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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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Monk detained after allegedly sending explicit video to 20 children
A monk in Udon Thani is facing charges after he allegedly sent an explicit video of himself to 20 children, inviting them to have sex with him in exchange for money. 49 year old Pramuk Jaroensuk was forced to leave his monkhood and was charged with publishing pornographic material and attempting to have sexual intercourse with minors. The monk came…
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Police allegedly caught taking a bribe, officers told to “behave appropriately”
An officer was caught on camera allegedly taking a bribe at a checkpoint in Pathum Thani’s Thanyaburi district. The clip shared on Facebook shows a driver of a 10-wheel truck handing 100 baht to a police officer. Provincial police chief Chayut Marayat has ordered the Thanyaburi police chief to investigate and determine if the officer was bribed. If the cop…
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Thais protest PornHub ban, digital minister says ban will promote “good values”
After the popular free porn website “PornHub” was blocked, a group of people protested the ban outside the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society office at the Government Complex in Bangkok’s Chaengwattana district. The ministry recently blocked access to PornHub and 190 URL addresses linked to porn. Porn is illegal in Thailand and digital minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta says the move…
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Maya Bay may re-open next year, under strict conditions
The government is considering re-opening Maya Bay in 2021, although things are not expected to return to how they once were, with the famous beach overrun by out-of-control tourist numbers each day. Nation Thailand reports that a panel of environmental experts will be consulted on a possible re-opening of the bay, made famous in 2000 with the release of the…
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Leading doctor says Thailand’s Covid success faces threat from rising cases in neighbouring countries
A leading academic at Mahidol University says rising cases of Covid-19 in neighbouring countries may prove a threat to Thailand’s apparent success in suppressing the virus. Prasit Watthana, dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Siriroj Hospital, says that while countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Australia have demonstrated success in bringing the virus under control, rising numbers in Malaysia and…
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Tourism Minister optimistic high season will see 10 million domestic trips a month
The Tourism and Sports Minister is aiming to see domestic tourists undertake 10 million trips a month during the forthcoming high season. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is hopeful the stimulus measures approved by Cabinet will boost tourism numbers and help off-set some of the economic devastation caused by the closure of Thailand’s borders. Domestic tourism first began to pick up in May,…
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European countries in lockdown as Covid-19 cases top 11 million
Covid-19 cases across Europe have now topped 11 million, with Austria and Greece the latest countries to impose partial lockdowns. France, Germany, Belgium and Ireland have already done the same, introducing strict restrictions on movement and, in most cases, shutting all but non-essential services. Nearly 285,000 deaths from the virus have now been recorded across the continent. The Bangkok Post…
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Thai cabinet approves extension of jet fuel levy holiday
Whilst the current cheapest domestic air fares have been around the same prices they were before local airlines were grounded, there is a possibility of some more drops in your seat prices. Thailand’s budget carriers could be offering lower seat prices after the cabinet yesterday approved an extension of the jet fuel tax holiday. Thailand’s low-cost carriers have been slowly…
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Thailand News Today | Shootout in Pattaya, Exports down 7%, Hotels eschew ASQ | November 3
Thailand News Today, covering all the main stories from around Thailand. Please comment below or on the YouTube channel. Pattaya journalist injured as foreigner steals gun, fires at police, then kills himself An armed man has killed himself after a stand-off with police in Pattaya that lasted several hours, during which a journalist was shot. It’s understood the man, a…
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Temperatures to drop in Northern Thailand, heavy rain expected in the South
The wettest month of the Thai seasons has past. Now we head into cooler, and drier weather, at least in the central and northern regions. Cooler weather is expected in Northern Thailand while a monsoonal trough over Southern Thailand is expected to bring heavy rain, according to the Thai Meteorological Department. Meteorologists say cool weather with isolated rain is possible…
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PM calls for long-term plans to revitalise Phuket and Koh Samui
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is calling for long-term plans to rehabilitate Thailand’s tourist destinations following his visit to Koh Samui and Phuket where he saw first hand how the Covid-19 pandemic affected both islands. Prayut says conditions at Phuket are much more drastic as the province heavily relies on international travel. The prime minister says Phuket generates the second-highest income from…
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Empty Emirates plane lands in Phuket, first international flight since lockdown
An empty Emirates Airlines plane landed at the Phuket International Airport, the first international arrival at the airport since the Covid-19 lockdown was put in place 7 months ago. While no passengers were onboard the aircraft, flight EK376 was welcomed by a “water cannon salute” and landed while PM Prayut Chan-o-cha was visiting the airport, according to a Facebook post…
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4 political activists, including human rights lawyer Anon, released from custody
Human rights lawyer and protest leader, Anon Nampa, has been released from custody, alongside 3 other pro-democracy activists. Thai PBS World reports that Aekkachai Hongkangwan, Somyot Prueksakasemsook, and Suranart Paenprasert left Bangkok Remand Prison with Anon, just after midnight last night. Their release comes after the Criminal Court rejected a bid by police to retain the 4 in custody. Anon…
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Pattaya journalist injured as foreigner steals gun, fires at police, then kills himself
An armed man has killed himself after a stand-off with police in Pattaya that lasted several hours, during which a journalist was shot. It’s understood the man, a 25 year old American citizen, stole a Glock 9mm with 8 bullets from a shooting range, with staff trying but failing to stop him from making his getaway on a motorbike, according…
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2 dead, 1 injured in suspected murder-suicide in Samut Prakan
A man allegedly shot and killed a woman before shooting himself to death after finding her in bed with another man. Police say the other man was shot and injured as he was fleeing the Samut Prakan apartment. Police were called to the second floor apartment above a boat noodle shop and found the owner of the shop, identified as…
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Hotels reluctant to apply for ASQ status due to government’s cap on tourist arrivals
With the number of foreign arrivals who can enter Thailand on the special tourist visa limited to just 1,200 a month, hotel owners say they’re reluctant to apply for alternative state quarantine status. Hoteliers say a lack of tourists in sufficient numbers, coupled with the number of quarantine facilities already in existence, means the investment required to gain ASQ approval…
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Thai Airways to launch one-off flight over sacred Buddhist sites
Thai Airways has announced a special flight on November 30 that will give passengers the opportunity to chant Buddhist mantras while flying over 99 sacred sites in the Kingdom. Wiwat Piyawiroj, executive vice-president at the struggling national carrier, says passengers will fly over Bangkok and 31 provinces, taking in 99 holy sites, over which they will be able to chant…
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Government to consider rescue packages for tourism businesses in South
The government will hold a mobile Cabinet meeting in Phuket today to consider potential rescue packages for tourism-related businesses that have been ravaged by the closure of international borders. The proposals, which include soft loans for airlines and other businesses, come after PM Prayut Chan-o-cha met with Phuket business representatives and local officials yesterday. The Bangkok Post reports that the…
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3 dead after shootings near synagogue in Vienna
3 people are dead, including an alleged shooter, after a series of attacks in central Vienna. The Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz described as a “repulsive terror attack”. One suspect was “shot and killed by police officers”, according to Vienna police. A woman wounded in an attack in central Vienna has since died of her injuries. Her death briought the civilian toll to…
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Thai Airways offers ‘semi-commercial’ flights to 7 international destinations
After a major slowdown in both international and domestic travel due to coronavirus travel restrictions, Thai Airways is now offering flights to and from 7 international destinations over the next 2 months, according to the airline’s chief executive Wiwat Piyawirot. These flights are “semi-commercial.” Wiwat says return flights are intended for Thais returning home from overseas, those with families in…
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Thailand News Today | HM comments, PM visits Phuket & Samui, Thai floods | November 2
Back for another week of daily news updates, the most widely watched Thai news program, in English. What’s on the program today? “We love them all the same” – His Majesty comments about the Thai protesters In a rare moment, and certainly the first time commenting about the current political unrest, His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn has described Thailand as “the…
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Some claim “invisible Western hands” back Thailand’s pro-democracy movement
As the pro-democracy movement spreads, some are speaking out and accusing Western countries – specifically the United States – of “interfering” with Thai politics and backing the student-led protests. A commentator for the Chinese Community Party tabloid Global Times even said the Thai youth are being used as “cannon fodder by the US and its proxies.” Pro-democracy activists say this isn’t…
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“Get the flu shot,” Thai FDA eases worries after post-injection deaths in South Korea
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration is trying to ease the public’s fears over influenza vaccines after 59 people in South Korea reportedly died sometime after getting the flu shot (although there’s no evidence so far that links the vaccine to the deaths.) FDA deputy secretary general Surachoke Tangwiwat says that vaccine has never been imported to Thailand, adding that people…
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Live grenade found in garbage pile near Chon Buri housing estate
A man found a live grenade in a garbage pile near a Chon Buri housing estate. 48 year old Sukhawut Wichada said he was looking around the area for papaya when he came across the grenade. “I was searching for papaya before I found this… I knew it was a grenade. I ran away before calling the police.” Both police…
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Phuket is “100% ready” for Special Tourist Visa flights – Transport Minister
The Phuket International Airport is ready for international tourists. The airport has been preparing for weeks and initially expected a group foreigners on the new Special Tourist Visa to arrive last month. Covid-19 mobile testing vehicles were even sent to the airport in early October, prepared to test all the tourists upon arrival, but the travel plans were cancelled last…
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Bangkok Airways offers unlimited flights through new membership program
Bangkok Airways is now offering unlimited domestic flights through a new membership program. The airline launched the new Elite Card for 100,000 baht, allowing unlimited travel throughout 2021. Those interested can apply for the card from now until November 30. Tickets for flights from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 can be booked starting on December 16. Air Asia…
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Pattaya security guard arrested for indecent exposure in front of school
A security guard has been arrested for public indecency after exposing himself and masturbating in front of teachers and students at a school in Pattaya. The Pattaya News reports that 29 year old Marut Ruchiwong is accused of carrying out the acts at the gate of Wat Sukree Bunyaram School, in the district of Banglamung. It’s understood Marut drove his…
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3 people missing after being swept away by flash flooding in Prachinburi
A Highways Department official and 2 villagers are missing in the eastern province of Prachinburi, after they were swept away by strong currents caused by heavy flooding. Thai PBS World reports that heavy rain resulted in water runoffs from mountains in Khao Yai and Tap Larn national parks, leading to flash floods. 32 provinces were on alert after heavy rains…
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Fuel tanker driver killed in crash, truck engulfed in flames
A fuel tanker truck driver died yesterday in the northern province Lamphun after crashing into a car. The truck carrying fuel overturned and caught fire. 59 year old Nikom Kamchan’s body was found near the wreck after firefighters extinguished the fire. It’s the second fuel tanker fire in the past week. 29 year old Patcharin Somsawan says he was driving…
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PM in 2 day visit to economically-ravaged islands of Phuket, Samui
The PM and his Cabinet are visiting Phuket and Samui today and tomorrow, in order to meet with business leaders and provincial government, to discuss ways to help the decimated local economies. Since the closure of borders in late March, as the Covid-19 pandemic began its worldwide rampage, former tourist hotspots like the southern islands have borne the brunt of…
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