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    5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)

    Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...

  • Indian guests find a ‘Thai’-light in Airbnb bookings surge

    Indian guests find a ‘Thai’-light in Airbnb bookings surge

    New data from Airbnb reveals a significant rise in bookings by Indian guests in Thailand between 2022 and 2023. The statistics show an impressive increase of over 60% year-on-year, with notable peaks during the recent long holiday weekends. During these periods, searches by Indian guests for stays in Thailand surged by more than 200%. According to Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism…

  • Srettha unveils plans for Thailand’s economy at UBS conference

    Srettha unveils plans for Thailand’s economy at UBS conference

    At the UBS Asian Investment Conference 2024 in Hong Kong, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin showcased a visionary blueprint for Thailand’s economic revolution. Addressing over 2,000 participants and 300 companies from the Asia-Pacific region, he laid out a series of strategic initiatives designed to attract global investment and drive innovation and sustainability. The 62 year old PM emphasised the nation’s readiness…

  • What to do in Bangkok this weekend (May 30 – June 2)

    What to do in Bangkok this weekend (May 30 – June 2)

    Weekend, oh sweet weekend, it can never come soon enough! If you’re already thinking about shopping, new restaurants you want to try, and the best venues to go dancing, then this article is for you. There are plenty of fun things to do in Bangkok this weekend, and we’ve compiled some of the best ones below. Things to do in…

  • Court sentences ex-police officer to death for fatal Trang shooting

    Court sentences ex-police officer to death for fatal Trang shooting

    Initially acquitted, an ex-police gunman faces the death penalty for the fatal shooting of a couple in Trang. The couple were buying materials for their rubber latex business at the time, before being violently gunned down. The tragic event occurred on September 9, 2021, in front of the Khuan Mao Cockfighting Stadium in Trang Province. The victims, 39 year old…

  • Ex-con Brit arrested for fatal punch to Russian in Thailand

    Ex-con Brit arrested for fatal punch to Russian in Thailand

    The British man who punched a Russian businessman, resulting in his death, over sexual advances on his teenage daughter had been previously imprisoned for drug offences. He has recently been arrested for the fatal assault. The businessman allegedly propositioned the Welshman’s 15 year old daughter during a pool party in Pattaya. The 34 year old Welshman, known locally as Flash…

  • DSI shifts gears, catches Thai man for swerving luxury car taxes

    DSI shifts gears, catches Thai man for swerving luxury car taxes

    Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers arrested a Thai man yesterday for evading 42 million baht in taxes on the import of nine luxury cars. The DSI arrested the suspect, Chettha, at his accommodation, Uthong Mansion, in the Wang Thonglang district of Bangkok yesterday, May 29. Chettha is charged under Section 243 of the Customs Act for importing goods to…

  • Thailand’s smartphone market set to grow 3% to 5% in 2024

    Thailand’s smartphone market set to grow 3% to 5% in 2024

    Thailand’s smartphone market contracted by 2% in the first quarter due to slow economic recovery, a research paper revealed. However, the government’s digital wallet scheme is projected to stimulate industry growth by 3% to 5% in 2024, according to Counterpoint Technology Market Research’s Thailand Smartphone Tracker report. 5G smartphone shipments accounted for 52% of total smartphone sales in the first…

  • How AI is testing the boundaries of human intelligence

    How AI is testing the boundaries of human intelligence

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming our world, sparking debates about its potential and limitations. While AI has showcased remarkable abilities in areas like data processing and pattern recognition, it still grapples with tasks requiring reasoning, creativity, and abstract thinking. This ongoing series, “AI vs the Mind,” delves into these disparities, pitting human experts against AI tools to highlight where…

  • Bullying brother stabbed 11 times in Chon Buri family altercation

    Bullying brother stabbed 11 times in Chon Buri family altercation

    A violent altercation between siblings in Chon Buri erupted when a brother stabbed his older sibling 11 times, leaving the latter severely injured. The younger brother claims his brother, in an intoxicated state had instigated the incident, bearing his own weapons. Police Colonel Komsan Kamtunkaew received a report of a stabbing in Sattahip. Upon arrival at the scene, authorities found…

  • Exotic pet trainer attacks South Korean in Pattaya ‘coin-troversy’

    Exotic pet trainer attacks South Korean in Pattaya ‘coin-troversy’

    An exotic pet trainer attacked a South Korean man at a night market in Pattaya, accusing the victim of insulting him by throwing money at him during a performance. The South Korean victim, 38 year old Munsu Park, along with his Thai girlfriend and older brother, filed a complaint at Mueang Pattaya Police Station at 2am today, May 30. The…

  • Manhunt for fugitive Brit suspected to have fled to Thailand

    Manhunt for fugitive Brit suspected to have fled to Thailand

    British Police have launched an international manhunt for a fugitive Brit from Warrington, UK, believed to be hiding out in Thailand. The Brit, 36 year old Luke Atkin from Lower Walton, is on the run after failing to appear in court on serious drug charges. Atkin, previously of York, was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine but failed to attend…

  • Fugitive passport kingpin captured in Bangkok hideout

    Fugitive passport kingpin captured in Bangkok hideout

    A fugitive passport forgery mastermind who had been on the run from Chinese authorities has been apprehended in Bangkok’s upscale Sathorn district. Police revealed the arrest of the suspect, known only as Chun, in a late-night raid at a condominium on Suan Phlu Road. Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, Police Major General Phanthana Nutchanart, disclosed the details yesterday, confirming…

  • Weather alert: 44 Thai provinces warned of heavy rain and storms

    Weather alert: 44 Thai provinces warned of heavy rain and storms

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for today, alerting 44 provinces to expect heavy rainfall. Bangkok is advised to brace for storms from afternoon to evening, with rain expected to cover 40% of the area. The southern region’s seas are also predicted to experience high waves. The TMD’s 24-hour weather forecast indicates that the southwest monsoon is…

  • Student assaulted at Sisaket school sparks outrage

    Student assaulted at Sisaket school sparks outrage

    A disturbing incident involving a young student being assaulted at a school in Sisaket has come to light. A post by a popular social media page featured images of a 12 year old boy, identified as A, covered in blood after being attacked by older students. The incident, which took place on Tuesday, May 28, saw teachers bringing the injured…

  • La Niña to bring heavy rains but overall 26% below average

    La Niña to bring heavy rains but overall 26% below average

    The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) issued a warning about heavy rainfall from August to September due to the impact of the La Niña phenomenon, while also noting that this year’s total rainfall is expected to be 26% below average. ONWR Deputy Secretary-General Paitoon Kengkarnchang confirmed that the weather pattern will shift to a typical La Niña form starting in…

  • Foreign affairs minister sails to settle seas of dispute in Koh Kood

    Foreign affairs minister sails to settle seas of dispute in Koh Kood

    Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa is set to visit Cambodia to negotiate an overlapping claims area (OCA) in Koh Kood, situated in Trat, a border province. This visit aims to bolster bilateral relations and address pressing issues, including the controversial Cambodian construction of a breakwater near the 73rd border demarcation post adjacent to the Klong Yai border checkpoint. The breakwater,…

  • Cabinet’s coastal crusade: 3 notifications to protect Andaman Sea

    Cabinet’s coastal crusade: 3 notifications to protect Andaman Sea

    The Cabinet approved three ministerial notifications aimed at protecting the environment in Phang Nga, Krabi, and Ranong, three coastal provinces along the Andaman Sea. Deputy Prime Minister and Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Police General Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, announced yesterday, May 29, that two notifications from his ministry had received approval during a meeting held yesterday. The approved notifications focus on…

  • Supporters urge Thai PM to prevent Cannabis reclassification

    Supporters urge Thai PM to prevent Cannabis reclassification

    Wisarat Phanprasat, head of the Western Herbal Community Business Network in Kanchanaburi, led a significant demonstration alongside over 1,000 cannabis supporters, submitting a draft of the People’s Cannabis Act and a petition to the prime minister. This event took place in front of the United Nations in Bangkok. The primary demand was to oppose the classification of cannabis as a…

  • British man found dead in Sattahip condo, suspected suicide

    British man found dead in Sattahip condo, suspected suicide

    A 58 year old British man was found dead in his condo bathroom in Sattahip, Chon Buri on May 27. Sattahip police responded to a report of a suspected suicide at a luxury condominium behind Bang Saray Market. Upon entering the third-floor room, police discovered the man, identified by police as Michael Devalle, dead in the bathroom. He appeared to…

  • Pattaya tourism aims for diverse travel experience beyond nightlife

    Pattaya tourism aims for diverse travel experience beyond nightlife

    The private tourism sector in Pattaya convened a workshop yesterday to discuss strategies for repositioning the city as a comprehensive travel destination, aiming to shift its reputation beyond just a nightlife and entertainment hub. Representatives from eight tourism associations, four tourism clubs, and major tour operators within Pattaya City and Chon Buri province attended the event. Government officials from the…

  • PM Srettha to announce huge tech investment at AWS Summit

    PM Srettha to announce huge tech investment at AWS Summit

    Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will grace the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Summit in Bangkok tomorrow. The highly anticipated event at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre will see AWS, Amazon’s cloud computing powerhouse, unveil its grand vision for Thailand. “Thailand is poised for a digital transformation.” Prime Minister Srettha will co-chair the summit’s opening ceremony, according to government spokesman…

  • Myanmar couple makes history at Thai Pride parade

    Myanmar couple makes history at Thai Pride parade

    Denied the chance to celebrate their union in their homeland, where LGBTQ individuals face persecution and imprisonment, a Burmese same-sex couple sought peace and happiness in the more tolerant kingdom next door. The couple, Nyan and Mae, tied the knot in front of thousands at the annual Pride parade in Chiang Mai. The late-night ceremony on Sunday was only symbolic…

  • Record meth seizures in Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle

    Record meth seizures in Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle

    In a recent report released yesterday, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) disclosed that East and Southeast Asia are currently grappling with an unprecedented influx of methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs. This surge is largely sourced from the Golden Triangle, an area where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos converge. Historically recognised for opium cultivation and…

  • Outrage as Chinese tourists let child urinate near sacred Thai site

    Outrage as Chinese tourists let child urinate near sacred Thai site

    A photograph of two Chinese tourists allowing their child to urinate on a path near Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall in Bangkok has ignited a heated online debate. The Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall, nestled within the Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok, is a symbol of national pride and a key venue for state ceremonies. Formerly a royal residence, it…

  • Thai authorities seize one million meth pills near Chiang Rai Airport

    Thai authorities seize one million meth pills near Chiang Rai Airport

    Authorities intercepted a major drug bust involving one million methamphetamine pills in the parking lot of a well-known shopping mall near Chiang Rai Airport. The suspects, a man and a woman, were caught preparing to transport the drugs into the interior of the country. Colonel Kidakorn Chantra, Deputy Commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, examined the seized drugs and…

  • Woman arrested for 2.8 million baht fraud and nude clip scheme

    Woman arrested for 2.8 million baht fraud and nude clip scheme

    The Royal Thai Police (RTP) arrested a woman for her alleged involvement in a nude clip scheme and a 2.8 million baht investment scam impersonating a well-known platform where she reportedly coerced victims into sending nude clips in exchange for withdrawing their investment money. Police Major General Teeradech Thammasuthee, today, alongside an investigative team, apprehended 29 year old Arisa under…

  • Thai halal boom targets 84 trillion baht market

    Thai halal boom targets 84 trillion baht market

    In a move to capture a share of the burgeoning US$2.3 trillion (approximately 84 trillion baht) global halal market, the Ministry of Industry has launched the Thai Halal Industry Centre. This strategic initiative aims to position Thailand as the regional hub for halal products and services, with the market value expected to soar to US$2.8 trillion by 2025, driven by…

  • Thaksin’s shadow over Pheu Thai and election scandal rejected

    Thaksin’s shadow over Pheu Thai and election scandal rejected

    The Constitutional Court unanimously rejected a high-profile petition accusing the Pheu Thai Party of being dominated by paroled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The petition alleged that Thaksin’s influence and the controversial digital wallet scheme used in their election campaign violated section 49 of the Constitution. Decha Chairat, the petitioner, didn’t stop there. He also accused Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin…

  • Man’s body found in car park in Bangkok market

    Man’s body found in car park in Bangkok market

    A Bangkok market was thrown into chaos yesterday after the discovery of a man’s body in a parking lot. The police are investigating suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, including wounds that do not match the position of the body when found. At 8am yesterday, police officer Thananchai Kanthahatthi from Rat Burana Police Station received a report of a dead man…

  • Police arrest woman in Nawamin for online mobile phone scam

    Police arrest woman in Nawamin for online mobile phone scam

    Police officers apprehended a Thai woman at her condominium in the Nawamin district for allegedly defrauding people through an online scam operation of mobile phone sales. She faces three separate fraud charges. Authorities arrested 24 year old Ruangfa, also known as Mabel, following a lengthy investigation into online criminal networks causing significant public distress. Ruangfa had reportedly set up a…