United States
- Thailand News
Blackpink’s Lisa brings the Thai par-TEA to the US
Pop sensation Lalisa Manoban, better known as Lisa from Blackpink has done it again, proving she’s the ultimate soft power queen by taking Thai tea globally. From promoting Thailand’s iconic meatballs to elevating fried egg rice, Lisa is now bringing the nation’s beloved iced tea to the world stage in a way no one saw coming. Lisa unveiled her latest…
- Thailand News
Thailand seeks US direct flights amid airline hesitance
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is actively working to initiate direct flights from the United States to Thailand, as local Thai airlines remain hesitant to establish these routes. This move follows the anticipated lifting of restrictions by aviation regulators next year. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently provided a positive assessment of Thailand’s aviation safety standards. The Transport…
- Thailand News
Thai trade talks: Minister navigates surplus dilemmas with US
Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan is set to visit the United States in February to address concerns about Thailand’s trade surplus between the two nations. Following a meeting at the Commerce Ministry with representatives from 50 US corporations who are members of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), which includes major multinationals like Amazon, Apple, Boeing, Citi, Google, Mastercard, and Seagate. Pichai…
- Thailand News
Pichai spices up the US: 50 influencers back authentic Thai food
Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan has enlisted the help of 50 powerful US influencers to promote a wave of authentic Thai restaurants across the US. The star-studded event took place in Hollywood, California, where Pichai awarded prestigious Thai Select certificates to seven US-based Thai restaurants. The 6pm ceremony, yesterday, November 19, which was broadcast live on social media by influencers with…
- World News
Naked intruder found living under Los Angeles home for six months
A woman discovered an unexpected intruder living beneath her Los Angeles home for approximately six months. The 93 year old found a naked man hiding in a small underground space, prompting police intervention to remove him. Despite efforts involving police dogs and tear gas, the man resisted leaving. Police identified the man as 27 year old Isaac Betancourt, who was…
- Thailand News
Trump victory prompts Thai stock market strategy reevaluation
Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, coupled with a comprehensive Republican majority in Congress, has prompted a reevaluation of investment strategies in the Thai stock market. Natchat Mekmasin, assistant managing director of securities analysis at Trinity Securities, suggests that the Thai stock market is likely to align with the broader trend observed in emerging markets. However, he points…
- Business News
Thailand, US bolster trade ties with focus on high-tech investments
Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan and US Ambassador Robert F. Godec yesterday engaged in discussions focusing on trade tariffs and investment in high-tech sectors, aiming for strategic alignment. During their meeting yesterday, October 17, Pichai emphasised that the talks were crucial for establishing a strategic partnership and bolstering economic ties between Thailand and the US, enhancing both bilateral and investment relations.…
- Thailand News
RTAF pledges no protection for officers involved in bribery scandal
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has declared it will not shield any logistics officers implicated in bribery tied to the procurement of asphalt concrete pavers during 2019 to 2020. RTAF spokesperson Prapas Sornchaidee announced that a probe into the procurements commenced following an order by RTAF chief Panpakdee Pattanakul. This statement follows the release of a document by the…
- Thailand News
Harley-Davidson shifts gears to Thailand: A new twist in the tale
Legendary American motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson has stunned its fans and workers with a bombshell announcement: the production of three popular models will be shifted to Thailand starting in 2025. The decision has sparked a wave of outrage and concern among Harley’s loyal US customer base and workers, who feel betrayed by the move. The Pan America, Sportster S, and Nightster…
- Thailand News
Thai SMEs eye US e-commerce payday after major Amazon deal
Thailand’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are set to cash in on the lucrative US e-commerce market following a groundbreaking deal inked between the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and Amazon Global Selling (AGS). The partnership, formalised during the TOPTHAI Cross-Border e-Commerce Day 2024, aims to turbocharge the e-commerce export capabilities of Thai businesses, opening doors to the US$1.1…
- Thailand News
EU denounces Thailand’s opposition party dissolution
The European Union (EU) voiced serious concerns about the dissolution of Thailand’s opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) by the Constitutional Court, highlighting its potential negative impact on the country’s democratic progress. The EU labelled the court ruling as a setback for political pluralism in Thailand, noting that the MFP garnered 14 million votes out of 39 million in the 2023…
- World News
Google slammed by judge in explosive monopoly ruling
A US judge declared Google guilty of illegally crushing its competition to maintain a monopoly on online search and advertising. This decision, delivered yesterday, August 5, marks a significant blow to Alphabet, Google’s parent company, and could drastically alter the business practices of tech giants. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Google in 2020, highlighting its stranglehold on roughly…
- Thailand News
Thai rice enthusiasts in US could win a trip to Thailand
The Thai Trade Centre in New York launched a tantalising campaign, Love Thai Food, Eat Thai Rice, inviting food lovers across the United States to share their passion for Thai food on social media. The prize of a trip to Thailand worth up to US$5,000 (around 180,000 baht) is up for grabs. Ketsuree Vijaranakorn, Director of the Thai Trade Centre,…
- Thailand News
US government tempts RTA with fleet of F-16 fighter jets
The US government has made a tantalising offer to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTA) – a loan to purchase an entire fleet of F-16 fighter jets. Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang revealed this intriguing development, shedding light on the high-stakes negotiations. In a meeting at the Defence Ministry, US Ambassador Robert Frank Godec presented the enticing proposition. Godec conveyed that…
- Thailand News
Thailand needs to step up its fight against human trafficking
Thailand remains in Tier 2 on the US Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, indicating a determined effort to combat human trafficking. The US authority remarked that although Thailand has not met the minimum standards for eradicating trafficking, the government is making significant strides. “The [Thai] government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period. These…
- Thailand News
Chicago museum to return 900-year-old artefact to Thailand
A 900-year-old artefact, originating from the Phanom Rung Historical Park in Buriram, will be repatriated by the Art Institute of Chicago to Thailand’s Fine Arts Department (FAD). Phanombut Chantarachot, FAD Director-General, announced yesterday June 19 that the US institute intends to return a 12th-century fragment of a pilaster depicting the Hindu deity Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana. This artefact is part…
- Thailand News
US carrier strike group returns to Thailand after three-year hiatus
After a three-year gap, the US carrier strike group marked its return to Thailand yesterday, as it anchored at Laem Chabang for a routine port visit. The group, led by its flagship, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, last visited the Southeast Asian nation in 2018. Along with the flagship, Carrier Air Wing 11 also made its appearance. Accompanying the flagship and Carrier…
- Thailand News
John Legend enjoys spring break in Phuket
Renowned American musician and actor, John Legend was spotted yesterday in Phuket, alongside his wife, 38 year old model and author Chrissy Teigen, and their four children. The family is in Thailand for a spring break holiday, visiting Teigen’s mother, Vilailuck Teigen, who recently moved back to her childhood town of Korat from the United States. The family’s holiday itinerary…
- Thailand News
Two dead in Baltimore bridge collision
The bodies of two construction workers were discovered submerged in the frigid depths of Baltimore harbour, trapped in their pickup truck after a cargo vessel careened into the bridge they were repairing. Maryland authorities, grappling with the grim revelation, revealed at a press briefing that sonar imaging suggests additional vehicles lie entombed amidst the rubble of the Francis Scott Key…
- Thailand News
US pledges boost in semiconductor investment for Thailand
To ramp up global semiconductor production, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo promised investment in Thailand’s manufacturing sector. Raimondo, speaking at an event in Bangkok hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce, asserted that Thailand stood to benefit significantly from increased US investment in semiconductor production, stating that American firms were poised to supercharge their investments in the nation. Highlighting the…
- Business News
US plans to reinstate GSP scheme for Thailand, to help trade relations
The United States signalled its intent to reinstate the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme for Thailand, as disclosed by Thailand’s Commerce Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai. This development comes after the scheme expired in 2020. Phumtham’s statement emerged following a strategic dialogue with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and a representative from the President’s Export Council. The dialogue served as…
- Thailand News
Mid-air tyre fiasco: United Airlines jet loses wheel (video)
In a heart-stopping incident, a tyre from a United Airlines plane departing from San Francisco International Airport went rogue mid-air, hurtling down onto a parking lot nearby. SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel confirmed the tyre, dislodged from Japan-bound United Flight 35, crash-landed in an airport employee parking zone, wreaking havoc on multiple vehicles. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in the alarming…
- Thailand News
US woman detained for Thai restaurant fatal shooting and robbery
A woman was apprehended and slapped with a staggering US$100,000 (approximately 3.6 million baht) cash bail by the Department of Corrections in the US for her involvement in a fatal shooting and robbery outside a local Thai restaurant. Jenna Manibusan’s alleged shooting and robbery of Sumittra Lairopi triggered a cascade of legal proceedings, escalating into a gripping courtroom drama. A…
- Thailand News
A romantic marriage proposal meets a raccoon (video)
A romantic marriage proposal unexpectedly turned into a social media sensation, amassing over 25 million views, after an inquisitive raccoon photobombed the crucial moment. While a woman was capturing her friend’s proposal in a beautifully lit garden, the camera inadvertently panned to a raccoon lurking behind the fence, stealing the spotlight and causing a stir online. As the unsuspecting couple…
- Aviation News
Alaska Airlines grounds fleet of Boeing 737-9 after in-flight incident (video)
Alaska Airlines grounded its entire fleet of Boeing 737-9 aircraft following a mid-air incident where part of one plane fell off in-flight, causing an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. The incident, which occurred shortly after take-off, resulted in severe cabin pressure changes due to a hole but did not result in any serious injuries. The plane was at an altitude…
- Thailand News
LA orthodontist’s narrow escape from electrocution in Thailand
When a Los Angeles-based orthodontist‘s dream Thai vacation took a horrifying turn, it shocked social media with her Instagram and TikTok followers expressing their concern and support. Dr Cara Hodgson, boasting a considerable online following of 25,500 on Instagram and 97,000 on TikTok, usually shares glimpses of her jet-setting lifestyle and dental tips. However, her recent revelation about a life-threatening…
- World News
Twins born in different years mark unique start to 2024 at New Jersey hospital
The birth of twin boys in the United States at Virtua Voorhees Hospital in New Jersey marked an extraordinary start to 2024. Despite being born only 40 minutes apart, their birth years differ by one. The first sibling, Ezra, arrived on December 31 last year at 11.48pm, weighing 2.72 kilogrammes, while the second, Ezekiel, was born in the early moments of…
- Thailand News
From leprosy colony to culinary queen: Thai food blogger’s epic journey
Suwanee Lennon‘s incredible life story takes us from the shadows of a leprosy colony in Thailand to the vibrant kitchens of her American home. Suwanee Lennon’s life began in the heart of Bangkok, within a leprosy colony that stood as a symbol of fear and isolation. Now, she’s a wife, mother, food blogger, and photographer who uses the power of…
- World News
Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast mourns the loss of beloved co-star Andre Braugher at 61 (video)
The vibrant world of Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been dimmed as the beloved Andre Braugher, aka Captain Raymond Holt, has passed away at the age of 61. The cast paid homage to their co-star’s legacy, sharing cherished memories and celebrating the man behind the iconic character. The news of Andre Braugher’s passing shocked the entertainment world, leaving the cast of Brooklyn…
- Thailand News
US Google Maps nightmare: Desert detours lead drivers to nowhere, stranding them for hours
Google Maps has left motorists stranded on treacherous desert roads, turning what should have been a smooth drive between Los Angeles and Las Vegas into a nightmare. Apologies have been issued, but for some, the damage is already done. Shelby Easler and her family set out on the well-trodden path from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to catch the thrilling…
