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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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Post-pandemic shift in tourist spending habits reveals TikTok’s role in Thai travel
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) divulged insightful data revealing a shift in foreign tourists’ spending habits post-pandemic and the surge in popularity of TikTok as a source of travel information and inspiration. A survey conducted by TAT’s digital R&D Deputy Governor Teerasil Tapen, encompassing 30,054 tourists in 2023, unveiled an increased average expenditure on individual trips, rising from 48,209…
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Thai Finance Ministry sets eligibility for virtual bank licences
The Thai Finance Ministry unveiled the eligibility criteria for obtaining a virtual bank licence, which includes a minimum registered capital requirement of 5 billion baht (US$139 million). The specifications were published in the Royal Gazette on March 4, as revealed by Paopoom Rojanasakul, secretary to the finance minister. Virtual banks will be mandated to establish their headquarters in Thailand and…
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Thailand stock exchanges extend trading hours to attract foreign investors
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI) announced an extension of their daily trading hours starting March 25. This move will see the afternoon session open half an hour earlier, thus facilitating five hours of trade on the two exchanges daily. The SET stated that this alteration in trading hours is an effort to…
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Thailand trials first mobile phone emergency alert system
The inaugural trial of Thailand’s first cell broadcast service (CBS), a pioneering emergency alert system for mobile phones, kicked off yesterday. The trial was a joint venture between the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and Advanced Info Service (AIS). Conducted at the NBTC headquarters on Phahon Yothin Road, the trial demonstrated the capabilities of the CBS system. The system…
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Sena unveils rent-to-own strategy to tackle mortgage rejections
Sena Development, a publicly traded property developer, revealed new plans this month to rent and transfer ownership of its unsold condo units. This move is in response to a high rate of mortgage rejections. The company aims to enhance sales and revenue in the current year. Kessara Thanyalakpark, the managing director, stated that the innovative strategies would target two distinct…
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NACC investigates high-profile online gambling network case
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has taken charge of a high-profile investigation into the alleged association of Deputy National Police Chief, Police General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, and four others with a large-scale online gambling network. The decision, backed by a majority vote during a commission meeting on Monday, was made public yesterday. The NACC will also probe a connected…
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Swiss retiree’s brutal attack on Thai woman sparks outcry in Trang
A shocking incident at a shopping mall in the city of Trang Yesterday left a 58-year-old Thai woman with severe injuries after a violent altercation with a 60 year old Swiss national, Dieter Matthias Straumann. The 25 year old victim’s son, Kritpong Kikkham, is resolute in seeking justice for his mother, who is now hospitalised with a prognosis of at…
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DSI grills teacher candidates over Khon Kaen exam scam
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has initiated an extensive interrogation of candidates for assistant teacher positions at the Primary Educational Service Area Office 2 in Khon Kaen, following allegations of widespread exam fraud. Investigators have discovered that exam materials were being sold for 600,000 baht each. The probe, which took place today at the Learning Promotion Office in Ban…
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Former salesman’s illegal bullets seized by Thailand police
The Thai authorities apprehended a former ammunition salesman for allegedly engaging in illegal bullet sales online, unearthing an arsenal of 31,800 cartridges at his residence in Khlong Toei district. Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Police Major General Theeradet Thumsuthee, disclosed today that 66 year old San Panjitkaeo was apprehended while dispatching parcels of cartridges to buyers at a courier…
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Thai cop accused of cheating on wife, impregnating teenage mistress
A Thai woman is seeking justice after her police sub-lieutenant husband cheated on her and impregnated his 17 year old teenage mistress. The police officer allegedly assaulted and threatened his wife to accept the polyamorous relationship as the teenager is seven months pregnant. The 55 year old Thai woman from the Isaan province of Roi Et told her story to…
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US Army captain defying tradition with a Buddhist twist
In a bustling Southwestern bar at a Royal Thai Navy (RTN) base, a US Army captain stood out, not just for his uniform but for the emblem adorning his cap, the Buddhist wheel of dharma, a rare sight in military circles. Chaplain (Captain) Songkran Waiyaka, one of only 10 Buddhists among over 3,000 religious leaders in the Army, often finds…
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Father throws young son from Hong Kong shopping centre rooftop
A seven year old boy narrowly escaped death after his father, burdened by debt and despair, attempted a gruesome murder-suicide at a bustling Hong Kong shopping centre. The young primary two pupil is in critical condition, fighting for his life at Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s intensive care unit following the harrowing ordeal, which unfolded atop the six-storey Kowloon City Plaza. Security…
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Update: Villa owner’s violent act leads to demolition in beach assault scandal
Following the assault scandal of Swiss national Urs Fehr, aka David, Phuket Peninsula Estate Co., owner of beachfront villa No. 23, took a startling step today, sending a backhoe to erase the encroaching structures, including the contentious stairway. Before their obliteration, these steps had witnessed a fateful encounter on February 24. Swiss national David allegedly kicked 26 year old Dr…
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PM Srettha to stress infrastructure projects at ASEAN-Australia Summit
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to highlight the nation’s infrastructure advancements, particularly the Land Bridge and Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) projects, at the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit continuing until tomorrow, according to an official government representative. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke announced yesterday that the Thai prime minister will also seek to strengthen collaboration in logistics, capitalisation of Free…
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Thailand considers scrapping arrival cards for Malaysian tourists
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced today the potential removal of the necessity for Malaysian tourists to complete arrival and departure cards at primary border crossings, aimed at promoting tourism and business growth. Currently, all visitors arriving via the Sadao checkpoint in Songkhla, regardless of nationality, are waived from the requirement to fill out the Tor Mor 6 (TM 6) cards.…
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Shooting spree at Terminal 21 Korat unveils workplace vendetta
Nakhon Ratchasima police raced to Terminal 21 Korat following a shooting report at 7.15pm on Saturday, March 2. Amidst bustling shoppers, panic gripped the air as echoes of a previous massacre resurfaced, casting a shadow of fear over the scene. Arriving swiftly, emergency responders discovered Natdanai Leklak, a 30 year old security guard at the hotel, bearing six gunshot wounds…
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Russian roulette: Man’s Pattaya Flying Club attempt grounded by rooftop rescue
A Russian man appeared hellbent on joining the Pattaya Flying Club but was rescued just in time as he attempted to jump from a condo rooftop in the popular seaside resort. The reason for his suicide decision was not clear, whether it was an accusation of theft or the murder of his girlfriend. Mueang Pattaya Police Station and the Sawang…
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Former Thai PM Yingluck cleared in major corruption case
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Case Division for Holders of Political Positions yesterday delivered a resounding verdict, absolving Yingluck Shinawatra and five co-defendants of malfeasance and corruption allegations. The charges stemmed from the allocation of a hefty 240-million-baht campaign budget aimed at promoting the Yingluck government’s ambitious 2-trillion-baht infrastructure projects. Commenting on the verdict, Thanaporn Sriyakul, director of the Political and…
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Driver’s loss of control ends in fatal crash in northern Thailand
Tragedy struck in the early hours today when a young man driving a sedan lost control of his vehicle, resulting in a fatal crash that left him dead and another person injured. The accident occurred at 12.07am on the Uthai Thani-Manorom road in Tha Sung subdistrict, Uthai Thani province. Police Lieutenant Sakda Sirisophan, the duty officer at Uthai Thani Police…
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Bangkok joins with Edsy to apply AI in teaching English
Sanon Wangsrangboon, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, participated in the activity summarizing the results of the pilot project Evaluation and Development of English Communication Potential Using Artificial Intelligence Technology for students in Bangkok and tested out the Edsy Al Speaking Coach tool at TK Park, Central World Department Store. “English language skills are an essential skill in today’s fast-paced, borderless world.…
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Long-fugitive rape suspect caught after 19 years in Thailand
A 52 year old man was arrested yesterday for a 19 year old case involving the rape of a nurse’s aide, a crime he says was motivated by love and financial incapacity. The Central Investigation Bureau’s (CIB) long arm of the law finally closed in on the suspect, known only as Got, who had successfully eluded capture for nearly two…
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Mysterious green fireball lights up Thailand’s skies, sparking curiosity
A mysterious green fireball illuminated the skies last night across various regions in Thailand, prompting widespread online discussion and speculations about its origin. At approximately 9pm, numerous citizens reported sightings of a large, bright green light streaking through the sky, resembling a meteor or a falling star. The Thai Astronomical Society, a key authority in the field, acknowledged the event on…
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Chon Buri hits dangerous 51.4°C heat index, TMD issues warning
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a severe heat index warning for today, March 5 and 6, with temperatures soaring to a scorching 51.4 degrees Celsius in Chon Buri province, placing it in the danger zone for heatstroke. On March 5, the heat index, which is a measure that reflects the human body’s perceived temperature by combining air temperature with…
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Thai fisherman hooked in pipe rescued by garbage collector
In an unfortunate twist of fate, a Thai man managed to get trapped in a drainage pipe for two days after a fishing trip in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham. Fortunately, a garbage collector heard his cries for help and promptly reeled in a rescue team on March 4. A Thai garbage collector heard the victim, 45 year old…
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Lampang teacher under fire for broomstick beating of student
A Lampang teacher faces severe backlash after using a broomstick to punish a fourth-grade student, resulting in a traumatic injury. The incident, reported last night, has led to a police complaint filed by the child’s distressed mother. Yesterday at 8pm, the mother of a ten year old boy reported a disturbing case of school punishment to Deputy Investigator Thanes Panyathong…
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Burmese woman stabbed in Nakhon Pathom domestic row
A domestic dispute in Nakhon Pathom province escalated into a violent confrontation, resulting in a Burmese woman being critically injured after being stabbed. The incident, which occurred in the early morning hours yesterday, has led to the apprehension and confession of the assailant, who claimed the stabbing was unintentional. In the workers’ quarters of a company in Bang Len district,…
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NESDC proposes stricter regulations for social media influencers
The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) in Thailand proposed tighter regulations for social media influencers, in an attempt to curb unethical or illegal content production. NESDC Secretary-General, Danucha Pichayanan, suggested yesterday that the Media Standard, Ethics, and Freedom Protection Act be extended to cover online content creators. Danucha stressed the urgency of a regulation that…
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Buddhist temple’s blessing: 3000 eggs donated to firefighters
In a heartwarming gesture of support, the abbot of Wat Lok Moli in Chiang Mai, Phrakhru Paibul Jetiyanurak has rallied behind firefighters battling relentless forest fires for over a month. The revered abbot donated a staggering 3,000 eggs to aid park officials and volunteers in their valiant efforts to quell the flames ravaging the province. In a solemn ceremony, the…
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Retired official accused of sexually assaulting Laotian woman
An 18 year old Laotian woman accused her employer, a retired official from the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand, of imprisoning and sexually assaulting her. The accused official denies the allegations, asserting that he cares for her like a father loves his daughter. The older brother of the Laotian victim pleaded with officers from Mueang Udon Thani Police Station…
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5 Thai people injured in missile attacks on Israel-Lebanon border
Five Thai people suffered injuries after missile attacks at an agricultural community called Margaliot on the Israel-Lebanon border on March 4. Authorities advised Thai nationals in the area to evacuate. The conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah group has raged over the past four months at the Israel-Lebanon border in parallel to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Ministry of…
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