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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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Heavy rainfall forecast for 45 Thai provinces, flash flood alert
Heavy rainfall warnings have been issued for 45 provinces in Thailand, with potential hazards including flash floods and runoff. The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) advises caution, particularly in hilly areas and near waterways, and urges sailors to avoid stormy seas. The TMD forecasted the weather for the next 24 hours, predicting heavy rainfall in the northern, northeastern, and eastern…
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PEA launches first sustainability bond worth 1 billion baht
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) announced the successful launch of its first sustainability bond, marking a significant step towards its green finance goals and that of Thailand. PEA Governor Supachai Ek-Un, along with representatives from the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Bangkok Bank, DNV (Thailand), and Thai Bond Market Association, held a press conference yesterday, August…
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Former school director shot dead over land dispute in Krabi
A former school director was fatally shot in a palm oil plantation, allegedly by a man angry over a land sale. Police in Krabi’s Khlong Thom district received a report of the incident yesterday. Police discovered the body of 61 year old Atchara in a palm plantation in Moo 8, Pru Din Na subdistrict, Khlong Thom district. Atchara, a former…
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Three pythons found in Buriram chicken coop after feast
Three pythons were discovered in a chicken coop resting after feasting on several chickens. The homeowner believes the snakes might bring good luck. Siam Ruam Jai Pu In Rescue Unit yesterday, August 15, responded to a call from residents in Talat Yae, Thanon Hak subdistrict, Nang Rong district, Buriram province, to assist in capturing several large snakes that had entered…
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Zebra crossing drama: Pickup truck hits student outside school (video)
A careless pickup truck driver struck a student walking across a zebra crossing in front of a school, causing him to be thrown onto the road. This incident was captured on a TikTok video posted by user @boonlertkhunkham yesterday, August 15. The video reveals the shocking accident that occurred on August 6. A group of students were standing by the…
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Kuwaiti man assaulted in Phuket after insulting Thais (video)
Two Thai men physically assaulted a Kuwaiti man near Soi Bangla in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket after the foreigner allegedly insulted Thai people. Officers from Patong Police Station were alerted to the gang attack on the tourist at about 7.20am on Tuesday, August 13, and rushed to the scene, a road near Soi Bangla in the Kathu district of…
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Taxi driver slaps security guard after illegal U-turn in Nonthaburi (video)
A taxi driver, who made an illegal U-turn, slapped a security guard after he warned the cabbie not to make the turn. The incident occurred at a prominent shopping mall in Bang Yai, Nonthaburi, and was captured on a 42-second dashcam video shared on a popular Facebook page. The video shows a green and yellow taxi making an illegal U-turn.…
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Le Pan’s big rise: CPRAM factory to bake up 20% market share
A leading ready-to-eat food manufacturer CPRAM Co Ltd, and owner of the Le Pan Bakery brand under the Charoen Pokphand Group inaugurated a new factory in Chon Buri in a bid to capture a 20% market share in the Thai bakery sector this year. CPRAM President Wisade Wisidwinyoo announced that the new facility, valued at 2 billion baht, boasts a…
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Thai boy suffers electric shock, finger injury at Bangkok bus stop
An 11 year old Thai boy suffered an electric shock at a bus stop on Soi Sukhumvit 71 in Bangkok, severely cutting his finger on the electricity control panel. Esor News 3 helped the 11 year old victim seek justice by sharing his story on their page yesterday, August 15. The page posted pictures of the bus stop and the…
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Thai tourist praised for removing sticker from Mount Fuji
A Thai tourist removed a controversial sticker placed by a popular travel page on Mount Fuji, sparking widespread gratitude on social media. The travel page, followed by over 37,000 people, recently orchestrated a romantic proposal at the summit of Japan’s iconic mountain. They marked the occasion by attaching a sticker bearing their page’s name to a pole along the hiking…
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Thai police arrest over 30 armed youths in Udon Thani
Thai police arrested over 30 youths, aged 14 to 18, armed with knives and homemade bombs, waiting to ambush rivals in Udon Thani. The incident occurred at 2am yesterday, August 15, prompting a swift response and investigation. Police in Udon Thani received a report about a group of teenagers involved in a brawl at Thai Siri 3 Market, Ban Wua…
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Chaikasem cleared of involvement in Pichit bribery case decision
Chaikasem Nitisiri, a former Attorney-General and prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, has been cleared of involvement in a 2008 decision not to indict Pichit Chuenban on a court bribery charge, according to the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG). The OAG officials addressed the matter yesterday, August 15, in response to questions about Pichit’s cases. Pichit’s recent Cabinet…
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Suspicious car linked to Pattani bombing found abandoned in Yala
Police discovered a suspicious car linked to the recent car bomb incident in Pattani, abandoned in a rubber plantation in Yala. The vehicle, a Nissan Almera, showed signs of attempted arson and had its licence plates removed. A bomb exploded near the entrance to the fish market bridge next to the Provincial Police Division in Pattani on August 9. Following…
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Mae On reservoirs quake the worry but hold strong
Reservoirs in the Mae On district have been declared structurally sound after being struck by a 3.4-magnitude earthquake yesterday morning. The Royal Irrigation Operation (RIO) conducted a thorough inspection to assess any potential damage. Keaurkul Manasamphankul, RIO director, confirmed that the Maintenance Department was tasked with evaluating the structural integrity of the Mae On and Mae Takhrai reservoirs. These reservoirs…
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Thailand’s health crackdown: Screening mpox-treme measures
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is on high alert, ramping up passenger screening like never before to fend off a potential mpox outbreak. This drastic measure comes hot on the heels of the World Health Organisation (WHO) slapping a “public health emergency of international concern” label on the situation, following a surge of mpox cases in several African nations. Dr…
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Soaring high: Thai AirAsia’s stunning turnaround in 2024
Asia Aviation (AAV), the proud sole shareholder of Thai AirAsia, unleashed its operational results for the first half of 2024, boasting an impressive financial recovery. The figures are staggering, with revenue from sales and services soaring to 25,279 million baht, marking a 32% year-on-year increase. AAV’s profit from core operations skyrocketed by a jaw-dropping 1,015%, reaching 1,950 million baht from…
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Tax breaks fall flat: Hoteliers sceptical of Thailand govt incentives
The hospitality industry in Thailand is abuzz as the government unveils a new policy aimed at boosting tourism in secondary provinces through tax benefits for hoteliers. But the response from hotel entrepreneurs has been lukewarm at best. According to the latest hospitality operators’ confidence index, a survey conducted by the Thai Hotels Association (THA) and the Bank of Thailand, 50%…
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River collision drama: Four injured in Chao Phraya boat crash
Tragedy struck the Chao Phraya River today when a shuttle boat, operated by Chao Phraya Express Boat, collided with an empty chartered tour boat, resulting in injuries to four passengers. The incident occurred at 12.13pm, today, August 15, under the Pinklao Bridge, which links Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district with Bangkok Noi. According to police, the express shuttle boat departed from…
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Coalition politics: UTNP sets conditions for Pheu Thai support
The United Thai Nation Party (UTNP) announced its support for the Pheu Thai Party’s next prime minister candidate, with one major caveat: no touching the lese majeste law. This stance from UTNP, led by Pirapan Salirathavibhaga—Thailand’s caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister—could have significant implications for the political landscape. During a press conference today, Pirapan expressed the UTNP’s allegiance…
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Buriram residents fear digital wallet could be axed after PM ousted
Buriram residents and local vendors are increasingly anxious following the Thai Constitutional Court’s surprise decision to oust Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The major concern is the potential scrapping of the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme, a key economic boost initiative from the Pheu Thai Party. The Buriram municipal market is buzzing with worry as many dread that the much-anticipated digital wallet…
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FTI rattled by PM Srettha’s ousting: Investors on edge
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) voiced alarm following the Thai Constitutional Court‘s shock decision to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office yesterday. Kriengkrai Thiennukul, Chairman of the FTI, warned that the ruling could put a brake on both local and foreign investment as investors rethink their strategies amid the political turmoil. Thailand is already wrestling with major economic hurdles,…
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Pattaya police inspect stores after toxic drain cleaner deaths
Pattaya police have carried out a series of inspections at hardware stores and their construction materials to probe sources of hazardous chemicals and educate the public on their safe use. This action comes in the wake of the tragic deaths of a mother and her two children, who were killed by toxic fumes from a drain cleaner. Police Colonel Navin…
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South Korean man arrested in Pattaya for drug smuggling
Pattaya police yesterday arrested a South Korean man for illegally entering Thailand and smuggling drugs into the kingdom. Pattaya Tourist Police yesterday, August, 14, received a tip-off that a South Korean man, later identified as Kim Jinjong, had entered Thailand from a neighbouring country. Further investigation revealed that Jinjong was staying in a village in the Bang Lamung district of Chon…
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Monk arrested in Loei temple raid for meth possession
Police raided a temple in Loei province and arrested a monk caught with methamphetamine hidden in his quarters. The monk was immediately defrocked and charges have been filed. Officers from the 3rd Control Division (R.8) of the Surasak Montri Army, led by Captain Chamnarn Manboon, along with local police and administrative officials, conducted a search at a temple in Namala…
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Unique nine-faced statue draws crowds in Nakhon Ratchasima
A unique statue named Tao Maha Phrom Wessuwan, featuring nine faces and eight arms, has been constructed at Wat Sap Takro in Nakhon Ratchasima. The statue, created by Phra Ajarn Wanchai Wannako, also known as Luang Kru Ae, is gaining significant reverence from the public despite being built only three months ago. The statue, believed to be the only one…
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New Russian Consul General Ivanov meets with Phuket Governor
Egor Ivanov, the newly appointed Russian Consul General for Phuket, met with Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat yesterday to formally introduce himself after his credentials were accepted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the meeting, Ivanov expressed his gratitude to Governor Sophon and his team for their efforts in looking after Russian tourists. He also conveyed his readiness to support…
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Mercedes-Benz shifts into high gear with ByteDance partnership
Mercedes-Benz is revving up its tech game by teaming up with ByteDance’s cloud division, Volcano Engine, to explore cutting-edge large language models (LLMs), generative artificial intelligence (AI), and big data. This turbocharged collaboration aims to supercharge Mercedes-Benz’s in-car systems in China with ByteDance‘s advanced LLM technology, giving their virtual assistants a full-throttle upgrade. According to both companies, ByteDance’s LLMs will…
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Man found dead on motorcycle in Samut Sakhon
A man from Udon Thani was found dead on his motorcycle, likely due to a pre-existing condition. Rescuers revealed they had previously assisted him during a severe asthma attack. The police are investigating the exact cause of death. Police Lieutenant Panadecha Manolert from the Samut Sakhon Police Station received a report about a man found dead on a motorcycle along…
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Thai woman faces backlash over luggage request to Japan
A Thai woman travelling to Japan faced online backlash after posting a request for someone to carry her extra luggage for a fee of 2,000 baht. Her post, which appeared in the Facebook group กลุ่มคนชอบตะลอนเที่ยวญี่ปุ่น (Japan Travel Group), was quickly removed following a flood of critical comments. The traveller asked if anyone flying to Tokyo with China Eastern Airline on…
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2,000 debtors flock to Phuket fair for a chance to clear the air
Over 2,000 debt-ridden individuals yesterday turned out for the 55th Debt Relief Fair at The Pago Hotel in Ratsada, north of Phuket Town. The event, hosted by the Ministry of Justice’s Department of Rights and Liberties Protection and the Legal Execution Department, in collaboration with the Phuket Provincial Justice Office and other organisations, aimed to offer guidance on managing various…
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