- Business News
Digital boom: Thailand’s tech economy set for electrifying growth
Thailand’s digital economy is poised to skyrocket this year, with GDP expected to rise by a staggering 7.3% to hit 4.85 trillion baht, according to the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry. This digital surge far exceeds the national GDP growth rate, sitting at 2.8%, totalling 19.2 trillion baht. Digital investment is also on a meteoric rise, predicted to grow…
- Business News
Credit crunch: Thai economy faces stormy skies
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is sounding the alarm over slipping asset quality among wealthier borrowers, echoing a worrying trend seen in middle- and low-income groups as the Thai economy slows to a crawl. Minutes from the recent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting reveal mounting concerns about loan quality deteriorating across the board. This could lead banks to become even…
- Business News
MG shifts gears as Thai pickup production hits the brakes amid slowdown
SAIC Motor-CP has hit the brakes on its Thai pickup truck production. The pause by the Chinese-Thai collaboration producing MG vehicles, comes as the domestic car market takes a downturn, although there’s hope for a reboot once conditions steady. While MG Sales (Thailand) hasn’t disclosed specific production figures for diesel pickups, company Vice-President Pongsak Lertruedeewattanavong reassures consumers. “Pickups aren’t our…
- Thailand News
Bangkok creator hunts aliens at Thailand’s Area 51 (video)
A Bangkok content creator set out on a pilgrimage to Thailand’s Area 51 to discover any truth in locals’ belief that UFOs, aliens and extraterrestrials not only exist in the mountain region of Khao Kala, but walk among us. Residents believe that when they meditate in front of a Buddha statue in Khao Kala, Thailand’s Area 51, they hear alien…
- Thailand News
Bite club arrest: German man sinks teeth into chaos in Korat
The German man has been arrested after he went on a jaw-dropping rampage in Korat, biting female dentists and leaving chaos in his wake. The German, Matthias Ebner, infamous in Nakhon Ratchasima province for his savage antics, has finally been apprehended following a biting incident that left the city in uproar. Dubbed the “Dental Menace,” Ebner, married to a local…
- Thailand News
Wombat woes: American flees to Thailand after Aussie uproar
An American woman’s ill-fated encounter with a wombat joey has sparked uproar Down Under, sending her fleeing to Thailand in the wake of a furious Aussie backlash. An Australian influencer called out the American on TikTok labelling her a “pig,” “narcasist” and a “terrible woman” after she posted a video of her snatching the joey from its distressed mother. The…
- Chiang Mai News
Phantom fail: Ghostly Chiang Mai gold heist ends in ghastly gaffe
In an audacious plot fit for a Halloween flick, a bungling gold thief’s disguise as a horror movie ghost backfired spectacularly when he found himself trapped in a shopping mall, leading to his swift arrest. The wannabe thief, Etsara, dreamed up a daring heist at a renowned Chiang Mai shopping mall, planning to loot a gold shop by posing as…
- Phuket News
British man’s sun-soaked dream escape turns tragic in Thailand
A dream holiday in paradise has turned into an unimaginable nightmare for a British man whose life hangs by a thread in a Thailand hospital. The family and friends of British restauranteur Ricky Eury are by his bedside praying for his life following a shocking accident at a luxurious Thai resort. The 39 year old Brit, who was enjoying a…
- Phuket News
Shell shocked: Minister calls for united front to save dugongs (video)
An impassioned call for collective action to tackle the conservation crisis threatening seagrass and dugongs was issued by Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment at the Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort. The turtle release ceremony, held on March 14, emphasised the urgent need for all sectors to collaborate in safeguarding these endangered marine species. Chalermchai lauded the efforts…
- Pattaya News
Slapstick: Foreign man, ladyboy clash in Pattaya showdown (video)
A dispute over a motorcycle in the early hours of this morning spiralled into a fiery face-off between a foreign man and a ladyboy on the vibrant streets of Pattaya. The foreigner found himself on the receiving end of a stinging slap from a ladyboy, sparking a call for order in the bustling seaside resort. The altercation erupted at 1am,…
- Thailand News
Bite club: German man sinks teeth into Korat dentist, sparks panic
A chilling wave of panic has swept through dental clinics in Korat after a German man sunk his teeth into a female dentist in a frenzied attack. The Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Dental Association is desperately urging the police to collar this foreign menace. Dentist Wivat Chatwongwan, representing the worried local dental community, today, March 17, escorted victims to Mueang Nakhon…
- Koh Samui News
Dope busted: British nationals caught in Kho Samui cannabis caper
Four British nationals were collared in Thailand for their alleged role in a colossal cannabis smuggling scheme. The suspects were apprehended at Koh Samui Airport with a staggering 131 kilogrammes of marijuana as they prepared to jet back to the United Kingdom. The bust, yesterday, March 16, was a coordinated effort by the Surat Thani Immigration Investigation Unit, Koh Samui…
- Bangkok News
Bridge over troubled water: BMA’s Bangkok river crossing race
Bangkok’s city planners are racing against the clock to complete the much-anticipated Kiakkai Bridge over the Chao Phraya River by 2026. This ambitious project is set to transform commuting across the bustling city, offering a smoother journey over the river. BMA Public Works Department chief Tawatchai Napasaksri dished out details on the various bridge projects currently weaving through the cityscape.…
- Bangkok News
Expressway chaos: Bangkok traffic mayhem as flyover tumbles
Transport chiefs in Thailand have urged motorists to seek alternative routes after a key section of the Bangkok–Thon Buri expressway collapsed on Saturday, causing traffic bedlam and blocking crucial ramps. Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) chief Surachet Laophulsuk warned of severe congestion around the Chalerm Maha Nakhon expressway ramp, particularly near the Dao Khanong toll plaza, starting today, Monday, March…
- Phuket News
Pounds meltdown: Phuket hospital weighs in on medical tourism
Vachira Phuket Hospital is stepping up its game in the booming medical tourism sector by inviting international patients to experience its top-notch weight-loss surgery. With demand for such procedures on the rise, the hospital is keen to establish itself as a major player. Dr Thakoon Poonthananiwatkul, a senior surgeon at Vachira, proudly announced the plans. “We have over a decade…
- Phuket News
Bugged out! Mosquito bite leaves British dad in Tourette’s grip
A British father’s dream holiday in Thailand took a nightmarish twist after a vicious mosquito bite not only gave him Tourette’s syndrome, but set off a series of bizarre, life-altering health issues. Ross Constable returned from a family holiday to Phuket, never expecting a simple insect bite to transform his life in the most shocking way. The 48 year old…
- Thailand News
Get snappy: Rare Siamese crocodile sunbathes in style (video)
A rare Siamese crocodile has been spotted catching some rays in Thung Salaeng Luang National Park, spotlighting its critically endangered status and adding a new snap to nature’s gallery. Somkiat Yodmalee, Director of the Conservation Area Management Office 11, yesterday, March 13, revealed that a team led by Daengrawee Promrak had captured the elusive reptile on film. The marvellous shot,…
- Thailand News
Frenchman’s magic mushroom mishap trip on Koh Pha Ngan
Tourist Police swooped on a 40 year old Frenchman for his dodgy dealings with magic mushrooms on the sun-soaked paradise of Koh Pha Ngan. The Frenchman, William, who had come to indulge in the tropical party scene, was caught red-handed with 159 grammes of these illicit shrooms, classified as Category 5 narcotics, stashed in plastic bags. The bust was part…
- Thailand News
Monkey business: Morrisons cuts ties with Thai coconut suppliers
British supermarket giant Morrisons declare it’s time to “make good things happen,” severing ties with Thai coconut producers linked to forced monkey labour. Investigations by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) uncovered shocking abuses in Thailand’s coconut industry, revealing young monkeys chained and forced to climb trees to harvest coconuts. Despite PETA alerting the Thai government officials, no…
- Thailand News
School daze: Vaping vendetta forces Thai student relocation
A young Thai student’s schooling has taken a dramatic turn after a series of shocking assaults by a fellow teenager all because of a vaping device. Thirteen-year-old Khon Kaen student Oam has been moved to a boarding school following attacks by 16 year old Lek, sparked by a damaged vaping device. A high-stakes meeting at Watjunprasit School in Ban Phai…
- Thailand News
Wheel of misfortune: Hungarian bike boss in hot seat in Thailand
A Hungarian national has been nabbed on Koh Pha Ngan for allegedly running a motorbike rental business in a job reserved for Thai citizens. Police Colonel Apichart Chansamret, head of Koh Pha Ngan police, reported that 40 year old Laszlo Meszaros was arrested at his rented home in Tambon Koh Pha Ngan. During the operation, officers seized an air gun…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok condo chaos: Illegal Sukhumvit rentals get eviction notice
Director General of the Department of Provincial Administration Chaiwat Juntiraphong targetted Bangkok’s bustling Sukhumvit area as part of a crackdown on illegal daily rentals in four condo units. Sparked by noise and security grievances lodged at the Damrongtham Centre, these actions align with the Hotel Act 2004. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the clampdown to restore…
- Pattaya News
Teenager’s birthday bash turns deadly in brutal Pattaya stabbing
A teenage birthday bash turned into a blood-soaked nightmare when a brutal stabbing left a 17 year old dead in Bang Lamung near Pattaya. The tragic event unravelled after a 19 year old, identified only as Win, allegedly drove a knife straight into young victim, Jeab’s heart. Police arrested the suspect yesterday, March 13, after the victim succumbed to his…
- Thailand News
Irishwoman nabbed in Norway with £1 million worth of Thai cannabis
The sensational arrest of an Irishwoman in Norway with a £1 million (44 million baht) haul of cannabis, allegedly trafficked from Thailand, has unearthed a much larger drug trafficking ring. The 32 year old was apprehended by Norwegian police at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport on Thursday, January 9. She is suspected of attempting to smuggle 41.7kg of cannabis. Upon her arrest,…
- Hua Hin News
Thai-tanic turmoil: British retirees escape Thailand prison drama
In an astonishing twist of fate, an elderly British couple have narrowly avoided what had seemed an inevitable prison sentence in Thailand. Instead, they’ve been handed 9,000 baht fines (£200), allowing them to plan their much-anticipated return to the UK. Their ordeal began in 2020 when Des and Mary Byrne retired to Thailand’s picturesque Thai Riviera, envisioning a peaceful, sun-soaked…
- Bangkok News
All systems go: Bangkok’s new Red Line to be greenlit in April
The eagerly anticipated extension of Thailand’s Red Line from Siriraj Hospital to Salaya is racing towards Cabinet approval this April. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that the colossal 15.17 billion baht project has cleared all the necessary bureaucratic hurdles. The Finance Ministry, Budget Bureau, and National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) have all rendered their blessing, sending the proposal…
- Thailand News
Wake-up call: Snoozing Thai driver startled by cop’s ‘wife’ threat
A sleepy driver in Thailand got the shock of his life when police threatened him with a visit from his wife if he didn’t wake up and get a move on. A 40 year old Thai man fell asleep at the wheel, his pickup truck idling at a red light in bustling Nan City, at 12.30am today, March 12. The…
- Bangkok News
Thailand tragedy: English football fan’s holiday ends in heartbreak
A beloved English football fan tragically died from a drug overdose while holidaying in Thailand, an inquest revealed yesterday. Connor Abbott from Thirsk, in the North-East of England, was found dead in his Bangkok hotel room on September 22, last year. The inquest at North Yorkshire Coroner’s Court cited morphine toxicity as the cause of death. A heartfelt GoFundMe page…
- Krabi News
Busted! British man’s ‘high’-risk trip lands him in Krabi trouble
A British tourist caught at Krabi Airport with a whopping 38 kilos of cannabis in his suitcase has been named and faces a decade-long stretch behind bars for his colossal weed blunder. Daniel James Hallett, from Hull, is staring at up to 10 years in a Thai prison after his arrest for allegedly attempting to smuggle cannabis through the airport…