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Viral sensation: Vietnamese couple’s extravagant engagement ceremony leaves social media in awe
A Vietnamese couple’s lavish engagement ceremony, involving extravagant gifts of cash and gold necklaces, gained a lot of attention on social media. The bride received more than 50 gold necklaces and 7.3 million baht (US$201,000) in cash, causing online users to express amazement and envy. Local media reports state that the engagement ceremony took place on Saturday, May 27, involving…
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Songkhla Lake bridge project raises concerns for Thailand’s last Irrawaddy dolphins
Concerns have been raised over the potential impact of a proposed bridge across Songkhla Lake in Thailand on the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin population. Environmentalist Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat highlighted the importance of conservation efforts to protect the last 14 remaining Thai dolphins. Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, an expert in marine science and environmental issues, took to social media to express concerns…
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Petrol station scandal: Thai soldier accuses pervy transwomen of secret filming in public bathroom
A Thai soldier accused a group of perverted transwomen of filming him and his friend when they used a public bathroom at a petrol station in the Lee district of Lamphun province in northern Thailand. The incident gained attention after explicit images were shared on Twitter The soldier, 37 year old Arm, shared his story on a residents’ Facebook group…
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Indonesia probes potential leak of election system verdict
Indonesia‘s Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, has called for an investigation into a potential leak involving a Constitutional Court verdict that could alter the country’s parliamentary election system. This comes after former deputy justice minister, Denny Indrayana, claimed that the court had repealed the current “open-list proportional representation” system for Indonesia’s parliamentary elections. Indrayana stated…
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150 year old durian trees draw crowds to Trang, selling out daily
Residents and tourists are dashing to a 150-year-old durian orchard in Trang Province for its delicious, 50-baht-per-kilogram fruits. Demand has outpaced supply, with customers flocking to buy the durian varieties from this unique orchard of indigenous species. Sathit Rammana, a 52 year old orchard owner from Trang Province, tends to a 1,000 year old tree orchard called Ta Chan. Sathit’s…
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E-cigarette use linked to lung disease, concerns over misdiagnosis in Thailand
Concerns are rising among medical professionals in Thailand as e-cigarette-related pneumonia and bronchitis cases increase, particularly among those who use cannabis oil. Difficulties in diagnosis and a lack of awareness among doctors have contributed to under-reporting cases. Thai medical professionals have expressed their concerns over the increasing number of pneumonia and bronchitis cases connected to e-cigarette usage. Specifically, those using…
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TikTok sensation: Daring orange tabby cat stuns with pool diving skills
A clip of an orange tabby cat named Fuji secretly diving into a swimming pool has gone viral online after being shared on TikTok. The feline’s antics left the owner baffled, initially thinking the pet had accidentally fallen into the water. The video was posted on TikTok by the @jaratpongouytrak4 account. It quickly garnered attention from cat lovers as it…
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Mysterious drone attack damages Moscow buildings, raises security concerns
Numerous buildings in Moscow sustained damage following an unidentified drone attack, although no serious injuries or fatalities were reported. Russian security services continue to investigate the incident, with no confirmation of the origin of the drones. Sergey Sobyanin, Moscow Mayor, assured that no one sustained serious injuries from the attack and emergency responders reached all affected areas. Social media footage…
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Ex-national parks chief’s complaint rejected in bribery scandal case
A bribery scandal involving a former director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in Thailand took a new turn as the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases dismissed the complaint filed by the accused against the arresting police officers. Rutchada Suriyakul Na Ayutya accused members of the police Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) of malfeasance, fabricating…
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Abusive teacher faces arrest for tormenting 280 kids
A Thai nursery teacher faces arrest for allegedly abusing over 280 children at a childcare centre. On May 30, 2023, Wichit Boonchinwuttikun, the Saraburi Province’s police chief, disclosed the progress in the case; the suspect admitted their guilt and remorse. The investigation into the childcare centre abuse began when nine children were interviewed by a multidisciplinary team of prosecutors, police,…
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Thai exports decline for seventh month as global demand slows
The Thai Ministry of Commerce has reported a decline in the nation’s export value for the seventh consecutive month. In April, the value dropped by 7.6% compared to the previous year, a significantly larger decrease than the 2% fall anticipated by economists. April’s exports were valued at US$21.72 billion, a notable decrease from March’s 12-month high of US$27.65 billion. Despite…
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Woman rescued after lying naked in roadside forest
A 36 year old woman sought police help after she discovered herself lying naked in a roadside forest along Sri Waree Noi Road in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. The police suspect she was violated by a couple of friends who she spent time with the previous night. At about 9am today, a member of the Bang Plee Rescue Team accompanied…
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A bug’s life: Century-old temple overrun by termites attracts lottery enthusiasts in search of lucky signs
A century-old temple in Phetchabun province, Thailand, has termites almost completely covering its ancient Buddha statues. News of this brought lottery enthusiasts dashing to the temple in search of lucky signs. Locals and temple committee members opened the ancient chapel at Noen MaKha Noi Temple in preparation for its renovation, yesterday, May 29. Upon entering, they witnessed large termites covering…
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Bank of Japan to maintain ultra-loose policy, downplays change expectations
The Bank of Japan’s Governor, Kazuo Ueda, has stated that the central bank will continue to maintain its ultra-loose monetary policy, as there remains a significant gap to achieve the 2% inflation target sustainably. Ueda’s comments downplay the expectations of a policy change in the near future. He told parliament, “We expect inflation to quite clearly slow below 2% toward…
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11 year old girl left distraught after hair raising buzz cut drama
An 11 year old girl was left distressed after a hairdresser mistakenly cut her hair into a short buzz style meant for boys in Pangmakha, Kamphaengphet province. Despite her grandmother’s explicit request for a “student’s haircut,” the stylist ignored their objections and continued cutting her hair. The girl’s mother turned to a Facebook group, “Free Legal Advice Forum” to seek…
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Brawl erupts between foreigners and Thai driver on road in Phuket (video)
A Thai minibus driver filed a complaint at Chalong Police Station yesterday after some foreigners broke two side view mirrors of his vehicle during a dispute on the road in Phuket. The Thai minibus driver, Monnaphan Makaraphan, told police that he was involved in a dispute with the foreign drivers and passengers of a red Toyota Yaris hatchback. He admitted…
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Teacher slaps student for chatting in class, unable to solve problem
A Thai secondary school teacher has come under criticism after slapping a 7th grade student for talking to a classmate during a lesson and failing to solve a problem on the board. A video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting the school and teacher to apologise. The incident took place at a school in Ubon Ratchathani province,…
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Thailand’s NRCT and Chulalongkorn University launch anti-corruption knowledge hub
The Knowledge Hub for Regional Anti-Corruption and Good Governance Collaboration (KRAC) has been established in Thailand through a partnership between the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) and Chulalongkorn University‘s Faculty of Economics. KRAC’s main objective is to develop an anti-corruption ecosystem in the country by applying academic knowledge and fostering international cooperation networks. Asst. Prof. Dr. Torplus Yomnak, director…
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Typhoon Mawar lashes Taiwan’s coast, heads towards southern Japan
Typhoon Mawar battered Taiwan’s eastern coast with strong winds, heavy rains, and large waves today, causing residents in the fishing town of Yilan to secure their boats and homes. Despite losing some of its strength since hitting Guam last week, the slow-moving typhoon remained dangerous with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 190…
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Teen fights off crocodile while fishing with siblings in Australia
A 19 year old teenager in Northern Australia has had a miraculous escape after being dragged underwater by a giant crocodile while out fishing with his relatives on Groote Eylandt. Despite his terrifying experience, Zefha Butcher managed to survive the harrowing encounter with only minor injuries. Zefha had been fishing along with his 10 year old brother and another relative…
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Three students flee school, report older pupil abuse, spark local police search
Three primary school students in Udon Thani province fled their school premises after being physically abused by older students. They were found on the outskirts of a nearby village and later returned to the school, accompanied by their guardians and teachers. Yesterday, Veeraphol Raksameuwong, admin of the page “Ban Dung Update,” reported that officers from the Fao Rai Patrol Police…
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Asia-Pacific consumers to boost health and wellness spending post-pandemic
A recent survey reveals that approximately 70% of consumers in the Asia-Pacific region are prepared to increase their expenditure on health and wellness products, as the pandemic has heightened health consciousness. The study called the Asia-Pacific Health Priority Survey, was carried out by US supplement distributor Herbalife and highlighted a particularly strong interest in health improvement in Southeast Asia, specifically…
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Chinese driver injures three in Pattaya road accident, faces charges
A road accident in Pattaya resulted in injuries to three Thai nationals, including a 74 year old woman, after a Chinese woman’s car collided with their vehicles. The incident occurred yesterday, May 30, on Sukhumvit Road, inbound to Sattahip in Chonburi province. Na Jomtien Police and rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation were promptly dispatched to the scene…
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Teenager dies in Pattaya motorbike accident amid rainy conditions
A teenage motorcyclist tragically lost his life in an accident while driving home during rainfall in the early hours of this morning. Pattaya Police were alerted to the incident at 2.20am today and promptly arrived at Sukhumvit Road in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung District, Chon Buri province, to attend to the victim. Upon reaching the scene, authorities discovered a damaged red…
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Tragic discovery: Father finds son’s body in septic tank
In a heartbreaking turn of events, a father discovered the lifeless body of his nine year old in the septic tank of a house in Nong Bua Lamphu province, in the northeastern region of Thailand. The boy’s uncle confessed to the murder, saying the boy annoyed him. Thaworn, the grieving father, disclosed to Channel 8 that his son, Jay, had…
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Student denied college interview over methamphetamine vindicated by second test
The 19 year old student from Khon Kaen who was initially deemed ineligible for a college interview test due to a positive methamphetamine test has now been cleared after a second test came back negative. The family plans to submit the blood test results to Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Pharmacy to confirm her eligibility for the interview test. Last week, Anama…
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Alcohol ban in Thailand on June 3 for Visakha Bucha and royal visit
A nationwide alcohol ban will be enforced in Thailand this Saturday, June 3, in observance of the Buddhist holiday Visakha Bucha. The ban coincides with a royal visit to Phuket by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, celebrating Her Majesty’s birthday. Visakha Bucha commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Prince Siddhartha, which all occurred on the same date,…
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China snubs US invitation for defence meeting in Singapore
China rejected a US proposal for a meeting in Singapore between Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu, according to the Pentagon. The refusal to engage in military-to-military discussions raised concerns but the US Department of Defence remains committed to pursuing open lines of communication with the People’s Liberation Army. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said……
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Kyiv targeted for third night as Ukraine intercepts 20+ drones
Kyiv was subjected to a third consecutive night of attacks as Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital, resulting in several buildings being set ablaze. Officials reported that falling debris caused the fires, while Ukraine’s air defences intercepted over 20 drones. At least one fatality has been reported. Ukraine claims to have downed all missiles and drones in the previous two assaults.…
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IRA agent Stakeknife admits to killing informer in uncovered 1990 court document
A BBC investigation has revealed that Freddie Scappaticci, the man believed to have been one of the British Army’s top agents within the IRA, admitted in 1990 to shooting a suspected informer. Scappaticci, who passed away in April, consistently denied being the agent known as Stakeknife. He is suspected of being involved in over 20 murders during the Troubles in…
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