- Pattaya News
Booze-fuelled bromance ends in bloody Brit brawl tragedy
Tragedy struck in the early hours of September 27 as a raucous row between two supposed mates spiralled into violence, leaving an Australian man dead at the hands of his British drinking partner. The unnamed Aussie and his 29 year old British friend were enjoying a beer-fuelled evening when things took a sinister twist outside their hotel in the notorious…
- Pattaya News
Barking up the wrong tree: Fatal dog attacks shock Thailand, spark legal review
Two tragic dog attacks in Thailand over the past week have sent shockwaves through the nation, prompting widespread concern and calls for scrutiny of the country’s legal framework surrounding such incidents. These heartbreaking events have cast a spotlight on the duties and liabilities of dog owners under Thai law. In Thailand, the buck stops with the dog owner when their…
- Pattaya News
Thai man arrested for armed Pattaya motorcycle robbery
A 46 year old Thai man has been arrested for allegedly holding a woman at knifepoint and robbing her of her motorcycle and cash near Pattaya. The Huai Yai police swooped in on Chae Khongouamthangam yesterday, September 29, in the Huai Yai area of Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Chae stands accused of stealing a red-and-black Honda Wave motorcycle…
- Thailand News
Concrete casualty: Driver crushed in Cherng Talay mixer mishap
In a devastating accident today at a Cherng Talay construction site, a concrete mixer truck driver lost his life when his vehicle overturned, trapping him underneath. Khannuch, from Phetchabun Province, met a tragic end after the ground gave way, causing his truck to topple into a 4-metre-deep pit. Cherng Talay police received an urgent distress call at approximately 11.10am and…
- Thailand News
Beetle mania: Thailand sago beetles set to crawl onto global menus
In a sensational twist of culinary trends, the humble sago beetle is poised to go global! Scientifically known as Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliver, these critters, dubbed pin-hole borers or true weevils, are a Southern Thai delicacy also referred to as lan beetles. Edible insects are the buzz in Thailand’s southern provinces, where sago beetles are farmed en masse. Packed with healthy…
- Thailand News
Wire we in the dark? Heist leaves Phuket underpass powerless
In a shocking turn of events, brazen thieves have plunged the bustling Darasamut Underpass into chaos, swiping electrical wires from the control room and causing a temporary power outage earlier today. The sneaky heist came to light when a worker from the Phuket Highways Office alerted Wichit Police to the power failure striking the tunnel around 7.40am, today, September 30.…
- Thailand News
Shock drama in Phuket: Man rescued after electrocution
Emergency services in Phuket leapt into action yesterday after a man was electrocuted and left dangling from a power pole in Soi Nai Thon 3, Sakhu. The alarming incident was reported to the Phuket Provincial Police emergency call centre around 9.10am, yesterday, September 29 via the 191 hotline. Officers from the Sakhu Police quickly rushed to the scene, situated outside…
- Thailand News
Car bomb blast rocks Tak Bai: Two soldiers injured in fiery attack
A car bomb exploded near the home of the Tak Bai district chief in Narathiwat late last night, leaving two soldiers injured and setting nearby houses ablaze. The explosion rocked Moo 3 village in Tambon Jeh Hay at 9.51pm, while district chief Jirat Siriwanlop was reportedly in Mueang district at the time. The blast severely injured Private Kantayot Binrim and…
- Business News
Thailand’s local businesses get a global boost: It’s time to trade up
Strengthening Thailand’s local businesses to compete on the global stage could be a game-changing strategy for revitalising the national economy, according to Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput. Sethaput is advocating for the implementation of “globally competitive localism,” a concept that leverages the strengths of local entrepreneurs, such as cultural assets, to create value-added products and services. This, he believes,…
- Business News
Used car market in a jam as electric vehicles spark trouble
The used car market is in dire straits, with a shocking downturn blamed on the economic slump, soaring non-performing loans (NPLs), and the growing allure of electric vehicles (EVs), warns Tris Rating. In a jaw-dropping revelation, used car hire-purchase firms have reported a staggering 93% plunge in profits year-on-year for the first half of 2024. Motorcycle hire-purchase companies haven’t fared…
- Thailand News
Adventure trip turns perilous as ATV overturns in fast stream
A group of employees narrowly escaped a life-threatening incident when their ATV overturned in a fast-flowing stream, leading to a rescue operation with no help from staff. The event has raised questions about the safety and licensing of adventure activity providers. On Tuesday, September 24, at a vehicle rental company in Sai Noi, Nonthaburi, Athiwat Sirikarnwanwong, the founder of the…
- Thailand News
Thailand car makers must shift into gear for EV production by 2026
In a bold move that’s set to shift gears in the automotive world, the Excise Department declared that car manufacturers cashing in on the government’s electric vehicle (EV) incentives must start cranking out key components right here in Thailand by 2026. That’s the word from Excise Department Director-General Ekniti Nitithanprapas. Ekniti has laid down the law, insisting that the electric…
- Business News
Baht-boom fallout: Thai economy in choppy waters after Fed slash
The economy is teetering on the edge as the surging Thai baht causes ripples across the nation. In the wake of a significant rate cut by the US Federal Reserve (Fed), local industries are now urging the Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to take swift action. For over a year, the MPC has held interest rates steady, but…
- Thailand News
Rail-y bad landslide derails Lampang-Chiang Mai train services
Travel chaos struck the northern rail line today as the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced an indefinite shutdown of services between Lampang and Chiang Mai due to a devastating landslide and severe flooding. The dramatic incident unfolded last night, wreaking havoc on the track between Mae Tan Noi Railway Station in Lampang and Tha Chompoo in Lamphun. The rail…
- Thailand News
Sketchy business: Cops arrest last suspect in decade-old human trafficking case
Police officers from the Anti Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) triumphantly captured the last suspect in a gruesome decade-old human trafficking case, ending an exhaustive month-long chase. Their breakthrough? A single clue: a sketch of an unidentified woman, said Police Major General Sarut Kwaengsopha, the ATPD commander after the suspect was arrested in Samut…
- Transport News
Throttle trouble: Thai motorists hit the brakes on new car buys
Thai motorists are hitting the brakes on new car purchases due to economic jitters, revealed in a new report by Differential (Thailand) Co Ltd, a data analytics, technology, and research firm. The 2024 Customer Experience Report, which polled over 2,500 Thai car buyers from November 2020 to December 2022, found that a whopping 70% of respondents intend to buy a…
- Phuket News
Washed up: Risso’s dolphin meets tragic end on Kata Noi Beach
Tragedy struck the shores of Thailand as officials confirmed yesterday the discovery of a rare Risso’s dolphin carcass, tragically entangled in a pile of rubbish on Kata Noi Beach in Phuket. Residents and lifeguards sounded the alarm around 7am, yesterday, September 22, alerting the Rare and Endangered Marine Animals Group, part of the Upper Andaman Marine and Coastal Resources Research…
- Road deaths
Teacher dies in motorcycle crash after party in East Thailand
In a heartbreaking turn of events, a much-loved teacher from Laem Chabang Municipal School 1 lost his life in a devastating motorcycle crash in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. The tragic accident happened in the early hours of yesterday, September 22, at 1.29am, sparking an immediate response from Bang Lamung police and the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rescue team.…
- Thailand News
British man’s high-stakes Thailand trip goes up in smoke
A British man was dramatically arrested at Heathrow Airport after allegedly attempting to smuggle a staggering £1 million (44 million baht) worth of cannabis into the country –while travelling with his two young children. Nathaniel Benson, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, had just landed from Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, September 18, when sharp-eyed Border Force officers swooped. Officers claim they discovered…
- Thailand News
Smoke gets in your eyes: Rayong residents warned of toxic blaze
Residents near the Thai Plastic and Chemicals Plc plant in Rayong’s Mueang district have been urged to steer clear of toxic smoke following a fire sparked by a gas leak. The drama unfolded at the company’s facility within the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate. The firm has issued a warning, advising locals to either stay indoors or don face masks…
- Thailand News
Crash course in chaos: 22-wheeled truck causes traffic jam
A 22-wheeled truck collided with 16 other vehicles yesterday, causing mayhem and gridlock on Kanchanaphisek Road in Samut Prakan’s Phra Pradaeng district. The chaos unfolded around 5pm, yesterday, September 22, on the Bang Phli-Suksawat stretch of the southern ring road, with rescue teams rushing to the scene after receiving frantic reports. The crash forced a complete closure of the road…
- Economy News
Baht-boom: Thailand’s currency surge leaves tourism, exports short
Thailand’s baht is rocketing towards its biggest quarterly rise since the Asian financial crisis, a development that has key tourism and export industries clutching their pearls. Since the end of June, the baht has surged 10% against the dollar, its most significant gain since early 1998. This sudden leap has prompted frantic appeals from the tourism, hotel sectors, and business…
- Thailand News
Round-the-clock hippo-cam! Moo Deng’s 24/7 stream delights fans (video)
Fans of pygmy hippopotamus sensation Moo Deng are in for a treat as the hippo’s zoo owners announced they intend to video their star attraction 24/7 after the income from visitors reached almost 13 million baht. Zoo officials have announced they’ll keep cameras rolling around the clock to capture every adorable, wobbly moment. Today, September 20, at 11.30am, Narongwit Chodchoi,…
- Thailand News
Biggus dickus: Rogue penis enlargement doc gets shafted by cops
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) busted a rogue operator offering dubious penis enlargement procedures to men looking for a bigger package. Unfortunately, one victim, seeking a bit of extra length, has been left with painful infections rather than a bigger pecker. Heading the charge, Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Phuridet and Police Major General…
- Thailand News
Fire at Sisaket electric bike shop causes million-baht damage
A fire broke out at an electric motorcycle shop, quickly spreading to a nearby mobile phone store and a bank, resulting in millions of baht in damages. Police are investigating the cause of the blaze that occurred yesterday, September 19, at 5.30pm. The incident took place in a two-storey building in the town of Rasisalai, Sisaket province. The fire reportedly…
- Thailand News
Virtual bank brawl: Thailand’s money movers make their pitch
Competition for virtual bank licences in Thailand is reaching fever pitch, with five heavyweight business groups stepping forward just before the application deadline. The Bank of Thailand and the Ministry of Finance are set to issue an undisclosed number of licences, with the winners announced in the first half of next year. Successful applicants will have a year to kick-start…
- Thailand News
Doctors on a mission: Time for a prescription for change
A group of furious doctors launched a passionate petition to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, demanding urgent action to tackle the dire state of Thailand’s public health system. Spearheaded by Clinical Professor Emeritus Dr Amnaj Kussalanan, a former president of the Medical Council of Thailand, the petition was formally handed over at the Ministry of Public Health, where Dr Watchai Charoonwattana,…
- Thailand News
All that glitters: Thai gold prices steady, not budging an ounce
Gold prices in Thailand are holding their ground today, with rates remaining flat compared to yesterday’s close. Jewellery gold is trading at 41,050 baht per baht-weight, according to an early morning update from the Gold Traders Association (GTA) at 9.04am. The price of gold bars stands firm at 40,450 baht for buying and 40,550 baht for selling, mirroring yesterday’s figures.…
- Bangkok News
Brakes off: Bangkok’s car free day lets tourists cruise sans traffic
Bangkok is revving up for Car Free Day this weekend on Banthat Thong Road, offering a vehicle-free zone for tourists to cruise around and soak up various activities. The event, dubbed Bangkok Car Free 2024: Connecting for Life, aligns with the annual World Car Free Day on September 22, according to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesperson Aekvarunyoo Amrapala. In a…
- Thailand News
Tak Bai tragedy: Thai officials to face music over deadly crackdown
The Government of Thailand is set to prosecute eight former security personnel for their alleged roles in the notorious Tak Bai crackdown nearly 20 years ago, where 78 protesters met a grim fate, suffocating or being crushed in overloaded army trucks, according to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). Among those facing serious charges are six soldiers and two…
