The Muang district of Chiang Rai woke up to a daunting sight on Thursday morning, with floodwaters overwhelming the area. The Kok River’s relentless overflow has resulted in water levels reaching waist-deep depths and steadily climbing. The severe flooding has wreaked havoc, compelling Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport to announce its closure, with a Thai AirAsia flight at 1.10pm marking the last departure before operations were halted. Authorities swiftly responded by shutting down several major roads and bridges, restricting access to critical locations such as Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport, the bustling five-way Pho Khun intersection, and the provincial hall. The situation became increasingly dire on Wednesday night, prompting swift evacuations. Many residents had no choice but to abandon their ground-floor homes due to the strong, swift currents. Jet skis were dispatched to assist in rescuing those who found themselves trapped amidst the rising floodwaters. In…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
Newly appointed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took center stage in parliament Thursday morning, dazzling attendees with a robust policy statement aimed squarely at elevating the financial well-being of Thai citizens while simultaneously boosting state revenue. Clad in a sleek, confident demeanor, Ms. Paetongtarn delivered her 58-minute address with the passion and commitment expected from the leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Addressing a wide array of economic issues, she particularly focused on comprehensive debt restructuring. Highlighting plans to ease the burden of home and car loans, she reassured the nation that aiding informal debtors would not rock the country’s financial stability boat. “We must build a foundation where every Thai citizen can stand tall and thrive,” she declared, her voice echoing through the parliament hall. Energy costs—which have long been a hot-button issue—were not left untouched. She vowed to trim down energy prices and public utility fees. “We will…
On a rather watery Thursday morning, locals and tourists were advised to dodge Chiang Rai’s gateway to the world—Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport—by the ever-vigilant Transport Minister, Suriya Juangroongruangkit. Why, you ask? Well, it turns out that the access road leading to the airport was transformed into an impromptu river, courtesy of Mother Nature. Minister Suriya mentioned that Airports of Thailand (AOT) had given him the heads up about the dire situation. “I strongly advise people to steer clear of Chiang Rai airport until things clear up,” he said in what could be considered the understatement of the year. The flood impact was severe enough to halt airline operations and left airline staff, as well as travelers, stranded and questioning their travel plans. To make matters even more complicated, Vietjet Air, Lion Air, and Thai Airways International all hit the brakes on their Thursday flights, adding another layer…
Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited), a front-runner in Thailand’s fintech landscape, is thrilled to announce the 3rd annual Krungsri Tech Day 2024! Set to take place under the intriguing theme “Technology for People,” this event will showcase the latest innovations and solutions from Krungsri alongside top-tier global tech partners. Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 19, 2024, as True Digital Park West’s 1st and 3rd floors will become the epicenter of tech talks, workshops, and groundbreaking technology exhibits. Mr. Sayam Prasitsirigul, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “For the third year in a row, Krungsri Tech Day provides a unique venue where tech aficionados, business professionals, and enthusiasts can explore emerging trends, bolster business performance with practical solutions, and elevate their tech expertise.” This year, Krungsri has teamed up with an impressive lineup of partners to introduce advancements…
The Muang district of Chiang Rai finds itself submerged on this Thursday morning, captured vividly by the Disaster Response Association Thailand. As the heart of this northernmost province, the district transforms into a watery labyrinth with floodwaters reaching daunting waist-deep levels. The unyielding torrents of the Kok River show no mercy, relentlessly rising and intensifying the chaos. Officials had no choice but to enact emergency measures. Roads and bridges in Muang district are sealed off, severing access to vital locations. From the bustling Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport to the crucial five-way Pho Khun intersection and the central provincial hall, all was rendered inaccessible. The lifeline of the community now lay fractured. The urgency escalated the night before. Residents, unable to withstand the relentless currents in their ground-floor abodes, faced forced relocations. Evacuation efforts roared to life under the cover of darkness, aided by jet skis darting through…
With the resurgence of great-power rivalries dominating international relations once more, democratic governments find themselves increasingly reliant on covert operations to influence or reshape regimes in weaker states. Yet these secretive maneuvers, far from promoting global democracy, are highlighting its frailties at a time when authoritarianism is gaining ground. Indeed, local militaries—whether supported externally or not—continue to be the primary forces behind regime changes. Take Pakistan as an example: in 2022, the military orchestrated the removal of Prime Minister Imran Khan, reasserting its historical dominance over the civilian government. Similarly, in Bangladesh, the military recently exploited a violent student-led uprising to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee. They then installed an interim administration helmed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Still, external powers frequently play a pivotal role in such upheavals. Admittedly, the mechanisms involved are generally opaque. Because strategic subterfuge seldom leaves obvious traces, intervening nations can credibly deny…
An association representing state-run hospitals nationwide declared a boycott of a crucial meeting held on Monday by the National Health Security Office (NHSO). This move stemmed from the NHSO’s persistent disregard for the association’s viewpoints on the budget allocation plan for the upcoming 2025 fiscal year, which begins on October 1. Dr. Anukul Thaitanundr, the director of Ratchaburi Hospital and president of the State-Run Hospitals Club, voiced this sentiment to the media on Wednesday, revealing that proposals made by the hospitals at previous gatherings had never been taken into account. For instance, the hospitals’ repeated demands for fair financial compensation to cover recent losses were consistently ignored, despite these losses being a direct result of the NHSO’s abrupt modification of the reimbursement rate calculation for healthcare services provided under its universal healthcare scheme. Worsening the situation, Dr. Anukul highlighted the association’s disagreement with the NHSO’s budget planning process for the…
The political landscape of Thailand shook recently with the release of an eyebrow-raising audio clip purportedly featuring a man expressing his aspirations to climb to the pinnacle of the nation’s leadership. The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), however, was quick to label the clip as a fabrication, allegedly conjured up by AI. This snippet of sound was just one of four intriguing clips showcased on the television program “Inside Thailand,” which purportedly carried the voice of PPRP leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon. The first audio clip stirred the pot with a conversation among four individuals. One of them earnestly laid bare his ambition to become “Number 1.” In his own words, “I’ve been a deputy and worked for the prime minister for a long time. I’ve made many accomplishments and now I want the people to give me a chance to be the number 1. I’ll ask them.” To this, another participant…
In a dramatic turn of events last November, two Taiwanese and Japanese men found themselves in the crosshairs of Thai law enforcement. The duo was apprehended for allegedly orchestrating a call scam that ruthlessly drained 9 billion baht from unsuspecting Japanese victims. The authorities showcased their diligent work with a snapshot of the accused men, solidifying this high-profile case. (Police Photo). Every single day, a staggering 700 cases of call center scams flood the police desks, culminating in a jaw-dropping 450 billion baht in annual damages, as reported by the astute Sompong Yenkaew, chief of the Region 6 public prosecution office. His remarks came during a riveting training program for public prosecutors at a cozy hotel in Phitsanulok’s Muang district on a bustling Wednesday. The training was no ordinary affair—its mission was to arm prosecutors with the skills and insights crucial for tackling the ever-evolving threats posed by cybercriminals and…
Members of the Muslim Students Federation of Thailand gathered in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district back in 2019 to solemnly commemorate the 15th anniversary of the horrific Tak Bai massacre. (File photo) Meanwhile, under a tense atmosphere in the Thai Parliament, a fiery debate rages on. The spotlight is on Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri, a list-MP from the ruling Pheu Thai Party and a former Army Region 4 Commander. He stands accused in the notorious case of the 2004 Tak Bai massacre, a case that haunts the national conscience even after two decades. With the statute of limitations set to expire in a mere 44 days, the urgency to bring Gen Pisal to trial is undeniable. Parliament convened on Wednesday to deliberate whether to waive parliamentary immunity, allowing Gen Pisal to be tried in the Narathiwat Criminal Court. The case is set to recommence on October 12. Normally, an MP cannot be tried…