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Young firefighter steals hearts and extinguishes flames
Capturing the internet’s attention, six year old Peerapat, a kindergarten student at Wat U-Tapao Kindergarten in Chon Buri, has become a viral sensation after a video of him extinguishing a forest fire alongside adult firefighters surfaced on social media. The video, shared on Thai social media on December 18, has amassed over 2 million views, turning Peerapat into a symbol…
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Brazilian woman’s fatal encounter with poisoned chocolate
A 27 year old woman in Brazil, known as Fernanda Silva Valas da Cruz Pinto, tragically lost her life after consuming chocolate. This followed a recent fortune-telling session where she was ominously predicted to die prematurely. After eating the chocolate, she suffered severe abdominal pain, vomited blood, and foamed at the mouth. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she was…
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Explosive growth in Thai insurance industry predicted for 2024
The Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) has foreseen an unprecedented surge in the insurance industry, with premiums expected to skyrocket to 303 billion baht in 2024. The TGIA president, Somporn Suebthawilkul, revealed the industry’s trajectory, unveiling that premiums for the initial nine months of this year already hit a whopping 210 billion baht, marking a staggering 5.2% rise from the…
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BWH Hotels signs Best Western Hotel at Jomtien Beach, Pattaya
BWH Hotels (BWH), the leading global hospitality network comprising WorldHotels™, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay® Hotels, has continued the rapid expansion of its portfolio in Thailand with the signing of the Best Western Jomtien Beach Pattaya, a brand-new midscale hotel which is being constructed just steps from the golden sands of Jomtien Beach. Just a short drive from…
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Illegal labour crackdown in Phuket ensnares 30 Chinese men
Yesterday in Tambon Thepkrasattri, an enclave in Phuket, Thailand, police apprehended 30 Chinese men on charges of illegal labour. The detained, aged between 24 and 59 years old, were caught in the act, with 12 of them arrested at a construction site in Baan Pa Khlok Cheep, and the remaining 18 along Wong Chalerm Village Road. Now, further investigations are…
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Thai government ditches 300-baht fee for tourists: Massive insurance plan
In a bold move to restore tourist trust, Thailand‘s Tourism and Sports Ministry has abandoned the long-delayed 300-baht tourism fee and is now looking for another type of insurance for tourists. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is spearheading a grand plan to offer a whopping 500,000 baht coverage for injuries and a jaw-dropping 1 million baht in the event of a…
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2 drunk police and former police injured in fight over female waitress
A drunk police officer and a former Border Patrol Police officer suffered injuries after they fought each other over a female waitress at a restaurant in the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum. One was shot in the legs while the other was hit in the head. Mueang Chaiyaphum Police Station received a report of a shooting at a restaurant on the…
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Marriage equality bill final draft to be submitted to Parliament
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared yesterday, December 19, that the Cabinet is set to propose the Marriage Equality Bill final draft to Parliament tomorrow, December 21. Expressing unwavering confidence in the bill’s potential, Srettha envisions a future where same-sex couples bask in the same marital rights as their heterosexual counterparts, pending parliamentary consideration. The final draft of the bill, an…
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Uncle Phol receives 20-year sentence in Mukdahan for toddler’s death
A 20-year sentence has been handed down to Chaiphol Wipa, also known as Uncle Phol, in the Mukdahan Provincial Court for his role in the death of a 3 year old girl, Chomphoo, who disappeared from her home in the Gok Kok village, Dong Luang district, Mukdahan province on May 11, 2020. Accompanied by his legal team, Wipa, along with…
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Brother’s heart wrenching farewell to bride sister stirs emotions in China
An emotionally charged wedding ceremony took place in the Anhui Province of China, where a brother was caught in a tearful farewell to his sister, the bride. The brother, having grown up alongside his sister, struggled to accept her moving away from their home. The groom, a native of Shanxi province, had met the bride during their university years. After…
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Thai police warn about rise in deepfake AI related crime
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has issued a public warning about the potential rise in crime related to advanced deepfake AI technology. This technology, capable of swapping faces and mimicking voices, is feared to be the next tool for scammers in the coming year. The warning stemmed from the national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol’s concerns, which were communicated…
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Double fatality at Hat Yai luxury condo shakes up Songkhla province
A shocking double fatality took place at a luxurious condominium in the heart of Hat Yai, Songkhla province, yesterday evening. A 40 year old Subdistrict headman, from Saphan Mai Kaen, Chanar, Songkhla, was found dead alongside a 40 year old woman, a well-known truck dealer. The incident occurred in a room on the 25th floor of the upscale condo. Musdee…
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Grab Thailand reveals omni commerce and outdoor integration as top 2023 trends
In the Food and Grocery Trends Report 2023 recently revealed by Grab Thailand, it was highlighted that omni-commerce and the integration of digital platforms with outdoor activities are the preferred delivery methods. The report also listed som tum poo pla ra (papaya salad with crab and fermented fish) and coffee as the most sought-after menu items of the year, with…
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Pattaya visa scam leaves hundreds of tourists out of pocket and overstaying
Hundreds of victims have been financially swindled by an unscrupulous visa extension agency in Pattaya, with some foreign victims being illegally overstayed in the Kingdom. Today, 36 year old Chanidapha Thowasakul, represented a group of more than 30 victims, including foreign nationals, and brought 33 year old Suphawadee (surname withheld) to the Pattaya City Police Station. The victims, with 40…
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Eco-friendly e-pedicabs revolutionise Vientiane’s transport scene
In a groundbreaking move towards a greener, quieter Vientiane, the Laos-Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project has unveiled an innovative non-motorised initiative set to transform the city centre. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport’s Department of Transport, the project aims to combat air and noise pollution. Introducing a novel addition to the bustling streets of Vientiane, the project…
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Lava bypasses town, dodges devastation in Iceland volcanic eruption
A massive volcanic eruption in Iceland seems to have spared the only town in its path, offering a glimmer of hope for the residents of Grindavik. Geologists and rescue officials are now breathing a sigh of relief as the lava takes an unexpected detour away from the vulnerable town. The explosive volcanic eruption, which rocked the Reykjanes peninsula on the…
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Thai military launches early retirement scheme funded by 600 million baht
The Defence Ministry is advancing with an initiative to streamline the Thai military, proposing the allocation of 600 million baht from the central budget to facilitate an early retirement scheme over the next three years. Defence Minister, Sutin Klungsang, unveiled the strategy as a crucial part of the plan to reduce and optimise the military force, with the initial phase…
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Fatal collision at Talat Phlu intersection: motorcycle hits taxi
A 21 year old man riding a motorcycle against the traffic flow collided with a taxi on a bridge crossing Talat Phlu intersection, resulting in a fatal accident. The cab driver recalled the shocking moment, noting that he had to regain composure before alerting the police. The incident took place around 1am today. The Talat Phlu police station received a…
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Thai driver evades arrest after crashing and killing nursing student
A Thai driver evaded arrest after crashing his pickup into a motorcycle on a bypass road in the central province of Ratchaburi, killing a nursing student and injuring her mother. Officers from the Mueang Ratchaburi Police Station and Ratchaburi Hospital rushed to the accident scene to rescue two victims. A 55 year old woman named Chuanpit was a motorcycle rider.…
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Thai AirAsia X sets sights on Kazakhstan: New route sparks tourism frenzy
In a bold move set to revolutionise travel, Thai AirAsia X is gearing up to launch direct flights between Bangkok and Almaty, the thriving heart of Kazakhstan. Riding high on the unprecedented influx of tourists from Kazakhstan this year, the airline, under the visionary leadership of Tassapon Bijleveld, the executive chairman of Asia Aviation, the holding company of Thai AirAsia,…
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Chilling forecast for northern Thailand while south braces for heavy rain
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a level 4 warning, forecasting a sharp drop in temperatures across northern Thailand and heavy rainfall in the southern region. The warning, which came into effect from 5am today, is expected to last until December 25. The cold spell is due to a high-pressure system from China that is set to cover Thailand and…
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Phatthalung highway police intercept 58 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh
Highway police in Phatthalung intercepted three pickup trucks carrying 58 illegal Bangladesh immigrants. The migrants were being smuggled into Hat Yai to work. The drivers confessed to receiving 1,500 baht per person, a higher income than transporting goods or vegetables. Today, Deputy Superintendent Chamnan Suwanchatree, along with seven officers, set up a checkpoint on the southbound Asia Highway between Nakhon…
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Thai police investigate human skeletons found in container from US
Thai police are investigating human skeletons found in the cubes of compressed recycling cardboard shipped in a container from the US to a company in Bang Phra district, Chon Buri province. A logistics company reported the discovery of a human leg bone to Sriracha Police Station officers at about 1pm yesterday, December 19. The leg was compressed together in the…
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China’s deadliest earthquake in years leaves 127 dead in Gansu (video)
Northwest China is reeling from the aftermath of a monstrous 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Gansu province, marking the country’s deadliest seismic event since 2014. The toll stands at 127 lives lost, with fears that the numbers may surge as icy conditions and treacherous terrains impede rescue efforts. As President Xi Jinping mobilises thousands of rescue crews to the impoverished…
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Phuket to host luxury boat show: Multi-billion baht yachts and jets
In a dazzling display set to elevate Phuket‘s status on the global luxury stage, the Thailand International Boat Show A Luxury Lifestyle Event is gearing up to showcase a spectacular line-up of yachts, private jets, and more. This high-profile event is poised to inject a staggering 500 million baht into Phuket’s economy, drawing in a crowd of High Net Worth…
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Thailand’s tripartite committee to reconsider new minimum daily wage
A pivotal meeting is set to take place on Tuesday, led by the tripartite committee on minimum daily wages in Thailand. The discussion is centred around the possibility of revising the new daily wage rate that was established on December 8. This comes in the wake of comments made by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin criticising the newly determined rate as…
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Air Arabia soars to new heights: Inaugural flight to Phuket unveils sky-high perks for budget travellers
Air Arabia, the leading low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, has launched its maiden flight to Phuket, Thailand, lifting off from the iconic Sharjah International Airport in the UAE. Air Arabia Group Chief Executive Officer Adel Al Ali, was beaming with pride as he celebrated this milestone, emphasising the airline’s unwavering dedication to making travel accessible and…
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Thai man murders 2 year old stepdaughter while intoxicated
A Thai man admitted to murdering his two year old stepdaughter at a house in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok while he was intoxicated. Police suspected a 16 year old caregiver of involvement in the murder. Medical professionals reached out to officers from Phra Pradaeng Police Station at night on December 17 after an unconscious girl, 2 year old Focus,…
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Exports grow for fourth consecutive month in Thailand misses projections
November marked the fourth consecutive month of growth for Thailand’s customs-based exports, which saw a 4.9% rise from the same period last year, according to data from the customs department. However, this fell short of the projected 6.3% year-on-year increase anticipated in a Reuters poll. Last month, October had witnessed an 8% year-on-year rise. In an unexpected turn, imports for…
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Halal holidays: Malaysia lifts ban, allowing Christmas greetings on Muslim cakes
Malaysia‘s halal-certified bakeries are breaking free from a three-year ban on Christmas greetings. The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) declared yesterday, December 18, that businesses can now sprinkle some Yuletide joy on their cakes. The change came after a viral uproar over a leaked internal memo from Berry’s, a popular bakery chain, instructing staff to steer clear of Merry…
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