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Nestlé Wins Legal Battle Over Nescafé Rights in Thailand File picture for reference only. Nestlé has regained the exclusive right to distribute Nescafé in Thailand following a high-profile legal dispute that has gripped the country’s business community. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1357692-nestlé-wins-legal-battle-over-nescafé-rights-in-thailand/

Man Dies After Jumping from Abandoned Eight-Storey Building in Phuket A 42-year-old Thai man has died after jumping from the top of an abandoned eight-storey building near the Makro wholesale store in Phuket on the evening of 12 April. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1357691-man-dies-after-jumping-from-abandoned-eight-storey-building-in-phuket/

Seven-Year-Old Boy Drowns in Ayutthaya Canal A heartbreaking incident unfolded in Bang Pahan District, Ayutthaya Province, when the body of a seven-year-old boy was discovered floating in an irrigation canal, hours after he had gone missing. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1357690-seven-year-old-boy-drowns-in-ayutthaya-canal/

Family of Three Trapped in Car Wreck After Father Falls Asleep at the Wheel A family of three was left seriously injured after a shocking early morning crash in Nakhon Si Thammarat, when a sleep-deprived father nodded off while driving and lost control of his vehicle, slamming into a tree. The incident took place on Route 401 in Tha Sala District and left the family’s car crumpled. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1357689-family-of-three-trapped-in-car-wreck-after-father-falls-asleep-at-the-wheel/

Man Gunned Down in Buriram Hut, Police Suspect Revenge Motive Picture courtesy of Matichon. A 32-year-old man was fatally shot in what police believe may have been a revenge killing, following a late-night ambush at his remote field hut in Prakhon Chai district, Buriram province. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1357688-man-gunned-down-in-buriram-hut-police-suspect-revenge-motive/

Jealous Rage Ends in Brutal Murder and Attempted Cremation in Rural Khon Kaen Picture courtesy of Khoasod. A horrific murder has shocked the local community in Chum Phae district, Khon Kaen province, after a 60-year-old man was beaten to death and his body burned in a rubbish pit in what police describe as a crime of passion and jealousy. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1357687-jealous-rage-ends-in-brutal-murder-and-attempted-cremation-in-rural-khon-kaen/

Former Thai Buddhism Chief Arrested in Texas Hospital Over Temple Fund Corruption Scandal Picture courtesy of Matichon. In a dramatic development, former Director of Thailand’s National Office of Buddhism, Nopparat Benjawatananun, was arrested by US Marshals inside a hospital in Texas on 11 April. The arrest was made under a provisional warrant issued in connection with his involvement in a major corruption scandal involving misappropriated funds allocated for temple renovations and development projects, Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1357686-former-thai-buddhism-chief-arrested-in-texas-hospital-over-temple-fund-corruption-scandal/

One Dead, Two Injured in Four-Vehicle Pile-Up in Si Racha A serious road accident involving four vehicles has left one person dead and two others injured on Route 331 near the PT petrol station in Map Lang, heading towards Bo Win, in Si Racha District, Chonburi. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1357685-one-dead-two-injured-in-four-vehicle-pile-up-in-si-racha/

Man Gunned Down Outside His Home in Krabi, Police Suspect the Killer Knew Victim’s Routine A 51-year-old man was shot dead outside his home in Krabi province late on the night of 12 April in what police suspect was a targeted ambush. The assailant, or assailants, are believed to have lain in wait in a nearby oil palm plantation before opening fire with a shotgun. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1357684-man-gunned-down-outside-his-home-in-krabi-police-suspect-the-killer-knew-victim’s-routine/

Swiss Volunteers Join Locals in Forest Conservation Effort in Kanchanaburi Picture courtesy of Kaoded. A group of Swiss university students have joined hands with Thai environmental volunteers in Kanchanaburi province to carry out a nature conservation project aimed at protecting the local ecosystem and promoting sustainable forest management. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1357683-swiss-volunteers-join-locals-in-forest-conservation-effort-in-kanchanaburi/

Picture from responders. A 42-year-old Thai man has died after jumping from the top of an abandoned eight-storey building near the Makro wholesale store in Phuket on the evening of 12 April. At approximately 20:45 the Kusoldharm Foundation in Phuket received an emergency call reporting that someone had jumped from a disused high-rise structure located adjacent to the Makro complex in the city. Volunteers from the Kusoldharm rescue team were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of a Thai man, identified only as Boy, lying with his body smashed onto a low wall at ground level, after a fatal jump. Despite the rapid response, the man was found to have suffered severe head trauma from the impact and showed no signs of life. The building, which has long stood abandoned, is known to locals and authorities as a frequent location for trespassing and occasional reports of accidents or suspicious activity. At this stage, the full identity of the deceased has not been publicly released, and the circumstances leading to the event are under investigation. Police are working to determine whether foul play was involved or whether the fall was a result of suicide. If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress or depression. Seek out help. -- 2025-04-14

File picture for reference only. Nestlé has regained the exclusive right to distribute Nescafé in Thailand following a high-profile legal dispute that has gripped the country’s business community. The Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court has ruled in favour of the global food and beverage giant, declaring Nestlé the sole rightful owner of the “Nescafé” trademark in Thailand. The decision clears the way for Nestlé to resume production, importation, and sales of its popular instant coffee brand across the country. The ruling follows a long-standing dispute between Nestlé and the Mahagitsiri family, who co-founded Quality Coffee Products Co., Ltd. (QCP) in 1990. Under a longstanding agreement, QCP had been granted the rights to manufacture Nescafé in Thailand. However, Nestlé announced the termination of its agreement with QCP in 2021, which took full effect on 31 December 2024. After the contract ended, disagreements emerged between shareholders over QCP’s future operations. This led to Mr Chalermchai Mahagitsiri, a shareholder in QCP, filing a civil lawsuit at Min Buri Civil Court, seeking an injunction to temporarily bar Nestlé from producing, outsourcing, selling, or importing instant coffee under the Nescafé brand in Thailand. On 3 April 2025, the court granted the injunction, prompting Nestlé to swiftly file a petition for an emergency hearing to have the order overturned. Nestlé argued that the injunction was causing widespread disruption to supply chains, including coffee farmers, packaging suppliers, and associated manufacturers. The emergency hearing was scheduled for 17 April 2025. However, ahead of the court date, Nestlé issued a statement on 12 April, signed by Ms Khrewan Warunpaijit, Executive Director of Nestlé Professional Thailand, informing trade partners that the Central Intellectual Property Court had already issued a decisive ruling. According to the statement, the court confirmed that Nestlé is the exclusive trademark owner of both the English “Nescafé” and Thai “เนสกาแฟ” marks, allowing the company to fully resume business operations in Thailand. The verdict marks a significant turning point for Nestlé in Thailand and paves the way for the company to stabilise its coffee business after months of uncertainty. It is also seen as a landmark decision in the country’s intellectual property and corporate law landscape. -- 2025-04-14

Picture from responders. A heartbreaking incident unfolded in Bang Pahan District, Ayutthaya Province, when the body of a seven-year-old boy was discovered floating in an irrigation canal, hours after he had gone missing. The young boy, known affectionately as Tonkla, was found dead near his favourite noodle shop, sparking grief and disbelief among locals who had grown fond of him. Police Lieutenant Piyapong Sirijanyatham from Bang Pahan Police Station received the emergency call and arrived at the scene alongside Police Colonel Praderm Jitwatthapirom, and a rescue team from the Ayutthaya Ruamjai Foundation. The child’s lifeless body was found floating face-up in the Khlong Maduea canal, clad in a football shirt and shorts. Authorities estimate that he had been dead for at least eight hours. No signs of physical assault were found. The boy lived with his grandparents in Bang Duea subdistrict. His grandmother, 57-year-old Ms. Sumalee, tearfully recounted that Tonkla had gone missing the previous evening, prompting a frantic overnight search by family and neighbours. It wasn’t until the following morning that his body was discovered just outside a local noodle shop where he often played. The shop’s owner, 60-year-old Ms. Nong, was visibly shaken as she spoke. She described Tonkla as a cheerful, talkative boy who had become like a grandson to her. On the day of the incident, he had made a chilling remark that now haunts her. “He looked at me and said, ‘Granny, I won’t be here anymore today,’” she recalled. “I asked where he was going, but he didn’t answer. He just smiled and left.” Later that afternoon, Tonkla returned briefly to buy a soft drink with 20 baht given to him by a teacher. Before leaving again, he reportedly said, “Granny, you can go home now. I’ll watch the shop for you.” Shortly after, he was seen sitting alone at a stone bench near the canal, a favourite spot of his. Ms. Nong speculates that he may have accidentally slipped into the water, particularly as the area was still wet from heavy rain from earlier. In a bittersweet detail, she also shared that just days earlier she had joked with Tonkla about buying a lottery ticket. “I told him that if I won the first prize, I’d take him in and raise him myself,” she said. Tonkla had even helped her choose the ticket. She held up the ticket for reporters, tears in her eyes. Police have questioned witnesses and family members and sent the boy’s body for a detailed autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Authorities are treating the case as a tragic accident, pending the final report. -- 2025-04-14

Local Government Employee in Sisaket Caught Dealing Meth During Lunch Break Picture courtesy of Matichon. Authorities in Khun Han District, Sisaket Province, arrested a 30-year-old subdistrict administrative organisation (SAO) employee for allegedly dealing methamphetamine during his lunch break. A subsequent search of his home revealed a cache of illegal firearms and ammunition. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1357682-local-government-employee-in-sisaket-caught-dealing-meth-during-lunch-break/