Hot News
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Thailand anticipates American tourism influx due to Songkran
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is anticipating a robust tourism influx from North and South America this year, with a projection of at least 1.5 million tourists – a figure that mirrors the 2019 statistics. This surge is attributed to the confluence of the Songkran celebrations and the Easter holiday in April. Deputy Governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle…
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Employees engaged in violent brawl in Patong
A violent clash erupted among employees of the same company in Patong, Phuket, after work hours, drawing attention and concern toward the tourist city’s image. The brawl, which took place in the middle of a busy roundabout, was captured in a 1-minute 28-second video and shared on social media, sparking a mix of comments ranging from calls for calm to…
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Health riders revolutionise medication delivery
To transform healthcare accessibility, volunteers dubbed “health riders” are poised to bring medicines directly to patients’ doorsteps, following a successful trial period. Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, unveiling the service on Monday, March 18, announced its rollout to cater initially to 30-baht plus universal healthcare beneficiaries across 32 provinces. This innovative initiative, part of the 30-baht plus healthcare scheme, ensures…
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Thai Cabinet grants 300 million baht for northern provinces
A significant financial boost of 300 million baht (US$8.3 million) has been granted by the Thai Cabinet for the development of 13 projects aimed at tourism growth across four northern provinces; Phayao, Chiang Rai, Phrae, and Nan. The decision was made during a mobile meeting in Phayao, overseen by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin during his two-day visit to the region.…
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Summer storm alert for 45 Thai provinces including Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a severe summer storm warning for 45 provinces, including Bangkok, as strong winds, thunderstorms, hail, and occasional lightning struck at 5am today, March 20. It is the seventh summer storm warning issued by the TMD this year. A moderate high-pressure system from China extended its reach over northern Thailand and the South China Sea,…
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Thailand enforces ban on maize imports from field burning regions
The Government of Thailand has given the green light to a ban on maize imports from regions notorious for field burning, a practice contributing to the annual smog crisis. This legislation is slated to come into force within the year. This action is part of a broader strategy to mitigate the recurring smog issue, which the government primarily attributes to…
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Thai police seize 6 million meth pills hidden in watermelon cargo
Thai police seized 6 million meth pills in Phitsanulok province, thanks to the sharp observation skills of officers at a checkpoint in Wat Bot district. During a press conference, high-ranking officials praised the local police for intercepting the drug shipment, cleverly concealed within a load of watermelons, before it could reach its destination in the old capital of Ayutthaya. On…
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Thai-Belgian singer fights illegal deepfake pornographic content
A renowned Thai-Belgian singer lodged a formal complaint yesterday at the Technology Crime Suppression Division of the police over deepfake pornographic content. Violette Wautier alleged her likeness was illicitly appropriated for the creation of deepfake pornographic content, which was subsequently circulated online. Accompanied by her legal representative, the 30 year old singer expressed her deep concern over the misuse of…
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Bangkok man arrested for running homemade firearms operation
Bangkok police successfully arrested a 39 year old man for illicitly manufacturing and distributing homemade firearms, a criminal operation that had been ongoing for over three years. The arrest took place yesterday, March 18, at a rental room in the Bang Khae district of Bangkok. The suspect, identified as Jakrapong or Rot, was caught with a significant cache of weapons…
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10 teenage boys allegedly gang rape 13 year old girl in Sukhothai
Ten teenage boys allegedly gang raped a 13 year old girl in a rice field hut in the northern province of Sukhothai. Five of the gang surrendered to police and confessed to the crime. A 56 year old woman, Naphatcha, filed a complaint with Ban Dan Lan Hoi Police Station after a group of boys sexually assaulted her 13 year…
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Fatal gas leak and death in Chao Phraya River truck crash
A 22-wheel trailer truck overturned on a bridge over the Chao Phraya River, resulting in a continuous gas leak and a fatality. The accident, which occurred today, March 19, required the use of a crane to recover the driver’s body, which was found severed in two parts. The devastating accident unfolded on Kanchanaphisek Road in the Sam Khok district of…
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Sawasdee Thailand: AXA unveils enhanced travel insurance for international visitors amid tourist boom
We are witnessing a remarkable resurgence of Thailand’s tourism industry in 2024. This revival is spearheaded by the influx of 34 million international visitors, achieving an 85% recovery to the pre-pandemic visitor levels of 2019. This revitalization significantly contributes to the expansion of the travel insurance sector, highlighted by the surge of ‘Sawasdee Thailand’, a travel insurance plan for international…
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Thai airlines gear up for Songkran splashdown with extra flights
Thai Airways International, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, and Thai Vietjet are gearing up for the Songkran festival, a major annual event in Thailand. With an expectation of a surge in travel demand, these airlines have announced the addition of extra flights and ticket discounts to accommodate this rise. Thai Airways International yesterday announced that it would supplement…
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Thai police seize 400,000 litres of smuggled oil in Gulf of Thailand
Coastal vessels carrying a whopping total of 400,000 litres of smuggled oil were apprehended in the Gulf of Thailand. The seizure took place off the coast of Sattahip district in the eastern province of Chon Buri. The interception, which occurred this morning, March 19, was a result of a joint patrol operation by the Marine and Crime Suppression Division police.…
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Fatal bus crash in northern Thailand kills two drivers, injures 44
A fatal bus crash involving a long-haul vehicle claimed the lives of its two drivers and injured 44 passengers early today in the Mueang district of Nakhon Ratchasima. The double-decker bus, run by Lotusphibul Tours, was travelling from Bung Kan to Bangkok when it collided with a steel support for a road sign. The accident occurred around 2am, today, March…
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Gold prices in Thailand surge with ornaments at 37,350 baht
Gold prices in Thailand saw a significant hike today, with the Gold Traders Association (GTA) reporting an increase that builds on the closing figures from the previous day. Today, March 19, gold ornaments were sold at 37,350 baht per baht-weight, a 150 baht rise from yesterday’s closing price. The latest data released by the association at 9.04am underlines a buoyant…
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Thailand braces for summer storms in 62 provinces
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its fifth summer storm warning, alerting residents across 62 provinces to brace for strong gales and hailstorms. Advisories have been communicated for people to avoid open spaces, and seek shelter away from large trees during the storm’s expected passage from today, March 19, until tomorrow. Kornrawee Sitthichivapak, TMD Director-General, announced that a moderate high-pressure area…
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Smokin’ setback: Forest fires force Bangkok Airways flight cancellations
Bangkok Airways had to cancel six flights at Mae Hong Son Airport this month due to smoke arising from widespread forest fires in the province. Bangkok Airways yesterday, March 18, cancelled flight PG 205, which runs from Bangkok to Lampang and then Mae Hong Son because the thick smoke affected the pilots’ visibility. Chiang Mai News reported that the flight…
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Index Living Mall targets low-income success defies mortgage setbacks
Index Living Mall (ILM), a Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)-listed company, has observed rapid growth in the low-income segment, despite soaring mortgage rejection rates. This trend led to a strategic shift in the company’s approach, expanding its product range to include non-branded furniture and budget-friendly products imported from China. Kridchanok Patamasatayasonthi, ILM Managing Director, highlighted the exceptional 100% growth within…
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Forest fires in northern Thailand increase dangerous PM2.5 levels
Forest fires in the northern provinces of Thailand have sparked an increase in atmospheric PM2.5 levels, leading to a stern warning from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The department stated yesterday that severe legal consequences will be faced by those who illicitly ignite fires in forest lands. Department chief Athapol Charoenshunsa unveiled that they have recently…
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Plans for new airport in northern Thailand set to take off
Plans are underway for a new airport construction in Phayao, a province in northern Thailand. The project, expected to cost approximately 2 billion baht, is part of a broader initiative to transform Phayao into a primary tourist destination. Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, along with his delegates, yesterday, March 18, scouted potential sites within the regions of tambon Don Si…
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THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2024 exceeds expectations, unveiling the future of HORECA
Surpassing all expectations, the future of HORECA emerged at THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2024. The innovations shaping the sector, and those with excellence set to elevate standards in hospitality, were showcased at the show. In emphasising innovation, sustainability, and excellence, THAIFEX – HOREC Asia thrilled participants last week, attracting higher than anticipated attendance. Co-organised by the Department of International Trade…
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Thai govt resists declaring Chiang Mai a disaster zone despite pollution
The Government of Thailand has chosen not to declare Chiang Mai a disaster zone despite escalating air pollution, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The decision was largely influenced by concerns that such a declaration could negatively impact the province’s tourism industry. The Bangkok-born PM voiced his government’s stance on platform X, explaining that declaring the province a disaster zone…
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Thai man shoots friend over fake gold necklace
A Thai man allegedly shot his friend at the weekend in a row over money and a gold necklace in the central province of Ayutthaya. The accused reportedly offered his friend a gold necklace as collateral for a money loan but the necklace turned out to be fake so the victim refused to loan his friend the money. An argument…
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Brew-haha: Thai man fined for boozing outside convenience store
A Thai man found himself in a legal quandary after consuming alcohol in front of a convenience store, which resulted in a fine of 1,000 baht by the police. The incident sparked a public inquiry into the legality of drinking in public spaces that are not government premises. The man in question took to social media to query the public…
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Cash and carry con: Middle Eastern man caught stealing from Ang Thong store (video)
A grocery store security camera in the central province of Ang Thong captured footage of a Middle Eastern man swindling money and stealing products from the shop. Similar incidents of theft involving individuals of Middle Eastern descent have been reported by other businesses in the province. Anchisa Butsunthorn, an employee of the grocery store, told Channel 7 that the theft…
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Thai police seize 10 million meth pills worth 300 million baht
A major drug trafficking operation was thwarted when Thai police in Thailand’s Region 1 arrested two suspects for smuggling an estimated 10 million methamphetamine pills, with a market value of around 300 million baht. The illicit haul was ingeniously concealed within a cement truck’s drum, highlighting the lengths to which drug syndicates will go to transport their contraband. The arrests…
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Rescue foundation appeals for help after theft of marble benches
Pattaya’s Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Foundation suffered a loss after a string of thefts left them without their marble benches. Wisut Thong-u, the head of the rescue team, made an official report to the Banglamung police and the media on the day following the incident. The theft happened late in the night, with the culprits managing to sneak into the…
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Thai residents tee off with golf protest over neglected road (video)
Residents of Phimai district in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima staged a protest to highlight 30 years of neglect by playing golf on the cracked and potholed road. Channel 7 reported today, March 18, that more than 20 residents gathered and played golf on a public road. Locals told the media that they felt compelled to take action due…
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One-eyed blind man arrested for attempting to rape 12 year old girl
Police arrested a one-eyed blind man for attempting to rape a 12 year old girl at an abandoned hut in Bang Bo district in the central province of Samut Prakarn province. Bangpleenoi Police Station officers rushed to meet the 12 year old victim and her parents in a rice field in the Bang Bo district of Samut Prakarn province near…
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