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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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Wednesday Covid Update: 14,802 new cases; provincial totals
252 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 11,841 with 11,747 of those fatalities reported since April 1 during the latest wave of the virus. The CCSA also 14,802 new Covid-19 cases and 18,996 recoveries in the 24-hour period since the last count, bringing the number of active cases…
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Phuket extends tight entry restrictions, vaccine required for most
Tight entry restrictions to Phuket have been extended until at least for the next two weeks, according to a provincial order imposed yesterday. Domestic entry onto the island province by land, water, and air is prohibited, with the exception of essential vehicles, residents returning home, and travellers entering under the “Sandbox” scheme. Those allowed to enter Phuket under the exceptions…
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Poacher arrested in Pathum Thani for allegedly catching and selling macaques
An alleged poacher was arrested by the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department officials today. The suspect and another man would allegedly shoot wild macaque monkeys with tranquilising darts and later sell the monkeys for 1,000 to 1,500 baht each. Officers say 40 year old Pitak Thongsu was found with 6 macaques in his possession. Head of special operations for…
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1 new death, another daily Covid-19 record in Phuket
With one new death and one new Phuket Sandbox traveller infected, Phuket continues its upward climb in Covid-19 infection rates. Yesterday saw a record 257 Covid-19 infections in one day (Monday), one more than the last new record high in Phuket the day before. For Tuesday Phuket has reported 119 new infections. The death from Monday’s totals brought the total…
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Prosecutor says Nakhon Sawan district police intended to kill the drug suspect
The head of a regional prosecutor’s office is claiming the now-ousted Nakhon Sawan district police superintendent intended to kill the drug suspect. Video footage of the interrogation early last month shows the suspect with a plastic bag over his head. A recently released autopsy report says the man died from suffocation, but police earlier wrote off the cause of death…
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Pattaya birthday party busted for breaking emergency decree
18 people were arrested and police seized methamphetamine, ketamine, ecstasy at a birthday party last night in Pattaya. The party was a violation of the Emergency Decree and Disease Control Act as the gathering risks the spread of Covid-19 The Nong Prue police chief, Chiddecha Songhong, says police arrived at the house located at the Pool Villa Resort around 11pm…
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Government considering Covid-19 cards for vaccinated people and recovered patients
The Thai government is considering issuing cards that show who’s been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or who has recovered from the virus. Kiattiphum Wongrajit from the Public Health Ministry says the cards could be useful as various businesses prepare for re-opening in a Covid-19 world. The Bangkok Post reports Kiattiphum as saying fully vaccinated people could be issued with green-coloured…
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More anti-government protests in Bangkok today, day 2 of no-confidence debate
Police in Bangkok are preparing for more anti-government protests today, with 2,250 officers on duty to patrol rallies by 3 different groups. Today is day 2 of the no-confidence debate against the government, with protests planned by Ratsadorn Taliban, Ramkhamhaeng for Democracy, and Thalugas, with each group meeting in different areas of the capital. According to a Bangkok Post report,…
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Hua Hin opts for quarantine-free re-opening, similar to Phuket sandbox
The head of Hua Hin Recharge, which aims to re-open the popular tourist spot from October 1, says the programme will be similar to the Phuket sandbox scheme. Krod Rojanastien adds that he’s confident Hua Hin can achieve the required herd immunity in time. The Bangkok Post reports that as of yesterday, 55% of Hua Hin’s 90,564 residents have been…
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Calls for former police chief’s wealth to be investigated
An activist from the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution has petitioned the Anti-Money Laundering Office to look into the wealth acquired by former police chief, Thitisan Utthanaphon. Thitisan has been fired as police chief in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan and is being investigated for his alleged role in the death of a suspect in custody.…
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Wednesday Covid Update: 252 deaths and 14,802 new cases
252 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The CCSA also 14,802 new Covid-19 cases and 18,996 recoveries in the 24-hour period since the last count, bringing the number of active cases in Thailand to 166,922. In the latest and most severe wave of the virus in Thailand, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has reported 1,013,342…
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Phuket officials look to vaccinated domestic visitors for tourism lifeline
Officials on the southern island of Phuket are pinning their hopes on vaccinated domestic tourists to revive the flagging economy. A proposal to attract vaccinated local tourists is being submitted for approval and if granted, would replace current restrictions, says deputy governor, Pichet Panapong. According to a Bangkok Post report, Pichet says the current measures on Phuket are damaging the…
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Afghanistan pullout chills US-German relations
After the Taliban took Kabul and desperate Afghans flooded the airport trying to escape the country, outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her dismay: “The developments are bitter, dramatic and terrible,” she said at a press conference on August 16. “It seems right now like it was all in vain.” For Germany, whose military has spent nearly 20 years in…
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Will post-Afghanistan US foreign policy shift focus to Southeast Asia?
The calamity of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan over the past two weeks has drawn scathing rebukes of US foreign policy, while raising serious questions over how the US intends to project power in the future. In Southeast Asia, the US has been working to shore up regional alliances vis a vis China. Last week, US Vice President Kamala Harris…
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The aftermath of Hurricane Ida
Hurricane Ida caused massive destruction in the US state of Louisiana, killing at least two people. Almost 400,000 people are without electricity in New Orleans alone and it could take months to repair the damage. SOURCE: DW News
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Worldwide calls grow for mediation in Ethiopia’s conflict
Hoping to increase pressure on the warring parties to end the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, dozens of African scholars and activists around the world took the unusual step of publishing an open letter calling for a negotiated peace. “Ethiopia is on the precipice,” the letter reads, after condemning “the fact that the conflict is affecting ever-increasing numbers of civilians,”…
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Parks, sports fields and other venues allowed to reopen in Bangkok
Following the decision to ease restrictions in “dark red” provinces, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration announced they were revising the provincial order to be line with the national measures set by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration and to now allow parks, sports stadiums, department stores, and other venues to reopen. In line with the order by the CCSA, restaurants, including those…
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Kanchanaburi’s Phu Nam Rom border with Myanmar to reopen tomorrow for cargo
The Phu Nam Rom border crossing in western Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province will reopen tomorrow for the transportation of cargo between Thailand and Myanmar. Governor Jirakiat Phumsawat, who is also the chairman of the provincial communicable disease committee, issued the order today to reopen the Phu Nam Ron checkpoint, which sits opposite Myanmar’s Tiki checkpoint. Jirakiat says the Covid situation on…
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Officials say employees are to resume work, compensated accordingly following ease on restrictions
With restrictions easing in “dark red” zones tomorrow, the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare has declared that employees can go back to work with their normal compensation, according to Thai media sources. The department has declared that employers are required to summon all employees back to work and pay them accordingly. If employees are not paid their wages, their…
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Supreme Court acquits 6 PAD leaders, gives 3 other prison terms
6 leaders of the now defunct People’s Alliance for Democracy have been acquitted by Thailand’s Supreme Court today. The charges were connected to the leaders’ role in spearheading continual mass protests that lasted from May to October of 2008. The protests sought the removal of then PM Samsak Sundaravej. The former PAD leaders are… Former Bangkok governor Chamlong Srimuang Former…
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Why Qatar fosters close contact with the Taliban
Just a few days ago, US President Joe Biden picked up the phone to thank the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for the generous support in the ongoing evacuation from Afghanistan. Biden also thanked Qatar for facilitating intra-Afghan talks — even though they had failed even before the Taliban took power. Germany, meanwhile, criticized Qatar after the…
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Regulations for flights between “dark red” provinces set
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand announced over the weekend that starting tomorrow airlines will be able to take passengers between the 29 “dark red” provinces. The flights must strictly adhere to disease control measures. The announcement follows the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s announcement on Friday that the cessation of domestic air travel will be removed. In order to…
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Tuesday Covid Update: 14,666 new cases; provincial totals
190 coronavirus-related fatalities were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 11,589. Out of that number, 11,495 people infected with Covid-19 died during the country’s latest and most severe wave of the virus, which was first recorded on April 1. The CCSA reported 14,666 new Covid-19 cases and 19,245 recoveries in the…
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7 monks receive suspended jail terms, 10,000 baht fines from Chiang Mai court
7 monks and 1 friend who were found enjoying food and alcoholic drinks Sunday night, 4 of whom were abbots, have been defrocked from the monkhood, fined, and given suspended jail sentences for breaking Covid containment measures. Police, who had received complaints from residents, raided a location for monks at Wat Pansao in Chiang Mai. Bangkok Post says the monks…
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Train that was bombed over the weekend in Southern Thailand resumes service
A freight train that was bombed and experienced gunfire over the weekend in Southern Thailand is back up and running. The bomb exploded as the train was passing through Narathiwat on the Bangkok- Sungai Kolok route Saturday at around 12:30pm. Gunshots were fired at one carriage. The explosion damaged the train and the rail track, but luckily no one was injured…
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Last US troops leave Afghanistan, ending 20-year war
Ending the 20-year war, the longest in American history, the United States completed its withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan yesterday, leaving the country in hands of the Taliban. The Islamic militant group swiftly took over the country’s capital, Kabul, earlier this month. Gunshots were fired in celebration after the last US soldiers left Afghanistan. In an Al Jazeera TV yesterday, Taliban…
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Illegal timber seized in Kanchanaburi, 1 person arrested
A young man was arrested and an undisclosed amount of Siamese Rosewood logs were seized at a temple in the western province of Kanchanaburi yesterday. The endangered wood is protected under Thai law and those charged with illegal logging can face up to 20 years prison and an up to 2 million baht fine. Officials had received reports that the Nong Pla…
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Police issue warning over rumoured death of officer who leaked custody killing footage
Thai police have hit back at unsubstantiated rumours of the death of a police officer who leaked footage of a suspect allegedly being killed in custody. National police spokesperson Yingyong Thepjamnong has described the claims as, “fake news” and warned that those behind them could face prosecution under the Computer Crime Act. Claims that a junior officer named as Tossaporn…
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Tuesday Covid Update: 190 deaths and 14,666 new cases
190 coronavirus related-deaths were reported today, a decline over the past few weeks as the daily Covid death count has been in the 200s and hit a high of 312 on August 18. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported 14,666 new Covid-19 cases and 19,245 recoveries in the 24-hour period since the last count. Thailand now has 171,368 active Covid-19 cases,…
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Anti-government protesters arrested after police officer injured at weekend rally
Following Sunday’s anti-government protest in Bangkok, 2 activists have been arrested after video footage allegedly showed them injuring a police officer. The Bangkok Post reports that the pair are among a total of 27 protesters arrested, according to Pakapong Pongpetra from the Metropolitan Police Bureau. He says 13 of the detainees are minors and 2 are women. Sunday’s rally began…
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