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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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20 baht notes printed with errors, says Bank of Thailand
A batch of 20 baht banknotes have been printed with errors, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) said yesterday. The BoT said the Thai numerals were printed mismatching the Arabic numerals. People can still use the misfit banknotes until they are fully removed from the system, Thai media said. The company De La Rue (DLR) International Limited said that there was…
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Loan shark bombs debtor’s house in southern Thailand
A loan shark allegedly threw a deadly military-grade hand grenade at a woman’s house in Phattalung province, southern Thailand, after she failed to meet repayments. At 2pm yesterday, police were called to a house in Mueang district after a gardener discovered an explosive device in the grass. Police evacuated neighbours and called Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers to the scene.…
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Thai researchers develop flood-resistant rice strain
As heavy rains continue to plunder Thailand, researchers have developed a new flood-resistant rice strain. The new strain, called Hom Le Noi, can grow in all climates, according to the chief of the team that developed it. The team is from the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. The team’s chief, Dr Theerayut Tuchinda, said that Hom Le Noi…
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Southeast Asia’s hospitality leaders step into the ring to fight for sustainability at PHIST 5
Back as a live, in-person gathering, this important annual forum embraced the combative, cultural spirit of Muay Thai to spark candid conversation and instigate positive change in the travel and tourism industry. PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), Southeast Asia’s biggest and best responsible travel and hospitality forum, returned on Monday 26th September to deliver a knockout blow to unsustainable…
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Phuket’s governor Narong braces for storm Noru
Phuket’s Governor Narong held a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Wednesday to prepare the island province for tropical Storm Noru. Narong said officials are ready to handle the storm with water removal, shelter, food, and other assistance. He said… “Every relevant office is ready to help as fast as possible with plans.” Meanwhile, Noru has wreaked havoc on other…
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Royal defamation case dropped against Thai activist
A Thai political and human rights activist admitted he is surprised the court dismissed a royal defamation charge against him. Tiwagorn Withiton was arrested after posting a picture of himself on Facebook wearing a t-shirt printed with “I lost faith in the monarchy” in June 2020. The political arm of the military, Internal Security Operations Command, visited Tiwagorn’s house soon after…
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OnlyFans star sentenced to six years in prison in Myanmar
Insein Prison Court in Myanmar sentenced a model to six years in prison yesterday for posting content online that “harms culture and dignity,” according to the Burmese military junta. Nang Mwe San is the first woman to ever be imprisoned over OnlyFans content in Myanmar. The 33 year old model and former doctor had previously taken part in anti-military protests…
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Activists plan protests across Bangkok
Thai authorities have ramped up security in the capital ahead of expected protests when the Constitutional Court releases its decision on the future of suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha later today. The court will rule on whether General Prayut’s constitutionally stipulated eight-year term is up. General Prayut came to power following a 2014 coup. Anti-government activists will hold rallies in…
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Singaporean food hawker centre makes NYC debut
A Singaporean food hawker centre made its debut in the Big Apple this week. The ‘Urban Hawker’ centre, located in New York City’s midtown Manhattan, sells tasty dishes including chilli crab, oyster omelettes, and Hainanese chicken rice. The centre serves meals meant to represent Singapore’s diverse cultures. The island nation is made up of Chinese, Indian, and Malay people, among…
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The Russia-Ukraine conundrum and US interference
The conflict in Ukraine ramped up even further last night when United States President Joe Biden declared America will “never recognize Russia‘s attempt to take territory in Ukraine.” The US President spoke ahead of an expected speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin today who is predicted to announce that four regions of Ukraine, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, are rejoining…
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VIDEO: 500 year old Buddhist stupa collapses in Chiang Mai revealing hidden treasures
The stupa at Wat Si Suphan in northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai province collapsed yesterday, revealing ancient Buddhist relics hidden away for over 500 years. No one was injured and the school right next door was miraculously unharmed. After several days of heavy rain, one of the oldest stupas (“chedi” in Thai) in Chiang Mai, located on Wua Lai Road in…
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64 Thais deported from Cambodia after scam crackdown
Over 60 Thais on Wednesday were deported from Cambodia after allegedly working for Chinese-funded call centre scams. The 64 Thais, including 39 men and 26 women, allegedly worked in centres in Preah Sihanouk, and Phnom Penh. Many of the deported individuals were promised salaries of 20,000-30,000 baht per month. But one man said that he still has not been paid after…
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11 provinces on alert as tropical storm Noru pushes Chao Phraya to the brink
Residents in 11 of Thailand’s provinces are being warned as tropical storm Noru is expected to push the Chao Phraya River to the brink. Those residents, which are near waterways, are now being told that the storm could push the river’s water levels up by 66 centimetres. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the Royal Irrigation Department issued…
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Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi jailed for three years, along with Australian adviser
Myanmar’s ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been sentenced to another three years in jail along with an Australian adviser to her political party. Suu Kyi was detained back in February 2021 after a military coup took over the government, despite her party winning a democratic election the year before. Australian economist and adviser to the National League for…
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Five senior Koh Samui police officers transferred over two criminal case investigations
Five senior Koh Samui police officers have reportedly been transferred over two criminal cases on the island. Surat Thani provincial police chief, Sathit Phonphinit, signed the order to transfer the officers pending factual evidence in the two cases. The order was carried out on Wednesday, one day after it was signed. One of the criminal cases being investigated allegedly involves…
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The late Queen Elizabeth II’s cause of death revealed
The late Queen Elizabeth II’s cause of death has been revealed. The National Records of Scotland published her death certificate yesterday, with the cause of death listed as ‘old age.’ The certificate says the monarch passed away at 3.10 pm UK time on September 8 at Balmoral Castle in Ballater, Scotland. But, the time of death listed was almost 3.5…
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Airspace over Bangkok airport closed for airforce parade
Airspace over Don Mueng International Airport in Bangkok is closed for an hour tomorrow for a traditional and honorary air parade by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTF). The RTF received a lot of criticism from Thai netizens for the ceremony over Don Mueng Airport but insists it goes ahead to honour a retiring Air Force chief and welcome a…
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Four alleged investment scammers arrested in Phuket
Four alleged investment scammers have been arrested in Phuket’s main city district. The alleged scammers were arrested in the Wichit sub-district. Police held a press conference at the Region 8 Police Station base in Phuket on Tuesday. Lieutenant General Amphon Buarabphon said that eight arrest warrants have been issued. Amphon said… “The cost of damage is 1,258,630 baht from online…
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1 year old child allegedly snatched while parents slept
A search party is combing the area after a one year old child mysteriously disappeared while her parents slept. The child’s grandmother believes she was kidnapped. The child, Showathida “Nam Moei” Nuengpirom, went missing from the family home in the Kong Thanu sub-district, Mueng district, in Lopburi province in the central part of Thailand yesterday afternoon yesterday. The child’s 33…
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As rain pours down on northern Thailand, Bangkok ups its canal drainage
As the rain pours down on northern Thailand, Bangkok authorities are stepping up canal drainage to prepare for more water runoff. Governor Chadchar Sittipunt inspected operations in Prem Prachakon Canal this morning. The canal is the main channel in the Don Mueang and Lak Si districts for water to be drained into the Chao Phraya River at the Rama VII…
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Four suspects admit they assaulted US tourist in Patong
UPDATE Four suspects have reportedly admitted that they physically assaulted an American tourist in Patong early yesterday morning. The assault happened at the nightlife hotspot of Bangla Road. Patong Police Chief Colonel Sujin Nilbodee told The Phuket Express… “The four suspects have admitted they attacked the American man who they claimed was intoxicated before an argument began followed by a…
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Doctor’s “sorry, not sorry” attitude after alleged hit-and-run of students lands him in hot water
A Thai doctor’s “sorry, not sorry” attitude has landed him in hot water over his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run accident of students. The Medical Council of Thailand is now investigating him after he allegedly hit three young students while they were strolling on a crosswalk outside of their Bangkok school last month. Several groups called on the council to…
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G-Fair Korea, Thailand’s first Korean sourcing fair, promotes Thailand- South Korea trade relations
Press Release Korea’s largest sourcing fair, G-Fair Korea, displays state-of-the-art products from Korea right in the heart of Bangkok at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Center at CentralWorld. Centring on the theme “Smart Life, Smart Business, Smart Future”, the exhibition offers an incredible opportunity for attendees to connect with and enjoy exclusive offers from 100 trusted Korean suppliers offering diverse…
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Police ignore cheating antics of drunk Bangkok cabbie
An outraged Thai woman took to social media after police refused to punish an allegedly drunk, chain-smoking Bangkok cabbie who guzzled alcohol while driving and overcharged her brother. Supunsa Hombanyen posted videos of the slovenly drunk taxi driver on her TikTok account, @mildhom, yesterday. She said… “On September 27, 2022, my brother took a taxi from Morchit in Bangkok to…
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Thai doctor warns against eating bats after ‘bat hunter’ sells for 100 baht per kilo
A Thai doctor warns the public of the dangers of eating bat meat after a “bat hunter” in Sukhothai, northern Thailand, claimed that bat meat is good for your health. The man sells bats for 100 baht a kilogram. The “bat hunter,” 33 year old Somchai Wongpanat, made headlines in Thai media yesterday after claiming that eating bat meat “restores…
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Kamala Harris visits South Korea a day after North Korea fires missiles
US Vice President Kamala Harris today visited South Korea at a somewhat tense time. Just yesterday, North Korea launched two ballistic missiles from its capital of Pyongyang into the East Sea. This was North Korea’s second ballistic missile launch in a week. Harris today met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to chat about the threat that North Korea…
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Spartan Race to hit Phuket in November
More than 5,000 Thai and foreign athletes from all over South East Asia are to come together in Phuket for the 2022 Spartan Asia Pacific Championship on November 26-27 at Blue Tree waterpark. The spectacular event is part of the ongoing campaign to turn Phuket into the world’s premier health & wellness centre. The event will be a follow-up to…
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Thai woman says she will kill herself unless compensated
An angry Thai woman stormed into City Hall yesterday and screamed at Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt that she would kill herself if she didn’t get 500,000 baht compensation for an injury she sustained four years ago. The furious woman, Sutasinobon (surname reserved), told Chadchart she got her leg stuck in one of the city’s sewers, she is still in pain,…
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No coup is being plotted in Thailand, insists Ministry of Defence
A spokesperson for Thailand’s Ministry of Defence wants to put an end to rumours that the Thai army is plotting another coup d’état. Yesterday at 3.30pm, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich publicly insisted that no coup d’état is in the works in Thailand… “I assure you that there is no coup at all. Please feel…
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“Billy” murder suspect reinstated at Kaeng Krachan NP
Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, former chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, has been reinstated despite facing charges over the disappearance and alleged homicide of a Karen rights activist. The charges include premeditated murder, criminal intimidation with weapons, unlawful detention, and concealing a corpse. Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Jatuporn Buruspat signed the order to reinstate Chiawat, effective…
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