Dutch National Killed in Chonburi Motorcycle Crash

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18 December 2025, 14:56

dutch crash die2 — A Dutch national died at 1:10 AM on Dec.18, 2025 after his motorcycle lost control and slammed into a trailer near Mabprachan Reservoir, Chonburi. Police are currently investigating the scene.

CHONBURI — A Dutch national died early Thursday morning after losing control of his motorcycle and colliding with a parked trailer in Chonburi province.

The accident occurred at approximately 1:10 a.m. near the Mabprachan Reservoir in the Bang Lamung district. According to Capt. Siriyaporn Kongphetsak of the Nong Prue Police, the victim, a man believed to be between 50 and 55 years old, was riding a Yamaha Aerox motorcycle when he crashed into the rear of a trailer attached to a stationary pickup truck.

dutch crash die1 — The damaged trailer parked on the roadside near Mabprachan Reservoir, showing the blown tire where the victim’s motorcycle reportedly struck it at high speed during the fatal early-morning crash on Dec.18, 2025.

A witness, 40-year-old Jeerasak Salathong, told investigators he was inside his home when he saw the motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed. Jeerasak reported that the motorcycle began to swerve uncontrollably, creating sparks as it scraped against the pavement before slamming into the trailer parked in front of his house.

Rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation attempted to perform CPR, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene due to the severity of his injuries. Police noted that the impact was forceful enough to burst a tire on the trailer.

Authorities are currently reviewing local surveillance footage to determine the exact cause of the crash. The victim’s body has been transported to Pattaya Patthamakhun Hospital to await identification by relatives and coordination with the Netherlands embassy.

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Haier Energy Lights Up Greener, Sustainable Future in Thailand

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MC Marketing

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18 December 2025, 10:50

For over four decades, Haier has been a trusted name in homes worldwide.
Today, Haier extends that reliability beyond appliances into clean energy through Haier Energy.

Aligned with Thailand’s Carbon Neutrality and BCG policies, Haier Energy supports the nation’s transition toward sustainable power as energy costs rise and demand for self-generation grows.

Haier Energy delivers a comprehensive, intelligent energy ecosystem tailored to real user needs — combining AI technology, localized services, and flexible financing.

For Thai households, solutions include high-efficiency solar systems, solar-plus-storage packages, and balcony PV options for various housing types.

For commercial users — from small shops and hospitals to large factories — Haier Energy provides integrated systems enabling self-consumption and energy independence.

Its smart energy management platform connects generation, storage, management, and usage into one seamless network — making energy more affordable and autonomous.

In Thailand, Haier Energy strengthens its local ecosystem with professional teams, AI-powered site design, and global supply chain advantages.

Looking ahead, the company will build an integrated resource and service network across Thailand and Southeast Asia, offering one-stop solutions from design to financing.

To expand access, Haier Energy introduces a zero down-payment program, allowing households to adopt solar energy with no upfront cost.

Green Energy for All — Smart Energy, Shared by Everyone.
Haier New Energy, the integrated smart energy management expert you can trust.

Follow Haier Energy Thailand: Facebook: @HaierEnergyThailand | Line: @haierenergythai
Website: www.haier-energy.com | Contact: Manager Long +66658583861

Chinese Fugitive Arrested at Bangkok Airport with Fake Passport

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Khaosod English

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18 December 2025, 01:33

chinese single scam2 — Thai immigration officers escort Huang, 44, a Chinese fugitive, after his arrest at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on Dec. 16, 2025.

SUVARNABHUMI — Thai immigration officers arrested a Chinese fugitive at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday as he attempted to flee the country using a fake Mexican passport, despite holding a valid long-term Thai visa, police said Thursday.

The suspect, identified only as Huang, 44, is wanted by Chinese authorities as a key figure in a cryptocurrency scam network that defrauded more than 500 victims of approximately 1 billion baht ($32 million), according to Pol. Col. Pongthon Pongrachtanantan, deputy commander of Immigration Bureau 2.

Huang was detained while trying to board an outbound flight using a fraudulent Mexican passport under the alias “Gole.” Officers became suspicious when they discovered he possessed a Thailand Privilege Card — a long-term residency visa — that remained valid for several more years.

“Why would someone with legal status use a fake passport that would actually reduce his rights?” Pongthon said.

A search of Huang’s luggage uncovered his authentic Chinese passport, which matched the name and photograph of a person listed on an INTERPOL Red Notice. The Chinese Embassy in Thailand confirmed his identity as a wanted fugitive.

chinese single scam1 — Huang, a Chinese fugitive wanted for cryptocurrency fraud, sits during questioning by Thai immigration police at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on Dec. 16, 2025.

Chinese authorities say Huang fled China in 2020 through Yunnan Province into Myanmar. Between 2022 and 2024, he allegedly operated from New Taichang Park in Myawaddy, Myanmar — directly across the border from Thailand’s Tak Province — running an elaborate investment fraud scheme.

The scam involved creating fake cryptocurrency platforms and using social media to target victims. Gang members posed as wealthy, single businesspeople to build trust with victims, offering high initial returns before shutting down operations and disappearing with investors’ money.

Huang faces initial charges of using or possessing a forged passport. He has been transferred to Immigration Bureau 3 for prosecution under Thai law before potential extradition proceedings.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Khathathon Khamthiang, commander of Immigration Bureau 2, said the arrest reflects Thailand’s intensified screening of border crossings to combat transnational crime, including scam operations, terrorism and emerging security threats.

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Thai Developer Siam Piwat Expands AI Strategy with Google Cloud Partnership

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Contributor

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17 December 2025, 22:42

BANGKOK — Siam Piwat Group, one of Thailand’s largest real estate and retail developers, has deepened its partnership with Google Cloud as it moves to deploy artificial intelligence across its business, the company said Tuesday.

The owner and operator of major shopping destinations including Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM said it is working with Google Cloud under the technology firm’s newly launched PanyaThAI program to develop enterprise-wide AI applications, following the successful migration of its ONESIAM SuperApp to an in-house software-as-a-service platform.

Siam Piwat, through Xponential, its digital and innovation unit, is a charter member of the PanyaThAI program, which aims to help organizations in Thailand adopt enterprise-grade “agentic AI” solutions using Google Cloud’s AI infrastructure. The program began with 15 charter members across key economic sectors.

The company said the move allows it to reduce reliance on multiple legacy software vendors while accelerating the use of AI to improve operations and customer engagement.

“We have built and deployed a robust in-house SaaS foundation that allows us to control our digital development while significantly lowering costs,” said Axel Winter, chief executive of Xponential and chief digital officer of Siam Piwat. “With Google Cloud, we are now scaling AI beyond experimentation to deliver tangible business value.”

Siam Piwat said AI tools are already operating within the ONESIAM SuperApp, replacing traditional rule-based systems. These include semantic search powered by Google Cloud’s Vertex AI to improve product discovery and personalization, AI-driven campaign management using BigQuery to analyze customer behavior in real time, and computer vision technology to automate loyalty rewards through receipt recognition.

The group said AI-powered text recommendations and translation tools are also embedded into its systems to support communication with both domestic and international customers.

Annop Siritikul, country director for Thailand at Google Cloud, said Siam Piwat’s approach demonstrates how companies can move from data-driven operations to more autonomous AI applications that enhance customer experience at scale.

Looking ahead, Siam Piwat said it plans to expand the use of “agentic AI” over the next six months, including predictive tools to anticipate customer preferences and generative AI to automate content creation and translation, particularly to support international visitors.

About Siam Piwat

Siam Piwat is a leading retail and real estate developer that owns Bangkok’s top destinations, including
Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, ICONSIAM, and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok. Siam Piwat has 50 subsidiaries across seven core businesses: real estate development, department stores, retail, food and beverage, venue management, digital platforms, and business support.

About Xponential

Founded in 2023, Xponential is the ONESIAM SuperApp Company and the innovation arm of Siam Piwat.
It delivers a proprietary SaaS Platform and enables co-innovation for the Siam Piwat Group, utilizing data and AI to drive the future of luxury retail.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

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Myanmar’s Military Charges Hundreds With Breaking Election Law as Voting Date Nears

By

Associated Press

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17 December 2025, 22:30

Myanmar Election — FILE - Supporters of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) wave the party flags during the first day of campaign for the upcoming general election, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.(AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File)

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar ’s military government has charged more than 200 people with violating the Southeast Asian country’s voting law ahead of a general election at the end of this month, keeping up pressure on opponents of the polls,

Critics of the election set to start on Dec. 28 claim it will be neither free nor fair and is designed to add the facade of legitimacy to military rule that began after the army in February 2021 ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The takeover triggered widespread popular opposition that has grown into a civil war, which has complicated holding the polls in many contested areas. This is one of the reasons voting will be held in three phases, with the second on Jan. 11 and the third on Jan. 25.

There are punishments as severe as the death penalty for opposing or disrupting the polls under an election law enacted under military rule.

Home Affairs Minister Lt.-Gen. Tun Tun Naung told a meeting on Tuesday that authorities had identified and taken action against 229 people — 201 male and 28 female — in 140 cases under for attempting to sabotage election processes, according to the state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper. The report did not provide details on those charged or say how many had been arrested.

AP25351496993952 — FILE – Supporters of Myanmar’s military backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), dance on the first day of campaign for the upcoming general election, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.(AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File)

The new law, enacted in July, says anyone who orates, speaks, organizes, incites, protests or distributes letters to disrupt any part of the electoral process shall be punished with three to 10 years imprisonment, as well as a fine. Other offenses carry sentences up to the death penalty.

State media reports say among those charged are filmmakers, an actor and comedian, children, members of People’s Defence Forces — pro-democracy militias formed after the army takeover — and members of ethnic armed groups fighting the army.

Most were reportedly accused of actions such as destroying campaign posters, threatening or arresting election workers and posting comments on social media. According to local media repots, including the online news site Myanmar Now, some of them have received sentences of up to 49 years in prison.

Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the military government, told a briefing on Sunday that it does not matter whether the international community is satisfied or dissatisfied with the election because it is being held for Myanmar, not the international community.

AP25344434425336 — A high-angle view of a busy road with famous Inya Lake in the background in Yangon, Myanmar, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo)

“Those who want to criticise can do so,” Zaw Min Tun said. “We will continue to pursue our original objective of returning to a multi-party democratic system.”

A major reason the election is being seen as unfair is because Aung San Suu Kyi ’s National League for Democracy, or NLD, party cannot compete because it was forced to disband in 2023. It won a landslide victory in 2015’s election that brought it to power for the first time, and increased its margin of victory in the 2020 polls.

The army staged its 2021 takeover, keeping the NLD from taking a second term, with the excuse that there were irregularities that invalidated the process. Independent election observers disagreed, and said there were no substantive problems.

Suu Kyi, 80, is serving prison sentences totaling 27 years after being convicted in a series of politically tainted prosecutions brought by the military on what many believe are spurious grounds. Reports that have recently emerged raising concerns about her health, but the military denied them Tuesday, saying she is in good health.

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Border Clashes Hit Thailand’s Trat Economy, Tourism Suffers

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Khaosod English

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17 December 2025, 21:18

trat tourism2025-2 — The scenic beaches of Trat province that draw international tourists, though border fighting has dampened the year-end tourism boom in 2025.

TRAT — Fighting along Thailand’s eastern border has inflicted more than 1 billion baht ($32 million) in economic losses in just nine days, with damage expected to rise sharply as border closures disrupt trade and undermine tourism, local business leaders said.

Sutthilak Khumkhrongrak, president of the Trat Provincial Federation of Thai Industries, said preliminary estimates show losses of nearly 500 million baht ($16 million) in the industrial sector alone. Tourism losses are estimated at no less than 300 million baht ($9.6 million), he said, as foreign visitors cancel trips amid security concerns.

Hotel occupancy on Koh Chang and Koh Kood has plunged to about 20% from near full capacity during the year-end peak season, Sutthilak said. He added that foreign tourists are losing confidence, with widespread cancellations already booked through the New Year.

trat tourism2025 3 — International tourists board boats to island destinations in Trat province before fighting broke out on Dec. 7, 2025.

The unrest has also driven up transport costs for goods and services by as much as 100% during an earlier curfew, which has since been lifted. While costs are expected to gradually normalize, businesses remain wary, and some producers have warned of price increases if instability continues.

Labor costs are another pressing concern, particularly for employers in evacuated areas such as Khlong Yai district, four sub-districts in Mueang Trat, and Bo Rai district. Sutthilak said many businesses continue to shoulder monthly wage bills of 2–3 million baht despite having no income, as Cambodian migrant workers remain unregistered and guidance on compensation from government agencies remains unclear.

Losses from the nine days of fighting do not include the impact of prolonged border closures on cross-border trade, Sutthilak said, warning that total economic damage could ultimately reach tens of billions of baht.

trat tourism2025 1 — Smoke rises along the Thai-Cambodian border in Trat province following an airstrike by Thai F-16 fighter jets on Cambodian military positions on Dec. 14, 2025.

Pichaya Thachaiaditharap, president of the Trat Hotel and Resort Association and owner of Koh Kood Paradise Hotel, said the clashes have severely shaken foreign tourist confidence. He said large numbers of room bookings have been canceled through early 2026, resulting in heavy losses for operators.

“At first, the impact was limited and we could still explain the situation to tourists,” Pichaya said. “But after fighting spread to Koh Kong and the news circulated, everything collapsed. Gunfire could be heard as far as Koh Kood.”

He said travel advisories issued by foreign embassies warning citizens to exercise caution, particularly when traveling to Koh Kood, prompted many cancellations, especially from British and French tourists. Some cancellations were also reported from Germany.

Pichaya said Koh Chang and Koh Mak have been less affected due to their distance from the conflict zones. He said the association has urged government agencies to provide clear explanations in English to help tourists better understand the situation.

While losses are not as severe as during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, the impact is significant and operators hope the fighting will end soon.

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Three Vietnamese Arrested in Bangkok Warehouse with 1,600 Cannabis Plants

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Khaosod English

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17 December 2025, 16:16

cannabis viet1 — A Vietnamese suspect stands inside a warehouse alongside cannabis plants seized by Thai authorities during a raid in Bangkok on Dec. 16, 2025.

BANGKOK — Thai authorities have arrested three Vietnamese men for allegedly growing more than 1,600 cannabis plants illegally inside a warehouse in Bangkok, police said Tuesday.

Metropolitan Police officers, working with officials from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, raided a warehouse in the Bang Kradi area of Bang Khun Thian district after residents complained of a persistent smell of cannabis coming from the building, raising suspicions of unlicensed cultivation.

The suspects — Nguyen Duc Anh, 28; Do Van Bay, 27; and Dang Sy Tai, 35 — were arrested on December 16 along with 1,685 cannabis plants. Police said the plants yielded about 100 grams of dried flower per plant, with a total weight of about 168.5 kilograms. Authorities estimated the value of the seized cannabis at about 1.69 million baht ($53,600).

cannabis viet2 — Authorities inspect the exterior of a warehouse in Bangkok’s Bang Khun Thian district where an illegal cannabis cultivation operation was discovered on Dec. 16, 2025.

cannabis viet3 — Cannabis plants seized by Thai authorities during a raid in Bangkok on Dec. 16, 2025.

Lt. Col. Chada Sesawech, who led the operation with officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Child and Women Protection Division, said investigators gathered evidence and obtained a search warrant from the Thon Buri Criminal Court before inspecting the warehouse.

All three men admitted they were cultivating cannabis at the site, police said. They told authorities they had set up a company to operate a cannabis-related business but had not obtained the required licenses to do so.

Police charged the suspects with jointly violating Thailand’s law on controlled herbs by cultivating, processing or selling cannabis for commercial purposes without authorization under the Thai Traditional Medical Knowledge Protection and Promotion Act.

The suspects and the seized plants were handed over to investigators at Samae Dam police station for further legal proceedings.

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Bangkok to Launch Plans to Manage 100,000 Stray Dogs in Early 2026

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Khaosod English

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17 December 2025, 15:27

stray dogs4 — Stray dogs are seen in an alley in Bangkok’s On Nut area. Photo courtesy of the Dogpity animal welfare volunteer group.

BANGKOK — Bangkok plans to roll out a citywide program in early 2026 to manage an estimated 100,000 stray dogs, with mandatory pet registration and microchipping forming the core of the effort, city officials said.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said that registration is key to tracking pet ownership, promoting responsible care and reducing problems caused by stray dogs and cats. The city has already set up a dog shelter in Prawet district, he said, and will require all dogs and cats to be registered and microchipped beginning next year.

The regulation, drafted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Council, will take effect on January 10, 2026. Pet owners must implant microchips and register animals within 120 days of birth or within 30 days of acquiring a pet.

stray dogs3 — Stray dogs are seen in an alley in Bangkok’s On Nut area. Photo courtesy of the Dogpity animal welfare volunteer group.

The rules also limit the number of animals allowed based on property size — for example, no more than two pets on properties smaller than 20 square wah — and require pets to be leashed in public and owners to clean up after them. Violators face fines of up to 25,000 baht ($700).

Chadchart said owners would be able to register any number of dogs, as authorities want to know where animals are located across the capital. He added that more developed cities tend to have far fewer stray dogs than Bangkok.

He acknowledged challenges in implementation, including inconvenience to the public and a shortage of microchips, which has prompted complaints from residents who visited clinics only to find supplies unavailable. The city plans to procure an additional 50,000 microchips and is collecting feedback before finalizing further measures.

microchip bkk1 — Eight BMA veterinary clinics offer free registration and microchip implantation.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is also considering mobile registration services and expanding free microchip distribution to reduce inconvenience and reliance on higher-cost private clinics.

Addressing existing stray dogs, Chadchart said the city cannot take in all animals. Instead, authorities aim to sterilize and vaccinate as many strays as possible before returning them to their areas to prevent further breeding and gradually reduce the population.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Metropolitan Council member Kanoknuch Klinsang of Don Mueang district said an animal welfare volunteer group plans to submit a letter opposing the regulation. The group argues it would create long-term burdens and enforcement problems, citing restrictions based on property size, difficulties for tenants who need landlords’ permission, and concerns about microchipping.

Kanoknuch said she has raised the issue with the governor’s office, adding that the concerns have been acknowledged and discussions are under way with the Department of Health to consider possible adjustments.

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Experience a Heartfelt Festive Season in Thailand With Marriott Bonvoy

By

MC Marketing

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17 December 2025, 11:10

Gather your loved ones and craft your ultimate end-of-year getaway, with elegant Christmas and New Year activities available all across the kingdom, from city hotels to beachfront resorts

Bangkok, Thailand: December 2025 – Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands and highly awarded travel program, invites its cherished hotel guests, local residents, and international visitors to come together for a heartfelt holiday season in Thailand, with a choice of culinary and cultural experiences at its hotels and resorts all across the kingdom.

Whether guests are seeking a graceful gala dinner to mark Christmas overlooking Bangkok’s skyline, a beautiful beachfront evening under the stars to usher in the New Year, or a festive vacation blessed with Thailand’s timeless heritage, Marriott Bonvoy sets the stage for truly unforgettable occasions in the “Land of Smiles.”

Under the lights of Bangkok, couples, families and friends have myriad opportunities to illuminate their end-of-year festivities. Nestled on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel Bangkok will make every moment shine brighter with waterfront dining, live performances, and panoramic vistas at a choice of restaurants, including Siam Yacht Club and Feast, all culminating with fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Thai Women’s ROV Team Pulls Out of SEA Games Amid Cheating Case

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Khaosod English

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17 December 2025, 00:41

Tokyogurl-1 — Naphat Warasin, known by the gaming name “Tokyogurl,” denies cheating during competition at the SEA Games on Dec.15, 2025.

BANGKOK — Thailand has withdrawn its women’s Arena of Valor esports team from the 33rd Southeast Asian Games after one player was expelled for cheating, a move that stunned teammates and cast a shadow over the host nation’s competition.

The Thailand Esports Federation said the women’s national ROV team pulled out of the tournament following the disqualification of player Naphat Warasin, known by the gaming name “Tokyogurl,” who was found to have violated competition rules during a match on December 15.

In a statement, the federation said Warasin was expelled after officials determined she used unauthorized third-party software or modified hardware, breaching Item 9.4.3 of the Esports Technical Handbook.

Joebert Lopez Yu, esports technical delegate for the SEA Games, notified the Thailand National Olympic Committee that conclusive evidence was found during the women’s team match between Thailand and Vietnam in the winners’ final.

“A Thai athlete committed an offence under Item 9.4.3 … during Game 1 of the match,” Yu wrote. “The decision is final.”

Tokyogurl 2 — CCTV footage shows Naphat Warasin, known by the gaming name “Tokyogurl” (second from left), competing with her teammates during a women’s Arena of Valor match on Dec. 15, 2025, when officials cited suspicious behavior.

Thailand was scheduled to face Laos next but withdrew despite hosting the Games.

Thailand Esports Federation President Santi Lohtong said the decision was made to uphold sporting integrity.

“We respect the rules, sportsmanship and the spirit of sport,” Santi said on Dec. 16. “As the host country, we cannot allow the competition to continue under these circumstances.”

He said the situation was particularly difficult given Thailand’s dual role as host and organizer, adding that he wanted to encourage other Thai athletes still competing at the Games.

Team members later posted messages and gave interviews expressing devastation over the withdrawal, saying they were unaware of the alleged misconduct and felt heartbroken after training together for months.

esportthai — Santi Lohtong, President of the Asian Esports Federation and Thailand Esports Federation, announces Thailand’s women’s ROV team withdrawal from the 33rd SEA Games, Dec.16, 2025.

Warasin denied cheating in a social media post, saying she suffered a panic attack during the match and was taken to hospital. She said connecting a cable to her phone could not be used to cheat and insisted she played without assistance.

The team’s coach, known as Coach Pom, issued a public apology, saying the incident had deeply affected the athletes and fans. He said concerns about suspicious behavior were raised internally before the tournament but no clear evidence was available at the time.

“To avoid conflict within the team ahead of an important competition, we chose to trust the explanation given,” he said, adding that the decision’s consequences now rested with him.

Coach Pom said he and the remaining five players had no knowledge of or involvement in the actions that led to the expulsion and would never risk the reputation or honor of the national team.

The esports competition is part of the 33rd SEA Games, which Thailand is hosting this year.

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