Puntid Tantivangphaisal
- Thailand News
Belgian tourist dies after horrific attack by German in Hua Hin
A 64 year old Belgian tourist tragically succumbed to severe injuries following a brutal assault in Hua Hin in early April. The attack left him with a fractured skull and 10 broken bones, leading to a coma from which he never awoke. Jan Valkenborg was holidaying with his Thai girlfriend in the resort town when he was ambushed. He was smoking…
- Thailand News
PM Srettha in talks with BoT chief over handout scheme
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has yet to address Bank of Thailand (BoT) Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput’s staunch opposition to the government’s colossal 500-billion-baht handout scheme. Acknowledging the brewing conflict, PM Srettha admitted he and the central bank governor held divergent views, necessitating urgent discussions. Governor Sethaput, in a candid Bloomberg interview, criticised the sweeping economic stimulus, suggesting it was excessive…
- Thailand News
Purrfect: Stray cats seek forever homes at Bangkok Expo 2024
Bangkok’s Benjakitti Park is buzzing with excitement as the BKK Expo 2024 rolls into town, inviting animal lovers to consider adopting stray cats and transforming lives one purr at a time. Deputy Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Governor Tavida Kamolvej announced today, June 20, that a variety of stray cats, now vaccinated and sterilised, are being showcased at the Sua Pa…
- Thailand News
Defence ministry clarifies salary guidelines
To quell public outrage, the Defence Ministry unveiled comprehensive guidelines detailing what can and cannot be deducted from conscripts’ salaries. The move follows a recent scandal involving dubious salary deductions by the 22nd Logistics and Supports Battalion. The guidelines, released on the ministry’s website today, clarify the permissible deductions from the 11,000 baht monthly salary of conscripts. This announcement comes…
- Thailand News
South Korean tourist plummets from 27th floor in Chon Buri
A 54 year old South Korean tourist was found dead after leaping from the 27th floor of a luxury condominium in Sri Racha, Chon Buri. Police were alerted to the scene at an undisclosed condominium in Sri Racha. Upon arrival, police and rescue workers found the lifeless body of Min Chucha, a South Korean tourist, lying motionless on the ground.…
- Thailand News
Temple tragedy: Friends turn foes in bizarre brawl
A brawl left two friends critically injured in a surreal spectacle opposite the serene Huai Yai Temple in East Pattaya. Two friends turned their playful banter into a shocking duel on Tuesday, June 18. One of the men, 36 year old Weerayut Chomthalak was found at the scene with a severe head injury, bleeding profusely and possibly under the influence.…
- Thailand News
Phuket crowned Thailand’s tech haven
Phuket has been declared Thailand’s most technologically advanced province among 23 smart provinces, while Wangchan Valley in Rayong clinched the top spot in the city category, according to a report by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA). The rankings, unveiled by DEPA’s Smart Cities Office in the Thailand Smart City Competitiveness Index (TSCCI) 2023 report, evaluated 30 smart cities across…
- Thailand News
Lazada denies divestment plans in Thailand amid growing rumours
Lazada Group has firmly denied any plans for divestment in Thailand, asserting that there are no ongoing discussions with investors regarding such a move. A company spokesperson addressed the circulating rumours. “Lazada Group is not considering any divestment of our business in Thailand and is not in discussion with any investors on this topic. Any rumours stating otherwise are untrue.”…
- Thailand News
TAT’s plan to lure long-haul tourists with 3.5 trillion baht goal
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled an ambitious strategy to boost tourism revenue to a staggering 3.5 trillion baht by year-end, focusing on long-distance markets. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, outlined the plan yesterday, revealing that tourists from far-flung corners of the globe are crucial to hitting the government’s lofty…
- Thailand News
Torsak Sukvimol reinstated as National Police Chief
Police General Torsak Sukvimol has resumed his role as National Police Chief following an investigation into a prominent internal conflict, as announced by Wissanu Krea-ngam, an advisor to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Wissanu disclosed the results of the investigation, which was initiated by the prime minister through a fact-finding committee led by Chatchai Promlert. The inquiry scrutinised the discord between…
- Thailand News
Thailand sobers up: Slams brakes on extended alcohol sales hours
The Government of Thailand dashed hopes of extended alcohol sales hours, citing alarming statistics on road casualties and accidents. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced the decision following a tense panel meeting at the ministry on Tuesday, asserting that public safety must take precedence. “The ministry’s alcoholic beverage control committee reviewed road accident statistics and related legal implications, recognising the…
- Thailand News
Malaysia and China join forces on billion-dollar rail project
China’s plans to extend the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) into Thailand are set to transform Southeast Asian trade. Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced the initiative during his visit to Malaysia yesterday. The US$10 billion (approximately 366 billion baht) ECRL, a key project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aims to connect Malaysia’s east and west coasts by 2026. Initially…
- Thailand News
American tourist and Thai girlfriend drown in Phuket
An American tourist and his Thai girlfriend drowned after allegedly ignoring a red flag weather warning at Mai Khao Beach in Phuket. The bodies of 45 year old James Edmond Newman from New York, and 48 year old Waranya Chanphai from Surin province, were discovered on Monday morning, June 17. Police Major Ronnapoom Permpoon of the Thachatchai Police Station stated…
- Thailand News
Cargo plane chaos shuts down Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong’s quest to reclaim its status as a premier international aviation hub hit turbulence this week when a cargo plane incident brought Hong Kong International Airport to a standstill. Cathay Pacific Airways’ gradual resumption of services to pre-pandemic levels has been overshadowed by the chaos caused by a runway shutdown. A runway closure following a cargo plane emergency forced…
- Thailand News
Sky-high opportunities: Vietjet Thailand holds recruitment event
Vietjet Thailand took off with its largest recruitment event in six years on June 15, transforming the Paragon Cineplex in Siam Paragon into a bustling hub of aviation career opportunities. This year’s Sky Career Festival, an annual extravaganza since 2018, saw the launch of Vietjet Thailand’s groundbreaking Major Cadet Pilot Training Programme. Over 10,000 eager attendees flocked to explore diverse…
- Thailand News
Health tourism: Phuket’s new wellness haven
To bolster health tourism, BDMS Wellness Clinic teamed up with Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Laguna Phuket to unveil the BDMS Wellness Clinic Laguna Phuket. This new branch aims to solidify BDMS Wellness Clinic’s dominance in creating a wellness economic corridor in the Andaman region. The government’s 2022 announcement of the Andaman Wellness Economic Corridor project set the stage for this…
- Thailand News
Lamps out: Lampang horse-drawn carriage rides face unbridled end
The famed horse-drawn carriage rides in Lampang may soon become a relic of the past, as dwindling tourism revenue fails to attract new generations to sustain the business, according to the Tourism Council of Lampang. Lampang registered 559,892 visitors in the first four months of this year, a 0.52% decline year-on-year, with only 35,131 foreign travellers. Despite the drop in…
- Thailand News
Nongprue mayor waxes lyrical over Buddhist Lent Candle Parade
In East Pattaya, Mayor Winai Inpitak of Nongprue Municipality is gearing up for the much-anticipated Buddhist Lent Candle Parade Festival 2024. Set to dazzle spectators on Friday, July 19, at the municipality’s football field, this annual celebration promises to be a feast for the senses, honouring Buddhist Lent Day and celebrating local culture. The Buddhist Lent Candle Parade Festival is…
- Thailand News
Deputy PM defends mammoth borrowing to jump start growth
In a heated parliamentary session yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira staunchly defended the government’s proposal to borrow a staggering 865 billion baht to mitigate the fiscal 2025 budget deficit. Pichai argued that this bold move is essential to rejuvenate Thailand’s languishing economy and achieve targeted GDP growth. He assured lawmakers that the loan would adhere strictly…
- Thailand News
Honouring heroes: Yacht club hosts D-Day anniversary
In a moving tribute against the backdrop of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya, a ceremony commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The Royal British Legion Thailand orchestrated the event, held with the gracious permission of the Yacht Club’s Commodore and staff, and generously supported by various sponsors. Father David Price delivered a poignant sermon on the…
- Thailand News
Tourists’ Phuket beach fun turns into life-or-death drama
Eight foreign tourists narrowly escaped drowning in Phuket’s treacherous seas yesterday after ignoring warning signs on the beaches. In the first harrowing incident, two Indian couples defied the red flag flying on Karon Beach and ventured into the turbulent waters. Witnesses reported the tourists quickly found themselves overwhelmed by the powerful waves and wind, unable to swim back to shore.…
- Thailand News
Chemical barrels found buried at Sri Thep waste plant
Phetchabun police uncovered an alarming situation at an industrial waste treatment plant in Sri Thep district, where barrels filled with chemicals were found buried underground without proper treatment. This discovery may clarify why locals have recently reported a persistent and strong chemical odour. The plant, operated by Aek Uthai Co, a company based in Phachi district, Ayutthaya province, was raided…
- Thailand News
Mother and infant found dead in Maha Sarakham pond
A tragic discovery was made as a mother and her 10 day old infant were found dead in a pond in Maha Sarakham. The pair had been missing since yesterday, with the mother reportedly battling postpartum depression. At approximately 7am today, police officer Yutthasart Yenwattana received a report of two bodies floating in a pond near Ban Si Wichai in…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s big gamble: Mega casinos set to hit the jackpot
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced that Thailand is on the brink of legalising large-scale entertainment complexes with casinos. The final draft of this ambitious bill is set to be ready for Cabinet deliberations within the next three to four weeks. Julapun revealed that 16 government agencies have already weighed in on the plan. “Their insights will be included as…
- Thailand News
PM Srettha’s review: Torsak may return as police chief
The results of an investigation into conflicts among senior police officials have been submitted to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, recommending that Torsak Sukwimol could return to his position as National Police Chief, while Surachate Hakparn aka Big Joke remains under review. PM Srettha received a report from the Fact-Finding and Legal Examination Committee, chaired by Chatchai Promlert, concerning publicised conflicts…
- Thailand News
Ajinomoto’s secret to doubling Thai farmers’ yields
Ajinomoto FD Green (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (Ajinomoto FD Green), a leading eco-friendly enterprise and subsidiary of the renowned Ajinomoto Group, is making waves in sustainable agriculture by empowering Thai farmers. Through their innovative Thai Farmer Better Life Partner project, now in its fourth year, they aim to revolutionise cassava and coffee farming. Ajinomoto’s initiative, part of its global 2030 sustainability…
- Thailand News
Sumptuous new Thai takeaway opens in Canberra
If you want to know what three generations of restaurant experience taste like, drop into Canberra’s brand-new Thai takeaway shop, Tuckshop Tamada. Co-owner Nat Yota stated that her family has been in the food business for a very long time. “My grandma opened one of Canberra’s first Thai restaurants when she migrated from Thailand. Later, my parents ran their restaurant…
- Thailand News
Thai government expands 30-baht healthcare to 46 provinces
The Thai government expanded its 30-baht healthcare policy, allowing residents to access medical services with their ID cards across 46 provinces, including Bangkok. This initiative aims to ensure better healthcare accessibility and efficiency for all citizens. Jadet Thammathat-Aree, Secretary-General of the National Health Security Office (NHSO), announced the implementation of this policy on Monday, June 17, in accordance with the…
- Thailand News
Police raid in Pattaya uncovers 25 illegal immigrants
Chon Buri immigration officers conducted a surprise raid on an apartment building in Pattaya, arresting over 25 illegal immigrants from Myanmar. Acting on a tip-off from concerned residents regarding disturbances caused by a significant number of undocumented foreign workers residing on Soi Kho Phai 4/5, Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, the authorities swiftly moved in. During the inspection, officers discovered a…
- Thailand News
South Korea’s tourism boom leaves Thailand in the dust
South Korea witnessed a staggering 87% surge in foreign arrivals this year but Thai visitors tell a different story. According to recent data from the Korea Tourism Organisation, arrivals from Thailand have plummeted by over 21% from last year, totalling just 119,000 visitors from January to April. The decline has raised eyebrows across the tourism industry, with experts pointing fingers…
