Posts published in “Thailand”

What began as a routine bank trip in Mae Sot turned into the unraveling of a call-centre con that duped a retired Buriram teacher out of a life-changing sum. In a recent operation in Tak province, police arrested two women tied to a sophisticated scam that persuaded the teacher to download an app and transfer 500,000 baht — all under the guise of accessing government welfare through the Buriram Teachers’ Savings Cooperative. The scheme: convincing, clinical and cruel The con artists played a familiar psychological game: impersonation plus urgency. The victim received a call from someone claiming to represent the Buriram Teachers’ Savings Cooperative and was instructed to download a mobile application to “receive welfare.” Trusting the voice on the line, she followed the instructions and transferred 500,000 baht. Only later did her bank flag suspicious activity and alert her — by then the money had already changed hands. How…

Thailand is gearing up for a nationwide emergency alert test today, January 20, at 2pm — so if your phone suddenly belts out a spine-tingling tone, don’t start composing your last texts just yet. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has confirmed the planned drill to evaluate the Cell Broadcast emergency alert system, the tech that delivers automatic, location-based warnings straight to mobile devices. Here’s what to expect: at 14:00 sharp, mobile phones across all provinces will emit a loud alarm lasting roughly eight seconds and display an on-screen message clarifying the situation. The alert will read, “This is a test message from Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), not a real situation. No action required.” The message will appear even if your phone is muted, locked, or set to vibration — by design, so nobody in the path of danger misses it during an actual emergency.…

Hua Hin’s sleepy seaside calm was briefly punctured on January 18 when immigration officers quietly moved in to arrest a Swedish national who had reportedly been keeping to his room and raising eyebrows among neighbours. The man, identified only as Noah, was taken into custody after Region 3 Immigration Police followed up on tip-offs that the foreign resident was hiding out in Prachuap Khiri Khan — and, as it turned out, also hiding from justice back home. Neighbours, curiosity and the smell that started it all Local residents had lodged complaints about a foreign man who rarely left his unit and generated an unpleasant odor that drifted down the corridor: cannabis. The constant scent, combined with the man’s reclusive behaviour, made neighbours uneasy enough to contact authorities. Those civilian reports prompted immigration investigators to look closer — and they soon uncovered a far more serious reason to act. Wanted in…

The first snows have dusted the Swiss Alps and Davos is humming again. At the 56th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, held from 19–23 January under the timely banner “A Spirit of Dialogue,” the global conversation is anything but small talk. World leaders, CEOs, and thinkers — more than 100 governments and over 1,000 leading corporations among them — are converging to wrestle with the twin storms of rapid technological change and geopolitical uncertainty. Amid this high-stakes bustle, Thailand is polishing its image not just as a supplier of goods, but as a strategic partner ready to help steer tomorrow’s economic architecture. A clear strategy in a noisy room Dr Kirita Phaophichit, assistant minister to the Ministry of Commerce, has neatly mapped out Thailand’s game plan for Davos: three pillars that together signal a more ambitious, outward-facing Kingdom. These pillars — digital leadership, climate-conscious trade, and a shift from food…

Thailand’s 2026 election is doing something it always does best: capturing attention at home and abroad while quietly rewriting the economic and political playbook. Investors, tourists, and regional neighbours are all leaning in, not just to see who will sit in the palace of government, but to gauge the direction of the country’s growth, stability, and international posture as it navigates a complicated global landscape. Why the world is watching Foreign institutions aren’t tuning in for the campaign slogans — they’re watching for signals. Will the incoming administration champion continuity, or will it retool policy to accelerate Thailand’s move into higher-value, tech-driven industries? The answers will shape everything from stock market mood swings in Bangkok to long-term Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows. Analysts expect a short-term lift for markets — the so-called “January effect” combined with election optimism often nudges equities higher. But beyond the immediate bounce, what matters is…

It was a dramatic sky show that ended with a very tired guest. On the morning of January 19, residents of Chiang Thong subdistrict in Wang Chao district, Tak province, witnessed a majestic, pale-winged silhouette cruising the low clouds—only for the spectacle to take a worrying turn. The bird, later confirmed as a Himalayan Griffon Vulture, glided with its wings spread wide before crash-landing behind a home and collapsing, apparently too exhausted to carry on. Homeowner Boonluea was the first to notice the commotion. He recalled the sound of frantic wing beats and a flock of crows apparently giving chase, prompting the large vulture to seek refuge on a teak tree behind his property. It stayed there for a while, then suddenly lost its grip and tumbled to the ground. For several minutes the giant bird lay motionless, giving onlookers a stomach-tightening pause—until, slowly, it rose to its feet. Keeping…

What was supposed to be a sparkling moment beneath Phuket’s fireworks turned into a nightmare for one young couple at Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) on Saturday, January 17. A meticulously planned proposal—complete with a diamond ring worth about 300,000 baht—was derailed when a pickpocket slipped in among the crowd and walked away with the ring, a Louis Vuitton wallet, nine credit cards, and more. The victim’s girlfriend, who goes by Acare Alice on Facebook, shared the couple’s story on January 18. According to her post, the pair had only just arrived and were heading toward a designated proposal photo spot when the theft occurred. While fireworks exploded overhead and glowsticks lit the night, a foreign man allegedly bumped into the boyfriend twice—hard enough to almost make him stumble. At the time, neither of them thought the incidental brush was anything more than clumsy festival etiquette. Moments later, however, the boyfriend’s…

A quiet, misty morning at Ayutthaya Historical Park turned tragic on January 19 when a 51-year-old female tourist was found dead among the centuries-old ruins. What began as a routine patrol and early visitors arriving to admire temple spires became a somber discovery for park staff and responders. The discovery Authorities were alerted at about 7:30 a.m. after a woman was found unresponsive inside the park in Ban Pom subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district. Rescue workers, medical personnel and police arrived to find the woman leaning against an ancient structure, wearing a white shirt, black trousers, a grey scarf patterned with hearts and glasses. There were visible wounds on her left arm and a significant amount of blood at the scene. Identification recovered from her bag confirmed she was 51-year-old Kanyanat from Sisaket province. In addition to personal ID, officers located a life insurance card, prescribed medication, a box…