- Thailand News
King cobra nest discovered in Hat Yai rubber plantation
A team of southern herpetologists and rescue workers recently discovered a king cobra’s nest in a rubber plantation in Hat Yai. They plan to incubate the eggs before releasing the hatchlings into the wild. Upon receiving a report from a 49 year old local called Charan Jankaew, residing at house number 59, Ban Nai Si, Moo 4, Thung Tamsao Subdistrict,…
- Business News
Thai govt unveils tax measures to spark tourism surge
The Thai Cabinet today approved a series of tax measures aimed at boosting domestic tourism during the low season, announced the deputy finance minister. These measures will be in effect from May to November and include tax deductions for companies organising conventions and seminars, according to Paopoom Rojanasakul. Further initiatives target increased domestic travel to secondary cities by allowing income…
- Thailand News
Woman hides 47.9m baht lottery win from ex-husband
A woman from California, in the United States, hit the jackpot by winning a US$1.3 million lottery (47.9 million baht). Eleven days later, she decided to file for divorce from her husband of 25 years. This incident dates back to 1996. Californian Denise Rossi kept her lottery win a secret and abruptly ended her marriage, leaving Thomas shocked and confused.…
- Business News
Cathay Pacific delays new routes for full capacity takeoff
Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong’s flag carrier, will refrain from expanding into new routes until it achieves full capacity by early next year. Despite reaching 80% of its pre-pandemic capacity, Chairman Patrick Healy stated that speeding up the timeline “is not the right thing to do.” Healy revealed to the South China Morning Post that the airline has no immediate…
- Pattaya News
American tourist a suspected suicide victim at Pattaya hotel
An American tourist was discovered dead this morning in a suspected suicide after a fatal fall from the seventh floor of a hotel in Pattaya. Pattaya police received the report at around 6.06am and quickly dispatched officers and rescue workers to the scene. The incident occurred at an unidentified hotel on Soi Thappraya 15, where the deceased, identified as Michael…
- Tourism News
British mum’s dengue fever warning after son’s Thai holiday tragedy
A crestfallen British mother urged travellers ahead of the holiday season to be wary of dengue fever after losing her son to the disease while he was on holiday in Thailand. The heartbroken mother, Jayne Toulson-Burke, recalled the last devastating phone call from her son, Bob, just before he died from the disease several years ago. The 59 year old…
- Tourism News
UK warns British tourists to behave in Thailand or face jail time
The United Kingdom Foreign Office issued a travel warning to British tourists heading to Thailand ahead of the summer holidays: “Behave, or end up in jail!” The Foreign Office advised British holidaymakers flying to the Land of Smiles to be cautious of the new visa rules. “From 1 June 2024, British passport holders arriving by air or land can enter…
- Thailand News
Thailand, Malaysia make border demarcation progress
Thailand and Malaysia are making strides in demarcating their shared border, as outlined in the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. The border between Thailand and Malaysia spans 647 kilometres, stretching from Thailand’s Satun province and Malaysia’s Perlis state in the west to Thailand’s Narathiwat province and Malaysia’s Kelantan state in the east. Nathapol Khantahiran, Deputy…
- Thailand News
Dilapidated building in Bangkok listed for 18 million baht
A four-storey dilapidated building in Bangkok has been listed for sale at 18 million baht, causing quite a stir online. Netizens are engaged in lively debates about whether this “fixer-upper” is worth the “price tag shock.” Aood Narongrit, a Facebook user, shared images and details in the group Second-Hand Houses at Good Prices in Bangkok and Surrounding Areas. The post…
- Tourism News
Prehistoric tourism boost for Thailand as Jurassic World 4 rolls
Thailand will host the filming of Jurassic World 4, the latest instalment in the iconic Jurassic Park series providing an enormous boost to the nation’s tourism industry. The Department of Tourism’s Director General, Jaturon Phakdeewanit, announced that the production will span from today until mid-July, covering several locations such as Bangkok, Krabi, Trang, Phang Nga, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. This…
- Thailand News
Thailand eggs on dino-mite park proposal for roaring revenue
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) proposed hatching a dinosaur-themed park in Khon Kaen to give tourism a Jurassic boost and bone-rattling revenue for the northeastern region. Seksan Sripraiwa, director of the Khon Kaen TAT office, urged the government to team up with the private sector to make this dino-mite project a reality, citing the region’s geological significance, including the…
- Business News
Chinese investors show strong interest in Thailand at RCEP-tion
Chinese investors eagerly engaged with Thailand’s business landscape at a recent matchmaking event held under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. Marking its debut in Thailand, the event seeks to draw interest towards emerging S-curve industries and facilitate the transfer of technology from China. At the helm of the 1st RCEP Business Opportunities Matchmaking Conference (China-Thailand) was Commerce Minister…
- Business News
Thailand Cabinet boosts 2024 fiscal budget by 122 billion baht
The Thai Cabinet approved a plan to increase the 2024 fiscal budget by 122 billion baht to support its delayed household stimulus scheme, Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul today announced. This adjustment will raise the new budget to 3.6 trillion baht, representing a 13% increase from the previous year, with the deficit swelling to 805 billion baht. The government’s decision…
- Business News
Ezy Airlines ready for Hat Yai-Betong takeoff, expect turbulence
Ezy Airlines announced plans to take flight on the currently unserviced Hat Yai-Betong route by late next year, experiencing a slight delay from its original schedule. Chatchavee Sakornvisai, senior director of business development and international liaison, confirmed Ezy Airlines’ intention to establish Hat Yai Airport as its operational hub, with aspirations to start flights to Betong by the third quarter…
- Thailand News
Hoppy news: Rare albino frog spawns lottery luck in Khon Kaen
Residents in Khon Kaen province have been captivated by the discovery of a rare albino frog, which they believe to be a harbinger of good fortune. This unusual amphibian was stumbled upon after a rainstorm, prompting villagers to flock to see it in anticipation of uncovering lucky lottery numbers. Social media and various pages across Khon Kaen province have been…
- Thailand News
Young woman’s body found after motorcycle abandoned on bridge
The body of a young woman was found dead in a river after her motorcycle was discovered parked on a bridge. The tragic suspected suicide incident unfolded yesterday at 9am when the Sajja Phutthatham Kabinburi Rescue Unit received a report from locals noticing a girl on the municipal bridge in Kabinburi. Shortly after, only her motorcycle and a pair of…
- Thailand News
EC to comply with court ruling on Senate candidate profiles
The Election Commission (EC) has opted not to challenge a Central Administrative Court decision regarding a regulation that prevents Senate election candidates from sharing their profiles publicly. Sawang Boonmee, EC Secretary-General, confirmed yesterday, May 27, that the commission will not use the 30-day window to appeal the court’s decision. The Senate election regulations have been updated to align with the…
- Pattaya News
Revved up: Bolt & Grab snubbed parking in Soi Sukhumvit Pattaya
A debate has sparked on social media over a sign banning cars and motorcycles using the Bolt and Grab apps from parking in a specific area. Located in Soi Sukhumvit Pattaya 42, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Banglamung District, the sign’s restrictive language has caught the public’s attention. Reporters verified the presence of three identical signs near a convenience store, each clearly…
- Expats
Pattaya police powerless unless three British men lodge attack complaint
Pattaya Tourist Police declared they cannot take action regarding the assault on three British men, which left one of them in a coma, unless an official complaint is lodged. Three British men were attacked on Friday, May 24, at the Helicopter bar on Soi 6 in Pattaya over an unpaid bar bill. One of the men is now in hospital…
- Thailand News
Swing and miss: Cuckold husband takes legal swing at wife’s affair
A cuckold husband has taken legal action after discovering his wife had an affair with a high-ranking government official soon after the couple had joined a swingers’ club. The couple, married for 10 years, had entered the swinging scene to spice up their relationship, with strict rules to avoid emotional entanglements. The husband, with activist Kan Jompalang, reported that he…
- Business News
Thailand PM calls urgent meeting with economy ministers
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin called for an urgent meeting with economy ministers to discuss short-term economic stimulus measures to address Thailand’s sluggish economic performance in the first quarter of 2024. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reported that Thailand’s economy grew by only 1.5% year-on-year for the first three months of 2024. This lacklustre growth has prompted…
- Business News
Tax refund delays: Stricter checks put paperwork in slow lane
Stricter document verification has led to delays in personal income tax refunds this year, the Revenue Department reported. An increase in the submission of fraudulent documents, particularly fake income certificates (50 Tawi), prompted the department to scrutinise tax refund documents more meticulously. Vinit Visessuvanapoom, Deputy Director-General and principal advisor on tax base management stated that the department’s heightened caution stems from…
- Thailand News
PM tunes up tourism: Bangkok’s Song Wat set to hit high notes
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to enhance the promotion of Song Wat, one of Bangkok’s most historic trading areas, as a prime tourism destination. Following a walk along Song Wat Road and discussions with young entrepreneurs yesterday, the Thai premier expressed on his X account, formerly Twitter, that…
- Politics News
Jewish independent to challenge Keir Starmer in UK election (video)
Sir Keir Starmer yesterday declared the July 4 General Election announcement by United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was the “moment the country” had been waiting for. While the opposition leader believes it’s a foregone conclusion that the Labour Party will triumph, this may not necessarily be the case. Andrew Feinstein, a former Member of the National Assembly of South…
- Thailand News
Bleak reefs: Coral bleaching hits Mooh Koh Surin & Phi Phi Island
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DMCR) revealed seven coral bleaching sites have been identified in Moo Koh Surin National Park in Phang Nga, with up to 70% of coral fields around Krabi’s Phi Phi Island also affected. An investigation into the bleaching situation, conducted over two days, revealed that seven coral reef sites in Moo Koh Surin…
- Pattaya News
Foreign man causes chaos at Pattaya insurance office
Pattaya authorities yesterday were called into action when another badly behaved foreign man caused a disturbance at a local business. Around noon, May 21, concerned residents contacted Pattaya City’s 1337 hotline to report the erratic behaviour of a foreign man in front of an insurance office on Chaiyapruek 1 Road. Upon arrival, municipal officers, peacekeepers, and the Pattaya Mobile Rescue…
- Thailand News
Passengers recount chaos on ill-fated Singapore Airlines flight (video)
Passengers aboard the ill-fated Singapore Airlines flight recounted harrowing scenes during an emergency landing in Bangkok yesterday, after a 73 year old British man, Geoff Kitchen, succumbed to a suspected heart attack triggered by severe turbulence that wreaked havoc in the cabin. The turbulence, which struck as a meal service was underway, left more than 30 passengers injured and plunged…
- Thailand News
Koh Samui’s new cruise terminal project anchors big investors
Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced that Koh Samui’s ambitious new cruise terminal project has drawn substantial interest from investors both locally and internationally. The Ministry of Transport plans to review the outcomes of a feasibility study into the project’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investment model before submitting it to the cabinet for approval. Manaporn provided an update on the project’s…
- Crime News
Assange granted appeal: A Wikibreak in his extradition case (video)
Julian Assange lives to fight another day after the UK High Court ruled that the embattled, award-winning journalist could appeal against his extradition to the United States. The WikiLeaks founder, a thorn in the side of the so-called democratic Western political powers, was granted permission to challenge the order demanding his transfer to the US, where he faces charges for…
- Politics News
Iranian president, foreign minister killed in tragic helicopter crash
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister were tragically killed in a helicopter crash amidst mountainous terrain and icy weather, as reported by state media. The wreckage was located in East Azerbaijan province after search teams mobilized. State TV initially provided no immediate cause for yesterday’s crash in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. Among the casualties was 60 year old…
