World News
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Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you
Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...
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Beggar with luxury SUV earns thousands at flea market
A beggar at a flea market was shockingly discovered to be the owner of a luxury SUV, earning more in a few hours than those who gave him money. The incident left officials astonished and opened a dialogue on the issue of beggars. During a routine check at the Sri Jaya night market in the Maran district of Pahang, Malaysia…
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Mysterious body found in burnt Japan home sparks online intrigue
A mysterious case has captured the attention of online communities after a house fire in Japan revealed a charred body, raising questions about the victim’s identity since the homeowner and his relatives were confirmed safe. The incident occurred in the town of Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, at noon on February 20, when a house was engulfed in flames, resulting in…
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Betong tourism association pushes for airport runway extension
The Betong District Tourism Association is pressing for an extension of the runway at Betong International Airport. The expansion is integral to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s tourism enhancement agenda. The longer runway is anticipated to allow larger aircraft to land, subsequently increasing the influx of tourists. Deputy President of the association, Narin Ruangwongsa, expressed the intention to propose this expansion…
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Freed baby elephant Tofu begins new life in sanctuary (video)
In a heart-wrenching tale of suffering and salvation, a baby elephant named Tofu, just 8 months old, has been plucked from a life of torment in Laos and given a fresh start. Chained and mistreated, his plight symbolises the ongoing battle against exploitation in the tourism industry across Asia. Planting Peace, a stalwart organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of captive…
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Aircrafts’ near collision at Dubai Airport exposed as hoax (video)
A sensational video claiming to capture the heart-pounding near-miss between a Qantas airliner and an Emirates plane at Dubai Airport has sent shockwaves across social media. Shared by an X user on February 1, the 19-second clip purportedly reveals the tense moment when disaster was averted by mere inches. With over 1.7 million views and 6,000 shares, the post sparked…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport sorry after train breakdown causes 30-minute delay
Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok issued an apology following a breakdown of the automated people mover (APM) train today, February 23, resulting in passengers being stranded in the underground train station and a 30-minute delay. The driverless APM train operates between the new concourse, Satellite 1 (SAT1), and the main passenger terminal. Today marked the first malfunction since the concourse…
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Thai Airways records recovery with US$782 million profit in 2023
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited witnessed a significant rebound in its earnings following an increase in air travel demand. The airline reported a net profit of 28.1 billion baht (US$782 million) in 2023, a substantial recovery from the 272-million-baht loss experienced in the previous year. This is the second-highest annual net income recorded by the company, surpassed only by…
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Vientiane hotel faces backlash for degrading game
A Chinese-owned hotel in Vientiane, Laos, faces a furious backlash after a controversial game involving young women sparked outrage. In a bid to win wine and beer, Chinese men partook in a demeaning ring-toss game at the capital’s hotel, prompting swift condemnation from locals and authorities alike. According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), the hotel took swift action after a…
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Air Japan cancels Bangkok-Tokyo flights, stranding passengers
Passengers were left disappointed and frustrated when their Air Japan flight to Tokyo was abruptly cancelled due to technical issues. The fledgling airline, a low-cost carrier within the ANA group, found itself at the centre of controversy after it revealed that it operates with a single aircraft, which brought about a series of cancellations affecting travellers from both Thailand and…
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Cargo ship ploughs into bridge in Guangzhou, China (video)
Chaos erupted as a colossal cargo ship collided with a vital bridge spanning the Pearl River in Guangzhou, China. The city, located in the southern region, was rattled this morning when the vessel smashed into the Lixinsha bridge, propelling vehicles into the murky depths below. Authorities swiftly descended upon the scene, scrambling to manage traffic pandemonium while launching a full-scale…
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Japanese mafia scandal: Allegations of nuclear weapon trafficking
Japanese mafia Takeshi Ebisawa stands accused of attempting to peddle uranium and plutonium under the belief that they would find their way to Iran’s clandestine nuclear arsenal. Ebisawa, alongside a Thai accomplice, previously tangled with the law over charges related to arms and narcotics in April 2022. Now, facing the prospect of life behind bars if found guilty of the…
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Thai aviation set for turbulence as CAAT navigates high air fares
Transport Minister Suriya Juangruangreangkit disclosed on Wednesday that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is in active discussions with all six domestic airlines in Thailand. The aim is to increase flight frequency during holiday periods and lower the flight price ceiling, in response to the issue of excessively high fares. The CAAT convened a meeting on Tuesday with the…
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Myanmar junta sentences generals to death for town surrender
Myanmar’s military regime delivered a staggering blow, sentencing three high-ranking officers to death for overseeing the handover of a crucial town on the Chinese border to ethnic minority insurgents just last month. The move, which saw hundreds of troops laying down their arms and relinquishing control of Laukkai in Shan state to the Three Brotherhood Alliance, marked a significant setback…
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Phuket El Al flight thwarts communication hijack attempt
An El Al flight en route from Phuket to Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel encountered a spine-chilling moment on Saturday night as unidentified hostile elements attempted to seize control of its communication network. This nerve-racking incident, the second of its kind within a week, sent shockwaves through the aviation world. Despite the menacing takeover attempt, the aircraft managed to reach its…
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Thai airlines vow cheaper domestic flights after public outcry
Six Thai airlines have asked for authorisation to expand domestic flight operations during peak holiday periods, responding to widespread public fury over exorbitant airfares. Representatives from Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, and Thai Vietjet convened with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) yesterday to delve into strategies for curbing fare hikes. This…
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Phuket Airport seeks public input on expansion plan
A call to action echoes across Phuket as the Airports of Thailand invite the public to the final hearing on the second phase of Phuket International Airport’s expansion. Slated to be conducted at the prestigious Proud Phuket Hotel in Sakhu, the hearing is scheduled from 9am to 12pm on March 8. The primary objective of this public hearing revolves around…
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Flying high: Airline industry sidesteps superstition, skips seat 13
The airline industry often omits the number 13 from seating rows on aircraft, a deliberate choice rooted in addressing passengers’ superstitions and concerns. While meticulous detail is a hallmark of aviation, frequent flyers have noticed the absence of row 13, a mystery that has sparked curiosity but remains largely unaddressed by airlines. The pervasiveness of the number 13 as unlucky…
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Man exploits New York hotel tenancy laws leading to fraud charges
A man successfully exploited New York’s housing laws to live rent-free in the renowned New Yorker Hotel for five years, even collecting rent from other tenants, before being charged with fraud for his boundless greed. Claiming to be the owner, he was eventually arrested and accused of filing false property records. A 48 year old man expressed astonishment when police,…
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Hong Kong woman strips naked on street during breakup argument
Footage surfaced showing a woman running naked across a Hong Kong street late at night on Monday, followed by a man picking up clothes she discarded along the way. The video, which swiftly went viral, captures a couple’s argument that escalated into a shocking public display on the streets of Tuen Mun in Hong Kong. It begins with the man…
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Dutchman fined 14,000 baht by AI for scratching head whilst driving
A routine act of scratching his head while driving led to an unexpected fine for a Dutchman after an AI-powered traffic camera misinterpreted the gesture for using a mobile phone. Tim Hansen received a fine of 380 euros (14,000 baht) last November, sparking a debate on the efficacy of AI in law enforcement. Hansen was stunned to receive a traffic fine…
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Tibet Airlines confirms order for 50 jets from China’s Comac
Tibet Airlines, a Chinese carrier, confirmed an order for 40 C919 narrowbody jets and 10 ARJ21 regional jets from the state-owned Chinese plane manufacturer, Comac. This deal was finalised at a ceremony during the Singapore Airshow, a biennial commercial and defence-focused event. Before this deal, Tibet Airlines and Comac announced in December their plans to jointly research a version of…
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Minister orders CAAT to cut Bangkok-Phuket flight prices for Songkran
Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to negotiate with airlines to explore ways to lower airfares following complaints from passengers about the high cost of flights from Bangkok to Phuket. He expressed confidence that reduced prices could be in effect in time for the Songkran travel period. Today, at 9.30am, Suriya Juangroongruangkit addressed the…
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PM Srettha pledges to woo back Russian tourists with revived flights
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is gearing up to welcome a surge of Russian tourists to Thailand, unveiling plans to tackle the flight shortage bottleneck yesterday. Acknowledging reports of a burgeoning number of Russian tourists eyeing Thailand for their holidays, PM Srettha highlighted the critical lack of flights to accommodate the demand. “Inadequate flights are hindering the influx of Russian…
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Did Singapore pay millions to keep Taylor Swift to themselves?
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin alleges that Singapore may have struck a multimillion-dollar pact to secure Taylor Swift’s exclusivity in Southeast Asia, leaving fans fuming and conspiracy theories swirling. PM Srettha made waves with his claims at a business forum in Bangkok, stating that concert promoter AEG had disclosed Singapore’s purported offer of hefty subsidies, ranging from US$2 million (approximately…
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Singapore aims to use sustainable aviation fuel in all flights by 2026
Singapore Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat revealed a green initiative to transition all outgoing flights to utilise sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2026. This announcement came during the Changi Aviation Summit, a precursor to the Singapore Airshow. The city-state is committing to a 1% SAF usage target by 2026, with ambitions to elevate this figure to between 3% and 5%…
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Bangkok airport battles congestion with tech amid tourism recovery
Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand’s busiest, is facing daily traffic congestion as vehicles compete for parking spaces. The problem is compounded by long queues at immigration and baggage claim areas due to inoperative kiosks and staff shortages. Tourist complaints prompted an unannounced visit from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who has since ordered airport authorities to quicken procedures to under…
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Malaysian bride heartbroken as groom’s ex attends wedding
The wedding of a Malaysian bride turned bittersweet when her husband’s ex-girlfriend attended the event, and the groom’s family’s actions left her heartbroken. The father of the groom’s comments struck a particularly painful chord, prompting sympathy from those aware of the situation. Marriage ceremonies are traditionally occasions of immense joy, marking the beginning of a new shared life. Yet, when…
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Brazen subway act atop NYC train sparks safety, decency outcry
A daring and reckless display by two men atop a New York City subway train has become the talk of the online world. The pair engaged in explicit acts in broad daylight, not only shocking onlookers but also creating a serious safety concern. This incident, caught on camera, shows the two individuals performing the dangerous act above the Van Wyck…
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Reddit user’s dream job goes down the drain after office bathroom blunder
A male Reddit user, sharing his misfortune anonymously, detailed his disastrous experience of losing a promising job opportunity due to an unfortunate bathroom blunder. In a post on Monday, February 12, the original poster recounted the events that led to his downfall. “I had pretty much gotten the job at a previous interview and I was just in to fill…
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Thai military chief disclaims use of Thailand arsenals in Myanmar
Thailand’s military chief denied that the Thai military arsenal was supplied to Myanmar rebel forces. In a bid to clarify the situation, General Jaroenchai Hintao firmly refutes allegations tying Thailand’s military to the arsenal fuelling rebel fighters across the Myanmar border. Insisting on the integrity of Thailand’s defence, General Jaroenchai outlines rigorous measures in place to safeguard against illicit weapon…
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