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Sponsored A healthy tomorrow starts today: Celebrate the great American Smokeout day
The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...
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Tensions rise over BoT’s independence amidst economic recovery
The Bank of Thailand‘s independence has become a subject of contention, following statements by Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, which have been widely reported. This has escalated existing tensions between the central bank and the coalition government. However, many economists and policymakers assert that the central bank’s independence is crucial and suggest alternative solutions to resolve the conflict. Prasarn…
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Pro-cannabis groups to protest over govt’s narcotic reclassification
Pro-cannabis groups are ramping up their efforts to resist the Thai government’s intent to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic drug, threatening to stage a protest outside the Ministry of Public Health. The demonstration will continue until the ministry can provide concrete scientific evidence backing its proposition. On the other hand, certain factions of farmers, who have been legally cultivating cannabis…
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Phuket targets Middle Eastern market to counter seasonal tourism slump
Phuket’s tourism industry has set its sights on the affluent Middle Eastern market to counterbalance the seasonal slump in arrivals from Russia and Europe. Over 30 Phuket hospitality businesses presented their offerings at the Arabian Travel Market 2024 (ATM 2024) held in Dubai, aiming to attract high-spending tourists from the region. The ATM 2024, conducted from May 6 to May…
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Thief nabbed for using forgotten ATM card to fund cigarette hustle
A seasoned criminal with a history of theft was apprehended yesterday by Metropolitan Police Division 1 for stealing an ATM card and using it to buy cigarettes for resale. A 46 year old man was arrested based on a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on charges of theft. The arrest followed an incident where a victim reported forgetting their…
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Two caught for luxury home burglaries in Songkhla to pay off debts
Two professional thieves were apprehended after burglarising three luxury homes in a single night, stealing valuable amulets and a Rolex watch. The duo had previously been involved with others in an armed robbery and admitted to the recent burglaries as a means to pay off debts from bail money borrowed from a friend. The arrests were made by a team…
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Chao Phraya embankment collapse puts Bang Kruai district at risk
Panic struck the Bang Kruai district when a significant section of the Chao Phraya River embankment collapsed, extending over 70 metres in length. A local Member of Parliament, along with relevant officials, surveyed the damage, urging residents to steer clear of the area due to the ongoing risk. At 10am today, Anusorn Kaewwichian, a representative of the Move Forward Party…
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Elderly woman’s buffalo herd mysteriously vanishes in Buriram
A 72 year old woman in Buriram province reported the mysterious disappearance of her entire herd of 10 buffaloes, prompting a local rescue unit’s extensive search that unfortunately turned out fruitless. The owner, deeply worried about the financial implications of the loss, appealed to the public for help. Buriram Highway Police Rescue Unit yesterday was alerted by the elderly woman…
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Suspected remains of missing Korean found in Chon Buri reservoir
A grisly discovery was made in Chon Buri, where police unearthed a human body encased in concrete within a 200-litre barrel. The barrel was located at the bottom of the Map Prachan reservoir in Bang Laung district. The find was made last night and is suspected to be the remains of a missing 34 year old Korean man. Roh Eui…
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Ex-convict shot dead in Nakhon Pathom, police launch manhunt
A man, recently released from serving a jail term for drug offences, was found dead at his home in Nakhon Pathom province, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The incident, which took place in the Srakratiam district, has prompted a police manhunt for the assailant. Last night, police were alerted to a shooting within a residence. The Deputy Investigator of the…
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Bangkok security guard’s drainage hideout spurs police probe
A security guard emerged from a drainage pipe after a harrowing four-day ordeal, having taken refuge there out of fear for his life. He claimed he was evading individuals who threatened to harm him and plant drugs on him. Officials from the rescue services extracted him from his confined hiding place, following which he was rushed to Petchawet Hospital. The…
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Thailand on high alert for intense geomagnetic storm
Thailand is currently bracing for a severe geomagnetic storm, the likes of which haven’t been recorded in recent history. The storm, reaching a level 7 intensity, is expected to present two significant effects: mesmerising auroras for high-latitude regions and potential disruptions to satellite communications. This forecast emerged following recent solar flare activities, which have been closely monitored by the Geo-Informatics…
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Nearly 2,000 acquire Senate election application forms on first day
The Election Commission (EC) reported yesterday that nearly 2,000 individuals acquired application forms for the Senate election on the first day of distribution, which was on May 10. The documents and forms can be collected daily from district offices and provincial registration centres nationwide, between the hours of 8.30am and 4.30pm. Completed forms and necessary documents can be submitted at…
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Social security board to ease access to cancer treatment resources
The Social Security Board (SSB) has greenlit a plan to enhance the ease of access to treatment resources for cancer patients within the Social Security system, according to an announcement from the Social Security Office (SSO) yesterday. The resolution was made in a meeting that took place earlier this week. According to Dr Thana Turajane, the chair of the board’s…
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High times: Thai cannabis use soars, sparking reclassification talks
The use of cannabis among young adults in Thailand has escalated tenfold in the past two years, drawing attention to the government’s plan to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, according to the public health minister. The reclassification proposal is expected to be rooted in scientific evidence. Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin yesterday highlighted the significance of empirical data in addressing the…
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AIS compensates customers for network outage in Thailand
Advance Info Service Plc (AIS), Thailand’s leading mobile operator, apologised for a recent network interruption that affected its customers. The company has confirmed that its engineering team has resolved the issue, which disrupted mobile phone usage in certain areas yesterday evening. To make amends, AIS has announced compensation for all its customers, regardless of their package plans. Customers of AIS…
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Over 30,000 Thai workers want to work in Israel despite unrest
The Department of Employment (DoE) announced that over 30,000 Thai workers have shown an interest in seeking employment in Israel, despite the recent upheavals in the region. This follows the news that Thailand has been granted a quota of 5,000 positions in Israel’s agricultural sector for the latter half of this year. Director-General of the DoE, Somchai Morakotsriwan, highlighted that Israel…
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Rayong warehouse disaster: Government ramps up aid
A fiery inferno engulfed Rayong’s Map Ta Phut Industrial Park, leaving death and devastation in its wake. The government springs into action, accelerating aid to affected victims and locals. The catastrophic blaze ignited around 10.30am when a colossal pyrolysis gasoline (pygas) storage tank exploded at Map Ta Phut Tank Terminal. SCG Chemicals Plc, a vital petrochemical subsidiary of Siam Cement…
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Deadly heatwave strikes Thailand: 61 lives lost
The Ministry of Public Health announced a staggering toll: the heatwave has claimed the lives of 61 individuals in Thailand this year, a sharp rise from the 37 casualties recorded last year. Dr Apichart Vachiraphan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control (DDC) disclosed that Most of the heatwave fatalities, a harrowing 33, have devastated families in Thailand’s northeastern…
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Thai policeman accused of brutally abusing cat in Phuket
A Russian couple holidaying in Phuket were left reeling in horror after witnessing a Thai policeman abusing a cat, captured in shocking video footage. The couple, Stanislav and Gromova, recounted the gruesome scene that unfolded in the Chalong subdistrict of Phuket, where a Thai man, suspected to be a policeman, subjected a defenceless cat to a vicious assault, leading to…
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Srettha’s agenda for three-day tour to three Thai provinces revealed
Government Spokesperson Chai Wacharonke revealed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s inspection tour of three provinces: Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi, spanning May 10 to 12. Kicking off yesterday afternoon, the Bangkok-born PM initiated discussions on local matters at the Lad Nam Tien floodgate in Suphan Buri Province. He also mingled with the public at the Jorakhesamphan Sluice Gates, delving deeper into…
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Hit-and-run: Tourist bus driver abandons injured cyclist in Pattaya
A tourist bus driver callously struck a foreign cyclist on Pattaya Second Road, near Pattaya 8 School. Caught on camera, the driver heartlessly fled the scene, leaving the injured victim behind. The disturbing footage reveals the unidentified cyclist being knocked off his bike as the blue and white tourist bus veered into his path without warning. Ignoring the injured party,…
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Thailand’s deputy finance minister resigns
Kritsada Jinavijarana, former deputy finance minister, officially stepped down from his position, as confirmed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in an exclusive revelation to reporters. PM Srettha made the declaration moments before embarking on an official trip upcountry, slated to span multiple provinces. Kritsada’s abrupt resignation came hot on the heels of a reported dissatisfaction stemming from a perceived reduction…
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Back-to-school: Rise in education costs leaves parents reeling
As the cost of schooling skyrockets, parents brace themselves for a financial storm, with tuition fees soaring to unprecedented levels. The latest revelation from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) uncovered the staggering truth behind education expenses in 2024. According to Thanawan Polwichai, advisory chairman of the UTCC’s Centre for Economic and Business Forecast, the latest survey…
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Rayong tourism suffers after industrial area explosion
Tourism in Rayong has suffered a setback after a pyrolysis gasoline tank in the Map Ta Phut industrial area exploded on Thursday, resulting in one death and four injuries. The incident led to a flurry of tour cancellations at several fruit farms in the area, despite being located 40 to 50 kilometres away from the site of the explosion. The…
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Thailand to revise Child Protection Act
The Social Development and Human Security Ministry, under the leadership of Minister Varawut Silpa-archa, is set to propose an amendment to Thailand’s Child Protection Act within the month for Cabinet approval. The updated act will emphasise the significant role of families and local communities in ensuring the safety of children. Following the National Child Protection Committee meeting yesterday, Varawut unveiled…
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Mother exposes child adoption scam on Facebook
A mother filed a complaint after discovering that con artists have used her family’s photos in a Facebook child adoption scam. The deceptive posts, which circulated widely online, brazenly sought caregivers for children, with statements such as: “Looking for a girl to adopt, a generous reward offered, will provide education until graduation. “Seeking someone to adopt a newborn today, message…
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Bangkok chef arrested for assault and rape of teenage employee
A head chef in Bangkok was arrested for the alleged assault and rape of a 16 year old female employee after luring her under false pretences. The incident, which took place in the Pin Klao area, has led to the arrest of the 25 year old suspect, Watanyu. In a swift operation following an arrest warrant issued by the Taling…
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Elephant tussle in Khao Yai ends with broken tusk
A dramatic clash for dominance between two male elephants yesterday left one with a broken tusk in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima province. The incident occurred after Plai Khrut, the young elephant who previously made headlines for raiding a statue at Wat Mu Si and consuming all the sugar cane grown by the temple for religious ceremonies, challenged his…
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Tourism boost: Bangkok Airways’ SAMUI SAVOR campaign
Bangkok Airways joined BDMS in the SAMUI SAVOR campaign to stimulate local food tourism. The airline is offering a discount at 42 leading restaurants on Koh Samui with a single boarding pass. There is also a chance to win prizes for flights, with 20 available in Thailand. Ploenphit Kosonyuthasan, Director of Tourism and Alliance Marketing Promotion, Bangkok Airways Public Company…
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Fruity fury: Durian dispute turns into armed showdown
A heated confrontation at a durian stall led to a dramatic arrest in Samut Prakan when a disgruntled man drew a gun in a threat of violence. The incident, which was captured on CCTV, occurred around 7.10pm on Wednesday, when the man, identified only as Tao, approached the stall after arguing with a woman across the street. He was later…
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