Hot News
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Sponsored Siam Paragon's 'The Luxury Watch Destination' presents exclusive showcase of luxury timepieces
Siam Paragon reaffirms its positioning as the "Luxury Watch Destination," Thailand’s epicentre of over 43 prestigious watch brands. This underscores the confidence of leading watch houses and Siam Paragon’s commitment to delivering world-class and unparalleled experiences to the customers continuously....
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UPDATE: 5 men arrested for allegedly abducting foreigner in Bangkok
UPDATE: 5 men were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a 43 year old Chinese businessman, forcing him into a white Mitsubishi Champ sedan on Sukhumvit 39 in Bangkok’s Phrom Phong area. The abduction was allegedly over a lawsuit filed by the businessman, who had invested in several spas, against one of the suspects who is a construction contractor. Apparently, the contractor…
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Thai senators warn United States politicians not to interfere with Thai affairs
Thai senators are warning United States senators not to meddle in Thai politics and affairs. The warning comes at a time of ongoing pro-democracy protests with calls for monarchy reformation, a taboo and controversial subject in Thai society. They say interference in Thai affairs will hurt Thai-US relations which date back around 200 years. The warning follows a resolution introduced…
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Driver killed after car hits barrier, plummets off Bang Na Expressway
A 30 year old man has died, after the car he was driving crashed into a barrier and then plunged off an expressway, landing on its roof on the road below. Nation Thailand reports that the incident occurred on the Burapha Withi (Bang Na) Expressway, in the central province of Samut Prakan, just after midnight last night. The man has…
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775 million baht earmarked for revival of Pattaya tourism industry
Officials in Pattaya are planning 2 development schemes, at a combined cost of 775 million baht, with hopes of reviving the city’s decimated tourism industry. The proposals have been named Neo Koh Lan and Old Town Na Klua, and will consist of 32 projects, which will be developed over the next 3 financial years. The Bangkok Post reports that funds…
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Thai government urged to support foreign property buyers with additional incentives
The Thailand Development Research Institute is calling on the government to support foreign property investors, by allowing them to bid for residential units. Nonarit Bisonyabut from the TDRI says the measure would be aimed at off-setting a shortfall in local demand. With foreigners usually having higher purchasing power than Thais, he adds that the number of units offered for bidding…
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Shaken but not stirred – Miss Thailand contestants get an unplanned swim | VIDEO
Luckily no one was hurt but these Miss Thailand beauty queens ended up with an unscheduled dunking whilst parading for the cameras in Chiang Mai. A video captures the face-masked girls, all dressed up in the day’s casual uniform, posing for the cameras and the the moment a bridge snaps, plunging the 30 smiling, but bemused, Miss Thailand contestants into…
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All countries welcome – Thailand open for business
Come one, come all. In response to the dismally low take-up of the Special Tourist Visa, the Thai government has U-turned on a stipulation that only those from “low-risk” countries can apply. The visa is now available to all, regardless of the Covid-19 situation in their country. However, all arrivals are still subject to mandatory 14 day quarantine – which…
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Thailand News Today | Cannabis tourism, Covid in Chiang Rai, PM visits south | Dec 8
Passengers from Chiang Rai-Bangkok flights considered “low-risk” The passengers from 4 flights between Chiang Rai and Bangkok are considered at “low risk” of contracting Covid-19, according to a statement from the Public Health Ministry. But the ministry, through an abundance of caution, is asking all passengers to self-monitor for the next 14 days, and report any symptoms such as fever,…
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Man gets life sentence for fatal shooting of ex-wife at Bangkok beauty clinic
A 28 year old man, who fatally shot his ex-wife and injured her colleague at their place of work, has been sentenced to life in prison. Danusorn Numcharoen was originally sentenced to death at yesterday’s hearing in Bangkok’s Criminal Court, with the sentence commuted to life imprisonment because he confessed. He must also pay compensation to the victim’s family, set…
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Teenager allegedly stabs father to death after being told to do his homework
A 15 year old allegedly stabbed his father to death after being scolded for not doing his homework and playing too much on his smartphone. Police in the Ratchaburi’s Ban Pong district are investigating and have not yet pressed charges. The teenager, a Mathayom 3 student, was playing on his smartphone when his father said he should be doing his…
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Police to question Thanathorn’s brother over role in 2019 bribery case
The younger brother of politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has been summonsed to face police over his role in a bribery case in which 2 people were jailed last year. In November 2019, Prasit Aphaiphoncharn, from the Crown Property Bureau, and Surakit Tangwithoowanich, were both sentenced to 3 years in jail for taking bribes from Sakulthorn Juangroongruangkit and forging documents as part…
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Tourism and health officials plan to launch “medical cannabis tour” next year
A tour of medical cannabis at plantations across Thailand is in the works. While the tours could potentially be open to tourists, officials say the tour is for educational purposes and will first be for those interested in starting grow operations. The Public Health Ministry along with the Tourism and Sports Ministry plan to launch the tour next year. It…
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New forum to tackle Mekong challenges
For nearly 20 years, activists have called against the development of hydro-dams and water projects along the Mekong River. But now, the campaign is taking the next step with plans to focus on taking action at the policy level. It took 2 decades, but activists have now launched the “Mekong People’s Forum.” 200 people attended the forum including local villagers, conservationists,…
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More trees for Bangkok, city’s arborist says a “green future” will take time
More trees will be planted throughout Bangkok as part of the city’s master plan “Green Bangkok 2030.” While in western countries, eco-friendly master plans are driven by science, Thailand has spiritual influences that also come into play. Photos and news of big trees being cut down are often shared on social media. Some people in Thailand believe spirits inhabit some…
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Man allegedly steals excavating tractor, smashes into police pickup truck
A man was arrested after he allegedly stole a backhoe excavating tractor and smashed the digging bucket into a motorcycle and a police pickup truck. 42 year old Rungniran Songsan was charged with theft and criminal damage. Police were called to the scene after Rungniran allegedly took off on the backhoe in a rural road in Pathum Thani, north of…
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Southern Thailand flood death toll: 24
At least 24 people have died due to flash floods in Southern Thailand following several days of heavy rain. 19 of the victims were in Nakhon Si Thammarat which was hit the hardest. Today, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported 3 deaths from flooding in the southern region. A woman drowned in Surat Thani’s Phrasaeng district and 2…
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Samut Sakhon karaoke bar raided for alleged child prostitution operation
Police arrested a karaoke bar and restaurant owner for alleged human trafficking and sexual exploitation of teenage girls. After receiving a tip about an alleged child prostitution and trafficking operation, police raided the karaoke bar in Samut Sakhon, southwest of Bangkok, and found a 16 year old girl who officers believe is a victim. She is now at a temporary…
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Drugged up slaughterhouse worker kills 2, injures 5 at random
A drugged up slaughterhouse worker has been accused of killing 2 girls and injuring 5 others while going on a random knife attack on his motorbike in Udon Thani. The man, 31 year old Itthiphol Imphueng, from Udon Thani’s Nong Wua So district, worked in Muang district. His first victim was 16 year old Anchaya Boonyingyuan, who died at Udon…
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The 2020 Supersports Laguna Phuket Marathon has been run and won, despite all the challenges
Signs of life, combined with a determined event organiser and keen participants. And so the Laguna Phuket Marathon was staged in Phuket this weekend, despite all the challenges. An 8,000 strong field turned out to Run Paradise in Phuket this weekend at the 15th Supersports Laguna Phuket Marathon. Held on December 5 and 6, the ‘new normal’ edition combined stringent…
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China carries out first-ever lunar orbit docking, now heading back to Earth
China has carried out its first-ever lunar orbit docking today with a probe carrying lunar samples collected over the past week during a 48 hour stay on the Moon. The mission is named Chang’e-5, after a mythical Chinese Moon goddess, and is bringing back the first lunar soil samples in over 40 years. The capsule carrying moon rocks and soil…
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US senators introduce resolution in support of Thailand’s pro-democracy movement
The US Senate has called on the Thai government to end violence against political activists, as it introduced a resolution in support of the pro-democracy movement. 9 members of Congress introduced the resolution, including Thai-American senator Tammy Duckworth, who has previously served in the US military. “As a Thai-American who fought to protect the right to peacefully protest here at…
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Greenpeace Thailand names 5 local companies “top plastic polluters”
After collecting thousands of pieces of plastic waste, Greenpeace Thailand found that the majority of the trash comes from 5 Thai Companies, naming them the “top plastic polluters.” Volunteers from Greenpeace collected plastic waste from Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai and Wonnapa beach in Chon Buri. Out of the 13,001 pieces of plastic was collected, they say most of the…
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5 shot and in critical condition after gang clash in Phitsanulok
5 people were shot and severely wounded in an alleged turf war between 2 rival gangs in Phitsanulok’s Wang Thong district. Police say gang members attacked another gang because they were on “their territory.” Police say the alleged attackers threw ping pong bombs and fired shots at the rival gang members. The victims were reportedly found with several bullet wounds and…
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What has the pandemic taught hotels about luxury. Is ‘less’ more?
by Anthony Lark “Let’s say goodbye to all that stale pretence and manufactured pomp” Until the collective nightmare that was 2020, many of the so-called high-end hotels had a reputation for trying to convince guests to pay for often dingy guestrooms lacking any real views inside an otherwise ornate structure with a storied, celebrated past, where the first impression was…
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Thai Constitutional Court official files contempt charge against protest leader
A student protest leader is facing charges of contempt after he made statements on Facebook critical of the Constitutional Court ruling to acquit PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, allowing the Thai prime minister and former Army General to continue occupying a military-owned residence. Critics have argued that allowing Prayut, a retired general, to say at the Army residence is a conflict of…
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Schoolgirl bursts into tears meeting Panasaya, fearing for activist’s safety
Protest leader Panusaya Sitthijirawattanakul, aka, “Rung”, has been pictured consoling a young schoolgirl who broke down in tears, concerned about the activist’s safety. Rattapol Kaiipah Promsuwan, who witnessed the exchange, has shared a photo of the moment on social media. She says the girl, who is in Grade 6 (making her around 11 years old), had gone to the organisers’…
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Severe flooding in southern Thailand kills 7
Heavy flooding in the south of the country has killed 7 people, while many others have been injured. The worst of the flooding, which has affected 9 provinces, is in Nakhon Si Thammarat, which has had over 6 days of persistent rain. In total, the floods have affected over 261,000 households and tens of thousands of people, including a 14-month-old…
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K-Pop fan-funded billboards move from BTS and MRT stations to tuks tuks to support protesters
K-Pop fan-funded “happy birthday” billboards are moving from mass transit stations in Bangkok to tuk tuks after the BTS Skytrain and MRT Bangkok Metro temporarily shut down services during pro-democracy protests last month. The world’s K-Pop fans are weaponising their huge numbers and online ‘power’ by supporting Thailand’s pro-democracy movement. In 3 days last month, Thai and overseas K-pop fans…
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4 years until tourism industry gets back to pre-pandemic levels – Finance Ministry
It could take 4 years for Thailand’s tourism industry to recover after being battered by the lack of travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, the government’s reaction and the economic fallout, according to the Finance Ministry. While local and international experts project Thailand’s economy will continue to recover over the next 2 years, the tourism industry, which directly contributes 12-15%…
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Thai couple arrested in Bangkok for allegedly trafficking 1 million methamphetamine pills
Police in Bangkok arrested a Thai couple for allegedly smuggling 1 million methamphetamine pills. Police say 28 year old Weerasak Jedhun and 29 year old Jutharat Daengnoi planned to deliver and distribute the drugs to clients in the South. The arrests stem from an earlier bust in Nonthaburi, a suburb outside Bangkok, where police seized 1 million methamphetamine pills and…
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