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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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Pattaya’s Walking Street gets facelift with removal of power poles
The renowned Walking Street in Pattaya has been given a contemporary makeover as unsightly power poles have been removed. The inspection of the upgraded tourist attraction was conducted by Mayor Poramase Ngampiches yesterday. Along with him, other city officials marked the successful completion of the major project, which involved the dismantling of utility poles on the street. Over the past…
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US Federal Reserve poised to raise interest rates for inflation control
The chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, announced last Friday that they are prepared to increase interest rates further if needed. The central bank aims to maintain high rates until inflation approaches its 2% target. Powell highlighted that despite the recent decline of inflation from its peak, it remains excessively high. In his address to the annual symposium of…
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Don Mueang station’s escalators and elevators back in service after repairs
Don Mueang station’s escalators and elevators on the Red Line are fully operational after completing repair and maintenance work. The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) confirmed the news after an inspection carried out yesterday. Pichet Khunathamrak, the DRT director-general, confirmed that all 24 escalators and nine elevators are now in service. Ongoing repair work at Wat Samianaree, Bang Khen, Lak…
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Air Japan direct flight aims high: Bangkok to Tokyo route to tempt Thai travellers
Air Japan today announced plans to target Thai passengers by offering a direct flight from Bangkok to Tokyo next year. The president of Air Japan, Hideki Mineguchi, revealed to the media that Air Japan is a new low-cost airline under ANA Holdings, which will provide the airline’s first flight from Narita International Airport in Tokyo to Suvarnabhumi International Airport in…
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Drug trafficking: Woman caught with 5 million baht worth of drugs disguised as a tourist
A woman from Phetchaburi, known as Ae Rai Rhon Khon, was apprehended today, while disguised as a tourist and transporting drugs in a passenger van. Authorities seized nearly 50,000 methamphetamine pills as she prepared to enter Kanchanaburi. The arrest followed a tip-off about a drug trafficking operation from a neighbouring country into Thailand. Ae Rai Rhon Khon was seen acting…
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Phayao civil servant denies drink-driving after flipping government vehicle, ready for investigation
A female civil servant shared a story about the Phayao accident that involved her flipping a government vehicle. She insists she was not under the influence of alcohol at the time. She explained the events of the day and stated her readiness to cooperate with any investigation. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DPM) has sent a letter to…
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Lost and pound: Forgotten banknotes surface during house renovation revelation
A treasure trove of old banknotes, forgotten by their 90 year old owner, was discovered in a myriad of plastic bags during a house renovation. The elderly woman, Kang, had been living alone in her dilapidated home when her grandchildren began preparations to replace it with a sturdier three-storey structure, leading to this unprecedented banknote discovery. Kang’s 89 year old…
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Blogger Framsook Lek Lek wins online harassment case, receives 35,000 baht and public apology
A well-known blogger, known as Framsook Lek Lek, recently took legal action against an individual who used her images to bully her online. Framsook, who regularly shares posts on her blog page, was alerted by a follower of an instance where her beach photos had been shared in a group with derogatory comments. Initially, she contemplated responding but instead opted…
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Stinking situation: Thai community fights factory stench, faces relocation woes
For years, the residents of the Ban Thammarat community in Prachuap Khiri Khan have been tormented by the foul odour emitted by the wastewater from a local rubber factory. Despite their pleas for regular inspections and serious action towards wastewater management, the issue remains unresolved, forcing some to relocate. The community, located in Area 5, has long complained about the…
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Scam of hearts and bahts: Nigerian and 13 Thais arrested for operating romance scam
Royal Thai Police yesterday arrested a Nigerian man and 13 Thais for operating a covert romance scam. The scam operation managed to deceive hundreds of victims across Thailand out of over 800 million baht in the past four years. The Commissioner of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), Montri Tatekhan, revealed the arrest details to the public today. Montri explained that the…
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Online fraudster arrested after six year chase, 6 million baht embezzlement unveiled
A high-profile online fraudster who falsified her educational qualifications to secure high-level positions in large companies, and stole assets worth over 6 million baht, has been arrested after more than six years on the run. The arrest, which occurred yesterday, was made in the Bang Chak district of Phra Khanong, Bangkok. The 37 year old fraudster, Chicha Chaiyasit, was found…
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Prime time for Thai tourism: Thailand’s new PM heads south for strategic talks
The new Prime Minister of Thailand is set to visit Phuket and Phang Nga this weekend to deliberate with local communities and seek input from the private sector on how to boost Thai tourism in the southern provinces, according to an announcement by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket). Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the tourism…
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Phuket earmarks 156 million baht for 24 EV buses and charging stations
The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) confirmed the allocation of 156 million baht (US$4.7 million) from this year’s budget for the purchase of 24 electric vehicle (EV) buses. These air-conditioned buses, each with a capacity of 21 seats, are set to serve three public routes across the province. The announcement was made during a Phuket Provincial Land Traffic Subcommittee meeting,…
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Domestic violence: Northern Thai man shoots brother-in-law amid jealous rage
A brutal violent act of jealousy unfolded in Nong Khai’s Tha Bo district today when a 28 year old man invaded his estranged wife’s home and shot her 56 year old brother, six times. The man, Palm, tracked his 40 year old wife, Bee (pseudonym), to the residence of her brother Wirat and shot him with a .22 calibre gun,…
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Pressing matters: News reporter grilled by police over social media scoop on gambling den robbery
Khao Chaison Police Station in the southern province of Phattalung summoned a news reporter for further questioning after he posted a story on social media about a robbery that occurred at a gambling den. On August 15, the unnamed news reporter took to Facebook to share information about a robbery at the gambling den. “Robbery at a gambling den in…
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Driving change: Thailand shifts gears with online vehicle registration
The Thai government has launched an online vehicle registration service, providing a more convenient and time-saving option for the public. This move aligns with the government’s digital transformation policy, which aims to facilitate access to public services. As a result, citizens can now book a single number plate for each vehicle. Ratchada Thanadirek, Deputy Government Spokesperson, highlighted that this initiative…
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German Hells Angels suspect detained in Thailand, extradition underway
A German man suspected of being a Hells Angels member has been detained by immigration officials in Chiang Rai. The arrest of the suspect, Dennis Fischer, took place at a hotel in the northern province’s Muang district this Tuesday, as revealed by Phanthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau. Fischer was reportedly in possession of a one-year non-immigrant visa,…
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Thailand offers free newborn screening for 24 rare conditions to boost birth rate
The Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) and the National Health Security Office (NHSO) of Thailand announced a new initiative offering free screening for newborns to detect 24 rare medical conditions. This proactive move is part of a wider strategy designed to bolster the health of the nation’s children. This comes amidst an ongoing decline in the birth rate, with a…
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Scowl Play: Trump’s mug shot sparks questions on jail time and future US President run
The mug shot of a scowling Donald Trump last night was a bewildering sight for both supporters and opponents of the former US President – but what does it mean, can he be jailed, and can he still run for office? The 77 year old former US President yesterday surrendered at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta on charges of illegally scheming…
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Tragic twist: Pickup driver kills motorcyclist fleeing alcohol test in Bangkok
A Thai pickup driver ran over and killed a motorcycle rider on Chalong Krung Road in the Lat Krabang district of Bangkok. The driver reportedly made a quick escape from an alcohol test at a police checkpoint, resulting in the fatal accident. Lam Pakchee Police Station officers and rescuers were notified about the fatal accident on the Chalong Krung Road…
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Double trouble: Bali lounge Pattaya hit by second burglary in a month, deja vu for devastated owners
The Bali Lounge Bar & Restaurant, nestled on Pattaya’s lively Third Road, was subjected to a second burglary in less than a month. The first theft saw the establishment losing a staggering over 1 million baht worth of assets. The second incident unfolded at 6pm on Wednesday, August 23. A 32 year old man, Worawut, happened to be on the…
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Bus crash leaves young boy battling life-threatening injuries in Thailand
A ten year old boy was seriously injured when a minibus, operated by a joint bus company under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land Transport, struck the motorbike he was riding with his mother. The boy was thrown from the bike and subsequently run over by the bus. The child suffered life-threatening injuries including a ruptured bladder, damaged spleen,…
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Fugitive murder suspect nabbed after 15 years hiding as grilled meatball vendor in northeast Thailand
A fugitive murder suspect, who had been on the run for 15 years, was arrested in Surin province for a murder case dating back to 2008. The suspect Preecha, who had been operating a grilled meatball stall while in hiding, was apprehended at his residence in Sri Khoraphum district, Surin, on orders from the Provincial Police Region 5. The case…
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Parking dispute: Thai TikTok user exposes obstructive neighbour
A Thai TikTok user exposed an ongoing feud over a neighbour blocking access to his home, even during emergencies. The parking dispute situation has escalated to such a point that even when his sick mother needed to visit the doctor, they had to wait for the neighbour to move their car. The TikTok user, @goldenhens1688, revealed the obstructive parking of…
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Mentally ill man trapped in apartment complex due to unsecured door
A mental health sufferer found himself trapped in an apartment complex after a resident had left the door open. The young mentally ill man, who was unable to operate the automatic lock system, was eventually forced to smash a glass door to escape. The incident was shared on TikTok by a user named @tasapong_ruk yesterday, as a warning to others…
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Lights out: Dispute over leaving light on ends in tragic shooting in Trang
A heated dispute over leaving a light on resulted in a fatal shooting incident in Trang, Thailand. A 61 year old man named Udom was reportedly shot by his 24 year old adopted son, Kritsada Chunglok, after a confrontation in their home yesterday. The scene was promptly attended by officials from the Huai Yot Police Station, forensic experts from Trang…
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Brewing a social media storm: Thai woman discovers clear teeth brace in tea
A Thai woman took to Facebook to share that she found a clear teeth brace in a beverage she had bought from a well-known Thai beverage brand. From the picture, it is believed to be the popular Thai tea brand ChaTraMue. The woman shared a picture of the clear teeth brace last night on her Facebook account, Ploy Chutinan. The…
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Temple rampage: Knife-wielding man threatens novices, injures officer
A 39 year old man went on a temple rampage wielding a knife and threatening to attack three novices. Upon receiving the report, a team of voluntary police officers rushed to the scene, with one officer sustaining injuries in the process. Upon reaching the temple rampage scene, located at Wat Pa Somanat Santayaram in Nong Khon Kwang, a 63 year…
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Srettha Thavisin endorsed by US, EU, and Singapore
Srettha Thavisin, recently elected as Thailand’s 30th prime minister, received a warm welcome and expression of support from the United States, the European Union, and Singapore. The allies are enthusiastic about further strengthening their strategic alliances with Thailand under the new leadership. Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, emphasized the shared values between the two nations and their joint…
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Monkey free certification launched in Thailand for coconut products amid Peta allegations
Striving to counter allegations of animal cruelty, the Department of Agriculture in Thailand announced the launch of a new certification system, Monkey Free Plus (MFP), for coconut products not harvested by monkeys. This move comes in response to claims put forward by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has negatively impacted the export of Thai coconuts…
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