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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 Why long-term expats in Thailand say insurance is worth every baht
Thailand’s warm weather, low cost of living, and good healthcare attract many long-term expats, including retirees and remote workers. Life here feels easy and affordable, but medical costs can be high if something goes wrong. Private hospitals are popular because...
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AIS and True reinforce identity checks for multiple SIM card owners
In response to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s directive, telecom giants AIS and True are set to tighten up measures to verify the identities of customers with multiple SIM cards. This move aims to prevent the temporary suspension of mobile numbers and protect user rights. Varunthep Watcharaphon, Business Relations Chief at Advance Info Service PLC (AIS), stated that AIS…
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MP investigates Thaksin’s alleged 2 million baht treatment at Police Hospital
A delegation from the Police Committee of the House of Representatives, led by its chairman Chaichana Dejdecho, an MP from Nakhon Si Thammarat and a Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, visited the Police Hospital to check on the health of former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The delegation was guided by Police Lieutenant Colonel Samart Muangsiri, a doctor at the…
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Up in smoke: Royal Thai Police extinguish counterfeit cigarette ring
A major counterfeit cigarette network, known as Jae Pen Fang Thon, has been dismantled by the Royal Thai Police and the Department of Excise. The operation led to the arrest of 55 year old Tawan, and the seizure of an extensive cache of contraband, resulting in an estimated loss of 45 million baht to the state. The operation took place…
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Northeast Thailand: Mother and daughter injured after wild bull charged their motorcycle
A mother and her seven year old daughter yesterday were injured by a Khao Phaeng Ma wild bull which charged at them while the pair was riding a motorcycle in Nakhon Ratchasima. The bull ran in from the side of the road, crashing into the motorcycle. The mother fell to the ground whilst her daughter’s clothes got caught by the…
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Thai Tiktokers slam Indian artists’ song as racist, sexist, insulting toward Thailand (video)
Thai TikTokers slammed a song by some Indian artists, calling it racist, sexist and insulting toward Thai men and women. The Song, Bang Bang Bangkok, performed by Indian artists Ranina Reddy, Rita, and Devi Sri Prasad, serves as the movie soundtrack to the 2015 Indian rom-com Kumari 21F. Despite its release year, the song has just gained popularity on the…
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Thai police apprehends deranged man who climbed onto car roof wielding a knife
A deranged man wielding a knife wreaked havoc during his rampage at Building E, Ping Amporn Condominium, in Mueang District, Nonthaburi province. Police Lieutenant Colonel Thongrat Riansuwong, Deputy Superintendent of Rattanathibet Police Station, received a report about the incident and travelled to the scene with more than 10 patrol police officers. The officers brought a forked stick to stop the…
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Thai schoolboy breaks knee after impaling it on Udon Thani school fence
A fifth-grade boy experienced a severe injury following an attempt to climb a school fence where misfortune paid a visit as he impaled his knee on the sharp metal, resulting in a broken bone. The incident occurred around 4.20pm yesterday at Ban Mak Khaeng School in the Udon Thani province. The rescue team from Udon Sawang Methadhammasathan Foundation for Rescue promptly…
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Shell-shocked in Samut Prakan: Thai woman’s seafood purchase unveils hidden pearl of delight
A Thai woman was surprised to find a pearl inside a shellfish she bought from Khlong Suan Market, Bang Bo District, Samut Prakan. The 53 year old woman, Wassana Phonmai, of 137/2, Village No. 4, Pak Phanang Subdistrict, West Side, Pak Phanang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat province reported the lucky find today, January 12. Wassana brought the discovery, along with shell…
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Thai national arrested for Pattaya street gold robbery
Pattaya police last night apprehended a 19 year old Thai national, Wutthikrai Poonsang, following a robbery incident that occurred on Pattaya Walking Street on January 10. Wutthikrai is accused of snatching a gold necklace from a Thai woman named Amarin Kokaew. On the previous day, Wutthikrai allegedly stole a 1 baht weight gold necklace, valued at 32,000 baht, from Amarin.…
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Astrologer forecasts windfall as stars align for monkey and goat zodiacs in 2024
Astrologer Thaworot, also known as White, revealed an exciting forecast for the year 2024. In the first half of the year, luck is on the side of those born in the Year of the Monkey and the Year of the Goat. These individuals are likely to experience a period of fast-paced fortune, with opportunities for career advancement and large-scale projects.…
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2 former ministers accused of demanding bribes from Thai workers in Finland
Former Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin is seeking justice after accusing the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) of damaging his reputation by calling out two former labour ministers for demanding bribes from Thai workers in Finland. ThaiRath reported that Thailand considers workers to be victims of human trafficking if employers detain, abuse or illegally exploit them. However, the law in Finland…
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Man dies in tragic accident while digging for gold in kitchen
A tragic event unfolded in Brazil when a man lost his life after falling into a deep hole he had dug in his kitchen. The 71 year old, João Pimenta da Silva, believed that there was gold buried beneath his home. This belief was prompted by a dream and the Brazilian man enlisted the assistance of a neighbour to help…
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Grab rider performs CPR on unconscious foreign tourist in traffic mishap
In an act of heroism, an anonymous Grab rider emerged as an unexpected saviour, administering crucial CPR to an unconscious foreigner entangled in a traffic catastrophe in Hua Hin. The Sawang Hua Hin Dhammasthan Rescue Unit swiftly responded to the distress call, revealing that a foreign male on a motorcycle had collided with a pickup truck, leaving him unconscious with…
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American hotel worker dies in tragic Phuket road accident
A tragic event unfolded on the streets of Phuket last night as a 59 year old American man, an employee of a renowned hotel in the northern region of the island, lost his life in a devastating road accident. The mishap took place on Thepkrasattri Road, a major thoroughfare in the area, where the man was crushed by an enormous…
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Severe weather alert issued for 32 provinces in Thailand: Thunderstorms and temperature drop forecasted
A severe weather alert has been issued for 32 provinces in Thailand’s north, northeast, and central regions. From tomorrow, January 13 to January 16 these areas are on high alert for thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail, with temperatures expected to drop by 1-3 degrees Celsius. This forecast is due to a western airflow from the Union of Myanmar that will…
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Rare black leopard stuns tourists at Kaeng Krachan National Park
Tourists at Kaeng Krachan National Park were left in awe as they stumbled upon a majestic black leopard. The sleek creature made a surprise appearance near the Ban Trang campsite on Wednesday, January 10, turning an ordinary day into an extraordinary wildlife spectacle. Kaeng Krachan National Park chief Mongkol Thai Phakdi confirmed the astounding sighting. The magical moment was expertly…
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US bitcoin ETFs make splash in debut, marking crypto milestone
The long-awaited launch of the first United States exchange-traded funds (ETFs) investing directly in Bitcoin has finally taken place. This event has been marked as a significant milestone in the digital-asset industries over a decade-long campaign for recognition and mainstream acceptance. The nearly a dozen ETFs come from investment heavyweights like BlackRock Inc. and Fidelity Investments. On the first day…
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South Thailand: Intharam Temple gives away over 1,000 gift items for National Children’s Day
Inthraram Temple in the Mueang Mai Subdistrict of Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram province, is going all out for National Children’s Day, giving away gold rings, laptops, and smartphones. Over 1,000 gift items are up for grabs, including one bag of rice for each person. Phra Metheewatcharaprachathorn, better known as Assistant Professor Dr Luang Phor Daeng Nanthiyo, Advisor to the Abbot…
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Thai-llywood lights, camera, baht! 2023 sees record of 6.6 billion baht roll in from film shoots in Thailand
A record-breaking 6.6 billion baht was generated by over 466 film shoots in Thailand in 2023, marking an impressive 40% increase in revenue from the previous year. This remarkable upturn was largely credited to the production of high-budget films, including a blockbuster with a budget of 3 billion baht. Jaturon Phakdeewanit, the head of the Tourism Department, noted the significant…
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Thai PM approves Clean Air bill: A milestone for environmental protection
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday penned his approval of the Clean Air bill. The signing ceremony took place at 9.30am on January 11 in Chiang Mai during the PM’s scheduled visit to review the city’s public transportation systems and ongoing air pollution issues. This move was a significant stride towards addressing Thailand’s air pollution predicament, a subject that has…
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SET foresees market recovery with return of foreign investment
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) anticipates a recovery in return on investment this year, mirroring trends in regional markets due to an influx of foreign capital since 2023’s final quarter. Last year, foreign investors sold off Thai stocks amounting to US$5.51 billion, contrasting with 2022’s net purchase of US$5.96 billion. Nevertheless, foreign long-term investors held steady, owning around 30%…
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Thai Airways soars back to Milan and Oslo after a four-year break
Thai Airways (THAI) is ready to conquer the European skies, reviving services to Milan Malpensa Airport and Oslo Gardermoen Airport after a four-year hiatus. The Bangkok – Milan route will be graced by the sleek Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, flaunting 298 seats across two classes. Meanwhile, the Bangkok – Oslo journey will witness the grandeur of the Boeing 777-300ER, a majestic…
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Finance Ministry proposes joint venture asset management companies to aid debtors
The Finance Ministry is advocating for collaborative investments between Specialised Financial Institutions (SFIs) and Asset Management Companies (AMCs), proposing the formation of joint venture asset management companies (JV-AMCs). This initiative aims to aid debtors who collectively hold three million accounts amounting to a total value of 230 billion baht, stated Paopoom Rojanasakul, the secretary to the finance minister. Rojanasakul explained…
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Shanghai’s Juneyao Air to operate flights to Chiang Mai
Juneyao Air is set to reignite the battle for the Shanghai-Chiang Mai route, challenging fierce rivals China Eastern Airlines and Spring Airlines. Juneyao’s A320neo will operate daily flights from Shanghai to the northern Thai capital, starting from January 20. The airline’s flight schedule is as follows: HO1325 PVG 1835 – CNX 2235 32N Daily HO1326 CNX 2335 – PVG 0425+1…
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Thai man kills cheating girlfriend’s father and commits suicide in jail
A Thai man killed his girlfriend’s father after discovering she had a husband and two children. The killer later committed suicide while in custody at Khok Pho Police Station in the southern province of Pattani. Khok Pho Police Station officers rushed to a house in the Khok Pho district of Pattani at 9.50pm on Wednesday, January 10 after receiving a…
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Thailand to boost tourism to drive economic growth
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is on a mission to stimulate tourism, focusing on boosting revenue in 55 secondary provinces by a staggering 20%, aiming for a grand total of 91 million trips this year. This ambitious goal, however, falls short of the mark for key provinces. For the first nine months of the previous year, the 55 secondary tourism…
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Motorcycle stunt goes awry at Chiang Mai fair, stuntman hospitalised
An unfortunate accident occurred yesterday during a daring motorcycle stunt at the winter fair and the Chiang Mai Good OTOP fair. The stuntman, known only as Tae, was injured when his motorcycle lost control during a barrel-climbing show and fell, hitting the floor hard. This incident happened behind the provincial government centre, where the event was taking place. Emergency services…
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Thai Automotive Institute boosts EV industry with new test track
The Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI) is set to boost Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) industry, constructing a test track to provide manufacturers with a range of testing services, subsequently becoming a new revenue stream for the country. This track, under construction in Chachoengsao, is designed to facilitate a broad spectrum of tests including braking and parking brake performance, speed, distance and…
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Bangkok governor defends city’s fourth plan revision amid public criticism
Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, stood firm in defence of the city’s fourth plan revision amid public censure for its perceived favouritism towards developers. The 57 year old city chief yesterday, January 11, responded to the criticism by affirming City Hall’s receptiveness to constructive feedback while cautioning against potentially divisive comments. Chadchart explained via a Facebook post that the…
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Three ex-Bhumjaithai MPs banned by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court delivered a harsh blow to three former Bhumjaithai MPs, slamming them with a 10-year ban from contesting elections. Chalong Thirdweerapong, Phumisak Kongmee, and Natee Ratchakitprakarn were all found guilty of a severe breach of parliamentary ethics. The court’s ruling, based on a parallel case in the Criminal Court, unveils a scandalous scheme. On May 18 last year, the…
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