Malaysian-registered vehicles driven by the Malaysian group racing in Hat Yai, seized and parked in front of Kho Hong Police Station, Songkhla Province on May 17, 2025.
HAT YAI — A group of 10 Malaysians aged 21-25 have publicly apologized to Hat Yai residents in Songkhla province after being caught racing modified vehicles on Kanchanawanit Road on Friday night, disturbing locals with loud exhaust noise.
Local residents filed complaints about six Malaysian-registered vehicles racing at high speeds and making excessive noise pollution as they entered Hat Yai. Police from Kho Hong Station, working with tourist police and traffic officers, tracked down and apprehended all six vehicles and their occupants on May 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
Thai authorities charged the Malaysian visitors with four violations: driving in a manner that obstructs traffic, reckless driving, unauthorized vehicle modifications with non-compliant parts, and incomplete required vehicle equipment.
Some Malaysians perform the Wai gesture to apologize to Hat Yai residents in Songkhla province after being caught racing modified vehicles, at Kho Hong Police Station on May 17, 2025.
The violators were brought to the police station where they were fined according to Thai traffic laws and given an educational session on Thailand’s traffic regulations with the help of an interpreter.
During the proceedings, the Malaysian tourists expressed remorse for their actions, apologizing to Hat Yai residents for causing disturbance and discomfort. They promised not to repeat such behavior and performed the traditional Thai wai gesture as a sign of respect and apology.
Following the completion of legal procedures, the group immediately departed for Malaysia, having completed their planned three-day visit to Thailand.
Malaysian-registered vehicles race at high speeds and make excessive noise pollution as they enter Hat Yai on Friday night, May 16, 2025.
Police Colonel Apichat Wannako, Commander of Kho Hong Police Station, issued advice to foreign visitors driving into Thailand, emphasizing the importance of respecting local traffic laws. He specifically called on tour guides and travel operators bringing Malaysian, Indonesian, and Singaporean tourists to Thailand to ensure their clients understand and strictly follow Thai traffic regulations.
Hat Yai is the largest city in southern Thailand, located near the Malaysian border with a population of nearly 800,000. According to recent statistics, Thailand recorded more than 4 million Malaysian tourists from January to October 2024, with 49% entering through the Sadao Checkpoint near Hat Yai.
Officers from Immigration Division 1 arrest five illegal Myanmar workers at an establishment with Chinese signage in the trendy Nineyard Market near Bangkok's RCA on May 17, 2025
BANGKOK — Immigration authorities have apprehended seven Myanmar nationals working illegally at food establishments—five in Bangkok and two in Chiang Mai.
Officers from Immigration Division 1 conducting the May 17 inspection noted Chinese signage in the trendy Nineyard Market near Bangkok’s Royal City Avenue (RCA), initially raising concerns about possible Chinese ownership or involvement. Upon presenting their official credentials, authorities proceeded with their inspection but found no Chinese nationals present.
Instead, they discovered five male Myanmar citizens working without proper documentation. All five had allegedly entered Thailand illegally with the intention of seeking employment. They now face charges of being foreign nationals who entered and remained in the Kingdom without legal authorization and working without a valid work permit. The suspects have been transferred to investigating officers for further legal proceedings.
An establishment with Chinese signage where Immigration Police officers arrested five illegal Myanmar workers on May 17 is located in the trendy Nineyard Market near Bangkok’s RCA.
Authorities confirmed they are expanding their investigation to pursue charges against the business owner for employing undocumented foreign workers, which violates Thai labor laws.
Pol. Col. Suriya Puangsombat, Deputy Superintendent of Immigration Division 1, told reporters that his division maintains a regular inspection schedule covering high-risk areas throughout Bangkok. He encouraged citizens to report suspicious immigration-related activities via the Immigration Bureau hotline at 1178.
Earlier on May 15, Immigration Division 5 arrested two Myanmar nationals working illegally at a restaurant in Fa Ham subdistrict, Mueang district, Chiang Mai province.
According to officials, both suspects confessed they possessed valid work permits with their original Thai employers. However, when their previous employers had no work for them, they secretly took jobs as assistant chefs at the restaurant approximately five months ago. Each received a monthly salary of 13,000 baht. (approximately $390).
Immigration Division 5 offivers arrest two Myanmar nationals working illegally at a restaurant in Fa Ham subdistrict, Mueang district, Chiang Mai province on May 15, 2025.
The suspects failed to notify authorities about their change of employer and workplace as required by law. Immigration officers transferred the suspects to Mae Ping Police Station for legal proceedings. They face charges of “being foreign nationals who received work authorization but failed to notify the registrar about their employer, workplace, and job description within fifteen days from the date of employment.
The two operations stem from directives issued by Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumas Boonyaluck, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, who has ordered intensified enforcement against immigration violations nationwide.
Rescue volunteers provided first aid to the Indian tourist who was found injured in Soi Thep Prasit 17, Pattaya City before urgently transporting him to the hospital on May 17, 2025.
PATTAYA — Police in Pattaya are investigating an assault case after a 46-year-old Indian tourist, Mr. Devendra, was found bloodied and injured on a roadside in Soi Thep Prasit 17, Pattaya City early Friday morning.
When police found Mr. Devendra, 46, lying injured on the roadside shortly before 2 AM on May 17, he was heavily intoxicated with injuries to his left eyebrow and eye socket, with blood flowing down his face and staining his clothes. Rescue volunteers provided first aid before urgently transporting him to the hospital.
The assailant had fled the scene, leaving only photographic evidence captured by witnesses, which was handed over to police officers as evidence.
A male motorcycle taxi rider was photographed by a witness in an incident involving the assault of an Indian tourist on May 17, 2025.Rescue volunteers provided first aid to the Indian tourist who was found injured in Soi Thep Prasit 17, Pattaya City before urgently transporting him to the hospital on May 17, 2025.
Upon questioning a security guard from a nearby condominium where the incident occurred, authorities learned that a male motorcycle taxi rider told him the tourist was heavily intoxicated and had pinned the wrong delivery location.
After circling several locations searching for the correct address, the rider became frustrated when the Indian customer allegedly harassed him, touching his body and reaching for his groin area. The rider, losing his temper, stopped the vehicle and punched the tourist in the face, causing the injuries.
Reports indicate that the tourist plans to file a formal complaint with investigators at Pattaya City Police Station so officers can track down the perpetrator and proceed with legal action.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, walk to a meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam Friday, May 16, 2025.
BANGKOK — Vietnam and Thailand have upgraded their ties to strategic partnership, state media announced Friday. This new status elevates Thailand to the same level as Vietnam’s other main strategic partners including the U.S., China, and Russia.
The announcement came after Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Hanoi, where she met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
The strengthened relationship aims to enhance political, defense and security cooperation, boost trade to $25 billion, and increase tourism and green energy cooperation, according to state media.
Both leaders co-chaired the 4th Thailand-Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR), an informal meeting between the prime ministers and ministers of both countries. Ministers from various departments attended, including the Ministries of Transport, Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Culture, and Industry and Trade.
In addition to meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister Paetongtarn also paid courtesy calls to Mr. Luong Cuong, President of Vietnam, and Mr. To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. During both meetings, the parties expressed satisfaction with Thailand and Vietnam’s success in announcing the elevation of their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to further develop relations between the two countries.
Ms. Paetongtarn described the JCR as a special cooperation mechanism unique to Thailand and Vietnam, initiated by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and continued by former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra before reaching her term. This reflects the ongoing commitment to developing Thai-Vietnamese relations. She also invited the Vietnamese Prime Minister to make an official visit to Thailand later this year to participate in the Mekong-Lancang Summit, which Thailand will host.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra co-chairs the 4th Thailand-Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR), with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on May 16, 2025.
She praised Vietnam for its rapid development and growth, noting that her government prioritizes human resource development and is interested in Vietnam’s model for developing people. She was pleased that both sides aim to quickly push bilateral trade value to reach $25 billion.
After returning to Thailand, Prime Minister Paetongtarn summarized her Vietnam visit in a social media post, stating: “It is my great pleasure and honour to pay my first official visit to Viet Nam as Prime Minister of Thailand, and co-chair Thailand – Viet Nam Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR) with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The JCR is a special mechanism that Viet Nam only has with Thailand. PM Chinh and I announced the elevation of Thailand – Viet Nam relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which opens a new historic chapter in the relations between our two countries.”
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pays a courtesy call on Mr. Luong Cuong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, during her official visit to Vietnam at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on May 6, 2025.
She added that both sides recognized the increasing importance of the Thailand-Vietnam partnership for the region and the need to create greater synergy between their economies. Their agreements included reaching the $25 billion bilateral trade target soon, strengthening links between supply chains and local economies, and cooperating on human resources development for future industries, particularly semiconductors and AI.
The leaders also agreed to increase military and law enforcement cooperation to combat narcotics, online scams, and illegal fishing, while promoting tourism through more transportation links, including an upcoming direct flight connecting Vietnam and Northeastern Thailand
“PM Chinh and I also jointly presided over the opening ceremony of the Thailand – Viet Nam Business Forum, which brought together leading Thai and Vietnamese companies to expand business networks and increase two-way investments between the two countries,” she stated.
Premchai Karnasuta, the president of Italian-Thai Development Co arrives on a wheelchair at Bang Sue Police Station in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 16, 2025 to surrender to police on criminal negligence charges for the collapse of a Bangkok high-rise during a March 28 earthquake. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A construction magnate, builders, designers and engineers surrendered to police Friday on criminal negligence charges over the collapse during the March 28 earthquake of a Bangkok high-rise in which 92 people died.
Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development Co, the main Thai contractor for the building project, as well as designers and engineers, was among 17 charged with the felony of professional negligence causing death, Bangkok deputy police chief Noppasin Poonsawat said.
Noppasin said those who met police on Friday formally denied the charges. Several have previously issued public denials in response to allegations in the media.
Ninety-two people were confirmed dead in the rubble of the building that had been under construction. A small number of other people remain unaccounted for.
FILE- Rescuers search for victims at the site of a high-rise building under construction that collapsed after a strong earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, early Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn, File)
The building, which was to become a new State Audit Office, was the only one in Thailand to collapse in the earthquake that was centered in neighboring Myanmar. The search for victims at the site has been halted, though efforts to identify remains through DNA will continue.
Noppasin said at a news conference that evidence and testimony from experts suggested the building plan did not meet standards and codes. The Bangkok Post newspaper said police had also determined the project showed “structural flaws in the core lift shaft and substandard concrete and steel.”
Thai media have reported allegations of wrongdoing in the project almost every day since the building’s collapse, many of them involving irregular documentation for the project. Their reports have highlighted the role of Italian-Thai’s Chinese joint venture partner, the China Railway No. 10 company, which is involved in projects around the world.
One of the 17 charged Friday was Chinese executive Zhang Chuanling, a director at China Railway No. 10’s joint venture with Italian-Thai Development. He was previously arrested last month on a charge of violating Thai business law by wrongly using Thai nominees to serve as the Chinese firm’s proxies to allegedly control the joint venture. Three Thai executives were also arrested on the charge.
Premchai Karnasuta, the president of Italian-Thai Development Co arrives at Bang Sue Police Station in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 16, 2025 to surrender to police on criminal negligence charges for the collapse of a Bangkok high-rise during a March 28 earthquake. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the 17 on the negligence charge on Thursday. Noppasin said 15 turned themselves in at a police station in the morning and the remaining two were expected to do so later.
All 15 were driven in police vehicles to the Bangkok Criminal Court, which approved a police detention request and denied the suspects’ bail applications, local media reported.
The epicenter of the quake was in central Myanmar, where it killed more than 3,700 people and caused major damage in Mandalay, the country’s second biggest city, and the capital Naypyitaw.
Premchai’s case is his second major tangle with the law. In 2019, he was convicted of wildlife poaching and served about three years in prison.
He was found guilty of killing protected animals and illegal possession of weapons after park rangers found a hunting party at a wildlife sanctuary in 2018 with carcasses of a rare black panther, a kalij pheasant and a barking deer. The panther had been butchered and its meat cooked for soup.
Hot springs in Chae Son National Park, Mueang Pan District, Lampang Province
BANGKOK — The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is pushing forward with plans to develop Thailand’s hot springs into international-standard spa towns, hoping to compete with Japan’s famous onsen resorts.
Ms. Nattareeya Thaweewong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, revealed that a 2023 survey identified 118 hot springs throughout Thailand. Of these, 71 are located in the North, 32 in the South, 12 in Central Thailand, and 2 in the Eastern region. These are categorized as isolated natural hot springs (12 locations), hot springs in natural areas (33), rural hot springs (63), and urban hot springs (10).
San Kamphaeng Hot Springs in Chiang Mai province has been selected as the prototype model for development.Salt hot springs in Khlong Thom District, Krabi Province
“The government aims to develop these natural assets into tourist attractions, elevating them to European-style ‘Spa Towns’ or Japanese-style ‘Onsen Towns,'” said Thaweewong. “Our concept connects hot springs with nearby attractions to create an international Thai hot spring brand and distribute income to secondary cities.”
The Strategy and Planning Division of the Ministry’s Office of the Permanent Secretary has compiled nationwide hot spring statistics and usage popularity. San Kamphaeng Hot Springs in Chiang Mai province has been selected as the prototype model for development.
Currently, the Department of Tourism is in the process of signing a contract to hire consultants for studying and designing the project. Chiang Mai province, which owns the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs area, is in the procurement process, with contract signing expected on June 24.
San Kamphaeng Hot Springs in Chiang Mai province has been selected as the prototype model for development.
In 2023, San Kamphaeng Hot Springs attracted 384,619 visitors, generating 3,504,510 baht in revenue. The Department of Tourism has reported that development is proceeding according to their master plan, divided into three phases:
Phase 1 (2025-2027) focuses on infrastructure and facilities development with a 197 million baht budget,
Phase 2 (2027) will develop health tourism facilities with 253 million baht, pending Phase 1 results,
Phase 3 will focus on improving local quality of life with sustainable development mechanisms.
AIS 3BB FIBRE3 launches the new ‘Net & Entertainment Gang’ bundle starting at 599 Baht/month, where customers can enjoy fast internet bundled with quality entertainment from Warner Bros. Discovery’s premier streaming service, Max, with fiber internet packages.
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BANGKOK — Over one month after the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, World Animal Protection and Let’s Save The Strays, International continue their urgent efforts to assist affected animals, particularly in areas where critical infrastructure remains severely damaged, deeply impacting local communities and leaving many animals desperately needing help.
“To date, over 1,000 animals have been treated for disaster-related wounds, fractured limbs, parvovirus, distemper, infections from fights, and life-threatening reproductive emergencies—such as severe uterine infections and complications during birth—in unsterilized female animals that became unexpectedly pregnant.
We are currently feeding up to 800 animals per day, distributing food from our small office with the help of street feeders who reach the thousands of free-roaming dogs and cats scattered in the aftermath of this disaster—surviving in garbage dumps, abandoned buildings, and monasteries.” said Amy Shoff, Chief Executive Officer of Let’s Save The Strays, International.
“We understand clearly that in times of disaster, both humans and animals require urgent assistance. Helping animals not only saves their lives but also provides comfort to the affected communities who care deeply for them. Our experience from the 2015 Nepal earthquake taught us that long-term planning is equally crucial to immediate relief efforts,” stated Ms. Roatchana Sungthong, Country Director of World Animal Protection Thailand.
One month after the earthquake, Mandalay continues to face severe challenges including disrupted public utilities, damaged roads, and veterinary clinics operating at limited capacity. In addition to immediate relief activities, World Animal Protection and Let’s Save The Strays, International have outlined longer-term plans for the next 1–3 months, which include:
Rebuilding veterinary clinics to restore advanced veterinary care services.
Scaling up vaccination programs to prevent disease outbreaks.
Resuming the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) initiative as a key measure for controlling stray animal populations and reducing their suffering.
World Animal Protection has been committed to disaster relief for animals globally for over 50 years, delivering essential supplies such as food, clean water, veterinary treatment, and evacuation assistance in various disasters including earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and typhoons. Over this period, the organization has conducted over 250 relief missions, saving more than 7 million animals worldwide.
Additionally, World Animal Protection actively advocates for integrating animal protection into disaster risk reduction frameworks, urging governments and communities worldwide to include animal welfare in disaster preparedness strategies. This approach not only safeguards animals but also secures livelihoods, especially for vulnerable communities, enabling sustainable recovery after disasters.
An Australian tourist who knocked another tourist to the ground in a fistfight at Bangla Soi, Patong, Phuket, is located by police and invited to calm down at the police station on May 16, 2025.
PHUKET — Tourist brawls in Bangla Soi, Patong Beach, Phuket have become nearly daily occurrences, with videos regularly circulating on social media. The latest incidents occurred early Friday morning with two separate altercations happening in close proximity.
The first incident took place at 2:50 a.m. near the entrance of Patong Whisky Soi. Video footage shows a foreign male tourist knocking another unconscious with a punch. Friends of the unconscious man subsequently confronted the attacker, but entertainment venue staff and bystanders intervened, eventually dispersing the crowd.
A second incident followed at 5:25 a.m., captured in a 17-second clip showing intoxicated foreign tourists fighting among themselves, with companions attempting to break up the altercation before one party fled the scene.
According to the video recorder, such incidents occur almost nightly after tourists drink to excess. Most altercations result in minor injuries, with participants typically returning to their accommodations afterward. The frequency of these fights has become so commonplace that locals have nicknamed the area “Bangla Stadium.”
Bangla is a Walking Street that, despite being only 350 meters long, has gained renowned fame as Patong’s bustling nightlife tourist destination. It evolved from what was originally just a general market pedestrian pathway. Police response teams arrive when alerted by residents.
Tourist brawls in Bangla Soi, Patong Beach, Phuket have become nearly daily occurrences, with videos regularly circulating on social media. Police response teams arrive when alerted by residents.
In the case shortly before 3 a.m., officers arrived opposite Seadragon Soi to find a foreign victim who declined to press charges. However, police later located the alleged aggressor, an Australian national named Liam, in front of Bangkok Bank on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Road. The man was heavily intoxicated, incoherent, and causing a disturbance.
Officers identified themselves and took Liam to Patong Police Station to calm down, concerned he might harm himself or others if left on the street. A formal arrest report was subsequently filed.
Taiwan on its 30th anniversary of National Health Insurance system: Join hands with Taiwan to promote a healthier world
By Mr. Chang Chun-Fu
Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand
Mr. Chang Chun-Fu, Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand
Health is a fundamental human right and a universal value shared by Taiwan and Thailand as well. Improved health results in greater well-being for the people and has ramifications for the survival and development of a country and even the world. At the 77th World Health Assembly, members adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Fourteenth General Programme of Work for 2025-2028.
The program includes such strategic objectives as improving health service coverage and bolstering financial protections to ensure universal health coverage. WHO has called on all countries to take action on these issues.
As the 78th World Health Assembly will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from May 19th to 27th, Taiwan is eager to share its 30 years’ experience in providing National Health Insurance and pursue a healthier future with the international community. Taiwan launched the National Health Insurance (NHI) system in 1995. The scheme, which brought together already existing occupational insurance schemes, has reached its 30th year and now covers 99.9 percent of the population.
The NHI system provides equitable, accessible, and efficient healthcare to all people in Taiwan. It is also an important pillar and guarantor of Taiwan’s social stability as well as people’s health and safety. It has, moreover, become a global benchmark for achieving universal health coverage. In an annual survey carried out by Numbeo, Taiwan has been ranked first in the Health Care Index category for seven consecutive years.
The NHI operates on a pay-as-you-go, self-sustaining model capable of addressing the financial challenges posed by an aging population and rising healthcare costs. By reforming premium rates and adding additional funding sources, such as the tobacco health and welfare surcharge, the system is on a sound, sustainable footing.
To promote the health of our people, President Lai Ching-te articulated a vision of a healthy Taiwan in 2024. Remaining focused on people, families, and communities, we are expanding health promotion operations and preventive healthcare.
Moreover, we are implementing a family physician plan, offering comprehensive care to patients with chronic diseases, and utilizing telemedicine to improve healthcare accessibility in rural areas. By promoting integrated long-term care, palliative care, and aging in place, we ensure holistic, lifelong, and dignified care for all people, realizing health equity.
In 2021, WHO released the Global Strategy on Digital Health for 2020-2025. Under this plan, the global health body is seeking the development and adoption of person-centric digital health solutions to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious diseases. It is also overseeing development of infrastructure and applications to use health data to promote health and well-being. Taiwan continues to utilize its prowess in information and communications technology to build effective, high-ROI health systems and services.
The NHI cloud facilitates the more efficient exchange of medical records, while the adoption of international standards such as Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources enhances international medical data sharing.
Additionally, the incorporation of AI-assisted technologies is advancing the development of smart healthcare. And the introduction of a virtual health insurance card and the My Health Bank app, which enables real-time management of personal health data, empowers people to access personal health history and the medical resources timely.
Taiwan accelerated the inclusion of new treatments under the NHI system. For example, in 2023, gene and cell therapies were covered for the first time, marking a new era for precision medicine and offering patients enhanced treatment options. Taiwan also continues to leverage innovative technologies to improve the working environment for the medical workforce and to bolster the overall quality of medical service.
What’s more, despite facing political challenges, Taiwan has continuously participated in international health affairs and has been dedicated to supporting the global health system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan played a crucial role in sharing supplies, strategies, and experiences, and proved to be a reliable partner of countries worldwide.
Separately, Taiwan’s success story in implementing universal health coverage offers valuable lessons for countries worldwide. As we continue to share our experiences in universal coverage, financial management, and digital health, we hope to facilitate other nations in reaching WHO’s goal of universal health coverage.
Health challenges transcend borders, requiring global cooperation. Despite this, Taiwan has been excluded from the WHO—the foremost global health cooperation body—due to political obstruction. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and World Health Assembly Resolution 25.1 contain no mention of Taiwan, nor do they establish Taiwan’s representation by any other entity. These resolutions provide no legitimate basis for Taiwan’s exclusion from WHO participation.
In light of this, and to uphold the core UN values of inclusiveness and universality, we urge WHO and all relevant parties to recognize Taiwan’s considerable contributions to global public health and the human right to health. It is imperative that WHO adopt a more open-minded approach and demonstrate flexibility, adhering to the principles of professionalism and inclusivity. Taiwan should be included, as a matter of pragmatism, in the World Health Assembly and all WHO meetings, activities, and mechanisms, particularly those concerned with the WHO pandemic agreement.
Taiwan earnestly hopes to work with the international community to create a future of borderless healthcare that realizes the fundamental human right to health stipulated in the WHO Constitution and the vision of leaving no one behind espoused in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
