World News
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Trip.com halts cooperation with Cambodia amid privacy concerns
Online travel agency Trip.com cancelled its cooperation agreement with Cambodia’s tourism authorities after Chinese and Thai users reportedly expressed fears that their personal information could be leaked or misused. According to a recent report by Chinese local news outlet ST Headline, Trip.com had entered into a tourism promotion partnership with Cambodia’s National Tourism Authority (NTA). The agreement was signed on December…
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Israel confirms identity of Thai hostage’s body from Gaza
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office has confirmed that the Red Cross handed over the body of Thai national Sudthisak Rintalak on Wednesday, December 3. Only one deceased hostage remains in Gaza, 24 year old Ran Gvili, an Israeli police officer. Sudthisak and Gvili were the final two hostages who had not been recovered from the territory. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s (PIJ)…
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AOT to hike airport tax in 2026, eyes 10 billion baht revenue boost
Passengers flying internationally from Thailand will soon face higher airport taxes, after the Civil Aviation Board approved a 53% hike in the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) at six major airports. Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, who chaired the board’s meeting yesterday, December 3, confirmed the PSC for international departures will rise from 730 baht to 1,120 baht per person. The increase…
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Thailand and UAE mark 50 years of diplomatic relations
Thailand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marked 50 years of diplomatic relations this week during a ceremony held at the UAE Embassy in Bangkok. The celebration coincided with the UAE’s 54th Union Day. UAE Ambassador to Thailand, Obaid Saeed Obaid Bintaresh Aldhaheri, addressed the attendees on Monday, praising the steady growth of bilateral ties. He remarked that the long-standing…
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Air France launches direct Paris to Phuket flights
Air France has launched a new direct route from Paris to Phuket, with its first flight arriving at Phuket International Airport yesterday morning, November 28, marking the return of seasonal service between France and Thailand’s southern tourist hub. Flight AF156, operated by a Boeing 777-200, landed at 9.25am after departing Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport the previous evening. The route…
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Vietjet Thailand lands first Boeing 737 to boost Asia routes
Vietjet Thailand has received its first Boeing 737-8 in Bangkok, marking the start of a major fleet expansion to meet growing demand across Asia. This marks a major leap in the airline’s ambitious US$32 billion (1.15 trillion baht) fleet expansion programme across the Asia–Pacific region. The aircraft was delivered on November 22 at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport and is the…
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British groom denied flight to Thailand over smudged stamp
A British groom was barred from boarding a flight to Thailand for his honeymoon after airline staff flagged damage on his passport during check-in. The Brit, 31 year old Josh Reekie, was all set to jet off with his wife Eden for their dream £2,400 (around 105,600 baht) honeymoon when Etihad Airways staff at Manchester Airport denied him boarding. The…
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Cathay Pacific sees Thailand rebound after rocky first half
Cathay Pacific confirmed it is seeing a strong rebound in Thailand route performance, after earlier struggles caused by safety concerns and political instability. Hong Kong’s flagship carrier confirmed that its Thailand routes are bouncing back in the second half of the year, following earlier setbacks tied to safety concerns and political instability. Despite a soft performance earlier in 2025, the…
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Key flight routes cancelled in Thailand, including at Suvarnabhumi
Several flights were cancelled at major Thai airports, including Suvarnabhumi, causing travel disruption for passengers on domestic and international routes. Travellers across Thailand have been hit by a wave of unexpected flight cancellations, causing widespread disruption at Udon Thani, Phuket, and Suvarnabhumi airports. The cancellations, affecting both domestic and international routes, have left passengers scrambling for alternative arrangements. At Udon…
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Court grounds order allowing foreign pilots on Thai routes
Thailand’s Administrative Court has revoked a Labour Ministry order that allowed foreign pilots to fly domestic routes, ruling it an unlawful exemption. The court decision, handed down yesterday, November 17, annuls a ministerial announcement issued last year that temporarily authorised foreign pilots to operate within the country under a wet-lease arrangement. The ruling comes after the Thai Pilots Association and…
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Trump threatens to sue BBC for US$5 billion over speech edit
US President Donald Trump has announced plans to sue the BBC over an edited broadcast of his speech, claiming it falsely implied a call for violent action. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump vowed legal action against the BBC’s flagship Panorama programme, accusing it of manipulating footage from his controversial speech on January 6, 2021. “We’ll sue them for anywhere…
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Cambodia denies fake claims of Thai flight suspension
Cambodia’s civil aviation authority has denied social media rumours that Thailand will suspend flights, confirming no official notice has been received. Cambodian officials said there is no truth to viral claims that flights between Thailand and Cambodia will be suspended later this month. Sin ChanSerey Vutha, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for Cambodia’s Civil Aviation, issued a firm denial after…
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Warrant issued for mum who sold Thai girl in Tokyo trafficking case
A Thai woman faces arrest for allegedly trafficking her daughter into sex work at a Tokyo massage parlour, where the child’s earnings were sent to the woman. Japanese police have issued an arrest warrant for a Thai woman in her twenties who allegedly trafficked her 12 year old daughter into sex work at a Tokyo establishment, according to investigative sources…
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Thai Airways recycles Virgin lie-flats as posh economy beds
Thai Airways has launched lie-flat seats as a premium economy option on select regional routes, repurposing business class seats from Virgin Atlantic. The unusual move offers passengers lie-flat comfort without the business-class price tag, advancing the growing trend of “unbundled” premium travel. The new class has debuted on routes from Bangkok to Chennai, Dhaka, Hyderabad, Jakarta, and Kathmandu. Rather than…
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Brit jailed over 19m baht Thailand cannabis run at Dublin airport
A British man was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in Dublin after admitting to importing nearly 500,000 euros (approximately 19 million baht) worth of cannabis from Thailand, destined for sale in Ireland. The man, 22 year old Jamie Kearns from Arley in Coventry, was stopped by customs officers at Terminal One in Dublin Airport while arriving…
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Thai foreign ministry clarifies girl trafficking case in Tokyo
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the case of a young Thai girl who was trafficked to Japan, which came to light when Tokyo police raided a Japanese-owned massage parlour following a report about the victim’s circumstances. Nikorndej Plangkura, Director-General of the Department of Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, revealed that the incident occurred in mid-September.…
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Vietjet goes green with SAF as jet delivery hits more delays
A budget airline has begun using sustainable aviation fuel on select routes while facing delays in new aircraft deliveries due to external disruptions. Vietjet Thailand has kicked off its first flights using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), becoming the latest low-cost carrier to go green while grappling with delayed aircraft deliveries. The airline launched SAF-powered operations on its…
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Thai tourism shines in London with wellness-themed showcase
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) led 50 Thai businesses to the World Travel Market (WTM) 2025 in London, aiming to court high-spending long-haul travellers with a strong focus on health and wellness tourism. Held from November 4 to November 6 (today) at ExCeL London, WTM is one of the world’s premier travel trade shows. Thailand’s pavilion this year was…
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Thai girl, 12, rescued after getting trafficked to Tokyo by mother
A 12 year old Thai girl has been rescued from a Tokyo massage parlour where she was forced to serve dozens of customers in a month-long trafficking ordeal orchestrated by the establishment’s owner and her own mother. The girl was forced to work in a massage parlour, serving approximately 60 customers in just one month whilst generating 627,000 yen (around…
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Finnair piles on Thailand flights for winter sun seekers
Finnair has announced it will boost flights to Thailand for the upcoming winter season, aiming to meet rising demand from European travellers seeking warmth. The airline will offer 25 weekly flights to the kingdom, marking a significant increase in capacity and forward planning for the Nordic carrier. Currently operating three daily services to Thailand, Finnair is adding another daily flight…
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Pregnant Brit drug mule freed after Thailand trip ends in jail
A British teenager who vanished during a solo trip to Thailand has walked free from a Georgian prison after spending nearly six months behind bars on drug trafficking charges. Bella Culley, 19 years old and eight months pregnant, was released from custody this week after prosecutors in Georgia revised a plea deal, citing her age and condition. She had been…
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Thai woman defends herself from rock-throwing attacker in Oakland
An attacker remains at large after throwing rocks at a Thai woman and attempting to punch her in a market in Oakland, San Francisco, California, on Halloween. NBC Bay Area reported the physical assault on the Thai woman, Sasi Oda, along with CCTV footage of the incident on October 31. The assault occurred in a market in Little Saigon at…
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Thailand reassures China, no casinos amid tourism boost
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed approval of Thailand’s decision not to legalise casinos. The Chinese government plans to promote Thailand as a tourist destination to its citizens. Anutin provided this update on Thailand’s tourism prospects following his return from China on Saturday night, after participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in South Korea.…
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Suvarnabhumi warns against lanterns and lasers this Loy Krathong
With the Loy Krathong Festival just days away, Suvarnabhumi Airport has issued a firm warning: no sky lanterns, fireworks, balloons, sparklers, or laser beams near the airport, or risk jeopardising aviation safety. The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is calling on government agencies, businesses, and residents in surrounding areas to refrain from festive activities that could pose dangers to aircraft operations…
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Thailand sets sights on sky-high role as aviation powerhouse
Thailand’s transport officials are collaborating with aviation leaders to transform the country into a regional hub for aircraft maintenance and connectivity. The Transport Ministry sets plans in motion to transform the nation into a premier aviation hub for Southeast Asia. The strategy focuses heavily on boosting its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector while redirecting air traffic to ease congestion…
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Thailand welcomes new Norse Air route from London to Bangkok
Thailand welcomed the first Norse Atlantic Airways flight from London-Gatwick to Bangkok, marking a new route aimed at boosting British tourism during the winter season. The inaugural flight touched down at Suvarnabhumi Airport on October 27, where it was greeted with a warm Thai-style welcome ceremony. Executives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Airports of Thailand joined the…
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Travel mayhem hits Asia and Bangkok with 27 flights axed
Travellers across Asia and the Gulf are facing major disruptions as multiple airlines cancel and delay flights at key airports due to operational issues. A total of 27 cancellations and 102 delays were reported across major international hubs, including Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Dubai, Jeddah, Phnom Penh, and Bagdogra, sparking frustration among affected passengers. Airlines such as Saudia, KLM, Hainan…
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Trump and Malaysia sign trade and minerals deals to counter China
Today on October 26, US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim signed a trade agreement and a critical minerals pact in Kuala Lumpur, aimed at enhancing trade across Southeast Asia and countering China’s restrictions on rare earth access. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer noted that Malaysia would adjust its tariffs and non-tariff barriers, which is expected to…
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Prince Andrew accused of royal romps on Thai taxpayer dime
A former UK official has alleged that Prince Andrew used taxpayer-funded trips to Thailand to meet women while serving as a government trade representative. According to Ian Proud, a former senior diplomat at the British Embassy in Bangkok, the disgraced royal regularly mixed business with pleasure during his visits to Thailand as the UK’s special trade envoy. “The prince would…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport officials accused of corruption after seized belonging sold online
A Thai woman accused officials at Suvarnabhumi International Airport of corruption after finding that her pocket knife, which was confiscated on August 25, was sold on Facebook. Chongpriang Tainangam took to her Facebook account, demanding clarification from Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Airports of Thailand (AOT) regarding the sale of her seized knife. She discovered the item being sold on the Leatherman…
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