Hot News
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Thai Smile Bus to decommission gas vehicles, focuses on electric fleet
Thai Smile Bus (TSB) company announced its commitment to clean air and environmental sustainability with plans to decommission its entire fleet of 350 natural gas-fuelled vehicles (NGV) buses by the end of the month. Kulpornpath Wongmajarapinya, TSB Chief Executive Officer, revealed that over 95% of the NGV buses have been already phased out, including the latest batch of 58 buses…
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Bangkok City Pillar Shrine flooded with devotees with new year wishes
Believers swarmed the Bangkok City Pillar Shrine on the occasion of welcoming another new year, seeking celestial blessings for a triumphant start to 2024. The usually tranquil shrine, nestled on Lak Mung Road in the Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang sub-district of Phra Nakhon district, witnessed an unprecedented surge of faithful on New Year’s Eve, extending their spiritual quests well into…
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Fatal accident in Ayutthaya as tyre burst leads to van crash
A tragic incident struck a passenger van when one of its tyres unexpectedly burst, leading to the vehicle colliding with a tree. This unfortunate event resulted in one fatality and several injuries. The accident transpired at 5am today on Rojana Road, en route to Ayutthaya, near both a school and a PTT petrol station. The van had been commissioned by…
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Thailand and China to implement mutual visa-free travel from March
Beginning in March, Thailand and China will roll out a mutual visa-free agreement. This arrangement means that citizens from both countries will not need to apply for visas when travelling to the other country. The scheme was announced by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin after a Cabinet meeting, and it will take effect from the first day of March. The initiative…
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Thailand tourism soars with 28 million visitors in 2023, dominated by Malaysia and China
A surge in international tourism has been witnessed in Thailand, with the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, disclosing that over 28 million foreign tourists graced the country in 2023. This massive inflow of tourists contributed to an impressive income of over 1.2 trillion baht (US$35 billion). The leading countries, from where these tourists hailed, were Malaysia, with…
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Thailand mulls tax-free local alcohol to boost economy and tourism
A breaking development unfolded at 10.10am yesterday, January 2, with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin making a significant announcement after a Cabinet meeting centred on boosting international tourism and the national economy. The Thai government is contemplating overhauling the excise taxes and duties structures, with an eye on making Thai local alcoholic beverages tax-free and prompting a review of related…
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Horrifying domestic incident in Udon Thani village leaves woman with multiple wounds
A horrifying domestic incident unfolded yesterday in the village of Ban Na Chum Saeng, Udon Thani province of Thailand. The victim 53 year old Nongyao, was assaulted by her husband, 55 year old Boonruang, resulting in nine wounds on her neck and three on the back of her head. The incident was reported by Veeraphon Raksa Meruang, an admin of a…
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Weather alert: Thailand bracing for cold snap and heavy southern rainfall
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a cold weather warning across the country, with foggy conditions expected in the morning. The southern region continues to experience severe flooding due to heavy rainfall in eight provinces. The level of airborne dust particles remains significantly high due to weak winds, resulting in poor air ventilation. A high-pressure area or cold air mass covers…
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Thai woman and Lao man shot dead at Isaan petrol station
Police are searching for a ruthless gunman who shot dead a Thai woman and Lao man at a petrol station in the Isaan province of Nakhon Panom. Security cameras at the scene where the two victims worked were out of order. The deaths of the 33 year old Lao man, Prommajak Sisupha, and 50 year old Thai woman, Witchuda Sisuming,…
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Heartbreak heist: Burmese man loses phones and cash to Thai love scam
A Burmese man fell victim to a Thai woman in a romance scam, losing two phones and 20,000 baht in cash. He found himself waiting at a railway station in the southern province of Yala for three days, hoping for the woman’s return. The 32 year old victim, identified only as Gar, on December 31 asked Krong Pinang Police Station…
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Thailand’s new year road toll: 190 deaths and 1,574 injuries
Thailand witnessed 1,570 traffic mishaps from December 29 till yesterday, January 1, claiming 190 lives and injuring 1,574 individuals. Kanchanaburi province recorded the highest number of accidents and casualties during this period. The Department of Medical Services’ director-general, Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, revealed the unsettling new year road toll figures. He stated that Kanchanaburi had 57 traffic accidents, resulting in 56 injuries.…
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Thai EV drivers demand more charging stations for smoother travel
Electric vehicle (EV) owners are voicing concerns over a lack of charging stations, as they scramble to charge their vehicles before embarking on the Korat-Bang Pa-in Motorway. The public is calling on the government to seriously support the increasing use of EVs. As people steadily return to Bangkok and central and eastern provinces, those driving EVs must plan their journeys…
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Thai thief flees after stealing 14 iPhones from mall near Bangkok
The owner of a mobile phone shop in the Central Westville shopping mall in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok issued a warning on social media after a thief stole 14 iPhones. The suspect is still at large. The shop owner shared CCTV footage of the theft with the public and revealed that the heist occurred at his shop in Central Westville…
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Air Force guard gets 15-day jail for violent incident
A 15-day jail sentence has been ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) for a military guard, following a violent incident for consuming alcohol on government premises. Air Marshal Boonlert Andara, a spokesperson for the RTAF, revealed details of the case involving four soldiers from Squadron One of the Yothin Air Command who were excessively punished, contrary to the…
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Thailand and China agree on permanent visa-free travel from March
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin today announced a new permanent visa-free agreement between Thailand and China during a Cabinet meeting. This arrangement, set to start on March 1, will allow citizens from both nations to travel to each other’s countries without prior visa applications. This move marks an enhancement to Thailand’s existing visa-free policy for Chinese visitors, initially slated to run…
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Uncontrolled firework display endangers tourists at Phu Thap Boek
A distressing incident unfolded at Phu Thap Boek, a popular tourist attraction in Thailand, where tourists were endangered by stray fireworks. As the countdown to the new year progressed, a lack of control over the fireworks displays resulted in a chaotic spectacle, putting visitors’ safety at risk. A social media post from an affected tourist shed light on the alarming…
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Octogenarian love heist: 81 year old demands justice as 83 year old hubby swipes for secret sweetheart
An 81 year old Thai woman demanded legal action against her 83 year old husband who stole from her and local vendors so he could support his lover. Mueang Sing Buri Police Station officers, in the central province of Sing Buri, received a theft report from a 50 year old grocery store owner named Noppakhun Mathap on December 31. The…
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Thai government cuts local alcohol tax to zero to boost tourism and economy
The Thai government has announced a tax reduction on local alcohol as part of a wider review of laws hindering domestic tourism and economic growth. Revealed on January 2 at the Government House, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin stated that the restructuring of excise and various national taxes, including reducing domestic alcohol tax to 0%, formed part of their strategy to…
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Phuket welcomes 2024 with soaring tourist numbers and an 8 billion baht boost
Thailand’s famed island paradise of Phuket has just witnessed an impressive upswing in tourist numbers over the new year break. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office has confirmed that the island has welcomed a remarkable 265,000 visitors, contributing more than 8 billion baht to the local economy. The head of the TAT Phuket office, Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, provided these…
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Chiang Mai confrontation leads to seizure of 200,000 meth pills
A confrontation between soldiers and smugglers occurred in the Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai in the early hours of today. The incident led to a seizure of 200,000 methamphetamine pills that were abandoned during the conflict. The Pha Muang task force, while on patrol, encountered armed individuals near the natural border crossing from Myanmar in the Kaeng Tum village…
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Thailand weather alert: Cold snap and unhealthy air quality
The weather today, continues to be cold in northern Thailand with temperatures dropping to a low of 3 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Bangkok is experiencing elevated levels of particulate matter. The Thai Meteorological Department’s 24-hour forecast predicts high atmospheric pressure, or a mass of cold air, covering the upper region of Thailand. Concurrently, westerly winds at high altitudes are sweeping across…
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Heavy traffic in Phuket forces travellers to allocate extra time
Phuket International Airport is once again reminding those scheduled to fly out of the island to factor in additional travel time to reach the airport. This advice, which was initially issued for the new year period, has been reiterated due to persistent heavy traffic on the island’s main roads. This renewed call for travellers to allocate an extra two to…
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Thailand’s economy braces for slow growth
Thailand’s economy is set to experience slow growth in the coming years, with GDP forecasts for this year ranging between 3-3.4%. Several factors, including sluggish growth in exports, subdued Chinese demand for consumption and tourism, geopolitical risks, and a shortage of skilled workers, are expected to influence this. Despite these challenges, industry executives are optimistic and are devising strategies to…
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Bangkok reigns as the most visited city by international tourists in 2023
Bangkok has taken the top spot as the most visited city by international travellers in the previous year according to Travelness, a popular travel website. The ranking was based on the Global Destination Cities Index gathered by Mastercard, which considered the total number of foreign tourists who stayed overnight and their expenditure. In the previous year, The Thai capital Bangkok…
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Thai teenage boy accidentally shoots and kills friend near Bangkok
A 15 year old Thai boy confessed to accidentally shooting and killing his 14 year old friend while attempting to attack a rival group of teenagers on a road in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok. The 14 year old boy was shot in the back of the head while riding a motorcycle with two friends on Liap Khlong Song Road…
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Thai hospitality groups eye global expansion amid tourism recovery
The global tourism recovery has spurred Thai hospitality groups to broaden their horizons beyond domestic borders, tapping into the robust demand in numerous destinations. In the previous year, many hotel management companies reported substantial profits, with some even witnessing their average daily room rates surpass 2019 levels, particularly in prime locations. Minor International (MINT), the largest hotel chain in Thailand,…
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Fatal stabbing in Ban Pong escalates from heated argument
A fatal stabbing occurred in front of a convenience store in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi, following a heated argument between two women. The incident, which took place at 10.45pm yesterday, January 1, ended tragically as a man attempting to intervene was fatally stabbed. The crime scene was attended by Ban Pong Police Station Deputy Investigator Suksiri Chansacha along with Ban Pong…
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Gold prices predicted to hit record highs by 2024, says MTS Gold
MTS Gold, a local trader, predicted that gold prices are likely to skyrocket to new record levels of over 79,005 baht (US$2,300) per ounce and beyond 40,000 baht (US$1,164) per baht weight by this year. This forecast comes amidst anticipated adverse global economic situations. Kritcharat Hiranyasiri, the President of MTS Gold, explained that the anticipated decline in interest rates and…
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Thai prime minister ready for key 2024 fiscal year budget bill debate
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confidently announced yesterday his readiness to participate in the upcoming debate on the 2024 fiscal year budget bill. The discussions are set to kick off tomorrow, January 3. PM Srettha revealed that a series of discussions with coalition partners in preparation for the debate had taken place before the new year holiday. The primary aim,…
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Thai investors anticipate surge in depositary receipts popularity in 2024
Executives anticipate a surge in the popularity of depositary receipts (DRs) among Thai investors this year, with the investment tool offering a gateway to high-profile foreign stocks, risk diversification, and potential high returns. As they have become more prevalent on the Thai bourse, investors held DRs worth around 16 billion baht (US$466 million) on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)…
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