As the calendar inches closer to the eagerly anticipated lottery draw date, an influx of optimistic visitors has been noticed flocking to the spiritual sanctuary of Ruesi Nen That Phutthakhun Hermitage in the serene Bang Sai district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Droves of individuals, fired up with hopes and dreams, converge on this revered site in a time-honored tradition, seeking blessings from sacred entities that are believed to sprinkle a dash of luck just when it’s needed the most. The hermitage, a repository of spiritual power and historical significance, welcomes its visitors into a world where the tangible meets the metaphysical. Standing guard in the expansive grounds is the colossal 16-metre tall Nine-Faced Giant, Phor Pu Ruesi Phrommet – the tallest of its kind globally! This imposing figure is just one among a pantheon of revered entities that includes the cherubic Kumarn Thong Jao Sua Heng, the formidable Chao Mae…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
In the shadowy folds of northern Thailand, a dramatic skirmish unfolded on the evening of January 13, and it was anything but ordinary. The tranquility of the region was shattered as bullets whizzed through the crisp night air in what turned out to be a fatal clash involving, of all things, over a tonne of crystal methamphetamine. It’s not every day that such a showdown takes place, painting the small hamlet of Ban Pang Mahan in the Thoet Thai subdistrict with an air of infamy. Major General Kidakorn Chantra, the crack commander of the Pha Mueang Force, swiftly made his way to the site alongside his right-hand man, Lieutenant Colonel Jakkrapong Sodsri of the Task Force Chaotak. With the sun barely peeking over the horizon on January 14, they inspected the aftermath of this crossfire tango between their dedicated soldiers from Company 1 and a gang of drug-trafficking couriers. This…
In the quiet early hours of January 15, a tragically poignant event unfurled on a dimly lit road near Khlong Hat Som Paen, nestled behind Ranong’s district office. The serenity of the night was shattered by a heart-wrenching turn of events involving a young couple, their lives intertwined by a calamitous argument. A young woman, known to her friends simply as A, met an untimely death after leaping from a vehicle in motion, driven by her boyfriend, a Police Lance Corporal named Kittiphum. The account of this unfortunate night begins with the pair’s tumultuous evening, commencing at a lively nightclub where laughter and music soon gave way to a heated exchange of words. The source of their discord was jealousy, an all-too-familiar specter that loomed over their relationship. As the evening matured, they sought solace in food, yet the simmering tensions remained unquenched. At the height of the argument, within…
In a surprise twist of economic maneuvers, Thailand’s Finance Minister, Pichai Chunhavajira, has bumped up the timeline for the much-anticipated second phase of the 10,000-baht cash handout. Originally penciled in for later in the month, the disbursement will now hit the fast track on January 27, two days ahead of schedule. The main beneficiaries? A whopping 3.5 to 4 million elderly Thais, those who carry the wisdom of 60 years or more, who’ll soon see a boost to their bank accounts courtesy of the government’s PromptPay app. This financial stimulus is part of a grander government vision initially targeting all citizens aged 16 and above, with an ambitious budget fit for a king’s ransom—500 billion baht to be exact. However, fiscal prudence demanded a rethink, introducing income-based eligibility criteria to dodge the risks of reckless spending. Only those with an annual income below 840,000 baht and savings not surpassing 500,000…
In an astonishing turn of events that could easily rival the plot of a suspense thriller, a school director from the quaint town of Nong Song Hong in Khon Kaen province found himself handcuffed instead of shaping young minds. Police Colonel Theerathat Phongsuwan announced this jaw-dropping arrest on January 14, revealing that Naphatdol, a 40-year-old with the respectable title of school director, had indeed swapped chalk for a stash of methamphetamine tablets—a jaw-dropping 369, to be precise. The headlines spun on their axes as the backstory unraveled. The questionable career choice emerged following the apprehension of a 29-year-old named Thayakorn just days prior, on January 11. Thayakorn was attempting his very own breaking bad moment, albeit a rather modest one, with just 20 methamphetamine tablets tucked away in a field hut nestled in Village 4, Don Dang subdistrict. As any intriguing tale unfolds, threads began connecting: those tablets were traced…
The southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat in Thailand are about to witness a high-profile visit as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra prepares to step into these beautiful yet tumultuous regions. Despite fresh undercurrents of unrest marked by recent bombings, Paetongtarn is unwavering in her decision to visit these provinces. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed this bold move shortly after addressing the gravity of the bomb incidents that rocked the area just days ago. The landscape of this story bursts into action with two nerve-wracking incidents. On January 13, the quietude of the Ano Ru subdistrict in Pattani was shattered by a blast that left six paramilitary rangers injured. The chaos rippled further on January 14 in Sri Sakhon district, Narathiwat, where a devastating explosion took the lives of two courageous police officers, a stark reminder of the simmering tensions. These attacks were the central topic during a recent…
In an ambitious move aimed at breathing life back into Thailand’s lagging economy, Industry Minister Akanat Promphan is spearheading a campaign to shift the country’s manufacturing sector towards high-tech innovation. With a vision of enhancing GDP growth by a solid 1% each year, Akanat is championing the development of cutting-edge products as the nation’s strategic play. It’s a call to arms against the triple threat posed by technological upheavals, international tensions, and the ominous specter of climate change. Since the pandemic, Thailand’s economy has been running on fumes, and there’s a palpable urgency to get it revved up again. However, a constraint hangs over the government’s efforts: a stringent state budget straining under the weight of public debt, which catapulted to a substantial 64% by October 2024, as per the Fiscal Policy Office’s reports. Akanat remains undeterred and sees hope in the rise of S-curve industries. Prominently perched at the…
In the tranquil southern province of Songkhla, a vibrant night out took a grim turn for a young woman named Tar. At the tender age of 24, Tar was swept into a whirlwind of chaos and misunderstanding at a bustling nightclub near Chalathat Beach—a place usually known for its lively atmosphere and spirited nightlife. It was a seemingly ordinary night on January 4th. Tar and her friends ventured out for an evening of fun and laughter, arriving at the nightclub as the clock struck ten. Little did they know, the night would unfurl into a scene plucked straight from a thriller movie, minus the glamour. As Tar was enjoying herself, an unexpected altercation erupted. A group of nearly ten women, congregating at a nearby table, accused her of an egregious faux pas—pouring water over their table. It seemed more like a petty incident suitable for a sitcom than real life,…
As the vibrant lanterns of the Lunar New Year begin to glow, excitement fills the air, especially at Central Food Retail Co. (CFR), the ingenious force propelling the beloved Tops grocery stores. Set against the backdrop of government stimulus efforts and a surge in tourism, they’re orchestrating a symphony of seasonal cheer to entice consumers into their aisles. At the helm of this retail renaissance is Chakkit Chatupanyachotikul, CFR’s marketing virtuoso. With a twinkle of optimism, he champions the promising benefits of the government’s Easy E-receipt tax deduction promo, painting it as a serendipitous boon timed perfectly from January 16 to February 28. This clever initiative coincides with the Chinese New Year and offers a springboard for a bustling first quarter. The optimism doesn’t stop there. The government’s forthcoming cash distributions to the elderly, set to roll out as January draws to a close, is another beacon of hope. “Tourism…
What happens when a powerful high-pressure system decides it’s time to cozy up to upper Thailand and the South China Sea? Well, brace yourselves for a chilly spectacle, my friends, because the weather is pulling a fast one on the Land of Smiles! According to the trustworthy folks over at the Thai Meteorological Department, we’re in for some major goosebumps and gusts, and it’s all thanks to this robust atmospheric visitor. The northern and northeastern realms have been caught in a cold hug, with temperatures dipping down to an eye-watering 9°C. Meanwhile, Bangkokians are waking up to a brisk 18°C to 20°C, trading their typical sunny selfies for shivering snapshots! But hold on, it’s not all about donning an extra layer. While the north is busy shivering, the southern belows – courtesy of a spirited northeastern monsoon – are getting a good dousing. Heavy rains are swooshing through, particularly in…