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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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Statistical lottery results revealed: Check out past June 1 winning numbers
Lottery enthusiasts in Thailand are gearing up for yet another exciting draw on Thursday, June 1, with many keen to analyse the winning numbers over the past 10 years. These keen-eyed lottery buffs are using historical data to provide insight into the most frequently drawn numbers and use them to guess the upcoming Lottery draw. Looking back at June 1…
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Durian dispute turns violent after Chinese tourists accuse Thai vendor of selling fake fruit
Things quickly turned sour when three Chinese tourists accused a Thai vendor of selling “fake durian” at a market in Chon Buri province, eastern Thailand, on Saturday. Officers from Sattahip Police Station were called to de-escalate an altercation at Siwanat Nakorn 700 Rai Market on Saturday night which began when three Chinese tourists expressed discontent with the quality of their…
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Deadly consumption of poisonous mushrooms claims 2 lives, 7 seriously ill in Loei Province
Tragedy struck the Isaan province of Loei as a group of individuals fell victim to the consumption of poisonous mushrooms known as Hed Ra Ngok in Thai, resulting in the deaths of two people and leaving seven others injured. The unfortunate incident unfolded on Saturday, May 20, when two residents ventured into a forest near the popular attraction, Phu Lom…
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Thailand unemployment rate drops to 1.05% as tourism industry rebounds
Thailand witnessed a decrease in its unemployment rate during the first quarter, reaching a three-year low of 1.05%, down from 1.15% in the final quarter of 2022, according to the state planning agency’s announcement on Monday. The improvement is attributed to the strengthening recovery of the vital tourism industry. The nation’s economy, which is the second-largest in Southeast Asia, experienced…
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Driver confronts taxi counterpart with arrest warrant in viral video, escorted to police station
A long-standing feud between two taxi drivers in Samut Prakan culminated as one driver took matters into his own hands to ensure justice was served. According to a video posted online, the taxi driver waited several years to confront the other driver and had a warrant for his arrest but he evaded capture. The incident, which occurred under a BTS…
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Reckless rock-thrower arrested in Ang Thong after damaging vehicles and risking lives
Police arrested a 27 year old man in the Ang Thong province allegedly responsible for throwing rocks at three vehicles, causing damages and endangering lives. It was reported that following a cannabis-induced hallucination, the suspect become a potential threat to public safety. Upon investigation, the man was found to have a history involving drug arrests. Today, Pol. Lt. Col. Sayachon…
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Phuket som tam restaurant returns 200,000 baht to European tourist
A European tourist was reunited with his bag containing money and assets worth 200,000 baht yesterday thanks to the honest owner of a som tam restaurant in Phuket, southern Thailand. The restaurant, Som Tam Yam 3 Aow, posted photos of the smiling tourist with a big stash of cash on Facebook with the caption… “From the incident where a customer had…
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Greece’s political earthquake: Mitsotakis wins, Tsipras suffers huge setback
Greece experienced a “political earthquake” as the conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his centre-right New Democracy party secured a significant electoral victory. With nearly 41% of the vote, the party was just five seats short of a majority. Alexis Tsipras, the centre-left rival and leader of the Syriza party, congratulated Mitsotakis as Syriza only managed to secure 20% of…
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Burmese man attacks 3 colleagues with knife near Bangkok
A Burmese man attacked three colleagues with a knife yesterday at the Owl Market in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The incident took place around 5pm yesterday, May 21, at the Owl Market or Nok Hook Market along the Nonthaburi Bypass Road. Officers from Rattanathibet Police Station were notified of the incident and quickly arrived on the scene along with rescuers…
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China cybersecurity watchdog fails Micron, urges halt on chip purchases
China’s cybersecurity watchdog has announced that US semiconductor company Micron failed its national security review, urging operators of “critical information infrastructure” to cease purchasing its products. This marks a new development in the ongoing chip dispute between the US and China, with the US seeking to limit Beijing’s access to advanced semiconductors. In March, Chinese authorities initiated a review of…
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Stolen ambulance radio requested back, needed for life-saving communication
Emergency responders from the Bangkok Medical Centre have reported the theft of a vital communication radio from an ambulance, urging the thief to return the equipment as it is crucial for saving lives. Yesterday, May 21, Mahesak Kanrat, a 48 year old ambulance captain from the Bangkok Medical Centre, reported the theft to Pipatpong Puempoon, a sergeant major investigating the…
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Mysterious woman drugs man, steals US$600k in one-night stand
A luxury condominium in Miami, USA, became the scene of a daring theft after an unsuspecting man allegedly woke up to find his possessions worth over US$600,000 (20 million baht) stolen. The suspect, a woman who is currently being hunted by the Miami Police Department, is accused of drugging the 35 year old victim she met at a club before…
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Bitcoin rebounds 80% in 2023 amid US banking system turmoil
Cryptocurrencies are making a comeback in 2023, with Bitcoin rallying by 80% above last year’s value, despite still being almost 50% down from its record high of US$69,000 in November 2021. This resurgence is partly due to improving macroeconomic conditions and the deteriorating state of the US banking system, which has led investors to seek alternatives to traditional financial instruments.…
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Russia pulled deeper into costly battle for Bakhmut as Kyiv readies offensive
As the battle for the frontline city of Bakhmut continues, Moscow finds itself being drawn deeper into an increasingly costly conflict, while experts suggest that Kyiv is preparing for a major offensive. Despite Russia’s claims of having taken control of the city, which Ukraine denied, the capture of Bakhmut does not offer a significant strategic advantage in terms of launching…
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Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ skips Cannes competition
Renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese, 80, revealed that he chose not to enter his latest film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” into the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival, stating that it was “time for others” to take the spotlight. The movie, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, received rave reviews from critics and is based on the…
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More than 500 people stranded in Chon Buri by luxury cruise company
More than 500 Thai tourists found themselves stranded at Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri, despite shelling out over 100,000 baht each for a supposedly luxurious cruise trip. The chaotic incident unfolded on Friday, May 19, leaving disgruntled passengers fuming and demanding answers from the cruise company, reportedly identified as Cost Serena, as they were denied boarding despite their hefty…
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Modi in Papua New Guinea for talks amid China’s Pacific growth
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Papua New Guinea on Sunday for discussions with Pacific island leaders, marking the first visit by an Indian premier as New Delhi aims to counterbalance China’s expanding presence in the region. Modi landed in the capital Port Moresby where he will co-host the Summit of the Forum for India’s Pacific Islands Cooperation on Monday…
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Pro-democracy group pressures senators to back MFP leader as prime minister
The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD) announced plans to stage a rally in front of the Parliament building tomorrow at 5pm, urging senators to support Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat for the position of prime minister. The rally is scheduled on the same day the Senate will convene an extraordinary session at 9am to discuss a…
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Singapore leads Southeast Asia with 97% cashless payment adoption rate
In Singapore, a growing majority of people are opting for cashless payment methods, with the country’s adoption rate of such payments being the highest in Southeast Asia at 97%. This trend has been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and an ongoing national drive for a less-cash society. Digital wallets are expected to overtake credit cards as the most popular online…
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Black panther killed in Malaysian road accident, sparks safety concerns
A black panther was fatally struck by a car in the Malaysian town of Simpang Pertang on a Saturday afternoon, shocking animal lovers worldwide. The incident took place in the western region of Negeri Sembilan. Jelebu District Police disclosed that a 38 year old man driving with his family was involved in the accident. He reported that the adult male…
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Thailand’s IB busts 1,272 foreign overstayers in just 9 days
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau (IB) reported a dramatic increase in cases of foreigners overstaying their visas, uncovering a substantial 1,272 overstayers in their latest nine-day crackdown. High-ranking IB officers held a press conference on Friday to report the fruitful rewards of their latest crackdown on illegal foreigners in the kingdom, reports ThaiRath. Between May 4-13, the IB caught 1,272 foreigners residing…
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Mysterious murder of beautician found dead in Pattaya apartment haunts family
The murder of a 32 year old woman called Ratana in Pattaya has left her family devastated and seeking justice. Ratana’s body was found with multiple stab wounds to her face, neck, behind the ears, and shoulders four to five days after she died in a third-floor apartment in Pattaya, a city in the Chon Buri Province of Thailand. At…
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Biden, McCarthy hold productive call amid US debt ceiling crisis
In an effort to resolve the impasse over the US debt ceiling, President Joe Biden and top Republican Kevin McCarthy engaged in a productive phone conversation. The two leaders are scheduled to meet on Monday, with the deadline to lift the debt ceiling fast approaching. Failure to reach an agreement could lead to the US defaulting on its debt, causing…
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Fatal Pattani man shooting prompts urgent probe in Southern Thailand rubber plantation
Authorities are investigating the shooting of a 34-year-old man from Pattani province who was found dead in a rubber plantation in the sub-district of Saba Yoi, Songkhla province. The victim reportedly had previous gunshot injuries but had not filed a police report due to fear. The police and emergency services arrived to find the victim near a large rubberwood log…
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Thai rice exports valued at 23% more than same period last year
From January to April, Thailand’s rice exports reached 2.79 million tonnes, with an estimated total for the year surpassing 8 million tonnes, according to the government. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, expressed optimism regarding the exports being valued at US$1.5 billion (51.2 billion baht) revenue, a 23% increase compared to the same period last year, as reported by government spokesperson Anucha…
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Jennifer Lawrence’s film spotlights Afghan women defying Taliban
A young woman confronts a Taliban fighter, accusing him of oppressing women and closing schools and universities, in a scene from the documentary Bread and Roses. The film, produced by Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence, explores the lives of three Afghan women following the Taliban‘s takeover. Lawrence highlights the importance of showcasing women fighting back, a side of the story not…
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Thai driver loses control, crashes into fish-loaded vehicle, 3 killed
Three people lost their lives in a devastating crash involving a Toyota Fortuner, another motorbike with a sidecar loaded with fish, and an electric light pole in Thailand. Authorities were alerted to the incident which took place on Rama 2 Road in Amphawa in the central Samut Songkhram province this morning. A 33 year old driver, a manager of a company…
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Thailand faces sizzling heat, heavy rain, and health warnings
The Thai Meteorological Department predicts sizzling heat and heavy rain and warns residents to take care of their health. This morning, the Meteorological Department issued a weather forecast for the next 24 hours, warning that the northern parts of Thailand may experience scorching temperatures with partly cloudy skies during the daytime. Some areas may experience heavy rain and thunderstorms. Residents are…
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Thailand’s Tham Luang Cave reopens for tourists in July
Safety measures are being implemented ahead of the Tham Luang Cave site’s reopening in July, as announced by Thailand‘s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Bangkok Post reported. The cave gained international attention in 2018 when 12 young Wild Boars football players and their coach were trapped inside for 18 days due to flooding before being successfully rescued.…
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Thailand’s Pink Line monorail project faces third extension, delays completion to 2024
The completion date for Thailand‘s Pink Line monorail project has been pushed back by 345 days, marking the third extension granted by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). The new estimated finish date is now set for August 2024, as opposed to the previously anticipated July this year, Bangkok Post reported. Sarawut Songsivilai, Highways Department director-general and MRTA…
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