Thailand

Thailand’s jailed ex-PM Thaksin hospitalised after return from exile

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was moved to hospital overnight, officials said on Wednesday, over concern about his heart and high blood pressure on his first night in jail…

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Ex-PM Thaksin plans return to Thailand as post-poll deadlock drags on

Self-exiled leader faces possible jail term Political parties jostling to take power after May polls Pheu Thai party backed by Thaksin seeking to form government BANGKOK, July 26 (Reuters) -…

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Thailand’s Pita defeated in parliament in bid for PM

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng BANGKOK, July 13 (Reuters) - Thailand's Pita Limjaroenrat failed on Thursday in his initial bid to become Thailand's next prime minister, after he was…

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Thailand opposition crushes military parties in election rout

BANGKOK, May 14 (Reuters) - Thailand's opposition secured a stunning election win on Sunday after trouncing parties allied with the military, setting the stage for a flurry of deal-making over forming a…

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What you need to know about Thai elections

By Chayut Setboonsarng and Martin Petty BANGKOK, (Reuters) - Thailand holds an election on May 14 after nearly a decade of a government led or backed by its royalist military…

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Thai parties launch last push to woo voters

By Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat BANGKOK, May 12 (Reuters) - Thailand's political parties prepared for rallies on Friday in a final push to galvanise support and woo the undecided…

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Thai authorities issue extreme heat warnings for dozens of provinces

BANGKOK, April 22 (Reuters) - Thai authorities on Saturday warned residents across large swathes of country, including the capital Bangkok, to avoid going outdoors due to extreme heat. Parts of…

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Thailand’s promised cannabis bonanza disappoints as politicians trade blame

By Devjyot Ghoshal and Napat Wesshasartar BANGKOK, April 6 (Reuters) - Thailand's decriminalisation of cannabis has delighted its fans, alarmed some health experts and has increasingly disappointed farmers who have…

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Thai election to be a close race between parties, surveys show

BANGKOK, March 27 (Reuters) - Thailand's May election is expected to be a tight race, as the main opposition party dominates latest opinion polls but lags the ruling coalition parties'…

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Thai PM Prayuth to run for re-election in May

BANGKOK, March 25 (Reuters) - Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was officially nominated for re-election on Saturday as his party's first candidate for the country's next leader in polls set…

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Thailand dissolves parliament for election

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng BANGKOK, March 20 (Reuters) - Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has endorsed a decree to dissolve parliament, according to an announcement in the Royal Gazette…

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Captain of Thai ‘cave boys’ soccer team dies in Britain

BANGKOK, Feb 15 (Reuters) - One of 12 boys dramatically rescued after two weeks trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand in 2018 has died in Britain where he was…

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Thailand U-turns on COVID vaccination rule for visitors

BANGKOK, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Thailand on Monday rescinded a policy announced at the weekend requiring visitors to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, its health minister said, citing sufficient immunisation…

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Russians flock to Thailand as tourism rebounds from collapse

By Chayut Setboonsarng and Orathai Sriring BANGKOK, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Thailand is receiving an influx of Russian visitors, with data showing monthly arrivals doubling in November and up nearly…

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Daughter of ex Thai PM Thaksin extends pre-election poll lead

BANGKOK, Dec 26 (Reuters) - The youngest daughter of billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra remains Thailand's top choice to become its next leader, according to an opinion poll, with…

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Thai navy hunts for 33 missing marines after warship sinks

Thailand's military deployed warships and helicopters on Monday to try to locate 33 marines missing after a corvette sank overnight in choppy waters in the Gulf of Thailand, the navy…

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Photo Story: The Night at The Museum 2022 in Bangkok

Visitors view skeletons and fossils found in Thailand on display during the 'Night at the Museum 2022', at the scientific museums of Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand. More than 20…

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Taiwan’s APEC representative says met China’s Xi briefly

BANGKOK, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The founder of Taiwanese chip giant TSMC 2330.TW said on Saturday that he had briefly met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the…

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Leaders at APEC condemn recent firing of missiles by North Korea in strongest terms

(Reuters) - The United States, South Korea, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, and Australia agreed on Friday to condemn the launch of North Korea's ballistic missiles in the strongest terms in…

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UPDATED: China’s Xi says Asia should not become arena for ‘big power contest’

China's Xi to meet Japan leader on sidelines Unilateralism, protectionism must be rejected - Xi Thai foreign minister warns against 'cancel mentality' Leaders of Russia, United States not joining APEC…

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PHOTO STORY: Bangkok Illumination 2022 show at ICONSIAM shopping mall

People visit the Bangkok Illumination 2022 show at ICONSIAM shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. The theme of this year’s show is ‘Smart Solar Christmas Light,’ with its centerpiece being a…

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Prayers, sorrow at temples as Thailand mourns children slain in massacre

UTHAI SAWAN, Thailand, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Hundreds gathered in temples in northeast Thailand on Saturday, offering candles, toys and prayers to mark the lives of more than 30 mostly…

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Thailand mourns after over 34 die in daycare centre attack targeting children

NA KLANG, Thailand, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Thai government buildings flew flags at half mast on Friday to mourn the death of more than 30 people, including 23 children, after…

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UPDATED: Thai mass shooting deaths include 22 children, among 34 killed – police

BANGKOK, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Thirty-four people were killed in Thailand on Thursday in a mass shooting at a day-care centre by a former policeman who killed his wife and…

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Thailand may receive more than 10 mln foreign tourists this year – minister

BANGKOK, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Thailand may record slightly more than 10 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, the tourism minister said on Friday, as a vital industry has recovered…

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Thailand records 5.2 mln tourists from Jan to late September

BANGKOK, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Thailand received 5.2 million tourists from January to Sept. 21 this year, a government official said on Friday. Tourism revenue was recorded at 212 billion…

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Thailand expects $64.5 billion in 2023 tourism revenue

BANGKOK, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Thailand expects to earn 2.38 trillion baht ($64.50 billion) in tourism revenue in 2023, a government official said on Monday. The government wants tourism next…

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Thailand looks to Indian weddings to boost tourism revenue

BANGKOK, (Reuters) - Thailand hopes to boost its tourism revenue to between 600 billion-700 billion baht ($16 billion-$19 billion) by year-end, by targeting high-spending groups like Indian wedding parties and…

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Thai court suspends PM Prayuth

BANGKOK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Thailand's Constitutional Court on Wednesday suspended Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha from official duties after it decided to hear a petition to review his legally mandated…

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Thailand saw 3.78 million tourists from January to mid-August

BANGKOK, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Thailand saw 3.78 million tourist arrivals from January to Aug 17, a government official said on Friday. The arrivals, mainly from Malaysia, India and Singapore,…

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Pot-smoking tourists not welcome in Thailand, says health minister

BANGKOK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Thailand's health minister on Wednesday discouraged tourists from visiting the country only to smoke weed, just two months after new laws were passed that have…

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Multiple bomb, arson attacks rock Thailand’s south

BANGKOK, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Explosions and fires ripped through at least 17 locations in southern Thailand on Wednesday, authorities said, in what appeared to be multiple coordinated attacks that…

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Instant noodle makers ask Thailand for price hike after 14-year peg

BANGKOK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Instant noodle makers asked Thailand on Monday to allow them to charge more for their products to meet rising costs, potentially paving the way for…

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Thailand foreign tourist arrivals to reach 10 mln this year

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's foreign tourist arrivals should reach 10 million this year, helping drive the economy along with increased exports, the finance minister said. Southeast Asia's second-largest economy is improving this…

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UPDATED: Thai night club fire kills at least 13, cause unknown

BANGKOK, Aug 5 (Reuters) - At least 13 people were killed and 35 injured when a fire broke out at a night club in Thailand's eastern Chonburi province early on…

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Thai tourist arrivals reach 1 million for first time in 2 years

BANGKOK, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Thailand's foreign tourist arrivals in July reached one million for the first time since early 2020 as tourism picks up following an easing of pandemic restrictions, bolstering…

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Thai PM survives 4th no-confidence vote, last big test before polls

BANGKOK, July 23 (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and 10 cabinet ministers survived no-confidence votes in parliament on Saturday, with the government emerging on top in Prayuth's last major test…

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Thailand to offer land ownership to lure wealthy foreigners

BANGKOK, July 15 (Reuters) - Thailand will for allow foreigners to fully own land for residential use, a government official said on Friday, seeking to boost its economy by attracting a million…

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Thailand on verge of using voluntary chemical castration for sex offenders

Thailand is close to introducing chemical castration as a means of tackling sex crime after lawmakers approved a bill that will give some offenders the right to choose the procedure…

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Blinken calls on China, ASEAN countries to hold Myanmar accountable

BANGKOK, July 10 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday urged China and members of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN to put pressure on Myanmar's rulers to return to…

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‘Sell premium’ – Thailand discourages discounts, wants high value tourists

BANGKOK, July 4 (Reuters) - Thailand's hotels, businesses and private hospitals should refrain from offering big discounts to lure tourists and focus instead on raising the country's value as a premium travel…

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Thai tourism group sees 12-16 mln foreign visitors this year

BANGKOK, June 30 (Reuters) - Foreign visitors to Thailand are expected to number between 12 million and 16 million this year following the country's full reopening, a private tourism group said on…

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Thailand rushes to rein in cannabis use a week after decriminalisation

BANGKOK, June 17 (Reuters) - Thailand hastily issued a raft of new regulations for cannabis use this week after a long-planned decriminalisation raised alarm at the potential for unchecked use…

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Thailand eases entry rules for tourists, scraps mask policy

BANGKOK, June 17 (Reuters) - Thailand announced on Friday it would abandon its much-criticised pre-registration process for foreign visitors and no longer require face masks to be worn in public,…

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Photo story: Jurassic World Dominion promotion in Bangkok

A girl runs by in front of life-size and realistically moving robotic Tyrannosaurus Rex (L) and Giganotosaurus (R) dinosaurs presented during the Iconic Jurassic Adventure dinosaurs’ exhibition at the ICONSIAM…

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Thailand legalises growing, consumption of marijuana

BANGKOK, June 9 (Reuters) - Thailand legalised the growing of marijuana and its consumption in food and drinks on Thursday, the first Asian country to do so, with the aim…

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Thailand expects 7-10 million foreign tourists this year

BANGKOK, June 2 (Reuters) - Thailand expects to receive 7 to 10 million foreign tourists this year following an easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the tourism minister said on Thursday. In the first…

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Thailand to lift curbs on nightlife from June

BANGKOK, (Reuters) - Thailand will allow night clubs and karaoke bars to resume regular hours starting in June, a senior official said, dropping most of its remaining pandemic restrictions as…

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Thailand targets 5-15 mln foreign tourists this year

BANGKOK, May 6 (Reuters) - Thailand is aiming for 5-15 million foreign tourist arrivals this year as the country further eases travel restrictions to support the key tourism sector, a government spokesperson…

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Tourist favourite Thailand’s recovery lags on COVID rule changes

BANGKOK (Reuters) - When 23-year-old Norwegian Anastasia Johansen and her boyfriend were planning their first vacation in two years, they considered going to Thailand but chose nearby Vietnam instead, for its simpler…

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Thailand to scrap on-arrival COVID tests from May

BANGKOK, April 22 (Reuters) - Thailand will next month remove a requirement for arrivals vaccinated against COVID-19 to undergo a test and brief quarantine on arrival, an official said on Friday, the…

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Thailand to seek travel bubbles with China, Malaysia

BANGKOK, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Thailand will have talks on bilateral travel bubble arrangements with China and Malaysia later this month, an official said on Monday, as part of efforts…

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Thailand to resume quarantine waiver for vaccinated arrivals in February

BANGKOK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Thailand will resume its 'Test & Go' quarantine waiver for vaccinated arrivals from Feb. 1, its coronavirus task force said on Thursday, in response to…

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Thailand plans to impose tourist fee from April

BANGKOK, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Thailand is planning to collect a 300 baht ($9) fee from foreign tourist from April to develop attractions and cover accident insurance for foreigners unable…

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Thailand rejects allegations of African swine fever cover-up

BANGKOK, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Thailand on Monday denied accusations it has covered up an outbreak of African swine fever, after a university lab test conducted last month indicated a…

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Thailand announces more coronavirus curbs after jump in cases

BANGKOK, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Thailand will extend the suspension of its quarantine waiver programme and bring in new restrictions after a jump in new coronavirus cases linked to the…

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Thailand allows visitors back to beach made famous by movie

PHI PHI LEH, Thailand (Reuters) - Thailand has reopened Maya Bay, a white sand beach made famous by the 2000 film "The Beach" starring Leonardo DiCaprio, more than three years…

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