If you were to stroll through the bustling halls of Suvarnabhumi Airport last April during Songkran, you’d have been swept along in a tide of eager travelers. Songkran, the Thai New Year festival, holds almost magnetic appeal for both locals and tourists alike. But, just like any grand festivity, the journey there, namely air travel, can sometimes come at a rather steep cost, especially during the holiday seasons. This year, the Transport Ministry, steered by Captain-of-the-Air-Support, Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, has taken a spirited step to ensure your wallet doesn’t feel lighter than a feather. On a mission of economic justice for travelers, Minister Suriya has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to zero in on sky-high airfares, particularly during long weekends and the eagerly anticipated Songkran period. Imagine planning your trip without the constant worry of inflating airfares – sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? The CAAT has…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
The Royal Gazette recently made headlines by unveiling a pivotal step towards equality—a new regulation from the Ministry of Interior was announced on Monday, in perfect harmony with the equal marriage bill set to take center stage on Thursday. Known as the Ministry of Interior Regulation on Family Registration (No.4) BE 2568 (2025), this regulation is a beacon of hope for same-gender families, encompassing couples who are engaged or blissfully wed, as noted by the insightful Karom Polpornklang, our deputy government spokesman. Plot twist! The lexicon of love has undergone a transformation! Out go the conventional identifiers like “man,” “woman,” “husband,” “wife,” and the combo “husband and wife.” Enter the era of “person,” “fiance,” “fiancee,” and “spouse.” With these inclusive terms, the family registration and recording system of the Interior Ministry’s district offices is getting a fresh revamp, and Mr. Karom couldn’t be happier! In an effort that would make…
In a recent twist of events, the Council of State (CoS) has made a bold move, urging the Interior Ministry to lobby for a whopping 7.7-billion-baht budget from the government. This sum is intended to compensate the individuals affected by the contentious land transfer involving the Shinawatra family’s prized Alpine Golf Course. Pakorn Nilprapunt, the CoS secretary-general, underscored the necessity to address the grievances of those who suffered due to this mishandled transaction and spotlighted the need to hold accountable the officials whose oversight facilitated it. The lack of an existing budget for such compensations has been acknowledged, and Nilprapunt emphasized the pressing need for the ministry to engage with the Budget Bureau to pinpoint potential funding avenues. This call to action arises from a complex situation involving 924 rai of land nestled in the heart of Klong Luang district, within Pathum Thani province’s embrace. This expanse of land, rich…
Picture this: A quiet yet tense scene unfolds near the Thai-Malaysian border, like a moment suspended in time, where hopes of a new beginning clash with an unresolved past. In a photograph taken in March 2014, we see a group of over 200 ethnic Uyghur asylum seekers. Among them, some have been arrested, as if captured in the sepia-toned memories of an era defined by struggles and unfulfilled aspirations. The Royal Thai Police (RTP), wrapped in the cloak of authority, has rigidly refuted claims of deporting a group of 48 Uyghur men to China, accusations echoing loudly from the halls of human rights advocates. These men, ghostly figures in a narrative of displacement, have reportedly been incarcerated since 2014 after seeking refuge by fleeing China’s Xinjiang province—a land painted with both the beauty of its rich culture and the shadows of its political landscape. Amidst the echoing corridors of justice…
In a move that’s causing ripples across the political landscape, prominent figures including Academic Kaewsan Atibodhi and Dr. Warong Dechgitvigrom, head of the Thai Pakdee Party, gathered near Government House on a lively Tuesday afternoon. Their mission? To demand clarity and accountability for the elongated hospital stay of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. This charismatic elder statesman has recently become the center of a controversy surrounding his six-month residency at a police hospital. With determination in their eyes and unity in their hearts, the protestors, a vibrant mix of politicians and ex-activists, handed over a letter urging Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to jumpstart cooperation among state agencies for a thorough investigation. Their contention: did Thaksin exploit his clout to secure unwarranted perks during his confinement? Despite being sentenced to eight years on charges of abusing power during his reign between 2001-2006, Thaksin, at the ripe age of 75, managed to…
In the bustling district of Watthana, Bangkok, a tragic tale of road rage unfolded on a seemingly ordinary Tuesday afternoon, injecting a somber note into the rhythmic hum of city life. The chaotic scene on Sukhumvit Soi 7/1 has left a palpable mark on the community, a stark reminder of how swiftly temper can escalate into tragedy. Beneath the glaring sun, the life of Ritthisak Prakuptanont, a 49-year-old delivery rider, came to a devastating halt. Police and rescue teams arrived to find him lifeless, ensconced in a macabre pool of his own blood. His motorcycle, once a vital tool for earning a living, lay destroyed, its metal frame echoing the violence of the incident. Nearby, a Toyota Altis bearing damage that told the tale of its destructive path was found. Its shattered right side mirror and dented front attested to its involvement in the horrific altercation. At the center of…
In the city that never sleeps, the buzzing metropolis of Bangkok, Tuesday morning was yet another collage of honking and hurried commuters. The iconic Nang Lerng intersection was a symphony of organized chaos as cars, scooters, and rickshaws jostled for position, despite City Hall’s relentless initiatives promoting remote work to ease the congestion. But as intriguing as the traffic was, the real story lay suspended in the smoky air above—a story masked behind PM2.5 ultrafine dust particles. Indeed, an unsettling alert came from the Ministry of Public Health, raising the red flag as nearly every province was choked by this invisible menace. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin, a vision of determination, announced an urgent meeting set for Wednesday to mastermind countermeasures against this escalating pollution predicacy. The battle plan? A nation-wide shift to working from home, awaiting cabinet’s nod next week. “The domino effect,” Mr. Somsak speculated, “could sway the…
In a bustling meeting room oozing with anticipation, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra sat at the helm, flanked by the dedicated Tourism and Sports Minister, Sorawong Thienthong. The room buzzed with strategic talk and innovation as the topic of the hour took center stage—ensuring the safety of Chinese tourists in the Land of Smiles. An impressive photograph featuring the duo, captured by the Royal Thai Government, paints a picture of determination and forward-thinking. Thailand, renowned for its breathtaking beaches, awe-inspiring temples, and delectable cuisine, is rolling out the red carpet for a surge of Chinese tourists this year. With aspirations set high, the country is aiming for a whopping 9 million visitors from China, marking a promising 35% leap from the previous year’s count of 6.7 million sun-seekers. Sitting down with gusto on a sunny Tuesday, Mr. Sorawong unveiled an invigorating plan boosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The…
With an air of excitement and ambition, Ms. Amanda Dennison, the incomparable Founding Principal of Shrewsbury International School Bangkok, stood alongside board members and none other than Mr. Chali Sophonpanich, the visionary behind Shrewsbury International School Bangkok. Together, they officially unveiled the Hanqing Bilingual Pathway at the illustrious City Campus, nestled in the bustling heart of Sukhumvit–Rama 9. This pioneering initiative is the first of its kind in Thailand, offering a premium Mandarin and English learning experience designed to meet the flourishing demand for multilingual education that echoes across the globe. In an era where globalization reigns supreme, the launch of the Hanqing Bilingual Pathway at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok’s City Campus heralds a new dawn of education. It’s not just any program, folks! Proudly perched at the apex of bilingual offerings, this innovative pathway allows students and their families to choose between the renowned British curriculum taught in English…
In a story that seems ripped from the pages of an action-packed fiction novel, a 55-year-old man’s brush with disaster near Pattaya serves as a reminder that sometimes life can be far more dramatic than our wildest imaginings. On the afternoon of Sunday, January 19, along the buzzing Motorway Route 7, a seemingly ordinary journey took a spine-chilling turn at Kilometer 111 in Takiantia, Bang Lamung. Meet Jakkrit Ruenarun, the protagonist of our tale—a man who found himself quite literally between a rock and a hard place, well, a power pole, to be precise. The driver of a grey Chevrolet sedan, Ruenarun was en route from Pathum Thani to Rayong, a simple trip to visit a friend in the vibrant city of Pattaya. But fate, it seems, had other plans. As he recalls the sequence of events, an unexpected blackout behind the wheel turned his world upside down. “One moment,…