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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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Indigenous Brazilians accuse Jair Bolsonaro of genocide at ICC
President Jair Bolsonaro could become the first Brazilian to be tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC), The court received a request on Monday to investigate Bolsonaro’s alleged crimes against humanity and genocide against Indigenous peoples. It was filed by APIB, a coalition of Indigenous associations across Brazil. The extensive document sent to the ICC was drafted by Indigenous lawyers…
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Crime Fighters: Out of the Shadows, Into the Light
In the city of Swangoly, somewhere in Africa, Jeremy faces persecution, violence and discrimination because of his sexual orientation. Meanwhile, the MP Celia was shot in a homophobic attack. With the perpetrators still at large, 19-year-old Jeremy feels unsafe and threatened. Even his own family struggles to provide him with understanding and support. This Crime Fighters audio drama exposes the…
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Out of the Shadows, Into the Light – Ep 04: Sana’s Secret
Things in the Lantaro family just keep going from bad to worse. Jeremy is determined to leave home to escape his family’s hostility, which started after he came out. Will his twin sister, Julie, manage to talk him round? SOURCE: DW News
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India: New temple-mosque conflict brewing in Varanasi
It’s the afternoon call to prayer at the Gyanvapi mosque in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The handful of men there, kneeling, are dwarfed by the massive 17th century structure, their soft words nearly drowned out by the steady hum of the low ceiling fans. It’s a moment of peace and reflection, before the men step back out…
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Rubber plantation workers severely injured, man’s leg blown off after stepping on bomb
A man’s leg was blown off in a bomb explosion while he was working in a rubber plantation in Narathiwat, a province in Thailand’s Deep South near the Malaysia border where small bombings and attacks happen occasionally due to the religious separatist insurgency. A woman’s face was also injured in the explosion. The two were working in the rubber plantation…
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Monday Covid Update: 19,603 new cases; provincial totals
On a slightly downward trend, a total of 19,603 new Covid-19 cases and 149 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Out of the 776,108 Covid-19 infections recorded in Thailand since the start of the pandemic last year, the recent wave of the virus, first reported on April 1, has accounted for 747,245 of those…
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Media organisations call on government to obey court order on free speech
Following a Civil Court ruling against PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, Thai media organisations are calling on the government to abide by the court’s decision. Last Friday, the court ruled that the PM had overstepped his authority in banning the dissemination of news that could create public fear. In its ruling, the court found that the ban was too vague and therefore…
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Belarus: Women as the drivers of protest
One year ago, on August 9, 2020, Alexander Lukashenko declared himself the winner of Belarus’ presidential elections. Massive nationwide protests ensued, which were followed by a seemingly unending wave of arrests, torture and intimidation of the participants. “I had the feeling that they would soon come for me as well,” says Anna Koval, who, along with other helpers, collected food,…
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Report contradicts Thai government’s claim that wild tiger numbers are increasing
A new report from the World Wildlife Fund says Thailand’s progress in doubling its wild tiger population by 2022 could be better. However, the findings are contradicted by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, with department boss Thanya Nethithammakul saying numbers have gone up from 166 in 2020 to 177 this year and that his staff are…
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Phuket officials rush to restore visitor confidence following tourist murder
Officials on the southern island of Phuket are pulling out all the stops in a bid to restore tourist confidence, following the murder of Swiss national Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf last week. The victim, who’d been visiting Phuket under the island’s sandbox scheme, was found dead at Ao Yon waterfall last Thursday. The Bangkok Post reports that the murder has left local…
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Monday Covid Update: 19,603 new cases and 149 deaths
19,603 new Covid-19 cases and 149 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. There are now 214,421 people receiving treatment for the coronavirus. In the latest and most severe wave of the virus in Thailand, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has reported 747,245 Covid-19 infections. Out of the new cases, 313 were found…
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Belarus protests one year on: Lukashenko in command and striking back
Every year-end review published last December featured prominent images of the largest mass protests in Belarus since the republic gained independence. Led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Maria Kolesnikova und Veronika Zepkalo, citizens had been protesting the results of the country’s August 9, 2020, presidential election in which incumbent strongman Alexander Lukashenko was declared the overwhelming winner. But the European Union (EU),…
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Couple shocked by random bullet through their window glass
A seemingly freak accident startled and confused a Chon Buri couple when a stray bullet came through their bedroom window. The couple live in a 2 story house in Nong Ree in Mueang Chon Buri and were in bed upstairs in the master bedroom when the incident occurred. Police were called on Thursday about the random bullet and met with…
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Pattaya suspect refuses to exit car, livestreams police encounter
Viral videos or live streams of encounters with the police have become a common occurrence in the United States and a few other countries, but on Friday a transgender person in Pattaya refused to exit her car after being stopped by police and live-streamed the whole event. The woman was a suspect after reports of a drug dealer in a…
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Penguin and 3 other activists turn themselves in to police
Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, along with 3 other well-known activists and leaders in the protests against the government turned themselves in at the National Police Headquarters today after arrest warrants were issued for protesting in violation of the Emergency Decree. Sirichai “New” Nathuang, Nutchanon Pairote, and Promsorn “Fah” Veerathamjaree also surrendered to the Royal Police today. They are accused of planning…
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Koh Lipe enacts 1 month lockdown restrictions from tomorrow
After a new outbreak of Covid-19, Koh Lipe will become the latest Thai destination to go into semi-lockdown and harsh restrictions including a curfew. The governor of Lipe’s province Satun has ordered a month-long near lockdown beginning August 9 and ending September 5. The order, officially titled Satun Province 1482/2564 on preventative measures and control of Coronavirus disease 2019, comes…
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LATEST: Appeal Court denies Thanapat’s bail request
Actor Thanapat “Toy Toy” Chanakulpisan, who inadvertently killed his girlfriend when they struggled over a knife, has been denied bail. The Appeal Court agreed with the Min Buri’s Court decision yesterday. Thanapat, who acts in the Thai soap opera “It’s because of love, isn’t it?”, which also goes by the title “Why R U” allegedly confessed to killing his girlfriend,…
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Kaeng Hin Phoeng rapids in Prachin Buri closed until…
Yesterday, Kaeng Hin Phoeng rapids in Khao Yai National Park in central Thailand’s Prachin Buri province were closed due to safety and Covid concerns. Park officials closed the rapids until they say otherwise. Regarding the closure, park officials referenced a CCSA order from August 1. The order designated Prachin Buri as a dark red province with all the restrictions that…
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Confession and evidence, not a scapegoat, in Phuket murder
More details are emerging as confirmed about the suspect arrested in the horrifying murder of Swiss traveller Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf, found dead at Ao Yon Waterfall on Friday. Police have taken Teerawat Thothip into custody and say that he has confessed to the crime amid suspicions that Phuket police would find a scapegoat to quickly “solve” the crime. The 27 year…
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Bangkok Royal Thai Police Office has signage letters altered
Last night, the Royal Thai Police Office had their lettering defaced. The defacement includes the removal of multiple letters from signage, says Thai media. When the Central Police Forensic Science Division was alerted to the letter-altering, personnel were sent out around 9 pm to check out the changes for themselves. They collected evidence including possible fingerprints off the sign in…
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Covid UPDATE: 19,983 infections, provincial totals
This morning the Thai public health department have announced a further 19,983 infections and 138 Covid-related deaths to Thailand’s total number of cases – 756,505. 350 of the total of today’s new cases are from Thai prisons. Whilst the new daily totals tally is under 20,000 for the first time in nearly a week, the Sunday totals are often lower…
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Songkhla Birthday beach party busted
Recently, police in the Southern Thai province of Songkhla arrested 61 people at a birthday beach party. Reportedly, 35 suspects were minors. The birthday, which was thrown in the middle of the night, took place on the beach and included loud music and alcohol, says Thai media. Despite arresting 61 people, police suspect more people were present but managed to…
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UPDATE: Actor’s girlfriend stabbed to death in Bangkok following “struggle” over knife
Recently, the Thaiger reported how a popular Thai actor, Thanapat “Toy Toy” Thanachakulphisan, had accidentally stabbed his girlfriend to death after they struggled over a knife. It is now being reported that Thanapat is still under arrest. While his “arrest” may not seem much of an advancement in the story, previously, it was not clear if Thanapat was just being…
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Favipiravir AKA Avigan to be used for all Covid patients, despite paltry scientific merit
All Covid patients will receive the antiviral drug Favipiravir, AKA Avigan, says the Public Health Ministry. In fact, the government is planning to stockpile 420 million tablets. Yesterday, the Department of Medical Services announced that health officials can administer the drug to all groups of Covid patients. Before yesterday’s announcement, green coded patients with mild to no symptoms that were under…
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Thailand’s Teflon MP denies he is “ready” to be the next Thai PM
Thammanat Prompao for Thai PM. Huh?! The Palang Pracharat ‘fixer’, and former guest of the Australian prison system, is crying ‘fake news’ over a social media post saying that he’s “ready and waiting” to be offered the top job in Thai politics. Palang Pracharat is the majority coalition party in the current Thai government. The Agriculture and Cooperatives minister, and…
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Covid UPDATE Sunday: 19,983 infections, news briefs
This morning the Thai public health department have announced a further 19,983 infections and 138 Covid-related deaths to Thailand’s total number of cases – 756,505. 350 of the total of today’s new cases are from Thai prisons. Whilst the new daily totals tally is under 20,000 for the first time in nearly a week, the Sunday totals are often lower…
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Police and protesters clash at increasingly aggressive protests
Tensions flared at today’s anti-government protests, as demonstrators had to re-route 3 times due to police pushback efforts. The original plan was to meet at the Democracy Monument at 2 pm today and march to the Grand Palace, as pro-monarchy groups called for the army to step in and fortify the historic complex they called a sacred site. But police…
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UPDATE: Suspect in Swiss murder in Phuket is a “Thai man”
UPDATE TO OUR PREVIOUS ARTICLE New details have just emerged in Thai media about the suspect detained today in the murder of the 57 year old Swiss traveller in Phuket found yesterday. The newly obtained information says the suspect is in fact a 27 year old Thai man, and not a 33 year old Burmese man as previously reported (in…
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Assassination plot of Burmese UN Ambassador thwarted
Kyaw Moe Tun has been standing in a precarious position as the current or former Burmese ambassador to the United Nations – depending on who you believe – and is now the subject of a thwarted assassination plot. The plan to murder or maim the diplomat was to be carried out by 2 Burmese nationals on US soil at the…
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UPDATE: Phuket police claim they have arrested a suspect in the murder of the Swiss Sandboxer
UPDATE: In later reports today Thai media have variously described the suspect as a 33 year old Burmese, a 27 year old Thai and, with Thai PBS, not sure… but police will make a statement in a media conference later. “Police say there will be a press conference tomorrow about the murder of the Swiss tourist. They insist the suspect…
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