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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 Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you
Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...
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Thai firms eye investment deals in Saudi Arabia
Thailand and Saudi Arabia are forging strong economic ties, with several collaboration deals in progress. Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, recently visited Saudi Arabia with a Thai delegation led by Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai. During the visit, it was announced that PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR) plans to establish petrol stations in Saudi Arabia,…
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Rice corruption: MFP probes suspicious 12.5 million baht event spending
The Move Forward Party (MFP) has initiated an inquiry into allegations of irregular expenditure related to an event organised by the Department of Rice. The party has warned that the incoming government will not tolerate rice corruption. During a press conference, MFP deputy spokesperson Karoonpon Tieansuwan revealed that the party had received a complaint from officials within the Ministry of…
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Police raid Bangkok’s Thonglor district, arrest 2 women for drug possession
Police and Narcotics Control officers conducted a raid in Bangkok’s Thonglor district, arresting two Thai women possessing illegal drugs and detaining tourists for drug testing. During the operation, several persons were found to have ingested methamphetamine and ketamine, with voluntary rehabilitation announced for some of them. At around 12.30am this morning, police and narcotics control officers led by Pol. Lt.…
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Anwar Ibrahim discusses Johor projects with Menteri Besar for regional impact
The Malaysian federal government and the Johor state government are collaborating to ensure that the implementation of various projects in the state has a comprehensive impact, including on neighbouring countries, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He met with Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi to discuss several governance and allocation issues related to Johor’s development and economy. Among the…
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Thailand nurse resignations up to 7,000 yearly due to low pay, heavy workload
A concerning trend has emerged in Thailand‘s state-run hospitals, with up to 7,000 nurses resigning each year due to heavy workloads and insufficient overtime pay. This is despite an annual influx of 10,000 new nursing graduates, according to the nurses’ union and Nurses Connect. The alarming rate of Thailand’s nurse resignations has prompted calls for the government to implement more…
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Rabies outbreak claims 3 lives across 3 provinces; urgent vaccination urged
A surge in rabies cases has claimed three lives in the provinces of Chonburi, Rayong, and Surin, due to a lack of adequate vaccination after contact with the disease. A 28 year old Myanmar man also died in Tak province after being bitten by a rabid dog while in Myanmar. The Department of Disease Control’s Director, Dr. Tares Krassanairawiwong, reported…
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Foreign investors target luxury Bangkok condos, India eyes Pattaya properties
Foreign buyers are showing renewed interest in luxury condominiums in Bangkok, with potential investors primarily coming from China, Myanmar and India. Yesterday, Capital One Real Estate and its representatives have reaffirmed that Thailand’s real estate market is showing positive signs as their portfolio value is on track to reach 50,000 million baht (US$1.42 billion). As a result, foreign market sales…
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Sudan declares UN special representative Volker Perthes persona non grata
Sudan has declared Volker Perthes, the United Nations special representative and head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), as “persona non grata,” according to a statement from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Perthes was in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, for diplomatic talks when the announcement was made. Late last month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed…
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Man jailed for assaulting female driver in viral Lata Iskandar incident
A man who assaulted a female driver in Lata Iskandar, Malaysia, in an incident that went viral on social media, has been sentenced to seven days in prison by the Tapah Magistrate’s Court. Mohammad Zaim Faiz Tarmizi, 29, pleaded guilty to two charges, criminal intimidation and voluntary causing hurt, which could have resulted in imprisonment for up to seven years,…
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Umno proposes Gig Economy Commission to regulate booming Malaysian industry
The Gig Economy Commission Malaysia (SEGiM) has been proposed by Umno, a Malaysian political party, to regulate the burgeoning gig industry ecosystem and protect the welfare of service providers, suppliers, workers, and consumers. Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi highlighted that the gig economy is thriving in Malaysia, with over 1.12 million gig workers registered with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation…
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Phra Ratchawacharangsi, renowned Thai monk, dies at 89 after lifetime of devotion
Thai monk and respected author Phra Ratchawacharangsi, known for creating the sacred book “Man Pithi”, has passed away peacefully at the age of 89 after 69 years of religious service. The revered figure succumbed to his illness yesterday at Bangkok Hospital. The news of Phra Ratchawacharangsi’s passing was shared on the Facebook page of Buddhist News, with followers and fellow…
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Driver arrested for smuggling 13 illegal Myanmar migrants in Songkhla
A driver has been arrested for the fourth time in Songkhla for smuggling illegal migrants from Myanmar into Thailand. The driver, Aphiwatthana, was apprehended along with the 13 migrants he was transporting in his sport utility vehicle. The arrest took place at the Khuha intersection in the Rattaphum district, following a police pursuit along a highway. Upon questioning, the 46 year…
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Umno president backs non-Muslims in key government roles, slams PAS leader
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has defended the inclusion of non-Muslims in key government positions, in response to remarks made by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang. Hamidi emphasised that Umno, part of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, has always upheld Malaysia’s multicultural harmony, as it is an Islamic obligation. “Taking ‘ibrah’ or lessons from the event and in accordance with…
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DAP urges Umno Youth to move on from past hostility for nation’s sake
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has urged the Umno Youth wing to listen to its president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and move past the two parties’ historical animosity for the sake of the nation. This comes after the wing demanded an apology from DAP for past transgressions against Umno. “That is their opinion. It’s assembly, of course there will be lots of…
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Jailed ex-PM Najib Razak backs Anwar Ibrahim-led government, says Umno president
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed that former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is currently imprisoned, supports the administration led by current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Zahid, who also serves as deputy prime minister, called for justice for the convicted former leader while Anwar was present at the Dewan Merdeka event. “Even our former leader who is now behind…
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Malaysian independence fighter Lim Kean Chye dies aged 103
Malaysian independence activist Lim Kean Chye passed away at his home late Wednesday evening at the age of 103, according to his family. Lim was a founding member of the Malayan Democratic Union, which fought for the independence of Malaya and Singapore from British colonial rule. A Cambridge-educated lawyer, Lim played a significant role in left-wing politics and was part…
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Trump indicted over mishandling classified documents at Florida estate
The legal troubles of former US President Donald Trump have intensified as he now faces federal indictment charges for mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. This development comes on the heels of his New York indictment, where he was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump revealed on his social media platform, Truth Social, that…
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Trump faces indictment over mishandling classified documents
Former US President Donald Trump has revealed that he faces indictment over allegations of mishandling classified documents. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, stating that he has been summoned to a federal court in Florida. However, the Justice Department has not yet confirmed the indictment. The news has sparked reactions from various US politicians, both in support…
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UK hosts global AI summit, deepens economic ties with US
The Prime Minister returns from Washington having made progress on two key objectives: fostering global cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) risks and strengthening economic ties with the UK’s largest trading partner. The announcement of the first global AI summit in London is viewed as a victory, as it marks the beginning of a larger effort to establish a global AI…
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Hong Kong’s legal ambiguity risks eroding foreign business confidence
Hong Kong’s legal ambiguity surrounding the June 4 anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown has raised concerns among the city’s foreign business community. The government’s unwillingness to clarify the legal status of the commemorations, which are now deemed illegal under the Beijing-imposed national security law (NSL), is causing unease among companies who have long valued the British-inherited legal system…
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Zelenskyy visits flood-hit Ukraine; warns of mines, chemicals, disease risks
As the aftermath of the Nova Kakhovka dam breach unfolds, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the flooded regions, expressing concern over the dangers posed by floating mines, hazardous chemicals, and the potential spread of disease. Zelenskyy reported witnessing dead bodies floating in the water, a consequence of the Soviet-era dam’s collapse. Oleksandr Prokudin, the regional governor, stated that flooding from…
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Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces begins, says think tank
The long-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian forces seems to have commenced, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a think tank based in Washington, DC. While Ukrainian officials have not yet confirmed the operation, the ISW has observed a general uptick in military activity across the entire front line. Ukrainian forces have reportedly gained territory in the…
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Ukrainian forces target Zaporizhzhia in counter-offensive, heavy fighting reported
Heavy fighting continues in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, with Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks, artillery, and drones, attempting to advance south of the town of Orikhiv for a second consecutive night. Military experts believe that the focus of Ukraine’s counter-offensive will be on regaining access to the Sea of Azov and dividing the Russian forces in the region to weaken…
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Tesco reported to regulator over unclear pricing amid cost of living crisis
Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket chain, has been reported to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) by consumer group Which? over concerns regarding unclear pricing on the majority of its food and drink promotions. The complaint comes as the CMA investigates whether supermarkets are making excessive profits through inflated prices amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. Which? accuses Tesco…
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Perlis halts new gaming licences, discusses fate of existing outlets
Perlis, a state in Malaysia, has decided not to issue new operating licences to gaming and lottery companies, with a discussion scheduled next week to determine if the six existing outlets can continue operations. Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli announced the decision, stating that the matter will be brought to the Perlis state executive council (exco) meeting for further…
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Fishing boat capsizes off Phetchaburi coast, rescuers search for 3 missing
A fishing boat capsized in Phetchaburi due to strong waves, leaving four crew members in danger. One was found alive near an oil depot island, while authorities continue searching for the other three missing individuals. Last night, at around 9pm, the Sawangsanphettammasatan Foundation was informed that a fishing boat had been struck by large ocean waves and capsized near Ban…
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Phuket’s diarrhoea disaster: An unpleasant dose hits over 70 students and residents
More than 70 students and residents across Phuket fell victim to an unpleasant dose of diarrhoea yesterday. The Phuket Provincial Public Heath Office suspects the cause of this distressing episode could be attributed to the drinking of contaminated drinking water and ice procured from nearby factories. It is believed that a stomach bug, possibly the notorious norovirus, managed to infiltrate…
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Man hallucinates after drug use, raids neighbour’s home causing fear and chaos
Yesterday, police in Kabin Buri, Prachinburi province were alerted to an incident involving a 50 year old man causing chaos in a neighbour’s home. The man, identified as Kla, displayed signs of drug-induced hallucinations and continually verbally abused residents, prompting police intervention. Kla was eventually taken for treatment at a local hospital. Kabin Buri police responded to a call from…
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Imposter monk scams temples, steals over 20 robes worth 20,000 baht
A man disguised as a monk stole over 20 Buddhist monks’ robes worth 20,000 baht from Chong Lom temple in Samut Sakhon province yesterday. The imposter claimed to be the abbot of the temple and loaded the stolen items into a white Isuzu D-Max pick-up truck with Bangkok registration, as captured on CCTV. Yesterday, a man dressed as a monk…
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Ex-beauty queen’s rapid Thai police promotion sparks patronage investigation call
A former beauty pageant contestant’s rapid ascent through the ranks of the Thai police force has sparked concerns over potential patronage and corruption. The individual in question reportedly rose from police lance corporal to police captain in under two years, prompting calls for an investigation into the matter. A post on the “Phuen Tamruat” Facebook page highlighted the issue, stating…
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