News
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 Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money
Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...
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Thai it up: Weather officials forecast downpour throughout Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department reveals today that across Thailand, intense rain is anticipated for 60% to 80% of the country, with some regions expected to experience heavy downpours. Particularly for Bangkok’s capital, afternoon to evening rain showers are expected. This weather prediction points towards an acute southwesterly monsoon, currently strong over the Andaman Sea and Thailand, and the Gulf of…
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Map Ta Phut port to see third phase by 2027, IEAT confident
Reports from Thailand indicate that the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) remains optimistic about presenting the third phase of development of the Map Ta Phut deep-sea port in Rayong by the year 2027. The port, a notable part of ongoing development in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), is seen as an essential addition to Thailand’s infrastructure. Map Ta Phut…
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Grab Thailand partners with Alipay, Kakao Pay to appeal to Chinese, Korean tourists
Grab Thailand is entering a strategic alliance with Alipay and Kakao Pay to expand the payment alternatives available to Chinese and South Korean tourists who visit the country, an announcement from the company relayed. As the Thai tourism sector remains buoyant, Grab has identified Chinese tourists as pivotal to its strategy for this year. Worachat Luxkanalode, Country Head of Grab…
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Elderly allowance scheme raises financial accessibility concerns in Thailand
In a bid to ease the strain on government finances, a transition from universal welfare payments to a stringent elderly allowance scheme has been initiated. This shift has been met with substantiated criticism, although the authorities maintain the necessity of the move, justifying it as a responsive adaptation to cope with Thailand’s rapidly ageing populace. In yesterday’s internal meeting of…
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Thai crackdown on fake pharmacists reveals illicit cough syrup sales
In an effort to curb drug abuse in the nation, Thai authorities have apprehended 13 individuals posing as pharmacists during a series of synchronised raids across Bangkok. The arrests were made in connection with the illicit sale of cough syrup, a crucial component in the well-known and highly addictive cocktail drug 4×100. These operations were ordered by the Food and…
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Sexual abuse: Indian men receive life sentences for horrific assault and murder of teen sisters
Two Indian men have been sentenced to lifelong imprisonment for the sexual abuse and fatal assault of two teenage sisters. Their bodies were discovered hanging from a tree in Uttar Pradesh in September last year. This horrific crime led to widespread public outrage and significantly impacted India’s discourse around sexual violence. On Friday, August 11, India’s Sexual Abuse Child Protection…
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Traffic police uniform revamp addresses efficiency, nationwide rollout set for mid-September
A new uniform for the traffic police is set to be rolled out nationally from September 15, with all 19,662 officers expected to be wearing the revised attire. Netizens queried the changes, claiming they could hardly discern any difference in the new design. Police Lieutenant Colonel Kittipraphat, Commissioner of Police, under the directives of Police Lieutenant General Prachuap Wongsuk, yesterday…
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Tragic twist: Phuket official loses life in motor accident
A tragic turn of events unfolded today when a 51 year old member of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO) lost his life in a motor accident in Thalang, Phuket. Paisarn Utouchkul, acting Councillor for PPAO District 4, died on the spot when his pickup truck veered off the road and crashed into a roadside ditch. Police Lieutenant Colonel Noppadol…
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Rolls of redemption: Chinese woman forgives Thai driver after Rolls-Royce collision
A Chinese woman’s remarkable display of forgiveness illuminated an incident involving a Thai pickup driver colliding with her 32 million baht Rolls-Royce on a motorway bridge near Bangkok. The accident, captured by a dashcam from a passing vehicle, was shared on the Twitter account Red Skull. In the video, a bronze pickup forcefully collided with the rear of the black…
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Call centre scam crackdown: Thai cyber police nab nine, seize 300 million baht in evidence
A significant blow has been struck against the fraudulent operations of a call centre gang, masterminding scams worth over 300 million baht, as the cyber police arrested nine individuals and seize numerous items of incriminating evidence. Officers from the Crime Technology Investigation Department at Thong Thanee today were successful in their crackdown against this notorious gang in Mae Sai, Chiang…
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Should you name your baby Hitler? Nazi? The N-word?
Naming a child is an important decision that parents-to-be spend days or weeks pouring over. But a trend in Thailand is drawing harsh condemnation and has critics imploring Thai people to reconsider the names they choose for their offspring. The contentious trend of giving children names like Nong Hitler, Nong Nazi, and Nong Ni**a, ignited an intense debate. The crazy…
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Mysterious death: Unsettling discovery of local man found dead in East Thailand
An unsettling report has emerged from Chanthaburi in eastern Thailand regarding a local man found dead under distressing circumstances five days ago. The 46 year old, Thanpong, lived alone, and it is believed that his body was in the room for five days before it was discovered. Police officer Phuriphat last night received a distress notification from the emergency rescue…
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Scorpion sting kills Brazilian girl, hospital lacked antivenom
A five year old Brazilian girl lost her life after being stung by a yellow scorpion, one of the most venomous insects in South America. Despite her family’s efforts to get the child immediate medical attention, they faced an hour-long delay when the first hospital they visited lacked the proper serum to treat the child. The ordeal of the child,…
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Thai university student arrested for selling child pornography
Department Of Special Investigation (DSI) officers yesterday arrested a 19 year old Thai university student for selling child pornography online at a condominium in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok. The Director of the DSI’s Technology and Information Litigation Division, Khemmachart Prakuyhongmanee, reported the successful operation to the media today. Khemmachart stated that officers received a tip-off about the online sale…
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Late-night clash: Move Forward Party MP’s apology after Ekkamai eatery dispute
A heated dispute during the early hours of August 4 at an Ekkamai eatery in Bangkok led a prominent Move Forward Party (MFP) MP to publically clarify events and issue an apology. Chorayuth Chaturapornprasith took to Facebook to share his account of events and refute online allegations suggesting he initiated the brawl at the Ekkamai eatery, one of the prime…
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Otter attack: Montana woman savaged, raises 270,000 baht for medical costs
In otter news… Although regarded as adorable and gentle creatures, the story of an American woman attacked by an otter has gained international attention. Bozeman, Montana resident 37 year old Jen Royce was unexpectedly mauled by the cute vicious creature during a visit to the Jefferson River to celebrate her birthday in early August. Royce and her two friends were…
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Man arrested over 2 day old infant abduction from hospital
A man was arrested for abducting a two days old infant from a hospital ward in Nakhon Pathom province. The culprit, 40 year old Nun, arbitrarily selected the hospital and stole the infant with intentions to raise it himself. During a detailed house search, he claimed innocence and expressed remorse to the newborn’s family. Yesterday, the investigation unit of Bang…
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Monk’s plea: Thai woman scams 78 year old monk of 800,000 baht
A 78 year old Thai monk from Rat Samakkhi Temple in Chon Buri urged police to track down a woman who swindled over 800,000 baht from him. The monk added that he will forgive her and stop the legal process if she presents herself to the police and take responsibility for her actions. The community leader, Yotsadhammo Puangsisang, accompanied the…
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Unsettling find: Tragic discovery of newborn baby on South Pattaya Road
In the late hours of Monday evening, a deeply unsettling discovery of a newborn baby was made on South Pattaya Road, Pattaya. The lifeless body of the newborn baby girl was found on a mound of waste, left to the mercy of fate. The details of this harrowing incident were disclosed by local police who received a distress call at…
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Two young boys severely injured by menacing hanging wire trap
A 14 year old boy and his eight year old cousin sustained severe injuries after getting tangled in a hanging wire on their way home. One boy’s 35 year old mother Namjai Sa Lee detailed the horrific incident, which occurred in Mahapho, Kao Liao district, Nakhon Sawan on July 29. The two boys were knocked off a motorcycle by the…
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Covid-19 survivors have 24% higher risk of developing Type-2 diabetes
In an announcement made yesterday, research revealed that people who test positive for Covid-19 are at an increased risk of developing Type-2 diabetes. The disclosure came from Dr Thira Woratanarat of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, who referred to a study recently unveiled on the MedRxiv.org portal. This research incorporated a sample size of 15 million people from the United…
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Massage parlour raid reveals galaxy of illegal operations in Phuket (video)
A spate of illegal operations was brought into sharp focus, after a massage parlour known as Universe Massage in Phuket was raided and its owner nabbed due to operating without requisite permissions. The drive to crack down on such infringing operations headlined by the Patong Police continues in earnest, with this instance being the third in just over a week.…
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Daria’s Pattaya condo fall: Arrest warrant denied for person of interest
A new wrinkle in the investigation concerning the tragic death of a Russian woman, Daria Iuzifiak, after her fall from a Pattaya condo window, raises questions. The Pattaya Provincial Court refused to issue an arrest warrant for a person of interest due to a lack of substantial evidence tying him to the fatal fall. The Russian woman, simply identified as…
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Fuelling the future: Thailand’s gas giant gears up production to avert power crisis
Efforts to prevent a second power crisis in Thailand are underway as the nation’s primary gas producer, PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) Public Company Limited, looks to increase its output substantially. With plans to double gas production in the Erawan field, Thailand’s largest, Montri Rawanchaikul, the Chief Executive Officer, confirmed plans to scale up production to as high as 800…
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Deadly jealousy: Thai man’s jealousy leads to murder of employee’s spouse
A tragic incident unfolded as a Thai man’s jealousy led to a fatal outcome, resulting in the murder of his female employee’s husband. The horrifying incident occurred after the deceased Thai man accused the perpetrator of having an affair with his wife and attempted to assault him with a knife. Upon receiving notification of the murder, officers from Takhli Police…
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Teen survives life-threating 30-metre fall at Grand Canyon
In a miraculous story, a 13 years old boy survived a 30-metre tumble down the Grand Canyon, sustaining numerous grave injuries. Remarkably, the plunge did not kill him, and rescuers were able to reach him within two hours and transport him to a hospital. Kauffman, on vacation with his mother, had been admiring the scenic views at Bright Angel Point,…
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Factory explosion near Bangkok leaves two workers injured due to faulty cutting tool
An explosion at a factory has left two workers injured in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. The incident occurred yesterday when a newly bought cutting tool malfunctioned. The device had been in use for only a few hours when it exploded, severely injuring the employees. The factory specialises in recycling old car air conditioners. The explosion happened around 5.30pm yesterday…
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Heartbreaking child abuse: Thai parents’ cruelty leaves 5 year old unable to walk or learn
A distressing case of child abuse has come to light, involving a five year old boy victimised by his parents. The severity of the abuse has left the boy with incapacitating injuries, preventing him from both walking and attending school. The boy’s grandfather has assumed the responsibility of bringing his school assignments to their home in Ban Nongai Phatthana, Udon…
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Rolling the dice: Phuket authorities detain 18 in illegal betting crackdown
Following a tip-off, local authorities in Thalang in Phuket detained 18 people in connection with illegal gambling activities at the weekend. The raid on Sunday, August 13 was orchestrated by the Thalang Police and happened in a local venue in Moo 8, Srisoonthorn. Upon arrival, law enforcers discovered a crowd revelling in the forbidden pleasures of illicit gambling. Eight men…
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Snake charms monks: Unusual temple encounter in northern Thailand
In an unusual incident, over 500 monks peacefully gave way to a green snake that slithered into their temple meeting, ultimately cohabiting the space until the gathering’s conclusion in northern Thailand. The intriguing episode unfolded in a shared clip on social media at the Wat Jampa Temple in the Prakhon Chai district of Buriram province. The monks were convening for…
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