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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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Belgian man tragically dies after trying to defuse argument in Patong
A Belgian man tragically died after he reportedly tried to defuse an argument in Patong. The man’s friend told Patong Police that he had been in a heated argument with a Thai man at an apartment in Soi Nanai. The victim had been trying to stop the heated exchange, and for unknown reasons, he reportedly ran and slipped, hitting his…
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Bear cub smuggler arrested in northern Thailand
Two tiny Asian black bear cubs were seized from a smuggler in Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand yesterday. The smuggler, who was arrested under suspicion of wildlife trafficking, claims he saved the bears when their mother got chased by a dog on the Myanmar side of the border. Head of the Office of Conversation Area 16, Pornthep Chareonsuebsakul,…
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Landfill fire covers district of eastern Thailand province with smoke
A landfill fire covered a district of a province in eastern Thailand with smoke on Monday. The thick blanket of smoke engulfed Sa Kaeo province’s main city district in the afternoon after the city’s main landfill caught fire. Nation Thailand reported yesterday that, as of press time, the fire still had not been fully extinguished due to heavy winds. It took…
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Pink trumpet trees decorate park in middle of Bangkok
Nature enthusiasts and keen photographers, rejoice! Wachirabenchathat Park, also known as Suan Rot Fai, in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok, is currently decorated with gorgeous Tabebuia rosea or pink trumpet trees in full bloom, Sanook reported. For those who have been waiting for the park to transform from its usual green appearance to a picturesque pink, the wait is finally…
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Chinese Samanea Group building largest retail centre in Thailand
Chinese retail giant Samanea Group plans to create the largest retail and wholesale centre in Thailand, much to the chagrin of Thai importers. They worry that the centre will flood the country with cheap Chinese goods. The Samanea Plaza, located on Bangna-Trat Road in Bang Sao Thong District, Samut Prakan province, already operates a massive shopping centre. Over 100 service…
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Desperate elephants flee massive forest fires in eastern Thailand
Desperate wild elephants are fleeing massive forest fires in Thailand’s eastern Trat province. The fires have destroyed more than 2,500 rai of forests since February 26, and the poor creatures are trying to escape. A herd of 13 elephants in the Klong Kaew Waterfall National Park have started moving out, Naewna reported yesterday. Rangers flew a drone which spotted the…
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Dead body of illegal Thai worker found on mountain in South Korea
A South Korean employer was arrested for concealing the death of an illegal Thai worker and leaving his dead body on a mountain. The cause of the death is under investigation. The South Korean police believe the man died of a health issue as his accommodation was unhygienic. The dead body of the 67 year old Thai man named Boonchu,…
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Chinese tourists could be fined for wearing Thai student uniforms
A Thai lawyer has warned Chinese tourists to stop wearing Thai student uniforms while travelling in Thailand as it could result in a fine of 1,000 baht. Wearing a Thai student uniform when travelling in Thailand has gained momentum among Chinese tourists after the well-known Chinese actress and singer, Ju Jingyi, posted a picture of herself wearing a Thai student…
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Tories gang up on Gary Lineker for calling out Nazi policy
Tories are ganging up on sports presenter Gary Lineker after he likening the Conservative Party’s asylum policy as “not dissimilar to that used by (Nazi) Germany in the (19)30s.” Far-right Tory MPs reckon the popular BBC presenter should be sacked. The Match of the Day presenter took to Twitter to remark on a video posted by the Home Secretary, Suella…
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Minivan driver claims he wasn’t asleep, screaming tourists caused crash
A minivan full of Russian tourists crashed either as a result of a screaming passenger or a sleeping driver, depending on who you believe. The minivan crashed into a tree after the driver was seen slumping over in his chair and one of the passengers screamed loudly, either out of fear, or too quickly to wake up the sleeping driver.…
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Five powerful Thai women to know about on International Women’s Day
Today is International Women’s Day, and people across the world are celebrating women’s achievements and triumphs over adversity. In Thailand, women still face a number of barriers to equality. The country has deeply entrenched problems with abuse and trafficking of women, maternity leave, and a range of other issues. Yet, Thailand has several prominent, powerful female leaders. Below are five who you…
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ฺฺBillionaire’s ‘sadistic’ son denies biting woman’s genitals
UPDATE The billionaire’s son accused of assaulting a woman he met on a dating app in Nonthaburi province, central Thailand, denies that he bit her genitals. He did admit to “squeezing” the victim out of “jealousy” leaving her badly bruised. Reporters managed to contact 22 year old Khittiphot aka “Micky” who said that A (pseudonym) invited him to her condo room.…
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Small plane crashes in central Thailand, 1 dead, 1 injured
A small plane crashed into a shrimp pond in Samut Sakhon province in central Thailand this morning, killing one man and injuring one woman. At 7.24am, the Samut Sakhon Provincial Incident Notification and Command Centre reported that a two-seater Tecnum P92 aircraft crashed into a pond at a shrimp farm along the Khok Kham – Sandap Road behind the Sinsakhon…
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DMCR report an abundance of healthy sealife in Krabi
Officers from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (DMCR), Lower Andaman Sea were pleased to report the abundance of healthy sealife after they performed an aerial survey over Krabi last week. Between March 1 to March 5, 22 dugongs and 74 sea turtles were discovered. Yesterday, the Director of the DMCR, Lower Andaman Sea, Santi Ninlawat, reported…
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American teacher charged with reckless homicide over 8 year old’s drowning in Chumphon
An American teacher has been charged with reckless homicide after the drowning of an eight year old boy in Chumphon province. The boy’s family, however, says they don’t blame the teacher for his death. According to Khaosod English, the 45 year old teacher was an employee of a local church in Map Ammarit Sub-District, Pathio District. He was on holiday…
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Koh Samui welcomes inaugural flight from Chengdu, China
On Sunday, Koh Samui Airport in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, welcomed a flight from Chengdu in China for the first time in over three years. Chengdu Airlines flight EU2807 landed in Koh Samui at 5.40pm with 130 Chinese tourists on board. Samui Airport held a special welcome ceremony for the inaugural flight by using fire engines to spray water…
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Thai woman steals motorcycle from drunk foreigner in Pattaya while he vomited
Pattaya Police yesterday arrested a Thai woman for stealing a motorcycle from a foreigner in Pattaya. The opportunist thief grabbed the chance to steal the motorbike while the foreign man parked his motorcycle to vomit on the roadside. The 38 year old man named Fiorenzo Cardinali filed a complaint with Pattaya Police after discovering his Yamaha Grand Filano motorcycle had been…
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Swedish tourist found dead inside tent on Ao Nang Beach in Thailand
A Swedish tourist was found dead inside a tent on Ao Nang Beach in Krabi province in southern Thailand yesterday. At 1pm, officers at Ao Nang Police Station were informed that a tourist discovered a foreigner lying dead inside a tent. Police, doctors from Krabi Hospital and rescue workers rushed to the scene. Police found a blue camping tent pitched…
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German man drowns at Koh Samui beach
There’s been another tragic drowning at one of Thailand’s holiday paradises, this time the island of Koh Samui. A 58 year old German man drowned at Koh Samui‘s Chaweng Beach on Monday. Bo Phut Police said the tourist had gone into the water with his girlfriend. When his girlfriend got out of the water, she could not find her boyfriend…
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Food delivery rider hailed a hero for saving 4 year old boy in Bangkok
A food delivery rider from the LINE MAN platform has been hailed a “hero” by Thai netizens and the Royal Thai Police (RTP) after he saved the life of a four year old boy near Bangkok. The viral video posted on the TikTok account, ch_chamaiporn, showed the quick-thinking rider jumping off his motorcycle and running to rescue the little boy who…
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Thai seller of rubber duck calendar found guilty of royal defamation
A Thai seller of a rubber ducky calendar has been found guilty of royal defamation. The 26 year old man, “Tonmai,” was arrested on December 31, 2020, and charged with royal defamation. Now, he will serve two years in prison after being found guilty. The Taling Chan Criminal Court ruled that the depiction of the rubber duck was a mockery…
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Thai navy busts Phuket umbrella operator for beach encroachment
The Royal Thai Navy busted a Phuket umbrella operator for encroaching on a beach yesterday. The incident happened on Koh Racha Yai, an island off southern Phuket. The navy inspected the island yesterday and found the operator on Ao Pratok Beach. Twenty sets of umbrellas were seized, and the operator was arrested and brought to Chalong Police Station for further…
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Russia’s national gymnastics team coach banned from next Olympics after criticising judges
Russia’s national gymnastics team coach has been reportedly banned from the next Olympics after she criticised judges at the Tokyo games. Irina Viner, the head coach of the Russian national team and president of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation criticised the Tokyo Olympic judges who ended Russia’s winning streak in rhythmic gymnastics. The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation barred Viner from coaching…
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South Korea’s spy agency says Kim Jong-un’s first child is a son
South Korea’s spy agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), says Kim Jong-un’s first child is a son. The news comes as Yoo Sang-beom, quoted what the NIS allegedly told him. Yoo is a member of the ruling People Power Party. Yoo says despite the claims by the NIS, he says it doesn’t have detailed evidence of this claim. “We do…
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Phuket cops on the prowl for hit-and-run driver
Phuket cops are on the prowl for a hit-and-run driver who sideswiped a motorbike, knocking the rider onto the ground. The incident happened on Saturday at 12.02am on Wiset Road in the village of Rawai. CCTV footage showed that the car was half in the left lane while it passed the Honda Click motorbike before it sideswiped the motorbike and…
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2 perverted Thai transwomen arrested for luring 4 boys into making porn
Two perverted Thai transwomen were arrested in Chon Buri and Khon Kaen for luring four boys, aged 12 years old, into making group-sex porn and selling child pornography via Twitter accounts and the LINE application. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) reported today that they collaborated with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) to apprehend the two alleged pedophiles involved in…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport passengers advised to arrive 3 hours before departure
Passengers flying internationally out of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok are advised to arrive three hours before departure due to potential delays caused by renovations. Getting through security might take a little longer for now as the departure terminal gains some snazzy new equipment to ramp up security efforts. Currently, an “automated return tray system” is being installed at security checkpoints…
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Thai netizens call out sentence for tiger killers as too lenient
Thai netizens are calling out the recent sentencing for five hunters who killed a tiger mother and her cub last year as too lenient. Comments on a Facebook post by the Thai news outlet Story This Morning unleashed a wrath of anger from Thais. The over 100 comments included, “That’s it. Very little blame,” “Thai law is so weak,” and “Should…
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Thai police summon billionaire’s ‘sadistic’ son who allegedly bit date’s genitals
Police in Nonthaburi in central Thailand summoned a Chiang Mai billionaire’s son to face charges filed by a woman he met on a dating app who alleges that he assaulted her, sadistically bit her during sex and forced her to transfer money to his bank account. Yesterday, the 28 year old victim A – an office employee – went to…
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Old woman severely injured after drunk official crashes car into her house
A Pattalung Provincial Council official has been accused of being drunk and disorderly while driving after he crashed his car into a house in the Si Banphot district of Pattalung in the southern province of Thailand, seriously injuring an 83 year old woman. The victim’s family are understandably furious as the suspect is still at large. The Pattalung Provincial Council…
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