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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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How to detect call centre scams with two simple steps
A simple trick reveals how to check if a strange number calling you is from a call centre scam. Just follow two easy steps to know immediately if it’s a scammer. Call centre scams have become a widespread issue in Thailand, affecting people of all ages, professions, and backgrounds. Many individuals have become wary and have started avoiding answering calls…
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Heavy rain, flash flood warnings in northern Thailand
Heavy rain is expected in 53 provinces across northern and northeastern Thailand, with the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) warning of potential flash floods and forest runoffs, particularly in mountainous regions and low-lying areas. In Bangkok, the rain is forecasted to hit from afternoon to evening. The TMD’s 24-hour weather forecast indicates increased rainfall across Thailand, particularly heavy to very…
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British tourists breathe easy: Bangkok slips off the scam radar
Good news for British tourists heading to Bangkok for a holiday: the Big Mango has dropped five places from No.1 to No.6 as the globe’s most likely destinations to get scammed or robbed. Antivirus company McAfee compiled a new list highlighting cities where tourists are often robbed of their hard-earned cash, with a popular Spanish resort now claiming the top…
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Jasmine flower shortage raises prices for Mother’s Day
Skyrocketing prices and a shortage of local jasmine flowers marked this Mother’s Day, driven by fluctuating weather conditions. In Khon Kaen, many florists at the Thetsabarn 1 Fresh Market have turned to imports from Indonesia due to more affordable prices. A 65 year old florist, Noorian, noted that continuous rain has hindered the blooming of local jasmine flowers this year.…
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OIC plans committee to oversee actuaries’ licences in Thailand
The Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) is contemplating the establishment of a screening committee empowered to suspend or revoke the licences of actuarial mathematicians in a bid to mitigate risks to insurance firms and policyholders. Assistant Secretary-General of the OIC, Ayusri Kambamlue, stated that the office aims to enhance the protection of insured individuals’ benefits and elevate actuarial standards.…
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Thai banks brace for rising credit risk amid global uncertainties
Large local banks foresee their corporate clients grappling with significant challenges in the second half of the year due to global uncertainties and concerns over a potential US recession. Banks aim to manage asset quality to mitigate rising credit risk among certain customer segments. The Chief Executive of Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), Kris Chantanotoke, highlighted that some corporate customers will…
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Thailand targets 1 trillion baht milestone for crop revenue
The Commerce Ministry has urged Thai conglomerates and government bodies to collaborate on purchasing economic and secondary crops, targeting a revenue milestone of 1 trillion baht this year. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai highlighted that the agriculture sector supports approximately 27 million people, accounting for around 40% of the labour force. This includes 7.4 million households and encompasses key economic crops…
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Thailand lawyers to sue over invasive blackchin tilapia damage
The Lawyers Council of Thailand is gearing up to file a lawsuit against private companies and state agencies responsible for the proliferation of blackchin tilapia, an invasive fish species from West Africa that is rapidly overtaking the country’s waterways. A council team yesterday, August 10, established a booth at Wat Khao Yi San in Samut Songkhram’s Amphawa district. This initiative…
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High stakes in Thailand: Rolling the dice on casino legalisation
Thailand is moving forward with plans to legalise casinos within entertainment complexes. The Finance Ministry has completed a draft of the Entertainment Complex Act, which will soon be subjected to a public hearing in accordance with Section 77 of the constitution. This hearing aims to incorporate public feedback before the bill is presented to the Cabinet for further consideration. Deputy…
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Thailand on alert as WHO considers mpox emergency declaration
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is on high alert as the World Health Organisation (WHO) considers declaring a monkeypox (mpox) outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Permanent Secretary Dr Opas Karnkawinpong of the Ministry of Public Health revealed that the WHO’s recent report highlighted an increase in mpox cases in Africa. This year, 15 countries have reported…
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Bangkok residents urge SRT to allocate Makkasan land for housing
Residents near the railway in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district are calling on the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to allocate 10% of its 500-rai Makkasan land to them before commencing a high-speed rail project connecting three airports. The high-speed rail will link Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan, and U-Tapao Airport in Rayong. Last March, the…
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Thailand’s cross-border trade hits 912 billion baht, up 3.6%
Thailand’s cross-border and transit trade reached a significant milestone, totalling over 912 billion baht in the first half of the year, marking a 3.6% increase compared to the same period last year. The government attributed this growth to enhanced promotion of cross-border trade in recent months. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke referencing data from the Department of Foreign Trade, noted that…
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Motorcyclist dies after collision with pickup truck in Pattaya
A tragic accident occurred when a woman riding a motorcycle in the wrong direction was struck by a pickup truck, leading to her death. The incident was reported to the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit in Pattaya at 5am today, August 11. The rescue unit, along with medical personnel from Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital, arrived at the scene on Sukhumvit Road, near…
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Woman arrested for tricking man into marriage, stealing 5 million baht
A woman has been arrested for defrauding a man into marriage and leaving him penniless. Despite previous imprisonment, she continued her deceitful acts, claiming to be related to a prison warden and swindling victims of 5 million baht. Police in Udon Thani announced the arrest of 30 year old Sunisa Thinthan under a warrant issued by the Udon Thani Provincial…
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Man assaults hairdresser and trashes salon over haircut (video)
A young man dissatisfied with the hairstyle his mother chose assaulted a female hairdresser and trashed the salon, causing damage worth 10,000 baht. The police seek information to help identify the perpetrator. Yesterday, August 10, a Facebook user shared CCTV footage from the salon ตามโหงวเฮ้ง à¸à¸²à¸ˆà¸²à¸£à¸¢à¹Œà¸Šà¹‰à¸²à¸‡ showing a male customer attacking a hairdresser and vandalising the premises. The video captured…
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Elderly man found dead after losing savings to call centre scam
A former state enterprise employee was found dead in his home after being deceived by a call centre gang into investing in a clothing business, causing him to lose his last savings. A four-page handwritten letter was also discovered. Police in Chanthaburi reported that around 9pm yesterday, August 10, they received a call about a deceased person in a house in…
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Man killed by motorbike on Hathairat Road in Pathum Thani
A man crossing the street after leaving a restaurant was tragically struck and killed by a motorbike, leaving two others injured. The shocking incident occurred yesterday on Hathairat Road in front of a petrol station in Pathum Thani. Police Officer Chatchawan Prakobkit received the report and rushed to the scene with volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation. Upon arrival, they found…
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Russian tourist’s tragic fall from Phuket condo under investigation
A 20 year old Russian tourist tragically fell to his death from a seventh-floor condominium in Phuket. Police are investigating the incident and have contacted the Russian embassy to inform the family and repatriate the body for religious rites. Officers from Chalong Police Station in Phuket received a report about a male tourist who had fallen from a height. The incident…
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Yakuza members arrested in Nong Khai for brutal murder over debt
Two members of a Yakuza gang were arrested and conducted a crime scene reenactment after being apprehended in Nong Khai for the gruesome murder and dismemberment of a Japanese national over an unpaid debt of 8 million baht. Police discovered the dismembered body of 47 year old Japanese national Kaba Shima Ryosuke in Soi Jadsan Swing 2, Ban Kluay-Sai Noi…
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Fatal shipyard explosion in Ayutthaya confirmed free of chemical hazards
A fatal explosion at a shipyard in Ayutthaya‘s Bang Sai district has revealed no chemical contamination in the surrounding area, officials confirmed today. Public health officials surveyed the site, located next to the Chao Phraya River, and determined that no dangerous chemical residues were present that could pose a health risk to locals. Natnicha Buranasiri, from the Secretariat Office of…
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Thai police seize 10 million meth pills in Loei province
Thai Defence Minister Sutin Klangsang announced the seizure of 10 million methamphetamine pills, ordering stringent border measures and public cooperation to curb drug trafficking. The operation took place in Loei Province, involving various military and local police. Yesterday, at the 21st Ranger Unit, Sutin Klangsang held a press conference regarding the significant drug bust in Loei Province. The operation, conducted…
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Woman found dead in car after loan shark debt dispute
A man was found grieving over his wife’s body after a heated argument earlier in the day, following her secret borrowing of money from loan sharks. The incident led to a tragic end when she was found dead inside her car. Police received a report at 5pm yesterday, August 10, about a woman’s body discovered in a car parked near…
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Heavy rain and thunderstorms to hit 32 Thai provinces today
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued another weather warning for today, predicting heavy rain in 32 provinces, with 60% of Bangkok expected to experience thunderstorms from afternoon to evening. Flash floods and forest runoff are potential risks. The TMD forecasts increased rainfall across Thailand over the next 24 hours, particularly in the upper northeastern and lower southern regions. Despite the…
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Postal worker killed in machete attack at chumphon post office
An ex-postal worker attacked his former manager with a machete, leading to a struggle where the attacker was fatally injured. The incident, which occurred inside a post office in Pathio District, Chumphon Province, left many questions unanswered. The tragic event took place on the afternoon of August 8. The former employee, who had been dismissed from his job, entered the…
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Koh Samui demolishes unauthorised luxury villas on hillside
Koh Samui Municipality has demolished two luxury villas under construction without proper authorisation on a hillside in Koh Samui. The owners failed to comply with the municipality’s order to carry out the demolition themselves. Koh Samui District Chief Kampanat Klinsaowakon, alongside Colonel Dusit Kaysornkaew of the Fourth Army Region’s land investigative unit and other officials, spearheaded the operation to demolish…
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Bang Lamung launches volunteer network to tackle waste crisis
Bang Lamung Municipality launched the Local Volunteer Network (LVN) for the Environment (LVN) project for 2024. The inauguration event took place at the Wisutthachar Dome and was led by Lieutenant Colonel Jarawat Chinnawat, Mayor of Banglamung Municipality, alongside other municipal officials. The project attracted enthusiastic participation from housewives, the elderly, community members, and various local clubs. The LVN project addresses…
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Bangkok aircon technician steals Rolex, pawns it for 80,000 baht
An air conditioning technician turned thief stole a customer’s Rolex valued at 250,000 baht and pawned it the following day for a fraction of its value at 80,000 baht. Bang Khen police, led by Anan Worasaart, ordered the arrest of 35 year old Bancha, and 23 year old Kawalin after they were found with a Rolex Oyster Perpetua worth approximately…
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Toll fees on Bangkok expressways waived for Mother’s Day
Thailand’s Expressway Authority (EXAT) announced that toll fees will be waived on three major expressways tomorrow, August 11, in celebration of Mother’s Day. This initiative aims to ease travel and reduce expenses for the public. Starting from 12.01am to midnight, tolls will be free on the Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway (comprising 20 toll booths), the Si Rat Expressway (31 toll…
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Drug addict opens fire at neighbour’s house in Samut Prakan
A young drug addict believed his neighbours were out to harm him and opened fire on their home in a Samut Prakan village. Fortunately, police apprehended him before any severe damage occurred. Ban Khlong Suan Police Station yesterday, August 9, received a report of a man frantically shooting at his neighbour’s house, causing significant damage. The incident took place in…
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Bang Lamung chief cracks down on gambling and drugs in Pattaya
Bang Lamung District Chief Wikit Manarojkij recently led a monthly meeting with village headmen and local leaders at the district office, the primary agenda focused on the stringent enforcement of policies against gambling and drug-related activities. Wikit underscored two crucial policies that require strict adherence: the ban on gambling and the crackdown on drug offences. He voiced concerns about unreported…
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