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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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Thai spiritual medium arrested for raping woman with autism
Police arrested a Thai spiritual medium for raping a woman with autism at a hotel in the central province of Nakhon Sawan. The rapist then allegedly repeated the appalling crime, sexually assaulting a six year old girl, after being released on bail. The 21 year old mother of the child filed a complaint against the spiritual medium, 55 year old…
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Thai department seeks funds for human-elephant conflict resolution
The Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is seeking a 50 million baht (US$1.4 million) budget from the government to assist individuals whose lives have been disrupted by encounters with wild elephants. The initiative is part of an effort to mitigate the increasing conflicts between humans and the growing population of wild elephants in the nation.…
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Drug-fuelled party raided in Sattahip, teens arrested
Sattahip Police Station orchestrated a shutdown of a raucous drug party at an undisclosed pool villa in the Bang Sare subdistrict of Chon Buri province yesterday, January 4. The villa’s name remains under wraps as authorities delve into the aftermath of the wild revelry. Over 20 officers stormed the villa, responding to numerous grievances from bleary-eyed locals disturbed by the…
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Rare cinereous vulture found in Kamphaeng Phet now under specialised care
A juvenile cinereous vulture, discovered on a road in the Lan Krabue district of Kamphaeng Phet last Sunday, is currently under the care of a team of veterinarians from the neighbouring Nakhon Sawan. The bird, weak from its long winter migration, is being prepared for future release. Veterinarian Pimchanok Songmongkol from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation’s…
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Burmese boxing coach killed in Tak, murderers remain at large
Police are searching for the murderers of a Burmese boxing coach in the Mae Sot district in the northern province of Tak. The lifeless body of an 18 year old Burmese man, identified as Ko, was found on the side of the Mae Sot-Umphang Road in the Mae Sot district of Tak on January 3. Ko was in black boxer…
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Thailand’s 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject receives robust defence
The Land Bridge megaproject, a 1-trillion-baht initiative in Thailand, received robust defence from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Pheu Thai MPs on Thursday. They stated that the project, designed to boost the country’s economy and development, could significantly improve the national economy if successful. PM Srettha, during the House debate on the 2024 fiscal budget, argued that the Land Bridge…
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Thai film censorship guidelines revamped for creative freedom
The National Soft Power Strategy Committee unveiled modifications to the Thai film censorship guidelines, acknowledging that the existing restrictions are hindering creativity and no longer reflect the social landscape of Thailand. This shift in policy now allows private sector input in the film and video consideration committee, as revealed by the National Committee on Soft Power Development’s chairwoman, Paetongtarn Shinawatra,…
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Teenagers arrested in Phitsanulok for gunfight over love dispute
Two 18 year old male teenagers were apprehended by the Phitsanulok City Police yesterday along with a six-chambered firearm and a quantity of ammunition. The arrest took place at a residence in Ban Pa Subdistrict, Phitsanulok City. The arrest follows an incident on January 2, when a gunfight broke out near a water canal adjacent to Wat Tan Suwan in…
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Thai celebrity Beer stirs controversy with mysterious direct message reveal
The Voice’s Beer has stirred up a controversy by sharing a mysterious direct message (DM) that pointed towards a celebrity and a well-known host. The message was shared yesterday, January 4, during a live session, sparking a series of varied reactions from netizens. During the live session, Beer mentioned that a famous person who already had a partner and a…
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Heroic nurses perform CPR at fatal accident scene on New Year’s Eve
Two nurses were honoured for their quick thinking and brave actions when they found themselves at the scene of a fatal road accident on New Year’s Eve. The incident occurred at Samprao intersection in Udon Thani, where a 62 year old woman, Jeerapha (surname withheld), suffering from Alzheimer’s, was hit by a van and left in the middle of the…
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Thailand’s tourism operators question 40 million visitors target
The government’s ambitious target of attracting 40 million foreign visitors is viewed as daunting by Thailand tourism operators, considering factors such as high travel costs, diminished demand in big markets such as China and Russia, and competition from surrounding nations. Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, who heads the Association of Chon Buri Tourism Federation, pinpointed the stagnant Chinese market as a significant issue,…
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Thai man nabbed for illegal soil excavation worth thousands of baht
Today, in Phichit province, local authorities apprehended a man who had been excavating soil from his land for commercial purposes. This operation, led by Natkrit Noykampun, Director of the 4 Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, along with his team, was launched following suspicions raised by two trucks heavily laden with wet, sticky soil on a main road. The…
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Starbucks steams up with price hike, now costlier than Thailand’s minimum wage
Starbucks, one of Thailand’s most popular coffee chains, announced that the prices of its beverages will be increased by 5 baht at all of its stores across the country from today. One cup of coffee from Starbucks is now more expensive than Thailand’s national minimum wage. The corporation says the reason for the price hike is due to the current…
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British tourist’s lost wallet returned by Thai hotel worker
A British holidaymaker on Koh Samui Island in Thailand is set to return home with a pleasant memory following a hotel worker’s return of his lost wallet during the new year celebrations. The wallet was found on Bophut Beach by Pakdee Trirat, an employee at the Holiday Inn Samui, amidst the festivities on the night of December 31. Surat Thani…
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Transport minister: Feeder buses to save Red and Purple Lines
Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit slammed naysayers in Parliament, asserting confidence that the state-owned Purple and Red Lines train services are on the brink of turning a profit within the next six months, all thanks to a game-changing feeder bus system. Addressing critics of the government’s daring move to cap maximum fares at 20 baht for electric train services in Bangkok,…
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Power play: Energy minister’s plan sparks potential for across-the-board cost cuts
Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga unveiled a plan that could slash energy costs across the board. Pirapan declared yesterday, January 3, that a paradigm shift is imminent in the gas supply sector, aiming to empower power producers and significantly cut down on electricity expenses. The key? A strategic merger of gas pools to unleash a domino effect that could alter the…
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KTC reports robust growth, launches Thailand’s first digital credit card
KTC, the leading credit card service provider in Thailand, reported a robust growth in its operations for the year 2023. The company revealed a surge in card spending exceeding its initial target by over 10%. Continuing its growth trajectory into 2024, KTC maintains its previous growth target of 15%. Currently, KTC holds a 12% market share in the total card…
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Journey of hope: Thai-American woman seeks long-lost Thai mother
A half Thai half American woman reached out to the Thai media in a bid to reunite her with her long-lost mum who is believed to live in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani. The 53 year old Thai-American woman, identified only as Janny, told her story to The Isaan Record, in the hope that someone knows her Thai mother…
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Pickup truck plunges into Bangkok canal in shocking late-night incident
A shocking incident unfolded today when a pickup truck plunged into a drainage canal alongside Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. The driver managed to escape unharmed and reported that the accident occurred while he was swerving to avoid a municipal water truck. Late that night, Police Lieutenant Colonel Theerapoj Thonghet, an investigator at Vibhavadi Police Station, received a report of a pickup…
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Tokyo’s unique Mori Ouchi café caters to the pessimistic crowd
Tucked away in the Shimokitazawa district of Tokyo, Japan, a unique café, known as Mori Ouchi, offers a haven for those with a pessimistic outlook on life. Despite appearing as a conventional café from the outside, the establishment caters specifically to individuals who view the world negatively. The café, named Mori Ouchi, was conceptualised and launched three years ago amidst…
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Royal ripple: US court docs weave tangled ties, linking Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein scandal (video)
Newly released US court documents have unveiled a web of connections between high-profile figures and the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – including Prince Andrew. The scandalous details, including accusations against the 63 year old Duke of York, and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, are sending shockwaves through elite circles. Prince Andrew finds himself entangled in the latest…
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Discovering Ruki: The world’s darkest river
Ruki, a tributary of the Congo River, has been identified as the world’s darkest river due to its near-black colouration which makes it almost impossible to see anything, even one’s reflection. Scientific tests revealed that this extreme darkness is due to the high level of dissolved organic matter in the water, which originates from the surrounding dense forests. This dark…
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Thailand’s Kra Isthmus Land Bridge promises economic boom for Penang Port
Thailand is eyeing a colossal infrastructure project, a 90-kilometre land bridge across the Kra Isthmus, set to revolutionise maritime trade and shower economic benefits on ports in northern Peninsular Malaysia. Penang Port Sdn Bhd CEO V Sasedharan envisions this ambitious project as a potential game-changer, akin to the impact the Suez Canal had on Egyptian waterway-adjacent ports. The proposed land…
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Phuket authorities step up anti-drug operations, apprehend two suspects
As Phuket’s officials are making moves to address drug use among boat operators, Thalang Police have concurrently stepped up their anti-drug operations. The outcome of these intensified efforts is the recent apprehension of two individuals, confirmed to be in illegal possession of methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba, with intentions to distribute. The Thalang Police Force made public the results…
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Boo in Nong Bon: Local grandma spooks community with twilight tales of ghostly bamboo antics
Rumours have spread throughout the Nong Bon community that an older woman known as Grandma Prapong is a local ghost, reportedly seen lurking in the bamboo forest and exhibiting peculiar behaviour at dusk. The intrigue escalated to such an extent that it frightened children into feverish states, leading local paranormal investigator, Prasert, to intervene and verify the validity of these…
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LA orthodontist’s narrow escape from electrocution in Thailand
When a Los Angeles-based orthodontist‘s dream Thai vacation took a horrifying turn, it shocked social media with her Instagram and TikTok followers expressing their concern and support. Dr Cara Hodgson, boasting a considerable online following of 25,500 on Instagram and 97,000 on TikTok, usually shares glimpses of her jet-setting lifestyle and dental tips. However, her recent revelation about a life-threatening…
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Townhouse collapse in central Thailand raises safety concerns
A devastating incident occurred as a two-storey townhouse collapsed, causing damage to multiple properties in central Thailand. The calamity took place within the Teacher’s Village in Ban Khlong Suan, Phra Samut Chedi District, Samut Prakan last night. The authorities were alerted and emergency response teams were dispatched to assess the situation and provide assistance. The area, roughly 5 kilometres from…
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Foreign woman slips and collapses on breakwater wall at Pranburi Beach
The non-profit organisation Beach for Life Thailand called for enhanced safety measures following an incident in which a foreign woman slipped and fell on a breakwater wall at Pranburi Beach in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan. This infamous location has previously caused harm, resulting in a disability for a Thai man. The foreign woman reportedly lost consciousness after…
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Japan Airlines cancel 130 flights amid Haneda Airport runway repair
Approximately 130 flights were cancelled today by Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) as the fallout from Tuesday’s accident at Haneda Airport continues to impact operations. The cancellation was necessitated after a collision between a JAL passenger plane and a Japanese coast guard plane at the airport. Reports indicate that one of Haneda Airport’s four runways remains…
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Government Savings Bank issues alert on fake news loan scam
The Government Savings Bank (GSB) issued a warning to the public regarding fake news circulating on Facebook. A page has been promoting that GSB offers emergency loans ranging from 10,000 baht (US$289) to 50,000 baht (US$1,448) with low interest and no guarantor needed. The Anti-Fake News Centre Thailand (AFNC) investigated the matter and GSB clarified that it was a case…
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