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    Hot Phuket property deal: Arise Vibe launches limited offer on only four units, now from 2.5m baht

    Phuket's property market is full of big names and high prices, but some of the most exciting opportunities are happening just outside the spotlight. That’s where you’ll find Arise Vibe. Set in Si Sunthon, one of Phuket’s fastest-growing areas, this...

  • Happy Birthday to His Majesty the King

    Happy Birthday to His Majesty the King

    Happy Birthday to His Majesty the King, the first birthday celebrations of Thailand’s monarch since his Coronation in May. The government has organised religious and celebratory events in Bangkok and around the country today to honour His Majesty the King on his 67th birthday. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will lead government dignitaries and state officials in a rite offering alms…

  • Pattaya police caught extorting son of senior Issan policeman

    Pattaya police caught extorting son of senior Issan policeman

    PHOTO: Daily News Four Pattaya police have been caught out trying to extort payment from a person in an e-cigarette sting. But the person they were trying to get payment from was the son of a deputy police commander in Isaan, in Thailand’s north east. 24 year old Phanuwat Suban Na Ayuthaya reported the alleged extortion to Pattaya police yesterday. He…

  • Big bike rider decapitated in horror crash in Bangkok

    Big bike rider decapitated in horror crash in Bangkok

    PHOTOS: Sanook A motorbike rider has been decapitated after colliding with the side of the Klong Tan Flyover yesterday. He was riding a BMW S1000 RR big bike at the time. His body was taken to the Chulalongkorn Hospital for an autopsy to determine the presence of alcohol or drugs in his blood. Sanook reports that motorbikes are not allowed on…

  • Phuket leads the way in managed hotel residences

    Phuket leads the way in managed hotel residences

    by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com – Feature article “Hotel Residences – properties that sell individual units in the real estate market and operate as either hotels or else are branded by hospitality operators. Other often used terms are condotel, hotel branded residences and hospitality-led real estate.” Phuket’s love affair with hotel managed properties started in the late 1980’s with the…

  • Australian pair’s ‘misunderstanding’ puts Phuket Airport taxis and van services in spotlight

    Australian pair’s ‘misunderstanding’ puts Phuket Airport taxis and van services in spotlight

    When Australians Kate Chipperfield and Lauren Meinties filed their complaint about a 3,000 baht van fare from Phuket Airport to Kata, they had no idea of the chain of events that would follow. Even the Thai PM got involved ordering Phuket officials to clamp down on rorts, and taxi and van drivers to stop ripping off tourists. As the central…

  • WWF Thailand pushes for sustainable tourism and preservation

    WWF Thailand pushes for sustainable tourism and preservation

    An animal lover, nature lover and a Thai national, CEO of World Wide Fund-Thailand, Natalie Phaholyothin is particularly proud of Thailand’s national environment and wildlife heritage. “We have 127 national parks, which is quite a high number, and that in itself should be an indication of the potential for Thailand to become more of a sustainable tourism destination. “All Thais…

  • Facebook removes accounts and pages because of “inauthentic behaviour”

    Facebook removes accounts and pages because of “inauthentic behaviour”

    “Facebook says the reason for the removal of the posts and accounts was because of their “behaviour” not the content they posted.” Facebook has erased over 1,800 accounts and pages from Thailand, Russia, Ukraine and Honduras in a move to counter abuses of its service and “deceptive political propaganda”. Facebook has shared examples of Thailand-based Facebook accounts, posts and pages it…

  • Fights on offer as Pheu Thai MP and senator bicker in Parliament

    Fights on offer as Pheu Thai MP and senator bicker in Parliament

    PHOTO: @tanawatofficial It only took two days before the fingers started pointing and the first offer of a fist fight was made. Senator Kittisak Rattanawaraha, who challenged Pheu Thai MP Yutthapong Charassathien in parliament to a fist-fight yesterday, admitted he lost his patience because of Yutthapong’s continual bad-mouthing of other MPs. The Senators have all been hand-picked by the NCPO…

  • Power bank explodes in backpack at Chiang Mai Airport – VIDEO

    Power bank explodes in backpack at Chiang Mai Airport – VIDEO

    Thankfully the passenger wasn’t on a plane at the time. The woman had just arrived at the Chiang Mai International Airport. The first explosion was in her backpack which she quickly shrugged off and it fell to the ground. (Watch the video, bottom left at the beginning) Then, as security came to get a quick video of the incident on…

  • Thailand’s Future Forward denies bizarre ‘Illuminati’ accusations

    Thailand’s Future Forward denies bizarre ‘Illuminati’ accusations

    A lawyer and former advisor to Thailand’s chief ombudsman, Natthaporn Toprayoon has gone ‘full woo woo’ in cobbling together arguments to disband the Future Forward Party. In a petition submitted to the Constitutional Court, the lawyer has invoked fears of the ‘Illuminati’ secret society. He has accused Future Forward as being a threat to the country’s constitutional monarchy. He says…

  • BTS 15 baht flat rate fare is nothing new

    BTS 15 baht flat rate fare is nothing new

    The ’15 baht flat fare’ proposal for the BTS is nothing new. But the proposal has surfaced again as the new Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob offered the flat fee to be set for the BTS Skytrain service across Bangkok. The BTSC operates the BTS services – the Sukhumvit line from Mor Chit to Kheha and the Silom line which serves Silom and…

  • Accusations, working off-script and walk-outs. Day one in the new Thai parliament

    Accusations, working off-script and walk-outs. Day one in the new Thai parliament

    PHOTO: The Nation One day down, another today. Thailand’s PM had his first day in a parliamentary setting and, despite taunts and barbs being thrown at him in true Parliamentary style, he stood firm. Sometimes working off-script and at other times visibly annoyed, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha barrelled through the formalities with a few “settle downs” coming from his right-hand man,…

  • Pattaya officials tell Bali Hai Pier vans, taxis and baht bus drivers to clean up their act

    Pattaya officials tell Bali Hai Pier vans, taxis and baht bus drivers to clean up their act

    PHOTO: Pattaya Mail Pattaya officials have now banned passenger vans from parking at Bali Hai Pier and discussing the situation with baht bus operators. Ronakit Ekasingh, Pattaya’s deputy mayor held a meeting on Monday about the traffic problems and chaos that was overwhelming the busy tourist pier. In a story earlier this week public-transport operators were caught fighting over customers.…

  • Ready, set, Dragonboats are GO! World Champs come to Pattaya in August

    Ready, set, Dragonboats are GO! World Champs come to Pattaya in August

    The 14th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships are being held in August at the Map Prachan Reservoir in Banglamung, in Chon Buri. The event is being held at the Royal Navy Rowing Training Centre in Pattaya, from August 20-25. It is the first time that Thailand will be hosting the sport’s biggest event. This year the event draws more than…

  • Phuket police crackdown nets over 20,000 meth pills and weapons

    Phuket police crackdown nets over 20,000 meth pills and weapons

    PHOTO: khaophuket.com Police have nabbed drug dealers in Phuket with more than 20,000 methamphetamine pills plus other drugs and weapons. On July 23, Phuket police announced a drug crackdown. Police have ended up seizing more than 20,000 methamphetamine pills, crystal methamphetamine, kratom and a gun. In the first case, police arrested 21 year old Arunrat ‘May’ Jirapongpitak and 25 year…

  • Thai PC and notebook sales set to increase 5% in second half of year

    Thai PC and notebook sales set to increase 5% in second half of year

    The market for personal computers and notebook computer will grow around 4.7% in the second half of this year, as students, gaming and e-sports continue to drive growth The prediction from marketing director at Acer Computer, Nitipat Praweenwongwuthi. Acer recently conducted a survey into the needs of computer users and found that about 50% of customers who purchase gaming computers will…

  • Police receive reports of Ponzi scene affecting 200 on Koh Samui

    Police receive reports of Ponzi scene affecting 200 on Koh Samui

    PHOTO: Manager Online 200 Thai wives of foreigners have reportedly lost up to 120 million baht in a Ponze scheme on Koh Samui. A group of 20 affected victims were represented by ‘Praew’ who reported to the Bophut Police Station to register a formal complaint. Bophut Police are trying to interview 30 victims each day since the complaint was registered…

  • American dies after being knocked over by motorbike north of Bangkok

    American dies after being knocked over by motorbike north of Bangkok

    An American pedestrian has died after being run over on Klong 1 Road leading to the Lumpini Township condominium, north of the Capital. Police and emergency services responded after reports that a foreigner had been struck by a motorcycle just after midnight this morning. Volunteers from Ruam Katanyu provided CPR to the man, reported by Sanook as 35 year old ‘Carl’ from…

  • Security tight for the first day of the new Thai parliament

    Security tight for the first day of the new Thai parliament

    FILE PHOTO Security is tight around Bangkok’s TOT building for today’s first sitting of the new Thai parliament. Four companies of policemen from the Metropolitan Police Division 2, police dogs and officers from the Thung Song Hong police station have been stationed at the HQ of the TOT, the venue for today’s government policy debate. Explosive ordnance disposal police backed…

  • 32 year old charged with attempted murder after Egyptian tourist stabbed in neck in Phuket

    32 year old charged with attempted murder after Egyptian tourist stabbed in neck in Phuket

    Sanook News is reporting further details after an 30 year old Egyptian, the son of an Ambassador, was struck in the neck by a roti seller who thought that the tourist was swearing at his wife. 32 year old Surachai from Koh Lanta, who was helping his wife sell rotis outside a Family Mart in Chalong’s Soi Ta-iad, grabbed a big…

  • Phuket’s roti knife attack victim identified as Ambassador’s son

    Phuket’s roti knife attack victim identified as Ambassador’s son

    PHOTO: เสียงประชาชน คนภูเก็ต Phuket People’s Voice The Egyptian tourist slashed by a roti seller in Chalong’s Soi Ta-iad over the weekend, has been identified as the son of the Egyptian Ambassador in Uruguay. The incident occurred on July 19, when a man from Koh Lanta, 32 year old Surachai Raksap, attacked an Egyptian man with a knife in front of a…

  • Tanks rolling into Bangkok today but not a coup! – Army

    The tanks and army trucks are rolling into the capital today. But the Army’s Public Relations Division says it’s nothing to worry about, they’re just getting ready for celebrations for HM The King’s birthday this Sunday. They’ve said there is no need for alarm at the sight of processions of arms, troops and vehicles into Bangkok today. Soldiers, weaponry and…

  • 80 opposition MPs ready to go to battle with ‘newbie’ Thai PM

    80 opposition MPs ready to go to battle with ‘newbie’ Thai PM

    He’s never spoken in a Thai parliament. He’s never been leader of an elected government. He’s never had to do much debating or political negotiations. But he’s the Prime Minster of Thailand and he faces up to the new parliament tomorrow and Friday for the first two days of debate. All eyes will be in the PM to see how…

  • Bangkok council to raise fines for motorbike footpath riders

    Bangkok council to raise fines for motorbike footpath riders

    Bangkok’s deputy governor says he has received approval from the BMA (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) to raise fines imposed on motorcyclists caught driving on Bangkok’s sidewalks from 1,000 to 2,000 baht, starting next month. He said he was unhappy that a number of motorcyclists are still using the city’s footpaths as shortcuts, despite the existing 1,000 baht fine. The BMA says…

  • Bangkok gets a peak hour battering

    Bangkok gets a peak hour battering

    PHOTO: FM91 Trafficpro Bangkok and its suburbs were battered by a heavy thunderstorm late yesterday afternoon (Tuesday). The rains brought with them the usual traffic chaos during the rush evening hours and blew over trees and power poles in the suburbs. Those trying to avoid the traffic down below used the BTS Skytrain riding above the chaos below but were…

  • “Worst in ten years” – Chiang Mai hotels

    “Worst in ten years” – Chiang Mai hotels

    Hoteliers and business in Thailand’s main tourist areas continue to be at odds with the official narrative trotted out by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This time hoteliers in Chiang Mai are reporting tourism in Thailand’s north is the worst in ten years at the moment. A report in ThaiVisa says that bookings are 40% down when compared to the…

  • House speaker warns MPs to behave when new Thai parliament sits tomorrow

    House speaker warns MPs to behave when new Thai parliament sits tomorrow

    PHOTO: “Behave!” – House Speaker Chuan Leekpai – Thai PBS The first sitting of the new parliament will be tomorrow (Thursday) when the coalition government, led by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, will lay out the policies of the government. And MPs are being warned to behave ahead of time. Members of parliament are being warned by the speaker of the house…

  • Thailand’s taxi and tuk tuk scams and annoyances

    Thailand’s taxi and tuk tuk scams and annoyances

    “Where are you going?”, they shout from across the road. A Tuk Tuk driver wants to help you get to your next destination but the willing smile and lure of a ride in a local jalopy may have switched off your trusty scam-detector. Tuk Tuks and taxis, and the motorbike taxis too, are a convenient, safe and reasonably cheap way…

  • Pattaya tourist slump – visitors leaking to Vietnam

    Pattaya tourist slump – visitors leaking to Vietnam

    The new Minister of tourism and sports says tourism in Thailand is up nearly 1% (0.89% to be precise) in June year compared to last year. But as ministers bicker over the numbers – up or down – other business leaders says that tourism on the ground in Pattaya is much worse than the figures suggest. According to ThaiVisa, the “outlook…

  • A proposal for Greater Bangkok’s fourth airport

    A proposal for Greater Bangkok’s fourth airport

    PHOTO: Thailand Construction A new airport in Bangkok’s Nakhon Pathom province, just to the west of the capital, will be greater-Bangkok’s fourth air travel hub. The announcement was made on Saturday. Jarun Meesomboon, deputy director-general of the Airport Department, says the new 3,500 rai airport was a priority for the new Transport Ministry. He optimistically claimed it would cost only…