Hot News
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Malaysian arrested for rape, theft of 1.2 million baht from Thai ex-wife
Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police arrested a Malaysian man at his Bangkok condominium for raping his Thai ex-wife, stealing 1.2 million baht from her, and stabbing her dog at a house in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat last year. The 53 year old Malaysian man, Lee Woon Earnx, was subject to an arrest warrant following his break-in at…
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Man exploits New York hotel tenancy laws leading to fraud charges
A man successfully exploited New York’s housing laws to live rent-free in the renowned New Yorker Hotel for five years, even collecting rent from other tenants, before being charged with fraud for his boundless greed. Claiming to be the owner, he was eventually arrested and accused of filing false property records. A 48 year old man expressed astonishment when police,…
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Prime Minister of Thailand proposes pollution mitigation fund
The Prime Minister of Thailand proposed the establishment of a pollution mitigation fund with the United Nations (UN). The proposal by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was made during a recent meeting with Amina J Mohammed, the UN’s Deputy Secretary-General, centred around the discussion of sustainable development. Post Tuesday’s Cabinet briefing, the 62 year old prime minister revealed how he had…
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Thailand sets new meth possession limit to curb drug trade
Thailand Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew expressed confidence in a recently enacted limit on methamphetamine possession, aimed at crippling the operations of small-scale drug dealers. “I insist the law will be effective right after it’s issued.” The freshly minted regulation declares that an individual may possess no more than five methamphetamine pills without attracting criminal charges. Instead of prosecution, such individuals…
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Coconut jelly waste transformed into billion-baht bonanza
Professor Hathaikarn Manuspiya and her team from Chulalongkorn University have turned coconut jelly waste into a goldmine of valuable food ingredients worth billions. In a bid to tackle food waste and revolutionise the circular economy, the team’s creation, dubbed Cello-Gum, promises to reshape industries and economies alike. Professor Hathaikarn, the mastermind behind the ingenious creation, hails from Chulalongkorn University’s Petroleum…
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OAG ready to seize 597 million baht from Chinese gang’s assets
In a significant move against financial crime, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is primed to seize assets amounting to nearly 596.58 million baht (US$16 million), previously impounded from a prominent Chinese gang on December 7, as stated by Wirun Chanthananan, the director-general of the OAG’s Department of Special Litigation (DoSL). The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has a timeframe…
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Thai widow swindled in romance scam by fake college director
A 52 year old woman from Udon Thani has been swindled out of nearly 50,000 baht (US$1,386) in a romance scam by a man who claimed to be the director of a well-known vocational college. The man, who made first contact over Facebook, charmed and deceived her into a romantic entanglement before borrowing money and vanishing without a trace. The…
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Thai man murders wife, hides her body in rubber plantation
A Thai man in Chachoengsao admitted to the brutal murder of his wife after her remains were found in a rubber plantation. Initially reporting her missing, the 33 year old man named Sirichai later disclosed the violent altercation that led to him taking 27 year old Chollada’s life yesterday, February 20, and attempting to conceal the crime by burning her…
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High airfares dampen Songkran holiday spirit
Despite the extended Songkran holiday, a surge in outbound trips is not anticipated, mainly due to high airfares and deflation risk concerns. This perspective comes from travel agents who predict that the 21-day Water Festival campaign is more likely to entice foreign tourists than the local market. Kriangphon Piyaekchai, the vice president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, explained that…
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Thai baht’s future forecast: Dollar domination looms on the horizon
Predictions by Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research) indicate a potential decline in the baht to 37 against the US dollar in the coming year. This anticipated depreciation is linked to a combination of a faltering Thai economy and a delay in American interest rate reductions, thereby placing the Thai currency under considerable strain. Kanjana Chockpisansin, K-Research’s head of banking and financial…
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AI and social media search optimisation to shape trends
The forthcoming year, 2024, is poised to be an exhilarating time for both consumers and marketers, as brands embrace and exploit artificial intelligence (AI) on a larger scale, predicts Bhidak Indraduta, the managing director of Mindshare Thailand, a leading media agency. A surge in social media search optimisation, privacy marketing, and responsible AI use are tipped as the key trends…
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Burned human remains found linked to missing Prachinburi woman
Authorities in Prachinburi province are conducting a meticulous investigation after the discovery of human skeletal remains that had been burned in a rubber plantation. Nearby, a wrist with a bracelet resembling gold was found, which has led to speculation about the identity of the deceased. The coordinates of the last known location of Chollada Muthuras, commonly known as Nunn, aged…
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Dutchman fined 14,000 baht by AI for scratching head whilst driving
A routine act of scratching his head while driving led to an unexpected fine for a Dutchman after an AI-powered traffic camera misinterpreted the gesture for using a mobile phone. Tim Hansen received a fine of 380 euros (14,000 baht) last November, sparking a debate on the efficacy of AI in law enforcement. Hansen was stunned to receive a traffic fine…
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Thai soldier caught selling explicit videos of ex-girlfriend online
A Thai woman sought help from non-profit organization Be One after police did not file charges against a soldier who sold explicit videos of her online. The 19 year old victim, identified only as A, told the Be One organisation that her ex-boyfriend, Sergeant Apisit, secretly recorded videos during sexual activities and sold them online. She broke up with him…
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Thailand extends visas to Kazakh tourists for six more months
Kazakh tourists will continue to enjoy a visa-free scheme in Thailand for an additional six months, following an extension by the Thai Cabinet. The exemption, applicable to those carrying Kazakhstani passports or equivalent documents, is now due to run from March 1 to August 31, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. “As per our records, each Kazakh tourist spends roughly…
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DSI offer 2 million baht reward for info on historic murder case
Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is offering a reward of 2 million baht in a bid to encourage anyone with any potentially helpful information to aid in the resolution of a long-standing murder case. The murder victim, Tomoko Kawashita from Japan, was only 27 years old when her life was tragically cut short in Sukhothai Thain 17 years ago.…
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Man nabbed for illegal otter trade in wildlife bust in Chachoengsao
Authorities in Chachoengsao province apprehended a 26 year old suspect for harbouring protected wildlife, including otters, in his possession. During the raid in Plaeng Yao district, law enforcement officers seized not only the carcasses of three soft-shelled turtles but also those of two pangolins from the suspect’s residence. The identity of the individual, however, remains undisclosed. The suspect is set…
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Thai man loses 10,000 baht after sex with woman met on roadside
A Thai man accused a woman he met on the roadside of stealing 10,000 baht in cash from him after they had sex. The woman insisted the money was her hard-earned cash. Several motorists on the Friendship Highway in the Isaan province of Udon Thani filed a complaint with Nonsung Police Station stating that they witnessed a Thai man chasing…
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Algerian tourist nabs 20,000 baht amulet from Bangkok gold shop
An Algerian tourist has been apprehended and charged with the theft of a valuable amulet worth around 20,000 baht from a prestigious gold shop nestled in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district. The Algerian tourist was identified as Garou by Police Superintendent Police Colonel Santi Kornkasem of the Children and Women Protection Sub-Division. He was nabbed on Monday following an intense investigation triggered…
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PTTGC expands recycling operations focusing on opaque plastic containers
Thailand’s foremost petrochemical producer by capacity, PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC), is broadening its recycling operations with a focus on opaque plastic containers, primarily bottles. This endeavour is part of the company’s newly introduced campaign aimed at fostering eco-friendly habits among the youth. The campaign constitutes the company’s second environmental initiative following its venture into recycling waste polyethene terephthalate (PET)…
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Hua Hin: Elephant found dead in stream, intense conflict suspected
The lifeless body of an elephant was discovered in the waters in Huai Sat Yai, Hua Hin. The dead elephant is believed to have succumbed to brutal injuries inflicted during a fierce clash. Deputy Inspector Police Lieutenant Colonel Somphot Prayangam, stationed at Nong Plub Police Station in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, received a distress call from 51 year old…
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Phuket reels under heatwave with mercury soaring above 35°C
Phuket, an idyllic island in Thailand, regularly known for its tropical bliss, has been in the throes of an intense heatwave. Mercury levels have consistently soared above 35°C, a significant deviation from the 30-year average, causing officials to warn residents and visitors alike. They have been advised to stay vigilant against signs of heatstroke, a life-threatening condition when the body…
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PM Srettha inspects ’30-Baht Plus’ healthcare policy
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin spearheaded the inspection of the Phra Ajarn Mun Bhuridatto Hospital’s construction progress and closely monitored the implementation of the 30-baht Plus healthcare policy in Sakon Nakhon Province. The Phra Ajarn Mun Bhuridatto Hospital stands as a beacon of hope, catering to a vast population, including residents from neighbouring provinces. The relentless pursuit of excellence has driven…
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Minister orders CAAT to cut Bangkok-Phuket flight prices for Songkran
Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to negotiate with airlines to explore ways to lower airfares following complaints from passengers about the high cost of flights from Bangkok to Phuket. He expressed confidence that reduced prices could be in effect in time for the Songkran travel period. Today, at 9.30am, Suriya Juangroongruangkit addressed the…
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Burned skeleton in Khon Kaen landfill confirmed as female
Police confirmed that the burned skeleton found in the landfill in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen was a female under 35 years old. A 66 year old Thai woman came to the police station believing that the skeleton belonged to her missing granddaughter. A water delivery driver discovered the burned skeleton at a dump site in the Waeng Noi…
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Thai export growth projected at 2-3% amid global economic recovery
The UTCC (University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce) predicted a revival in exports, projecting a growth of 2-3% for the year, which equates to a value between US$290-293 billion. This shows a significant improvement from the 1% contraction experienced in the previous year. The UTCC’s president, Thanavath Phonvichai, attributed this predicted resurgence largely to the global economic recovery and…
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Thailand’s thriving Muslim tourism boom with mosque tour
In a bid to elevate Thailand to the zenith of the Global Muslim Tourism Index (GMTI), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) teamed up with key figures like Imam Mathanarat Vacharapisut from the Haroon Mosque and the Islamic Committee of Bangkok to revolutionise cultural tourism for Muslim travellers. Imam Mathanarat Vacharapisut recently joined forces with Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of TAT, in…
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Thailand PM calls for cut in interest rates amid economic crisis
The Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, urgently called upon the Bank of Thailand (BoT) to organise an unscheduled meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The objective of this meeting is to consider a cut in interest rates, as recent data suggests that the nation’s economy is in crisis. PM Srettha’s plea for this urgent meeting…
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Update: NASA and South Korea join forces to crack down on air pollution
South Korea’s National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) and NASA have embarked on a mission to unravel the secrets of winter air pollution across Asia, including Thailand. Announced by the South Korean Ministry of Environment, this joint research initiative kicked off in South Korea and will span through Malaysia and Thailand, culminating on March 25. This year’s study, conducted from…
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Myanmar conflict may drive surge of workers to Thailand
The ongoing conflict in Myanmar is predicted to drive its citizens towards Thailand in search of work, according to the Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai). Following the 2021 military coup and the government’s urgent need to bolster its forces through conscription, Myanmar residents eager to avoid the draft may seek refuge in Thailand, potentially entering the labour…
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