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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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Thai government delays 10,000-baht handout amid election concerns
The Thai government is gearing up for the second phase of its 10,000-baht cash handout, anticipated to be rolled out by the end of February, as confirmed by government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub. This initiative aims to provide financial support to the elderly, with the proposal already submitted to the Cabinet. However, a few concerns have led to a week’s delay…
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Thai police enlist Interpol in hunt for Moroccan murder suspect
Thai police are enlisting Interpol’s assistance to apprehend a Moroccan man suspected of murdering his girlfriend in Chiang Mai before fleeing the country. The tragic incident involves Thitikarn Dulikanon, a transgender woman and owner of a beauty clinic near the Mae Hia Market intersection in Mueang district, whose body was found on December 6. Police and forensic experts from Maharaj…
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Police seize 6.4 million meth pills in Pathum Thani drug raid
Five individuals were apprehended by police in Pathum Thani‘s Lam Luk Ka district, where a significant cache of 6.4 million methamphetamine pills was discovered, poised for distribution to southern regions. The arrest, which took place at approximately 4pm yesterday, December 7, involved four men and one woman. The operation was conducted by narcotics suppression officers at a residence within the…
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Parked car explosion in Chon Buri nearly ignites house on fire
A parked car’s unexpected explosion after sitting idle for over a week nearly set an entire house ablaze. The incident occurred yesterday, December 6 at 6.30pm in Ban Suan, Mueang Chon Buri district. The intense fire destroyed the vehicle and cracked the house’s glass windows due to the explosion’s force. Police, led by Siwakorn Chanthamenchai from the Chon Buri Police…
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Thailand’s VAT hike: Restaurant and hotel sectors’ suggestions
A proposed increase in the value-added tax (VAT) rate from 7% to 15% has sparked significant concern among Thailand’s restaurant and hotel industries. Although the plans for the VAT hike are now reportedly scrapped, Sorathep Rojpotjanaruch, who leads the Thai Restaurant Business Association, expressed alarm over the potential consequences this tax hike could have on the already struggling restaurant sector.…
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Man found with 18 stab wounds in rice field, CCTV footage released
A chilling discovery has been made after the body of an elderly man was found with 18 stab wounds in a paddy field. CCTV footage revealed two suspects accompanying him on a motorcycle before his tragic death. The deceased, identified as 60 year old Udom, was found in a field in Khlong Khlung, Kamphaeng Phet province. He had been drinking…
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Fatal shooting at Udon Thani concert leaves community in shock
A tragic altercation at a Pu Pongsit concert in Udon Thani yesterday led to a shooting which ultimately led to the death of one attendee and severe injuries to another. The incident unfolded yesterday, December 6, at 1.30am, when 22 year old Suphawit and 18 year old Theeraphat attended the annual Thung Si Muang festival concert and encountered a rival…
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Pattaya’s ongoing struggle of managing railway road traffic
Traffic congestion along railway roads has become a persistent headache for Pattaya’s commuters, with years of attempted solutions failing to provide meaningful relief. The city’s struggle to manage vehicular flow has highlighted significant infrastructure challenges. Seeking to address the issue, Pattaya City administration took an innovative approach by leasing a 19-kilometre stretch of the road from the State Railway of…
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Phuket unveils road safety centre for seven days of danger
Phuket is gearing up for a heightened focus on road and marine safety with the opening of a road safety operations centre on Christmas Day. This effort is in preparation for the upcoming Seven Days of Danger campaign, scheduled to run from December 27 to January 2, as confirmed by Sopon Thongsai, chief of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and…
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Thailand seeks return of fishing boat seized by Myanmar
Thailand is taking steps to reclaim a fishing boat seized by Myanmar after four Thai crew members were freed on December 5. This development was confirmed by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who highlighted ongoing efforts to secure the return of the boat. The vessel, named Sor Charoenchai 8, was captured along with 31 crew members, including four Thais and 27 Myanmar nationals.…
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Thai pilots oppose foreign pilots on domestic routes amid tourism surge
The Thai Pilots Association has taken a definitive stance against the recent Cabinet decision allowing foreign pilots to operate domestic routes through wet lease agreements. Yesterday, December 6, they formally petitioned the Labour and Transport ministries to reconsider the move, which was introduced to address a perceived shortage of commercial pilots amid a surge in tourism activity. The Cabinet’s decision,…
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Bangkok named world’s most visited city with 32.4m tourists
Bangkok has been named the world’s most-visited city for 2024, welcoming an impressive 32.4 million international tourists. This announcement was made in a report by Euromonitor International yesterday, December 6. The Thai capital experienced a significant growth of over 30% from the previous year, solidifying its status as a leader in global tourism. The city’s allure is attributed to its…
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Fire destroys five cars in Nonthaburi garage blaze
A devastating fire engulfed a car repair garage, reducing five vehicles to ashes after a series of loud explosions rocked the neighbourhood. The incident occurred in the early hours yesterday, December 6, prompting a swift response from local fire services and police in Nonthaburi. The blaze erupted at approximately 12.20am at a garage known as Chang Tao Garage, located within…
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Pheu Thai Party proposes bill to limit Thai military’s power
Pheu Thai Party has introduced a legislative proposal to curb the military’s influence in Thailand by amending the Defence Ministry Administration Act. This proposed amendment seeks to transfer the authority of appointing generals from the armed forces commanders to a committee appointed by the Cabinet, thereby promoting transparency and meritocracy in military promotions. The proposed change is designed to prevent the…
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Thailand braces for cold snap and coastal thunderstorms
Thailand is experiencing a noticeable drop in temperature, with the northern regions facing chilly to cold weather as temperatures plummet by four degrees Celsius (°C). The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued warnings for strong winds, thunderstorms and high seas in the south. The TMD’s forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that a high-pressure system or cold air mass…
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Thai woman finds rare Moonrat in southern Thailand canal (video)
A local angler in the southern province of Yala discovered a rare and endangered species known as the moonrat while fishing in a canal. She plans to return it to its natural habitat. The President of the Betong Animal Lover Club, Phatcharin Prathummek, contacted several news agencies to report her rare find. She later guided journalists to her house, where…
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2 Thai women arrested for tricking young virgins into prostitution
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested two Thai women for operating a child prostitution ring, tricking young virgin women into offering sex services to illegal Chinese nationals. CIB officers arrested the 21 year old Thai woman named Panida and a 22 year old woman named Nalatporn for their involvement in child prostitution. Panida was arrested at her condominium in the…
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Mile high sex: Swissair faces blowback over viral in-flight video
Swiss International Air Lines is in hot water after a woman performing oral sex on a passenger, filmed by airline staff, went viral, sparking a public uproar over privacy rights. The scandal unfolded when footage captured by Swissair CCTV emerged, showing a couple getting frisky in the first-class galley of a Bangkok to Zurich flight. Now, the airline is scrambling to…
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Bangkok faces alarming PM2.5 pollution spike, 32 districts affected
Bangkok is suffocating under a cloud of smog as PM2.5 pollution levels surge, forcing 32 districts to breach safety thresholds. Satellite data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) casts a spotlight on Nong Khaem, clocking the most dangerous levels at a staggering 61.3 microgrammes per cubic metre. Such pollution spells disaster for our lungs, with the respiratory…
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Thailand seeks US direct flights amid airline hesitance
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is actively working to initiate direct flights from the United States to Thailand, as local Thai airlines remain hesitant to establish these routes. This move follows the anticipated lifting of restrictions by aviation regulators next year. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently provided a positive assessment of Thailand’s aviation safety standards. The Transport…
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2 year old Thai boy crashes motorcycle into glass door, injuring mum
A two year old Thai boy crashed his mother’s motorcycle into the glass door of a house in the Isaan province of Buriram on Wednesday. The boy was unharmed but his mother sustained injuries from broken glass. The Siam Ruamjai Pu-in Rescue Foundation responded to the incident at a house on Nang Rong-Lam Plai Mart Road in the Nang Rong district of…
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Bank loan growth to shrink despite Q4 rise in retail lending
Bank loan growth is anticipated to shrink this year despite a slight rise in the fourth quarter, as banks maintain their cautious lending practices into 2025 to 2026 due to sluggish GDP growth, analysts report. Analyst Weerapat Wonk-Urai from CGS International Securities (Thailand) highlighted a rising ratio of underperforming loans in retail lending, prompting banks to enforce stricter credit standards…
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Thailand’s EV market hits a speed bump in incentive race (video)
Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing a jolt as major manufacturers weigh the pros and cons of staying plugged into the nation’s incentive scheme amidst a slowdown. With the EV sector currently stuck in neutral, the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) hints that automakers might be on the verge of bypassing subsidies and revisiting their production game plans.…
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Thai man kills neighbour’s dog for alleged chicken attack (video)
The owner of a light brown Siberian Husky in the southern province of Songkhla is seeking justice after the dog was beaten to death by a neighbour, who claimed it attacked his chickens. Rachan, the owner of the female Siberian Husky named Lucky shared the tragic story on social media, along with a video of the violent attack captured on…
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Fishing for freedom: Thai crew released from Myanmar custody
Four Thai crew members are expected to be released today after being detained in Myanmar. The crew members belong to the Thai fishing vessel S. Charoenchai 8, which was intercepted by Myanmar’s navy. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) confirmed that all crew members, including the four Thai nationals, are safe and that diplomatic efforts are underway to secure their release.…
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Blowing smoke: House panel’s vape verdict sparks fiery debate
In a twist that’s left health experts fuming, the House special committee on e-cigarettes has rolled out a controversial trio of recommendations that some claim cater to the pro-smoking lobby. The options on the table: uphold the complete ban on e-cigarettes, legalise heated tobacco products (HTPs), or give the all-clear to all forms of e-cigarettes. Cue a storm of backlash…
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Kebaya recognised as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage
Kebaya, a traditional garment worn by women across Southeast Asia, has officially been recognised as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. This acknowledgement came after a joint proposal from five countries, including Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The announcement took place during a meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asuncion, Paraguay,…
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Mistaken identity: Thai man bruised by police’s sobering blunder
A 33 year old Thai man and his family are taking legal action against seven police officers for mistaking him for a drink driving suspect and brutally assaulting him in the early hours of Wednesday, December 4, on Prasert-Manukitch Road in Bangkok. The victim’s sister, 29 year old Thanatcha Kirdsri, yesterday, December 5, visited the office of the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD)…
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Phuket hospital gets cancer care cash to kickstart cure (video)
Phuket’s medical scene is on the brink of a major transformation, thanks to two hefty contributions that have been earmarked for the region’s first government-run cancer treatment facility at Vachira Phuket Hospital. The Vachira Phuket Hospital is set to welcome a brand-new Radiation Therapy Building, funded by donations ringing in at a staggering 1.5 million baht. In a formal affair…
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State officials probed over Saraburi land encroachment allegations
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) embarked on an investigation to determine the involvement of state officials in alleged land encroachment activities in Saraburi. The primary focus is on the Phu Nub Dao Cafe & Farm, accused of constructing buildings illegally on a Sor Por Kor land reform area in Muak Lek district. Witthaya Arkhompitak, the acting chairman of the NACC,…
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