In a twist of events that has the Thai rice industry buzzing, the nation’s exports have slumped by a striking 30% in the first quarter of this year. This downturn is not just a mere blip; it’s a ripple that has seen neighboring Vietnam overtake Thailand, striding confidently to become the world’s second-largest rice exporter. At the heart of this conundrum, Chookiat Ophaswongse, the honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, sheds light on the facts. Thailand’s once-robust export numbers dwindled from past records, hitting only 2.1 million tonnes of milled rice shipped this year. Compared to its previous peak, this is a sharp drop, sending ripples through the industry. Fueling this decline, India’s re-entry into the export arena looms large, compounded by a dramatic fall in demand from key buyers like the Philippines. The island nation, once a major customer, seems to have folded its shopping list from…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
In the heart of vibrant Phuket, where azure waters kiss golden sands, a curious tale unfolded recently, seizing the attention of locals and holidaymakers alike. Picture this: amidst the palm-fringed beaches, an unassuming graveyard in Bang Tao became the unexpected resting place for a foreign visitor seeking solace from his revelry. This wasn’t the usual spot one would envision for recuperating after a sun-drenched beach day, yet here we are, unraveling the antics of a party-goer who took an unconventional turn. On the evening of April 21st, as the sun lazily dipped below the horizon, a man dressed in blue shorts and a white T-shirt found himself nestled in a grassy patch within the serene confines of a Muslim burial ground. Not your typical accommodation choice, but perhaps the man’s blurred sense of direction, courtesy of too many cocktails, led him to this accidental berth. The Phuket Times quickly shared…
In a tale as winding as the very pathways of Phuket itself, local authorities have thrown themselves into the heart of a case that has set tongues wagging and social media buzzing. The focus of all this unusual fanfare? A hillside construction project in the verdant expanse of Karon. But what’s the fuss all about, you ask? Well, dear reader, settle in, because this is a gully washer of a story, featuring all the elements of a modern-day drama – allegations of illegal building, potential environmental catastrophe, and the age-old clash between progress and nature. Leading the charge in this investigation is none other than Surasak Anusorn, the director of the Phuket Natural Resources and Environment Office. Backing him up is a crew of officers from the Phuket Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office. Lending a supportive hand – or perhaps just curious spectators to the unfolding…
The gavel has fallen in a courtroom drama that has captivated the Thai public for over a decade. The infamous 2012 hit-and-run case, involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, saw justice handed down as two former high-ranking officials received prison sentences for their role in a complex web of corruption. This epic tale, filled with intrigue and high-stakes maneuvering, reached a pivotal moment as a former deputy attorney general and a senior public prosecutor faced the music, sentenced to three and two years behind bars respectively. The saga dates back to the early hours of a September morning in 2012, when the streets of Bangkok bore witness to a fateful encounter. Yoovidhya, speeding through the city in a sleek Porsche, collided with Police Officer Wichian Klanprasert, who was patrolling on his motorcycle. The tragic collision, which claimed the officer’s life, immediately sparked an uproar, with whispers of cover-ups and…
In the heart of Bangkok’s bustling Bang Bon district, a tale of desperation unfolded last night as the city was shrouded in darkness. The night’s tranquility was shattered when a 29-year-old man was apprehended for armed robbery at a popular convenience store. This wasn’t just any ordinary suspect; his name was Surat, known to some as “M.” Recently released from a prison sentence for theft, he had found himself back in the web of crime, despite having just embarked on a new chapter as a security guard. The clock struck approximately 10pm on April 21 when the police, in a precise and coordinated maneuver, arrested Surat. Leading the charge were none other than Police Major Generals Chotiwat Luangwilai and Khomsit Rangsai, supported by a team that included Police Lieutenant Colonels Phatthapong Kuemano and Somsak Sawangphon. The unexpected apprehension was a significant operation that unfolded with clinical efficiency. The morning had…
The lively chatter on the streets of northern Thailand was recently overshadowed by a more serious matter as a controversial story unfolded, stirring up quite the brouhaha among citizens and netizens alike. According to the Facebook news page รู้ทันจีน (Roo Than Jeen, charmingly translated as “Know China”), allegations have arisen against three universities entangled in a student visa scandal. These esteemed institutions reportedly issued student visas to Chinese nationals who, unbeknownst to all, were actually hard at work on construction sites rather than hitting the books. The universities at the eye of this storm are Phayap University in Chiang Mai, North-Chiang Mai University, and Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University’s Lamphun campus. Apparently, an intriguing advertisement had surfaced on Xiaohoshu, a Chinese social media platform, selling student visa services at a fee of 10,000 baht a pop. The twist in this tale? The alleged students never attended classes, instead channeling their energies into building…
Nate Naksuk, once a beacon of legal integrity as a deputy attorney-general in the bustling corridors of Bangkok’s justice system, has found himself embroiled in a tale that could easily fill the pages of a gripping crime novel. On a day that will undoubtedly go down in the annals of Thailand’s legal history, Naksuk was handed a three-year jail sentence. The charge? Helping the enigmatic Red Bull heir, Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, elude prosecution for a hit-and-run incident that left a Bangkok policeman tragically dead back in 2012. The Tuesday court session at the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases read like a dramatic courtroom drama. It featured a cadre of eight defendants accused of manipulating evidence to protect the influential scion of one of Thailand’s wealthiest families. The courtroom was thick with tension as the ruling was delivered amidst a flurry of camera flashes, recording each frozen expression, each…
In a twist of events worthy of a noir thriller, a 49-year-old gentleman named Patrawut found himself in the hands of the law, behind the wheel of a vehicle far too luxurious to be his own—or so it seemed. When the police officers spotted this opulent ride bizarrely adorned with mismatched red plates during their Songkran festival patrol, they knew something was amiss. The car turned out to be a grey Honda CR-V with the soul (or registration) of Phetchabun. Making this scene curiouser was the front red plate, which ironically hinted at future business (“intended for sale or repair”), while the rear shared a rather personal milestone, proclaiming “Graduated 2556 Burapha University”. Not your typical vehicular decor choices, one must admit! As police officers, including the astute Police Major General Kongkrit Lertsitthikul and Police Colonel Apichat Renshana, inspected the situation, they were confronted with Patrawut’s inability to furnish any…
Amidst the serene dawn of April 22, tranquility was abruptly shattered in Songkhla province as gunmen unleashed a deadly assault on a police vehicle escorting monks during their customary morning alms round. This harrowing incident, transpiring in the otherwise peaceful Saba Yoi district, claimed the life of a 16-year-old novice monk, leaving another young soul injured and a community reeling from shock and disbelief. As the first hues of the morning sun graced the sky, a routine drive turned catastrophic at approximately 6:30 am. The four-door Isuzu pickup truck, steered by the diligent Police Lieutenant Watthana Chumapan of Saba Yoi Police Station, carried within it an esteemed group of six monks and novices. Idyllically cruising through the Saba Yoi municipal area, the monks were engaged in their sacred ritual of collecting alms. However, the peaceful aura of Suan On Road in Ban Khlong Rian village, a mere stone’s throw of…
In an electrifying turn of events, the serene beaches of Phuket recently witnessed a gripping law enforcement operation aiming to rid its picturesque shores of a persistent menace—illegal jet ski rentals. As the turquoise waves gently lapped against Kamala Beach and a bustling pier in Koh Kaew, officers from the renowned Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Marine Police Division swooped in, bringing to an end what can only be described as a chapter in the ongoing saga against unregulated tourist services. Meet the five protagonists of this enthralling narrative: the jet ski operators who found themselves at the heart of this crackdown. Kritsada Jaija, aged 32, along with his cohorts—31-year-old Cherdchai Anuphraiwan, 25-year-old Phanomphorn Phrom-ouan, 40-year-old Bancherd Bulan, and 34-year-old Anchalee Tiangnoi—were apprehended in a bold move to restore order. The adventurous quintet now faces charges under the formidable Thai Navigation Act, primarily for helming vessels sans the essential…