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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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ASEAN membership: Roadmap endorsed for Timor-Leste’s inclusion and Thai trade
Yesterday, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign affairs announced that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has recently endorsed a roadmap that outlines the steps for Timor-Leste becoming its 11th member. This ASEAN membership move is expected to benefit Thailand economically by expanding trade and investment opportunities between the two nations. Timor-Leste initially submitted its request for…
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Timber regulations tightened, Thailand targets Siamese rosewood exports
The Commerce Ministry of Thailand recently announced two new regulations targeting the timber trade. Beginning on July 17, traders will be required to hold a certificate of import to import timber, processed wood, and wooden artefacts. Additionally, starting August 16, the export of Siamese rosewood (phayung) will be prohibited, Bangkok Post reports. The director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, Ronnarong…
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Siam Piwat Simon plans second Premium Outlets in tourist hotspot
Shopping mall operator Siam Piwat Simon Co is exploring options for the best location to open a second branch of Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, focusing on provinces with a large local population and high foreign tourist numbers. Michael Tang, the company’s managing director, highlighted the importance of excellent transport infrastructure and convenient access for travellers when selecting the location for…
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An unlikely alliance: China and Palestine join forces, stirring US tensions (video)
In a move sure to infuriate the powers that be in the United States, China and Palestine yesterday agreed to establish a strategic partnership and seek to find solutions to peace and the “legitimate national rights” of the Arab state oppressed by Israel. Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday welcomed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with full military honours at the Great…
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Tree falls on revered Thai monk’s house, minor damage sustained
In a remarkable incident, a large tree fell on the house of the revered Thai monk Luang Pu Mun, but the house remained mostly intact. The monk’s followers shared photos of the astonishing event that took place at the Wat Pa Phurithattatirawat Forest Monastery in Sakhon Nakhon, Thailand. This extraordinary occurrence happened when the area experienced heavy rainfall causing several…
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NACC investigation targets ex-House secretary over 15.4 million baht clock scandal
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) investigation is preparing to take legal action against Suwichak Nakwatcharachai, the former secretary-general of the House of Representatives, over allegations of his involvement in the irregular procurement of overpriced clocks worth 15.4 million baht for the parliament back in 2013. An inside source at the NACC revealed that a recent board meeting provided evidence supporting…
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Age-defying resurrection: Elderly Ecuadorian woman defies death, comes back to life (video)
In a shocking turn of events, a 76 year old Ecuadorian woman miraculously came back to life after she was pronounced dead by doctors just hours earlier. To the disbelief of her family, the woman, Bella, was found inside her coffin, breathing heavily and knocking on the lid, at her own funeral. Bella’s son, Gilbert, recounted the moment they realised…
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Bed of betrayal: Thai man stabs wife’s lover in naked shocker, flees
A Thai man stabbed his wife’s lover after catching the pair lying naked in bed before fleeing the scene of the crime. Officers from Rayong Police Station rushed to rescue the victim, 25 year old Boonkorn Saetiao, who sustained stab wounds at a house in Rayong province in the eastern part of Thailand. Boonkorn was found hiding in the house…
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Student pours food on another student over cat smell debate in heated altercation
A male student engaged in a heated conversation about the smell of cats found himself slapped with a tray of food and involved in an altercation with a female student who allegedly took offence at his discussion. The incident occurred in the cafeteria of Tienjin University, China, where the extent of the argument led to police intervention and further controversy…
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Thailand tourism thrives with 1,200% surge in Klook bookings
Online travel platforms continue to express optimism about Thailand’s tourism growth this year, propelled by a substantial increase in visitor arrivals. Wilfred Fan, Chief Commercial Officer at Klook, an online travel platform, stated that the company experienced a 1,200% increase in bookings for activities in Thailand year on year in the first five months of 2023. The top five markets…
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Tourism promotion: TCT urges government to market Thailand as prime retiree destination
Tourism promotion has driven the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) to urge the new government to market Thailand as a prime destination for retirees while advocating for regulatory changes that would encourage the development of the tourism industry. The TCT yesterday met with representatives from the Thai Sang Thai Party to discuss these proposed changes, following the party’s consultation with…
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Kamaa drama: Indian-owned club sparks chaos as tourists become targets in Pattaya (Video)
Staff from the Indian-owned Kamaa Club on Pattaya Walking Street attacked two Indian tourists yesterday. The victims fled the scene and have not yet filed a complaint with the police regarding the attack. The altercation was captured on video by a witness and later circulated on Thai social media platforms. The footage clearly shows the confrontation between the Indian tourists and…
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Take Me Out Thailand: American man gets blackout for his male chauvinistic attitude
Thirty Thai women in the popular dating game show Take Me Out Thailand gave a blackout to an arrogant 22 year old American man after he showed his male chauvinistic side. He insisted at the end of the show that he told the truth, thankfully the Thai contestants would not accept a man who appeared to have stepped out of…
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Thai community gathers to pay respects to turtle for good fortune
It was reported today that residents of Sai Kaew Community, Phimai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, gathered at house number 127/1 to pay their respects and seek good fortune from a beautifully kept turtle, ‘Kai Toon.’ The turtle is owned by Sawang Saungsombat, a 62 year old local. Sawang explained that her son bought the turtle for her to care for…
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Young policeman dies in taxi collision, shattering dreams and family plans
A tragic incident claimed the life of Thai sub-Lieutenant Anawat Phongerd, a young policeman from the Metropolitan Police’s Naval Unit, who collided with a taxi when chasing a suspect on his motorcycle. Despite his dreams and future plans for education and family, 27 year old Anawat left this world far too soon. According to reports, Anawat was pursuing a suspect…
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Heavy rain persists across Thailand: Bangkok flood risk increases, boats cautioned
Heavy rainfall is expected across Thailand today, with Bangkok facing a 70% chance of flooding. Authorities are warning people to avoid boating activities during this period. The Meteorological Department has predicted 24-hour weather conditions, stating that a moderate southwest monsoon system is covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand, while a trough is passing through Myanmar and…
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Myanmar conflict surge: Over 3,300 refugees seek shelter in Thailand
The conflict in Myanmar‘s Kayah State has led to a new surge of refugees seeking shelter in Thailand. Provincial Governor Chettha Mosikkharat confirmed that Thai authorities have rescued 3,342 refugees who fled the border war. The fighting in Kayah State involves the Karenni Army (KA), backed by the People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) and the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), and…
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On-the-job ride: Rookie worker accused of motorcycle theft, owner in hot pursuit
A worker was accused of stealing a motorcycle after just one day on the job, causing the owner to track him down. The incident occurred in the Mueang district of Udon Thani province on May 17. The owner finally found the thief in Pattaya with a female companion, immediately informing the police. Yesterday, 37 year old Kanitta Jaikhaan, who owns…
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Thai vocational students clash, leading to injuries
A clash between two groups of Thai vocational students yesterday resulted in injuries. The incident took place near a passenger terminal in Chachoengsao province, leading to police intervention and the questioning of one 16 year old student. Around 10 students from one vocational college had a standoff with a student from another technical institute, leading to a weapons-drawn clash before…
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Caught in bed: Cheating wife shields lover, demands husband admit mistakes
A married woman was caught red-handed with her lover, boldly protecting him even as her husband attacked them both physically. The cheating wife had tried to end her marriage unsuccessfully, and argued for her husband to own up to his mistakes, further infuriating him. Reporters said that in a viral case in China, a husband, alongside his friends, caught his…
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Ukraine reclaims 100 sq km in counteroffensive: Putin cites catastrophic losses
Ukrainian forces have reclaimed approximately 100 square kilometres of territory during the counteroffensive’s nascent stages in the 68th week of Russia’s invasion. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, has asserted that Ukraine is experiencing “catastrophic” losses, with Kyiv’s casualties being tenfold higher than Moscow’s. The ongoing counteroffensive efforts involve softening the Russian front lines using methods ranging from small arms and rocket…
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Serbian arrest of armed Kosovo police stirs tension, claims of kidnapping
Tensions have heightened as Serbian officials claim they have apprehended three armed Kosovo police officers within Serbian borders, whilst Kosovo authorities assert the officers were patrolling within their territory and were consequently “kidnapped.” Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, held Serbia responsible for the abduction and called for the officers’ release, claiming they were detained within Kosovo’s borders. In response, Serbian…
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Dorries awaits clarification on peerage before resigning as MP
The former culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, has stated that she will not officially step down until she receives clarification from Downing Street regarding why her peerage was not granted. In a series of tweets, Dorries addressed speculations surrounding her decision to delay her resignation from the House of Commons, which she initially announced her intentions to do on Friday. She…
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Malaysia’s Klang Valley sees singles’ high monthly spending due to cars
A recently published spending guide reveals that single individuals residing in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia must budget a minimum of RM2,600 per month if they own a car, and at least RM1,930 per month if they rely on public transportation. The guide seeks to provide a comprehensive outline of expenses for those living in this area, encompassing Kuala…
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US seeks answers from Israel on citizen’s death, army avoids charges
US authorities are planning to address the case of Omar Assad, an 80-year-old American citizen who was killed by Israeli forces last year, directly with Israel. This decision comes after the Israeli military opted not to pursue criminal charges in the case, claiming there was no “causal link” between Assad’s stress-induced heart attack and the actions of the soldiers. The…
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Miami Mayor Francis Suarez enters 2024 presidential race as GOP contender
Tossing his hat into the ring, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has joined the race for the 2024 United States presidential elections from the Republican camp. The son of a renowned Cuban American politician, Suarez recently filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, marking the beginning of his campaign journey, as reported by various US media outlets. Suarez now becomes the…
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Fed halts rate hikes as inflation decline slows, growth outlook brightens
A halt in interest rate hikes has been announced by the Federal Reserve, reflecting a response to an unexpectedly robust economy and a reduced pace in inflation decline. In order to simultaneously tackle both economic risks and inflation control, the Federal Open Market Committee unanimously agreed to maintain the current interest rate range. In a statement following the announcement, Fed…
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Modelo Especial tops US beer sales as Bud Light faces boycott
Constellation Brands’ Modelo Especial has surpassed Bud Light as the leading beer in the US market amidst a conservative backlash against Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Bud Light for partnering with transgender influencer, Dylan Mulvaney. Sales of Bud Light and Budweiser fell considerably by 24.6% and 9.2%, respectively, in the four weeks through June 3, compared to a year ago. In contrast, Modelo…
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Fed holds interest rates steady amid persistent inflation concerns
The Federal Reserve has opted to keep interest rates steady, marking the first time in over a year that it has not increased them. The decision, which holds the benchmark rate between 5% and 5.25%, allows officials time to evaluate the impact of ten prior rate hikes since March 2022. These measures were implemented in an attempt to control inflation.…
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Indian students facing removal in Canada granted temporary respite
A group of Indian students in Canada facing removal due to allegedly fraudulent college admission letters have been granted temporary respite. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced that “genuine students who are the victims of fraud” will be permitted to stay in the country pending further investigations. The students claim to have been deceived by an immigration agency in India and…
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