- Bangkok News
Bangkok hospital’s Nazi ‘gas chambers’ plan sparks fury
The director of Mongkutwattana Hospital in Bangkok sparked a storm of controversy with a plan to punish smokers who defy his anti-smoking ban, drawing comparisons to Nazi Germany’s grim practices. Rienthong Nanna, the director of the private hospital located in the Laksi district, declared on Facebook that he would confine defiant smokers in ‘gas chambers’ made from old telephone booths…
- Business News
Thailand’s economy feels the squeeze as Q3 wraps up
Thailand’s economy is under severe strain, grappling with both internal and external pressures as the end of the third quarter looms. The kingdom is fighting to stabilise its financial footing while China, a vital trading partner, wrestles with its economic troubles. The Thai baht took a hit earlier this month, mirroring the ongoing turmoil in the world’s second-largest economy. The…
- Business News
Digital TV operators sink or swim with licence deadline drama
Digital TV operators are in hot water as they face a raft of industry troubles and the looming expiry of their licences in 2029. The sector is grappling with rapidly changing viewer habits, a surge in streaming services, and nagging worries about dwindling viewership figures. Back in 2013, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) auctioned off 24 digital TV…
- Phuket News
Phuket on high tide alert: 49 areas in flood zone
Phuket Town is now on the flood watch radar alongside 48 other vulnerable areas, according to the Mineral Resources Department. The popular tourist hotspot is bracing itself for yet another battering from severe weather. The department has listed 49 high-risk villages, with the Old Quarter and Chartered Bank community in the Mueang district topping the list. The department used cutting-edge…
- Business News
Second-hand tsunami: Used car flood drives Thai sellers to despair
A torrent of high-quality used cars flooding the market might sound like a bargain hunter’s dream but it’s turning into a nightmare for sellers. While buyers drive off with the deals, automakers in Thailand are hitting potholes trying to move new stock, and used car dealers are struggling to keep sales engines running. The second-hand car market skidded to a…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s road to relief: Green light at the end of the traffic tunnel
Phuket’s long-awaited new road linking Kathu and Srisoonthorn is finally getting the green light, thanks to generous land donations from three of the island’s most prominent families. Local bigwigs have confirmed the long-stalled project is now full speed ahead. The Ekwanich, Kulwanich, and Saksaktawee families have handed over the land needed for the ambitious 5.6-kilometre road, designed to ease traffic…
- Phuket News
Phuket grease monkey scoops 30 million lottery
Phuket’s newest millionaire is none other than a humble chief mechanic at Anuphas Ford, who struck gold in the government lottery’s latest draw. Jirasak ‘Ton’ Saewun, who works at Anuphas Ford in Phuket, scooped a staggering 30 million baht after hitting the jackpot with five first-prize tickets. The winning numbers, announced by the Government Lottery Office, were 199606. Other lucky…
- Thailand News
Murky waters: Shady investors dive into Koh Chang land grab
Fresh fears are bubbling up in Koh Chang, Trat province, as sneaky investors with murky ties have started to snap up land. Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn, National Parks Office Director, raised the red flag on these shady dealings. “Private investors are buying swathes of land from locals, and we suspect sinister connections behind these transactions. The government and local officials need to…
- Pattaya News
Cambodian motorcyclist killed in Chon Buri crash with Porsche
A Cambodian motorcyclist was tragically killed in a high-impact crash with a luxury Porsche in Chon Buri. The deadly collision happened at 3.06am yesterday, September 1, on Soi Chaiyapreuk 2, Huay Yai. Local police and rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rushed to the scene. The aftermath of the crash was dramatic, with tyre marks stretching over 10…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya eyes one-way system traffic shake-up to Soi Buakhao
Local government officials in Pattaya are considering extending their new one-way traffic system, currently operating on Soi 11 (Soi Honey) and Soi 13 (Soi Diana Inn), to Soi Buakhao. The move follows a successful trial and positive feedback from residents. Led by Anupong Phutthanavarat, the Pattaya City Council’s Committee on Administration and Public Safety recently visited these streets to evaluate…
- Phuket News
Tragic end to holiday: Saudi tourist found dead on Phuket beach
A Saudi tourist’s holiday in Phuket ended in tragedy yesterday evening when his body was discovered on Karon Beach. The grim find was made near the Naga Statue around 6.05pm, yesterday, September 1, prompting an immediate response from the emergency services. Karon Police Chief Khundet na Nongkhai and Deputy Chief Wiwat Chamnankit, along with rescue workers from Karon Municipality and…
- Thailand News
Surin teacher scoops 30 million baht lottery prize
A new millionaire has emerged in Surin after scooping a 30 million baht lottery prize in the September 1 draw. The lucky individual secured the first prize of the government lottery with five winning tickets. Surin has once again lived up to its reputation as the “first-prize province.” Almost every lottery draw sees a winner from this region, and the…
- Thailand News
Hair-raising: Snip sensation wooes all with buxom charm
A barbershop in Khon Kaen has become a community sensation, attracting numerous customers with the allure of its sexy buxom barber. The shop, known as Haircut Big Breasts, has garnered a loyal following thanks to the skills and charm of Ratana Vichasri. Located in Moo 16, Ban Kut Kuang, Pracha Uthit Soi, Mueang Kao subdistrict, Mueang district, in Khon Kaen…
- Phuket News
Phuket taxi driver tussle turns streets into a brawl zone (video)
The streets of Phuket resembled more like a battle scene today than a picturesque holiday resort after a furious brawl broke out between local taxi drivers and foreign tourists, raising fresh concerns about visitor safety. What started as a squabble quickly spiralled into a full-blown fight, drawing a large crowd of shocked onlookers. Wichit Police stepped in today, August 30,…
- Business News
Krungsri’s card charge: Loan surge despite economic strain
The unsecured loan arm of Bank of Ayudhya, Krungsri Consumer, is predicting a spike in credit card loans in the second half of the year, despite the economy limping along and new rules raising the minimum payments. Currently, Krungsri’s non-performing loan (NPL) rate is a lowly 1.4%, far better than the industry average of 2.9%. Atis Ruchirawat, head honcho at…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok braces for river’s ride: Chao Phraya goes with the flow
Heavy flooding in northern Thailand is now wreaking havoc in Bangkok, with the capital bracing itself for the Chao Phraya River to burst its banks, according to the Royal Irrigation Department (RID). Floodwaters from the northern provinces are surging into Bangkok, spurred by a rushed discharge from the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat. This dam, crucial for regulating water…
- Thailand News
Tourists flying high from Thailand, face cannabis crackdown in UK
Tourists jetting into the United Kingdom from Thailand, Canada, and the United States are being slapped with stern warnings from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) about the severe penalties for smuggling cannabis. The heightened vigilance at UK airports sparked a massive surge in arrests and drug seizures, laying bare the zero-tolerance stance taken by the UK police. According to…
- Bangkok News
Methanol poisoning from homemade hooch causes 6 deaths in Bangkok
Police are investigating an alarming rise in methanol poisoning cases linked to homemade alcohol in Bangkok’s Khlong Sam Wa district. Six people have died, and several others are critically ill after consuming the contaminated liquor. Yesterday, August 28, at Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital, Pairoj Suratnawanich, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Medical Services, confirmed that 22 patients are currently receiving…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya City launches flood relief donation points for North Thailand
Pattaya City is rallying together with Bang Lamung district, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, and Pattaya Police Station to launch donation points for flood relief in North Thailand. The initiative, spearheaded by Pattaya City Mayor Poramese Ngampiches, Prasert Thongthitcharoen of the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, and Petty Officer 1st Class Pittayaphon Kokaew, Bang Lamung District Chief, aims to bring aid…
- Phuket News
Phuket deadly landslide leaves officials scrambling for answers (video)
Government officials in Phuket are urgently consulting experts to investigate a mountaintop disaster where 13 people, including several foreign nationals, were tragically killed in recent landslides. Provincial Governor Sophon Suwannarat announced that the provincial office is reaching out to the permanent secretary of natural resources and environment to enlist expert help in probing the cause of the landslides and preventing…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s TV turmoil calls for a channel change in AV rules
Thailand’s television landscape is in turmoil, and a new study says it’s time for a fresh set of rules to manage the booming audio-visual (AV) market, including streaming platforms, geo-satellite broadcasts, and digital terrestrial TV (DTT). The report, commissioned by the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and carried out by SCF Associates, was made public yesterday.…
- Thailand News
Thai bus firms under siege as Chinese rivals drive them up the wall
The Thai bus industry is under siege with Chinese bus operators flooding the market with cut-rate prices and dodgy tactics, leaving Thai companies struggling to keep up. The Thai Transportation Operators Association has sounded the alarm on this cut-throat competition. Wasuchet Sophonsathien, the association’s president, laid bare the ongoing crisis. Illegal foreign bus operators are muscling in on the market,…
- Bangkok News
Thai cops ‘bud’ out Taiwanese cannabis smugglers in Bangkok bust
Immigration officials in Thailand, in collaboration with other agencies, snagged two Taiwanese nationals in a high-stakes cannabis smuggling operation. The suspects were arrested in Bangkok’s Bang Rak and Din Daeng districts and now face serious charges for planning to export a controlled drug without permission and overstaying their visas. The bust came after a tip-off from a vigilant citizen who…
- Thailand News
No need to panic, flood’s just a ‘ripple’ in northern Thailand
The Government of Thailand urged residents not to panic after the recent deluge in the north of the country, adding it won’t flood Bangkok or its neighbouring provinces. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai declared that the caretaker administration has everything under control. With waters wreaking havoc in Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, and Sukhothai, the emergency services are stepping up…
- Business News
EV battery boom: Can AI help Thailand drive to the top?
Thailand is revving up for a major geopolitical boost by focusing on electric vehicle (EV) batteries and auto components, including integrated circuit packaging and testing. According to Taiwan’s Profet AI, the key to speeding up product delivery, slashing costs, and raising standards lies in adopting cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) amid ongoing economic headwinds. Jerry Huang, co-founder and CEO of Profet…
- Thailand News
Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper’s laughing gas caper goes up in smoke
A Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper has been caught red-handed peddling balloons stuffed with nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, without a licence, and it’s no laughing matter! Rangsiman Jaisamer was busted by police in his Haad Rin shop early today, August 22, where officers discovered two cylinders of the giggly gas and a stash of balloons ready for sale.…
- Thailand News
Tragedy strikes the Chao Phraya River: Two dead in jet ski collision
A devastating jet ski accident on the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan’s Phra Pradaeng district on Saturday night claimed the lives of two people. The jet ski, operated by 21 year old Shindanai Sae Lim, smashed into a small boat, raising serious concerns about his qualifications to handle the watercraft. The Provincial Marine Office’s Samut Prakan Branch acted promptly,…
- Thailand News
Gun-toting dad holds daughter hostage in Bangkok standoff
A dramatic hostage situation unfolded yesterday in Lat Krabang Soi 16, Bangkok, as a father armed with a gun held his ten year old daughter captive inside their home. Police swiftly cordoned off the area, barring any unrelated individuals from entering the tense scene. The alarming incident came to light when the child’s mother alerted the police, reporting that her…
- Thailand News
Passenger found dead on Bangkok to Hat Yai bus route
A grim discovery was made on a Bangkok-Hat Yai bus route when a passenger found the person seated next to them had died during the journey. The horrifying incident prompted immediate action, leading to police and medical intervention. Sarayuth Thaneerat, Deputy Inspector of Chian Yai Police Station in Nakhon Si Thammarat, at 6.30am yesterday, August 18, received a report of…
- Pattaya News
Irishman’s fatal fall leaves Pattaya hotel guests stunned
Tragedy struck a swanky 5-star hotel in Pattaya in the early hours of this morning when an Irishman plunged to his death from the 31st floor. The Irishman, Michael Browne, shocked hotel staff and patrons as he fell to his death from the 31st floor today, August 19. The shocking incident, which has left the Pattaya police baffled, raises questions…
