Thailand News

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    Bangtao, Phuket: The neighbourhood expats and investors are eyeing in 2025

    Bangtao didn't become Phuket’s most talked-about neighbourhood overnight. For a long time, it was a quiet place on the island’s west coast where locals walked their dogs at sunrise and tourists flocked to sunbathe along its eight-kilometre stretch of beach....

  • Australia at the top of women’s world cup, defeats Thailand

    Australia at the top of women’s world cup, defeats Thailand

    Australia now leads Group B of the FIFA Women’s World Cup after players Emily van Egmond and Sam Kerr scored two goals against Thailand, beating Thailand 2-1. Thailand still made it to the quarter-finals as a third-place team, along with Vietnam. Up next, Thailand will play against Japan in the quarter-finals on Sunday. Thailand started the cup this Monday, losing…

  • Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon discusses Phuket pedestrian safety

    Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon discusses Phuket pedestrian safety

    Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon brought up pedestrian safety crossings yesterday at an online meeting with a road safety policy committee, and the interior minister. Phuket officials have now been told to paint warning lines ahead of pedestrian crossings, letting drivers know they will have to slow down soon. The group also talked about the new points system that started in…

  • WARNING: Thailand Pass spoof email with malicious links

    WARNING: Thailand Pass spoof email with malicious links

    It seems that government websites in Thailand are often the target of successful hacker attacks and now it appears the Thailand Pass site is no exception. Reports are surfacing of people receiving a spoof email regarding the Thailand Pass pointing them to malicious content. It is believed that the email database collected by the Thailand Pass website has been accessed…

  • Thai youth orchestra Siam Sinfonietta to perform in Bangkok’s Sathon

    Thai youth orchestra Siam Sinfonietta to perform in Bangkok’s Sathon

    Thai youth orchestra Siam Sinfonietta will perform at the Bayan Tree Hotel in Bangkok’s Sathon area this Sunday at 7pm. The orchestra will perform music from Russian ballets, including Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Tickets are 1,000 baht for people who go alone, and 800 baht for people who go in groups of two or more. People who go in groups of four…

  • NHSO to give free condoms and birth control to anyone over 15

    NHSO to give free condoms and birth control to anyone over 15

    In a bold move for conservative Thailand, the National Health Security Office is providing free birth control pills and condoms to young people over the age of 15. A new programme by the NHSO is targeting teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in a bid to encourage safe sex, especially among Thai youth. The Deputy Secretary-General of…

  • Officials tightening traffic rules, new penalties expected in July

    Officials tightening traffic rules, new penalties expected in July

    A draft amendment to the Land Transport Act has received approval by the House Committee on Transport, according to an MP from the Chartthaipattana Party. Nikorn Chamnong, who chaired the panel, says the amendment seeks to increase fines for traffic offences and could be enacted by July. The amendment now goes before the Senate, which is expected to approve it…

  • VERSO – The School of the Future

    VERSO – The School of the Future

    Sponsored Article VERSO is not just another international school in Thailand. This school has one of the most unique learning concepts in which students are given the opportunity to develop their human potential and build a powerful set of future-ready skills. It is a pioneering, innovative and design-driven school that prepares students for the dynamic evolving landscape their future will…

  • Real estate consultancy says pandemic continues to affect foreign demand

    Real estate consultancy says pandemic continues to affect foreign demand

    A leading property consultancy says the ongoing pandemic and associated restrictions continues to hamper the real estate market. CBRE Thailand chief, Roongrat Veeraparkkaroon, says the low number of foreign arrivals means the sector continues to rely on local demand and must now adapt to these circumstances. “A decline in tourist numbers affected both residential and retail sectors. Given this challenge,…

  • Thailand will declare Covid endemic whether WHO agrees or not

    Thailand will declare Covid endemic whether WHO agrees or not

    Regardless of whether the World Health Organisation agrees or not, Thailand plans to declare Covid-19 as an endemic disease by the end of this year according to the Ministry of Public Health. A meeting of the National Communicable Disease Committee was held today where the decision was made. Thailand will create its own academically acceptable criteria for measuring whether Covid-19…

  • Phuket gov calls for investigation, charm offensive after report on hospitel parties

    Phuket gov calls for investigation, charm offensive after report on hospitel parties

    Following British journalist Jonathan Miller’s harsh and lengthy report of his stay at a Phuket quarantine hospitel, Governor Narong Woonciew called for an investigation into the reporter’s claims. The reporter documented the impromptu parties with Covid-infected travellers during his two-week stay at the “hospitel.” In the Sunday Times, Miller who was classified as high risk of contracting Covid-19, was ordered…

  • British journalist documents beer-fuelled parties with Covid patients at Phuket quarantine hotel

    British journalist documents beer-fuelled parties with Covid patients at Phuket quarantine hotel

    British journalist Jonathan Miller was declared to be at high risk of Covid-19 after entering Thailand and ended up in a quarantine hotel in Phuket… which he says was more like an “Asian Hotel California” with “late-night discos fuelled by local beer.” Miller, known in Thailand as the first foreign reporter to interview King Vajiralongkorn after his coronation, wrote a…

  • African Swine Fever spreads across Thailand, cases reported in 13 provinces

    African Swine Fever spreads across Thailand, cases reported in 13 provinces

    African Swine Fever is spreading across Thailand. The country’s agriculture minister said the disease has infected pig farms and one slaughterhouse in 13 Thai provinces in Central, Northeastern, and Southern Thailand. The infected farms and the five-kilometre radius around them are now declared epidemic zones. Instead of giving the ministry’s 2.9 billion baht emergency budget to pig farmers as he…

  • Another Bangkok pedestrian killed crossing the road

    Another Bangkok pedestrian killed crossing the road

    After last week’s tragic killing of a pedestrian by a motorbike at a Bangkok zebra crossing, a pickup truck killed a pedestrian crossing the road in Samut Prakan this morning. A pickup truck struck 33 year old Win Mar Soe, who is from Myanmar, and reportedly swung her 10 metres. First responders took her to Chularat 9 Airport Hospital in…

  • Mixed feelings on new Move Forward guburnatorial candidate

    Mixed feelings on new Move Forward guburnatorial candidate

    Thailand’s Move Forward Party has selected a candidate for Bangkok’s gubernatorial election, the party’s spokesperson Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn. Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat was proud to introduce Wiroj, saying no other candidate had “the party DNA” like him. Many of the party’s supporters agree with Pita, but some observers say Move Forward failed to find a more experienced, qualified candidate. One programme…

  • Koh Samui hotel, business owners call for PCR test price cut to draw in Test & Go tourists

    Koh Samui hotel, business owners call for PCR test price cut to draw in Test & Go tourists

    Hoteliers and business owners on the southern island of Koh Samui are asking the Thai government to lower the costs of RT-PCR tests in an effort to draw in more foreign tourists. The calls follow the decision to reopen registration for the Test & Go entry scheme starting February 1. The quarantine exemption scheme requires tourists to isolate themselves at…

  • Krabi rescue volunteer catches giant king cobra with bare hands

    Krabi rescue volunteer catches giant king cobra with bare hands

    A volunteer from the Ao Nang rescue team in southern Thai province of Krabi caught a giant king cobra with his bare hands. The 4.5 metre, 10 kilogram snake was reported by the residents after it slithered into a palm plantation. The giant cobra tried to hide in a septic tank near locals’ houses. It took 40 year old volunteer,…

  • Foreign man in Pattaya arrested for allegedly trying to fight locals

    Foreign man in Pattaya arrested for allegedly trying to fight locals

    Police arrested a shirtless foreign man at a supermarket in South Pattaya between last night and this morning. The man allegedly harassed locals by shouting and trying to pick fights. Police say he seemed very intoxicated. They eventually arrested the man and brought him to the station to slap him with multiple legal charges. The man’s nationality hasn’t been reported…

  • Officials say Vorayuth cocaine charge could be dropped as time running out

    Officials say Vorayuth cocaine charge could be dropped as time running out

    Prosecutors say they’re concerned that time is running out to prosecute fugitive Red Bull heir, Vorayuth Yoovidhya, for cocaine use. The Office of the Attorney-General says the statute of limitations on the charge is set to expire in September. According to a Nation Thailand report, the OAG has released a statement on the progress of the case against Vorayuth, aka…

  • Thailand asks for Singapore’s help in freezing assets of former TAT governor

    Thailand asks for Singapore’s help in freezing assets of former TAT governor

    Thai officials are seeking Singapore’s cooperation in freezing the assets of Juthamas Siriwan, who previously served as governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. She was sentenced to 50 years’ imprisonment on corruption charges related to the hosting of the Bangkok International Film Festival between 2002-2007. According to a Bangkok Post report, Ittiporn Kaewthip and Prayut Phetkun from the Office…

  • Calls for tougher punishment for drivers ignoring pedestrian crossing rules

    Calls for tougher punishment for drivers ignoring pedestrian crossing rules

    Road safety advocates are demanding tougher punishment, including manslaughter charges, for drivers who fail to observe pedestrian crossing rules. According to a Bangkok Post report, 30 members of various road safety networks gathered at Government House to file a petition with Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon, who chairs the national committee on road safety policy and prevention. The move is in…

  • First Pfizer doses for children arrive, vaccination starts Monday

    First Pfizer doses for children arrive, vaccination starts Monday

    The Department of Disease Control has confirmed the arrival of the first shipment of Pfizer vaccines to be administered to children aged 5 to 11. The lot of 300,000 Covid-19 vaccines arrived in Thailand today, with vaccinations scheduled to begin on January 31. The first round of vaccines will be given to those children considered high-risk due to having one…

  • BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron in Thailand reaches 14, 1 death

    BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron in Thailand reaches 14, 1 death

    After earlier reports that 9 cases of the new sub-strain of Omicron, the BA.2 sub-variant, had been identified in Thailand so far, that total has already increased to 14. The infections in Thailand involve both Thai nationals and international travellers. It was also confirmed that the first death in Thailand from the Omicron variant reported earlier this month was in…

  • Thaiger Team Try Vegemite For Australia Day

    Thaiger Team Try Vegemite For Australia Day

    Happy Australia day and welcome Thaiger viewers to this special episode where Tim makes some of the Thaiger staff try Vegemite for the very first time. Join in on the fun and watch our reactions to this toast spread that apparently all ‘Australians’ love. Let us know how you feel about Vegemite in the comments section below!

  • Digital assets as payment requires more regulation in Thailand

    Digital assets as payment requires more regulation in Thailand

    After studying the risks and benefits of using digital assets and cryptocurrencies to pay for goods and services, a coalition of financial bodies have decided that more regulation is necessary in Thailand. The Ministry of Finance, along with the Bank of Thailand and the Securities and Exchange Commission, have partnered together to assess the regulation needed for crypto usage in…

  • Thailand improves crosswalks, other safety measures after fatal pedestrian accident

    Thailand improves crosswalks, other safety measures after fatal pedestrian accident

    Following the fatal crash where an off-duty police officer ran his Ducati into an eye doctor walking along the zebra crossing, Thais are pointing out traffic violations and officials are making changes to reduce traffic accidents involving pedestrians. Some changes include repainting crosswalks and roads to increase crosswalk visibility and encourage drivers to reduce their speed. The woman was walking…

  • Thai women’s football team to play against Australia tomorrow

    Thai women’s football team to play against Australia tomorrow

    After winning 4-0 against Indonesia on Monday, the Thai women’s football team will play against Australia tomorrow. The AFC Women’s World Cup is being hosted in India right now. Even though Thailand lost their first game to the Philippines, the win over Indonesia has brought back their stride. The team hopes that player Chaba Kaew will help it qualify for…

  • Thailand to study whether to increase the daily minimum wage

    Thailand to study whether to increase the daily minimum wage

    Thai authorities are studying whether to increase the daily minimum wage. The Labour Ministry will start a feasibility study. The State Enterprises Workers Relations Confederation has recommended 492 baht as the starting pay. Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin told reporters that the Office of the Permanent Secretary for the Labour Ministry would conduct a study to examine the minimum wage’s suitability.…

  • Cabinet approves 1.08 million baht to hire medical staff to support healthcare system

    Cabinet approves 1.08 million baht to hire medical staff to support healthcare system

    Following Monday’s Cabinet meeting, PM Deputy Spokesperson Trisuree Trisaranakul announced that officials had approved a budget of 1.08 million baht to hire more medical staff on a temporary basis to support healthcare facilities during the ongoing pandemic. A total of 2,402 positions will be open from January to September 2022. Aside from standing by during pandemics, this project aims to…

  • Monkey with ghost face and slug snake part of 224 new Mekong species

    Monkey with ghost face and slug snake part of 224 new Mekong species

    A monkey with white circles around its eyes, making it look like a ghost, is one of 224 species newly added to a list of species in the Mekong region. Scientists discovered these species in 2020, but the report last year was delayed. The monkey is the only mammal on the list, and the rest are reptiles, frogs and newts,…

  • Minimum wage hike proposal up to 492 baht per day being studied

    Minimum wage hike proposal up to 492 baht per day being studied

    A proposal is being evaluated to raise the minimum wage to 492 baht per day, a significant increase from the 313 to 336 baht per day lowest wage now. The hike proposed is a significant one and the Ministry of Labour is researching the impact of such a large wage. The proposed large increase in the lowest wage legally offered…