FOLLOWING social media buzz on congestion at Phuket Airport and allegations of fees being charged to jump queues, the government today (June 3) said an automated passport control system will be unveiled there on June 13, according to Naewna newspaper. Ms. Ploytalay Laksmisangchan, deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, said the government has
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THAI’s first female pilot breaks 66-year barrier
IN A major milestone for Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) a woman pilot will this evening (June 1) fly a commercial flight to Hanoi, Vietnam, thus breaking the stereotype of only hiring male pilots for 66 years in the aviation industry, Naewna newspaper said. The inaugural flight of the national airline’s first female pilot,
Read morePhuket Airport denies extorting money to speed up Immigration clearance
PHUKET Airport quashed rumours of money being extorted from passengers to quickly get them through Immigration when the arrival terminal is packed with tourists waiting to enter the popular resort island, Amarin TV said this evening (May 31). A thorough investigation has been launched into instances of outsiders impersonating officials who went around demanding
Read moreThai UFO movie ‘Khao Kala’ soars at Cannes Film Festival
By Naewna newspaper and Thai Newsroom AS the recent release of a new batch of files on UFOs in the US has attracted global attention this has put the spotlight on Thai movie entitled “Khao Kala”, which depicts beliefs about extraterrestrial beings and the biggest mystery of extraterrestrial life form in Southeast Asia, at
Read moreHiking international departure fee won’t dissuade travellers: AOT
AIRPORTS of Thailand (AOT) is confident its decision to increase international departure passenger service charge (PSC) from 730 baht to 1,120 baht from June 20 onwards will not significantly impact travellers’ decision or choice of destination, PPTVHD36 said today (May 6). The fee increase of 390 baht or 53% applies to all six AOT
Read moreBrawl between Thai woman and foreign man in Phuket goes viral
MAKING the rounds on social media is a video clip of a brawl between a Thai woman and a foreign man with their friends also joining the melee which has sparked outrage among netizens who are concerned about damage to this island’s tourism image, Amarin TV said today (May 2). The video, shared by
Read moreCentral Bank’s cross-border QR payment speeds up transfers
By PPTVHD36 and Thai Newsroom BANK of Thailand has implemented a system for international money transfers and payments via QR payment and cross-border QR payment, particularly among Asean countries under Asean Payment Connectivity, as well as a few other countries with significant labour or tourism exchanges, according to a central bank report seen today
Read morePhuket officials check Patong beach for pricey coconuts
PHUKET Commerce Department raided Patong beach to check if any vendors were selling coconuts at 150 baht a fruit but none were found doing so as claimed by a TikToker with his video attracting a lot of comments, Amarin TV said this evening (April 25). In the 18-second video the foreign TikTok user who
Read moreSilom reopens after overcrowding led to brief entry ban
SILOM road was reopened at 6.10 p.m. today (April 13) after Bang Rak district officials temporarily banned entry to participate in Songkran festival activities due to overcrowding, Amarin TV and TV Channel 7 said. It was estimated that over 200,000 revellers had flocked to Silom when the entry ban was announced at 5.45 p.m.
Read moreChadchart launches Songkran fun at Silom
BANGKOK Governor Chadchart Sittipunt presided over the opening ceremony of this year’s Songkran Festival at Silom road entitled “Songkran Silom Splash Out With Thai Culture 2026” then led a parade of floats and tuk-tuks with merriment to run for three days from today (April 12) to Tuesday (April 14) from 10 a.m. to 9
Read moreHeavy traffic as Songkran exodus starts
THE MASS exodus from Bangkok and its vicinity mainly to eastern and northeastern provinces to celebrate Songkran Festival has got underway with traffic particularly heavy on the eastern section of the Motorway (Highway 9, Kanchanaphisek Ring Road) since early this morning (April 11) especially near the Lam Luk Ka and Phahonyothin exits, Naewna newspaper
Read moreIndian, Chinese tourists conned and robbed in Pattaya
AS THE global economy is in a shaky state thieves are more numerous than mosquitos with two tourists, one from India and the other from China, having been conned and robbed by seemingly the same group of perpetrators in Pattaya, TV Channel 7 said today (April 9). CCTV footage at this seaside city shows
Read moreDiesel price soaring to 50.54 baht/litre tomorrow
THE Oil Fuel Fund committee decided to again decrease its subsidy for diesel and biodiesel B20 with this leading to the retail price at petrol pumps jumping to 50.54 baht/litre and 45.54 baht/litre respectively tomorrow (April 5), Amarin TV said. The committee reduced its subsidy for B7 diesel by 2.61 baht/litre, from 20.71 baht/litre
Read moreFarmers stockpiling fertilisers as war drives up prices
THE Middle East war has led to prices of fertilisers rising in Thailand with the situation exacerbated by a shortage of urea and this leading to farmers stockpiling as they fear further price hikes, Amarin TV said today (March 30). Ms. Pranee Banluesap, owner of a fertiliser and agricultural equipment store in Buriram’s Nang
Read moreUS pauses issuance of immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries including Thailand
IN A FACEBOOK post the US embassy said today (March 27) that as of Jan. 21, 2026 the United States has paused issuing immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries including Thailand. Immigrants from these countries have a high rate of collecting public assistance at the expense of US taxpayers, the embassy said, adding
Read moreTour boats at Bang Saray, Sattahip start docking as fuel prices rise
A BIG JUMP in fuel prices has severely impacted tourist boat operators at Bang Saray and Sattahip in Chonburi with unsustainable costs forcing many of them to dock temporarily as they called on the government for assistance, Amarin TV and TNN said today (March 26). Retail prices of diesel and petrol rose by six
Read moreCyber Police warn of online loan scam
CYBER Police urged those struggling financially and are looking for a loan to beware because what seems to be a lifesaver could actually be a scam, Naewna newspaper said yesterday (March 22). In a Facebook post Cyber Police said, “Easy loans, quick approval – beware! Scammers are offering easy loans through social media and
Read moreNIDA Poll shows majority not planning to travel during Songkran
THE DOMESTIC oil crisis seems to be affecting Songkran travel plans with a NIDA opinion poll showing that over 50 percent of the respondents had not made advance plans to travel during this period, TV Channel 7 and Naewna newspaper said today (March 22). The NIDA survey, entitled “Oil Shortage, Even Talking to Your
Read moreMinistry moves to reduce visa-free entry to 30 days to tackle scammers
THE FOREIGN Affairs Ministry is gearing up to propose to the government that visa-free entry be reduced from 60 to 30 days to close a loophole that allows foreign scammers and other gangs to slip into the country, TV Channel 7 said today (March 21). Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said although the government
Read moreBMA expanding digital device control to all its schools
AFTER a trial at 10 schools showed controlling use of digital devices improved student concentration and increased parental satisfaction, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is gearing up to expand the clampdown at all its schools from the next academic year, PPTVHD36 said today (Mar. 13). Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said in introducing the “Phone
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