Hot News
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Fiscal incentives may reward farmers bypassing Thai government’s debt suspension plan
An anonymous source from the Finance Ministry revealed that farmers who opt out of the government’s planned debt suspension programme may be rewarded with incentives. This policy is reminiscent of one enacted during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration and is designed to encourage fiscal discipline among farmers. Previously, in the period between 2001 and 2004, the Thaksin regime introduced a three-year…
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Rise in expatriate residence in Thailand prompts tourism benefits plan
Thailand’s popularity as a residence of choice for expatriates and remote workers is on the rise. As per the data from the Employment Department and Colliers Thailand, the first quarter of this year saw 156,596 expatriates, with over half based in Bangkok. The leading nationalities were Japanese, Chinese, and Indian last year. However, recent reports show an increased interest among…
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Thailand’s fisheries law amendment to ease fishermen’s concerns
A proposed amendment to the fisheries law by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is underway, designed to alleviate the economic issues plaguing fishermen who assert that their livelihoods are compromised by stringent regulations. Thammanat Prompow, the Minister, acknowledges the concerns raised by fishing communities, who claim to be adversely impacted by the Fisheries Act. This fisheries law, originally instituted…
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Move Forward Party welcomes new spokesperson: Prisath Wasinsathu
The ex-president of the advisory board of the Move Forward Party (MFP) congratulated Parit Wacharasindhu on his appointment as the new spokesperson for the party. Supporting him in the role are two deputy spokespersons, Krunphon Tiansuwan and Phakamon Hunnanan. Former MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat shared his enthusiasm for the new spokesperson in a lively post. He expressed his joy for Prisath, referring…
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Thai PM’s foreign policy balancing act between US and China under scrutiny
The Thai government is confronted with the challenge of sustaining a balanced foreign policy in the face of escalating tensions between the United States and China. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, fresh from his appointment, embarked on his maiden foreign journey to New York where he is presently participating in the 78 Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) and…
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Bangladeshi nationals disguised as monks arrested in Thailand
Seven Bangladeshi nationals, masquerading as Buddhist monks to bypass immigration scrutiny, were apprehended yesterday in the southern province of Songkhla, Thailand. The arrest was a collaborative operation between Songkhla immigration officers and Hat Yai tourist police, following an anonymous tip-off. The men, who had shaven their heads and donned monk robes in their attempts to blend in and evade the…
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Pattaya heightens safety measures ahead of Chinese and Kazakh tourist influx
Pattaya, a renowned tourist destination in Thailand, is ramping up safety measures in anticipation of a surge in visitors from China and Kazakhstan. Local police held a comprehensive safety inspection of floating restaurants and squid fishing rafts in Pattaya Bay yesterday, September 23, focusing on the establishments’ adherence to safety guidelines and legal obligations. This intensification of safety checks is…
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Thai PM denies plans to appoint Thaksin Shinawatra as adviser post-prison
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin denied reports that he plans to appoint former premier Thaksin Shinawatra as his adviser upon his release from prison. PM Srettha addressed these reports while attending the 78 Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The 61 year old PM clarified that he was asked by a journalist if he…
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Thai government employees struggle with debt, support higher graduate pay
A recent survey by the National Institute for Development Administration (NIDA) revealed that a significant number of government officials and state enterprise employees are burdened with debt. Moreover, the same group of respondents expressed their support for the government’s policy to set the starting monthly salary for bachelor’s degree graduates at 25,000 baht. The NIDA Poll, carried out from September…
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Interim leader steps in for embattled MFP amidst legal tension
Pending a legal verdict, 45 year old Chaithawat Tulathon assumes the role of interim leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) after his predecessor stepped down. Chaithawat was elected alongside the board of executives, taking over from Pita Limjaroenrat, who resigned from the MFP leadership earlier this month to facilitate the transition to a new opposition leader. Pita’s position as an…
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Thailand’s visa-free initiative welcomes Chinese, Kazakhstani tourists
Chinese and Kazakhstani tourists will be welcomed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at Suvarnabhumi Airport tomorrow, signalling the start of the government’s new visa-free initiative. Srettha will be accompanied by a delegation of ministers and officials at a reception organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to greet Chinese travellers aboard Thai AirAsia X flight XJ761, scheduled to arrive…
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Thailand joins Cambodia and Vietnam to combat call centre scams, fake news
Thailand is set to collaborate with Cambodia and Vietnam in a bid to curb the menace of call centre scams and fake news, as part of a recent regional initiative. This development was made known by Puangpet Chunlaiad, a minister linked to the prime minister’s office, following discussions with her Cambodian and Vietnamese counterparts. On her recent visit to Vietnam,…
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Fatal accident in Sri Racha as storm rips PTT signboard from mountings
A terrifying incident unfolded in the Sri Racha, Chon Buri district on Wednesday, September 20. A PTT signboard was torn from its mountings by violent winds and heavy rain. In a tragic turn of events, the plummeting signage caused one fatality and inflicted damage on several nearby convenience stores. The PTT gas station at Pha Daeng branch was the scene of…
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El Niño effect forecasted to lower Thai rice production in 2023-24
The Agricultural Economics Office of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry in Thailand forecasted a decline in rice production for the 2023-24 harvest season. The expected drop is approximately 871,000 tonnes, a decrease of 3.27%, totalling 25.8 million tonnes. This significant decrease is primarily due to the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon. Deputy Secretary-General of the Agricultural Economics Department,…
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Phuket hotels thrive amid economic uncertainty, thanks to diverse visitor base
Phuket hotels are showing resilience amid a sluggish European economy and a weak British pound, with Laguna Phuket setting sights on its best high season yet. This optimism is fuelled by the return of Chinese tourists and a rebound in international travel demand. Paul Wilson, who holds the position of Vice-President and Deputy Managing Director at Laguna Phuket, revealed that…
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Malaysian ‘Godfather’ of wildlife trafficking jailed in US over rhino horns
A Malaysian wildlife trafficker has been confined to prison for a period of 18 months in the United States. The charge against the trafficker, Teo Boon Ching known infamously as the Godfather, is the planned trafficking of hundreds of kilogrammes of rhinoceros horns. The horns, a result of the illicit poaching of rhinoceroses, are valued at millions of dollars. The…
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Significant arrest over 41 million baht embezzlement case
Bangkok was recently the scene of a significant arrest as Thai authorities apprehended a man implicated in a substantial embezzlement case. A 52 year old individual, known as Chaloam, was taken into custody in Bang Kapi, a district in Bangkok. This arrest comes in response to a warrant issued by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases in…
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Thai man linked to 2013, 2014 infant deaths through DNA tests
DNA tests have confirmed that a 46 year old man named Songsak Songsaeng, presently under arrest on charges of murdering his two year old daughter is also connected to the deaths of two infants discovered in the Bang Sue district in 2013 and 2014. The DNA samples from the bodies of the infants match those of Songsak and one of…
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Corruption probe deepens: Mayor’s office searched again after arrest in southern Thailand
The Anti-Corruption Police conducted a second search of the office of the Mayor of Bang Kaeo in southern Thailand after his arrest for alleged under-the-table solicitation of 1.5 million baht. The Mayor, Nathapong Taengsuwan, had earlier been taken into custody for reportedly demanding bribes in exchange for approving a 13-million-baht LED screen installation project. A shocked Nathapong had attempted to…
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Box office shocker: Thai trafficking thriller spooks Chinese tourists from coming to Thailand (video)
A Thai box office movie highlighting the real-life dangers of human trafficking in Thailand and Southeast Asia has been blamed for scaring Chinese tourists away from the kingdom. The movie, No More Bets, is a gripping thriller grounded in true events. It follows the harrowing journey of a computer programmer who finds himself ensnared in a violent scamming ring in…
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Buzzkill: CIB busts counterfeit mosquito repellent ring spanning three provinces in Thailand
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) recently apprehended a manufacturer of counterfeit mosquito repellent in Samut Sakhon, along with three distribution points across three provinces. The counterfeit products, containing hazardous chemicals, were discovered today, and a total of 227,000 boxes worth 4.54 million baht were seized. The CIB’s investigation was sparked by the discovery of two Chinese mosquito repellent brands sold…
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Predatory allegations: Thai pedophile accused of kidnapping 14 year old from Hmong community
A Thai man has been accused of being a predatory pedophile after kidnapping a 14 year old boy from the Hmong ethnic group community at the Chom Si temple in the central province of Sing Buri on September 16. The missing boy has been identified as Natchapon “Moa” Somphopworrapong. Moa is a Hmong boy who relocated to a temple in the…
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Roojai revs up for success: Thai online insurer aims to drive into top 10 with profitable year ahead
Online insurance firm Roojai is poised to post its first profit from Thai operations in the fiscal year ending March 2024, according to founder and CEO Nicolas Faquet. This is largely attributable to the company’s growth in motor insurance sales, as it sets its sights on becoming a top 10 player in this segment by next year. Faquet revealed it…
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Online infatuation leads to embezzlement: Chinese man’s web of trouble
A Chinese man’s infatuation with an Internet idol escalated to the point where he resorted to online embezzlement from his workplace to bestow lavish gifts upon the captivating young woman, ultimately ending up in prison. As reported by Chinese media, Liu, a university graduate and married father, was employed as an accountant at a company, earning a monthly salary of…
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Phuket’s 191 hotline control room gets ‘ready to dial’
The Phuket control room, part of the National Emergency Notification Center and commonly referred to as the 191 police hotline, yesterday underwent an operational readiness inspection. Police Major General Saksira Phueakam, the Deputy Commander of Region 8 Police, conducted the assessment. This control room serves as a crucial hub for receiving reports from both Thai and foreign tourists, as well…
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14 year old schoolboy stabs rival student to death at school near Bangkok
A 14 year old schoolboy fatally stabbed a 15 year old rival student at a school in Bangkok’s Chacheongsao province yesterday after an argument prior to the incident. Community leader Korrakot Tungphan told ThaiRath that he received news of the stabbing at 5pm yesterday and immediately rushed to the school. Upon arrival, he encountered a group of teachers and students…
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Bangkok’s stormy wake-up call: Governor urges preparedness as capital weathers surprises
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt urged the city to be on high alert after storms hit the capital this week resulting in a number of unexpected incidents such as tree collapses, power outages, and flooding. This includes mobilising vehicles from various districts to facilitate the transportation of citizens in risk-prone areas. The command centre reported heavy rainfall yesterday in the Bang…
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Powder puff surprise: Methamphetamine-filled makeup case shocks salon in northeast Thailand
An intriguing incident took place yesterday in a beauty salon located in Thammasat Alley, Udon Thani province when an unknown woman handed over a powder case to a 52 year old woman. Astonishingly, the powder case turned out to be stuffed with 30 methamphetamine pills. Stunned by the discovery, the receiver of the powder case, Patsakorn, immediately reported it to the…
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Tragic collision in Thailand’s west claims life in high-speed horror
A fatal collision between a saloon car and a pickup truck occurred on the roads of Kanchanaburi province, western Thailand. The high-speed crash resulted in the death of a man who was thrown from the pickup truck and subsequently crushed. The incident was reported to Tha Mueang Police Station at 3.30am today. Investigations at the fatal collision scene revealed a…
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Bonding for the future: Thai govt sets sail with expanded issuance
The director-general of the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) yesterday asserted that the planned issuance of government bonds in fiscal next year will be proportionate and appropriate. The limit for bond issuance for the said fiscal year has been expanded by approximately 160 billion baht. Patricia Mongkhonvanit revealed the increase is intended to counterbalance the budget deficit for fiscal next…
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