- Thailand News
Police raid in Pattaya uncovers 25 illegal immigrants
Chon Buri immigration officers conducted a surprise raid on an apartment building in Pattaya, arresting over 25 illegal immigrants from Myanmar. Acting on a tip-off from concerned residents regarding disturbances caused by a significant number of undocumented foreign workers residing on Soi Kho Phai 4/5, Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, the authorities swiftly moved in. During the inspection, officers discovered a…
- Thailand News
South Korea’s tourism boom leaves Thailand in the dust
South Korea witnessed a staggering 87% surge in foreign arrivals this year but Thai visitors tell a different story. According to recent data from the Korea Tourism Organisation, arrivals from Thailand have plummeted by over 21% from last year, totalling just 119,000 visitors from January to April. The decline has raised eyebrows across the tourism industry, with experts pointing fingers…
- Thailand News
Pattaya to become Southeast Asia’s premier destination
Pattaya, known for its bustling nightlife, is apparently trying to shed its old skin and emerge as a beacon of transformation in Southeast Asia. Recent years have witnessed a remarkable overhaul aimed at elevating visitor experiences and community living standards. Key infrastructure upgrades are at the heart of this makeover. Underground installations of electrical and communication cables, revamped road surfaces,…
- Thailand News
Pattaya deputy mayor slams contractors with record fines
In response to mounting frustration over delays at the North Pattaya intersection, Deputy Mayor Manot Nongyai has taken decisive action, confirming hefty penalties for the responsible contractor. The construction setbacks have caused major disruptions to residents and the local tourism scene, prompting swift measures from city officials. Manot outlined the scope of the project, which includes resurfacing key intersections across…
- Thailand News
Insurance giant loses 40 billion baht Covid lawsuit
The Central Administrative Court dismissed a colossal 40 billion baht lawsuit against the Office of Insurance Commission, filed by Syn Mun Kong Insurance Public Company. This landmark case revolved around the commission’s prohibition on cancelling the company’s controversial Covid 2 in 1 (jer-jai-job) insurance policies, sold to approximately one million customers at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.…
- Thailand News
Thailand boat shows merge for a splash-tacular Phuket event
The Thailand International Boat Show and Thailand Boat Festival are set to merge, creating the largest and most extravagant boat show Phuket has ever seen. This landmark event will take place at Phuket Yacht Haven from January 9 to 12 next year, promising a spectacular display of luxury yachts and lifestyle brands. The organisers of both prestigious events have announced…
- Thailand News
SCAT Airlines operates new routes from Kazakhstan to U-Tapao
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced new flight connections at U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport (UTP), courtesy of SCAT Airlines and AirAsia. This move underscores Thailand’s strategic push to enhance accessibility for international business travellers and tourists. SCAT Airlines is operating a charter service using Boeing 737 Max-9 with 213 seats from Almaty, Kazakhstan via flight number VSV5357 every seven to…
- Thailand News
Thailand shoots to the top, leaves Malaysia trailing in ASEAN rankings
Thailand has rocketed up the global competitiveness rankings, leaving Malaysia in the dust and securing the second spot in ASEAN. The IMD World Competitiveness Centre’s 2024 report catapulted Thailand from 30th to 25th place worldwide, highlighting a significant leap in economic performance. Danucha Pichayanan, the Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council, briefed the Cabinet yesterday regarding this…
- Thailand News
British Airways flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur resume soon
British Airways (BA) resumes flights to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok this year, marking a significant step in its regional expansion strategy. Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle expressed the importance of this strategic return. “For a global carrier like us, expanding our network in Asia as quickly as possible is crucial. With more aircraft joining our fleet in the coming years,…
- Thailand News
Court orders evidence in PM Srettha’s ethics case
The Constitutional Court has thrown the government into turmoil by demanding all parties in Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s ethics case submit evidence within 15 days. The court’s decision came yesterday, setting a new hearing date for July 10 but it remains uncertain whether a ruling will be issued then, leaving the government in a state of anxiety. The case revolves…
- Thailand News
Residents protest over false advertising and dilapidated clubhouse
Residents of a housing estate are up in arms over false advertising that promised top-notch amenities, only to be shocked by the dilapidated state of the clubhouse. The celebrity Tuck Boriboon allegedly could not tolerate the situation and joined the protest. Dr Monchai Jongkairattanakul, also known as Lawyer Kaew, shared the plight of the residents yesterday through the Facebook page…
- Thailand News
Illegal spiritual retreat seized in Thai national forest reserve
The Forest Department, military, police, and local administrative bodies joined forces to seize an unauthorised spiritual retreat within a national forest reserve. The site included roads, buildings, and accommodations constructed illegally. Pongpetch Kasupha, head of the Operation Unit of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, and Chanchai Kijsakdapap, leader of the Forest Department’s Tiger Unit, accompanied by officers from…
- Thailand News
Couple found dead in car in Suan Luang, Bangkok
A couple was found dead in a parked car on Phatthanakan Soi 12 in Bangkok with the engine running until the fuel was exhausted. CCTV footage revealed they had entered the vehicle after leaving their workplace. The incident occurred around 8.20pm yesterday. Police Lieutenant Sirichai Kaewprasith from Khlong Tan Police Station responded to the discovery of two bodies, one male and…
- Thailand News
Big Joke demands impeachment of anti-corruption commissioner
Police General Surachate Hakparn, better known as Big Joke, who has been suspended from his Deputy Police Chief position, has gathered enough signatures for a petition to lay charges against a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Big Joke submitted a petition with 20,000 signatures, demanding the impeachment of a NACC commissioner. The petition was handed over to House…
- Thailand News
Air pollution crisis: Village chief defends age-old burning practices (video)
As the haze season begins, villagers of Ban Mae Lan Kham are preparing to burn their land, adding to some of the world’s worst air pollution. When the haze season descends upon northern Thailand, village chief Nanthawat Tiengtrongsakun and his community start their annual preparations. They cut down shrubs and trees on their small plots, then set controlled burns to…
- Thailand News
Thai AirAsia’s Fifth Freedom routes to Japan take off
Thai AirAsia launched its much-anticipated Fifth Freedom routes, creating a seamless travel experience connecting Bangkok, Taiwan, and Japan. The airline’s inaugural flight from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport to Taipei, followed by a final leg to Okinawa, garnered an overwhelming passenger response. The Taipei to Okinawa route boasted a staggering 99% load factor, arriving at a warm reception and a lively…
- Thailand News
Soda bottle explosion at local store injures worker
A soda bottle explosion at a local store left a worker injured, prompting medical professionals to issue safety guidelines. The incident occurred when the worker was placing soda bottles into an icebox, resulting in an unexpected explosion that caused glass shards to scrape their hands, necessitating three stitches. The incident was shared in the Facebook group พวกเราคือผู้บริโภค (We Are Consumers),…
- Thailand News
Colour con: Woman’s 7,000 baht hair dye disaster leaves her seeing red
A woman expressed her disappointment after paying 7,000 baht for a hair colouring service that did not meet her expectations. She had requested a dark grey shade but the result was far from what she envisioned. The woman also experienced scalp irritation during the process. The incident took place at a hair salon in Ton Tann Market, Khon Kaen Province.…
- Thailand News
More than 50 Burmese nationals nabbed in border bust
Sangkhla Buri Police, immigration officers, and several agencies successfully apprehended 56 Burmese nationals who allegedly snuck into Thailand through a remote passage in Kanchanaburi. The sting was sparked by an anonymous tip-off, which revealed that a large group of Burmese nationals were attempting to bypass a subdistrict police checkpoint by trekking through dense forests along the notorious 323 Road. Upon…
- Thailand News
Southern Thailand popular for Malaysian polygamous marriages
Southern Thailand has emerged as a preferred destination for Malaysian men seeking ceremonial polygamous marriages. Each month, at least 30 couples from Malaysia undergo marriage ceremonies at the Narathiwat Islamic Religious Council, according to a report by the Bernama news agency. These couples primarily hail from the neighbouring states of Kelantan and Terengganu, though some travel from as far as…
- Thailand News
PM Srettha scandal escalates: Court demands more evidence
The Constitutional Court has thrown a curveball in the case against Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, demanding additional evidence within 15 days. This comes after allegations surfaced regarding his controversial Cabinet appointment, stirring up a storm of legal challenges and political intrigue. The court’s move sets the stage for a pivotal hearing on July 10, prompting a flurry of submissions from…
- Thailand News
Constitutional Court orders testimony from MFP by July 3
The Constitutional Court ordered the Move Forward Party (MFP) to provide testimony for its dissolution case by July 3, for the court to examine on July 9. The Election Commission (EC) filed a petition arguing there was reasonable evidence to believe that the MFP had committed acts of subverting the democratic form of government with the king as head of…
- Thailand News
Football star Mario Balotelli spotted at famous Muay Thai camp
A popular Muay Thai camp on Kamala Beach in Phuket recently caused a stir online after posting photos of none other than Italian footballer Mario Balotelli engaging in rigorous training sessions at their facility. The Facebook page Kamala Muay Thai shared last Friday, June 14, snapshots of the 33 year old striker accompanied by a message in both Thai and…
- Thailand News
Iranian tourist assault rocks Phuket’s famous party street
A night out in Phuket turned violent when an Iranian tourist was brutally attacked, leaving holidaymakers and locals questioning the island’s safety. Police Lieutenant Wisanu Chumee, Deputy Inspector of Patong Police Station, received a distressing report on Saturday night about a foreign tourist being assaulted and injured. The incident occurred at the bustling end of Soi Bang La, Bang La…
- Thailand News
Indian tourist’s holiday horror: Robbed and beaten in Pattaya
A 34 year old Indian tourist was brutally assaulted and robbed in Pattaya in the early hours yesterday. Gobi Manimaran, who was visiting the popular tourist destination yesterday, June 17, reported the harrowing incident to local police after being ambushed by a gang in front of the White Rose Hotel. The attackers, who pounced on Manimaran without warning, made off…
- Thailand News
Thaksin gets a bail-out: Ex-PM walks free on 500,000 baht bond
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra walked free today after the Criminal Court granted him bail of 500,000 baht, following his arraignment on lese-majeste and computer crime charges. Thaksin appeared before public prosecutors early this morning and was promptly taken to the Criminal Court for his arraignment, confirmed Prayut Phetcharakhun, spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney-General. The court accepted the…
- Thailand News
Drag-tastic: Pattaya hosts first Drag Queen Star 2024 pageant
Central Marina Pattaya hosted Pattaya’s inaugural Drag Queen Star 2024 beauty pageant to celebrate Pride Month. Held on Sunday, June 16, under the theme Thailand’s Pride Celebration 2024: Pride For All, the event aimed to foster diversity and equality within the LGBTQ+ community. This inclusive competition welcomed individuals of all genders and nationalities. The total prize pool exceeded 70,000 baht,…
- Thailand News
Rice to the occasion: Decade-old rice sold for a steal
V8 Intertrading Ltd from Kamphaeng Phet Province triumphed in the high-stakes bid for 15,000 tonnes of decade-old jasmine rice. This controversial stock, a remnant of Yingluck Shinawatra’s scandal-ridden rice-pledging scheme, has been secured by V8 Intertrading for an astounding 286 million baht, averaging 19.07 baht per kilogramme. The Thai Rice Mills Association yesterday listed the price of 100% jasmine rice…
- Thailand News
Eel-lustrious luck: Rare albino eel brings lottery fortune in Udon Thani
A rare albino eel caught in Ban Dung, Udon Thani, has now brought lottery luck to its owner for three consecutive draws. The unique white eel was initially discovered by villagers from Santi Suk who were out fishing. Residents had gathered at house number 18, located at a three-way junction leading to the famous Kamchanod, the land of the mythical…
- Thailand News
Phichit farmers boost income with organic date palms
Farmers in Phichit are turning to organic date palm cultivation to boost income, with sweet, nutrient-rich fruits fetching high prices of 400 baht per kilogramme. This shift is driven by the fruit’s popularity and the relatively easy maintenance. Veerachat Kiewubon of Poon Siri Farm located in Moo 2, Wat Kwang Subdistrict, Pho Thale District, Phichit, converted his 8-rai lime plantation…
