DLT) Director-General Sorapong Paitoonpong explained the new approach: if your licence plate, tax sticker (those round discs), or registration book was lost or damaged in the floods, you can apply for replacements with much less red tape. In simple terms: If your registration book is gone, a person who legally owns the vehicle only needs to present their national ID card at the transport…
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Thailand’s rock scene got an unexpected encore — this time outside the music and squarely in the corridors of correctional protocol. Sek Loso, born Seksan Sukpimai and long a headline-maker both onstage and off, has announced he is withdrawing from all outside work assignments after a tense family visit at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution on December 3. A birthday visit that hit a sour note What began as a family birthday visit turned into a highly public spat. Sek’s wife, Wiphakorn “Karn” Sukpimai, took their daughter to the facility so the girl could celebrate and watch her father perform as part of a scheduled prison event. Karn says she had coordinated the visit with prison officials and that the family was supposed to be on the guest list. But when the duo arrived, correctional officers refused entry, citing security protocols and guest restrictions. Karn captured the unfolding drama in…
Bang Phli police in Samut Prakan pulled off a timely rescue this week, bringing home a 20-year-old university student who had been ensnared by a sophisticated call centre scam that convinced him he was at the centre of a money-laundering probe. The ruse was elaborate: fake officials, forged threats, a staged “arrest” — and an urgent attempt to bleed the family for more cash. Thankfully, quick thinking by the student’s mother and prompt police work prevented the scheme from doing even more damage. The alarm was raised on December 3, when the student’s mother filed a missing person report after her son left home one evening and could not be reached. A chilling handwritten note found on the student’s computer desk read, “Involved in money laundering. Must report to DSI and AMLO today.” The message was the first clear sign that something sinister was afoot. Police Colonel Pairoj Phetphloy, Superintendent…
Thailand’s opposition has turned up the heat on Deputy Prime Minister Thamanat Prompow, demanding his removal amid fresh revelations about a sprawling transnational crime and money-laundering network. The call came from Rangsiman Rome, Deputy Leader of the People’s Party, after the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) moved to seize assets valued at roughly 10 billion baht tied to an online scam linked to businesswoman Tangthai Banmahing. Rangsiman says investigators have traced the illicit cash trail to bank accounts held by a figure named Yim Leak, who is alleged to have deep ties to Cambodia’s political elite. According to the opposition, Yim Leak sits at the center of a regional scam operation that funnels dirty money across borders and into complex financial conduits. One of the main arteries for those alleged flows is BIC Bank Cambodia. Rangsiman claims the bank is under Yim Leak’s control and points to its connections with the…
A 22-year-old woman collapsed at her workplace in Trat late on the night of December 3 and was rushed to Trat Hospital in critical condition after reportedly taking weight-loss pills for more than 10 months. The incident — equal parts shocking and sadly familiar — has investigators pointing to a likely culprit: pills purchased from an online shop that may contain the banned stimulant sibutramine. Reporters who visited the hospital at about 10:30pm found the young woman unconscious. Medical teams worked frantically, performing life-saving procedures for over an hour before placing her on a ventilator. She was later moved to the internal medicine ward for continuous monitoring as doctors kept a vigilant eye on her fragile condition. The woman’s boyfriend, 20-year-old Phongsaphak, told reporters she had complained of dizziness for two days before collapsing at work. He dashed to the hospital after a frantic call and found her already unconscious.…
The cold truth: Thai worker in South Korea loses fingers, still waiting for compensation What started as a search for work turned into a nightmare for a man from Udon Thani who travelled to South Korea about five to six months ago to work at a chicken farm in Pocheon. While operating an egg-sorting machine, his middle and ring fingers were severed — a brutal workplace accident that left him injured, frightened and, crucially, without compensation. The case was shared by Farida “Aum” Ma, a long-time volunteer who helps Thai migrants—especially those who are undocumented, commonly called Phee Noi or “little ghost”—navigate life abroad. Aum posted photos of the man’s injuries on Facebook on December 2 and described the grim situation: the man was forced to keep working despite unhealed wounds, and his employer repeatedly avoided paying any accident compensation. “The weather is freezing, and he has to endure both…
What began as a tense exchange at a pre-pageant event in Bangkok has turned into an international soap-opera-worthy legal skirmish. The newly crowned Miss Universe 2025, Fatima Bosch of Mexico, is facing a defamation complaint filed by Nawat Itsaragrisil — president of the Miss Universe Thailand organising committee and head of the Miss Grand International Company — after Bosch publicly said he called her a “dumbhead.” The kerfuffle first ignited on November 4 during rehearsals and sponsor obligations in the Thai capital. Organisers, led by Nawat, say competitors were required to post sponsor-related content on their social accounts. According to accounts of the incident, Nawat accused Bosch of refusing to comply. Bosch attempted to explain her side, but the exchange escalated: she says Nawat told her to stop talking and just listen, which prompted her to leave the venue in tears. Later, outside the rehearsal halls and flashing microphones, Bosch…
Bangkok’s diplomatic calendar had a sparkle this week as Thailand and the United Arab Emirates celebrated a rare milestone: 50 years of official ties. The festivities at the UAE Embassy in Bangkok doubled as a jubilant Union Day observance for the UAE’s 54th anniversary, turning a routine embassy reception into a golden-jubilee party with purpose. A proud embassy, a clear message UAE Ambassador to Thailand Obaid Saeed Obaid Bintaresh Aldhaheri took center stage on Monday, offering congratulations and perspective. He described the half-century relationship as one that has matured into a partnership driven by steady engagement, open dialogue and practical cooperation across many fronts. House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha attended as well, underlining how ceremonial moments like this also have weighty diplomatic meaning. “United” — more than a slogan This year’s celebration carried the theme “United,” echoing the UAE’s national direction: President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared…
Bangkok has always loved to celebrate. But in the race toward convenience—clicks, carts and same-day checkouts—the feeling behind a gift quietly thinned. Flowers arrived wilted, cakes tasted industrial, and hampers felt like they came off an assembly line. The moment the recipient unwrapped a present often landed with a polite smile instead of the gasp it deserved. That gentle disappointment is what sparked UrbanFlowers, a Phrom Phong studio that rewrote the city’s idea of gifting. Instead of flashy launches or billboard budgets, the brand grew the old-fashioned way: through repeat delight, word of mouth, and an insistence that craft matters more than convenience theatre. A studio that smells like flowers and chocolate Walk into UrbanFlowers on a weekday morning and the space reads less like a retail outlet and more like an artisan atelier. The air carries the green, peppery scent of freshly cut stems and the warm, bittersweet notes…
A quiet pool renovation has suddenly become Thailand’s latest hot-topic splash. The Huamark Aquatic Centre — slated to host swimming events for SEA Games 2025 — is at the center of a growing public debate after procurement documents revealed a 300-million-baht renovation budget and a line-by-line price list that has many Thais rubbing their chins. The cost breakdown was shared by the popular Facebook page Young Shark Thailand (ฉลามหนุ่มไทยแลนด์), which says every figure comes straight from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) procurement files. Whether you’re a swimming fan, a budget hawk, or someone who loves a good online kerfuffle, the numbers are worth a look. Big ticket items that caught attention Grandstand seats: 3,118 plastic seats in green, red and yellow, reportedly costing a total of about 4.8 million baht — roughly 1,550 baht per seat, installation included. Not exactly throne-level prices, but multiplied by thousands, the math adds…