- Thailand News
Taxing tunes: Music giant pitches cut to boost Thailand’s soft power
Thailand’s largest music company made a bold appeal to the government for a corporate tax reduction in the entertainment sector, arguing it could supercharge the industry and bolster the nation’s soft power ambitions. GMM Music Plc CEO Phawit Chitrakorn paints a picture of an industry that thrives on slim profit margins, clocking in at a modest average of 10%. Phawit…
- Thailand News
Golden opportunity: NHSO extends care to new Thai citizens
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is set to expand its groundbreaking universal healthcare initiative through its gold card scheme to at least 480,000 ethnic individuals poised to receive Thai citizenship from the government. NHSO Deputy Secretary Yuphadee Sirisinsuk revealed that the ambitious plan is designed to extend healthcare benefits to all Thai citizens, including those in the process of…
- Phuket News
Catamaran catastrophe avoided: Foreign tourists saved off Phuket
Disaster was narrowly averted today as a catamaran carrying 38 foreign tourists capsized off the coast of Phuket, prompting a panicked scramble before nearby speedboats rushed to the rescue. At around 1pm today, January 13, the catamaran Emiray 888 found itself in deep trouble. As it set sail from Chalong Pier in Phuket’s Mueang district for a day trip to…
- Thailand News
Belgian kite surfer’s final flight: Tragedy strikes in Khao Kalok
A Belgian kite surfer lost his life after being swept away by a massive wave and trapped headfirst in a rocky crevice at Khao Kalok near Pran Buri. Despite valiant rescue efforts, his life was tragically cut short as he remained pinned 4 metres deep amidst the unforgiving rocks. Pak Nam Pran Police Radio Centre today, January 13, received an…
- Thailand News
Making waves: Miss Grand Roi Et turns up heat with sexy swimwear
The Miss Grand Roi Et 2025 beauty pageant ignited quite a stir, thanks to a daring choice of swimwear that sent social media into a frenzied meltdown. Contestants strutted their stuff in swimsuits that some deemed trendy but others branded as inappropriate because they aren’t practical to wear for a swim. Held on Saturday, January 11, the pageant didn’t shy…
- Bangkok News
Clearing the air: Bangkok takes a breather with work-from-home push
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt today is rolling out a novel work-from-home initiative alongside a push to expand the clean air shelter project in more schools, all in a bid to tackle the city’s relentless PM2.5 pollution problem. The 58 year old city chief noted a breath of fresh air yesterday, January 12, with improved air quality in Bangkok, as PM2.5 levels…
- Thailand News
Heartbroken Irish mum honours ‘special son’ lost in Thailand
The mother of a young Irishman paid tribute to her “special son” who died last week while scuba diving in Thailand. The heartbroken mother is now trying to repatriate the body of her beloved 21 year old son from County Clare, whose life was tragically cut short in Koh Tao. Robert “Robby” Kinlan, died unexpectedly on January 9 while on…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya on pause: Plan ahead or lose the booze
Local officials in Pattaya issued a gentle reminder to plan carefully for upcoming events in the city including the Chon Buri local elections and the booze bans. Locals, visitors and tourists in Pattaya should mark their calendars as the region is likely to go dry from 5pm on January 31 to 5pm on February 1. While the exact date hasn’t…
- Thailand News
Tying the Thai: Same-sex love wins big in the Land of Smiles
Love takes centre stage in the Land of Smiles as same-sex couples across Thailand can legally say “I do” at any district office nationwide and even at Thai embassies abroad starting from January 23. This monumental shift comes thanks to the groundbreaking tying the Thai: love wins big in the Land of Smiles, granting same-sex couples the same legal rights…
- Thailand News
Miss Universe’s world up in flames as home burns in Los Angeles
Heartbreak has struck former Miss Universe Porntip Nakhirunkanok as her cherished Malibu home, where she raised her family, was completely destroyed in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. For more than 25 years, this house was more than just bricks and mortar, it was a treasure trove of memories. In a poignant Instagram post under her handle @bui.simon, the 56 year…
- Thailand News
Miracle man helps veteran charcoal burner cheat fiery death
An 86 year old charcoal burner in Buriram province narrowly escaped a fiery fate, thanks to an unlikely hero, a courageous mentally ill man whose timely intervention made all the difference. The dramatic sequence that unfolded today, January 10, has left the village of Ban Nong Bua Thai buzzing. Suk, a stalwart in the charcoal trade with over 60 years…
- Business News
Central Pattana’s 500 million baht Chinese New Year splash
Central Pattana Plc (CPN) isn’t playing small this Chinese New Year as they, together with Central Department Store Co Ltd (CDS), unleash a mega 500-million-baht spending spree on their dazzling The Great Chinese New Year bash. Running from now until February 6, this vibrant celebration is expected to dazzle at Central malls nationwide, including the ever-busy Esplanade Ratchada. Leading the…
- Thailand News
Fuel for thought: Thailand sees shift in consumer petrol gears
Thailand’s engines are revving as fuel consumption takes a notable 2% leap, in line with the country’s economic growth, which is pegged at a healthy 2.6% to 2.7% for 2024. The Department of Energy Business reveals that from January to November, Thais guzzled an average of 155 million litres of fuel daily. Turning heads in the petrol station queue is…
- Thailand News
Casino kingpins eye Thailand: Melco’s big gamble on Bangkok
Macau gambling giant Melco Resorts & Entertainment is rolling the dice on Thailand, as they devise plans to dive headfirst into the country’s booming tourism scene and cultural tapestry. With whispers of legalised gambling on the horizon, this move could be a jackpot for the casino giants. At the helm, Lawrence Ho, Melco Chairman and CEO, is singing the praises…
- Thailand News
Myanmar mystery: Two Chinese nationals vanish near Thai border
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) have launched a high-stakes investigation following the baffling disappearance of two more Chinese nationals near the infamous Thai-Myanmar border. The missing duo includes a male model and a young woman, their vanishing acts echoing a recent case involving a Chinese actor snared by traffickers. Inspector-General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot of the RTP is leading the probe, sparked…
- Thailand News
Icy blast from China set to leave Thailand shivering
Thailand is set to shiver as a fresh surge of cold air sweeps down from China, bringing a biting chill and blustery winds across the nation. The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) sounded the alarm for plummeting temperatures with strong gusts and heavy rain expected to drench six provinces in the south. Brace yourselves, the north and northeast are in…
- Phuket News
PM pledges to polish Phuket into a top-tier tourist hotspot
Phuket is turning up the glamour stakes as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra unveils ambitious plans to transform the island into a premier tourist magnet. On her whirlwind visit to the sun-drenched southern province, the Thai premier set out a bold vision to tackle key issues facing the beloved getaway, from sorting out traffic snarls to bolstering its allure as a…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok’s traffic gridlock gets a tech-tock fix
Bangkok’s notorious traffic mayhem is finally seeing a breakthrough, thanks to a two-year tech overhaul that’s got commuters breathing a sigh of relief. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the implementation of Area Traffic Control (ATC) technology has slashed journey times in the city’s busiest areas by a remarkable 25%. This traffic-taming triumph comes courtesy of the ATC system,…
- Phuket News
Bitcoin hits the beach: Thailand’s sizzling crypto coup in Phuket
Phuket is set to become a crypto paradise as Thailand trials a new payment system using cryptocurrencies, all in a bid to make it easier than ever for tourists to splash their cash. The architect behind this brainwave reckon it’ll not only put a smile on the face of tech-savvy travellers but will also give the nation’s tourism sector a…
- Pattaya News
Police thwart Thai woman’s suicide attempt in Pattaya
Tense drama unfolded in Pattaya on Tuesday as police were alerted to a young woman’s suicide attempt after she tried to leap from a five-storey building near the bustling Walking Street. Responding with urgency, the Pattaya police, along with the Sawang Boriboon Foundation’s rescue teams and emergency services, raced to the scene on Tuesday, January 7, swiftly inflating an air…
- Pattaya News
Brit expats in Thailand warned of scams targeting bank accounts
A chief of police issued a warning to retirees in Thailand after two British expats in Pattaya were targetted by scammers attempting to drain their bank accounts. Police Lieutenant Colonel Saksit Choobunrueang yesterday, January 8, announced that the elderly are being targetted by scam gangs because of their limited knowledge of technology. The two British pensioners reached out to their…
- Thailand News
Lost and found: American’s wild Thai tale ends without a scratch
An American pensioner met with an unexpected adventure in northern Thailand but thanks to the swift action of Mae Hong Son’s Tourist Police, rescue volunteers, and local villagers, he made it out unscathed. The 68 year old man from the United States, was saved from the depths of the Doi Thong forest near Ya Po village, and he couldn’t be…
- Phuket News
British man’s death in Phuket leaves family searching for answers
The heartbroken family of a British man is desperately seeking the truth after his body washed ashore a Phuket beach. The body of Regan Kelly was discovered on Saturday, January 5, floating in the sea off a Thai beach. The 28 year old South London man’s body was discovered naked and face down merely hours after he was seen dashing…
- Thailand News
Mahout charged for elephant goring Spanish woman in Thailand
Police in Thailand have charged the mahout responsible for the elephant that gored a Spanish woman to death last week in Koh Yao. The deadly incident has since ramped up intense scrutiny of Thailand’s elephant tourism industry. The 38 year old mahout, Theerayut Inthaphudkij, faces charges of negligence causing death after a tragic accident involving the 22 year old Spanish tourist…
- Thailand News
Thailand tourism China-ing bright with visitor boom
Hold onto your tuk tuks, folks, Thailand’s tourism scene is making a triumphant comeback, with Chinese travellers leading the charge of foreign visitors. Thanks to more lenient visa rules, and especially to Thailand’s Chinese friends, the Land of Smiles is grinning wider than ever. The South China Morning Post reported that an impressive 35.5 million international jet-setters flocked to Thailand…
- Thailand News
Thai police rescue missing Chinese actor from trafficking gang
Missing Chinese actor Wang Xing was dramatically rescued by Thai police yesterday after being abducted by a human trafficking gang while on the Thai-Myanmar border. Wang Xing, known to fans as Xingxing, vanished on January 3 after departing Shanghai Pudong Airport for Thailand in what he believed was an acting gig along the border. Last seen in Mae Sot, the…
- Thailand News
Chinese actor’s real-life drama ends on Thai-Myanmar border
A Chinese actor has been found after mysteriously vanishing without a trace yesterday on the Thai-Myanmar border in a real-life plot twist befitting a film. The disappearance of Wang Xing, famously known as Xingxing, sent shockwaves across social media, lighting up concerns about safety in Southeast Asia. Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed today, January 7, that Wang was discovered…
- Thailand News
Heavy plans: ‘Fat’ Aussie dad jets to Thailand to shed the load
A “fat” Aussie dad is set to embark on a weight loss journey quite like no other after some cutting remarks by one of his children. Jimmy Mitchell is packing his bags and leaving behind his wife and two young sons for a ten-week stint in Thailand, all in the name of shedding pounds. The radical retreat comes after a…
- Pattaya News
Attack on transgender woman by foreign man rocks Pattaya Beach
A 27 year old transgender woman was subjected to a brutal attack by a foreign man in a shocking incident that has sent ripples through Pattaya Beach. The brazen assault on the transgender woman, Ms A, left her injured and humiliated in broad daylight, as the thug casually sped off on a motorcycle, laughing in her face. The incident, flagged…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok cleans up act: Street vendors get the boot in Pathumwan
In a bid to spruce up the bustling streets of Bangkok and make them safer for pedestrians, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has given street vendors the boot from two major hotspots in the Pathumwan district. Ploenchit Road in Ton Son and the bustling area outside the Siam Scape building are the targets. Gone are the days when 17 vendors…
