THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

In the lush realm of Thai politics, a dynamic scene is unfolding that has the tongues of citizens and politicians wagging alike. The stage is set at the House of Representatives where the spotlight falls on Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who faces sharp scrutiny over the proposed construction of a new Transport Ministry office building. As its cost soars to a staggering 3.83 billion baht, the budgetary extravagance has caught the discerning eyes of the People’s Party (PP), catapulting this debate to the forefront of public discourse. The leading protagonist in this drama is Surachet Pravinvongvuth, a vigilant PP list-MP whose rhetoric rings with pointed critique. Surachet recollects a historical anecdote involving the State Audit Office’s notorious 2.56 billion baht office project, which tumbled in the aftermath of an earthquake. This serves as a precursory caution to the Transport Ministry’s not-so-frugal plans. “But the Transport Ministry’s new building is even…

In the picturesque province of Buriram, Thailand, an unsuspecting morning turned into a riveting tale of crime and chaos. Picture this—May 29th, chirping birds, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves, and a 29-year-old man named Saharat preparing to embrace his day. But this wasn’t your typical start. For Saharat, it was the end of the line, and what a dramatic showdown it turned out to be! On that fateful day, Saharat was primed to cruise off on his trusty black Honda Wave motorcycle, an everyday departure that would have gone unnoticed if not for a twist of fate. As he was getting ready to leave his residence, police officers, acting on a tip-off regarding his sinister side hustle, swooped in and apprehended him. Nestled within a black bag beneath the motorcycle’s seat was not a mechanic’s kit or spare parts, but a contraband treasure: 1,050 methamphetamine pills, colloquially known as…

In a plot more twisted than any temple tale, the serene Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom is now embroiled in a scandal that could earn a spot in a Hollywood blockbuster. Who would have thought that beneath the idyllic, golden-cheeked Buddha statues, there was a storm of corruption swirling like dark clouds over an unsuspecting fair? This narrative, laden with betrayal, intrigue, and mind-boggling sums of money, unfolds like a modern-day epic. Meet Patcharaporn “Toey” and the notably navy-affiliated Chief Petty Officer First Class Chatchai Si-liang, who yesterday found themselves not in the sharks’ territory but rather at a Buddhist scout camp in Sam Phran district. Our diligent detectives from the Crime Suppression Division, backed by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Police, swooped in on this unsuspecting duo presumably plotting their next caper. These are not your ordinary criminals; they are accused of siphoning over 2 billion baht through an…

Recently, the Constitution Drafting Network, famously known as Constitutional for All (Conforall), alongside the spirited campaigners at the Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw), have shaken the political beehive. With a rallying cry of “Senators Must Stop,” they have demanded that the Senate hit the brakes on its power to select members of independent organizations. The activists insist that this pause is necessary until the murky waters surrounding vote-rigging allegations are clear as a sunlit mountain stream. Reportedly, a whopping ensemble of over 150 senators has been called to the carpet by both the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Election Commission (EC). These senators, who seemingly swaggered into their roles via the selection of their fellow senators rather than the people’s vote, now find themselves under the magnifying glass, and the image isn’t flattering. The air is congested with whispers of vote manipulation from last year’s Senate masquerade, I…

Thailand’s diplomatic dance with the US continues unabated, as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra remains unflustered by a recent US trade court ruling that thwarted President Donald Trump’s controversial tariffs on imports. The 38-year-old leader exuded pragmatism after Wednesday’s courtroom drama, calling it an internal American affair with an uncertain aftermath. Despite the suspenseful narrative unfolding across the Pacific, Thailand has no time for commercial conjecture—progress is the country’s middle name, and Paetongtarn is determined to keep the momentum alive. Reflecting on the fruitful ASEAN Summit rendezvous in Malaysia, she disclosed that the US’s hefty import levies were the hot topic steaming at the diplomatic round table. Every ASEAN nation, including the spirited Thailand, has thrown its hat in the ring with proposals, primed for the American response that would tee up formal talks. Paetongtarn doesn’t miss a beat, asserting that these dialogues pre-dated the court’s decision, and Thailand is vigilantly…

In the tranquil province of Chaiyaphum, where rolling hills and lush landscapes paint a serene picture, a heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded on May 29. A vibrant 13-year-old girl, whose laughter once echoed through school corridors, found herself swept away by the relentless currents of a village weir in Baan Nong Bua Noi, Kaset Sombun district. What began as a cheerful outing turned into an unfathomable sorrow as she slipped on treacherous algae, dissolving into the fast-moving waters while her friends stood frozen in shock. The urgency of the situation summoned the brave officers from Ban Duea station and the vigilant divers from Luang Siri Rescue and Mangorn Rescue units from the Nong Bua Daeng district. Like real-life superheros, they dove into the depths, driven by hope and duty, for a mere 30 minutes until they uncovered her submerged form—still clad in the uniform of a local secondary school—a somber symbol of…

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) is gearing up for a significant weather event, predicting an inundation of rain across 47 provinces that span three distinct regions, including the bustling city of Bangkok. An ominous prediction of heavy rainfall has been announced, expected to drench 70% of these areas by May 30. As the skies prepare to unleash their might, locals brace themselves for a wet spell that might very well lead to flash floods and unwelcome landslides. In particular, northern and northeastern regions of Thailand are forewarned of extreme weather conditions. Residents in these areas are cautioned to be on high alert as relentless hefty downpours could result in sudden flooding, devastating forest run-offs, and hazardous landslides. It’s a dire situation for anyone residing in hilly terrains or low-lying areas near waterways. Amidst this downpour prediction, farmers are bustling to enhance drainage systems, aiming to shield crops and livestock from…

In a dramatic twist of fate, the tides have turned in favor of a 58-year-old American academic who had been caught in the crosshairs of Thailand’s strict lese majeste laws. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has opted to dismiss the charges against Paul Chambers, citing insufficient evidence, thus closing the chapter on what had been a nerve-wracking ordeal. Chambers, who had called Thailand home for three decades, found himself ensnared by controversy after comments supposedly connecting him to criticisms of the monarchy surfaced in a promotional blurb for a webinar where he was a speaker. This turn of events followed a nail-biting two-month period after Chambers was initially detained—a move that had profound ramifications, costing him both his teaching position at Naresuan University and his work visa. In an admonition to the case’s rather tumultuous journey, his passport was confiscated, effectively placing a hold on his ability to…

In a storyline worthy of an enthralling novel, a university lecturer’s criminal involvement has unraveled a tangled web of intrigue and illegal activities in Thailand. The esteemed educator, known as Visut, stands accused of maneuvering through customs at Thai ports to clandestinely import firearms on a grand scale. This caper, lifted straight out of a thriller script, finds its stage in the tranquil yet pivotal backdrop of Nakhon Si Thammarat, where the local police are drilling deep into a network embroiled in firearms smuggling activities. The 41-year-old Visut, associated with a renowned university, is not just another academic. His penchant for orchestration extended beyond university corridors, sneaking into the gear rooms of the Vajiravudh Army Camp’s welfare store nestled in the watchful Fourth Army Region of Thailand. Here, one might find the murky lanes bustling softly, camouflaged with the echoes of academic prowess yet tinged with the secrets of forbidden…

Under the glimmering studio lights of TV Pool, Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, recently broadcast her insights on the riveting 46th ASEAN Summit held in vibrant Malaysia. With much aplomb and candor, she addressed the buzzing conversations surrounding the US trade debacle, keenly posturing Thailand’s stance amidst the economic whirlwind stirred by President Donald Trump’s contentious tariff policies. She mused, “The US court’s ruling is indeed a domestic saga, one that seems riddled with twists and turns just like an old-time mystery thriller. But what’s crucial for us, for Thailand, is not to halt our onward journey.” Her words echoed the determined spirit of Thailand’s forward march into negotiations with the US—a quest that would persist despite the embers of uncertainty smoldering across international trade corridors. Amid the tropical backdrop of the ASEAN Summit, where regional camaraderie reigned supreme, the issue of these elusive tariffs was much more than a…