- Business News
Thailand raises Indian target to 2.4 million with visa-free policy
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has revised its target for Indian tourist arrivals from 2.3 to 2.4 million this year, driven by the recently introduced visa-free policy for Indian nationals. This visa waiver programme, which allows 60-day visa-free stays, extends to citizens of 93 countries and will last until November 2024. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool announced that Indian arrivals…
- Thailand News
Thailand to cut school hours in major curriculum overhaul
Thailand’s Ministry of Education is preparing for a significant transformation of the core curriculum, aiming to reduce school hours and encourage learning beyond the classroom. The Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) is spearheading this initiative and has requested the ministry’s approval to establish a panel that will oversee a comprehensive revision of the basic studies curriculum, which has…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Heavy rain and flash flood warnings issued across Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for heavy rain across all regions of Thailand, cautioning residents to beware of flash floods and overflowing rivers. The Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are expected to see high waves. The TMD forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that a monsoon trough will pass through the northern and upper…
- Business News
Bank of Thailand predicts slower third and fourth quarter growth
The Bank of Thailand anticipates slower economic growth in the upcoming third and fourth quarters, attributing this to a high base effect. According to Piti Disyatat, secretary of the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), second-quarter GDP is expected to grow by 1% from the previous quarter, a decline from the 1.5% growth observed in the first quarter. These projections…
- Thailand News
Man dies after jumping from Pathum Thani pedestrian bridge
A man jumped from a pedestrian bridge in Pathum Thani, resulting in his immediate death. The police are now working to contact his relatives for further investigation into the incident. Police in Khlong Luang received a report of a fatal jump from a pedestrian overpass near the entrance of Soi Khlong Luang 29 on Phahonyothin Road. The incident occurred on…
- Crime News
Motorcycle rider assaults petrol station worker in Samut Prakan
A motorcycle rider in Samut Prakan assaulted a petrol station employee after becoming frustrated with the slow service. The incident was captured on CCTV and occurred around 3.20pm yesterday, June 26, at a petrol station in Bang Pla, Bang Phli district. The footage shows the rider, who didn’t have a license plate on his motorcycle, waiting behind another motorcycle that…
- Economy News
Thai PM launches Phenix to make Thailand global food hub
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin led the Phenix project yesterday, aiming to transform Thailand into a global food wholesale hub. The event saw participation from several key political figures, highlighting the project’s significance in positioning Thailand at the forefront of the global food industry. PM Srettha outlined that the Phenix project is designed to unite food industry professionals from around the…
- Road deaths
Delivery driver dies after truck crashes into high-voltage pole
A delivery truck driver tragically lost his life after his vehicle skidded on a slippery road and crashed into a high-voltage pole. The incident occurred at 11am today on the Chachoengsao-Phanat Nikhom road near the Don Sin Non intersection, Don Sai subdistrict, Ban Pho district, Chachoengsao province. Police officer Teep Mailuekdee received the report and immediately headed to the scene…
- Phuket News
Stinging situation as Bluebottles sighted around Racha Islands
The Thai authorities issued a warning about the presence of Portuguese Man o’ War, also known as bluebottles, at the Racha Islands, located south of Phuket, following an incident where a tour boat staff member was stung yesterday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has identified bluebottles at Ao La, Ao Tu, and Racha Yai Islands. Tourists and…
- Business News
Finance Ministry to launch 500 billion baht fund to boost shares
Stock analysts are backing the Finance Ministry’s initiative to establish a new fund aimed at boosting investment in Thai shares, predicting a surge in trading activity in the fourth quarter. To revitalise the sluggish stock market, Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced that the ministry is exploring the creation of a new fund similar to the Vayupak Fund, a former state-managed…
- Crime News
Hat Yai school officials charged in 2 million baht corruption scandal
School executives in Hat Yai, Songkhla, are entangled in corruption and forgery charges related to school lunch projects, scholarship funds, and the procurement of educational supplies, causing over 2 million baht (US$54,300) in losses. Police Major General Charoonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), disclosed yesterday that the CIB, along with the Anti-Corruption Division and Crime Suppression…
- Crime News
Hair-raising arrest in Koh Pha Ngan: Swiss stylist snips rules
Police apprehended a 51 year old Swiss hairstylist in Koh Pha Ngan for operating a barbershop without proper authorisation, challenging the local police’s ability to detain him. He was arrested at Oliver Twist Hair in Ban Tai, Koh Pha Ngan, on charges of working illegally in Thailand. The arrest took place after Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak-am, Commander of the…
- Thailand News
Gold prices drop again, jewellery now at 40,850 baht
Gold prices continue their downward trend today, with the Gold Traders Association (GTA) reporting another drop. As of this morning, the price of gold jewellery stands at 40,850 baht per baht-weight, reflecting a decrease of 150 baht from yesterday. Today’s gold prices, as reported at 9.16am, show a decrease when compared to the closing prices yesterday, June 25. The GTA’s…
- Business News
International visitors boost Thailand’s MICE sector by 5%
International visitors are set to drive Thailand’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) sector beyond its annual target by 5%, helping to offset a sluggish domestic market. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), reported a robust recovery in the international market during the first three quarters of the 2024 fiscal year, spanning from…
- Crime News
Teen stabbed on Pattaya Beach during altercation
A violent altercation erupted in Pattaya when a local teenager, angered by a perceived slight, stabbed an outsider. The victim was attempting to help a friend when he was attacked. The police are actively pursuing the suspects. At 3.06am today, June 26, Chaowalit Suwanmanee, Deputy Inspector of Pattaya City Police, received a report of a stabbing incident at Pattaya Beach,…
- South Thailand News
Fire at Hat Yai hotel sparks chaos, guests evacuated
A fire erupted in the ventilation shaft of a prominent hotel in downtown Hat Yai, leading to chaotic scenes as staff and guests scrambled to evacuate. Officials are investigating the incident, initially suspected to be caused by an electrical short circuit. At 7.30pm yesterday, emergency services were alerted to a fire at a well-known hotel on Sanehanusorn Road, within the…
- Business News
Rising travel costs hinder Asia-Pacific corporate travel, Visa reports
Rising travel costs and economic uncertainties are impacting business travel across the Asia-Pacific region, according to Visa. Companies are increasingly investing in digitalisation to manage their travel budgets more effectively. Chavi Jafa, Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions for Asia-Pacific at Visa, noted that while business travel may increase in the coming years, current high travel costs and economic…
- Crime News
Pattaya immigration detain 38 Lao and Vietnamese workers
Immigration police in Pattaya detained numerous undocumented workers from Laos and Vietnam following complaints from locals. The operation, conducted on June 24 at a market in Soi Phonprapanimit, Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province, aimed to address concerns about foreign workers allegedly taking jobs from Thai citizens. During the raid, officers discovered 38 individuals (25 men and 13 women)…
- Pattaya News
Lao man dies after 12th floor fall in Pattaya amid partner argument
A Lao man tragically died after falling from the 12th floor of a condominium in Pattaya following an argument with his partner. The incident occurred at 3.36am yesterday, June 25, at a condominium on Thappraya Road in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province. Pattaya police, along with rescue workers, promptly arrived at the scene after being notified. Police…
- Road deaths
Motorcyclist with epilepsy dies in crash, girlfriend severely injured
A 25 year old man suffering from epilepsy crashed his motorcycle into a utility pole and died instantly, while his girlfriend sustained severe injuries. His sister revealed he had been using a prosthetic leg for several years and frequently experienced seizures. Police Lieutenant Warachet Dechdecho, an investigator from Phra Samut Chedi Police Station in Samut Prakan province, reported the accident…
- Thailand News
Basal tyrannosauroid teeth found in Kalasin, Thailand
Kasetsart University researcher Wongwech Chowchuvech uncovered the fossilised teeth of a Basal Tyrannosauroid in Phu Noi, Kalasin province, marking a significant palaeontological find in Southeast Asia. The discovery, which emerged under the guidance of Assistant Professor Chatchalerm Ketwetsuriya, Mahasarakham University researcher Sita Manitkoon, and Sirindhorn Museum director Phornphen Chanthasit, sheds light on the region’s prehistoric biodiversity. Analysis of the teeth…
- Crime News
Woman arrested in Bangkok for fifth drug trafficking offence
Police arrested a woman for drug trafficking at her home, marking her fifth arrest for similar offences. Officers confiscated a large quantity of methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine from her residence in Lat Krabang, Bangkok. The arrest occurred today following orders from Police Colonel Somphot Thongmoon, Superintendent of Romklao Police Station, and Police Lieutenant Colonel Kornwarat Promsawan, Acting Deputy Superintendent of…
- Thailand News
Wat Lat Nam Khao fire: Novice monk heroically rescues abbot
A fire broke out at Wat Lat Nam Khao in Suphan Buri, with a novice monk smashing a window to rescue Luang Pu Thoop, a revered monk, from the flames. Despite the swift response from local firefighters, the fire consumed the temple’s ancient wooden structures. At 2pm yesterday, Narongsak Palakawong Na Ayudhya, an investigator at Bang Pla Ma Police Station…
- Thailand News
Student electrocuted turning off water dispenser at Thai school
A tragic incident unfolded at a high school in Kantang District, Trang Province, leaving a student dead from electrocution while attempting to turn off a water dispenser. The event, which occurred during a school sports day, was captured on video and shared on social media, causing widespread shock and grief. The video, posted on the Facebook pages กันตัง บ้านเรา and…
- Road deaths
Buriram teen tragically dies in motorcycle crash with parked truck
A high school student tragically lost his life in a motorcycle accident when he collided with a parked 10-wheeler truck while on his way to school. The incident occurred at 7.30am today, June 20, on the Nang Rong-Pakham road, near the entrance to Sub Phra Ya Subdistrict, Nang Rong District, Buriram Province. Police Lieutenant Weerawut Ratprakhon, Deputy Inspector of Nong…
- Crime News
Phuket police seize drugs and pen gun in major Chalong bust
Phuket Provincial Police arrested a 28 year old man in Chalong for possession of over 4,800 methamphetamine pills, also known as Yaba, more than 22 grammes of crystal meth and a homemade pen gun. Led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phichit Thongto, Chief of the Crime Suppression Division at Phuket Provincial Police, officers apprehended Surawut Ratanaliam at a rented room off…
- Crime News
Officials arrested for illegal land permits in Nakhon Ratchasima
Police conducted raids at 13 locations, arresting officials linked to illegal land permits in Nakhon Ratchasima. The investigation centred on officials accused of issuing permits for over 600 rai of land, benefiting factory owners who used the land to discharge wastewater. At 6am yesterday, Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, and Police Major General…
- World News
Spanish woman loses 27.5 million baht in fake Keanu Reeves scam
A Spanish woman has fallen victim to a scam involving a fake Keanu Reeves, losing over US$750,000 in the process. The scammer claimed the funds were for investing in the production of John Wick 5. Chloe, the victim, shared her distressing experience on a Spanish television show. Initially, the impostor responded to one of her social media posts. This interaction…
- Crime News
Man kills stepfather to protect mother from domestic violence
A young Thai man intervened to protect his mother from her abusive stepfather, resulting in the stepfather’s death. The incident occurred in the early hours of today at a townhouse in the Nong Chok district of Bangkok. At around 2.30am, police officer Sujit Meenampan received a report of a stabbing incident. The police, including police chief Niruchpol Yothamat and forensic…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Heavy rain warning issued for three eastern provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for heavy rain in three eastern provinces: Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat. Bangkok residents are advised to carry umbrellas, as thunderstorms are expected to cover 40% of the area. The upper Andaman Sea will experience waves up to 2 metres high. The TMD’s 24-hour weather forecast predicts a southwest monsoon covering the…
