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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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Durian dispute turns fatal: Man confesses to brutal murder of elderly buyer in southern Thailand
A brutal murder took a shocking turn yesterday when the perpetrator confessed to the police. The alleged murderer, 24 year old Muhammad Rusli turned himself in, admitting to killing 71 year old durian buyer named Jaelong Baluebae. Rusli revealed that he had buried the elderly man near a canal in the Taya village, Narathiwat province, southern Thailand, after a heated…
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Phuket’s PIPO heroes: Two Thai men saved, but waves claim two
The Port-in-Port-out (PIPO) authorities in Phuket rescued two Thai men after their fishing boat capsized yesterday. Regrettably, two fishermen lost their lives in this tragic incident. The authorities were notified that a red fibreglass boat named Baan Kung Mang Korn capsized near an island called Koh Aeo in the Mueang district of Phuket due to powerful waves. There were four…
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Dusit Thani College shares ideas and knowledge on sustainability for service businesses at PHIST 2023
Dusit Thani College, Thailand’s leading hospitality education institution under the Dusit Thani Hotel Group, has annually participated in the PHIST or Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism event, which this year was recently held at SAii Laguna Phuket Hotel. PHIST is an innovative event rallying the hotel industry and its stakeholders to discuss environmental sustainability and community benefits. It is…
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Bangkok bamboozle: Thai woman held in 100 million baht real estate swindle
A Thai woman was taken into custody in Bangkok on Saturday over her alleged involvement in an elaborate real estate swindle. The magnitude of the financial misrepresentation balloons to over 100 million baht, according to the Royal Thai Police (RTP). The apprehension of the suspect was carried out on the basis of a Pattaya court’s arrest warrant issued on December…
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CPN plans 3 billion baht expansion of Phuket condos
Central Pattana (CPN), a company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), announced its intentions to introduce two additional phases to its condominium project, Phyll Phuket, near Central Phuket Floresta. The Phuket condos expansion, which includes nearly 700 units worth a total of 3 billion baht, is set to launch in the forthcoming year. This decision is motivated by…
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Japanese fugitive escapes Thai police custody in daring car chase, manhunt underway
A Japanese fugitive escaped police custody in a daring car chase. He was initially detained at the Immigration Bureau in Suan Phlu on Saturday, September 9, before managing to commandeer a police vehicle and flee the scene. The Japanese man, Yuki Yanagi, who was later discovered to have abandoned the vehicle and taken a taxi, remains at large. The incident…
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Suicide rate in Thailand hits half-decade peak despite prevention efforts
Suicide numbers in Thailand have been on a steady incline over the past five years, peaking at 4,800 lives lost in the previous year, as reported by the Department of Mental Health (DMH). Yesterday marked World Suicide Prevention Day, a global initiative spearheaded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that took place yesterday. This event brings together international efforts to…
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Phuket urges small hotels to obtain a licence ahead of anticipated 2.19 million tourists
Phuket is gearing up for the high season by encouraging small hotel operators to obtain a licence. This move is part of the city’s preparation to host over 10,000 tourists daily, equating to 2.19 million visitors annually. The Phuket Boutique Accommodation Consortium (BAC) held a seminar on September 7 to advocate for a ministerial regulation that was issued by the…
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Calvatia Gigantea: Farmer discovers rare mushroom in South Korea
A 73 year old South Korean farmer stumbled upon a strange, large, white object weighing about 2 kilogrammes while cutting grass on a mountain in Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province. Initially thought to be an enormous egg, experts later identified the object as a rare type of mushroom known as Calvatia gigantea or giant puffball. The discovery of the giant egg…
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Dispute over payment sparks petrol station fire in China
A man ignited a motorcycle and drove it into a petrol station, causing a fire, following a dispute with a staff member about overpayment. The incident occurred in Shanwei City, China, and was caught on CCTV. The man was later arrested, and no injuries were reported. The shocking petrol station fire took place in a petrol station in the city…
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Prime Minister plans mobile Cabinet meeting to address Nong Bua Lamphu’s economic challenges
The Prime Minister, has confirmed his plans to hold a mobile Cabinet meeting in Nong Bua Lamphu province this November. The primary focus of the meeting will be to address the economic challenges the province is currently facing. Srettha Thavisin announced his decision during his visit to the Customs Office at the Laos border checkpoint in Nong Khai. The selection…
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Civilian defence minister to navigate Thai military reforms amid coalition challenges
The newly appointed Defence Minister, Sutin Klungsang, is in the spotlight as he is expected to navigate through various challenges within the military while maintaining stability within the Pheu Thai-led coalition government. As the first civilian to take the defence minister position without also holding the role of the prime minister, Sutin is expected to manage military reform, the southern…
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Supreme court dismisses cannabis case against former Health Minister Anutin
The Supreme Administrative Court has put an end to a lawsuit targeting the former Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul over his legalisation of cannabis. The plaintiffs, who took legal action against the former minister, have been categorically defined as not being direct victims of the legalisation of cannabis, hence their case has been dismissed. This news follows in the…
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Activist urges opposition to 20MW nuclear reactor on Nakhon Nayok riverbank
Srisuwan Janya, a renowned political activist, called upon the inhabitants of Nakhon Nayok to vehemently oppose the construction of a 20-megawatt nuclear reactor strategically positioned on the Nakhon Nayok River bank. This call to action comes ahead of the project’s third public hearing, slated for today. Tracing back to the project’s inception in 1990, Srisuwan narrated how the government initially…
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NHSO plans digital transformation, enhanced universal healthcare
Thailand’s National Health Security Office (NHSO) is set to improve its services in alignment with the new government‘s policy, according to the NHSO secretary-general, Jadet Thammathataree. The planned modifications pertain to the universal healthcare package, commonly referred to as the gold card scheme and the digital transformation of the NHSO system. The NHSO has recently engaged in discussions with the…
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Tourism Authority of Thailand eyes sustainable green strategy
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has revealed its renewed commitment to promote the country as a ‘sustainable destination’, championing environmental conservation. TAT’s Governor, Thapanee Kiatphaiboon, unveiled this green strategy, aiming to familiarise international travellers with Thailand’s proactive stance towards embracing global sustainability trends. Thailand, known for its vibrant culture, exotic cuisine, and picturesque landscapes, is now determined to enhance…
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Retiring Phuket Governor Narong participates in traditional merit-making walk
Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew is set to retire by the end of this month. The governor took part in a 2.5-kilometre merit-making walk in Old Phuket Town earlier today. The walk involved 15 monks, including Governor Narong. Narong recently undertook a 15-day ordainment as a monk at Wat Pa Phutthaphot Hariphunchai in Lamphun province on August 26 under the religious…
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Police target Kamnan Nok mafia networks linked to extortion
The Royal Thai Police launched a scheme to dismantle the mafia networks, including the Kamnan Nok mafia recently accused of extorting bribes from overloaded trucks in Nakhon Pathom. The plan was announced by Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, Thailand’s Deputy Police Commissioner and one of the country’s most recognised law enforcement figures. The action is in response to a shocking string…
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Thailand’s transport sector set for major 29.7 billion baht upgrade
A bright future is on the horizon for Thailand’s transport and logistics system. The Transport Minister, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, has recently outlined his ambitious plans for the country’s railways and maritime sectors. Revealed during his inaugural speech, these policies are set to be formally announced next week. Suriya believes that by focusing on these areas of transport improvement, Thailand can significantly…
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Flash floods in Mae Hong Son cause havoc, woman missing
Thailand has been battered with extreme weather this year, from severe droughts to massive storms leading to rough seas and flooding. Now, the northern province of Mae Hong Son is grappling with the aftermath of severe flash floods triggered by hours of relentless rainfall. A village in Tambon Huai Pha of Muang district bore the brunt of the deluge, with…
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Thailand considers barter trade with China for submarine amid procurement issues
The Defence Minister of Thailand revealed that the government is considering various alternatives, including a barter trade arrangement or the purchase of fertilisers from China, to resolve the ongoing issues concerning the procurement of a submarine for the navy. Sutin Klungsang spoke on the matter at a seminar discussing Thai security and geopolitical challenges, hosted by Rangsit University’s College of…
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Ex-official Kamnan Nok accused of orchestrating police chief’s assassination at dinner party
Evidence gathered by Thai police indicates that Praween Chankhlai, aka Kamnan Nok a former subdistrict head of tambon Thakong in Nakhon Pathom’s Muang district, orchestrated the assassination of a senior highway police officer during a dinner party at the 35 year old’s residence on Wednesday evening. Deputy National Police Chief, Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, who is leading the investigation, revealed…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport’s SAT-1 terminal to soft-launch boosting capacity by 33%
Suvarnabhumi International Airport, governed by Airports of Thailand (AoT), is set to soft-launch its Satellite 1 (SAT-1) terminal on September 28, following a successful full-scale trial involving 180 mock passengers and their luggage. The trial aimed to evaluate operations at both the SAT-1 satellite passenger terminal and the primary terminal, with Thai Airways offering assistance by supplying cabin crew and…
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Pattaya hosts educational E-Sports tournament for high schoolers
An electrifying E-Sports tournament for high school students took place yesterday in Pattaya City. The event was a collaborative endeavour by the Department of Cultural Promotion, Sripatum University, and the city itself. The competition, hosted at Mueang Pattaya 11 School, brought together the excitement of competitive video gaming, otherwise known as E-Sports, with the thrill of competition. As the digital…
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Australian Chevron LNG workers’ strike unsettles global gas markets
Following unsuccessful negotiations, liquefied natural gas (LNG) workers at Chevron Corp’s key sites in Australia initiated partial strikes yesterday, a move that has unsettled global gas markets. This news spurred gas futures in Europe, causing them to leap by as much as 13%, illuminating the region’s susceptibility in the aftermath of last year’s energy crisis. Spot LNG in Asia also…
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New refugee screening system stirs fear among asylum seekers
Bangkok is home to a church where Vietnamese refugees find a temporary haven from lives fraught with fear of arrest or deportation. This is because Thailand, having not signed up for the UN Refugee Convention, does not have a system in place to differentiate between refugees and other migrants, resulting in thousands of individuals living under the radar. Soon, a…
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Colombian trio arrested in Thailand for multi-province burglary spree
Three Colombians were arrested in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region province of Pathum Thani province on charges of burglary in Samut Prakan and surrounding regions. While taking them into custody, police seized a Toyota Vios car, a couple of Prachuap Khiri Khan licence plates, burglary tools, beanie hats, and a diverse range of banknotes, including 32,700 baht. The individuals were issued arrest…
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Patong launderette thief selling stolen items for rent money
Patong police have captured a thief responsible for numerous thefts at a local launderette. The 30 year old suspect, a native of Songkhla Province, was apprehended at a dormitory near the Q Speed Wash & Dry launderette on Nanai Rd in Patong. The arrest took place yesterday afternoon, followed by the accused thief being taken to Patong Police Station for…
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Local official surrenders in police investigation of highway patrolman murder
In Nakhon Pathom, a high-ranking local government official, commonly known as Kamnan, submitted himself to the local law enforcement authorities following the murder of a highway patrol officer. This unfolding complex story involves 34 year old Praween ‘Nok’ Janklai fondly referred to as ‘Kamnan Nok’ within his community. The sub-district headman willingly turned himself in to the authorities at the…
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Parliament to curb food waste and costs after social media row
Parliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha has vowed to investigate and address the issue of food waste in the parliamentary canteen, following a social media debacle involving a member of parliament and left-over meals. The debate over gratuitous meals and beverages offered to parliamentary members caught public attention following a social media incident involving a Move Forward MP Sirilapas Kongtrakarn,…
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