Year: 2023

  • Thailand NewsSelfridges’ Thai owners take on 70 billion baht debt

    Selfridges’ Thai owners take on 70 billion baht debt

    Central Group, Selfridges’ Thai owners along with Austrian enterprise Signa Holdings, have taken on another £1.7 billion (US$ 2 billion, 70 billion baht) of debt in a strategy to increase investment returns. The London branch of Bangkok Bank provided the loan, secured against the lease on the retailer’s London flagship store. Selfridges said the loan would “release capital” for the…

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  • Thailand video newsAmerican soldier dies at Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand | GMT

    American soldier dies at Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand | GMT

    A recent talkshow episode has discussed a range of topics related to Thailand, from the bizarre to the tragic. The episode began with a discussion of a recent video that has gone viral on social media. The video shows a tourist in Thailand smoking a blunt while riding an elephant. The incident has caused outrage among animal rights activists, who…

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  • Hot NewsOver 7,000 Russians in Phuket apply for visa extensions

    Over 7,000 Russians in Phuket apply for visa extensions

    Over 7,000 Russians in Phuket are applying for visa extensions in a bid to stay in Thailand. Local immigration chief, Thanet Sukchai, says the great weather is one factor in their attempts to stay. “Phuket is a nice place to visit with delicious food and good weather. As word has spread about the island, Russian tourists keep coming to the…

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  • Krabi NewsTaiwanese tourist tragically drowns while snorkeling off Krabi

    Taiwanese tourist tragically drowns while snorkeling off Krabi

    A Taiwanese tourist tragically drowned while snorkelling off an island in Thailand’s Krabi province. The tourist, 36 year old Yueh Lee, had been snorkelling off the island of Koh Hong on Tuesday, according to his friend. The unidentified friend said they had been looking at coral reefs. Lifeguards then noticed that Yueh had been lying face down in the water…

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  • Thailand NewsUK YouTuber’s video on Thai boy racers praised by netizens

    UK YouTuber’s video on Thai boy racers praised by netizens

    Thai netizens hailed UK YouTuber JimmyTheGiant for his documentary-style video “Thailand’s Most Hated Subculture,” which sheds light on the persistent issue of boy racers in the kingdom. Many have called on Thai authorities to take the issue seriously and sort it out. The term “Dek Waen” is used to describe teenage boy racers who ride motorcycles or drive cars, very fast. However,…

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  • Hot NewsGreta Thunberg detained twice during demonstration over Indigenous rights

    Greta Thunberg detained twice during demonstration over Indigenous rights

    Greta Thunberg has been detained twice during a recent demonstration over indigenous rights. The environmental campaigner was participating in the demonstration in Oslo, Norway, when police removed her and other activists. According to the Japan Times, Thunberg joined protesters on Monday in demanding the removal of 151 wind turbines from reindeer pastures used by Sami herders in central Norway. The…

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  • South Thailand NewsThailand extends emergency decree in Deep South

    Thailand extends emergency decree in Deep South

    Thailand is extending the emergency decree in the Deep South for another three months. The decree applies to the border provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat and will run from March 20 to June 19. According to the Bangkok Post, the newest extension of the decree marks the 71st time it has been issued. The Deputy Prime Minister, Prawit Wongsuwon…

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  • Tourism NewsExpensive flights to Thailand too hot for Chinese mainland mainstream

    Expensive flights to Thailand too hot for Chinese mainland mainstream

    Expensive flights to Thailand from bigger cities in China are delaying Thailand’s tourism recovery. Most tariffs are still one and a half times more than pre-pandemic prices, while for smaller cities, fares are more than double previous levels According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn, while most tickets are cheaper than last year, prices for March…

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  • Press RoomA Jewish Deli in Thailand and how it all started

    A Jewish Deli in Thailand and how it all started

    PRESS RELEASE London Beigel and Salt Beef Bar, which opened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, has an intriguing origin story. The business was inadvertently started by its owner, who initially set out to learn how to cook healthy meals for her husband. She turned to YouTube for guidance and was so taken with the experience that her husband…

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  • Thailand NewsAmerican soldier dies at Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand

    American soldier dies at Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand

    An American soldier attending the annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand was found dead in the bathroom at an army camp in Lop Buri province, north of Bangkok, yesterday at 9.40am. Officers from Mueang Lop Buri Police Station travelled to the 31st Infantry Regiment to find the soldier deceased in the bathroom in a pool of blood. There was…

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  • World NewsJapan’s births hit a new low last year

    Japan’s births hit a new low last year

    Japan’s population crisis has deepened as the number of births recorded in the country hit a new low last year, despite efforts by the government to reverse the decades-long decline. Statistics released by the Ministry of Health yesterday show that the country saw 799,728 births in 2022. This was the lowest number on record, and the first time it has…

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  • Thailand video newsMan robbed at gunpoint by prostitute’s husband | Thailand News Today

    Man robbed at gunpoint by prostitute’s husband | Thailand News Today

    Thailand is a popular tourist destination, but it also has its share of newsworthy events. Recently, there have been several news stories coming out of the country. Chang, a major beer company, is focusing on the mass–premium beer market. In Pattaya, a man has been arrested 19 times for thefts. Pattaya Police have also arrested 14 street beggars, including nine…

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  • EventsMakha Bucha Day Monday: lots of Buddhism, no booze

    Makha Bucha Day Monday: lots of Buddhism, no booze

    Buddha Days: holidays of religious celebration for Thais and sober frustration for foreign tourists. Next week Thailand will celebrate Makha Bucha Day, an important religious holiday for Thai Buddhists. The holiday falls on Monday, March 6. While the day may not hold the same religious significance for non-Buddhists, it is still recognized as a significant day in Thai culture, and…

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  • Crime NewsChinese businessman allegedly behind 10 million baht worth of fake auto parts in Thailand

    Chinese businessman allegedly behind 10 million baht worth of fake auto parts in Thailand

    A Chinese businessman allegedly ran a warehouse with counterfeit auto parts in Thailand. Yesterday, police and officials seized about 200,000 counterfeit auto parts worth around 10 million baht in Thailand’s central Nakhon Pathom province. Local police, economic crime suppression police, and other officials raided a warehouse in the Nakhon Chaisi district. The team arrested the building’s caretaker, 24 year old…

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  • HealthThe impact of Thai culture on mental health and well-being

    The impact of Thai culture on mental health and well-being

    Living in a foreign country can be an exciting adventure, but it can also come with its own set of challenges. This is particularly true for those who choose to live and work in Thailand, where cultural differences and language barriers can be overwhelming at times. However, with the right mindset and support, expats can navigate these challenges and thrive…

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  • Thailand News50 elephants ‘addicted to sugarcane’ destroy 2000 rai of crops in Thailand

    50 elephants ‘addicted to sugarcane’ destroy 2000 rai of crops in Thailand

    A herd of around 50 wild elephants has migrated into farmland in Loei province in northeast Thailand, destroying 2000 rai of crops so far. There is no sign of them retreating into the forest. Recently, around 50 elephants migrated into agricultural land in the Phra Kradueng district from the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary. No wonder the elephants moved away from…

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  • Thailand News4 police officers and 3 men arrested for smuggling motorcycles

    4 police officers and 3 men arrested for smuggling motorcycles

    Authorities arrested four police officers, one Thai man, and two Cambodian men yesterday at a pier in the southeastern province of Trat for smuggling six motorcycles into a neighbouring country. The Marine Special Unit 182 received a tip-off from an authority spy that the smuggling was to take place at a pier in the Mai Root sub-district, Khlong Yai district…

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  • Environment NewsNorthern Thailand sees thousands of fire hotspots

    Northern Thailand sees thousands of fire hotspots

    Northern Thailand is seeing thousands of fire hotspots, with some 2,201 detected yesterday. The majority of these hotspots are located in conservation forests, according to the Region 3 centre for prevention and mitigation of air pollution. The upper part of the region had 1,388 hotspots, while the lower north had 813. Provinces with the highest number of hotspots included Tak,…

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  • Thailand News2 men arrested for animal trafficking, over 100 carcasses seized

    2 men arrested for animal trafficking, over 100 carcasses seized

    Two men were arrested yesterday in the central province of Suphan Buri for trafficking protected animals. The authorities seized over 100 carcasses of monitor lizards and turtles, making the largest number on record. Authorities from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division, or Greencop, and U-Thong Police Station were notified that a house owner, later identified as 73 year old…

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  • Covid-19 NewsFBI director says Covid-19 started in a Chinese lab, but provides no evidence

    FBI director says Covid-19 started in a Chinese lab, but provides no evidence

    Three years after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and it appears the experts are no closer to nailing the source of the outbreak, although an FBI director reckons the virus was “likely” leaked from a lab. FBI Director Christopher Wray guesses that a laboratory in Wuhan, China, is the source of the outbreak although he failed to provide any…

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  • Thailand NewsTel Aviv – Bangkok flight time reduced by 2.5 hours

    Tel Aviv – Bangkok flight time reduced by 2.5 hours

    Flights between Tel Aviv and Bangkok, Thailand, just got three hours shorter thanks to the government of Oman who made the long-awaited decision to open its airspace to aircraft from all countries, including Israel. On Sunday, an EL AL Israel Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Bangkok flew through Oman’s airspace, becoming the first Israeli airline to do so, three…

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  • Thailand NewsVenus and Jupiter to be visible in Thai skies for the next few nights

    Venus and Jupiter to be visible in Thai skies for the next few nights

    Stargazers will be happy to hear that Venus and Jupiter will be visible in Thai skies for the next few nights, according to the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT). NARIT said the two planets will almost touch each other in the night sky on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Nation Thailand reported. The institute said Venus and Jupiter will…

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  • Thailand NewsFaith-based businesses: Your good luck is their bad luck

    Faith-based businesses: Your good luck is their bad luck

    There’s big money in misery. In times of economic downturn and instability, many Thais turn to spiritual practices such as prayer, amulets, and fortune telling for support. As a result, many faith-based businesses have emerged to offer solutions to people’s problems. But as the economy grows stronger and more stable, faith business profits are falling. With the onset of the…

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  • Crime NewsPolice say key suspect in macau888 case fled Thailand last month

    Police say key suspect in macau888 case fled Thailand last month

    Police say that a key suspect in the Macau888 gambling network case fled Thailand last month, along with his girlfriend. The suspect, 32 year old Kittipong ‘Big’ Kajornboonthavorn, is the younger brother of alleged macau888 gambling kingpin ‘Benz Daeman.’ Benz was finally arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport upon his return to Thailand on February 14. According to the head of the Cybercrime…

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  • World NewsTrafficker abandons 106 illegal migrants stuffed inside truck in Thailand

    Trafficker abandons 106 illegal migrants stuffed inside truck in Thailand

    Police discovered 106 illegal migrants crammed into a truck in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, western Thailand, yesterday. The driver was nowhere to be found. A concerned forklift driver rang officers at Bang Saphan Police Station to say that he believed that a “suspicious” vehicle parked on the side of Petchkasem Road was carrying illegal immigrants. Police arrived to find a…

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  • Crime NewsMan arrested 19 times for thefts in Pattaya

    Man arrested 19 times for thefts in Pattaya

    Maybe the 19th time is the charm? A man was arrested in Pattaya for stealing a Russian woman’s phone, and, as it turns out, he had previously been arrested for theft 19 times before. The 54 year old Thai man was arrested this time after he was caught stealing a phone from a Russian woman. She reported to the police that…

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  • Crime NewsFisherman claims Pattaya beach fire was an act of arson

    Fisherman claims Pattaya beach fire was an act of arson

    A fisherman claims that a recent fire on a lesser-known Pattaya beach was a deliberate act of arson. The beach, located on Soi Naklua 18, is mostly used by fishermen who store their fishing gear, tables, and chairs. They later sell their catches in the nearby area. The blaze occurred between 3am to 4am on Monday, burning some of the…

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  • Thailand NewsGrab driver caught on tracking app stealing passenger’s phone

    Grab driver caught on tracking app stealing passenger’s phone

    A group of friends turned detective to successfully track down a lost mobile phone using a tracking application after it had been stolen by their Grab driver. They cancelled pre-booked flights and a vacation trip worth over 10,000 baht and set out to track down the thief. The incident was captured on video by one of the victim’s friends, 26…

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  • CannabisTourist films himself smoking blunt while riding elephant in Thailand

    Tourist films himself smoking blunt while riding elephant in Thailand

    A tourist in Thailand has filmed his experience riding an elephant while smoking a blunt and posted it on Instagram. According to Leafly, Mikhail Harrison rolled up some GUMBO and went into the jungle for an exotic experience. He posed the question, “If you could smoke weed with an elephant, which strain would you pick?” on his Instagram page. In…

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  • Crime NewsPattaya Police find 5 motorbikes stashed in forest

    Pattaya Police find 5 motorbikes stashed in forest

    We’ve all had trouble finding motorbikes in a big, crowded parking lot. But in Pattaya, five stolen Honda Wave 110 motorcycles were found deep in the forest where no one might ever look. According to the vice village headman, the motorbikes were found with broken handlebars and stripped seats and were discovered hidden in the forest. The motorbikes were recovered…

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  • Hot NewsThai ambassador to UK attends football captain ‘Dom’s’ funeral

    Thai ambassador to UK attends football captain ‘Dom’s’ funeral

    Thailand’s ambassador to the UK joined the funeral service for Duangphet Phromthep, or “Dom,” who was captain of the Thai football team that was rescued from a cave. The Royal Thai Embassy said Ambassador Thani Thongphakdi attended yesterday’s funeral along with students and teachers from Dom’s school, the CEO of Leicester City Football Club and others. The embassy says Buddhist…

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  • Thailand NewsBritish labradors head to Thailand to sniff out smuggled pangolins

    British labradors head to Thailand to sniff out smuggled pangolins

    Two sharp-nosed Labradors from England are heading to Thailand to save critically-endangered pangolins from wildlife smugglers. The elusive, nocturnal pangolin – able to roll up into an armour-plated ball when threatened – is the most trafficked animal in the world. Known as “scaly anteaters,” these unique mammals disguised as reptiles are trafficked primarily for their scales, which are used in…

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  • Northern Thailand NewsDrunk lawyer tries to flee after causing 9 vehicle crash

    Drunk lawyer tries to flee after causing 9 vehicle crash

    A drunken lawyer attempted to flee the scene of a crime in his damaged car after he crashed his Isuzu MU-7 SUV into nine cars on the road in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The blood alcohol content in the alleged drunk registered at a staggering 219 milligrammes. This is significantly higher than the legal limit of 50 milligrammes, indicating…

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  • Hot NewsThailand’s Cobra Gold war games sees largest US attendance in decade

    Thailand’s Cobra Gold war games sees largest US attendance in decade

    Thailand’s annual Cobra Gold war games have seen the largest attendance by the US in a decade. The international military exercise started yesterday and runs to March 10. The unprecedented attendance by the US military is thought to be part of Washington’s efforts to build ties with a key security partner as geopolitical competition with China is on the rise.…

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  • Tourism NewsAgoda says these are the most popular vacation spots for Thai families

    Agoda says these are the most popular vacation spots for Thai families

    According to early 2023 search data from the travel platform Agoda, Pattaya is the most popular destination for Thai families looking for a domestic vacation this year. Hua Hin/Cha-am, and Phuket followed in second and third place. The full list of the top 10 most searched domestic destinations by families includes: Pattaya, Hua Hin/Cha-Am, Phuket, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri,…

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  • Hot NewsPattaya Police arrest 14 street beggars including nine kids

    Pattaya Police arrest 14 street beggars including nine kids

    Pattaya Police are cracking down on street beggars by arresting 14 just last night. The arrests come after many complaints from tourists and residents. The arrests were of migrant workers, nine of whom were aged two to six years old. Patikorn Sornchai, deputy commander of Chon Buri Provincial Police, led the operation while Social Development and Human Security Officers combed…

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  • Bangkok NewsTraffic cop delivers 100 babies on the streets of Bangkok

    Traffic cop delivers 100 babies on the streets of Bangkok

    Sporting big bikes, brown outfits and guns on their hips, Thai traffic police officers don’t look like your average midwives. But in gridlocked Bangkok, pregnant women don’t always make it to the hospital in time. In a sprawling city home to nearly 11 million people, sometimes the only way to reach those in need of medical help is on two…

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