- Thailand News
Gold prices soar as traders sparkle after latest hike
The Gold Traders Association (GTA) announced a fresh hike in gold prices today, following a flurry of adjustments yesterday. As of today, February 13, the price of gold jewellery climbed to 47,250 baht per baht weight, marking a 100 baht rise since the closing figures of the previous day. According to the GTA’s latest update at 9.03am, gold bars in…
- Business News
Banking on success: Line BK logs in for double-digit loan growth
In a bold move against economic headwinds, Line BK, the social banking brainchild of Kasikornbank (KBank) and Line Corp, is setting its sights on a double-digit loan growth surge this year, powered by cutting-edge technology. Eyeing a hefty 3-4 billion baht boost in new loans, Line BK is steering towards a 13-18% growth, up from last year’s 22 billion baht…
- Business News
Fuelling the future: PTT Oil shifts gears for a brighter 2025
PTT Oil and Retail Plc (OR) is revving up for a sunnier financial forecast this year, aiming to bounce back after last year’s revenue slip. The secret sauce? A Thailand infused with tourism and investment buzz, according to OR chief Peekthong Thongyai. Thanks to a tourism surge, Thailand’s economic prospects are looking rosier than ever. Back in 2019, the country…
- Business News
Full steam ahead: SRT fast-tracks freight boost to cut costs
In a bid to slash transport costs for import and export businesses, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is all set to turbocharge freight services between Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri and Bangkok. SRT Governor Veeris Ammarapala and his team, yesterday, February 12, descended on the deep-sea port and the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district,…
- Thailand News
Smog predicted for 53 Thai provinces as Bangkok chokes on dust
Bangkok and a staggering 53 out of Thailand’s 76 provinces today were engulfed in perilously high levels of ultrafine dust, with the Central Plain and east of the country bearing the brunt. The alarming report comes from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), painting a grim picture of air quality across the nation. As of 8am, today, February…
- Thailand News
Making waves: ONWR dives into final stretch of water plans
The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) is racing to wrap up its ambitious water management plans across 22 river basins this year, as revealed by its Secretary General, Surasee Kittimonthon. The countdown is on as the agency pushes to safeguard the nation’s vital waterways. Already ahead in the game, the ONWR has finalised strategies for the lower southern…
- Pattaya News
Get ready to go ‘Joe Cool’ as Snoopy soars over Pattaya’s kite fest 2025
Get ready for a sky full of wonder as the Pattaya International Kite on the Beach 2025 prepares to dazzle tourists and residents alike with a Snoopy theme. The kite extravaganza, proudly brought to you by Central Pattaya in partnership with the City of Pattaya, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Pattaya Office, the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association, the Marine…
- Pattaya News
Thai woman fatally struck crossing dim road in Pattaya
A local Thai woman lost her life after being struck by a car on a perilously dim road beneath a darkened overpass in Bang Lamung. At 10.06pm, Tuesday, February 11, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre received a chilling report of a fatal collision on the notorious stretch of Highway 331, heading towards Sattahip, in Chon Buri province’s Bang Lamung…
- Pattaya News
Sleeping Indian tourists in viral Pattaya video were migrants
A viral video that took social media by storm last week, allegedly showing Indian tourists snoozing on Pattaya Beach, has been debunked. The supposed tourists were, in fact, migrants. The controversial video, widely shared online, drew heavy criticism after it appeared to capture over 100 Indian tourists taking over a tract of Pattaya Beach. They were filmed setting up impromptu…
- Thailand News
NBTC dials in: Biometric crackdown rings alarm for SIM scammers
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is cracking down on unauthorised SIM cards and online scams with the introduction of stringent biometric authentication for SIM card registration. This move targets dodgy SIM dealers, who now face hefty penalties if caught flouting the rules. These new measures are set to shake up the mobile subscriber landscape in Thailand, where over…
- Thailand News
House committee sparks crackdown on e-cigarettes in schools
The House committee is demanding tough new measures to tackle the troublesome issue of e-cigarettes, amidst growing concern over their widespread use among schoolchildren. In a stark warning, Opas Almaseri, spokesperson for the House Standing Committee on E-Cigarette Regulation, revealed alarming reports showing that these gadgets are cunningly marketed to the youth. Despite a firm ban on e-cigarettes in Thailand,…
- Business News
WHAUP dives deep with ambitious plans to cash in on digital age
WHA Utilities and Power (WHAUP), the utility titan of WHA Corp, Thailand’s industrial land giant, is making waves with its bold ambition to rake in a staggering 35 billion baht by 2030. Their strategy? Riding the crest of the digital age by tapping into the surging demand for water in the burgeoning data centre sector. With data centres consuming colossal…
- Thailand News
Three-legged dog saves owner from slithering cobra (video)
A remarkable tale of heroism has gripped the hearts of many after a three-legged dog named Sato fearlessly confronted a cobra that slithered into its owner’s home. Risking his own life, Sato emerged as the saviour of the day, narrowly escaping blindness after a venom spray landed dangerously close to his eyes. The incident, today, February 10, has since gone…
- Thailand News
Martin D-300 guitar strums 10.22 million baht chord in Thailand
Music Collection, Thailand’s famed musical emporium, has hit a chord with guitar aficionados after revealing the sky-high pre-order price of their Martin D-300 acoustic guitar. The rare gem, heralded as one of the world’s most sought-after acoustic instruments, has been snapped up at a tune-worthy cost of 10.22 million baht, leaving the music community in a tizzy. In a Facebook…
- Thailand News
Scorching summer alert: Thailand to sizzle with record highs
The Land of Smiles is about to feel the heat, according to the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) which is forecasting an intense, scorching, summer season from late February till mid-May. Temperatures are predicted to soar to a blistering 42-43 degrees Celsius, with sporadic thunderstorms offering a fleeting respite from the inferno. In the northern regions, residents are in for a…
- Business News
Trump’s metal meltdown: Steel yourself for the latest tariff tiff
Donald Trump announced his intention to impose a steep 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports into the United States, a move that promises to heat up trade tensions and could potentially throw a spanner in the works for America’s key trading relationships. Chatting with reporters aboard Air Force One yesterday, February 9, the US president confirmed that these…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya’s paradise stinks as tourists take toilet troubles seaside
Pattaya’s picturesque seaside spot, typically teeming with tourists seeking seaside breezes and a tipple, now smells more like a toilet after tourists resorted to pooping and peeing in public. Reports have surfaced of visitors, both Thai and foreign, resorting to relieving themselves, quite literally, in places more suited to parking than plumbing. Pattaya News reported today, February 10, on an…
- Thailand News
Thailand rolls out Valentine’s plan: Free condoms for teenagers
Today, at Government House, the Deputy spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office unveiled a bold initiative from the Department of Disease Control: free condoms for teenagers. Marking Valentine’s Day as more than just hearts and flowers, this campaign aims to hammer home the message of safe sex and promote access to essential sexual health services among teenagers and young adults.…
- Phuket News
Phuket police turn up the heat on Peach Hill Resort fire probe
Phuket City Police have launched a probe into a fierce fire that ignited at the Peach Hill Resort on Laem Sai Road in Karon on the evening February 7. The flames spurred a dramatic emergency response, with local police and fire teams racing to the scene shortly after being alerted at around 6pm. The alarm bells first rang for Police…
- Thailand News
DoE raid: Unlicensed foreign teachers schooled in surprise sweep
Department of Employment (DoE) officials swooped into Bangkok’s Ratchada and Bang Na areas to check on foreign teachers without any certification in a surprise operation. Hot on the heels of last week’s shock arrest of eight South Korean nationals teaching without valid work documentation, officials are leaving no stone unturned to rectify the situation. “Search, Arrest, Fine, Deport” is the…
- Business News
Taxing decisions: Thai businesses brace for higher import duties
Thailand’s business entrepreneurs are leaning towards higher import tariffs should the government forge ahead with its ambitious tax reform plans, according to a fresh poll from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). This survey follows hot on the heels of Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira unveiling a set of tax reform proposals designed to swell state coffers, fuel national development, sharpen…
- Business News
Fuelling growth: Thailand’s energy use rises as tourism powers up
The Department of Energy Business revealed fuel consumption in Thailand saw a 2.1% rise last year, reaching a daily average of 155.4 million litres, in tandem with an estimated GDP growth of 2.6-2.7%, largely fuelled by bustling tourism-related industries. In 2023, total fuel consumption was slightly less, at 152.3 million litres per day. Jet fuel, driven by the surge in…
- Thailand News
EV ferries set to recharge routes between Surat Thani-Koh Samui
Ferry services shuttling electric vehicles (EVs) between mainland Surat Thani and the idyllic shores of Koh Samui are set to resume on Tuesday, following a three-month hiatus prompted by safety concerns. Phutthapong Wimolphan, the Deputy Managing Director of Raja Ferry Port Plc, broke the news today, February 7, revealing that the company will offer this service twice a week, every…
- Pattaya News
Winning tide: Pattaya beach rides wave of awards for beauty
Pattaya Beach often dominates the news for unsavory reasons but this week the famed holiday resort grabbed headlines for the right reasons by scooping up three prestigious awards, highlighting its stunning beauty and dedication to sustainable tourism. Recognised by top-tier organisations like the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research and the Department of Tourism, Pattaya Beach is being lauded…
- Business News
Tariff-ied: Thai exporters brace for US trade heat
Thai exporters could soon find themselves in hot water, facing increased tariffs from the United States. The Government of Thailand might also be compelled to import more American goods to balance out its trade surplus, warns Burin Adulwattana, the Managing Director and Chief Economist at Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research). Burin shared that K-Research hasn’t yet drilled down into the possible…
- Business News
Price hike strikes again: Inflation on a ten-month hot streak
Inflation in January has surged to 1.32%, continuing a relentless ten-month climb, with fuel, food, and beverage costs driving the increase. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) chief, disclosed that the consumer price index has jumped by 1.32% compared to the same time last year. It’s the second consecutive month where inflation has breached the 1% mark. A…
- Thailand News
Thai and mighty: President Xi praises Thai PM for scam crack down
In a warm gesture of appreciation, Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for Thailand’s tough stance against scammers preying on Chinese nationals across the region. As the Land of Smiles seeks to revive its tourism industry post-Covid-19, China stands as a vital partner. Yet, new threats have emerged, with reports indicating that Chinese tourists are being…
- Thailand News
Call centre scam victims rescued from Myanmar’s clutches
Sixty-one hapless victims, duped by call centre scammers and whisked away to Myanmar, yesterday made a triumphant return to Thailand. Courtesy of the Myanmar Border Guard Force, the rescued victims were handed over to Thai officials at the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Bridge in the Mae Sot district of Tak province. The rescue mission was graced by none other than Defence Minister…
- Bangkok News
Smoke signal: Suvarnabhumi sparks smoking rooms outrage
Smoking row ignites as the Airports of Thailand (AoT) makes a shocking bid to reintroduce smoking rooms at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, pushing against the global trend towards smoke-free terminals. As the world gears up for 100% smoke-free airports, Thailand’s move has stirred up a storm of controversy. Associate Professor Dr Naowarat Charoenkha from the Thai Health Promotion Institute, part of…
- Thailand News
Activists demand Parliament clean house on old prostitution law
A groundswell for change surged through Parliament today, as Naiyana Suphaphueng of the Service Workers’ Friends Foundation, flanked by activists and supporters, submitted a bold draft bill to scrap the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539. With over 13,000 signatures in tow, the proposal was formally handed over to Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, Speaker of the House…
