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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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Philippines coast guard confronts Chinese vessels making dangerous manoeuvres in South China Sea
A confrontation involving the Philippines Coast Guard and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea has escalated tensions between the two nations. The incident took place during a week-long patrol mission in the strategically important waterway, coinciding with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s visit to Manila to meet his Philippine counterpart and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. China claims a majority…
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TAT expects more Chinese and Thai tourists in Phuket for Labour Day weekend
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects more Chinese and Thai tourists to visit Thailand’s picturesque island province of Phuket during the Labour Day weekend. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn reported a 60% improvement in tourism from January to March 2023 compared to the same period last year, with 6,518,578 foreign visitors generating 334.7 million baht. Speaking to Thai media, Yuthasak…
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Speedboat carrying 78 people sinks in western Indonesia, leaving nine missing
A speedboat accident in western Indonesia has left at least 11 people dead, with a further nine individuals still missing. The vessel, the Evelyn Calista 01, was carrying 72 passengers and six crew members when it sank on its journey between Tembilahan, a town in the Indragiri Hilir Regency in Riau province, and Tanjung Pinang city in a neighbouring province…
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Chinese man and 23 Burmese nationals arrested for working without permits
Police arrested 23 Burmese citizens and a Chinese man for working at a construction site in Samut Prakarn province without work permits. The Chinese man reportedly joined the team only three days before his arrest. The crackdown on illegal businesses operated by foreigners and illegal foreign workers is ongoing across the country, particularly in places where there is heavy industry…
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First group of Thai evacuees from Sudan arrive in Bangkok
A flight carrying 78 Thai nationals departed from Sudan and was scheduled to land in Bangkok at 10pm, according to the air force, marking the arrival of the first group of evacuees returning home since the conflict in the North African country erupted. Air force spokesman Prapas Sonjaidee stated that an Airbus A340-500 aircraft and two air force C-130s had…
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Man arrested for exploiting Big Joke’s name to lure and rape woman
A Thai man was arrested by the police for using the name of Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, the Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), to entice female party entertainers to work for him before allegedly raping them. A Thai party entertainer named Aom reported to the media and police on Tuesday, April 25 that she had been raped…
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Thai police official and daughter fall victim to cyber fraud, losing 2 million baht
A former police official and his daughter report a recent cyber fraud case where their bank account was drained of 2 million baht. Yesterday, Suthep, a 65 year old former director of Klongtan Police Station, and his 30 year old daughter, Suthinika, owner of a bakery business in the Lat Phrao area, reported the incident to Naphaporn Rakphichai, an officer…
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US Navy carrier strike group visits Thailand, emphasises free and open Indo-Pacific
The US Navy‘s Nimitz Carrier Strike Group recently expressed readiness to operate in any region of the “free and open Indo-Pacific”, according to the spokesman for the group, which is currently visiting Thailand. The strike group commenced its 11-month patrol mission in the US 7th Fleet area of operations last November, participating in drills with Japan, South Korea, and the…
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Activist seeks to impeach NACC members over luxury watch saga investigation
Activist Veera Somkwamkid announced his intention to impeach members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for disregarding a court order that required them to divulge details about their investigation into the luxury wristwatch saga involving Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. Veera accused the NACC of defying the Supreme Administrative Court’s order in an interview, stating that the court had ruled that…
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Phuket man smashes pickup truck and hits driver with iron bar (video)
A Phuket man smashed a pickup truck and hit the driver with an iron bar, injuring the driver. The incident, reported in The Phuket Express last night, occurred on Sunday, April 23 in Talad Nuea in Phuket’s main city district. According to the Phuket City Police, the pickup truck driver, identified only as Suriya, was waiting at a red light…
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Jakarta ferry capsizes leaving 11 dead and one missing near Sumatra Island
At least 11 individuals have tragically lost their lives, and another is currently missing after a ferry accident occurred off the eastern coast of Sumatra Island in Indonesia. The national search and rescue agency has disclosed this information as they continue their search operation. The ferry involved in the accident was transporting approximately 74 passengers to the small island of…
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Myanmar migrants arrested for illegally crossing into Thailand
Forty-two job seekers from Myanmar were detained after crossing the border illegally into Sangkhla Buri district late Wednesday night, according to Thai authorities. The group was discovered following an alert in a forested area close to Song Kalia village, in Tambon Nong Lu. However, the individuals had fled the scene by the time officers arrived. Subsequently, the informant advised that…
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Chiang Mai’s Mae Chaem district communities granted forest living rights
Over 300,000 rai of reserved forest land in the Mae Chaem district in Chiang Mai now has secured living rights for local communities, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The communities have been identified as a successful model by the Department of Royal Forest, due to their compliance with a cabinet resolution from…
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Covid-19 cases surge in Thai tourism hotspots post-holidays
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged health authorities in major tourism destinations to closely monitor the number of Covid-19 cases, as new infections continue to surge following the holidays. The instruction came after the Department of Disease Control (DDC) presented data on caseloads from April 16 to 22, indicating a rise in Covid infections. The prime minister is particularly concerned…
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Indonesian man goes viral after accidentally leaving wife at petrol station during road trip
A 37 year old man named Arief became a viral sensation in Indonesia after accidentally leaving his wife behind during a journey back to their hometown. The incident came to light when their 8 year old son asked about his mother’s whereabouts, causing Arief to realize that his wife was not on the back of the motorcycle like he had…
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Malaysian gang conflict leads to double murder in Bangkok
Eight Burmese nationals allegedly murdered two Thai men at a house near Bangkok due to a conflict within a human trafficking gang led by Malaysian men. The murderers reportedly fled Thailand following the incident. The Superintendent of the Bang Kaew Police Station, Mongkon Onkaew, told ThaiRath that officers received a complaint from a Thai woman, 23 year old Wanutpreeya Patrhumthong,…
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Today’s weather forecast: Northern region warned of thunderstorms and strong winds
Today, the Meteorological Department issued a 24-hour weather forecast for Thailand, indicating that a combination of southerly winds and southeasterly winds will bring moisture from the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea. Covering Northern Thailand, the region will experience weakening strength, leading to scattered thunderstorms and strong wind gusts in some areas. Residents in the north are advised…
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Ukraine’s ambassador commends effectiveness of UN in condemning Russia
The United Nations (UN) may have its flaws, but it has been effective in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya. He acknowledged the imperfections of the UN but argued that there may be no other country in the world where citizens pay such close attention to UN General Assembly or Security Council…
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36 year old Thai woman accused of premeditated cyanide serial killings and theft
The prime suspect in the cyanide serial killings, 36 year old Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, is accused of premeditated murder and property theft by administering cyanide poison. The case has gained significant attention since it has been suspected to be linked to over ten fatalities so far. Dr Weerachai Phutdhawong, more commonly known as Dr Aod, a full-time lecturer in the…
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NHRC urges end to conscript servant practice in Thai army within 90 days
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Thailand has declared that the longstanding practice of using conscripts as servants by Royal Thai Army (RTA) officers constitutes a human rights violation. The NHRC has urged the Defence Ministry to put an end to this practice within 90 days. During a press conference, NHRC commissioner Wasan Paileeklee shared that the commission has…
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Trang governor reveals plans to develop Koh Kradan, the ‘best beach on earth’
Plans are in the pipeline to develop Thailand’s Koh Kradan. Trang province’s governor, Kajornsak Charoensopha, on Wednesday, revealed plans to develop Koh Kradan into a major tourist spot. The move comes after the island was named the best beach on earth in the Top 100 Beaches on Earth by the UK’s World Beach Guide. The governor announced plans aimed at…
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Pheu Thai party rally focuses on agriculture, digital wallet policy, and appealing for votes in Nakhon Si Thammarat
The Pheu Thai Party held an enthusiastic rally in Nakhon Si Thammarat, featuring prominent members such as Paetongtarn Shinawatra, candidate for prime minister, and her husband Pik Sukhsawat, as well as party strategist Chaturon Chaisang and director Natthawut Saikua. The candidates for MP seats in their respective districts also echoed the party’s policies and called for local support. During the…
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Vietnamese man loses hearing after showering with cold water at night
A 30 year old Vietnamese man experienced a sudden hearing loss in his left ear while taking a cold shower at night, and within just two days, his hearing was irreversibly impaired. Medical experts from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Hong Ngoc General Hospital in Vietnam identified that the patient’s loss of hearing resulted from his routine of taking cold…
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Australia’s oldest coal-fired power plant closure and shift towards renewable energy
Australia‘s most senior coal-fired power plant is set to close today, marking a significant step towards the nation’s transition to renewable energy sources. Previously notorious for its climate inaction, Australia is now preparing for a remarkable transformation in its energy sector. The Liddell power station, located approximately a three-hour drive north of Sydney, is just one of several ageing coal-fired…
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Man found alive after being buried in Guangxi province, China
In an unbelievable turn of events, a man in Guangxi province, China was found alive after being buried in his own grave, throwing the entire village into a frenzy. The man’s wife, who had rushed home from work to attend his funeral, was in shock when she believed she heard her husband’s voice from underground. With the help of her…
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Cops catch transwoman changing hair colour after robbing Pattaya gold shop
Cops caught a transwoman changing her hair colour at a salon after she robbed a Pattaya gold shop. The suspect, 30 year old Chuenkamol Nasingkhan, on Wednesday, stole two gold chains weighing 2 baht each from the Phet Thong Wanida jewellery store located in Pattaya’s Soi Nern Plub Wan at 11.20am. Police said that Chuenkamol walked into the shop wearing…
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Man believes his pet python is a reincarnated naga and brings it to temple for blessings
At the extraordinary Tham Tararam Temple in Rayong’s city district, an intriguing event occurred, leaving visitors in awe. A 52 year old man named Prasert, known for his extraordinary talents in driving his soil-covered vehicle, came to the temple to make merit with his snake friend, attracting the attention of other individuals as well. Prasert explained that his 2 year…
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Drug addict arrested for assaulting, raping his mother in Bangkok
Police arrested a violent drug addict at a condominium in Bangkok for assaulting and raping his mother over several years. The mother’s employer and the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive helped the victim seek justice. The employer of the 69 year old reported the incident to Saimai Survive on Tuesday, April 25, and the organisation came to the aid of the…
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Brazilian court suspends telegram over Neo-Nazi activity
A court in Brazil has demanded a nationwide suspension of the messaging app Telegram due to the company’s failure to provide the information requested by authorities on neo-Nazi groups using the platform. This development follows a series of violent school attacks, one of which may have connections to anti-Semitic activity within some of the app’s groups. Justice Minister Flavio Dino…
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War weapons and drugs found in wreckage of fatal crash in Thailand
A bus and a pickup truck collided in Lop Buri province in central Thailand this morning, killing three people and injuring seven more. Police were shocked to find a stash of drugs, weapons, and ammunition inside the pickup. Officers from Khok Samrong Police Station were informed of a serious crash along the Phahonyothin Road in Moo 12 in Huay Pong…
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