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    Top 5 luxury villas in Phuket and Koh Samui for your next holiday

    Ask people to name the most beautiful places in Thailand, and you'll often hear Phuket and Koh Samui being mentioned. Who would disagree? One is renowned for its bustling nightlife, vibrant culture, and lively beach scene, while the other is...

  • Malaysian beauty salon gets makeover as dentistry school

    Malaysian beauty salon gets makeover as dentistry school

    As the world supply chain collapses and unemployment rises, why not think about retraining as a small-town dentist? And why not rebrand your beauty salon as a school of dentistry? That was the plan of the owner of a fly-ridden hole-in-the-wall beauty salon in Malaysia’s in Setapak district. The former manicure parlour not only provided dental courses and issued certificates…

  • Northern floods tragedy – Monks unable to help

    Northern floods tragedy – Monks unable to help

    Waist-high water flooded into riverfront neighbourhoods after the remains of Hurricane Noru dumped a heavy load of rain and knocked down trees. The heaviest rainfall, about 22 centimetres in 24 hours, was recorded in the north-eastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, where more than 5,000 people were moved to shelters on higher ground. In Chai Nat province, Buddhist monks made their…

  • Xi’s Bangkok APEC trip to open tourist floodgates

    Xi’s Bangkok APEC trip to open tourist floodgates

    If Chinese President Xi Jinping shows up at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok that could go a long way to securing 12 million tourists this year, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakan. Phiphat believes as many as 1.5 million Chinese travellers could visit Thailand in December if Xi allows outbound tourism to resume. The Chinese…

  • Police to curb Pattaya Beach drinking after student gun fight

    Police to curb Pattaya Beach drinking after student gun fight

    After a group of rival students fired guns on the beach in front of the Pattaya Police Station, police vowed to crack down on illicit activities including drinking. Police are stepping up their nightly patrols, searching for illegal drugs, alcohol, weapons and firearms. The shooting incident happened on September 28. A group of about 20 teenagers – some still wearing…

  • Face masks still required on public transport, in cinemas

    Face masks still required on public transport, in cinemas

    Thailand recently celebrated lifting all remaining Covid-19 restrictions and fully reopening its borders to international travellers. But, while tourists can enter without proof of vaccination or negative tests, face masks are still mandatory on public transportation throughout the country. A deputy director of the Department of Health has explained that some Covid safety and prevention measures remain in place. In…

  • Pattaya man attacked at gunpoint for selling cannabis

    Pattaya man attacked at gunpoint for selling cannabis

    A man in Pattaya filed a police report saying he was attacked by a man with a gun because he was selling cannabis on the street. The weed dealer said that his attacker, whom he suspects might be a police officer, didn’t want him to sell drugs in the area, despite it being perfectly legal. The report was filed at…

  • Bangkok Secret Nightlife – Bangkok Red Light District Secret Museum

    Bangkok Secret Nightlife – Bangkok Red Light District Secret Museum

    Bangkok Red Light District Secret Museum Bangkok Secret Nightlife  From CIA agents to David Bowie, there’s more to Bangkok’s most notorious red-light district than meets the eye. Today we take you on tour showing you Patpong’s 140-year history, from its humble beginnings as a banana plantation,  to a high-powered business district and a hub of CIA activity during the Chinese…

  • King Charles III debuts on UK coins

    King Charles III debuts on UK coins

    The British Royal Mint has unveiled the image of King Charles III to be used in the country’s coins. The first coins to be emblazoned with the regal portrait are to be commemorative five-pound crowns and the reverse of a 50-pence coin commemorating the life of Queen Elizabeth II. King Charles has been next in line to the throne for…

  • Phuket Airport officials pulled tourist from van, insisted they use airport taxi

    Phuket Airport officials pulled tourist from van, insisted they use airport taxi

    The Phuket taxi situation has been under a microscope recently after accusations of taxi mafias, bad behaviour by drivers, and several outright brawls between cab drivers in front of tourists have blemished the reputation of Thailand and Phuket in particular. Another recent incident at the Phuket International Airport went viral on social media when passengers were asked to get out…

  • Pattaya Police Chief cleared of vice slurs, back on duty

    Pattaya Police Chief cleared of vice slurs, back on duty

    Troubled Pattaya Police chief Pol Col Kunlachart Kunlachai has been reinstated after being temporarily placed in an inactive post following allegations the top cop forced a Kyrgyzstani woman into prostitution. The woman later committed suicide. Pol Col Kunlachart is set to return to Pattaya Police headquarters immediately, following a September 30 order by Pol Maj Gen Attasit Kitchahan, commander-in-chief of…

  • Reopening Thailand has a busy activity schedule

    Reopening Thailand has a busy activity schedule

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) took the occasion of the country’s full and unrestricted reopening today as an opportunity to point out a busy event and attraction schedule they hope will bring a variety of people from around the world to the kingdom. From new flight schedules to international political and business meetings to sporting events, exciting new restaurants,…

  • Today is the day! Full post-pandemic Thailand reopening

    Today is the day! Full post-pandemic Thailand reopening

    After nearly three years, today is THE DAY. In July of 2021, officials cheered the reopening of Thailand with the Phuket Sandbox. Then we had other sandboxes, Test & Go, the Thailand Pass, and numerous other stepping stones. Then in July of this year, we ditched so many regulations and declared a reopening. But today, October 1, Thailand officially declares full and…

  • 5-star squatters evicted from Layan Beach

    5-star squatters evicted from Layan Beach

    Heavy earth-moving equipment was taken to Layan Beach, Phuket, yesterday to demolish the last remaining illegal beachfront buildings. Eviction notices were served in 2017 when the Supreme Court ruled that occupiers were illegally encroaching on state land. Several “final warnings” were issued, with the last eviction notice delivered on September 12. Layan Beach is a beautiful but little-known bay on…

  • Anti-Prayut rallies expected across Bangkok

    Anti-Prayut rallies expected across Bangkok

    Following the reinstatement of General Prayut Chan-o-cha as Prime Minister by the Constitutional Court yesterday, anti-Prayut activists have called a mass demonstration at the Victory Monument on Saturday to show their contempt for the court’s wisdom. Led by activist Thatchapong Kaedam and dressed in black, a contemptuous crowd of Ratsadon movement members gathered at Pathumwan skywalk in front of Bangkok…

  • Snitching on parking space hoggers could earn you 5,000 baht in Thailand

    Snitching on parking space hoggers could earn you 5,000 baht in Thailand

    Snitching on your local parking space hogger could earn you 5,000 baht, according to Thailand‘s Department of Public Relations (PRD). Cones, tyres, bicycles, plant pots and chairs are commonly seen blocking parking spaces on the streets of Thailand’s urban areas. People either want to save the parking space for themselves or simply don’t want others to park outside their property.…

  • Storm Noru weakens from typhoon to depression as it moves across Thailand

    Storm Noru weakens from typhoon to depression as it moves across Thailand

    Tropical storm Noru has weakened from a super typhoon to a depression as it moves across Thailand. The Thai Meteorological Department has still advised people in 64 provinces to be prepared for heavy to heavy rainfall, which may cause flash flooding and overflows. After Noru plundered Thailand’s northeast this week, the department said yesterday that the storm was moving west…

  • BREAKING: Prayut reinstated as Prime Minister of Thailand

    BREAKING: Prayut reinstated as Prime Minister of Thailand

    Thailand’s Constitutional Court reinstated Prayut Chan-o-cha as Prime Minister of Thailand. The court ruled this afternoon that Prayut has not yet hit the eight-year constitutional limit set for his role. The court ruled that Prayut became prime minister on April 6, 2017, when the HM the King ratified a new military-drafted constitution. Therefore, PM Prayut can resume his position as…

  • Cambodian delegation in UK to search for stolen treasures

    Cambodian delegation in UK to search for stolen treasures

    A Cambodian delegation is in London today to investigate whether the United Kingdom is harbouring any cultural treasures stolen from Khmer sacred temples. Earlier this year Cambodia sent a list of missing artefacts to the British Museum, and Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The Southeast Asian nation believes a number of precious items were stolen by a British art…

  • 20 baht notes printed with errors, says Bank of Thailand

    20 baht notes printed with errors, says Bank of Thailand

    A batch of 20 baht banknotes have been printed with errors, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) said yesterday. The BoT said the Thai numerals were printed mismatching the Arabic numerals.  People can still use the misfit banknotes until they are fully removed from the system, Thai media said.  The company De La Rue (DLR) International Limited said that there was…

  • Loan shark bombs debtor’s house in southern Thailand

    Loan shark bombs debtor’s house in southern Thailand

    A loan shark allegedly threw a deadly military-grade hand grenade at a woman’s house in Phattalung province, southern Thailand, after she failed to meet repayments. At 2pm yesterday, police were called to a house in Mueang district after a gardener discovered an explosive device in the grass. Police evacuated neighbours and called Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers to the scene.…

  • Southeast Asia’s hospitality leaders step into the ring to fight for sustainability at PHIST 5

    Southeast Asia’s hospitality leaders step into the ring to fight for sustainability at PHIST 5

    Back as a live, in-person gathering, this important annual forum embraced the combative, cultural spirit of Muay Thai to spark candid conversation and instigate positive change in the travel and tourism industry. PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), Southeast Asia’s biggest and best responsible travel and hospitality forum, returned on Monday 26th September to deliver a knockout blow to unsustainable…

  • Horrified relatives attempt ID of disfigured suitcase victim

    Horrified relatives attempt ID of disfigured suitcase victim

    The hideously disfigured body of a woman found in a suitcase in the Nakhon Phanom stretch of the Mekong River on Wednesday might turn out to be that of a Lao businesswoman. Pol Col Thawil Khamket, chief of That Phanom police, said today that some of the missing woman’s horrified family had contacted the police in an effort to locate…

  • Phuket’s governor Narong braces for storm Noru

    Phuket’s governor Narong braces for storm Noru

    Phuket’s Governor Narong held a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Wednesday to prepare the island province for tropical Storm Noru.  Narong said officials are ready to handle the storm with water removal, shelter, food, and other assistance. He said… “Every relevant office is ready to help as fast as possible with plans.” Meanwhile, Noru has wreaked havoc on other…

  • Royal defamation case dropped against Thai activist

    Royal defamation case dropped against Thai activist

    A Thai political and human rights activist admitted he is surprised the court dismissed a royal defamation charge against him. Tiwagorn Withiton was arrested after posting a picture of himself on Facebook wearing a t-shirt printed with “I lost faith in the monarchy” in June 2020. The political arm of the military, Internal Security Operations Command, visited Tiwagorn’s house soon after…

  • Activists plan protests across Bangkok

    Activists plan protests across Bangkok

    Thai authorities have ramped up security in the capital ahead of expected protests when the Constitutional Court releases its decision on the future of suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha later today. The court will rule on whether General Prayut’s constitutionally stipulated eight-year term is up. General Prayut came to power following a 2014 coup. Anti-government activists will hold rallies in…

  • Woman kidnapped in Malaysia found in southern Thailand

    Woman kidnapped in Malaysia found in southern Thailand

    UPDATE The cosmetics agent who was kidnapped from her home in Malaysia two weeks ago has been found in southern Thailand. Yesterday, she was rescued by police and has since returned home. Seven Malaysian men have been arrested and detained in relation to the woman’s abduction, under Section 3(1) of Malaysia’s Kidnapping Act (1961), said Malaysian police. At 5.10pm on…

  • Singaporean food hawker centre makes NYC debut

    Singaporean food hawker centre makes NYC debut

    A Singaporean food hawker centre made its debut in the Big Apple this week. The ‘Urban Hawker’ centre, located in New York City’s midtown Manhattan, sells tasty dishes including chilli crab, oyster omelettes, and Hainanese chicken rice. The centre serves meals meant to represent Singapore’s diverse cultures. The island nation is made up of Chinese, Indian, and Malay people, among…

  • The Russia-Ukraine conundrum and US interference

    The Russia-Ukraine conundrum and US interference

    The conflict in Ukraine ramped up even further last night when United States President Joe Biden declared America will “never recognize Russia‘s attempt to take territory in Ukraine.” The US President spoke ahead of an expected speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin today who is predicted to announce that four regions of Ukraine, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, are rejoining…

  • 64 Thais deported from Cambodia after scam crackdown

    64 Thais deported from Cambodia after scam crackdown

    Over 60 Thais on Wednesday were deported from Cambodia after allegedly working for Chinese-funded call centre scams. The 64 Thais, including 39 men and 26 women, allegedly worked in centres in Preah Sihanouk, and Phnom Penh. Many of the deported individuals were promised salaries of 20,000-30,000 baht per month. But one man said that he still has not been paid after…

  • Exit Prayut? Court rules today on PM’s future

    Exit Prayut? Court rules today on PM’s future

    The Constitutional Court will today rule on whether suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has exceeded an eight-year limit as premier. General Prayut seized power in a 2014 coup and became prime minister soon after. The air has been filled with speculation and conspiracy theories since the court accepted the opposition’s petition on August 24 and suspended Gen Prayut as PM…