THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Thursday 24 April 2025

[webfact]

Nestlé Brews Up Battle in Thai Coffee Market Amid Legal Dispute

 

Picture courtesy of Nestlé

 

Nestlé, the Swiss multinational, is brewing a major shift in Thailand’s coffee industry as it gears up to challenge the influential Mahagitsiri family by planning its own coffee production plant. This move comes amid an ongoing legal tussle, which has seen both drama and determination from Nestlé.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358590-nestlé-brews-up-battle-in-thai-coffee-market-amid-legal-dispute/

[webfact]

Thailand's Chinese Tourism Faces Crisis as Arrivals Plummet

 

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Thailand is witnessing a severe dip in Chinese tourism, with daily arrivals plunging to record lows in 2025. This decline has prompted industry leaders to warn of a looming crisis, as the once-thriving stream of visitors from China slows to a trickle.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358591-thailands-chinese-tourism-faces-crisis-as-arrivals-plummet/

 

[webfact]

 IKEA Goes Cashless at Key Thai Stores Amid Mixed Reactions

 

File photo for reference only

 

In a bid to embrace Thailand's growing shift towards a cashless society, IKEA has introduced a significant change in its payment policy. As of April 21, 2025, the Swedish furniture giant announced that cash payments will no longer be accepted at three prominent branches: IKEA Bangna, IKEA Bang Yai, and IKEA Chiang Mai.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358593-ikea-goes-cashless-at-key-thai-stores-amid-mixed-reactions/

[webfact]

Bar Brawl in Pattaya Involves Foreign Man and Two Injured Women

 

The foreign man’s new partner, Pha. | Photo via DailyNews

 

Drama unfolded in Pattaya today as a foreign man's night out descended into chaos, sparking a brawl between his Thai ex-wife and current partner. The altercation, occurring in a Jomtien area bar, left both women injured, with rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Dhammastan Foundation called to the scene.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358597-bar-brawl-in-pattaya-involves-foreign-man-and-two-injured-women/

[Georgealbert]

Trailer Truck Following GPS Topples Power Pole, Flattens Car in Khon Kaen

 

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Chaos broke out in central Khon Kaen on the 23 April, after a trailer truck carrying a backhoe followed GPS directions into the city centre, snagging overhead power lines and causing a utility pole to crash down onto a black Honda saloon, damaging the vehicle and injuring its occupants.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358639-trailer-truck-following-gps-topples-power-pole-flattens-car-in-khon-kaen/

 

[Georgealbert]

Khon Kaen Man Dies After Car Bursts Into Flames After Rear-Ending Truck

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A crash in the early hours of 23 April, claimed the life of a 36-year-old man from Khon Kaen after his car collided with the rear of a ten-wheeled truck and burst into flames.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358642-khon-kaen-man-dies-after-car-bursts-into-flames-after-rear-ending-truck/

 

[Georgealbert]

Fire Breaks Out at Thai Human Imagery Museum Workshop in Nakhon Pathom

 

 

A fire broke out early on the morning of 23 April, at the wax figure sculpting workshop of the renowned Thai Human Imagery Museum, located on Borommaratchachonnani Road in Khun Kaew Subdistrict, Nakhon Chai Si District, Nakhon Pathom Province.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358643-fire-breaks-out-at-thai-human-imagery-museum-workshop-in-nakhon-pathom/

 

[Georgealbert]

Scammer Dupes Dozens in Airline Ticket and Hotel Booking Fraud on Koh Samui

 

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

 

More than 20 victims gathered at Bo Phut Police Station on Koh Samui to file formal complaints against a woman accused of orchestrating a large-scale airline ticket and hotel booking scam, with damages reportedly exceeding 10 million baht.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358644-scammer-dupes-dozens-in-airline-ticket-and-hotel-booking-fraud-on-koh-samui/

 

[Georgealbert]

Bus Driver Blames Fainting Spell for Crash That Injured 23 Passengers in Nonthaburi
 

Picture courtesy of Komchadluek.

 

Twenty-three passengers sustained minor injuries when an air-conditioned city bus driver, on Route 166, veered into a concrete barrier at the Chaeng Watthana expressway exit in Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi, on the morning of 23 April.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358645-bus-driver-blames-fainting-spell-for-crash-that-injured-23-passengers-in-nonthaburi/

 

[Georgealbert]

Thailand’s Most Wanted Gunman Captured in Dramatic Police Standoff at Southern Resort

 

Picture courtesy of Khoasod.

 

Thailand’s top-ranked contract killer in the southern region, known for a string of violent crimes and a reputation for being heavily armed, was arrested after a tense standoff with police at a resort in Chaiya District, Surat Thani.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358646-thailand’s-most-wanted-gunman-captured-in-dramatic-police-standoff-at-southern-resort/

 

[Georgealbert]

Drug Dealer Shot After Firing at Officers in Undercover Sting Operation in Suphan Buri

 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

 

A notorious drug dealer known by the alias “Bo Tha Kruat” has been left in critical condition after opening fire on law enforcement officers during an undercover drug sting operation in Sam Chuk district, Suphan Buri province.

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358647-drug-dealer-shot-after-firing-at-officers-in-undercover-sting-operation-in-suphan-buri/

 

[Georgealbert]

Elderly Man Shoots Thai Village Headman Dead in Long-Running Feud
 

 

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath.

 

A 72-year-old man has been arrested after fatally shooting a local headman in Bueng Kan province, in what police say was the culmination of a years-long feud.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358648-elderly-man-shoots-thai-village-headman-dead-in-long-running-feud/

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Man, 23, Arrested for Brutal Assault on Monk Over Failed Drug Deal
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Police in Nonthaburi have arrested a 23-year-old man for the vicious assault of a Buddhist monk, reportedly carried out after a dispute involving a failed drug transaction.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358484-monk-in-nonthaburi-brutally-assaulted-over-debt-dispute/#findComment-19753502

 

[Georgealbert]

Man Killed as Pickup Truck Plunges Into Ravine in Chiang Rai

 

Picture courtesy of Khoasod.

 

A crash has claimed the life of a man after he lost control of his pickup truck and it veered off a winding mountain road and plunged into a deep ravine. The incident occurred on April 22nd in the Dong Mada area, near Ban Huai San in Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358650-man-killed-as-pickup-truck-plunges-into-ravine-in-chiang-rai/

 

[Georgealbert]

Man Shoots Brother Dead in Self-Defence During Violent Altercation
 

Picture courtesy of Khoasod.

 

A family altercation turned deadly on the morning of 23 April, when a man fatally shot his younger brother in apparent self-defence after being attacked with a knife.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358651-man-shoots-brother-dead-in-self-defence-during-violent-altercation/

 

[Georgealbert]

Impatient Motorcyclist Rides Through Railway Barrier, Wife Falls Off & Injured
 

Picture courtesy of Amarin

 

A woman, riding pillion on a motorcycle, was injured after she collided with a lowering railway barrier in Bangkok, in an incident that serves as a stark warning to road users about the dangers of ignoring safety signals.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358652-impatient-motorcyclist-rides-through-railway-barrier-wife-falls-off-injured/

 

[Georgealbert]

Swedish Man Found Dead in Patong Hotel Room
 

Picture courtesy of Khoasod.

 

Police in Patong have launched an investigation following the discovery of a deceased Swedish national in his hotel room in the Kathu District of Phuket Province on 23 April.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358654-swedish-man-found-dead-in-patong-hotel-room/

 

[webfact]

Thailand to Test Nationwide Emergency Alerts on 50 Million Devices

 

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

Starting from 2nd May, Thailand will embark on an ambitious test of its new emergency alert system, utilising Cell Broadcast technology to reach 50 million devices nationwide.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358660-thailand-to-test-nationwide-emergency-alerts-on-50-million-devices/

[webfact]

Pattaya Police Raid Luxury Poker Den, Arrest Thais and Foreigners

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

Pattaya police conducted a successful raid on a high-end illegal poker venue in the heart of the city, arresting Thais and foreigners and seizing millions in circulation.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358649-pattaya-police-raid-luxury-poker-den-arrest-thais-and-foreigners/

[webfact]

Blistering Heat Grips Thailand: Health Warnings for All

 

File photo

 

Scorching temperatures have hit parts of Thailand, including Phuket and Bangkok, with the heat index soaring to "very dangerous" levels. The Department of Health has issued urgent guidelines urging vulnerable populations to avoid sun exposure as the heatwave is expected to persist into Thursday.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358641-blistering-heat-grips-thailand-health-warnings-for-all/

[webfact]

Uyghur Deportation Drama Halts Thai-US Trade Talks

 

Picture courtes of Amarin TV

 

Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has denied claims of being blacklisted by the US following a controversial decision by Thailand to deport 40 Uyghurs back to China.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358640-uyghur-deportation-drama-halts-thai-us-trade-talks/

[webfact]

Phuket International Airport Responds to Baggage Handling Issue

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon

 

Phuket International Airport found itself in a bit of a tangle today as technical issues hit their baggage handling system. The glitch rendered conveyor belts No. 3 and No. 4 in the International Passenger Terminal useless. Airport authorities have scrambled to get tech experts on the scene to sort the snafu swiftly.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358638-phuket-international-airport-responds-to-baggage-handling-issue/

[webfact]

Bangkok Bites Back: Register and Chip Your Pets by Jan 2026

 

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

From January 10, 2026, pet lovers in Bangkok are on a new leash, thanks to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) latest law.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358637-bangkok-bites-back-register-and-chip-your-pets-by-jan-2026/

 

[webfact]

Thailand Waves Goodbye to Costly Scout Uniforms, Eases Parent Woes

 

File photo. Sorawitgolf, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

Parents nationwide cheer as Thailand's Ministry of Education eases the financial strain by ditching mandatory scout uniforms. The change, announced by Deputy Education Minister Surasak Phancharoenworrakul, means schools under ministry control will no longer require full uniforms for scout activities, reducing costs significantly for families.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358635-thailand-waves-goodbye-to-costly-scout-uniforms-eases-parent-woes/

[Georgealbert]

Doctor Raises Alarming Questions After Train Attendant Dies Onboard Overnight Service
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A doctor has spoken out following the death of a sleeping car attendant onboard an overnight train, questioning the absence of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and the lack of CPR training for railway staff.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358674-doctor-raises-alarming-questions-after-train-attendant-dies-onboard-overnight-service/

 

[webfact]

Double-Deckers Banned from Risky Roads After Tragic Crash

 

File picture from reference only.

 

In a decisive move, double-decker buses have been banned from risky routes following a deadly accident on Highway 304 in Prachin Buri. Thailand's  Ministry of Transport announced this measure after a double-decker bus collided with a lorry, resulting in a fire that tragically claimed seven lives and injured over 40 people.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358678-double-deckers-banned-from-risky-roads-after-tragic-crash/

[Georgealbert]

Factory Worker Killed in Motorcycle Crash After Barbecue Date

 

Picture from responders.

 

A road crash claimed the life of a 38-year-old factory worker in the early hours the morning of 24 April, when his motorcycle collided with the rear of a stationary 18-wheeler lorry on Highway 331 in the Khao Mai Kaew area of Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. The incident occurred as he was returning from a barbecue dinner dare with his girlfriend, who was also injured in the crash.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358679-factory-worker-killed-in-motorcycle-crash-after-barbecue-date/

 

[Georgealbert]

Pickup Truck Crashes Bypasses Level Crossing Barrier, Struck by Freight Train in Sattahip
 

 

Police from Sattahip Police Station in Chonburi province responded to a collision on the  morning of 24 April, after a pickup truck attempted to drive around a railway crossing barrier, only to be hit by an oncoming freight train. The incident occurred at the railway crossing on Ban Noen Samakkhi Road, Moo 3, Bang Saray Subdistrict, Sattahip District.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358686-pickup-truck-crashes-bypasses-level-crossing-barrier-struck-by-freight-train-in-sattahip/

 

[webfact]

Brit Caught with Cocaine Stash While Overstaying Visa on Samui

 

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

A British man has been arrested on the idyllic island of Koh Samui after police discovered him in possession of cocaine and an expired visa.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358691-brit-caught-with-cocaine-stash-while-overstaying-visa-on-samui/

[snoop1130]

UPDATE:

Phuket Airport Faces Baggage Belt Breakdown Amid Tourist Surge

 

Pictures courtesy of Matichon

 

Holidaymakers flying out of Phuket International Airport are being urged to stay calm as they face potential delays, following a breakdown of one of the facility's main baggage conveyor belts. This incident has occurred at a critical time, with the airport handling a large influx of travellers during the busy holiday season.

 

Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1358638-phuket-international-airport-responds-to-baggage-handling-issue/#findComment-19755122