Jay Shine

Jay Shine

A longtime expat in Asia with a degree in journalism and creative writing. Highlights include writing for Condé Nast Traveller and Apple Music. In his spare time, Jay enjoys writing poetry, brewing traditional Chinese tea and lounging with his calico soi cat, Almond.
  • Phuket News

    Thailand issues stormy weather warning for Phuket, Andaman coastline

    Residents along Thailand’s western coastline are bracing for stormy seas, after the Thai Meteorological Department, or TMD, issued a stormy weather warning for Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Satun and Phang Ng, as a large storm front blows in from the Andaman Sea. “More rain and isolated heavy rains are likely in the South. People in the South should beware of the…

  • Thailand News

    Thai navy won’t buy Chinese submarine switcheroo, must have German engine — PM Prayut

    No engine, no cigar. That’s the hard line Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha set on Monday regarding the navy’s deal to purchase a Chinese submarine without the most important part — the engine. If China doesn’t include the German-made engine as stated in the purchase agreement, then it’s “Hasta la vista, baby.” “What do we do with a submarine with…

  • Covid-19 News

    New Test & Go station eases entry for Malaysian motorists at Sadao border crossing

    After a two-year closure due to the pandemic, international travellers can now enter Thailand from Malaysia through the Sadao land border in Songkhla province. A hotel at the border began serving as a Test & Go station from April 1, so that travellers don’t have to commute to the city of Hat Yai for Covid-19 testing. Travellers from Malaysia entering…

  • Crime News

    Tangmo: Suspect ‘Sand’ surrenders to police

    Police have arrested a third suspect in the death of drowned TV actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong. On Sunday, Wisapat Manomaikrat, aka “Sand” — a transgender woman — surrendered to police in Nonthaburi, after they issued a warrant for her arrest. Sand was taken into the police superintendent’s office for questioning. She was accompanied by her lawyer and prepared a surety…

  • Thailand News

    Tourists flood back to Thailand as travel restrictions ease before Songkran

    Travellers are flooding back into Thailand after the country scrapped its pre-flight Covid PCR testing requirement. Arrivals to Suvarnabhumi International Airport have almost doubled to around 12,000 passengers per day, arriving on a flurry of new inbound flights. On Sunday afternoon, international travellers teems throughout the airport, reaching near pre-pandemic levels. They were greeted by officials and hotels reps who…

  • Covid-19 News

    First case of ‘XE’ Covid variant in Thailand, nothing to fear

    Don’t be alarmed, it’s not so bad. That’s the gist of the message from the Public health Ministry, which dismissed fears of the new XE variant’s appearance in Thailand, as experts say the symptoms aren’t as severe as previous strains of Covid-19. On Saturday, Ramathibodi Hospital’s Centre for Medical Genomics, or CMG, revealed they’d diagnosed the first patient with the…

  • World News

    UPDATE: Malaysia-Singapore border reopens for vaccinated travellers

    For the first time in two years, the land border between Singapore and Malaysia reopened yesterday, April 1, for travellers by private transportation, without the pandemic-era requirements of Covid-19 testing and quarantine. Now fully-vaccinated travellers can freely cross the land boarder on the southern end of the Malay peninsula with only a valid passport and proof of vaccination. Children up…

  • Crime News

    Tangmo: 2nd autopsy report finds ’22 small wounds’ on legs

    Forensics experts have found “22 small wounds” on the legs of drowned Thai actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong, according to the report from a second autopsy, which was conduct several weeks ago at the request of her mother. However, pathologists did not find any face or head wounds, broken teeth or fractured bones, as was earlier reported by an emergency responder.…

  • Crime News

    Tangmo: Mom requests to end senate probe, sack Dr. Pornthip

    The mother of drowned actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong isn’t happy with the conduct of a senate committee’s probe into the police investigation of her daughter’s death. She’s also doesn’t seem too pleased with the preliminary results of the second autopsy. The mourning mum has asked the Senate committee on human rights, liberty and consumer protection to withdraw her earlier request…

  • Thailand News

    Thai PM Prayut not worried about (un)popularity poll

    Thailand’s prime minister ain’t that popular, but he doesn’t seem to mind because “the government is doing a good job”. That’s the gist of his response to a popularity poll indicating his favour among the Thai public is fading. After chairing Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said… “Even though the government has not yet achieved everything it set…

  • Crime News

    Tangmo: Senators warn police to store speedboat ‘properly’

    Store the boat properly, you dummies! That’s the key takeaway, after senators visited the police headquarters in Muang district of Nonthaburi last week, where they found police had not been properly storing a key piece of evidence — the speedboat that drowned actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharavirapong allegedly fell from. Members of the Senate committee on human rights, liberty and consumer…

  • Covid-19 News

    ‘Deltacron’ in Thailand? Pft! We got this – Public Health Minister

    Don’t fear new virus variants — we can handle it. That’s the main message from Thailand’s public health ministry, which says the country is well equipped to handle any new Covid-19 strains, including the so-called “Deltacron” variant, a possible combination of Delta and Omicron. Speaking at the Thailand International Health EXPO 2022 on Thursday, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said…

  • Tourism News

    AirAsia to launch ride-hailing platform in Thailand, expand digital services in Asean

    Bangkok ride-hailers can grab a new option next month. AirAsia’s parent holding company Capital A plans to launch its ride-hailing platform in the Thai capital in April, as it continues an aggressive foray into non-aviation businesses after the Malaysian airline suffered significant pandemic-era losses. The new service, dubbed AirAsia Ride, will begin with some 5,000 taxis in Bangkok, before expanding…

  • World News

    AirAsia to resume Malaysia-Thailand flights, open 3 routes in April and May

    AirAsia plans to resume international flights from Malaysia to Thailand, with 3 new routes opening in April and May. The three new routes include Penang-Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur-Hat Yai on April 13, and Johor Bahru-Bangkok on May 3, according to an announcement on the airline’s website on Tuesday. In an effort to provide passengers with more options to travel to…

  • Thailand News

    Tangmo: Panel to verify 2nd autopsy details, includes ‘punk rock auntie’ Pornthip

    A panel of forensic experts is set to review the details of a second autopsy for the Thai actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharavirapong. The panel, which includes “punk rock auntie” Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, has been assembled by the Ministry of Justice for a fresh examination of Tanmo’s remains taking place to day, as the investigation into her death marks three weeks.…

  • Crime News

    Tangmo: Police examine ‘fresh evidence’ — CCTV video of person on speedboat

    Police are examining “fresh evidence” from a CCTV camera that recorded footage of the speedboat TV actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong fell from before drowning in the Chao Phraya River last month. The video taken from a riverside building reportedly shows a person at the stern (rear) of the speedboat standing up and sitting down, as the boats moves along the…

  • Crime News

    Tangmo witness Robert admits he ‘lurched’ boat forward, sending actress overboard

    One of the five boat buddies — i.e. “witnesses” — of Thai actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong has confessed to causing the vessel to “lurch,” tossing the celebrity actress overboard where she drowned in the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi on the night of February 24, the Bangkok Post reported police as saying Tuesday. Phaiboon “Robert” Trikanjananun, told investigators he had…

  • World News

    Global oil prices hit 14-year high as Western nations consider import ban on Russian oil

    Global oil prices have risen more than 6%, surging to the highest prices since 2008 on Monday, as the US and European allies consider an import ban on Russian oil. Meanwhile, fears of a global oil supply shortage are being further compounded by the delay of Iranian crude’s potential return to global markets, as the Kremlin demands a guarantee that…

  • Thailand News

    Tangmo: 8 new witnesses questioned, police dismiss bribery claims as investigation plods on

    Nonthaburi police have interviewed another 8 witnesses in their ongoing investigation into the death of Thai Christian actress Nida “Tango” Patcharaveerapong, who drowned in the Chao Phraya River after allegedly falling from a speedboat last Thursday night. Earlier this week that all five witnesses face charges of negligence leading to death and giving false statements. they have not yet determined…

  • World News

    China asked Russia not to invade Ukraine… until after the Olympics

    In early February, China asked Russia to delay its invasion of Ukraine until after the Winter Olympics in Beijing, according to a New York Times report, which quoted a European official and officials from the Biden administration, who cited a report from a Western intelligence agency. The intelligence report showed that high-level Chinese officials had some degree of knowledge regarding…

  • Crime News

    BREAKING: Tangmo’s cause of death revealed, 5 boat buddies face charges

    BREAKING: Police are considering whether to charge all five of Tangmo’s boat companions with negligence leading to death and making false statements, the Bangkok Post reported. After the actress fell into the river and drowned, one of the men on the speedboat phoned some influential friends to seek advice, according to phone conversation records obtained by the Provincial Police Region…

  • Crime News

    Tangmo: Top Thai crime investigator debunks witness claims, calls for truth

    A former top police crime investigator has come out of retirement to dismiss the story of Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong’s death, as put forth by her so-called friends, and call for the truth to come out. In a video interview with Nation Thailand, Kamronwit Toopkrajang, former Lt-General and Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police Bureau, is seen sitting on a boat analyzing…

  • World News

    Biden condemns Putin, praises Ukrainian people in State of the Union address

    Read the opening pages of US President Joe Biden’s prepared speech for his State of the Union address to lawmakers on Tuesday night at the Capitol, in which he addresses the most urgent situation: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its threat on the free world… PRESIDENT BIDEN: Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President, our First Lady and Second Gentleman. Members of…

  • World News

    Thailand to remain neutral on Russia-Ukraine conflict

    Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says Thailand will keep a neutral stance toward the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Speaking to MPs during their cabinet meeting yesterday, Prayut said they must consider Thailand’s the long-standing relations with Russia and tread carefully, an unnamed government official told the Bangkok Post. “We need to be composed and make decisions carefully. Thailand must maintain a neutral stance…

  • World News

    Indonesia evacuates citizens from Ukraine to safety in Poland, Romania

    Indonesia has evacuated 31 Indonesian nationals residing in Ukraine into neighbouring Poland and Romania, where they are awaiting repatriation flights, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine enters its fifth day. A group of 25 Indonesians were evacuated from Odessa in southern Ukraine and arrived in Romania on Sunday, The Jakarta Post reported. Another group of 6 Indonesians and 1 foreign spouse…

  • World News

    First flights of Thai evacuees from Ukraine to arrive on Wednesday

    As Russia’s attack on Ukraine enters its fifth day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says around a hundred Thai citizens evacuated from the country are set to arrive in Thailand on Wednesday in a first round of repatriation flights. The ministry said the first group of 38 Thai evacuees would depart from Bucharest today and arrive in Thailand on Thai…

  • Crime News

    UPDATE: What really happened to Tangmo? All we know (and the stuff we don’t)

    What really happened to Thailand’s Nida Patcharaveerapong, known lovingly by her fans as “Tangmo” (pronounced Daeng-moo) or “Watermelon,” who died last Thursday night after reportedly “falling” from a speedboat into the Chao Phraya River? The Thai TV actress had starred in countless dramas and advertisements in her nearly 20 year career, living in the limelight since childhood. In 2007, a…

  • World News

    China straddles diplomatic tightrope on Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s sovereignty

    China has refused to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine, insisting it is not an invasion, and is standing by its biggest alley — without condoning its actions of unprovoked aggression on a sovereign nation. But its diplomatic ambiguity is forcing it to straddle an awkward line between Russia and the West. Like it or not, China’s Xi Jingping has become…

  • World News

    Thailand’s vehicle exports affected by world chip shortage, Russia-Ukraine conflict

    The Automotive Industry Club have reported a decline in Thailand car production for January, citing the Russia-Ukraine conflict and a global shortage of semiconductors (microchips). Last month’s car production reached around 151,700 vehicles nationwide, a 2.45% increase year-on-year, but a 1.7% decline since last December, according to AIC spokesperson Surapong Pisitpattanapong. About 74,700 of the vehicles were produced for the…

  • World News

    UK hits Russia hard with economic sanctions for Ukraine invasion; targets banks, oligarchs, airlines

    In an address to members of parliament, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced what he is calling “the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen”. The new sanctions target Russian oligarchs and banks, which will now be excluded from UK’s financial system. Additionally, the Russian national airline Aeroflot will be banned from landing flights…