THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

Twas a momentous week for Pattaya, as the city unfurled its finest red carpet to welcome a prestigious Chinese delegation, sending an unequivocal message to potential visitors: Thailand eagerly awaits the return of flocks of Chinese tourists with arms wide open and spirits high. The air was abuzz with excitement on the afternoon of May 15, as the Garden Cliff Hotel played host to an illustrious meeting. There, Pattaya’s dynamic Mayor, Poramet Ngampichet, and his ever-attentive secretary, Phumpipat Kamolnath, warmly greeted the influential Zhang Li Xin, Director of the Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Bureau of Pudong New Area, Shanghai, along with his distinguished entourage. This rendezvous marked a critical chapter in fortifying the tourism bridge between Thailand and China. The Chinese delegation arrived with a purpose, keen to exchange wisdom on tourism governance and sustainable stewardship. Why, you ask? Because Thailand is determined to reclaim its cherished status as the…

The serene ambiance of Wat Rak Khing in Thailand’s Nakhon Pathom province was shattered when its revered abbot, Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, was escorted down a pathway of disgrace under the accusing eyes of the Thai media. At the heart of this sensational unmasking was the troubling revelation that the 70-year-old spiritual leader, known affectionately among followers as “Chao Khun Yaem,” was embroiled in a scandal involving the alleged embezzlement of a staggering 300 million baht. This money, which belonged to the temple, had reportedly been funneled into the underworld of online gambling, leaving the local community in shock. In an unprecedented move, Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat was ceremoniously disrobed at precisely 8:42 PM on a fateful Thursday evening, his spiritual vestments replaced by a stark white cloth. He stepped down in front of a sacred Buddhist statue—a solemn acknowledgment of the severity of his alleged transgressions. The peculiar quiet inside Wat…

In a drama that intertwines faith, fortune, and the shadowy world of online gambling, Thailand finds itself gripped by a scandal as law enforcement agencies unravel a complex web reaching from hallowed temple halls to the bustling streets of Pattaya. This gripping tale of betrayal and bad bets surfaced when a young woman was apprehended inside a posh condo, unwittingly drawing the lens of scrutiny toward the powerful yet precarious lives of those in spiritual authority. The time was 4:30 PM, the date marked just yesterday, May 15th, when officers from the Central Investigation Bureau’s Anti-Corruption Division converged upon a high-rise on Pattaya’s Second Road. Aranyawan Wangthaphan, a vibrant 28-year-old broker, found herself ensnared in this saga. She allegedly served as the financial conduit, channeling temple funds from a revered monk into the murky depths of online baccarat. This arrest paints a vivid picture of how far the wealthy could…

In the bustling town of Phitsanulok, an alarming incident has left locals in shock and disbelief. At the center of this drama is a conscript, Krittakorn Sakwatchara, who made headlines for the wrong reasons. Armed with accusations and alleged misdeeds, he confronted his ex-girlfriend, the 19-year-old Sasipim, in a situation that quickly escalated. The normally serene surroundings of a local noodle factory turned into a scene straight out of an action movie last Wednesday, May 14, when Sasipim was shockingly attacked while diligently packing noodles. It was a day like any other until the monotony was shattered when Krittakorn, aged 21 and dressed in an air of desperation, was caught on CCTV breaching the factory’s defenses like a scene-stealer from a blockbuster. He climbed over the wall with the stealth of a cat burglar but the fury of a jilted lover, heading directly for Sasipim. Nakarin, a colleague turned unintentional…

In an illuminating policy briefing on May 15, Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira took center stage, urging state-owned financial institutions to rally a robust defense for Thailand’s export businesses and supply chain networks. Pichai, in his astute assessment, warned of the formidable challenge posed by the United States’ reciprocal tariffs, foreseeing a two-year uphill battle for local businesses immersed in the art of exports. With the determination of a seasoned chess player contemplating his next move, Pichai implored the financial institutions to accelerate the rollout of support measures for exporters particularly grappling with the labyrinthine US market. His call was not limited to these frontiers alone, as he pressed for effective aid to shield Thai enterprises against the tidal wave of competition from Chinese imports. But Pichai’s vision transcended borders, dipping into the domestic realms of housing and tourism. He beckoned the state banks to extend their supporting hands to the…

In a profoundly distressing incident that has shattered the tranquility of Lampang, a northern province in Thailand, an unimaginable act of violence unfolded, one that has reverberated through the hearts of all who have heard of it. The shocking event took place on the evening of May 14, when a 73-year-old woman was brutally assaulted by her own son — a 49-year-old man with a troubled history of imprisonment and crime. This harrowing ordeal occurred when the elderly woman was returning home from a relative’s visit. Her son, the alleged perpetrator, arrived on his motorcycle, ostensibly to give her a ride back. But instead of the familiar path, he lured her through a desolate route under the pretense of a shortcut. A sense of foreboding set in as he abruptly claimed their vehicle had run out of petrol, persuading her to wait in an isolated locale along the Lampang-Thoen Road…

Bangkok, May 15, 2025 – A cinematic celebration like no other has arrived in the bustling streets of Bangkok. The 31st European Union Film Festival (EUFF) has officially kicked off at House Samyan Cinema, courtesy of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Thailand, and it’s a gathering not to be missed. With the partnership of 19 EU Member States (EUMS) Embassies and Cultural Institutions as well as the Embassy of Ukraine, this year’s festival embraces the theme ‘Where Stories Meet, Cultures Unite,’ promising a cinematic journey that transcends borders and unravels the splendid tapestry woven by diverse European narratives. From May 15 to 25, 2025, prepare your popcorn and ready yourself for a cinematic itinerary like never before! Twenty-three films, handpicked by the intellects at the EU Delegation to Thailand and embassies from countries including Austria, Spain, and Finland, are getting ready to grace the screens. Whether you…

In the world of high-stakes construction, the tension was palpable on a hot Friday, as Premchai Karnasuta, the accomplished yet embattled president of Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), made an entrance that could almost be taken from a courtroom drama. Released from a previous stint at Thong Pha Phum jail on October 17, 2023, Karnasuta found himself, once again, at the eye of a legal storm—this time resulting from the catastrophic collapse of a skyscraper that reached for the Bangkok skies. Participants in this unfolding real-life theater included approximately 10 individuals entangled in the whirlwind of criminal charges, each with a chapter to tell about the tragic demise of the State Auditing Office skyscraper in the heart of bustling Bangkok. This particular tale in their narrative was marked by the unfortunate loss of 92 souls—a tragedy written into the history of March 28, the result of an unexpected seismic event all…