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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 Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Thai man accuses RTP police chief of scapegoating in rape case
A Thai man demanded 5 million baht in compensation from the Royal Thai Police (RTP), accusing a well-known police chief of being unjustly scapegoated and imprisoned for a rape he did not commit. The 52 year old Thai man, Narin Chuekhomta, accompanied by his lawyer Ratchapon Sirisakorn, visited the Bangkok South Criminal Court on April 22 to file a complaint…
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Hong Kong man’s death-defying leap across train tracks goes viral (video)
In a heart-pounding video that took the internet by storm overnight, a man showcased a breathtaking leap across the tracks at Fo Tan Station on the MTR East Rail Line in Hong Kong. The six-second clip, a fusion of two recordings, unveils the man’s fearless sprint from one platform to the other, executed with seamless precision. What makes this spectacle…
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British couple stranded in Dubai returns home to Manchester
Battling storm-struck Dubai chaos, a British couple turned their 12-day flight wait into a three-day journey, involving three flights and seven taxis, to make it back home to Manchester. The couple, 60 year old Alison Shah and her 52 year old partner, Richard Kay, faced a nightmare scenario as they attempted to return from Shah’s birthday trip to Bangkok, only…
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PM Srettha discusses interest rate cuts with bank chiefs
Prime Minister Srettha Thavasin convened a meeting with top executives from four major banks to discuss potential interest rate reductions aimed at aiding vulnerable groups within the country. The discussions took place at the Government House at 9am today just before the weekly Cabinet meeting. PM Srettha, who also serves as Finance Minister, sought cooperation from the leaders of both…
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Soaring glamour: Thai Airways’ business class upgrade
Thai Airways (THAI) boasts an enviable array of long-range jets, but behind the glamour lies a tale of unexpected surprises for passengers. Take THAI’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, where outdated 2-2-2 layouts clash with the modern 1-2-1 setup, leaving travellers feeling short-changed. But salvation is on the horizon. THAI is gearing up for a monumental shift, with 45 cutting-edge Boeing…
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Royal Thai dish that beats the heat
In scorching Thailand, with temperatures soaring to a sizzling 40 degrees Celsius during the summer, one Thai dish has proved effective for our ancestors to keep cool in the absence of modern refrigeration. During the reign of King Rama IV (1851-1868), culinary wizards at the royal court concocted a dish boasting an unparalleled cooling effect on the body. Khao Chae…
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Thailand targets global animal feed market
The Government of Thailand is spearheading a move to become a global leader in the production and export of animal feed, focusing on quality assurance and safety to cater to the global market. The initiative is expected to generate an economic value of up to 300 billion baht. Chai Watcharong, the spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, announced…
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Thai fans press couple to return diamond pendant to Jackson Wang
Thai fans of Hong Kong singer and rapper Jackson Wang put pressure on a Thai couple to return a lost segment of his diamond-encrusted Buzz Lightyear pendant after they discovered it in Phuket and tried to sell it. Wang visited Phuket to celebrate his birthday at a beach club in the province on March 27. During his birthday party, Wang…
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Debt woes: Woman found dead in pond in Nong Bua Lamphu
A 57 year old woman was found dead in a pond in Nong Bua Lamphu province, following a period of severe stress due to her tenants failing to pay three months’ worth of rent. Children playing nearby initially spotted the body floating in the water and alerted adults yesterday. The deceased, later identified as Sumalee, had expressed to her mother…
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Northern Thailand braces for 44 degrees celcius heatwave
A heatwave accompanied by strong winds and hail is forecasted to hit northern Thailand starting tomorrow, with temperatures expected to soar to a sweltering 44 degrees Celsius, breaking records previously held by Mae Hong Son province in 2016 and Tak province last year. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warned of extreme weather conditions due to a low-pressure area caused by an…
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Thailand government plans to raise minimum wage to 400 baht
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn unveiled yesterday that the Government of Thailand has assembled a series of fresh employment benefits set to be introduced on May 1, International Workers’ Day. The most notable of these is a proposal to elevate the minimum wage to 400 baht across the nation. The new minimum wage rate of 400 baht has already received the…
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Lop Buri’s growing macaque population to be relocated by DNP
An increasing macaque population has taken over downtown Lop Buri, prompting the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) to intervene. Athapol Charoenshunsa, the department chief, has unveiled plans to relocate these monkeys once their new holding facility is ready. Currently, an estimated 2,200 macaques are roaming freely within the city’s bounds, causing disruptions to local businesses and…
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Roar surprise: Endangered wild tiger spotted in Phetchaburi
Kaeng Krachan National Park, nestled in the district of Phetchaburi, reported the sighting of an endangered wild tiger, marking the sixth such discovery since 2019. The tiger, captured by a strategically placed camera trap, has been assigned the identifier KKT-006M. The images of the tiger were captured on March 24, March 31, and April 1. The camera trap showcased the…
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Fake time, real warning: Thai couple’s scam alert (video)
A Thai couple took to social media to issue a warning, alleging that a foreign man attempted to scam them by selling a fake luxury watch. The couple claim that the man allegedly bought the watch for 59,000 baht but offered it to them for just 6,000 baht. A Thai man, Supakorn Piriyesyangkoon, shared a video and pictures of the…
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PM Srettha aims to boost Asia-Pacific’s sustainable development
PM Srettha charged the United Nations’ Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to assist in identifying innovative solutions to promote sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region. This appeal was part of his address at the 80th ESCAP session, themed Leveraging Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, held in Bangkok yesterday, April 22.…
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Phuket seeks special administrative zone status for tourism boost
Phuket’s Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Region 11 branch, led by Wirintra Paphakityotphat, has made four formal requests to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The topmost request is to elevate Phuket to a Special Administrative Zone. The requests were submitted to PM Srettha during his visit to Phuket on Friday, April 19. The purpose of these requests, presented at the Heroines…
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Unidentified man found murdered and dismembered in Nonthaburi
Police are struggling to identify a dead man who was murdered and dismembered after human parts were discovered at an abandoned plot of land in the central province of Nonthaburi near Bangkok. A 10 year old Thai boy notified Bang Bua Thong Police Station officers of the discovery of a human wrist on some abandoned land in Soi Jadsan Swing…
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Thai tourism sector proposes 300-baht tax to counter over-tourism
Thai tourism operators are advocating for government regulations to address the rising issue of over-tourism in the country. They propose the implementation of a 300-baht tourism tax, which they believe could alleviate the problem. Their call for action comes in response to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s commitment to make 2025 a pivotal year for Thai tourism. The Federation of Thai…
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Thai stock market rebounds amid renewed investor confidence
The Thai stock market made a strong comeback yesterday, experiencing a rise of approximately 1.3%. This resurgence was mirrored in other regional markets which also bounced back from significant losses incurred on Friday. Investors are seemingly reassured by the belief that a full-scale war in the Middle East is unlikely. This sentiment was further bolstered by the decision of the…
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Krabi smoothie shop owner accused of investment fraud
Approximately 10 victims have reported a local smoothie shop owner in Krabi for investment fraud involving over 3 million baht. The suspect, using her acquaintance with a well-known lawyer as leverage, challenged the victims to take legal action against her. Police are now gathering evidence to pursue the suspect legally. A group of around 10 individuals filed complaints yesterday at…
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Teen motorcyclists die in horrific crash in Prachuap Khiri Khan
Tragedy struck yesterday when a 15 year old boy riding a motorcycle collided with another, sending both riders onto the path of an oncoming truck on Petchkasem Road, southbound lane, near Ban Nawalapriang in Sam Krathai district, Kui Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The impact was so severe that both teenagers died at the scene around 1am. Police Lieutenant Nonnaphan…
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Authorities struggle to control fire at chemical warehouse in Rayong
A fire broke out at an industrial waste and chemical warehouse belonging to the Win Process Company in the eastern province of Rayong at 8.30am yesterday. The Thai authorities have been working for over 20 hours to extinguish the fire and are struggling to fully control it due to flammable chemical substances. Residents living near the warehouse in the Ban…
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Motorbike and minivan collision injures three in Pattaya
A collision between a motorbike and a minivan in Pattaya led to injuries for three people, including two young women and a blind individual. The incident occurred in the early hours of yesterday, April 22, at 2.36am, near Pattaya School 7 on the inbound lane heading towards Sattahip. The motorbike, a Honda Scoopy I model, was ridden by 18 year…
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Government launches utility cost subsidy for welfare cardholders
A new government initiative has been launched to alleviate the burden of utility costs for households in Thailand. The programme, aimed at state welfare cardholders, offers a single electricity and water subsidy per household, linked to one household registration code. Eligible participants must confirm their identity and register for the subsidy, which applies to either electricity or water services, not…
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Russian to respect: Phuket hospital calls for law-abiding visitors
Vachira Phuket Hospital called upon the Russian community in Phuket to respect Thai laws and hospital regulations following a string of incidents involving Russian nationals. Recent episodes include a Russian man refusing to settle his medical bills, and a woman threatening hospital staff with a baseball bat. A man of Russian nationality was arrested on April 19 for intimidating the…
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Second phase of Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project approved
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has given the green light for the second phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project. This phase, which spans from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, has an investment total of 341.35 billion baht. Details were shared by SRT governor, Nirut Maneepan, who disclosed that the project’s approval occurred during a recent board meeting. Chirute…
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Deputy police chief charges Thai prime minister with malfeasance
Thailand Deputy National Police Chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn charged Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin with malfeasance, claiming that the prime minister’s actions led to his suspension and thwarted his path to becoming the next national police chief. Big Joke took his complaint to the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and addressed it to its secretary-general, Niwatchai Kasemmongkol. He…
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Phuket anticipates one million Chinese tourists post-Songkran
The popular tourist resort island of Phuket is gearing up to welcome an additional influx of 1 million Chinese tourists this year. This forecast comes in the wake of a targeted tourism promotion that took place across three Chinese cities. Anupab Vejwanichsanong, who occupies the role of the vice president for the Phuket Administration Organisation, revealed today, April 22, that the roadshow’s…
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Couple returns cash hidden in chair to elderly owner in China
A Chinese couple’s remarkable discovery of a substantial sum of money hidden inside a second-hand chair has captured widespread attention on social media. Opting to do the right thing, they returned the find to its rightful owner rather than keep it for themselves. The unexpected turn of events unfolded as the wife made her way home from work, spotting the…
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Thailand police bust fake pet medication ring
Thailand police swooped to bust a clandestine operation producing counterfeit flea and tick treatments for pets, uncovering over 40,000 illicit products. The raid, which revealed a shocking use of termite poison in the mix, has potentially saved countless pets from life-threatening heart failure. The joint operation by Thailand’s Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…
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