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Siam Paragon celebrates 'A Prosperous Chinese New Year 2025'
Siam Paragon, in collaboration with KASIKORNBANK, is hosting a spectacular Lunar New Year celebration, Siam Paragon A Prosperous Chinese New Year 2025, from today until February 2, at Parc Paragon. This year’s event is inspired by the rich heritage of Dunhuang,...
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Foreigner condemned for driving car on Kamala Beach in Phuket
Phuket residents and Thai netizens condemned a foreigner for ignoring warnings from lifeguards and vendors and driving a sedan on Kamala Beach. A Thai man shared the video of a black sedan, a Toyota Camry Hybrid, on Kamala Beach on Facebook yesterday, April 1. “Foreign tourists cause trouble every day! A foreign tourist, of unidentified nationality, driving a sedan on Kamala…
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Thailand seeks more flight routes from Laos and China
The Government of Thailand has its sights set on elevating the country’s aviation industry, with plans in the pipeline to request additional flight routes from Laos and China within the next two years. The move is part of a broader “Ignite Thailand” vision, articulated by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, aiming to position Thailand as a hub in eight key sectors,…
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Internal strife and political interference hinder Thai police reform
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) are in the throes of internal conflict and political interference, making police reform a distant goal, say observers. A recent high-profile disagreement between National Police Chief, Police General Torsak Sukvimol, and his deputy, Police General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, has fuelled this perception. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who presides over the Police Commission, allocated the…
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Thailand in talks with China to swap submarine for naval vessels
Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang is near finalising discussions with China to acquire alternative naval vessels instead of a submarine, aiming to conclude the talks by the end of this month. The negotiations began following Klungsang’s recent trip to China, where he introduced the proposal. China has shown openness to Thailand’s request to purchase two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) or a…
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Thai rice redemption price drops ahead of farming season
The upcoming farming season in Thailand, set to start this month, is witnessing a significant drop in the rice redemption price. This sharp decline, according to the Thai Agriculturist Association, is primarily due to market mechanisms and an oversupply of rice, particularly a Vietnamese variety. Agriculturist Association President Pramote Charoensilp noted that during the first crop season of the year,…
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Don Mueang Airport prepares for Songkran holiday travel spike
Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport gears up for an influx of approximately 625,000 passengers during the Songkran holiday period, which runs from April 11 to 17. It expects over 4,000 flights, marking a substantial 10.58% rise from the previous year’s data. Don Mueang Airport General Manager Wichit Kaewsaitiam attributed this surge to the government’s strategic policies aimed at bolstering domestic…
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Boy, 11, declines HIV test knowing partner’s positive status
An 11 year old boy stunned medical professionals with his response to a suggestion for an HIV test after a genital discharge complaint. The boy confidently declined the test, indicating that he was already aware of his status through his partner, an 18 year old girl. The alarming case emerged on the popular Facebook page ไม่ใช่หมอบ่น-aggressivenotdoctor, where it was revealed…
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Gold soars to unprecedented heights amid geopolitical tensions
As the second quarter of the year commences, gold has reached unprecedented heights, thanks to geopolitical tensions and the Federal Reserve’s impending rate cuts. The precious metal’s price soared to as high as US$2,259.69 per ounce, marking an increase of 1.3% from its value at the end of last week. The Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of core inflation, the core…
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World Bank predicts 2.8% economic growth for Thailand
The World Bank predicted a modest economic growth of 2.8% for Thailand in 2024, with an acceleration of 3.0% in 2025. This forecast announced today, April 1, is underpinned by the nation’s struggling exports and a postponed budget. This projection for 2024 and 2025 marks a decrease from the previously estimated figures of 3.2% and 3.1%, respectively, set in December.…
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Northern Thailand grapples with severe global air contamination
The hazardous red-coded levels of PM2.5 shrouded most northern provinces of Thailand today, with Chiang Mai earning the unenviable title of the city with the most severe air contamination globally. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) disclosed today, April 4, at 8am that 14 provinces were grappling with red (highly detrimental) levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and…
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Thailand grapples with intense heatwave, temperatures hit 40°C
Thailand is grappling with an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring past 40 degrees Celsius. The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning for intense heat across the country, along with thunderstorms expected in ten provinces. As the high-pressure system caused by intense heat envelops the upper region of Thailand, the entire country faces generally hot weather, accompanied by scattered…
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Isaan residents urged to avoid risky sex after 9 new Mpox cases
The Office of 9th Disease Prevention and Control Nakhon Ratchasima (ODPC 9) urged residents in the southern Isaan region to avoid engaging in any risky monkey business after nine new Mpox cases were reported between January 1 and February 13. The director of the ODPC 9, Thaweechai Wissanuyothin, said the number of Mpox cases (formerly monkeypox) in Thailand was decreasing…
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Italian national arrested for drunk driving in Phuket, Thailand
A drink driving incident yesterday led to the arrest of an Italian national in Phuket, Thailand. The man’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was found to be 95mg/dL, which is significantly above the legal limit. This 50 year old Italian man was apprehended by Patong Police around 4am in the vicinity of Loma Circle at the northern end of Patong Beach.…
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Pattaya heroics: Thai man saves drowning Aussie
A Thai man performed heroics to save an Australian man from drowning in the Pattaya sea but, in the aftermath, the foreigner remains in a critical condition. Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rescuers were notified about the drowning incident near Soi Jomtien 11 in Pattaya at about 3.15am today, April 1. Upon arrival, rescuers found a group of Thais and foreigners…
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Car crash near Phuket’s Heroines Monument leads to injuries
Thepkrasattri Road near the Heroines Monument in Phuket was the scene of a severe car crash that left a 34 year old Thai man seriously injured. The accident occurred in the early hours of today, April 1, after Decha Phothisrisung lost control of his vehicle, slamming into a palm tree on the central reservation before his pickup overturned. The distressing…
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Taking off: Passenger charges soar at six major Thai airports
Passenger service charges (PSC) at six major Thai airports have seen an increase, as announced by the Airports of Thailand Plc. The charges, applicable on both domestic and international departing flights, have been raised at Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Don Mueang, Hat Yai, Phuket and Suvarnabhumi airports. For international flights, the fees have been increased from 700 to 730 baht,…
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Lorry smuggling Myanmar migrants crashes in Thailand, 14 hurt
Fourteen people were injured when a lorry, smuggling Myanmar migrants illegally into Thailand, lost control and tipped over in the western province of Kanchanaburi. The incident, which occurred on Road 323 in Sangkhla Buri district shortly after midnight, saw the vehicle’s driver lose control while speeding down a hill and veer off a curve, subsequently fleeing the scene. The lorry…
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Teen gang violence escalates into shootout in Bangkok
Violence erupted on the streets of Bangkok when two rival teen gangs clashed, resulting in a dramatic shootout and the hurling of grenades along the Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. An 18 year old man was shot five times and fled to a local police station for safety in the early hours at around 3.40am on April 1. The intense confrontation was…
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Krill-iant phenomenon: Millions wash ashore a Phuket beach
Mai Khao Beach in Phuket experienced a peculiar occurrence as millions of krill washed ashore over the weekend. The event sparked worry among local villagers, particularly due to the unusual purple colour of the krill, as opposed to their typical pinkish-red hue. Winai Sae-ew, the Village Headman of Moo 4, Mai Khao, inspected the beach yesterday afternoon. During his investigation,…
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Hong Kong Airlines flight’s hiccup leads to Bangkok u-turn
A technical glitch forced a Hong Kong Airlines flight to make an abrupt return to Bangkok shortly after taking off for Hong Kong. The incident occurred yesterday, March 31, and involved flight HX780, which was ferrying over 200 passengers. Flight data indicates that the Airbus A330-300 twin-jet aircraft began to circle the airspace shortly after its 2am departure. By 2.25am,…
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Thai government stakes its future on casino complex amid pressure
The Government of Thailand is under pressure to review the specifics of the proposed casino and entertainment complex, aimed at boosting economic growth. According to Senator Sangsit Piriyarangsan, who has been investigating casino legalisation, the current plan requires adjustments. Sangsit argues that the bidding process for the casino complex project should not be exclusive to Thai companies. By enabling foreign…
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Thai government bets big on crackdown against online gambling
The Thai government took assertive action against online gambling websites, recognising them as significant economic crimes. Deputy Government spokesperson Kanika Aunjit announced the policy yesterday, March 31, revealing the government’s commitment to investigating, suspending, restricting, and blocking such websites nationwide. Kanika conveyed that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had a keen acknowledgement of the issues linked with online gambling. The 62…
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Russian couple’s dine and dash attempt exposed in Phuket restaurant
A shameless cheating Russian couple insisted they had settled their bill at a Phuket restaurant after being accused of attempting to dine and dash. They later falsely incriminated a Thai waitress of theft but their deception was exposed by CCTV footage, forcing them to apologise and settle the bill. The restaurant shared security footage of the incident on a Facebook…
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Industrial Commission exposes Chinese steel mill’s law violations
The Industrial Commission in Thailand has exposed law violations on the back of a Chinese steel mill crane collapsing in Rayong. This mill, as it turns out, is under Chinese ownership. The revelation led by Industrial Commission Chairman Akaradej Wongpitakroj has brought to the surface allegations of multiple Thai law violations by these Chinese investors. The commission informed the public…
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Sony sparks economic surge with billion-baht investment in Thailand
Sony Semiconductor Solutions today declared a billion-baht investment in Thailand to boost the nation’s stuttering economy. The announcement, which came to light on Saturday, March 30, revealed an investment surpassing 2.57 billion baht for the construction of a manufacturing factory. The manufacturing site is slated for completion by March 2025. According to reports, it will be tasked with the production…
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3 year old Thai girl injured in Pink Line MRT liquid cement incident
A family of three narrowly avoided tragedy when liquid cement from a Pink Line MRT construction site spilt onto their sedan on Saturday. The incident damaged the car and caused injuries to a three-year-old girl. A Thai mother Saichol Charawatchala, shared the distressing account of her and her children’s experience on Facebook on Saturday, March 30. Saichol recalled that she…
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Thai police arrest foreigners for fraud in Bangkok and Pattaya
The Thai Immigration Police Bureau (IBP) successfully apprehended two foreign nationals, originating from South Korea and Taiwan, in Pattaya and Bangkok. Both individuals were being actively pursued by their respective countries for allegations of fraud. The first individual apprehended, known under the alias of Oh, is a 51 year old hailing from South Korea. He was found in a condominium…
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ATPD uncovers prostitution ring in Bangkok, 16 arrested
The Thai Anti Trafficking In Persons Division (ATPD) made a significant breakthrough in their mission to combat illegal activities, apprehending 15 undocumented male workers from Myanmar and a Thai massage shop owner in the bustling district of Wang Thonglang, Bangkok. This incident took place within the confines of the bustling Lat Phrao shopping complex on March 30. A tip-off from…
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Pattaya streets shaken by underwear-sniffing thief debauchery
The tranquil streets of Soi Sawang Fa 2 in Pattaya, have been rocked over the past couple of weeks after a knicker-sniffing pervert was spotted stealing underwear to fulfill his debauched desires. Local authorities are now on the hunt for an unidentified man, believed to be in his thirties and of an average physique, who has been adding a touch…
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Thai smog crisis prompts call for global shift to plant-based diets
Northern Thailand is grappling with a persistent smog problem, typically attributed to crop waste burning, deforestation for mushroom harvesting and vehicle emissions, prompting calls for a global shift to plant-based diets. However, an emerging consensus among scientists and environmental activists suggests a deeper, global solution is required to avert a climate disaster. The crux of the issue, they argue, lies…
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