The turn of the year is a time for celebration and fireworks, a dazzling spectacle illuminating the night sky. Yet, as vibrant colors adorn the air, the New Year countdown in bustling places like Nakhon Ratchasima and Pattaya witnessed a darker side of these pyrotechnic wonders—accidents that left four individuals injured, two of them in critical condition. In the heart of Nakhon Ratchasima, a serene evening in the districts of Wang Nam Khieo and Chalerm Prakiat was marred by unforeseen accidents. Somyos Butsadee, a 35-year-old local gentleman, found himself in the middle of a terrifying mishap at the Udomsappattana housing estate. A joyful night turned harrowing when serious injuries were inflicted on his fingers, and he was promptly whisked away to Wang Nam Khieo Hospital amid the sparkling festivities. Not far away, in Chalerm Prakiat district, another unfortunate incident befell 27-year-old Natthawat Thangphudsa. All fingers on his left hand were…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
Picture this: in 2024, the ever-enchanting land of Thailand transformed into a vibrant playground as over 35 million travel enthusiasts from across the globe packed their bags and set sail for the kingdom’s delightful shores. This massive influx of wanderlusters lavished the local economy with a whopping 1.6 trillion baht—yes, trillion, not a typo—amidst a flurry of tuk-tuks and tantalizing Thai street food, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Delving deeper into these fascinating stats, it was the vivacious Chinese contingent—numbering an impressive 6.7 million—that spearheaded this travel bonanza, leading the charge like a caffeinated parade of adventurers, eager to snapchat every golden pagoda in sight. Hot on their heels and equally enthusiastic were our neighboring Malaysians, just shy of 5 million strong, followed by fervent crowds hailing from India, South Korea, and Russia. However, these jet-setters weren’t the only ones contributing to Thailand’s bustling tourism scene. Within…
In a bold and strategic move, the government has now stepped up its efforts to combat economic crime, by linking legal entity registration applications with data on individuals flagged as high-risk for money laundering. This new initiative, launched just yesterday, is set to be a game-changer in the fight against financial fraud. From now on, applications featuring names on this high-risk list will face deferral unless they can provide valid, robust supporting documents. Deputy government spokesman, the ever-diligent Karom Phonphonklang, announced this shift by highlighting the pervasive issue of fraudsters manipulating legal entity registrations to fleece the unsuspecting public. These crafty scammers, leveraging the inherent credibility and operational agility of businesses, engage in what has become a pressing form of economic crime. The government is not taking this lightly and is mobilizing all its resources to tackle this menace head-on. These fraudsters have made a sinister habit out of using…
As the clock struck midnight, ushering in the dawn of a promising 2025, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra shared her heartfelt New Year’s greetings, encouraging all Thais to embrace a year brimming with possibility. A beacon of hope for the nation, she called upon the blessings of sacred forces to envelop the Thai people in prosperity, with aspirations that the coming months would be abundant with chances, dreams, and aspirations as the government diligently works to enhance their quality of life. In a vibrant video message broadcast across the nation, Ms. Paetongtarn unveiled the government’s roadmap for the year ahead. Her plans brimmed with commitment and dedication to ensuring that every Thai citizen, regardless of their background, would be able to tap into economic opportunities and receive the necessary support to turn their dreams and goals into reality. The prime minister’s message was as refreshing as it was uplifting, “During the…
As 2025 kicks off, the crime landscape is buzzing a lot like a beehive, with the relentless hum of cybercrime and call centre scams creating quite a stir. Riding at the forefront of this battle is the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), led by none other than Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, who recently sat down with the Bangkok Post to shed some light on the shadowy world of online tricksters. Between January 1 and September 30, a staggering 279,861 reports of cyber-related offenses made their way to the Thai Police Online (TPO) platform. It seems the digital thieves managed to cause financial havoc to the tune of at least 28.01 billion baht. That’s some serious baht, folks! Service scams nabbed the largest share, with a jaw-dropping 123,865 complaints, but it’s the investment scams that ran away with the most money – a colossal 10.229 billion baht! Surprisingly, the victims often…
Buckle up, folks! We’re on the brink of a wild political ride this year, as forecasted by none other than the Parliament President himself, Wan Muhammad Noor Matha. With public trust in the government’s economic wizardry dwindling faster than an ice cream cone in a Bangkok heatwave, we might just see political tensions reaching tropical levels. Hold onto your hats, because 2025 is promising to be a whirlwind! Our current saga stars the Pheu Thai Party-led government navigating through the halfway mark of its term. Yet, amidst unresolved economic headaches, the clock is ticking, and the stakes are as high as ever. Might these economic woes become a nagging thorn in the government’s side, threatening their ability to see out their term? Mr. Wan suggests that if they can smooth things over, they might just cross that finish line unscathed—an intriguing ‘will they, won’t they’ narrative. The parliamentarians of today…
The bustling sound of travelers filled the air on Wednesday as tens of thousands of people poured into bus terminals and provincial railway stations. They were making their way back to the vibrant heart of Thailand, Bangkok, after the joyful hustle and bustle of the New Year festivities. Amid the excited chatter and clatter of luggage wheels, the state-run Transport Co predicted a surge of around 70,000 to 90,000 returning residents. It’s a phenomenal number, equating to an astounding 4,200 to 4,500 bus trips on just a single day. Remarkably, just the Tuesday before, a whopping 58,749 passengers had already completed their journeys back to the city over 3,556 trips. To manage this massive influx of humanity, Acting Transport Co president Atthawit Rakjamroon was on high alert. Tasked with the challenge, he rallied additional buses, drivers, and service personnel, ensuring no traveler was left in a lurch. Every weary passenger…
In the serene backdrop of rural South East Asia, a humble boat glides across the Moei River, shuttling passengers from Mae Sot in Thailand to Myawaddy in Myanmar. Against this quaint setting, the narrative of a public health triumph unfolds—one where cautious vigilance, strategic healthcare interventions, and cross-border cooperation are steering a minor cholera outbreak towards resolution. According to regional health authorities, the number of cholera patients in Myanmar’s Shwe Kokko town is showing a hopeful decline, mirroring the trend in nearby regions. This month, health and local security authorities breathed a sigh of relief as they announced that a fleeting cholera outbreak in Thailand was now under control. Characterized by severe diarrhoea, cholera had made an unwelcome appearance, but the swift action of healthcare teams ensured that only a handful of individuals, both Thai and Myanmar nationals, were affected—and now cured. Even so, specific areas in the northern border…
In the vibrant corridors of Thai politics, where opinions clash like ocean waves on a windy day, Chuan Leekpai, the seasoned Democrat list MP, lent his voice to a pressing matter at hand during a lively parliamentary debate on February 8, 2024. His presence commanded the room, as he weighed in on the government’s cash handout policy, delivering a critique as sharp as a well-honed blade. As the New Year bells chimed a hopeful melody, Chuan, an esteemed former premier and a revered figure in the Democrat Party, shared his aspirations for a self-reliant Thai populace. On this fresh start of the calendar year, he voiced a vision not just for prosperity, but for a prosperity earned through grit, determination, and a hearty pinch of self-development—a sentiment that echoed the wisdom of a seasoned statesman. “Handouts,” he explained, “are like ephemeral gusts of wind—brief, fleeting, and ultimately unfulfilling. If prosperity…
The bustling streets of Bangkok stood witness to a cascade of vehicular chaos as the week of winter revelry came to an unceremonious close. The vibrant highways of Thailand turned into a scene of collective frenzy as the New Year festivities wrapped up, their celebratory echoes drowned by the roars of engines and blaring horns. In the heart of the chaos, Highway 1 in Nakhon Sawan bore the weight of Bangkok-bound traffic, straining under the swell of vehicles inching forward like a sluggish stream of steel and rubber. (Photo by the astute lens of Chalit Pumruang provides a candid testament). Yet, the journey home for countless revelers was marred by an unsettling statistic – the heart-wrenching loss of 215 lives and injuries to 1,354 souls across Thailand. Over a span that stretched from December 27 to December 31, a total of 1,398 traffic mishaps cast a shadow over the nation’s…