The Anti Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC) has been busy since its inception on November 1st. With more than 2,500 bank accounts frozen in just two weeks, the government-led initiative is making substantial leeway against call centre scams. The spokesperson for the government, Mr Chai Wacharonke, revealed that this swift action was taken on accounts linked to fraudulent activities, averaging a freeze time of just 15 minutes post-receipt of a complaint. The AOC’s operations were a fulfilling response to the 38,564 cries for help from scam victims they received in their formative fortnight. In response to an unexpected surge in calls, Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry expanded the AOC’s bandwidth, ensuring a quicker and more efficient response to these serious complaints. Switching gears to the maritime sector, Bancha Sukkaew, the Deputy Director-General of the Fisheries Department, highlighted the department’s aim to boost the population of Kurau fish, a species…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, shared with his Canadian and Australian colleagues recently that Thailand has thrown its doors open wide to foreign investments. His comments come at a time when there is notable movement of businesses globally towards the Asean region. Thavisin had a meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit which took place in San Francisco. The news was made public by the government’s spokesman, Chai Wacharonke. According to Mr. Chai, both nations anticipate strengthening their collaboration across multiple arenas. The belief is that Apec stands to create a wealth of opportunities for both countries. In a bid to attract new business, Thavisin made it clear that Thailand is eager and prepared to embrace foreign investments. He leveraged the platform of the summit to relay this message across the global business community, shepherd by shifting trends showcasing an…
The sight of cannabis plants openly displayed at the Asia International Hemp Expo held in Bangkok in November 2022 was something quite remarkable. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard) The latest highlight is the announcement from the Public Health Ministry regarding the completion of the first draft of the much-anticipated Cannabis-Hemp Act. The biggest surprise in the announcement was the confirmation that cannabis will not be reclassified as a narcotic, a statement publicly declared by Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew last Friday. Minister Cholnan prudently revealed that the updated laws are modelled on amendments to the initial 94-sections draft. The latest version now flaunts approximately 70 sections. The revisions address various public apprehensions and potential slip-throughs that might enable people to misuse cannabis for recreational activities, he explained further. The essence of the law continues to categorize cannabis as a ‘controlled herb.’ Any extract containing over 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will be classified…
Deeper within the heart of Suvarnabhumi airport, a somber scene unfolds as an unexpected arrival lurks in the shadows of a busy cargo terminal. Five Thai workers tragically caught in the crossfire, their lives brutally ended on foreign shores in Israel, have finally come home. Within the hallowed walls of the airport, a respectful gathering takes place, observed solemnly by both Thai and Israeli officials. In the backdrop of this solemn event and amidst growing international concern, an imperative voice from Thailand’s epicenter of human rights was heard. The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) made an urgent call for a ceasefire in war-torn Gaza. Baring its soul for the world to see, NHRCT painted a haunting picture of life within the Gaza strip. Over 10,000 lives brutally extinguished, most of the victims being women and children. Astonishingly, more than a million displaced people wander amidst the rubble. A…
An esteemed figure in the radio industry, Trin Ruangkitratanakul, affectionately known as DJ Ko from 106.5 Green Wave radio, descended to a tragic and untimely demise on a fateful Friday afternoon in a hotel located in the heart of bustling Bangkok. The close-knit community is somber over what is speculated to have been a suicide. At only 36 years old, Trin’s life was claimed by the unforgiving concrete of the neighboring house, situated adjacently to the hotel on the busy Soi Sukhumvit 20 in Klong Toey district. This grim discovery was reported by concerned witnesses around 1.30pm, bringing to light the tragic news, according to Pol Lt Col Kittichet Kitisarn, the chief investigator at Thong Lo police station. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and medical first responders found Trin’s body hauntingly still near the kitchen door of the two-storey house. The precinct was palpably chilling as they processed…
In a momentous event back in 2005, the Queen declared, “This centre shall serve as a safe haven for all women”, as she inaugurated the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer (QSCBC). To ensure that every Thai woman confronting this formidable disease could access the necessary help despite their financial status and societal standing, Dr Kris Chatamra, the Centre’s premier physician, initiated the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation – a non-profit entity, two years later. The foundation aims to support the humanitarian endeavours of the QNSCBC. Launching the Centre has not been without its challenges, but its accomplishments and the incredible work it has facilitated are honourably recognised in a brand-new, limited-edition coffee table book. This captivating volume has been meticulously compiled by Dr Kris Chatamra and Khunying Finola Chatamra, serving as an Honorary Advisor to both the Centre and the Foundation. Divulging an extensive 15-year history of…
Imagine it, a magical dance of fiery shards across the night sky, as the Leonid meteor shower set to rain down on planet Earth from 1am according to the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT). It’s been relayed through their latest social media update that spectators could anticipate up to 15 streaking meteors each hour. It’s a celestial ballet performed on a grand stage. The celestial stage is set perfectly for this cosmic spectacle, given that the weather conditions are predicted to be flawless. The absence of lunar luminescence will ensure a perfect backdrop of a cloudless, moonless night. So, get your blankets, thermos, and your sense of wonder ready for an exciting night under the stars. The Leonid shower this time around is set to take centre stage near the Leo constellation, which can be found nestling on the eastern side of the night sky. An additional piece…
As the full moon casts its radiant glow over Thailand on November 27, the nation will come alive in vibrant color and festivity during the Loy Krathong celebration. Held on the night of the 12th lunar month’s full moon, Loy Krathong sees Thais paying homage to Phra Mae Khongkha, the resplendent Goddess of Water, by casting intricately decorated floats or ‘krathongs’ over bodies of water. But this illustrious event is not merely a spiritual gathering, it is an extravagant spectacle that celebrates Thai culture in its rawest form. Fireworks burst into shimmering cascades of color, illuminating the night skies, while some regions add another touch of magic, orchestrating a display of lanterns soaring up into the sky, their glow adding to the ethereal charm of the night. According to TAT, the Thai tourism authority, the festival is anticipated to see a travel surge of approximately 2.04 million locals, who will…
The peaceful agrarian life has turned into a daily showdown of wit and perseverance for locals ever since the reptiles, particularly iguanas, started infesting their premises and farms, laying waste to crops, and disrupting their means of livelihood. Operating with strategic precision, local authorities have now adopted innovative techniques to quell the rampant iguana presence. Their methods include the use of a selection of vegetables as bait for ensnaring green invaders from their lofty havens in tree branches near water bodies. The objective is two-fold: to assimilate a head count of these reptilian marauders and to experiment on the efficiency of different Iggy-capturing techniques. In this rural community, where the sight of an iguana is as common as a fresh dawn, a native confesses that many of these invaders bear a legacy of disruption for a good decade. Some are even estimated to be of 5-6 years of age. While…
Where the enchanting beaches of Prachuap Khiri Khan province give way to the glittering, turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand, an unusual spectacle has unfolded. Extending over a splendid 200-kilometre stretch from the world-renowned Hua Hin Beach to the quaint, unspoiled district of Bangsaphan Noi, waves have been cresting at an astonishing 2 to 4 metres. These substantial waves have given rise to an array of anomalies along this otherwise calm coastline. The might of the incoming tides overflows, causing seawater to wash over certain parts of the scenic beachfront road. The unexpected deluge has not only caused widespread flooding but has also thrown the otherwise smooth traffic flow into disarray. Businesses that thrive along the vast beach, including local eateries and charming beachfront cafes, have had to shutter their doors temporarily. Bracing against the ceaseless waves, these establishments mourn the loss of the vibrant, beachy atmosphere that usually…