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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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Biden and Marcos to discuss economic ties and Indo-Pacific at White House meeting
US President Joe Biden is set to meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on May 1 at the White House, according to a statement by White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday. The leaders will discuss deepening economic ties and address issues in the Indo-Pacific region. Jean-Pierre stated that they are also keen to explore further economic cooperation. “During the…
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YouTuber finds human skull on banks of Mekong River in Thailand
A YouTuber found a human skull while filming content on the banks of the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province in northeast Thailand yesterday. At 6pm, Chanathip Chapuban – aka Mukdahan Moss – was riding a motorbike and filming content for his YouTube channel when he noticed something by the water on Sai Thong Kot Boon Beach (Si Khotrabun Golden…
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Thai man hunting honey in forest dies from bee stings
A Thai man died from bee stings yesterday after he and his friends hunted for honey in the Phu Phan National Park in the Isaan province of Kalasin. The deceased was identified as 51 year old Thongphan Jitchomphu. His body was found hanging from a vine 10 metres above the ground in the forest. A rescue team and locals helped…
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Kind police officer delivers order on behalf of Grab driver who fainted amid Thailand’s scorching heat
Thai netizens praised a police officer from Chana Songkram Police Station in Bangkok, Thailand, for his kindness after he volunteered to deliver an order on behalf of a Grab delivery driver who fainted and crashed his motorbike amid sweltering heat on Wednesday. The 45 year old Grab driver and his 14 year old daughter picked up an order from a…
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Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16: What you need to know
Thailand has recently reported 27 cases of the new Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16, leading authorities to closely monitor its transmission speed and the ease with which it can escape people’s ability to handle the virus following months, if not years, of vaccinations and herd immunity development. The Ministry of Public Health is recommending that individuals, particularly senior citizens and those with…
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Tourism Authority of Thailand launches Vijitr lighting extravaganza across country
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched the ‘Vijitr’ lighting extravaganza, a series of light and sound events taking place across the five regions of Thailand from April to June 2023. The aim is to promote meaningful travel experiences and the drive towards more sustainable tourism. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said… “This ‘Vijitr’ lighting in five…
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Drunk hit-and-run driver in Bangkok flees scene with victim clinging to bonnet (video)
A 20 year old drunk driver crashed his Mercedes-Benz into a motorcycle taxi driver on the Rama 9 Road in Bangkok. The driver was caught on camera fleeing the scene of the accident with the victim still clinging to the car bonnet. On Tuesday, a Thai TikToker posted a video of an incident at the Rama 9 intersection which occurred…
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Twitter’s blue tick removal sparks concerns
Twitter has taken a significant step by initiating the removal of blue ticks from high-profile individuals such as Pope Francis, Donald Trump, and Justin Bieber. They have now lost their verified status on the platform. Previously, Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, had pledged to do away with the “lords and peasants system” that he believed the blue ticks represented.…
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Mor Lam stage collapses during strong winds in northeast Thailand
A newly installed Mor Lam stage collapsed during strong winds in Bueng Kan province in northeast Thailand yesterday shortly before a concert was set to begin, sending performers and attendees fleeing in all directions. Strong winds brewed as Mor Lam fans piled in to watch the Rabiab Watasin Mor Lam Group perform a free concert on a huge stage at…
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ERC’s tariff cut to benefit households
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is anticipated to reveal a decrease in fuel tariffs (Ft) from May to August today, resulting in a drop in power tariff rates for households to 4.70 baht per kilowatt-hour unit from the current 4.77 baht per unit. This decision comes in response to public outcry over surges in electricity bills during the summer months,…
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Cannex Asia 4/20, the ultimate cannabis community event is happening in Bangkok
“Join the ultimate cannabis celebration of the year – the Cannex Asia 4/20 event this 20th – 22nd of April 2023 at Emquartier, Bangkok” Get ready to attend the Cannex Asia 4/20 festival, an idea proposed by the Cannex Asia team, a group of business professionals and actual experts in the marijuana industry. The event will feature various aspects of…
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Khao San’s ‘420’ celebrations cancelled
The 420 cannabis celebrations planned for Khao San Road were cancelled following criticism that the event would breach Thailand’s laws that prohibit smoking cannabis in public places. A local group of vendors intended to organise the Cannabis Day Showcase event with a parade along the street, as cannabis has been removed from the narcotics list. However, the event was met…
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MGM Resorts set sights on Thailand that could help attract more tourists
Thailand, which has notoriously steered away from gambling, has started to make moves towards legalising casinos – with the hope that it could put them up there with other famous gambling destinations and attract more tourists to the country. In the past few months, lawmakers in the country have approved a report, meaning that there is a very real possibility…
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Thailand warns against public cannabis use, imposes fines and jail time
The Department of Health (DOH) under the Ministry of Public Health has issued a stern warning to the public about the legal ramifications of smoking cannabis in public spaces. The DOH has also notified local authorities to prepare for stricter enforcement against unsubstantiated casual events. Additionally, the public is encouraged to report any nuisance incidents to local officials immediately. Dr.…
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Construction accident at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok injures 4
A construction accident occurred at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, today at 4pm. Four people were injured and one emergency police vehicle was damaged. Workers were hoisting materials to the upper floors of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital opposite Lumpini Park with a rope this afternoon when 40-50 metal sheets suddenly fell onto the footpath below on Ratchadamri Road. Four people…
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Scat woman: Thai taxi drivers warn of female passenger who poops in car
A Thai taxi driver in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok took to Facebook to warn fellow drivers of a female passenger who has been known to poop in cars and then flee without paying. The driver shared dashcam footage and his story on a Facebook group called Taxi Drivers (Thailand) on Friday, April 14 with a caption that said… “Warning…
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Thailand’s Som Tam voted 6th best salad in the world
Northeast Thailand’s “som tam,” aka spicy papaya salad, was voted sixth best salad in the world by online food guide TasteAtlas. Another Thai dish, phla kung, also won accolades, coming in ninth place. Sanook pointed out that Thailand’s som tam was ranked higher than Cambodia’s green papaya salad, bok l’hong, voted 30th best salad. TasteAtlas’s Top 10 Best Rated Salads in…
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Missing woman found dead in a parked car at a petrol station
A Thai rescue team volunteer discovered the dead body of a missing woman in a car parked in a petrol station in the Sikhiao district of the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima on Tuesday. The Thai rescue team volunteer detected an unpleasant smell when he parked his car at the petrol station. He realised it was the scent of a…
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Breaking free: Young gay man flees Saudi Arabia for acceptance and safety
A young gay man bravely came out last year, but when his family could not accept him, the 20 year old had no choice but to leave Saudi Arabia, a deeply conservative country, to find freedom and safety. Turki (name changed for security reasons) recalls the harsh treatment he faced from his family after coming out as gay in Saudi…
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Gun used to shoot dead net idol in Bangkok belongs to ex-boyfriend’s military officer father
UPDATE #2 The gun used to shoot dead “Gigi” the net idol and her air force cadet ex-boyfriend “Ikkyu” in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday is licensed and belongs to Ikkyu’s father, who is a high-ranking military officer, according to a spokesperson for the National Police Agency Pol. Lt. Gen. Archayon Kraithong. Police have completed their assessment of the CCTV footage and confirm…
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Thai police catch man accused of murdering and burying bank manager
Thai police today caught a man accused of murdering and burying a bank manager in the central Nonthaburi province. Nonthaburi investigators and Din Daeng police arrested the suspect, 32 year old Tasapong Suprom-in, in Bangkok’s Din Daeng district today, Bangkok Post reported. The body of Rotenaruebet Hasadindetdamrong, the manager of Bangkok Bank’s headquarters in the Silom area of Bangkok, was…
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Volunteer rescuer dies after attempting to save life in Ayutthaya
A member of the Ayutthaya Ruam Jai Rescue Team died after performing CPR on a patient in the early hours of this morning. The cause of his death is currently under investigation. A fellow member of the rescue team, Panya Choomanee, spoke to Channel 7 today about the death of his friend, 45 year old Somsak Sisue. At 3am today,…
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Decapitated dugong washes up on beach in southern Thailand
A decapitated dugong with wounds all over its body washed up on a beach on Koh Sriboya island in Krabi province in southern Thailand yesterday. It’s a tragic event considering that dugongs are protected by Thai law and there are only an estimated 200 of them left in Thailand’s waters. The carcass of a 2-metre-long male dugong weighing no less…
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Observers marvel at stunning solar eclipse in Australia
Blokes and Sheilas from all walks of life, including professional astronomers and hobbyist star buffs, made their way to a remote part of Western Australia today to get front-row seats to a gripping celestial event – a total solar eclipse lasting a full 58 seconds. Exmouth, located on the country’s northwest edge, saw caravans lined up, telescopes out in force…
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The party rages on in Pattaya after Songkran comes to a halt
Thailand’s notorious nightlife wonderland of Pattaya is still in party mode even though Songkran is over. The city’s three-day afterparty kicked off on Tuesday, with revellers enjoying the water fights and festivities in the sweltering heat. Yesterday, the Wan Lai or Flowing Day celebration took place, with crowds flocking to the beachfront and Wat Chai Mongkol armed with water guns…
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Police step in to rescue 9 year old walking 18km home after fleeing abuse
Police in the Isaan province of Udon Thani came to the aid of a vagrant nine year old boy attempting to walk 18 kilometres back home. The boy fled his home due to an allegedly abusive father and was living alone in an abandoned house. On Tuesday, April 18, a 31 year old officer from Chai Wan Police Station, Anusorn…
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Tourism to Thailand’s Koh Kradan jumps sixfold after winning title as best beach on earth
Thailand’s Koh Kradan island in Trang province is welcoming more than 2000 tourists per day since the island was voted ‘best beach on earth‘ by the UK website World Beach Guide last month, according to Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. “After Koh Kradan was ranked the best beach on earth, the number of tourists has jumped to 2000…
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Police request AI assistance for crime solving
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) are urging for an enhancement of the Immigration Bureau’s biometric identification systems using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to aid in the tracking and monitoring of international criminals. This recommendation comes in the wake of recent abduction incidents involving Chinese victims. In one case, officers from the Bang Phong Phang Police Station successfully rescued a Chinese…
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Migrant workers fill gap in Thailand’s tourism and service sectors due to labour shortage
Migrant workers are increasingly filling roles in Thailand‘s tourism and service sectors, due to a chronic manpower shortage, according to Tanit Sorat, deputy chairman of the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand (ECOT). The labour shortage is the result of new Thai graduates choosing freelance jobs and the country’s ageing population. Sorat explained that with many graduates preferring a slower lifestyle over…
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Temporary Covid-19 surge may result in 10,000 daily cases
A new wave of Covid-19 infections is expected to bring daily cases to 5,000-10,000, but a swift decline in numbers is predicted thereafter, according to Dr Nitipatana Chierakul, Head of the Respiratory Disease and Tuberculosis Division at the Faculty of Medicine in Siriraj Hospital. In a statement on his Facebook page, Dr Nitipatana noted a rise in infections caused by…
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