As the digital age propels us into a future woven with technology, the fight against cybercrime takes center stage at the fifth Asean Digital Ministers’ Meeting, set amidst the bustling backdrop of Bangkok from January 13 to 17. Spearheading Thailand’s delegation is the astute Prasert Jantararuangtong, the nation’s Deputy Prime Minister and digital economy and society minister. Participants are gathering under a shared ambition: to tackle the insidious rise of online scams targeting unwary digital denizens in the region. The meeting brings together digital ministers from the 10 bustling Asean nations, alongside Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, accompanied by Timor-Leste and a host of Asean dialogue partners including powerhouses like China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, India, and the venerable International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The alliance of minds aims to forge ever-stronger ties in combatting the scourge of cyber scams aimed at destabilizing burgeoning digital economies. At the heart…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
In the picturesque landscape of Kanchanaburi, a dramatic and unexpected incident unfolded on a serene Friday morning, leaving both locals and visitors in a state of shock and disbelief. As the sun began its ascent, casting golden rays over the lush terrain, a bus carrying a group of 30 European tourists embarked on what was supposed to be a leisurely journey to the renowned Erawan Waterfall. But calamity struck when a roadside tree came crashing down, creating pandemonium and leaving nine tourists injured. The tranquility of Highway 3199, coursing through the charming village of Tha Manao in tambon Wang Dong, was shattered when the tree, suspected to have been illegally cut, toppled over. The onboard tourists were caught off guard as the tree plummeted with unrelenting force, striking the windshield with a resounding crash that sent shards of glass flying in all directions. Among the wounded were one man and…
As the calendar flips to January, the vibrant island of Phuket prepares to roll out the proverbial red carpet for families, especially the youngest among them. It’s that wonderful time of the year when dreams run wild and joy knows no limits. That’s right! “Jungceylon Kids Day 2025 x Giant Dog – The Giant Pup Festival and Friends” is almost here, transforming the Jungceylon Shopping Center into a delightful hub of fun and frolic from January 10th to 12th, 2025. This isn’t your average Children’s Day celebration. Nestled within the bustling streets of Patong, The Jungle Zone at Jungceylon beckons families with a promise of pure, unadulterated joy. The kids won’t just be entertained; they’ll be enchanted by a pack of amiable, gigantic canines that are sure to cause plenty of uproarious giggles and wide-eyed wonder. The event highlights a meet-and-greet with some of the most colossal—and friendliest—dog breeds known…
As the sun steadily stitched its golden path across the skies on a serene Friday morning, the scene on Mittraphap Road, also known as Highway 2, in the bustling heart of Nakhon Ratchasima was curiously calm. With only a smattering of vehicles ambling along the well-traveled artery, the air was tense with an odd mixture of post-holiday tranquility and the sobering realities revealed by recent tragic statistics. While Prasit Tangprasert, a local photographer, eloquently captured the quiet through his lens, a more somber narrative unfolded beyond the frames of his photographs. On Thursday, the fifth day into the celebrated ’10 dangerous days’ of the New Year festivities, the toll of road mishaps had rung alarm bells across Thailand. Grimly, 43 lives were irreversibly altered, and 200 souls were left grappling with various injuries as a result of 196 separate accidents. This troubling information, relayed by the Road Safety Directing Centre…
As the sun began to set on the bustling Mittraphap Road, otherwise known as Highway 2, the streets of Nakhon Ratchasima appeared deceptively peaceful this past Friday. But beneath the calm facade, the harsh reality of Thailand’s treacherous New Year road period came into sharp focus. As has become an unfortunate tradition, the roads claimed numerous victims during what is ominously known as the “10 dangerous days” of the holiday season. Thursday saw a grim tally, with forty-three lives lost and two hundred individuals bearing injuries from road accidents across the scenic yet perilous Thai landscape. The sobering statistics emerged from 196 incidents, tallied by the Road Safety Directing Centre, part of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. These figures were part of a larger, unsettling picture painted from December 27 to January 2, recording 321 souls lost to the relentless grip of unpredictable traffic and nearly 1,900 more…
In the ever-evolving world of political chess, a new move is about to hit the board: a charter amendment bill with aspirations of birthing a Charter Drafting Assembly (CDA). However, hopes of this legislative endeavor successfully debuting in its maiden reading seem about as slim as a bookworm’s bookmark. Who’s blowing the horn of caution, you ask? None other than Nikorn Chamnong, the articulate secretary of the joint committee on the referendum bill. As parliament gears up to meticulously dissect these ambitious charter amendment bills from January 14 to 15, stakes are inevitably high. Adding a twist to the tale, Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha has tossed his hat into the ring. He’s eager to slot a bill aiming to reshape Section 256—wherein the plot thickens as a CDA enters stage left—into the grand mix for debate. Yet, alas, the waters are far from calm. Mr. Nikorn waves a…
As the world anticipates the second term of US President Donald Trump, Thailand finds itself bracing for significant challenges. With Trump’s staunch “America First” trade policies threatening to impose exorbitant tariffs on imported goods, the implications for the global economy and specifically for Thai exports could be severe. The atmosphere is tense as nations worldwide, including Thailand, prepare for a potential reshuffling of international trade dynamics. During his campaign, President Trump vocalized plans to increase tariffs on imports, particularly targeting Chinese goods with levies that could surpass a whopping 60%. This ambitious approach is designed to reduce the United States’ trade and budget deficits while attracting increased local investment. As such, the Thai government and businesses are advised to keep a vigilant eye on US economic strategies, which hold the potential to disrupt Thailand’s economic landscape. The consequences of these policies could stretch far beyond superficial trade metrics. Experts express…
On the steps of the illustrious Government House, Prime Minister Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra showcased an elegant piece of traditional Thai attire right before diving into yet another of her high-powered cabinet meetings on December 24, 2024. Caught in the flash of cameras, she exuded confidence, her choice of attire reflecting not only her personal style but her deep-rooted love for Thailand’s cultural heritage. But while her fashion sense may have stolen the show, it was her substantial fortune, co-owned with her husband, Pitaka Suksawat, that had tongues wagging. The National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) recent revelation took the nation by storm, outlining the impressive collective wealth of this power couple at a whopping 13.9 billion baht. The portfolio, as intriguing as it is diverse, includes a pair of pristine houses in the heart of London and two awe-inspiring land plots amidst the picturesque landscapes of Japan’s Hokkaido island. Yet, despite…
The political landscape is no stranger to intrigue, power plays, and the occasional scandal that leaves the public agog. In a tale that echoes the murmurings of clandestine politics, three former MPs have been spotlighted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for proxy voting—a move that seemingly defied the sanctity of democratic processes during a pivotal executive loan decree reading in the not-so-distant past of September 2013. The protagonists of this political drama are Chaiwut Pongpaew and Pirapol Laparojkit, bearing allegiance to the Democrat Party, and Saranwut Sarankate of the Pheu Thai faction. Imagine the surprise when records revealed triumphant votes cast in their names—votes that echoed through the halls despite the very real absence of these MPs during the critical session. One might envisage a scene akin to a Hogwarts-like ghostly intervention, but alas, it was merely the handiworks of their undoubtedly helpful colleagues. As whimsical as it sounds,…
In the world of aviation, where the skies give no quarter for errors and every decision can take flight or land with a thud, the happenings at Thai Airways International (THAI) have caught more than just the airline industry’s attention. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has unveiled a saga of intrigue, financial misadventure, and executive-level blunders that read like a gripping drama more than just a mundane scandal. Fasten your seatbelts, dear reader, as we taxi down the runway of this dramatic tale. Our story begins in the not-so-distant world of 2009, where Thai Airways entered into a seemingly straightforward deal with Southern Air Inc (SAI) that involved the leasing of cargo space. The Aircraft Block Space Agreement (BSA) had THAI reserving all available cargo quarters on two B777-200 long-range freighters—an arrangement described in corporate jargon that might make the layman wonder if they were securing space on a space…