- Chiang Mai News
Chiang Mai cleans up: Sweeping success after the flood
Local government officials in Chiang Mai are shouting from the rooftops about their stellar post-flood recovery, claiming they’ve already swept through 90% of the streets and cleared 40% of the waste. Governor Nirat Pongsitthithaworn couldn’t be prouder, crediting a dynamic duo effort between the public and private sectors for tackling the flooded chaos with gusto. With the bustling high season…
- Politics News
PM Paetongtarn’s political shrug: Dodging EC probe bombshell
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra shrugged off the Election Commission’s (EC) bombshell probe into allegations that could see her Pheu Thai Party and five political allies dissolved. Accusations are flying that the parties let an outsider pull the strings, and that outsider is none other than former PM, and Paetongtarn’s kin, Thaksin Shinawatra. The drama kicked off when key figures from…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s smog showdown: Clearing the air with a bold 30% cut
In a bid to wipe the smog off the map, Thailand’s Pollution Control Department (PCD) is gearing up for a 2024 blitz on air pollution, aiming to slash hotspots by a daring 30%. PCD Chief Preeyaporn Suwanaked held court at a buzzing press conference, revealing the National Environment Board’s stamp of approval on an ambitious blueprint to combat haze. This…
- Thailand News
Pattaya Beach cops crack down on nighttime mischief
In a dramatic crackdown on mischief by moonlight, a battalion of law enforcement officers swept Pattaya Beach last night. This bold move came hot on the heels of a shocking knife incident involving a rebellious beach chair vendor who went rogue on a city official after being slapped with a warning for peddling booze and kratom juice on the sands…
- Thailand News
Sisaket beauty sets Facebook afire with search for Mr Right criteria
An open audition for love has captivated the virtual world as one Sisaket beauty took to Facebook Live, laying down eight non-negotiable criteria in her hunt for Mr Right. Despite overwhelming social media buzz, Sayamon Unkam, known affectionately as Alice, is resolutely sticking to her structured love list, having learned the lessons of heartbreak by simply following her heart. Gone…
- Thailand News
Gold fever prices gleam with a 200 baht boost in Bangkok bonanza
In a dazzling display of gold rush fever, prices have shot up today, with gold ornaments trading at a sparkling 43,250 baht per baht weight—a 200 baht leap from yesterday’s close. The Gold Traders Association (GTA) dropped these glittering gems earlier, underscoring a trend that’s got both investors and consumers on high alert. As of the morning’s sparkle update at…
- Business News
Thai SMEs boxed in by debt and dwindling demand
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand are on the ropes, grappling with crippling debt and plummeting sales as the country’s economic engine sputters, warns the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The financial plight of these crucial businesses is worsening, says the FTI, with government support measures arriving too little, too late. Yet, the federation, the voice of Thailand’s SMEs,…
- Business News
Banking stocks set to cash in as BoT preps for another cut
Stock market sleuths are buzzing as banking stocks look set to surge with global interest rates on the slide. All eyes are on the Bank of Thailand (BoT), expected to slash its policy rate again this December. Last week’s unexpected chop of 25 basis points to 2.25% marked the first cut in more than four years, echoing similar moves by…
- Thailand News
Time’s up: House Speaker warns of ticking tensions in Tak Bai turmoil
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha sounded the alarm over the simmering unrest in Thailand’s volatile Deep South. With the clock ticking down to the looming deadline for the 2004 Tak Bai massacre case, police are under pressure to seize suspects or risk letting them slip away forever. Wan Muhamad has thrown down the gauntlet, insisting security forces must snag…
- Thailand News
Royal Forest Department investigates land nibbling in Chiang Rai
The Royal Forest Department zeroed in on the Cherntawan International Meditation Centre, amidst claims that they’ve illegally nibbled away at prime forest land in Chiang Rai’s Mueang district. The centre, helmed by the famed Phra Maha Vudhijaya Vajiramedhi, is under scrutiny for reportedly occupying more land than legally allowed. The Royal Forest boss, Surachai Achalaboon, stormed into action, directing the…
- Thailand News
Scam cable: Mukdahan officials cut off illegal Internet link to Laos
Mukdahan officials have blown the lid off a daring cross-border scam operation, dismantling illegal Internet cables stretching from Thailand into Laos across the Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. In a move straight out of a thriller, these covert cables, buried around 5 kilometres deep into Laos, were reportedly fuelling deceitful scam rings, making Thai victims believe they were dealing with local…
- Thailand News
Labour of love: Thailand scrambles to clean up its fishy business
The Labour Ministry of Thailand is racing against the clock to scrub fishmeal, fish oil, and animal feed off the notorious US 2024 List of Goods Produced by Child Labour or Forced Labour. The urgency comes straight from the top, with Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn cracking the whip for swift action to safeguard Thailand’s international reputation. As Labour Ministry spokesperson…
- Business News
Economic waters rise: Thai business sector flooded with challenges
The business sector is facing a stormy crisis this monsoon season as severe flooding batters key economic regions across Thailand. Provinces like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai have been hit hard, with water levels reaching devastating heights—marking the first time in decades that such catastrophic flooding has occurred. Officials are closely monitoring the Chao Phraya River, issuing early warnings in…
- Politics News
Phew! Thai party faces petition peril over Thaksin ties
A dramatic political twist erupted as a petition emerged demanding the dissolution of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, with claims of undue influence from former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. The party itself has made the explosive allegations. The Election Commission (EC) confirmed it is merging four petitions against Pheu Thai, alleging that the party is under Thaksin’s sway, despite him not…
- Pattaya News
Norwegian tragedy: Expat’s final Fjorday in Pattaya ends in horror
A Norwegian expatriate was discovered dead in harrowing circumstances in the early hours of yesterday morning in his Pattaya hotel room after allegedly inflicting horrific injuries upon himself. Shortly after 4am, yesterday, October 20, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre received a frantic alert about a foreigner’s disturbing behaviour and self-harm in a second-floor room on Soi 14. Upon arrival, local…
- Business News
Brick by brick: ONEAM builds investor excitement with TIREIT launch
ONE Asset Management (ONEAM) is digging foundations in the investment world, launching the Thai Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust (TIREIT) for investors seeking fresh opportunities amidst a shifting financial landscape. With high interest rates finally shifting into the rear-view mirror, savvy investors are turning to alternative assets like TIREIT to spread their risk. Chief executive Pote Harinasuta has revealed that…
- Politics News
Charting new waters: Pheu Thai seeks to ‘amend’ fences with coalition partners
In a political drama unfolding at the heart of Thailand, the ruling Pheu Thai Party admitted it must mend fences with coalition allies to forge ahead with its ambitious blueprint for rewriting the nation’s charter. This revelation came courtesy of PM’s right-hand man, Somkid Chueakong, during the poignant commemoration of the October 14, 1973, uprising on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue. Somkid,…
- Thailand News
Amnesty or agony: Lese majeste debate set to spark fireworks in Parliament
In a political powder keg ready to ignite, the long-awaited report on offering amnesty for those charged under the contentious lese majeste law is finally set to hit the parliamentary floor this Thursday, after being kicked down the road twice. It’s all eyes on the House panel bringing the heat, with Sasinan Thammanithinan, the outspoken People’s Party MP and committee…
- Business News
Kao Thailand celebrates 60 years of clean streaks, happy households
Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd., is rolling out the red carpet for its 60th anniversary, celebrating six decades of serving Thai households with beloved brands like Attack, Magiclean, Haiter, Curel, and Laurier. As the first overseas arm of Japan’s iconic Kao Corporation, established in 1964, Kao Thailand has been banging the drum for hygiene & protection while upping the ante…
- Business News
Fuel’s gold: Bangchak to fry high with sustainable jet fuel from cooking oil
Bangchak Corporation, one of the big dogs on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), is turbocharging its efforts to collect used cooking oil, aiming to transform it into sustainable jet fuel (SAF) by next year—a first-class upgrade for greener skies. BSGF, Bangchak’s SAF-producing brainchild, has penned a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with New Biodiesel to scoop up used cooking oil…
- Thailand News
Croc-and-awe: Residents splash over Ping River crocodile sighting
Residents of Chom Thong, Chiang Mai, are in a right flap after a suspected crocodile was spotted having a lazy float in the Ping River. The provincial fisheries department quickly jumped into action, sending out snaps of mysterious footprints to the experts for a gander. Jesada Thangmanee, the district’s top fish wrangler, jumped on the croco-drama tipped off by buzzing…
- Thailand News
ID check-mate: DLT gears up for tight security drive with ThaID app
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) is cracking down on security, rolling out mandatory identity checks with the ThaID app from November 1 for anyone booking driving license and vehicle registration slots. That’s right, no more easy rides—it’s high-tech all the way via the DLT Smart Queue app and website! Today, October 15, Seksom Akkharaphan, the no-nonsense Deputy Director-General and…
- Business News
Thai execs ‘gen’-erate buzz, placing big bets on AI for success
In a bold business move, executives in Thailand are betting big on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), catapulting it to the top of their corporate agendas, reveals a sizzling study by global CRM giant Salesforce. Amidst economic turbulence, Siddharth Rastogi, Salesforce’s vice-president for the ASEAN, insists it will work. “We’ve got the magic mix for AI adoption, thanks to the nation’s…
- Thailand News
Blast from the past: Home rebuilds reignited after firework disaster
After more than a year of frustrating delays, construction has finally kicked off again on new homes for victims of last year’s catastrophic firework warehouse explosion near Muno Market. On July 29, 2023, the town was rocked by the devastating blast, which tragically claimed 11 lives, left 389 injured, and wreaked havoc on 649 houses as well as three schools,…
- Thailand News
Paws and effect: RTA to unleash 64 ‘unfit’ service dogs in auction
The Royal Thai Army’s Veterinary & Remount Department is rolling out the red carpet for an unusual auction tomorrow in the heart of Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district. Some 64 furry recruits are up for grabs, having failed to cut elite service dogs. On the auction block are two prestigious breeds: German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. Prospective parents can choose…
- Thailand News
Dancing with danger: Burlesque star’s dengue drama in Thailand
In a terrifying testimony, a US burlesque dancer backpacking with her husband revealed her horrifying brush with death after contracting dengue fever while exploring Thailand. Paisley Peach, a globetrotter from Boulder, Colorado, alongside 31 year old husband Julian De Prince, faced their worst fears when a ferocious swarm of mosquitoes struck during their dream adventure in Southeast Asia. The couple’s…
- Phuket News
Phuket couple face charges after daughter suffers fractured skull
A couple in Phuket is facing serious charges after their two year old daughter was discovered unconscious with a fractured skull, the result of a horrific beating. Investigating officers revealed that both parents tested positive for drugs, adding to the grim nature of this tragic case. A concerned neighbour, alarmed by the ongoing abuse, called emergency services to the family’s…
- Thailand News
Thai-ed and tested: Thai women rescued from sex racket in India
In a gripping undercover operation in India, Thane police dramatically dismantled a notorious underground sex racket, rescuing nine women, including two Thai nationals. This high-stakes raid just outside of Mumbai unfolded in two separate swoops, throwing a glaring spotlight on the murky world of human trafficking plaguing the region. The Thane police force, tipped off by reliable sources, acted decisively…
- Thailand News
Down under or Thai? Aussie mum trades Oz for Land of Smiles
What would you do if the dream of owning your home seemed to be slipping away? For one Aussie mum, the solution was packing up her family and heading for exotic shores, trading Oz for the Land of Smiles. Natalie Coulson, a 45 year old mother of one, had enough of Sydney’s spiralling property market. The fear of a lifetime…