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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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Sponsored Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Silly anti-cheating masks in university go viral
Taking a cue from a Bangkok university, students at Bicol University College of Engineering in the Philippines went viral for silly “anti-cheating” masks they wore for exams. A faculty member decided to bring some levity to the problem of cheating in schools by allowing her engineering students to design masks to prevent cheating, no matter how ridiculous they were. And…
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WANTED: Soldier put away for selling meth escapes from prison in northern Thailand
A prisoner is on the loose after escaping from Fort Surasakmontri in Military Province 32 in Lampang province, northern Thailand, at 6.30am today. The soldier was imprisoned for selling methamphetamine. If you see him contact the police right away. The 26 year old soldier, Supawut “Kwan” Sopapeng, escaped while officers were transporting him somewhere for further investigation this morning. Villagers…
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5 men allegedly open fire at Pattaya pool villa
Five men allegedly opened fire at a Pattaya pool villa this morning. The suspects reportedly entered the villa located on Jomtien Second Road and fired shots at several parked vehicles. They also allegedly beat up a man, The Pattaya News reported. Before the alleged shooting, a man knocked on the door of one of the villa’s tenants, asked the renters…
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Change in plane direction surprises Bangkok residents
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… it’s… oh, wait, it *is* a plane. Residents in Bangkok have been complaining about a sudden increase in commercial planes buzzing low over their homes. Now they finally have an explanation for why they are seeing all these low planes – an airport direction change. The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI), the agency…
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Plan to push Pattalung into world’s top green destinations
The government reported yesterday that it plans to push Pattalung province in the southern part of Thailand into the world’s top 100 green or sustainable destinations by 2027. The Minister of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, Piphat Ratchakitprakarn, reported yesterday that his department and the Organization for the Development of Sustainable Tourism have a project to raise awareness of green…
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Pattaya’s latest gold thief flees to Sri Racha
UPDATE Pattaya’s latest gold thief has fled to the Sri Racha district of Chon Buri, according to Pattaya Police. This news comes after the thief on Sunday managed to steal a gold necklace and ring worth 46,000 baht from a woman. Police Chief Colonel Kunlachart Kunlachai told The Pattaya News that police traced the crook’s motorcycle route using CCTV footage.…
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50,000 chickens drown in flood at farm in central Thailand
Shocking pictures of 50,000 dead chickens that drowned in floods at a farm in the central province of Ang Thong yesterday reveal a glimpse into the incomprehensive damage that relentless flooding continues to cause to farmers’ livelihoods in Thailand. Much of central Thailand is underwater after the Chao Phraya river overflowed again. Almost 20,000 households in Sing Buri province were impacted…
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Australia flip-flops on past decision around Israel’s capital
Australia today flip-flopped on a past decision it made around the capital of Israel, an infamously hot-button issue, several news outlets reported. While Australia recognised West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2018, the Australian government has now reversed this decision. Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that Australia is committed to peace between Israel and Palestine and that the country would…
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UN Ambassador Princess Sirindhorn advocates food and equality
Acting as a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Special Goodwill Ambassador, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn called for a focus on food and equality in the Asia-Pacific region. She made remarks to commemorate World Food Day yesterday in a speech. She delivered the address via video as covered by the Bangkok Post and urged the Asia-Pacific region to…
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Almost 20,000 households in central Thai province impacted by floods
Almost 20,000 households in one province in Central Thailand were impacted by floods this morning, The Pattaya News reported. Some 17,825 households, 10 communities, and 22 sub-districts in six districts were reportedly impacted by the floods in Sing Buri province. The floods were caused by the Chao Phraya River overflowing. Some villagers set up a temporary shelter by the roadside,…
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Porsche-driving Frenchmen who put Thai man in a coma denied bail
UPDATE The Porsche-driving Frenchmen who gave a Thai man a brain hemorrhage in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, has been denied bail. Officers from Borphut Police Station arrested 34 year old Vincent Raymond Bugeya and 28 year old Julien Gerard Rene Vincent under suspicion of “joint assault causing serious harm” as well as “driving a car with a…
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Bangkok motorcycle taxi rider attacked by teenagers
A motorcycle taxi rider was brutally attacked by teenagers in the Thon Buri district of Bangkok. He says he had to pretend to die to save his own life, although that appears to be a bit of an exaggeration given the man is allegedly well-known for being a troublemaker. The teenagers who assaulted the man surrendered themselves to the police…
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21 Thai gamblers arrested for illegal hi-lo game in Taiwan
A Thai woman and 20 Thai gamblers were arrested in Taiwan on October 1 for playing at an illegal gaming house. Taiwanese media, United Daily News (UDN) and Mirror Media, reported that police in the Shilin district of Taipei were notified about the operation of an illegal casino at a two-story house rented by a 63 year old Thai woman…
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Pheu Thai calls to dissolve Bhumjaithai Party over cannabis policy
The Pheu Thai Party is pushing to see rival Bhumjaithai Party go up in smoke, planning a petition to dissolve the party over the handling of their cannabis policies. The party plans on filing a petition to the Election Commission to consider the dissolution of all parties involved in the bungling of the decriminalisation of cannabis in Thailand. They claim…
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Death toll rises after Russia’s “kamikaze drones” hit Ukraine capital
UPDATE The death toll following Russia’s “kamikaze drone” strikes on Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv has risen. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said shortly after the attacks that at least one person, a woman, had been killed. The number of people killed has risen to four, according to Reuters. The victims include a woman who was six months pregnant and her…
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Police rescue 3 women & 2 kids held captive for 3 years in a Bangkok condo
Police rescued three women and two children from a condominium in Bangkok after being held captive for three years by their unscrupulous bosses. The two suspects were arrested yesterday. Police raided the luxury condominium on Arun Amarin Road in the Bang Phlat district of Bangkok and rescued the five victims being held by a transwoman and her employee after being…
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VIDEO: Thailand’s ‘master complainer’ attacked over complaint against comedian
Thai social activist Srisuwan Janya, deemed “Thailand’s master complainer,” was attacked today after accusing comedian Nose Udom of violating the law with his anti-government standup comedy sketches. Secretary-General of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution – Srisuwan Janya – travelled to the Crime Suppression Division at 10am today to request that the authorities launch an investigation into…
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Tourism operators demand cheaper flights to Phuket
Phuket tourism operators are demanding that airlines cut ticket prices to make the island destination more financially attractive. As Chinese tourists are largely missing from the Phuket tourism market, operators are worried that travelling to the island is being seen as too expensive. According to The Bangkok Post, Chinese tourists accounted for 40% of the Phuket tourism market before the…
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Myanmar journalists go into hiding after threats from junta over “incorrect” reporting
Fearing retribution after reporting that the Myanmar junta killed three civilians and wounded 19 others, journalists inside the country are going into hiding. The ruling military threatened to sue the news agencies for the reports that detail the killings as being near a Buddhist pagoda in Mon state last week. According to Radio Free Asia, BBC Burmese and The Irrawaddy online…
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Thai tourism industry wants 5 billion baht handout to draw tourists
The Thai tourism industry is asking for a five billion baht handout to boost tourism and draw 12 million foreign tourists to Thailand by the end of this year. The President of the Tourism Council of Thailand, Chamnarn Sisawat, revealed yesterday that the council and other 11 tourist associations organised by the private sector will meet PM Prayut Chan-o-cha tomorrow to…
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Thailand introduces new rule for cash deposit machines
On November 15, people depositing cash into their bank account via cash deposit machines (CDMs) in Thailand will have to insert their credit or debit card and PIN to verify their identity. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) said the new identification requirement is a safety measure to prevent money laundering earned from drug trafficking, gambling, and other criminal activity. Bank…
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Russian fighter jets crashes into apartment building near Ukraine leaving at least 6 dead
A Russian fighter plane has apparently crashed into an apartment building just outside of Ukraine, killing at least six people and injuring 19. The crash happened in the Russian city of Yeysk shortly after taking off on Monday. According to the Straits Times, the crash engulfed the apartments which left another six people missing. The city of Yeysk is separated…
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Arrest warrant for Thai activist who missed court hearing over lese majeste
Bangkok’s Southern Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for a young Thai activist and dance teacher after she failed to attend a court meeting over lese majeste charges. The woman, 29 year old Kanlaymon “Mint” was scheduled to appear in court on October 4, but failed to show up. She had been granted bail, and the person who bailed…
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‘Pay for a pool villa in Phuket instead of paying the energy bills’ this winter, advises Thai official
Instead of wasting money on high energy bills this winter, Westerners should turn off the heating and spend their money in Thailand instead, advises the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). With wholesale gas and electricity prices rocketing in Europe TAT’s invitation makes sense. In the UK, the average household is about £2,500 a year, up from £1,400 in October 2021.…
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Winter is Coming to Thailand… I GMT
New rule for cash deposit machines from November 15th. Ministry eyes steps to spur spending. Bangkok could hit lows of 15°C by end of October. Drunken monk with an axe causes chaos smashing cars. Flood-damaged Phuket returning to normal. – all are coming up today.
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Famous US actor Kevin Spacey does about-face in court on sex assault claims
In what seems to be an about-face, famous US actor Kevin Spacey told a federal court that he regretted apologising over an unwanted sexual advance accusation. The now 50-year-old actor told the court that the allegation was “not true” saying that he was never alone with actor Anthony Rapp who made the claims. According to South China Morning Post, the…
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Bangkok could hit lows of 15°C by end of October
Time to invest in a woolly sweater or two as Bangkok is transitioning into ‘winter.’ By the end of the month, the temperature in the capital could hit lows of 15 degrees Celsius, according to the Meteorological Department. Yesterday, a chill was felt in the capital for the first time in a long time, reaching lows of 22 degrees Celsius.…
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Drunken monk with an axe causes chaos smashing cars
Another day of shame for the Buddhist faith after a drunken monk was arrested for causing chaos in the central province of Kamphaeng Phet. The monk went on the rampage smashing cars in the community with a beer can in one hand and an axe in the other. The arrested monk, 49 year old Prayoon, defended his actions by claiming…
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Russia launches “kamikaze drones” into Ukraine capital
Russia launched “kamikaze drones” into Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv this morning. This news comes just after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin claimed on Friday that there was no need for massive strikes on Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that at least one person, a woman, has been killed in the attacks, Al Jazeera reported. Klitschko said another person remains under…
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Man electrocuted while walking on Bangkok pavement
A Thai man warned pedestrians to watch their step while walking on a pavement in Bangkok after being electrocuted when he trod on a live, broken power cable left exposed to the elements. The man, Jarawi Rujirasawai, posted a video sharing his unexpected electrocution experience on TikTok account @jarawi_ yesterday. The video shows a picture of the broken power line,…
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