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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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Highway havoc: Mercedes-Benz driver’s taxi riders gun threat and drug use lead to charges
Police charged a Thai Mercedes-Benz driver after he threatened motorcycle taxi riders in the Thong Lor area of Bangkok with a gun and used crystal methamphetamine. His five friends were charged with using the drug. The Thai man charged, 44 year old Chawin Chanintarawanich, crashed his Mercedes-Benz into a motorcycle taxi rider, 39 year old Kwanchai Tadee at 8.40am on Friday,…
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Revenue target for Thai government exceeds by 150 billion baht
Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) Director-General Pornchai Thiraveja has announced that the Thai government is rolling in cash. The director-general declared that the government’s revenue surpassed expectations, surpassing its target by 150 billion baht in the opening ten months of fiscal 2023. This continues a positive trend reported in May when revenue targets were surpassed by 112 billion baht. As per…
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Zika outbreak: Warning for pregnant women as cases spike and concerns grow in Thailand
A surge in Zika virus cases sparked a warning from the Department of Disease Control (DDC). In the last month, 266 cases were reported. Pregnant women are at risk, as the virus can cause babies to be born with microcephaly, a result of underdeveloped brains. The DDC made the announcement yesterday, August 27. The monsoon season, with its frequent rain,…
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Thai Taxi Association’s controversial tips for satisfactory rides spark debate
The Thai Taxi Association stirred debate by posting six tips to ensure a satisfactory taxi ride. The recommendations include asking before getting in, not forgetting to tip, and calling for a Grab taxi during peak hours or if the location is difficult for a regular taxi to reach. The Thai Taxi Association’s Facebook page recently shared these suggestions, aiming to…
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Emergency decree against insurgency extended in Deep South
While emergency decrees over the Covid-19 pandemic situation are finally a thing of the past, the continuously troubled Deep South region of Thailand has been operating under an ongoing emergency decree aimed at protecting citizens from the threat of the long-term insurgency constant in the area. The three southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, are a buffer between…
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Ring of legends: Buakaw and Saenchai to face off in unique BKFC Thai boxing match
Legendary Thai boxers and best friends Sombat “Buakaw” Banchamek and Supachai “Saenchai” Saepong are set to step into the ring under a special rule for the 5th Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Thailand – Legend of Siam. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 4, at Royal Cliff Hotel Group in Pattaya. BKFC ASIA officially announced that…
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UPDATE: Thai woman stands by pregnancy truth after marriage fraud accusations
In an update to a previous article, every side has two stories. The woman accused of falsely claiming a pregnancy to collect a marriage dowry, only to leave her new husband just three days later is sharing her version of the events that transpired. A 35 year old man from Kanchanaburi had been dating the woman for six months when…
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VAT’s next? Thailand mulls talks amid dismissals over potential increase
The Thai administration yesterday dismissed the possibility of increasing the value–added tax (VAT) from 7% to 10%. Despite this official stance, talks have been initiated around this proposal, attributing the potential increment to the requirement for additional funding to cater to the escalating needs of the country’s ageing populace. From the Office of Fiscal Economy, Pornchai Thiravej, the director, shed…
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Pha Ngan businesses raise awareness of Full Moon Party’s weeklong events
August hosts a rare occurrence, two full moons in one month. In Thailand that can only mean two Full Moon Parties, with the second on August 31. Now a group of local businesses have banded together to spread awareness that full moon festivities have grown from a single one-night party to a week of events at venues all over the…
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Probing Phuket: 49 residences face investigation over suspected illegal construction
Investigations have been launched into 49 residences suspected of illegal construction in Thailand’s Phuket region. Thalang District Chief, Bancha Thanu-in, instructed the leaders of Thepkrasattri Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) and Sakhu OrBorTor to carry out these probes. These alleged violations came to light earlier this month, with a deadline of September 15 for the two OrBorTor chiefs to present their…
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Thunderstruck: TMD predicts stormy weather across 32 provinces and Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warned of thunderstorms and stormy weather across 32 provinces, with Bangkok expected to experience heavy rainfall in 20% of its areas. The southwest monsoon is predicted to cover the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is stormy and a trough is to pass over Myanmar’s upper region…
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Liquid dreams: Thailand’s Pilatus Marine charts global growth with 1.05 billion baht vessel acquisition
Pilatus Marine, a SET-listed company and Thailand’s leading liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transport operator, is set to acquire three large used liquid-carrying vessels for a total cost of 1.05 billion baht. This move is aimed at expanding their services overseas. Operating in both marine and land transport of LPG, Pilatus Marine also leases vessels to other companies. The incoming ships,…
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Plea for flight: Provincial governor urges reconsideration after Thai Smile route closure
Thai Smile’s decision to discontinue flights from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Surat Thani Airport, beginning October 1, has led provincial governor, Witchawut Jinto, to appeal for a reversal. Jinto submitted a formal letter to Thai Smile, an affiliate of Thai Airways, requesting the continuation of the Suvarnabhumi-Surat Thani route. The governor expressed public discontent over Thai Smile’s plans, which are…
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Thai Internet idol Mintan speaks out on unending stalker harassment despite court order
Internet idol Mintan, renowned for the page หนูมินตันทาสกระดาน continues to face relentless harassment from a persistent stalker. Mintan recently updated her followers that the same security guard who had previously been found guilty of harassing her is once again causing her distress. Mintan exposed her ordeal in a post, revealing that she has been tormented for almost three years by…
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Governor’s serene journey: Phuket official’s monk ordainment sets tone for upcoming retirement
In preparation for his forthcoming retirement on September 30, Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew initiated a 15-day monk ordainment at Wat Pa Phutthaphot Hariphunchai in Lamphun province. The ceremony, conducted by the revered Chao Khun Luangpo Arayawangso, was held on Saturday night, August 26. The governor’s decision to take temporary monkhood reflects a deep-rooted Thai tradition and is a testament to…
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Shoreline showdown: Pattaya beach brawl leaves teens injured, one ‘leg’-ally shot
A beachside brawl in Pattaya on Saturday night left multiple teenagers injured, one of whom was shot in the leg. The incident, which unnerved tourists, involved two rival groups. The authorities have since been pursuing both parties involved. Today, A 19 year old boy Thitipong, also known as Mag Baanchang, turned himself into Pattaya City Police Station. He brought with…
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Termite mound discovery: Buddha-like formation sparks lottery hopes in Kabin Buri, Thailand
Residents of a rubber plantation in the Yan Ree subdistrict of Kabin Buri, Prachinburi province, Thailand, yesterday came across an unusual termite mound resembling a Buddha image. The termite mound discovery, which emerged from the ground facing east and had a pointed shape similar to a Buddha image, sparked excitement among the locals, leading them to believe it would bring…
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Foul play: Noxious scent unveils grim discovery of dead Finnish man in Pattaya
An unpleasant odour seeping from a residence in the Bang Lamung district of Pattaya has led to the discovery of the dead body of a Finnish man inside. According to SiamRath, residents in Pattaya detected a foul smell from the house of a foreign man. In response, they enlisted the aid of a rescue team at the stroke of midnight…
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Family tragedy: Father’s triple murder-suicide linked to loan scam
A family tragedy occurred when a father, armed with a utility knife, killed his wife and two children in their three-storey townhouse in Bang Phli district of Bangkok Metropolitan Area province Samut Prakan. The horrific murder and attempted suicide were most likely prompted by a fraudulent loan scheme that landed the family in 7-figure debt. Police Captain Sathamon Prasertsuwan, an…
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Thai man rushes to wedding after false pregnancy claim, pays dowry before abrupt breakup
A 35 year old man was left heartbroken after his girlfriend of six months claimed she was pregnant, prompting him to rush into marriage. However, three days after their wedding, she called off their relationship, claiming she no longer loved the man. The woman also claimed she had miscarried and already had an abortion. Aniruth, the unfortunate man from Kanchanaburi…
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Thai condo owner discovers shocking state after foreign tenants leave
A landlord issued a warning to others after some foreign tenants trashed a luxury condominium in Thailand. The discovery was made by the owner of the condo when she was contacted by the management of the building due to the tenants’ unpaid electricity bills. TikTok user @fang_pacara posted a cautionary tale for landlords after she found her property in a…
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Hit and run in Trat leaves 15 year old boy dead
A fatal hit-and-run collision involving a car and a motorcycle resulted in the death of a 15 year old boy in Trat, Thailand. The car, believed to be a white Isuzu pickup, fled the scene leaving the damaged motorcycle and the lifeless body of the young rider on the road. The hit-and-run incident took place today, on the Rai Pa-Dan…
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Child drowning tragedy: 11 year old boy loses life in Khon Kaen Pond
An 11 year old boy tragically drowned while playing with friends in a local pond in Nong Hin village, Mueang, Khon Kaen. The group of four were rowing a plastic boat when it suddenly capsized, leading to the fatal child drowning incident. The three other children managed to escape unharmed. The victim, a Year 5 student from Ban Nong Hin…
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Jewellery store robbery: 65,000 baht worth of gold necklaces stolen in five minute heist
A jewellery store robbery occurred yesterday at approximately 5.20pm in Ratchaburi province. The Niyomsin Shop, situated on Pracha Niyom Road within the Ban Pong municipality, reported a loss of two gold necklaces, each weighing 1 baht, amounting to a total loss of 65,000 baht. The store is a long-established business of 50 years, owned by Wirat Charupunphon and his wife.…
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Thai girl battles rhabdomyolysis after harsh school punishment in northern Thailand
A tale of a young girl in the eighth grade, known only as Lalida, sparked outrage in the small tambon Klang community of Selaphum district, Roi Et. Lalida is currently battling a severe case of rhabdomyolysis, a dangerous affliction that involves the breakdown of injured skeletal muscle. This condition has rendered her unable to walk and she remains confined to…
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Vape escape: 16 year old’s lung goes bust after e-cigarette causes collapse
The health of a 16 year old child who smoked e-cigarettes raised alarm when an X-ray revealed air leakage in the right lung, causing the lung to collapse. According to Tevin Chakrayanuyok, a cardiologist states that the dangers of vaping are more serious than many people realise, urging those who can quit to do so. Tevin Chakrayanuyok, a cardiologist, shared…
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Good Samaritans rescue distressed intern student from suicide attempt in Nonthaburi
An intern student, distressed to the point of attempting suicide by running into traffic and self-harming with a knife, was rescued by Good Samaritans. The alarming mental state of the young woman, identified only as Da, a 21 year old student undergoing an internship, was reported around 11pm yesterday near Bang Kruai-Sai Noi Road, opposite Praya Banlue Gate, in Nonthaburi…
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Acid attack on Thai teenager sparks manhunt in Buriram
A brutal acid attack on an 18 year old woman and two others at a roadside food stall resulted in serious injuries. The incident occurred yesterday, around 2pm, in the town of Nang Rong in Buriram province, approximately 500 metres from Nang Rong Police Station. The location of the assault was a food stall owned by 63 year old Ta,…
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Mother seeks justice for son’s alleged police abuse, forced confession
A distraught mother is seeking justice, claiming that local police in Ayutthaya abused her adult son. She explains that police arrested her son on theft charges, and then physically abused him while he was in custody. She alleges that they even forced him to admit to a rape charge. Meoy, the 59 year old woman raised concerns about her son’s…
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Purse-snatching duo nabbed by Bangkok police
The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has been notified of a criminal gang’s activities involving purse-snatching operations in shopping malls and populous communities throughout Bangkok. With clearly defined roles, one individual distracts the victim while another steals their handbags before making a quick escape. Sub-Lieutenant Theeradej Thamsuthee, MPB Commander, dispatched the MPB detectives and Detective 111 to investigate this purse-snatching gang.…
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