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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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Prescription for drama: Accused mistress denies love affair, claims she is a nurse
A Thai woman accused her husband of cheating and conspiring with his mistress to file a lawsuit against her. The accused woman denies being her husband’s lover, insisting that she is only his nurse. The 52 year old wife, Naruecha “Sida” Kamutyothin, gave an interview to Channel 3 yesterday, October 30, explaining that she married her husband, Jade, and have…
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New Thai law: Less meth tablets, more help – addicts eligible for treatment, not jail
Thailand‘s Public Health Ministry is set to roll out a new regulation, enabling individuals found with less than ten methamphetamine tablets to be seen as drug addicts, making them eligible for treatment over imprisonment, according to Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew. This significant shift in policy was revealed yesterday during a ministry meeting centred on drug suppression efforts for the fiscal year 2024.…
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Seoul-searching: South Korean authorities accused of discriminating against Thais (video)
Outraged Thai netizens called for a ban on travel to South Korea, accusing authorities of discriminating against Thai nationals, pushing the hashtag #BanTravelToSouthKorea (#แบนเที่ยวเกาหลี) to the top of Twitter (X). The Southeast Asian nation is a popular destination for Thais due to the influence of K-pop artists, fashion and South Korean drama. Thais do not need a visa to enter…
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Chinese firm faces backlash over controversial punishment video provoking online outrage
A video showing a controversial disciplinary method by a company in Sichuan, China, sparked online outrage. The footage revealed a female employee crying while pouring water on the head of an individual, with a queue of colleagues waiting their turn to do the same. The viral video stirred up a heated debate among Chinese netizens, with many criticising the act as…
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Thailand Ministry of Labour: Refund for Thai workers who paid for return from Israel
Thai workers who fled unrest in Israel and bought their return tickets can now apply for a refund, according to the Ministry of Labour‘s Secretary, Pairoj Chotikasathien. This is in response to the recent conflict in Israel that has impacted Thai workers in the country. Thai workers who have returned from Israel since October 7, can now request reimbursement for…
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Drive-by drama: Gunman targets hospital in Japanese shootout
A doctor and a patient were shot this afternoon by a gunman on a motorcycle at a Japanese hospital in Toda, Saitama Prefecture. Police reported that the suspect gunman was holed up in a post office in the neighbouring city of Warabi. The suspect gunman entered the post office at approximately 2.15pm. The police have confirmed that both victims, a…
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Thailand to lift visa requirements for Taiwanese and Indian tourists
Thailand is set to lift visa requirements for tourists from India and Taiwan starting next month, lasting until May 2024. This move aims to attract more tourist influx as the peak season is on the horizon. This move follows in the footsteps of the decision made in September to abolish visa requirements for Chinese tourists, Thailand’s leading tourism market before…
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Golden opportunity gone wrong: Burmese man arrested for gold necklace heist
Police arrested a Burmese man for stealing a gold necklace worth 65,000 baht from a Thai woman in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The 42 year old victim, surnamed Oil, filed a complaint at Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station on October 29, saying a man snatched a gold necklace she was wearing and fled at around 4am. The theft…
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Deputy Interior Minister’s whirlwind day: Prayers, fire, and fashion in Bangkok
Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaiseth started his day with religious activities, then assisted in a fire incident during the day, and ended it at a fashion show in Bangkok, showcasing his versatile persona. The deputy interior minister revealed the incident of rescuing an elderly woman from a burning building in Uthai Thani yesterday. While attending a merit-making event yesterday, he…
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Brothers’ bittersweet lift: Sons carry sick mother to hospital in bamboo basket
A heartwarming incident unfolded as two sons, a 58 year old man surnamed Chen, and 55 year old Li carried their 89 year old elderly mother to the hospital when she fell ill on October 23 in Chongqing, China. Yet, the sight of the elderly mother being carried in a large bamboo basket due to her motion sickness and headache from…
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Mystery surrounds death of Thai barista at coffee shop in Khao Yai
A Thai woman discovered the dead body of her barista boyfriend at a coffee shop on Thanarat Road in the Khao Yai neighbourhood of Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeastern Thailand. The cause of his death remains a mystery. The woman, Charinthon Phuekkoksung, reported the death of her boyfriend, 25 year old Pasathorn Chaiyakarn, at Moo Si Police Station at 9.45pm yesterday,…
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As Phuket tourism market recovers, a potential “carmageddon” infrastructure crisis looms
Phuket hotels experienced promising momentum for the first half of 2023, which has set an optimistic path for the remainder of the year. At the mid-year juncture, international and domestic flight volume was already up 75% over total flights in 2022. Russia and China led the way as the two top tourism source markets in the first six months of…
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Suicide of Wild Boar footballer sparks nationwide query into mental health support
The tragic suicide of Dom, a member of the “Wild Boar” football team, has left many with questions. As per a report by the BBC, Dom, full name Duangpetch Promthep, was one of the 13 individuals from the football team who were trapped in the Tham Luang cave and died eight months after his rescue. The cause of his death…
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Major roles for crime suppression in Thailand delegated by police chief in a reshuffle of positions
The Thai National Police Chief today issued an order to delegate responsibilities to 11 special crime suppression centres. The order, number 600/2023, dated October 28, assigned Roy Ingkaphairoj, the Deputy National Police Chief, as the head of the Anti-Money Laundering Centre of the National Police Office. Under Roy’s supervision, Ittipon Atchariyapradit, the Assistant National Police Chief, will serve as the…
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Thai community leader commits suicide after plan to kill ex-wife fails
A Thai community leader committed suicide at his home in the central province of Nakhon Nayok after a plan to kill his ex-wife at a school failed. The director of Wang Phan Thip Phantaram School contacted officers at Mueang Nakhon Nayok Police Station after the school shooting incident at around 3pm yesterday, October 30. Officers rushed to the scene and…
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72 year old American trail runner found safe in Chiang Mai’s national forest reserve
The 72 year old American trail runner who vanished in the national forest reserve of Pa San Sai, Chiang Mai, has been found. Reach Mikob, an American national, was reported missing during a nature trip with 20 friends. He was located by the head of Pong village, Manop Boonsiri, and subsequently taken to a Chiang Mai hospital for a health…
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Hong Kong temple tells Thai tourists to stop sticking gold leaf on prayer wheel
There has been a call for Thai tourists to stop adhering gold leaf to an ancient prayer wheel at a temple in Hong Kong. A Thai tour guide‘s Facebook post drew attention to the unusual practice, suggesting that the temple’s authorities had said it was the work of Thai visitors. The act of sticking gold leaf to the wheel is…
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Karen tribe woman gives birth at Tak province border patrol checkpoint
A pregnant woman from the Karen tribe gave birth at a border patrol checkpoint in Tak province, as she was unable to reach a hospital in time due to the remote location of her home. The birth, which took place today, at 7am, was overseen by a team of rangers from the 35th Border Patrol unit and health officers from the…
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Residents soar in opposition to Chiang Mai Airport’s extended hours plan
Chiang Mai International Airport‘s proposed plan to extend its operating hours is facing mounting opposition from the locals of the Mae Hia subdistrict. The contention stems from the lack of compensation for the damages inflicted by the airport’s activities over the past five years. Meena Chankaew, president of the Nimman Noradee Neighbourhood, voiced the concerns of the residents whose properties…
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Foreign man found dead with 4 stab wounds at hotel in Phuket
A maid discovered the dead body of a foreign man with stab wounds to the neck in a hotel room in Phuket. There were no signs of theft or struggle. A substance similar to crystal meth was found in the bathroom. The hotel maid reported her shocking discovery to officers at Cheng Talay Police Station at around 9.30am yesterday, October…
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Thai’ed down: Fertility crisis set to halve Thailand’s population in six decades
Thailand’s population is predicted to plummet by half over the ensuing six decades due to a mounting fertility crisis. This alarming situation has spurred the Ministry of Public Health to instigate measures to encourage pregnancy and subsequently manage the drastic demographic shift that the country is poised to face. The Public Health Minister, Cholnan Srikaew, highlighted yesterday, October 30 that…
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Government’s digital wallet scheme delayed amid sustainability concerns
A seven-month delay is set to affect the government’s digital wallet scheme, with the expected launch now projected around September of next year, according to an adviser to the prime minister. Pichai Chunhavajira, while addressing a Senate-organised forum on the scheme, voiced that the policy is a vital economic stimulant but doubted its implementation in February as initially planned. The…
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Pattaya taxi drivers apologise after assaulting man mistaken for ride-hailer
A contentious altercation that took place on Pattaya’s bustling Walking Street has seen local taxi drivers extending sincere apologies to a Thai couple in the wake of a severe misunderstanding. The incident, which occurred on October 28, led to 41 year old Sathit Ruenjit being assaulted by the taxi drivers who mistakenly believed he was operating as a ride-hailing driver.…
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Bangkok’s 20-baht electric train policy boosts ridership by 30% on key lines
Bangkok was abuzz with positivity on October 28, as Dr Pichet Kunadhamraks, the Director General of the Department of Rail Transport, stepped forward to share the latest numbers. The recently implemented 20-baht electric train ride policy on the Red and Purple BTS lines saw a significant increase in ridership since its inception on October 16. The director general revealed a…
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Thailand and Laos aim for US$11 billion bilateral trade boost with enhanced transport links
Thailand and Laos have set in motion plans to increase the value of bilateral trade to US$11 billion (395.7 billion baht) within the next two years, as announced by government spokesperson, Chai Wacharonke. This ambitious target was a significant point of discussion during a meeting between the Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, and his Lao counterpart, Sonexay Siphandone. Covering an…
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Three killed in tragic racing pickup truck collision in Sadao, Songkhla
Just after the stroke of 11pm on October 28, a devastating accident occurred along Kanchanawanit Road in Sadao, Songkhla. The multi-vehicle collision involved a racing pickup truck, a lorry, and a motorcycle, tragically resulting in three fatalities. The Sadao police, upon receiving the report, were quick to respond, dispatching local rescue teams to the scene. Upon their arrival, the rescue…
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Thailand’s winter arrival delayed, Meteorological Department forecasts milder season
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) is preparing to announce the arrival of winter early next week. This declaration is set to occur approximately two weeks later than the usual calendar due to the persistence of weak cool winds and the forecast of a milder temperature trend. Somkhuan Tonjan, the Director of the Meteorological Observation Division, indicated that rainfall may…
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Fire at renowned Pattaya hotel triggers panic among Indian tourists
Pattaya, a beautiful city known for its beaches and nightlife, was shaken by an unfortunate incident yesterday. A fire broke out at a well-renowned hotel nestled on Soi 4 in the bustling area of Central Pattaya, Nongprue sub-district, Chon Buri province. The fire, which started at approximately 6am, led to a wave of panic amongst the guests, with a large…
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Unprovoked attack on foreign tourist by teens threatens Pattaya’s tourism reputation
Falling victim to an unprovoked attack in Pattaya’s Nongprue sub-district, an unidentified foreign tourist was assaulted by a group of unruly teenage boys. The incident occurred in the evening on Soi Yensabai, a bustling street in South Pattaya within the Banglamung district, Chon Buri province. The unprovoked attack on the foreign tourist was captured on a CCTV camera, showing the…
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Thai PM’s frequent flyer miles soar: Srettha’s approval ratings stay grounded
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has received favourable approval ratings despite concerns over his frequent overseas trips, according to a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). Conducted over the telephone between October 24-25, the NIDA Poll surveyed a diverse group of 1,310 individuals aged 18 and above. The findings revealed that the Thai prime minister’s international travel…
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