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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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Sponsored Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
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Cost to repair Don Mueang damage estimated at 20 million baht
Thailand’s Transport Ministry has given an initial estimate of 20 million baht to repair the damaged passenger hall at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport. The area sustained severe damage when a violent storm earlier this week caused the partial collapse of its roof and walls. Transport ministry spokesman Pisak Jitviriyavasin has stressed that the 20-million-baht figure is only an initial estimate,…
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Thai PM endorses India travel bubble in bid to boost international tourism
A travel bubble arrangement between Thailand and India has received the backing of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, as officials look to revive foreign tourism in the kingdom. The Bangkok Post reports that government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana says the travel pact between the 2 countries has also been endorsed by Thailand’s public and private sectors. In the pre-Covid days, Thailand welcomed nearly…
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Kyiv calls for negotiations to evacuate troops, civilians from Azovstal steel plant
After Ukrainian fighters holed up in the Azovstal steel plant ignored a Russian ultimatum to surrender or die on Wednesday, the government in Kyiv has proposed talks with Moscow to evacuate their troops and civilians from the surrounded steelworks factory. The move comes after a Ukrainian marine commander, Serhiy Volny, made a desperate plea to world leaders, asking them to…
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Low demand, supply surplus leads J&J to suspend sales forecast of Covid vaccine
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson says it’s currently unable to provide a sales forecast for its Covid-19 vaccine. According to the firm, vaccine hesitancy in low-income countries, coupled with existing low demand in wealthier nations, has led to a surplus of stock. J&J had previously forecast sales of up to US$3.5 billion for this year, according to a Reuters report.…
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Political activist and Move Forward member found hanged in north-east Thailand
A member of the Move Forward political party, who disappeared on Monday, has been found hanged in the north-eastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima. Thai PBS World reports that the body of 27 year old activist Anan Lokate, aka “Boy”, was found hanged by a police kiosk in the district of Chaloem Phra Kiat yesterday. The secretary-general of the Move Forward…
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VERSO – The school that equips students with future-ready skills
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Man’s body found in Sri Racha waters, Chon Buri
A fisherman spotted a man’s dead body floating in waters off Sri Racha district of Chon Buri province on Tuesday. The fisherman told The Pattaya News he saw the body after parking his boat at a pier. The deceased man has not yet been identified, however he is reported to be Asian. The fisherman spotted the body near the Loi island.…
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Thailand’s anti-corruption commission says website hacked, key info leaked
The website of the National Anti-Corruption Commission has become the latest Thai site to fall victim to hackers, as confirmed by the NACC itself yesterday. According to the commission, key data has been leaked in the cyberattack. According to a Bangkok Post report, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency alerted the NACC to the attack, advising it that information published by…
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Rohingya refugees in Malaysia killed trying to cross highway
Cars hit and killed six Rohingya refugees on a Malaysian highway today. 582 Rohingya refugees had escaped a temporary immigration detention centre, when two men, two woman, and a boy and a girl were hit and killed trying to cross a highway in Kedah state. Before the escape, a riot had broken out in a detention centre in Penang state.…
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Daughter searches for her family after they went missing 10 days ago in central Thailand
A 19 year old daughter is searching for her missing family. Her parents and two siblings disappeared from their house in the central province of Sukhothai ten days ago, since April 10. Thai netizens and Facebook pages from various rescue teams are spreading the story of the 19 year old teenager around to try and re-unite her with her missing family.…
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Chon Buri woman speeds past checkpoint and slams into a house
Security footage from Monday night shows a woman in Chon Buri driving at full speed before crashing into a house, causing a burst of flames. The video then shows a police patrol car turning around to examine the crash. The woman driving the car was pronounced dead at the scene. Saensuk police haven’t reveal her name or age. The woman…
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10 more women accuse embattled politician Prinn of sexual abuse in Bangkok
Ten more women have come forth to accuse former Democrat Party deputy leader Prinn Panitchpakdi of sexual abuse, as the sex scandal involving a senior politician continues to grow. The latest accuser, who has been described as a “well-known” 30 year old woman, alleged that Prinn had sexually assaulted her 14 years ago, about four months after they first met.…
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Thai tourist praises Phuket’s taxi for offering perfect city tour at only 50 baht
A Thai tourist has praised a taxi driver in Phuket for the “perfect city tour at a reasonable price of only 50 baht for a round trip”. The glowing praise might confirm that Phuket still welcomes domestic tourists with affordable services. Or perhaps the tourist got lucky! At the beginning of this year, one Phuket taxi driver became an unwilling…
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Pattaya Christian organisation to give food, support to Russians and Ukrainians
As various sectors of Thai society step forward to help stranded Russians and Ukrainians, a Christian organisation in Pattaya plans to provide mink, instant noodles, 5 kilogram bags of rice. The organisation, Hand to Hand Foundation, invites Russians and Ukrainians to come to their centre in Banlamung district from 2pm – 4m on April 21, April 26 and April 28.…
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Bangkok to celebrate 240th anniversary with cultural activities
Starting today, 20 locations around Bangkok will transform into cultural learning centres to celebrate the city’s 240th anniversary. Attendees are invited to learn more about Thailand’s unique history and culture through activities and performances held from April 20 – 24 around the city. The events are intended to demonstrate the kingdom’s “soft power,” promote cultural tourism and instil pride among…
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Sri Lanka’s police shoot and kill protestor
Sri Lankan police shot and killed a protestor yesterday in an incident that quickly spread across social media. Police had opened fire on a crowd in the central town of Rambukkana, and at least three others were injured. Police said the protestor killed, a man, had refused to move from a railway line and had parked a fuel truck across…
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PM spokesperson praises Lisa, BamBam and Milli for promoting Thai government’s ‘soft power’
The PM’s spokesperson has praised Lisa and Bambam from K-Pop brands Blackpink and Got7, together with a young Thai rapper Mill, for helping the government promote Thailand’s ‘soft power’. The spokesperson said those artists revealed Thailand’s soft power to the international eyes according to the government measure. Last year, Lisa from Blackpink joined the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival…
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Wednesday Covid Update: 20,455 new cases; provincial totals
128 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 27,263 with 5,565 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 20,455 new Covid-19 cases and 25,933 recoveries. There are now 191,743 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of the new cases recorded…
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Ukrainian commander pleads for evacuation of troops, civilians from Mariupol factory
A senior commander of Ukrainian marines has called for a third country to urgently evacuate troops and civilians from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, southern Ukraine, which has been under heavy Russian bombardment for weeks. The plea comes as Ukrainian troops in the besieged port city launch a final stand against Russian troops, who are closing in while supplies…
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Elderly Covid-19 patients in Thailand can now temporarily isolate at nursing homes
Thai health officials announced yesterday that nursing homes can now be certified as temporary community isolation centres for elderly people who are infected with Covid-19, but are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms. To pass the evaluation, the establishment must have suitable isolation rooms and adequate beds for Covid-19 patients. The director-general of the Department of Health Service Support, Dr.…
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Thailand’s Prayut to hold public forum on economy
Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced yesterday at a cabinet meeting that the government will hold a public forum on the economy. The date for the forum has not yet been announced. PM Prayut said the government is trying to ensure better welfare for elderly citizens and vulnerable groups in Thailand. He said it wants to introduce measures to help medium-sized…
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Portuguese expat reported missing found in Bangkok psychiatric ward
An expat resident of Bangkok, who was reported missing 9 days ago, has been found at a psychiatric ward in the capital. The 27 year old Portuguese national, Alexandre Freitas, was located at Somdet Chao Phraya Hospital, in the Khlong San district, after he was accused of stealing a pair of sunglasses from a shopping centre in the city. According…
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New Bangkok monorails will be FREE in September
In September, the new Yellow Line monorail train will begin testing between Lat Phrao and Samrong and the Pink Line monorail train will begin testing between Min Buri and Khae Rai. The Yellow Line is 92% completed, while the Pink Line is a step behind at 86%. Thailand’s Mass Rapid Transit Authority controls the monorail/skytrain services (MRTA). The routes and…
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Pilots announce end of US mask mandate mid-flight, passengers divided
Midway through a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles on Monday night, the pilot announced the end of America’s requirement to wear face masks on public transport, including on planes. The sound of cheering resonated through the plane and around one third of passengers instantly took off their masks, according to a witness. However, some passengers were outraged and scolded…
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Thai health officials call for PCR on arrival to be replaced with antigen test
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control wants to see PCR tests for foreign arrivals replaced with antigen testing. DDC boss Dr Opas Kankawinpong says his department is submitting the proposal to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. “The department will have a meeting on Thursday to finalise the details of the proposal before presenting it to a CCSA meeting on Friday…
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Two women stabbed with box cutter at CentralWorld shopping mall in Bangkok
Yesterday, officers from Pathum Wan Police Station arrested a man who used a box cutter to stab two women at CentralWorld, a famous shopping mall in Bangkok. The suspect claimed he visited the mall to find a job and had no explanation for his actions. At about 4 pm, staff of the famous Bangkok shopping centre reported to the police…
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Thailand’s Covid hotline inundated with calls over Songkran holiday period
The National Health Security Office says the Covid-19 1330 hotline received around 10,000 calls a day over the Songkran holiday period. According to NHSO secretary-general, Dr Jadet Thammathat-aree, many of the calls were requests for medication for Covid patients who were isolating at home. Other callers wanted to find out about treatment available under the universal healthcare scheme. The Bangkok…
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ATOLL – To be the favorite destination where people go to meet, eat & drink
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Investigation launched into Don Mueang passenger building collapse
The Ministry of Transport has begun an investigation into the partial collapse of a new passenger building at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport, the home of most of the international discount airlines and some of the domestic budget carriers. According to the initial damage assessments, a heavy storm on Sunday evening led to a build-up of rainfall that the building’s guttering…
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Half the population has gained herd immunity, government target is 80%
The Department of Disease Control says around 50% of the Thai population has attained herd immunity against Covid-19, but the government’s target is 80%. According to Dr Chakkarat Pitayowonganon, around 10% of the population has contracted the virus to date. This figure, combined with the numbers who’ve received 2 doses of a Covid vaccine, followed by a booster, means around…
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