The sleepy town of Ubon Ratchathani awoke to a scandalous shabu restaurant heist, right out of a small-town mystery novel. The plot thickens with Natthaphon Wongko, a 20-year-old, ex-head waiter turned master of nighttime mischief. Local authorities have cracked the case, catching Natthaphon red-handed in a tale that blends petty crime with the drama of a soap opera. Our young protagonist, Natthaphon, chose a path a bit unconventional for a former food service professional. Out of work and inspired by desperation, he decided to revisit his former stomping grounds at Nai Noi Shabu on Phalochai Road in the Mueang district. But this time, it wasn’t for tips or to refill patrons’ water glasses. With the creative use of a stone, he shattered the glass front, committing a succinctly executed break-in on the night of January 12. Panupon Khokluecha, the 30-year-old owner of Nai Noi Shabu, discovered the disarray on the…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In an unexpected twist, Japan has overtaken Thailand as the top travel destination for Chinese tourists in 2024, marking a seismic shift in travel trends. This isn’t just a dethroning; it’s a full-blown coup in the realm of Asian tourism! Last year, the Land of the Rising Sun embraced a staggering 6.98 million Chinese visitors, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation. That’s a jaw-dropping 188% increase. Imagine the planes landing like clockwork, packed with eager adventurers ready to immerse themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of Japan! Poor Thailand, meanwhile, found itself playing catch-up as the once-dominant choice. The country reported 6.73 million Chinese visitors, according to its Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Thailand now faces a new reality, one where it’s no longer the belle of the ball for Chinese tourists. Concerns about human traffickers reportedly using Thailand as a transit point may have contributed to this decline,…
In what feels like a scene ripped straight out of a convoluted romantic drama, a high-ranking police officer in the scenic province of Lopburi found himself tangled in an intricate web of relationships and intrigue. The heart of this plot thickens with Police Lance Corporal John, a 24-year-old officer from the Khok Salung Police Station, who suddenly found himself at the business end of a gun, quite literally, in an unexpected face-off with his senior, 57-year-old Police Captain Peerapong In-na. The incident unfolded in the rather dull setting of a welfare accommodation, adding a surreal twist to this tale of romance, rivalry, and revenge. John, our unsuspecting protagonist, turned to Channel 3 for help after the nerve-wracking encounter. Armed not with a weapon, but with compelling CCTV footage, John presented video evidence to the media. The recording captures the essence of the drama: Peerapong’s room, door ajar, reveals a candid…
Recently, whispers of sinister pamphlets cautioning locals to keep their distance from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during her upcoming tour of Thailand’s southern border provinces have been condemned as fabrications by local authorities. Allegedly, these leaflets popped up at central spots in Yala City, notably around the Yala Central Mosque, the Old Market’s lively Soi 5, and the bustling Jaru Community near Dhamma Foundation School. However, Colonel Kiattisak Niewong, the articulate mouthpiece for the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, poured cold water over these claims, declaring that no physical trace of these mysterious leaflets has surfaced. Echoing this sentiment, Yala’s deputy police chief, Police Colonel Supakorn Phuengros, offered his affirmation that no formal grievances were logged. “Following rigorous investigations with local community and religious figureheads, no leaflets have materialized. It’s apparent that this is a ruse engineered to incite unrest,” he explained confidently. These rumors started swirling on social…
In the tropical business landscape of Thailand, drama unfolds as the shareholders of two telecommunication behemoths, Advanced Info Service (AIS) and Thaicom, find themselves at a critical crossroads. The drama peaks when the boards of these giants deliver a firm thumbs down to lucrative acquisition offers extended by their parenting entities, Gulf Energy Development and Intouch Holdings. Imagine a bustling July morning when Gulf Energy, the financial juggernaut fueling Thaicom’s ambitions, and Intouch Holdings, the master puppeteer at the helm of AIS, declared a vision as grandiose as the tallest skyscraper in Bangkok. Their ambitious call? A merger aimed at crafting a telecom colossus commanding a jaw-dropping valuation of approximately 1.037 trillion baht, a figure as dizzying as a ride atop the iconic Baiyoke Tower II. Given the nod by the power-broker shareholders of Thai billionaire Sarath Ratanavadi’s Gulf Energy, the merger’s allure seemed hard to resist. This audacious gambit…
As the bustling heart of Bangkok undergoes a major transformation, the city’s landscape is set to change with the closure of the Ratchathewi intersection flyover. This development, aimed at facilitating the construction of the Ratchathewi underground electric train station, marks a significant milestone in Bangkok’s ambitious infrastructure projects. But, while the long-term benefits promise increased connectivity and improved transit, the immediate impact paints a picture of inevitable upheaval. Starting today, January 17, 2025, at 10 PM, this critical flyover will be shuttered to vehicles, and this state of affairs will persist until April 30, 2028—a hefty three-year stint. It’s a decision that has not been taken lightly, as city officials brace for a substantial traffic bottleneck. To mitigate the effects of this disruption, locals and visitors alike are recommended to explore alternative routes and heed the city’s detailed traffic management strategies. The Bangkok Deputy Governor, Wisanu Subsompol, recently held a…
In an audacious display of love gone astray, a Thai man with a serious case of wanderlust—and a penchant for picking the wrong methods—embarked on a misadventure that might make even the most dramatic soap operas blush. Hailing from the scenic southern province of Chumphon, this chap found himself under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. His heart was in the right place, or at least he thought so, but his method of pursuit? Let’s just say it involved a police report and some time behind bars. The tale begins with Prasart Kraiwilat, an officer at the illustrious Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, who experienced firsthand the pitfalls of leaving one’s car engine running unattended. His governmental duty called him briefly to Chumphon’s bustling main train station, where he left his trusty welfare pickup, assuming it would hold its ground. But in a twist that…
In a jaw-dropping episode that’s metaphorically testing the bars of the law, a man in Thailand found himself under the gaze of the Department of National Parks (DNP) for a rather unconventional joyride. You see, it wasn’t just any feline friend accompanying him on this intriguing trip, but a lion cub, prancing about the car with the early enthusiasm of a Disney character. Now, while heartwarming to some, this scene unveiled a can of worms leading the man smack into the wilderness of legislation breaches. The centerpiece of the saga, a wide-eyed lion cub, rose to virality after a Facebook post showcased its unexpected automotive adventure. Enchanted social media users oohed and aahed, their screens lighting up with this furry delight. But don’t let that cuteness overload fool you; alongside the ‘awws’ came a swipe from the law. Unfortunately, the digital evidence evaporated faster than you could say ‘where’s the…
The curious case of the vanishing act pulled by the renowned Chinese model, Yang Zeqi, has left not just his home country in a state of shock but has also rippled across international borders, sparking a gripping and urgent search. Yang’s enigmatic disappearance near the Thai-Myanmar border has unfolded into a global mystery, with his distraught father now fervently appealing to the Thai government for their invaluable assistance in bringing his son back. Yang’s father, fueled by hope and backed by legal prowess in the form of lawyer Ratchaphon Sirisakhon, has taken his plea directly to the ears of the esteemed Police General Kittharath Punpetch. The mission is clear: unravel the tangled threads of Yang’s disappearance that began shortly after he set his foot in the picturesque lands of Thailand just last month. This chilling conundrum evokes eerie similarities to a bygone ordeal of another Chinese star, Wang Xing, who…
In a thrilling development for aviation enthusiasts and frequent flyers alike, VietJet has soared to new heights by being honoured as one of the world’s safest airlines for 2025. This accolade comes courtesy of AirlineRatings, a global authority on airline safety and product ratings, which evaluated a staggering 385 airlines worldwide. So, what sets VietJet apart from the rest? Let’s dive into the details of this achievement and uncover the secret sauce that elevates VietJet among the stars of the sky. The announcement came hot off the press on January 16, and it was music to the ears of VietJet, as they now find themselves rubbing shoulders with esteemed names in the low-cost carrier category like Ryanair, easyJet, and Frontier Airlines. These carriers are all recognized for their unwavering commitment to safety, earning them spots in the upper echelon of airline rankings. VietJet’s achievement underscores its unwavering dedication to prioritizing…