Bangkok News
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Sponsored Top 10 reasons for expats to get a comprehensive health insurance in Thailand
Moving to Thailand offers a prospect full of excitement and adventure, but in the same vein, if any injuries were to occur (and god forbid it does), the local healthcare system can be confusing at first glance for many expats...
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70% of Thais clueless about upcoming senatorial elections
A new poll revealed that nearly a quarter of Thais are unaware of the upcoming senatorial elections, while a whopping 70% do not understand how the new election system works. This startling revelation comes as the nation prepares for elections from June 9 to 26, where thousands of candidates will vote among themselves to elect 200 senators. The poll, conducted…
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Thai minister reveals groundbreaking health initiative with China
Thailand’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation unveiled a pioneering research programme in collaboration with China’s leading genome research powerhouse, BGI. This initiative, aimed at transforming healthcare in Thailand, promises to elevate the quality of life for locals while slashing healthcare costs tied to late-stage diseases. The ambitious project, spearheaded by Thailand’s National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology…
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Royal splendour: King and Queen lead Visakha Bucha ceremony
Their Majesties, King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida graced the Temple of the Emerald Buddha within Bangkok’s Grand Palace complex yesterday, presiding over a solemn religious ceremony to mark Visakha Bucha Day. A group of venerable senior monks orchestrated the spiritual proceedings, infusing the ancient halls with sacred reverence. As twilight descended, the king took the lead in the wian…
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MRT clarifies water leakage caused by clogged A/C system
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) today clarified that the water leakage on a Bangkok MRT train captured on camera was due to a clogged air-conditioning system. The incident occurred at 6.35pm on Tuesday, May 21, on a Blue Line train travelling from Bang Sue station to Tao Poon station, which saw water flowing from the A/C vents, causing concern…
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Pichit exit rocks premiership boat amid legal storm
Pichit Chuenban, the Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, has resigned after a legal complaint from senators that threatens the premiership of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Pichit’s resignation follows a bombshell petition from 40 senators, urging the Constitutional Court to scrutinise the qualifications of both Prime Minister Srettha and Minister Pichit, alleging they fall short under Article 160 of…
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Body found beneath electricity control panel on Bangkok footpath
A Thai road sweeper discovered the body of an unidentified man beneath an electricity control panel on a footpath along Romklao Road in Bangkok after noticing an unpleasant odour while working. Road sweeper Panadda Ngokngam reported the dead body to traffic police officers at a nearby police booth around 6.40am today, May 23. The incident was then reported to Min…
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Wet & wild: Commuters caught in unexpected MRT downpour (video)
Bangkok commuters experienced a shocking surprise on Tuesday evening when their usual MRT Blue Line ride turned into an unexpected indoor waterfall. Passengers on the MRT Blue Line, travelling from Tao Poon to Tha Phra, were caught off guard around 6.35pm when water began pouring from the ceiling. The chaos unfolded shortly after the train left Bang Sue station, turning…
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Bangkok Land to transform Mueang Thong Thani into smart city
Bangkok Land, a Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)-listed company, is poised to transform Mueang Thong Thani into a smart city district. This ambitious plan includes the establishment of a new seafood and fruit centre aimed at providing affordable goods to attract tourists to Nonthaburi. The development is strategically timed to coincide with the launch of the Pink Line monorail service,…
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TAT’s grand plan to attract 39 million tourists to Thailand
The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) called for a major budget increase to boost tourism revenue to a staggering 3.5 trillion baht in 2024, attracting more tourists. The Thai government is aiming high, with an ambitious goal to lure no fewer than 39 million international tourists to its stunning shores throughout 2024. To achieve this, the TAT is pushing for…
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Singapore Airlines emergency landing claims one life, injures 30
One passenger was tragically killed and 30 others were injured as a Singapore Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok due to the severe weather. Thai PBS reported that the air traffic control team at Suvarnabhumi Airport received an emergency signal, squawk code 7700, from the Boeing 777-300ER at 4 pm today, May 21. The…
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Aftermath of Netiporn’s death: Activists demand judicial reform
In a dramatic showdown, Thalu Wang activists gathered outside Government House in Bangkok demanding judicial reforms following the tragic death of Netiporn Sanesangkhom. The activist’s untimely demise, attributed to medical negligence while in pretrial detention, has ignited a fervent call for change. Fewer than 20 activists converged at the Chamai Maru Chet bridge entrance, shortly after ministers concluded their weekly…
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Bangkok’s new food paradise: Mitsukoshi supermarket
Bangkok is set to experience a gastronomic transformation as One Bangkok, the city’s fully integrated smart and sustainable district, partners with Japan’s largest department store group, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Co., Ltd. This strategic collaboration aims to redefine Bangkok’s food and grocery shopping experience. One Bangkok, a joint venture between TCC Assets (Thailand) and Frasers Property Holdings (Thailand) Company Limited, has…
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Corrupt BMA official busted: Bangkok bribery scandal exposed
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) launched a disciplinary committee to investigate a shocking corruption case involving a high-ranking Public Works Department official. Anti-corruption police and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission made headlines yesterday with the arrest of Peempong, a key suspect in a major bribery scandal. Three other suspects were apprehended in coordinated raids. During the dramatic raid on Peempong’s…
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Rent rage: Thai woman fries trio with hot oil over 8,000 baht
A Thai woman attacked two women and a two year old girl with scalding hot cooking oil over an unpaid rent bill of 8,000 baht. The victims sought help from the Paveena Foundation for Women and Children with their medical treatment and to ensure the attacker faced justice. The victims revealed that the attacker tried to convince them to drop…
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Thailand and Australia join forces to tackle human trafficking
To tackle the scourge of human trafficking, the Thai government, in partnership with Australia, has unveiled a groundbreaking training facility in Bangkok. The Counter Trafficking in Persons Center of Excellence (CTIP-COE) officially opened on May 17 by Minister of Justice Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong and Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Angela Macdonald. This centre represents a significant stride in the ASEAN-Australia…
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Scandal rocks PM Srettha: Ethics violation accusation
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin remains resolute amid an ethics complaint that could see him suspended. While on an official visit to Italy on Sunday, PM Srettha addressed the brewing controversy. A group of acting senators filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court, accusing him of violating the code of ethics in his recent appointment of PM’s Office Minister Pichit…
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Buddhist tradition meets eco-friendly innovation
As Visakha Bucha Day approaches tomorrow, Buddhists worldwide prepare to honour the birth, enlightenment, and attainment of complete Nibbana of the Lord Buddha according to tradition. This sacred day, steeped in tradition, sees millions making merit, observing religious precepts, and performing the evening ceremony of wian tian, where devotees walk around temple chapels in a candlelit procession, commemorating the Buddha’s…
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Bangkok holds five-day Pride fest to boost LGBTQ+ tourism
Thailand is gearing up to host a five-day Pride event in Bangkok, aiming to establish itself as Asia’s rainbow capital. This event, organised by the government alongside private and civil sectors, will feature a series of activities running from May 31 to June 4 under the theme Celebration of Love. Ann Chumaporn, founder and president of the Bangkok Pride Parade,…
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900-year-old statue returned to Thailand
A 900-year-old statue, smuggled out of Thailand by a notorious art dealer in 1975, has finally been returned to its homeland after spending over three decades in the possession of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The 129-centimetre bronze statue, known as the Golden Boy and believed to depict the Hindu god Shiva, along with a smaller statue…
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Thai man with mental health issues leaps from Bangkok BTS station
A Thai man with mental health issues jumped to his death off the Royal Thai Air Force Museum BTS Station in Bangkok on Saturday. Saimai Police Station officers investigated the death of the 25 year old Thai man, Nithi Thipthep, on Pahonyothin Road in the Bang Khen district of Bangkok. Nithi was wearing a dark blue T-shirt, black shorts, and…
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House committee debates amnesty for lese majeste law violators
A special House committee is urging the government to decide whether to include those who violated the lese majeste law in an amnesty bill following the death of Netiporn Saneysangkhom. Nikorn Jamnong, chairman of the House sub-committee focusing on politically motivated cases, announced that the meeting addressed several key topics. Among these was the demand from Thalufah, a political group,…
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Bangkok beats the heat: A top summer destination
Bangkok clinched a spot among the world’s top 10 summer destinations, according to the latest Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI) report. The MEI’s Travel Trends 2024: Breaking Boundaries reveals that Bangkok is set to see a surge in tourist demand over the next three months, ranking 7th globally. David Mann, Mastercard’s chief economist for Asia Pacific (APAC), highlighted that Thailand’s tourism…
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E-cigarette drug ring busted in Bangkok: Meth-infused vapes
Thai authorities announced the capture of an international drug ring after a dramatic raid on several Bangkok condominiums on Thursday. The Thai Special Service Division (SSD) and other agencies revealed their findings in a high-profile press conference. According to the SSD, the operation targeted a criminal network distributing modified e-cigarettes laced with methamphetamine and other dangerous substances. The investigation began…
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Black May deceased protesters honoured: Demand for democracy
In a poignant gathering to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the Black May protests, politicians, academics, activists, and relatives of those killed in the 1992 crackdown honoured the fallen democracy heroes. The Black May 1992 Memorial on Ratchadamnoen Avenue was the site of a solemn ceremony and merit-making rituals for the deceased yesterday. Officially, 44 lives were lost, though the…
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FIFA’s Infantino takes to the pitch with legends in Bangkok (video)
In a prelude to the 74th FIFA Congress, held in Bangkok, FIFA President Gianni Infantino laced up his boots for a friendly football clash alongside iconic stars of yesteryears. The pitch saw a gathering of stars including Luis Figo, Cafu, El-Hadji Diouf, Emmanuel Adebayor, Andriy Shevchenko, and Clarence Seedorf, each representing their footballing confederations. Post-match, former Arsenal ace Emmanuel Adebayor,…
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From smog to serenity: Bangkok’s Benjakitti Park breathes new life
Bangkok, former home to a sprawling industrial estate, where Thailand’s state-owned tobacco monopoly churned out millions of cigarettes for over half a century, emerges from the smog. Benjakitti Park, an urban oasis, has rapidly become a beloved haven for Bangkok’s 11 million residents. Officially opened in August 2022 to honour Queen Sirikit’s 90th birthday, the now 40-hectare Benjakitti Park boasts…
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Thailand’s unemployment crisis soars despite tourism boom
Thailand’s unemployment rate continues to climb, with a staggering 410,000 people out of work in the first quarter of this year, according to the National Statistical Office. The hardest-hit group is those with higher education degrees. Office director Piyanuch Wuttisorn revealed that of the total, around 79,000 people have been unemployed for more than a year.” The statistics paint a…
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Red carpet rollout: Thaksin spotted at ex-redshirt’s new restaurant
In a surprising public appearance today, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra surfaced to congratulate an ex-redshirt leader on the grand opening of his second southern Thai cuisine restaurant in Bangkok. The 74 year old ex PM was warmly welcomed at Yeam Tai on Chaiyaphruk Road by a cadre of influential political figures. Among them were Bhumjaithai Party leader and Deputy…
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Mother-in-law’s intervention in family dispute ends in fatal stabbing
A domestic dispute turned deadly when a mother-in-law intervened in an argument between her daughter and son-in-law, leading to a fatal stabbing in a Bang Kruai residence. The incident occurred in the early hours of today. Police Lieutenant Thanawat Chiwitsophon from Bang Kruai Police Station received a report at 12.20am about a fatal stabbing at a house in Maha Sawat…
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Mahidol University to launch first mRNA malaria vaccine trial
Mahidol University is nearing the start of the world’s first clinical trial for an mRNA vaccine targeting malaria. This pioneering effort follows successful laboratory trials on mice and is set to advance to testing on monkeys before reaching human subjects. Professor Jetsumon Prachumsri from the Faculty of Tropical Medicine at Mahidol University and chief of the Mahidol Vivax Research Unit…
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