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Sponsored Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Police say woman found dead in Chiang Mai condo wasn’t murdered
UPDATE Despite police saying that they assumed the woman found dead in a condo room in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, this morning was murdered by her foreign husband, they are now saying she was not murdered at all. Pol. Lt. Col. Phirom Yosalai, an inspector at Mae Ping Police Station, said the woman is expected to have died from an…
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UMNO’s relevance continues despite being perceived as lifeless, says party president
Despite widespread perceptions of being a “lifeless” party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) still holds significance, according to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Speaking at the party’s 77th-anniversary celebration, he acknowledged that the party currently has only 26 members in parliament, along with four more from the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, but insisted the party’s relevance endures. UMNO, Malaysia’s…
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Firefighters rescue elderly woman from burning building in Pattaya
Firefighters rescued an elderly woman from a burning building in Pattaya last night. The incident occurred on Soi Bongkot 4 in the Nong Prue sub-district of Bang Lamung district. Firefighters received a call at around 8pm reporting a fire at the TG Battery Shop on Soi Bongkot 4. They arrived at the scene along with Sawang Boriboon rescuers. Upon arrival,…
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Thai singer files complaint against unhinged neighbour after five years of disturbing anti-social behaviour
A Thai singer and businessperson filed a complaint against his seemingly unhinged anti-social neighbour for a series of disturbing incidents that have occurred over the past five years. The woman in question smashed his car with a hammer, threw urine and poo at his house, and attacked an employee with liquid acid. On Tuesday, May 2, Teerasak “Ko” Phantujariya took…
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UFC Gym eager to re-enter Singapore market after sudden closure of franchise
UFC Gym has expressed its keen interest in returning to the Singapore market and is committed to offering support to customers affected by the unexpected closure of its franchise in the country, according to CEO Adam Sedlack. He highlighted that Singapore continues to be an attractive market for the UFC Gym brand and their unique training approach. Members of UFC…
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Search continues for Russian man swept off rocks by large wave in Phuket
A Russian man has gone missing after being swept off seaside rocks by a large wave at Laem Promthep, Phuket, prompting rescue teams and volunteers to continue their search efforts. The incident occurred at around 9.30am, according to Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. It has been reported that the tourist Yuri Smoyan was standing on the seaside rocks with three other…
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Thai officials seek to draw tourists to lesser-known spots
Thai officials are seeking to draw tourists to lesser-known spots in the Land of Smiles. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently launched a new campaign aimed at promoting Thailand’s lesser-known destinations, NNT reported yesterday. Dubbed “Amazing Secondary Cities, Must Visit, Must Love,” the campaign aims to highlight the unique cultural heritage of these areas through storytelling, to provide meaningful…
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Malaysia’s economy exceeds expectations with 5.6% growth in first quarter
Malaysia‘s economy has experienced faster than anticipated growth in the first quarter, bolstered by solid domestic demand, causing the central bank to downplay the potential impact of a global slowdown on the country, which is reliant on exports. Gross domestic product increased by 5.6%, according to data from the central bank and the government, exceeding analysts’ forecasts of a 4.8%…
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Transwoman physically assaulted by bar guards in Phuket
A Thai transwoman filed a complaint at Patong Police Station on Tuesday, May 9, after four to five security guards at a bar in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket physically assaulted her and forcibly removed her from the venue without a reason. The 27 year old transwoman posted a video on her TikTok account, Prasita Punyang, three days ago of…
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Six arrested for wildlife trafficking and macaques rescue in Phetchaburi
Phetchaburi authorities arrested six members of a wildlife trafficking gang and rescued over ten macaques near a hill in the Muang district. The arrests took place today morning following a tip-off, leading the police to the foothill of Khao Luang in tambon Thongchai, where they discovered the group capturing long-tailed macaques. Upon monitoring the gang, officers observed four men and…
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First direct Tigerair flight from Taiwan makes its way to Phuket
The first direct flight by Taiwan‘s Tigerair made its way to Phuket yesterday. The flight arrived at Phuket International Airport, carrying 190 passengers. Airport officials and staff welcomed the passengers upon their arrival, The Phuket Express reported. Last month, it was reported that Tigerair, a subsidiary of China Airlines, will be the only airline currently servicing the Taipei – Phuket route…
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Canon targets 10% revenue growth in Thai printer market with new laser models
Canon Marketing (Thailand), the local branch of the Japanese technology company, has set a target of achieving a 10% revenue growth for its printer business this year, while simultaneously launching new laser printer models in the market. Thailand ranks as the fourth largest growth market in Asia-Pacific for both inkjet and laser printers, following India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The…
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Thai, Bangkok Airways report first-quarter earnings surge
Thai Airways International Plc and Bangkok Airways Plc have experienced a significant increase in their first-quarter earnings as tourists return to Thailand in growing numbers. Thai Airways reported a net income of 12.51 billion baht for the three months through March, a considerable improvement from the 3.25 billion baht net loss they incurred during the same period last year. Meanwhile,…
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Thai woman found dead in Chiang Mai condo, farang husband missing
This story has been updated. Police launched a murder investigation after the body of a Thai woman was discovered in a rented room at a famous condo in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, this morning. The deceased’s “farang husband,” who also lives in the room, is nowhere to be found. At approximately 10.45am, officers at Mae Ping Police Station were…
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Phuket police chief inaugurates Punrak cafe at immigration office
National Police Chief Damrongsak Kittipraphat recently inaugurated the ‘Punrak Cafe’ at Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town, with immigration officers from across the island welcoming the country’s top police general. Several high-ranking officials arrived on the island for the event, including Immigration Bureau Deputy Commissioner Phanthana Nuchanart, Immigration Division 6 Commander Praphansak Prasarnsuk, Immigration Division 6 Deputy Commander Chalermchon Laemthong,…
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Uncle Tu offers prayers at Nakhon Si Thammarat main shrine before attending grand rally as lottery enthusiasts gather to buy lucky numbers
Yesterday in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, a prime ministerial candidate for the Palang Pracharath Party, spent the whole day campaigning and visiting five districts. Later, he concluded the campaign with a large rally at the city’s central sports field, ahead of the elections on May 14. Feeling tired from the continuous travel and rallies, Prayut took…
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Philippine hospitals struggle to retain nurses as rich countries lure them away
Ronald Ignacio began his nursing career in the Philippines during the nursing boom in 2008, quickly discovering that there were not enough jobs available within the health system. Initially unable to find work in his chosen profession, Ignacio spent two years laboring on a farm. In 2010, he eventually secured a nursing position in a private hospital in Manila. Ignacio…
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Chinese mother laughs as son smuggles her gold bracelet as a gift for his preschool crush
A video of a Chinese boy admitting to taking his mother’s gold bracelet to primary school has gone viral online. In the clip, a young boy can be seen confessing to his mother that he took her valuable jewellery, worth nearly 48,000 baht (US$1,540), to school to give to his girlfriend. The mother’s laughter as she questions her son has…
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Acquittal of Philippine human rights campaigner Leila de Lima brings her closer to freedom
Philippine human rights advocate Leila de Lima, who has been imprisoned since February 2017, was acquitted of one of the two remaining drug trafficking charges against her on Friday, edging her closer to freedom. De Lima, 63 years old and a former senator and justice minister, has faced these charges as retaliation for investigating President Rodrigo Duterte and his controversial…
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BlockFi bankruptcy allows return of funds to non-interest-bearing account holders
Bankrupt cryptocurrency lender BlockFi has been granted court permission to return US$297 million to clients holding non-interest-bearing accounts. However, this does not include repayment to customers who made last-minute attempts to transfer funds into those accounts. It was concluded by the UK Bankruptcy Judge that customers owned their deposits in BlockFi’s Wallet programme, a non-interest-paying scheme that maintained customer deposits…
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Thaifoods Group to invest billions in expansion and new retail outlets
Thaifoods Group Plc (TFG), a leading chicken and pig producer in Thailand, has announced plans to invest between 3 billion and 3.5 billion baht in expanding its business this year, with a particular focus on opening new retail outlets. Chief Operating Officer Phet Nantavisai stated that 2 billion baht of the investment will be allocated to the expansion of the…
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Pakistan court appearance for ex-PM Khan after unlawful arrest ruling
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, 70, was due to appear in court today after the Supreme Court deemed his arrest earlier this week, which led to deadly clashes across the country, to be unlawful. Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial declared Khan’s arrest invalid yesterday, necessitating a review of the entire process. Khan was ordered to remain in the bench’s…
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Thai Bankers’ Association considers new fee structure for industry
The Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA), which represents the banking industry in the country, is contemplating the introduction of a new fee structure in response to increasing operating costs. Banks are planning to take into account expenses from traditional and digital banking services while finalising the updated fee structure. This will be done in conjunction with the Bank of Thailand. The…
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Nine executives apply for NBTC secretary-general role
A total of nine executives have applied for the position of secretary-general at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Seven individuals submitted their applications during the initial application period running from March 20 to April 7, with a further two applying during the extended period, concluding May 7. According to Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, NBTC chairman, the new secretary-general will…
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Astronomers identify largest cosmic explosion ever observed
A colossal cosmic explosion, now identified as the largest ever witnessed, has left astronomers puzzled and eager to conduct further research. The fireball, known as AT2021lwx, is a hundred times the size of our Solar System and initially started blazing in the distant universe over three years ago. Although not the brightest explosion ever registered, AT2021lwx is considered the largest…
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Brazil’s online disinformation regulation bill: What’s at stake?
Brazil’s controversial measure to regulate disinformation online, Bill 2630/2020, has drawn criticism from tech giants like Telegram and Google, who argue that it encroaches on free speech and democracy. Proponents, however, claim that it is a vital defense against fake news and online extremism. The bill, which was first introduced in 2020, aims to regulate how companies moderate content online.…
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Tattooed Thai gangster-turned-influencer Keng Laiprang sentenced to prison
UPDATE Thai gangster-turned-star Panya Yimumphai – better known as Keng Laiprang – was sentenced to 10 months and 40 days in prison yesterday for persuading his followers to gamble online in a TikTok clip. At 10am, police escorted 41 year old Keng Laiprang to Don Mueang District Court to face trial for the charge of “persuading others, directly or indirectly,…
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YouTuber pilot faces jail for crashing plane as stunt
A YouTube pilot who bailed out midair and deliberately sent his plane crashing into the ground to boost viewership on his channel could face up to 20 years in prison, US authorities announced recently. In a video watched by nearly three million people titled “I crashed my airplane,” Trevor Jacob, 29 years old, appears to experience engine trouble while flying…
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Cyanide serial killer’s sister-in-law questioned for possessing victim’s assets
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) summoned and questioned the sister-in-law and younger brother of the cyanide serial killer, Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, after her sister-in-law was found to have a designer bag and mobile phone belonging to her latest victim. The Thai cyanide serial killer is currently imprisoned at the Central Women Correctional Institution in Bangkok after being accused of taking…
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State banks offer higher deposit rates at Money Expo 2023
State-owned banks in the country are eager to offer customers higher deposit rates, with one scheme providing up to 17%. At the 23rd Money Expo 2023, Government Savings Bank (GSB) and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) unveiled campaigns to attract patrons to open short-term deposits for three-to-five months by presenting step-up interest rates. Monetary Policy Committee members…
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