This week: expat land ownership, Thaksin's return, Pattaya corpse and Lisa Blackpink's snack
Thailand lures wealthy foreigners
Foreigners investing at least 40 million baht in Thailand would be allowed to own up to one rai of land for residential use under a plan that still needs cabinet approval.
Thailand has for decades been a popular expat destination for investment, retirement and starting small businesses, but foreign land ownership has been restricted.
Foreign nationals will be permitted to own up to one rai, or 0.16 hectares, providing they invest 40 million baht or more in Thai property, securities or funds over three years.
The proposal would include some tax benefits and a 10-year visa.
Thaksin: I'll be back
Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra has responded to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's come-home challenge, saying he will return to Thailand.
Thaksin used a ClubHouse chat, under his alias Tony Woodsome, to poke fun at Prayut, saying he appeared to be thinking about him all the time.
In January, Thaksin announced a plan to end his self-imposed exile and return to Thailand this year as, he said, "a gift for Thais".
Body of missing Canadian found in Pattaya
The decomposing body of a missing 79-year-old Canadian man was found in a field behind a hotel in Pattaya.
Police believe the man had been dead for several days.
Officers found a white T-shirt and black trousers near the body. They also found a bag containing 300 Canadian dollars and a Canadian passport.
The man reportedly arrived in Thailand on July 6 to visit his Thai girlfriend in Chaiyaphum.
Lisa Blackpink boosts snack
Vendors of roti sai mai have hailed Thai superstar Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban for posting a video that has created major buzz about their sweet snacks.
Sellers of the sugary floss reported an uptick in business after the K-pop Blackpink star posted a video on Instagram showing her enjoying the snack.
Authorities are claiming it as another example of Thailand’s soft power, like the rapper Milli eating mango and sticky rice onstage at the Coachella festival in California.
