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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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NIDA Poll reveals Thai public disapproval to extended bar hours plan
A recent poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed significant public opposition to the Thai government’s initiative to extend operating hours in bars and nightclubs from 2am to 4am. The survey was conducted between October 17 and 19, engaging 1,310 participants above 20 years old from diverse backgrounds. The initiative, proposed by the Interior Ministry of Thailand,…
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Motorway project linking Nonthaburi and Ayutthaya set for 2029
The Department of Highways (DoH) in Thailand is gearing up to construct a new 34.1 kilometre motorway project, linking Bang Bua Thong in Nonthaburi and Bang Pa-in in Ayutthaya. The project, with a budget of almost 15 billion baht, is slated to be completed by 2029. DoH’s director-general Sarawut Songsivilai has stated that this motorway is one among 46 projects…
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Monkey travels 40 kilometres to attend funeral of man who fed it in Uttar Pradesh
A heartbreaking video has emerged of a monkey shedding tears and tightly clutching a deceased man’s body. The backstory is even more poignant, as it travelled over 40 kilometres to bid a final farewell to its benefactor. The video was captured at a funeral in the city of Amroha, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It features a monkey…
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Thai and Myanmar authorities collaborate to repatriate deceived Thai workers
A collaborative effort between Thai and Myanmar authorities is in progress to return 120 Thai nationals to their homeland, according to Kanchana Patarachok, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry. This group, consisting of 90 men and 30 women, was reportedly deceived into employment in Laukkaing, located in the northern sector of Myanmar’s Shan State, on the Chinese border, by an…
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Unexpected Eiffel Tower proposal unfolds amid intruder incident
A sudden twist of events led to an unexpected marriage proposal atop the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris when the authorities abruptly closed the lift to apprehend an intruder. While stuck on top, a couple from Washington, DC, seized the moment to get engaged, with an Associated Press journalist unintentionally acting as a witness. Located in Paris, France, the Eiffel…
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Move Forward Party probes MP over Bangkok sexual harassment claims
A sexual harassment allegation against a Move Forward Party (MFP) MP is set to undergo investigation, according to Parit Wacharasindhu, a party list MP and spokesperson. The case involves three women accusing an MP from a district within the Thon Buri region of Bangkok and follows closely on the heels of a similar incident reported on October 12 involving a different…
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Navy officer survives brutal car crash in Pathum Thani, BMW left in ruins
A 25 year old navy officer, racing in his BMW, crashed into a bridge pillar, trapping him in the driver’s seat. His injuries included serious wounds to his buttocks. Rescue workers rushed to his aid and transported him to a hospital for treatment. The incident occurred today on the inbound Phaholyothin Road in the Prachathipat Subdistrict, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani…
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Melioidosis outbreak in Thailand claims ten lives, farmers urged caution
An alarming outbreak of melioidosis, also known as Whitmore’s disease, has emerged in Thailand, claiming the lives of approximately 10 farmers in Buriram, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Songkhla. Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) is warning farmers about the disease, triggered by the fungus Burkholderia pseudomallei, typically found in contaminated soil, water, rice paddies, and cropping farms. The spring outbreak has…
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Disabled man tosses poo at Buriram repair shop over service dissatisfaction
A 66 year old disabled man has been caught on security camera footage tossing poo at a local repair shop due to dissatisfaction with the service he received. The incident took place in Buriram’s Sateuk district. The disabled man used an electric wheelchair to approach the shop late at night and proceeded to scatter faecal matter in front of it.…
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FDA enforces recall of hypertension drugs over cancer-causing impurities
A recall of 42 batches of hypertension drugs has been enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from five pharmaceutical manufacturers following the discovery of potentially carcinogenic impurities. The decision came after the detection of azidomethyl biphenyl tetrazole (AZBT) impurities in some models of irbesartan, a drug used to control high blood pressure. Acting secretary-general of the FDA, Narong…
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Thailand on high alert as heavy rains, thunderstorms loom: Bangkok braces for 60% chance of severe weather
A cold air mass is engulfing northern Thailand, leading to thunderstorms and heavy rain in some areas. Meanwhile, a monsoon trough is sweeping across the southern region, bringing heavy rainfall and raising concerns about flash flooding and forest runoff. It is advised that residents in affected areas remain vigilant. Bangkok is expected to experience a 60% chance of thunderstorms and…
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Chinese woman divorces despite DNA test proving son’s legitimacy after family suspicions
A Chinese woman, known as Ho, found herself in a tense family situation after her four year old son, Tiewpao, made an innocent comment over lunch. Tiewpao innocently mentioned that his mother often brought home a male visitor during the day. This sparked suspicion and hostility within the family, leading to Ho’s husband taking Tiewpao for a DNA test. The…
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Thailand seeks free trade agreement with Gulf nations to boost investment
Thailand’s government spokesperson, Chai Wacharonke, declared the country’s intention to establish a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member nations, aiming to enhance trade and investment relations. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently concluded his visit to Saudi Arabia, where he participated in the ASEAN-GCC Riyadh Summit at the Ritz-Carlton. During the visit, the 61 year old prime…
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Saudi Arabia pledges to aid Thailand in Israel-Hamas hostage crisis
Thailands Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced that Saudi Arabia has pledged to assist in securing the release of Thai hostages caught in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. His statement came after meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud at the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh. The Crown Prince expressed his sympathy towards the Thai workers affected…
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Prominent company loses 9 million baht in security guard-led heist: Couple arrested in Nong Bua Lam Phu province
Police have apprehended a security guard and his girlfriend in a rented room in the Nong Bua Lam Phu province, following a burglary in which over 9 million baht was stolen from a prominent company. The 41 year old male suspect, and his girlfriend, a 27 year old Cambodian national, were arrested on charges of “joint theft of an employer’s…
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Thailand prepares to send workers back to Israel post-conflict
Thailand’s Labour Ministry has expressed readiness to send its workers back to Israel once the tensions between Israel and Hamas ease. The statement came from Pairote Chotikasathien, the permanent secretary of the ministry. This came after Kittana Srisuriya, a minister counsellor at the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv, held discussions with Eyal Sisu, the director-general of the Population and Immigration…
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Bangkok sees drop in PM2.5 levels but 41 areas still exceed standard, orange alert issued
Air Quality Data Centre in Bangkok reported a decrease in PM2.5 levels today, from 5am to 7am. The measurements ranged from 25.8 to 60.2 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³), with an average of 40.1µg/m³ across Bangkok. Despite the decrease, 41 areas still exceed the standard level, impacting health with an orange level alert. As of 7am, PM2.5 measurements ranged between…
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ACE’s 18 solar projects to boost revenue with 665m baht annually
Absolute Clean Energy (ACE), a prominent biomass power developer and operator based in Bangkok, is set to see a significant increase in revenue following the selection of its 18 solar power generation ventures to feed the national grid. The projects are being executed under the umbrella of ACE’s 14 entirely owned subsidiary companies. ACE, in a recent announcement by its…
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Teenager killed instantly in fatal forklift-motorbike crash near Phetchabun Market
A fatal crash involving a forklift and a motorbike occurred near the Phetchabun Central Grain Market yesterday. The motorcyclist, a teenager in his early teens, collided with the forklift as it was turning into the market. T he impact was so severe that the young man was killed instantly, with severe injuries to his head and neck. The accident was…
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Thai workers in debt eager to return to Israel after conflict cessation
The cessation of conflict in Israel is eagerly awaited by Thai workers who have returned home, as they are burdened by significant debts that require their return to work. Among them is 38 year old Thaworn Aksornsue, a recent returnee from Israel where he spent seven months labouring on a farm, earning approximately 55,000 baht (US$ 1,507) monthly. A substantial…
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Changsha woman falls into coma following allergic reaction to salon hair dye
A 60 year old woman from Huinan, Changsha City, suffered a severe allergic reaction after having her hair dyed at a beauty salon. Four hours after leaving the salon, she started to experience breathing difficulties and was rushed to the hospital. In the emergency room, she was put on a ventilator and she fell into a coma which lasted for…
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Court rejects anti-corruption agency’s review bid in Prawit’s wristwatch probe
The Supreme Administrative Court yesterday upheld a prior court’s decision against the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) request for a case review involving luxury wristwatches linked to former Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. The court found no basis for the review, which would require the NACC to disclose details of their investigation into the wristwatch controversy to political activist Veera Somkhwamkid.…
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Tourist minivan crash in Mae Hong Son injures seven: Steep route and driver inexperience blamed
A tourist minivan lost control on a curve in Mae Hong Son, crashing into guardrails and a tree, leaving multiple passengers injured. The crash took place yesterday, in the Ban Rak Thai area. The minivan, carrying seven tourists from Sing Buri province, was travelling back from Ban Rak Thai, a popular Yunnan Chinese tourist village. The vehicle, a Toyota with…
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Hong Kong man praised for compassionate act during public altercation with naked woman
Panic swept through the streets as a woman was spotted running naked, eventually engaging in an altercation with a man. Amid the chaos, one man took compassionate action, earning praise from onlookers. Recently, a video clip circulated in Hong Kong’s WhatsApp groups showed a naked woman running wildly on the street before engaging in an altercation with a man. The…
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Thailand set to become ASEAN’s gaming hub, says Thailand Game Show organisers
With its burgeoning gaming sector, Thailand is poised to become the gaming hub of the ASEAN region, according to organisers at the Thailand Game Show 2023. The nation’s gaming industry, valued at 30 billion baht, is leading in Southeast Asia and ranks 20th globally. In addition to boasting impressive user numbers and hosting gaming competitions, Thailand is also nurturing game…
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Thai hostages safe in Gaza, release hinged on Israeli military ceasefire
Seyed Reza Nobakhti, the Iranian ambassador to Thailand, confirmed that the Thai hostages currently held in Palestinian territories remain safe. He mentioned that the hostages, along with others, will only be released once the Israeli military halts its attack on the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian militant group, Hamas, had captured about 200 hostages, including 19 Thai workers, during an unexpected…
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Thai man survives throat slitting in Hamas attack in Israel
A Thai man revealed how he survived having his throat slit by a member of the Hamas group in Israel. He arrived home in Thailand yesterday, October 19, and was immediately reunited with his family for the first time in four years after moving to Israel to work. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) evacuated 136 Thais from Israel, arriving at…
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Capsized kayak calamity off Pattaya: Adventure takes an unexpected plunge
A kayaking adventure off the coast of Pattaya nearly ended in tragedy as a boat carrying a 42 year old man and a 14 year old girl capsized in the early hours of yesterday morning. The incident, which occurred at 4.30am, drew swift response from emergency services who attended the scene near Walking Street in South Pattaya, Banglamung district, Chon…
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Universal healthcare with one ID card set to expand in Thailand
The One ID Card, Universal Healthcare initiative is set to be extended to four additional provinces in Thailand, according to Dr Chonnan Srikaew, minister of the Ministry of Public Health. Stating that the new policy will be officially announced on October 24, the minister clarified that the single ID card will enable citizens to access healthcare services in all networks, including…
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Chinese couple’s 20-year routine leads to 15 million baht gold theft
A gold shop owner couple who have been transporting 30 kilogrammes of gold back and forth from their home for over 20 years woke up to a shocking gold theft reality – a thief had stolen their gold worth over 15 million baht. The couple, based in the city of Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang province, China, were under the impression that keeping…
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