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Sponsored Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money
Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...
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Thai tourism sector optimistic about Chinese arrivals despite economic concerns
Despite the Thai tourism sector experiencing a drop in Chinese visitors last year, the government remains optimistic about an increase in arrivals this year, targeting eight million visitors from the mainland. This optimism is fuelled by the prospect of the visa-free policy becoming permanent in March. The Chinese government has been advocating for its citizens to travel domestically during the…
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3 Thais arrested for stealing credit cards from foreigners in Bangkok (video)
The Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMB) arrested three Thai nationals for stealing credit cards from foreigners at several tourist spots in Bangkok, causing a loss of more than 8 million baht. The Thai mastermind had close ties to a Chinese call centre scam gang leader. IDMB officers received numerous reports of credit card theft at popular Bangkok…
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Chinese new year holiday expected to boost Thailand’s tourism revenue
Anticipated to reach a staggering 34.4 billion baht, spending during the Chinese New Year holiday is set to surge, with foreign travellers, primarily from Chinese-speaking nations, contributing 28.4 billion baht. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) attributes this 29% year-on-year revenue growth, which spans from February 8 to 16, to the visa-free policy for Chinese and Taiwanese tourists. TAT Governor…
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Shocking escape: Aussie woman zaps back to life after electrifying encounter with deadly jellyfish near Koh Pha Ngan
An Aussie woman declared she is thankful to be alive after a bolt of “electricity had shot through her body” following a horrifying attack by some box Jellyfish near Koh Pha Ngan. The 23 year old woman from Queensland in Australia was left hospitalised for over a month after the attack and issued a cautionary message to fellow holidaymakers about the…
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Thailand bracing for temperature drop due to cold blast from China
A new blast of cold air is set to lower temperatures by four degrees Celsius, warns the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD). This weather shift, prompted by a strong high-pressure system from southern China and northern Vietnam, is anticipated to affect the northeastern and eastern parts of Thailand today. The cold weather and strong winds in the northeast are expected…
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New tiger discovery in Chumphon province’s forests sparks transboundary patrol theory
Three tigers, believed to traverse between Thailand and Myanmar, have been discovered in Chumphon province’s forests. The big cats were detected last Friday in the Tanao Sri Mountain Range, which forms the border between the two countries. The tigers are suspected of patrolling the forests of Duang Charoen, Nern Thong, and Chong Kamew in the Ta Sae district’s Song Pee…
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Large-scale anti-crime initiative launched in Sa Kaeo, Thailand following brutal murder
In a shocking development in Sa Kaeo, Thailand, a large-scale anti-crime initiative has been launched by the Aranyaprathet District Police, spurred by the brutal murder of a 47 year old woman. The alleged culprits, a group of teenagers aged between 13 and 16, reportedly include the sons of two local police officers from the eastern province. The campaign, aiming to…
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Win unrestricted access to Thailand’s national parks for a year
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has rolled out an intriguing tourism initiative offering winners unrestricted free access to national parks throughout Thailand for a whole year. Titled Passport to Thailand National Parks, the challenge encourages visitors to collect stamps from all 156 national parks in the country. The reward for this endeavour is not only…
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PM Srettha: Digital wallet scheme will go ahead despite postponement
The eagerly anticipated 500 billion baht digital wallet handout scheme, publicised as the government’s economic lifeline, faces an unexpected delay. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced yesterday, January 19, that the launch of the 500-billion-baht initiative will be postponed pending an inquiry by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Brushing off rumours of incorporating the scheme into the 2025 budget, PM Srettha…
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Knife-wielding Thai man sends tourist running for his life in Chon Buri
A knife-wielding Thai man was caught on CCTV attempting to attack a tourist on Soi Na Jomtien 20 yesterday morning, January 19 in Chon Buri. The confrontation began with the tourist inquiring about the location of a beer shop from a local woman and her friends. The group offered to fetch the beer for him, but before the kind gesture…
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Singaporean TikTok user hospitalised after consuming fried silk worms in Thailand
A Singaporean TikTok user documented her gastronomic adventure at the night markets of Bangkok on January 14 when her intrigue in freshly fried insects landed her in hospital. In a 30-second video, Nicolette Wee enthusiastically showcased her purchase of a bag of grasshoppers. “So thick, fat, and juicy. Oh my gosh, the crunch and the legs were dangling out. I…
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Bhumjaithai’s Chontida Asavahame quits party
Chontida Asavahame, the fifth candidate on Bhumjaithai’s political roster, has quit the party. The move dashes any hopes she had of replacing former Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob as an MP, according to an inside party source. Supachai Jaisamut, Bhumjaithai’s registrar, confirmed the development, revealing that the party promptly notified the Secretariate Office of the House of Representatives about Chontida’s resignation. This…
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Massive international drug bust in Phra Khanong district
Officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) and Immigration Police arrested a Nigerian national, along with eight other suspects linked to a sprawling drug trafficking network. The bust unfolded at Pavilion Mansion, Udomsuk 49 Alley, Bang Chak district, Phra Khanong, Bangkok. A total of nine individuals including 40 year old Nigerian national, identified only as Fabian, were apprehended, with a…
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SUV inferno leaves two women seriously injured
A speeding SUV spiralled out of control, crashing into a streetlight post and erupting into flames on the Mab Eiang-Laem Chabang Road on January 17. The aftermath left two women injured and the vehicle reduced to ruins after the inferno. Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing sequence of events, with the SUV hurtling down the road before the catastrophic collision. One of the…
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Thai man arrested in South Pattaya for selling meth and firearms
A team of investigators arrested a Thai man for illegal trading of methamphetamine and unauthorised firearms in South Pattaya on January 18. The suspect, 35 year old Rueangrit (surname withheld) was found residing in an abandoned Soi Batman building. In an operation led by Bang Lamung Police Chief Police Colonel Navin Sinthurat, officers observed Rueangrit’s suspicious activities before initiating a search.…
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Thai PM pushes for minimum wage raise
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared yesterday that Thailand must abandon its reliance on low labour costs to entice foreign investments, pushing for a raise in the country’s minimum wage. Addressing a panel discussion titled Learning from ASEAN at the World Economic Forum in Davos, PM Srettha emphasised a paradigm shift in priorities. “Low labour cost should not be the attracting…
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Naked British man found dead in luxury Chon Buri condominium
The owner of a luxury condominium in the Sriracha district of Chon Buri today found the dead body of a naked British man inside the room. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed. The juristic person of the condo told Channel 7 that the British man, 57 year old Matthew, usually bought products from a convenience store on…
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Northern Thailand experiences temperature drop as smog levels rise
The northern region of Thailand is currently experiencing a decrease in temperature of 1-3 degrees Celsius due to a moderate high-pressure system covering the northeast and the South China Sea. Concurrently, weak westerly winds in the upper regions blanket the north, resulting in cool to cold weather with morning fog. Meanwhile, areas in the northeast, central, east and upper south…
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Thai government tests new lottery system with tickets as low as 20 baht
The Government Lottery Office (GLO) plans to experiment with the sale of three-digit and two-digit lotteries within a sandbox system mid-year this year. The test will involve one million numbers, both direct and permutation, to combat underground lottery operations. The cost per ticket is expected to range between 20 to 50 baht. The director of GLO revealed that the initial…
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Thai university student escapes attempted rape in dormitory
A Thai university student narrowly escaped an attempted rape in her dormitory in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen thanks to the help of her roommate. The victim, a 19 year old woman named Wirakarn, told Channel 7 that the incident happened at around 9pm on Monday, January 15. She was waiting for the lift to go to her room…
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STARLUX Airlines to launch LA and San Francisco to Chiang Mai flights
Taiwanese airline, STARLUX Airlines, is launching new routes from Los Angeles and San Francisco to the northern province of Chiang Mai. The launch event, held at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on January 16 showcased the distinct traditions of Chiang Mai while underscoring TAT’s unwavering commitment to enhancing US-Thailand travel. As a warm Chiang Mai welcome, passengers on the inaugural…
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US Embassy sets up passport renewal service in Hua Hin
In a bid to make life easier for American citizens in Hua Hin and its environs, the US Embassy’s Citizen Services Unit is bringing its consular outreach programme to the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort on January 25 from 8am to 11am. This exclusive event boasts a trio of services, featuring passport renewals for adults via DS-82 forms, passport issuance for…
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Police officer arrested for using and selling Yaba from police station
Officers of Nong Pling Police Station in the central province of Nakhon Sawan arrested a colleague for selling methamphetamine, also known as Yaba, on the police premises. Nong Pling Police Station‘s narcotics suppression unit discovered 55 year old Police Sub-lieutenant Suttirat Ampasawet offering drugs to addicts in the province. Officers then posed as customers and ordered 50 tablets of Yaba…
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Demand for stricter juvenile law after brutal murder by teenagers in Sa Kaeo
The brutal murder of a woman in Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district by five teenagers has triggered demands for stricter penalties for serious offences committed by juvenile delinquents. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, January 11, saw the teenagers, aged between 13 and 16, captured on security camera footage attacking the woman, 47 year old Buaphan Tansu, and later confessing to…
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Thai Consular introduces electronic documents services including e-passports
Thailand‘s Department of Consular Affairs has introduced biometric e-passports and AI-powered consular applications. Below is a list of the e-services that the Department of Consular Affairs have launched: E-passports. The star of the show is the e-passport, boasting biometrics galore – facial images, fingerprints, and iris scans, all in line with international standards. E-visa. With an online system already rocking…
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Bangkok cops swoop to arrest notorious Sex Creator in human trafficking operation
Amid a crackdown on child exploitation, a special operation by the Department of Administrative Services, and Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, successfully targeted four locations in Bangkok and Pathum Thani, arresting a notorious human trafficking operation known as “Sex Creator.” The group is accused of exploiting a 16 year old girl by filming explicit content for sale on global online platforms,…
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Thai health chief champions surrogacy for same-sex couples
In a move anticipating the impending legalisation of same-sex marriage in Thailand, the nation‘s Health Department Director-General Atchara Nithiapinyasakul is pushing for a revision of the Surrogacy Act. The aim is to open the doors for homosexual couples to adopt a baby through a surrogate mother, addressing not just personal desires but also a national crisis. As Thailand grapples with…
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PM Srettha discusses direct flights from Brussels to Bangkok at WEF
At the 54th World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to discuss stronger ties between the two nations at the Congress Centre on January 17. Coming out of the high-profile meeting, the prime minister-cum-finance minister pledged to explore the prospect of direct flights between Brussels and Bangkok with the involvement of…
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Thai-German man arrested for sexually assaulting daughter and distributing child porn
Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested a half Thai half German man in northeastern Thailand on January 14 for sexually assaulting his seven year old daughter and distributing child porn online. The Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany, Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), handed over information and evidence on the Thai-German suspect, identified only as Tony, to the DSI on…
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Thai trio arrested for fraud and coercion in job scam
Three Thais were arrested yesterday for fraud and coercion by tricking victims into a job scam and by forcing them to open mule accounts in the eastern region and West Thailand. Police Major General Saruti, Sopha District, Commander of the Provincial Crime Suppression Division, Pol. Col. Pattanaphong Sriphinphao, Superintendent of Region 2, Provincial Crime Suppression Division, Pol. Lt. Col. Narong…
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