Hot News
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Sponsored Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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PM Prayut set to ride Bangkok’s first driverless skytrain
Thailand’s PM Prayut is set to ride Bangkok’s first driverless Skytrain as he will preside over the opening ceremony of the Green Line extension and the Gold Line monorail on Wednesday, December 16. The Skytrain extension will travel from Mo Chit station through Saphan Mai station and ends at Khu Kot. The Gold Line monorail, which features the driverless train,…
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New commemorative bank notes spark worries of a mix-up
100 baht bank notes commemorating the Royal Coronation Ceremony of 2019, have reportedly raised concerns of people mistaking them for the usual 1,000 baht bank notes, due to their similar colours. The new bank notes, sport a slightly more gold hue, instead of the regular red/brown colour used for 100 baht notes, and feature a vertical orientation. The notes, issued…
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Poll finds most Thais have no plans to travel during long weekends
Most Thai people plan to spend long weekends at home and have no travel plans, according to a Bangkok Poll survey. Nation Thailand reports that the survey carried out by Bangkok University shows that 54% of respondents have not made any travel plans for December. In terms of those who do plan to travel, Chiang Mai has proved the most…
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Pro-democracy activists to beef up security with professionally trained personnel
Protest leader Parit Chiwarak, aka, “Penguin”, says activists will no longer rely on volunteer security officers, but will instead bring in trained professionals. The Bangkok Post reports that Parit took to Facebook to announce that the People’s Movement has disbanded its team of volunteer security guards. He says the group will now seek professionally trained personnel, to ensure their safety…
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Air pollutant PM2.5 rises to unhealthy levels in Bangkok
Start wearing a N95 face mask when walking in Bangkok, the air pollutant PM2.5 is at unhealthy levels. 34 areas in the city and in surrounding provinces have levels of PM2.5 exceeding the safety standard, according to an air quality report by the Department of Pollution Control. The air pollutant PM2.5 is fine particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in…
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2 motorbike riders killed in Bangkok after woman allegedly falls asleep behind the wheel
A Bangkok woman allegedly fell asleep while driving near Benjakitti Park toward Asok and crashed into multiple vehicles, killing 2 motorbike riders and injuring 2 other people. Thong Lor police reviewed the woman’s dash camera footage from her Toyota Yaris and say the car hit a Honda Mio, then a Honda PCX and then another bike. Photos from the accident…
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Man arrested for allegedly running illegal e-cigarette business
A 26 year old man was arrested for allegedly running an illegal electronic cigarette business from his Bangkok condominium. The man, identified as Thanakrit, allegedly sold e-cigarette products through a Facebook page named “Jenny Vape.” Police say Thanakrit processed around 40 to 50 orders a day worth a total of 100,000 baht. At his condominium, police found 50 electronic smoking…
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Man arrested after police find 8 crocodiles in a Pathum Thani apartment
After getting a call about a man screaming and acting out at an apartment in Pathum Thani, a province just outside Bangkok, police entered the room and found 8 small crocodiles. The man had moved to the apartment just a month ago and trashed the place. Messages in Thai were written all over the walls. It also appeared that the…
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Thai Airways delays resumption of domestic flights due to local Covid-19 cases
Thai Airways flights to Phuket and Chiang Mai were supposed to start back up on Christmas day, but the recent Covid-19 local transmissions have led the airline to push the relaunch date back. Now the flights from Bangkok will take off on January 1, but if the virus continues to spread, the airline might decide to delay the flights indefinitely.…
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7 Yala police officers sentenced for bribery, sale of confiscated methamphetamines
7 police officers in the southern province of Yala have been sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment and fined 800,000 baht, for bribing a drug dealer and selling confiscated drugs to youths in the area. Yala provincial court sentenced the officers on Wednesday. They have been named in Thai media reports as, Jirasak Nooplod, Sitthapak Chandaeng, Siroj Jaikaewthi, Amphol Ngu-tul, Narongdet…
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Protesters gather at Bangkok’s United Nations, call to abolish lèse majesté law
Pro-democracy protesters gathered in front of the United Nations building in Bangkok, calling on the organisation to step in after many activists were recently arrested for allegedly violating Thailand’s controversial lèse majesté law. The law carries prison sentences from 3 to 15 years for insulting or defamatory statements about the Thai Monarchy. Activists say the law violates human rights. Today’s protest…
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Renowned social activist says PM should learn from Black May aftermath and resign
A leading academic and social critic says PM Prayut Chan-o-cha should take a leaf out former PM Suchinda Kraprayoon’s book and resign. Sulak Sivaraksa was referring to the aftermath of the bloody Black May crackdown on protesters, which led to Suchinda’s resignation. Sulak was speaking at a ceremony in Santiporn Park in Bangkok, where a monument to those who died…
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PM says fight against corruption to remain a top priority
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has promised improved anti-corruption measures, saying the fight against graft will remain on the agenda as Thailand’s level of transparency improves. He was speaking via video conference to mark International Anti-Corruption Day yesterday. The PM says all sectors and organisations should be thanked for working to tackle corruption and has called on Thai nationals to put society’s…
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Video of foreigner’s road rage in Pathum Thani gets mixed reaction from Thais
A video of a foreigner lashing out after a motorbike accident, yelling and hitting a Thai motorbike driver for pulling out in front of him and causing him to crash, has gotten a mixed reaction from Thais (you MUST watch it… below). The incident also caught media attention and Thairath made a post on Facebook pairing the clip from the…
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Prosecutors say they can’t indict Red Bull heir until police arrest him
Prosecutors in the never-ending saga that is the case against Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, are shifting the blame for a lack of prosecution and pointing the finger at police. Prayuth Petchkhun from the Office of the Attorney-General says prosecutors’ hands are tied until Boss is arrested and brought to trial. The Red Bull’s exact whereabouts are unknown, but he is almost…
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Bangkok nightclub raided, 150 people ordered to take a drug test
Police raided a nightclub in Bangkok’s Nana area at 3am this morning and ordered more than 150 people to take a drug test. The raid follows a report that the nightclub was selling baraku (shisha tobacco and hookah pipes are illegal in Thailand) as well as selling illegal drugs and operating without a permit. In the bathroom of Insanity Nightclub…
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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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