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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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Indonesian pickpocket gang nabbed at Bangkok mall after stealing 310,000 baht
An Indonesian gang specialising in pickpocketing was apprehended at a well-known shopping centre in Bangkok and swiftly brought to justice by police following a report from a Japanese victim. The culprits were caught yesterday (January 25) at around 8am, shortly after their ill-fated heist. The swift police action led to the recovery of a cache of items and the confession…
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DSI probes Aranyaprathet police for alleged torture and false confession
The 56 year old man, who was allegedly tortured into a false confession by Aranyaprathet police, is now under the spotlight of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). The contentious case revolves around the murder of Panya Khongsaenkham’s mentally unstable wife, 47 year old Buaphan Tansu, where he was initially made a scapegoat. Aranyaprathet police have been accused of coercing Panya…
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Monkey mayhem: Phuket officials tackle trespass trouble and rampaging macaques in Khao Toh Sae
The Phuket vice governor chaired a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of trespassing on Khao Toh Sae, Phuket, and the increasing cases of macaques attacking tourists and locals alike. Held at the offices of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO), government officials including those from the Phuket Provincial Ombudsman’s Office and Phuket Forestry were in attendance. Complaints have…
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Thai star Kong Huayrai becomes ‘rich father’ to boy in need
In 2022, the Thai singer Kong Huayrai encountered a fourth-grade boy, Tle, selling garlands barefoot at an intersection in Khon Kaen province to support his sick grandmother and younger sister after their mother’s sudden departure. Recognising Kong as a celebrity, Tle was thrilled when the singer bought all his garlands and told him to go home and rest. Later, Kong…
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Bear necessity: Swiss man sacrifices arm in bear attack
A Swiss man cut off his right arm as a bear locked his teeth onto his arm and stubbornly refused to release its grip while he was volunteering at a wildlife foundation in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The 32 year old Swiss man is in a private hospital in Chiang Mai province after being attacked by the Asian black…
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Tourism boom in Thailand: Hottest trends and bold predictions for 2024
The Thailand Tourism Forum 2024 (TTF 2024) recently revealed that the tourism industry will be revived despite the shadows of the pandemic, igniting hope among industry leaders. Jesper Palmqvist, Managing Director of STR Global, predicts a surge in Thailand’s hospitality sector with the addition of 10,000 new hotel rooms this year. These establishments, primarily upper-midscale and luxurious, signify a robust…
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Legal battle heats up over butter chicken’s true origin in India
A culinary dispute has escalated to the courts in India over the origins of the globally renowned butter chicken, with two Indian restaurant chains claiming the title of inventor of the cherished recipe. The Moti Mahal in Delhi, a large and storied Indian restaurant chain, whose patrons have included notable figures such as former US President Richard Nixon and India’s…
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Tourists survive speedboat crash in Trat
A tourist speedboat crashed into a reef 16 miles off the Laem Thian area on Koh Kut, Trat on January 24. The Trat Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Center (CARDC) dispatched three marine rescue speedboats at 2.30pm to the island with the aid of 12 tourists and three crew members who were stranded. However, at one point the rescue teams…
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Truck driver wins lottery twice post-miraculous recovery
The astonishing tale of Bill Morgan, a 37 year old truck driver from Australia, has resurfaced on social networks, earning him the title of the luckiest man alive. His story of winning the lottery twice following a miraculous recovery from clinical death has captivated audiences worldwide. In 1998, Bill Morgan was involved in a severe car accident that left him…
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2 suspects arrested for murder of millionaire give conflicting stories
Police arrested a Thai man and woman for the murder of a 77 year old millionaire in the central province of Chantaburi. Each suspect blamed the other. The lifeless body of the millionaire, Panithi Kosalanan, was discovered in a pond on her plantation in Chantaburi province on January 22. The autopsy and suspicious signs in her home suggested murder, prompting…
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Rental woes: KCar sees slowdown as lending rules put brakes on second-hand marke
KCar, formally known as Krungthai Car Rent & Lease Plc, anticipates a deceleration in the second-hand car and car rental markets as financial institutions continue to enforce stringent lending criteria. This is attributable to high levels of household debt and subdued purchasing power. Pichit Chantarasereekul, the managing director of KCar, highlighted that banks are increasingly cautious due to the high…
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Thailand braces for rainstorms, Bangkok faces minor impact
A significant weather warning has been issued today by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), cautioning of potent rainstorms expected to hit 12 provinces, including a minor impact on Bangkok. The upper parts of Thailand woke to a cool to cold morning with strong winds at 5am today, January 26, as a robust high-pressure system continues to dominate the country and…
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Monks reveal details on vicious elephant attack in West Thailand
Details have emerged regarding a fatal elephant attack that occurred on January 23 in the Sri Sawat district of Kanchanaburi. Reports flooded in when a village head received alarming news from locals that the lifeless body of 50 year old Phra Maha Bancha, a monk on a spiritual journey, had fallen victim to a brutal elephant attack. The gruesome scene unfolded…
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Bueng Kan family mourns as man with kidney issues found dead
A family in Bueng Kan province faced a tragic loss when a 47 year old man unexpectedly died at home. The man, who held a Master’s degree, was found unresponsive in his bathroom yesterday, January 25. The local police, led by Deputy Inspector Kritphak Muakswai, were alerted to the incident and arrived at the scene alongside medical personnel from Bueng…
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Nex point projects commercial EV sales to hit 5,556 by 2024
Nex Point, a SET-listed local assembler of commercial electric vehicles (EVs), is forecasting sales to hit 5,556 units by the end of 2024. This projection stems from an increased demand from businesses operating in the transport and logistics industries. A rise in such interest is tied to these sectors’ growing commitment to lower carbon emissions. Between January and September of…
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Thailand anticipates scorching summer with temperatures up to 44.5°C
Thailand is bracing for an intense summer this year, with the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasting that temperatures could soar to a sweltering 44.5 degrees Celsius. The summer season, which is expected to start towards the end of February and last until the end of May, is predicted to be unusually severe, with temperatures rising 1-1.5 degrees above the average.…
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Germany backs Thailand’s pursuit of becoming regional EV hub
Germany pledged to increase its stake in the electric vehicle (EV) sector in Thailand, paving the way for the nation to emerge as a regional EV hub, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. This announcement was made during a press briefing on Thursday, following a discussion with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany, who is on a three-day official visit to…
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Spice heist: Thai raid uncovers fake seasoning factory, Chinese investor behind RosDee racket
The Thai authorities swooped on a fake seasoning powder factory, arresting five suspects and revealing a Chinese investor behind the operation. The counterfeit goods, bearing the brand name RosDee, were seized across three provinces. A significant counterfeit seasoning operation has been dismantled by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Thailand, following coordinated raids across Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Ayutthaya provinces. The…
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Man steals running Thailand Post truck, caught by police
A 31 year old man was apprehended in Kanchanaburi after stealing a Thailand Post delivery truck that was left running by the driver. Yesterday, January 25, at approximately 12.30pm, the man, identified only by his first name, Wiroj, seized the opportunity to hijack the vehicle in Ratchaburi province. The incident, captured on CCTV, occurred when the delivery driver stepped away…
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Thai baht could depreciate further against US dollar, says K-Research
The Thai baht, already experiencing a downward trend, could further depreciate against the US dollar, potentially reaching 36 baht to a dollar, according to Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research). This forecast is contingent upon robust US economic data, set to be released later this week, which could indicate a resilient US economy. Additionally, any delays in the Federal Reserve’s proposed trimming…
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Chester’s Thailand serves fried chicken with Thai tea sauce and whipped cream
Fast food joint Chester’s Thailand launched a unique menu item in an exclusive collaboration with popular Thai tea brand ChaTraMue to serve fried chicken and fries with Thai tea sauce and, wait for it, whipped cream. We’re not joking! Chester’s Thailand’s official Facebook page unveiled the new promotion four days ago, encouraging followers to guess about the latest addition to…
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Thai Supreme Court dismisses 2.8 billion baht iTV lawsuit
The Supreme Administrative Court delivered a final blow, dismissing the Prime Minister’s Office secretariat‘s hefty 2.8 billion baht lawsuit against iTV Public Company. The lawsuit, stemming from a joint agreement with Shin Corp to operate a TV station using the UHF spectrum, has been a thorn in the side since 2007, persisting through numerous administrations. The Supreme Administrative Court’s resolute…
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Man in Taiwan suffers stroke from sudden cold after hot shower
A routine shower ended in a medical emergency for a 30 year old man in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, who suffered a stroke triggered by sudden exposure to cold after stepping out of the bath. Doctors have used this incident to highlight the dangers of abrupt temperature changes and to advocate for public awareness of stroke symptoms encapsulated by the F.A.S.T. mnemonic.…
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Bangkok’s PM2.5 problem reflected in artist’s ‘Invisible Town’
In the heart of Bangkok, an artistic revelation is set to rock the city as Invisible Town emerges at SAC Gallery. From this Saturday, January 27 until March 23, a solo exhibition by the talented Thidarat Chantachua, aka Mariem, promises to unearth the buried stories of Bangkok, inviting viewers to peer beyond the glossy surface and explore the unseen depths…
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Cross-border connections revolution: Visa free travel for Chinese and Singaporeans
Starting from February 9, Chinese and Singaporean travellers can jet off visa-free in a new move to waive the requirement. In an exclusive bilateral agreement unveiled today, January 25, the world’s second-largest economy, China, and the vibrant city-state of Singapore have torn down the bureaucratic barriers, allowing their citizens a visa-free stay of up to 30 days on either side. This…
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Baffled car owner captures garbage man trying to open vehicle on CCTV in Thailand
A car owner was left baffled after discovering unsightly marks on her vehicle’s door handle, only to check her CCTV footage and witness a garbage collector attempting to open her car door. The incident has raised concerns among residents who are compelled to park their cars on the street due to limited space at home, highlighting the vulnerability of their…
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Pressure mounts on Bank of Thailand to reduce high interest rates
Thailand Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat expressed concern that the country’s current interest rates are excessively high, putting strain on citizens’ disposable income and stunting the nation’s economic growth. This stance encourages the Bank of Thailand to reconsider its monetary policies. “The Thai people’s spending power is in jeopardy due to these high rates. I hope the Bank of Thailand…
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Clean sweep: German president and Thai PM forge ties
In a diplomatic meeting, German President Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin today, with promises for a cleaner, more empowered Thailand. Amidst discussions held at the Santi Maitree Building within the Government House compound, President Steinmeier pledged unwavering support for Thailand’s green ambitions. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke revealed that the German president committed to projects aimed at…
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Roaring surprise: Lions on the loose startle Chon Buri residents
Locals were shocked today after witnessing two lions roaming the streets of the Bang Lamueng district of Chon Buri in broad daylight. Residents of Soi Khao Makok 13 in Chon Buri reported the shocking discovery of two lions to the DailyNews today, January 25. The lions came out of the home in the area without a caretaker. They wandered around…
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Violent attack on Cambodian man in Chon Buri’s Jomtien Complex
In a harrowing incident that unfolded near the Jomtien Complex condominium, a 21 year old Cambodian man became the victim of a brutal assault outside a local bar. Pattaya police and Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation volunteers rushed to the scene on the night of January 23. Upon arrival, authorities discovered the Cambodian national, Thep Song, with a swollen and bruised…
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