- Crime News
Fruitless: Tourists they face jail time for bringing fruits to Thailand, govt warns
The Thai government issued a warning to tourists that it would be fruitless to bring fruits into Thailand unless they wanted to go to jail. The Department of Agriculture specifically stated that transporting fresh fruit into Thailand without a phytosanitary certificate could result in a fine of 20,000 baht or a jail sentence of one year. The director-general of the…
- Crime News
RTP warns public to be vigilant ahead of Songkran after 312 million baht stolen in online scams
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) cautioned the public to be extra vigilant ahead of the Songkran Festival after scammers last week fraudulently stole over 310 million baht in online extortion. The RTP reported over 5,300 fraud cases were reported by victims last week, with most complaints related to online shopping and bank transfer scams. Yesterday, Pol. Lt. Gen. Sompong Chingduang,…
- Songkran News
Bangkok backpacker haven Khao San Road to close from noon to 8pm for Songkran
Khao San Business Association today announced that the Bangkok backpacker haven will be closed for business between noon and 8pm every day so revellers can enjoy the Songkran celebrations. Businesses, bars and restaurants will reopen as usual straight after the 8pm cut off. Khao San Business Association President Sanga Ruangwattanakul revealed that the closure of Khao San Road, for the…
- Crime News
RTA suspends AWOL sergeant major turned cyberpunk after hacking 55 million Thais’ personal data
The sergeant major turned cyberpunk who was accused of hacking the personal data of 55 million Thais has been suspended by the Royal Thai Army (RTA). Police on Friday reported that the suspect and his wife were detained and questioned about the alleged crime, but the couple has since disappeared. Maj. Gen. Sirichan Ngathong, the deputy spokesperson, stated that “SM2…
- Songkran News
South Korean Embassy in Thailand ‘boogies’ to celebrate Songkran Festival (video)
The South Korean Embassy in Thailand got down and boogied in preparation for this week’s Songkran Festival. The embassy staff, including the South Korean Ambassador to Thailand, Moon Seoung-hyun, got into the Thai New Year festive spirit by taking part in the traditional “Ram Thai” dance. The two-minute video went viral, receiving over 400,000 views in just four days on…
- Tourism News
Airline industry blames rising costs for expensive airfares, is this true?
Expensive airfares look set to stay for the foreseeable future according to the airline industry. The industry is trotting out the usual excuses that the recent spike in expensive ticket prices is attributed to a rise in operational costs, including surging fuel prices and other factors. Nok Air CEO, Wutthiphum Jurangkool, cited a surge in prices for aviation supply chain…
- Crime News
Police capture one suspect in cop with a grudge killings in southern Thailand
UPDATE: Police managed to capture one of the two suspects on the run in the cop with a grudge killings in southern Thailand. Pol. Snr. Sgt. Maj. Atthaporn Wichian remains at large but police managed to arrest his accomplice Manop Wang-ngan at 2pm yesterday at a house in Thap Put district, Phang Nga province. Both men are wanted in connection…
- Crime News
Two more shot dead in tragic family dispute linked to southern Thailand massacre
Two more people have been found shot dead linked to the tragic family dispute which led to the killing of four people by a cop with a grudge in southern Thailand. The most recent victims identified are the wife and son of the main suspect, a police officer assigned to the Khirirat Nakhom Police Station in Surat Thani. Both individuals were…
- Tourism News
Efforts doubled to preserve Koh Kradan, the Best Beach of Earth 2023
Koh Kradan took centre stage last week after being voted the “best beach” on earth. Now, Hat Chao Mai National Park made public it is doubling its effort to ensure it stays at the top of the list by preserving the beach and the surrounding area’s ecosystem. Hat Chao Mai National Park chief Prit Narasrit Koh Kradan revealed the marine…
- Thailand Weather Updates
Thailand braces for thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) urged residents in the North, East, and central regions of Thailand to be prepared for thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail over the coming days. A moderate high-pressure system from China is moving over the northeast and eastern parts of Thailand and the South China Sea, causing southerly and southeasterly winds that bring moisture from the…
- Crime News
Police officer’s grudge turns deadly: Four killed in tragic family dispute in southern Thailand
A tragic family dispute led to the killing of four people by a police officer with a grudge in southern Thailand. The incident occurred over the weekend when four men were shot dead by a police officer attached to the Khirirat Nakhom Police Station in Surat Thani and his three accomplices. According to Provincial Police Region 8 commissioner Pol. Lt.…
- Crime News
Cyberpunk data thief allegedly an army sergeant
The cyberpunk who hacked into a government database and threatened to release the personal data of 55 million Thai people is believed to be an army sergeant. Police held the unnamed army sergeant and his wife this morning in relation to hacking the personal data of 55 million Thais and putting the information up for sale on April 5 under…
- Crime News
Early morning raid captures illegal foreign workers at a Pattaya market
An early morning raid at Amon Nakhon fresh market in Pattaya by Chon Buri Immigration officials and Bang Lamung Police Station led to the capture of seven illegal foreign workers. Police reported the surprise raid was conducted at 6am on Wednesday and seven illegal migrants were arrested. Officers searched the market and nearby shops which saw workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam,…
- Tourism News
PM’s plan to tackle soaring cost of air ticket prices in Thailand
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has taken charge to address the soaring prices of air tickets with a comprehensive five-point plan. The plan comes after Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate informed the ministry of the measures taken and those in the pipeline to address the substantial hikes due to the surge in demand after the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent decision…
- Economy News
Big Oil Majors production cuts, what this means to airfares
The recent move by the Big Oil Majors to cut production by over one million barrels a day as a “precautionary” measure to stabilize the oil market will have a domino effect on airfares, according to industry experts. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) yesterday announced plans to lower oil production by 1.16 million barrels per day, starting…
- Crime News
Crooked trail of corruption uncovered after cops arrest bent revenue director for soliciting bribes
Royal Thai Police (RTP) yesterday uncovered a crooked trail of corruption worth 7 million baht following the arrest of an alleged bent government revenue director. RTP officers arrested, Pramual Saengkaewsri, a director in the Ratchathewi district of Bangkok on Wednesday in a hotel carpark as part of a police sting. The 57 year old was apprehended for soliciting bribes amounting to 3 million baht from a…
- Technology News
Thai-lizing industries with AI: The future is machine-made
Thailand is looking toward artificial intelligence (AI) to boost economic growth and the kingdom’s vision to become the globe’s fifth-largest economy by 2027. The government underlines AI as a major tool to boost its economy to automate processes, reduce costs, and increase productivity, all of which can help to increase economic growth. AI can be used to provide more accurate…
- World News
Thailand chips away at US trade deficit with 62% increase in chip market exports
The United States has been experiencing a growing deficit in its chipmaking trade with Asia, but the good news is that Thailand is helping to chip away at that gap. According to US Census data, US imports of chips grew 17% from last year to US$4.86 billion in February, with Asia accounting for 83% of that total. Over the past…
- Economy News
Power struggle: JSCCIB takes on govt to lower electricity prices
Tensions are running high in Thailand as the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has declared war on the government in a bid to bring down the nation’s soaring electricity prices. The committee, comprised of representatives from major business groups, is asking Prime Minister Prayut Chan o cha to reconsider the electricity bill calculation and reduce the…
- Crime News
Rogue cop with gambling addiction jailed for 50 years for gun theft
A rogue cop with a gambling addiction was sentenced to 270 years in prison for theft and illegal possession of 160 firearms. He will only serve 50 years as allowed under Thai law. Senior sergeant major Chaowarit Phumkajorn, from Pak Kret Police Station in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, was arrested in October in the Isaan province of Nong Khai after reportedly selling…
- Crime News
Surviving a sinister husband and a Thai cliff fall: A Chinese woman’s incredible resilience
A Chinese woman is finally on her feet and on the road to recovery after the trauma of being pushed off a cliff in Thailand in 2019 by a sinister ex-con husband only interested in her wealth. Wang Nan spent the past four years of her life trying to survive her life-threatening ordeal and rebuilding and rehabilitating her life after…
- Songkran News
10-wheelers banned on six roads to reduce Songkran traffic and accidents
In an effort to alleviate traffic congestion and prevent accidents, the use of large vehicles with ten or more wheels has been prohibited on six roads during the Songkran holidays. The national police chief, Damrongsak Kittiprapas, announced his role as head of the traffic police after it was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, reported The Nation. The restricted…
- World News
FDA warns hair colouring enthusiasts in Thailand to avoid South Korean products that cause cancer
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Thailand has issued a warning to hair colouring enthusiasts after discovering that three South Korean hair-dyeing products contain cancer-causing chemicals. The FDA identified the products as Seedbee’s Water Colouring Medium Brown and Seedbee’s Water Colouring Wine Brown, both produced by Soky C&T Co Ltd, and Mielle Professional’s Blondie Anne Treatment Colour Cream, manufactured…
- Thailand News
Pattaya Police on the hunt for thief who stole 30,000 baht from Darul Ibadah Mosque
Pattaya Police are hunting a light-fingered Thai thief who robbed Darul Ibadah Mosque on Pattaya Central Road of 30,000 baht. At 2.25am on Sunday, April 2, the thief stole 30,000 baht from two donation boxes and took a third box with him, in addition to causing 10,000 baht in damage, reported Pattaya Mail. Mosque executives, Thawat Ratchaneekorn, Na Ayutthaya, and…
- World News
Smuggled pork seizure in Thailand sparks fears of African swine fever
Royal Thai Police yesterday blocked a racketeer’s attempt to smuggle 779 kilograms of pork into Thailand from Cambodia. The suspect, Soroun Suot, was caught driving his white Toyota truck on Highway 359 from Sa Kaew to Khao Hin Sorn, according to police. The 42 year old Cambodian admitted to receiving the shipment from a contact at the border in the…
- Politics News
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton calls Trump a “cancer on the Republican Party”
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton believes former President Donald Trump is a “cancer on the Republican Party” and says that it can only be cured if he steps aside from running as its presidential nominee. Trump, who promises to “make America great again,” is facing criminal charges in New York related to hush money allegedly paid to adult…
- Crime News
Pablo Escobar hippos: From drug lord’s collection to overseas sanctuaries for US$3.5 million (video)
Pablo Escobar was a notorious Colombian drug lord who became one of the wealthiest and most powerful criminals in history: he was also an animal lover. During his heyday in the 1980s, he famously owned a large collection of exotic animals, including elephants, giraffes, and hippopotami. If Escobar was a problem for the authorities when he was alive then so…
- Automotive
Thai auto industry shows resilience in 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show
The 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show came to an end on Sunday, and the numbers show that the Thai automotive industry is making a strong comeback. Car and motorcycle bookings increased by more than 35% year-on-year to 45,983 units, a figure attributed to an improving economy and the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs). Jaturon Komolmit, Vice-Chairman of Grand Prix…
- Crime News
Cunning scammer hoodwinks Pattaya food stall vendor out of life savings
A cunning scammer hoodwinked a food stall vendor in Pattaya out of her life savings. Sakorn Kanawapee fell victim to a persuasive conman that resulted in her losing half a million baht. The 42 year old food stall vendor filed a complaint at Nongprue Police Station that 500,000 baht had been stolen from her bank account after installing a hacker’s…
- Crime News
Bangkok Police rescue 2 underage girls from prostitution ring
Bangkok Police swooped on a karaoke bar in the capital’s Don Mueang district and rescued two underage teenage girls forced into prostitution. The mamasan, who is said to have been orchestrating the operation, has been charged with multiple offences, including human trafficking. Acting on a tip from informants who believed that the establishment was involved in human trafficking, officers descended…
