THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

In an intriguing saga that captured the nation’s attention, the Police General Hospital played host to Thailand’s former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, for a considerable half-year stretch, from August 2023 to February 2024. The corridors of this medical facility were bustling not just with caretakers and patients, but with intrigue and questions about the very nature of justice and privilege in the country. Thaksin found himself in a rather unforeseen set of accommodations, a room costing a tidy 8,500 baht a night, a sum that the former leader reportedly settled himself. The storyline thickens as Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin steps into the limelight, defending a contentious veto on a Medical Council of Thailand ruling. This verdict had originally set out to penalize the doctors at the helm of Thaksin’s medical care during his stint there. Allegations of political meddling swirled about, but Minister Somsak, with staunch resolve, based his…

In a bustling scene reminiscent of a marketplace, patients line up eagerly at Srinagarind Hospital in the heart of Khon Kaen province. On that bright day of May 15th, their faces hold a mix of hope and concern as they await their turn to receive crucial medicines. It is a potent snapshot of a larger, looming crisis that has slowly cloaked Thailand’s healthcare system with the chilling aura of financial specters. The very foundation of the nation’s state-owned hospitals quivers under the weight of burgeoning debt, compelling top health officials to spring into action. The Ministry of Public Health has raised the alarm, acknowledging the severe financial quagmire enveloping hospitals in the kingdom. Determined to stave off the specter of healthcare collapse, ministry officials are gearing up for urgent deliberations with the National Health Security Office (NHSO) – the brain behind the universal healthcare program – to engineer a strategy…

Perched majestically by the serene Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, the new parliament house glimmers in the bustling heart of the city. Recently, this stunning architectural marvel became the backdrop for a pivotal moment in Thailand’s political landscape. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul) Against this picturesque setting, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s multi-party coalition orchestrated a political symphony, channeling their diverse voices into a harmonious endorsement of the nation’s financial blueprint. With a projected annual budget of 3.78 trillion baht (approximately US$115 billion) ingeniously crafted, the plan for fiscal year starting October 1 won the confidence of stalwart supporters from the Lower House who cast 322 ballots in its favor. In contrast, 158 lawmakers dissented after an exhaustive four-day debate set the parliamentary corridors abuzz. Now, like a carefully groomed culinary masterpiece, this budget proposal heads to the fine-tuning committee stage, where each exquisite detail will be examined with meticulous scrutiny. Expect lively…

Pita Limjaroenrat’s journey through the tumultuous waters of Thai politics is like a gripping drama that refuses to fade from public memory. With nine more years remaining on his political ban, the story could gain an unexpected twist depending on the outcomes of ongoing court battles. Some wonder if his temporary exit from the limelight could eventually morph into a permanent farewell, leaving his throngs of orange-clad supporters holding their breath for a comeback that may never happen. In the heartwarming return to politics, Pita rekindled the hopes of those who once cheered him as a harbinger of change. Despite the dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP), which Pita led to an astounding victory in the 2023 general election, the spark of ambition still flickers brightly under his quiet exterior. His memoir, aptly titled The Almost Prime Minister, offers readers a page-turning account of his rollercoaster ride in the…

In a world teeming with commotion and swirling rumors, clarity often becomes lost in the cacophony. Such was the case when the digital grapevine exploded with reports suggesting that the Royal Thai Army prepared to seal the doors on 16 pivotal checkpoints along the Thai-Cambodian border. This assertion, fueled by social media murmurs, seemed to have arisen from the ether, setting cyberspace abuzz with speculation and concern. However, as with all tales that grow in the telling, a measure of truth is sometimes buried beneath layers of creative imagination. On a bright day set against the backdrop of the tranquil Chong Chom checkpoint in Thailand’s Kap Choeng district, General Pana Klaewplodthuk of the Royal Thai Army and General Mao Sophan of the Royal Cambodian Army strolled with a cadre of military officers, inspecting the lay of the land. Photo opportunities abounded, yet the palpable concern lay beneath official smiles —…

In a surprising turn of events, Krungsri’s economic gurus have taken out their crystal balls, and with a Herculean sigh, adjusted their predictions for Thailand’s economic growth in 2025. Once expected to bask in a 2.7% growth rate, the forecast has taken a dip down to a modest 2.1%. This unexpected turn comes as swirling clouds of uncertainty gather from both directions: across the Pacific and right at home. With US trade policies playing hide and seek, combined with domestic conundrums adding to the pot of troubles, government policymakers are advised to navigate with the deftness of a tightrope walker. Pimnara Hirankasi, no stranger to the economic labyrinth, and an executive with Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited, shed light on the mounting pressures poised to test Thailand’s economic resilience. It’s a rollercoaster out there, with the U.S. tossing and turning like an insomniac with its import tariffs, stirring up…

In the ever-evolving landscape of education and disciplinary practices, one incident from Nakhon Sawan has recently unraveled with an intense wave of public scrutiny and debate. As an online video made its rounds, capturing the shocking disciplinary tactics used by a vocational teacher against a group of male students, social media exploded in a flurry of outrage. The incident occurred just days ago, on May 29, as the Asian sun shone upon the campus, but it is now engulfing the internet, casting long shadows on both the involved teacher and the educational institution. The video, undeniably gripping in its raw exposé, chronicles a moment that many are calling a step too far. In a scene that unfolds with almost cinematic tension, the teacher is seen orchestrating a punishment that borders on the grotesque—mixing cigarette butts with water and commanding her students to drink the concoction. It’s like a nightmare, scripted…

In a world that’s becoming increasingly comfortable with virtual offices and Zoom meetings, Bangkok has claimed the crown as the world’s premier city for remote work. This revelation comes courtesy of a report by the New York Post, sourcing data from an international index crafted by the brainiacs at QR Code Generator. Bagging an impressive score of 69.98 out of 100, Bangkok has charmed its way to the top. With its zippy internet speeds and prices that don’t burn a hole in your pocket, it’s clear why digital nomads and remote workers are head over heels for this bustling Thai metropolis. Hot on Bangkok’s heels is Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, boasting a score of 65.62. The city has earned praise for its super simple remote work visa process—no bureaucratic nightmares here! Thai Charm Meets Modern Comfort Sasikarn Watthanachan, Deputy Government Spokesperson, shared that the selection process wasn’t just…

In a riveting tale of high-stakes financial drama, the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) of Thailand has made a striking breakthrough in their quest to mop up illegal lending activities. In a coordinated symphony of tactical operations that spanned multiple provinces, the police have successfully arrested seven suspects who were the masterminds behind some audaciously clandestine lending schemes. Each of these operations boasted a lucrative cash flow exceeding a staggering 100 million baht, leaving many to wonder just how deep the rabbit hole goes. The curtain rose on this dramatic sequence in the serene yet unsuspecting province of Chanthaburi. The first chapter unfolded at the headquarters of a shadowy enterprise operating under the innocuous guise of “Cash Today”. While it might sound like a store offering payday advances or some DIY home improvement saga, its Facebook page was but a façade for its illicit underbelly. The ECD’s leading protagonist, Pol…

In a momentous leap for cross-border scientific collaboration, China has completed its very first state-of-the-art radio telescope beyond its borders. Nestled in the lush landscapes of northern Thailand, this cutting-edge addition to the global astronomical ensemble is here to shake things up—metaphorically, of course, given its ability to detect even the most subtle of Earth’s tectonic tremors. Standing tall at an impressive 13 meters (or roughly 43 feet for our non-metric friends), this radio antenna is not just a science fiction dream come true but a testament to international synergy. It’s the brainchild of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory teaming up with the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT). On the sunny day of May 16, it was officially inaugurated in the vibrant city of Chiang Mai. But wait, there’s more! As if one telescope in Thailand wasn’t enough, a second sibling is under construction way down south in Songkhla.…