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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Intoxicated driver crashes into Pattaya power line pit
A heavily intoxicated driver crashed his vehicle into an underground power line construction pit in Pattaya but miraculously escaped without injury. The accident occurred at 5.46am yesterday, September 18, on Chaloem Phra Kiat Road 3, located in the Nong Prue subdistrict of Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Pattaya police and emergency responders promptly arrived at the scene, accompanied by…
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Fallen tree kills one, injures another in Rayong rainstorm
A violent rainstorm caused a tree to fall onto a pickup truck, resulting in one fatality and one severe injury. Yesterday, September 18, police in Klaeng, Rayong province, were alerted to an incident involving a fallen tree that crushed a pickup truck on Route 344 near kilometre marker 89, heading towards Chon Buri province. Police, along with medical personnel from…
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Prawit to sue TV host and ex-spokesman over wiretapping claims
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Prawit Wongsuwon plans to take legal action against TV host Danai Ekmahasawat and former Pheu Thai Party spokesperson Prompong Nopparit. They are accused of releasing voice recordings that allegedly incriminate him. Party secretary-general Paiboon Nititawan announced yesterday, September 18, that complaints would be filed with Hua Mak police, accusing Danai and Prompong of wiretapping or disseminating…
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Severe storm sinks seven fishing boats in Koh Libong
A severe storm hit Koh Libong, resulting in seven local fishing boats sinking and significant damage to resorts and homes. The residents are currently self-reliant due to impassable sea conditions, with waves reaching 2 to 3 metres high. Yesterday, September 18, reports emerged of intense rainfall and strong winds striking Koh Libong, Moo 5, Ban Lang Khao, Koh Libong subdistrict,…
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Newborn discovered in Nonthaburi canal, police seek answers
A tragic discovery was made in Nonthaburi, with the body of a newborn found floating in a canal, the umbilical cord still attached. Police suspect the baby had been dead for approximately two days and are actively searching for the perpetrator. Yesterday, September 18, local police from Sai Noi station, along with personnel from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation, arrived…
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Singaporean drug smuggler arrested in Samut Prakan
A Singaporean drug smuggler arrested this week in Samut Prakan faces deportation back to his home country, where he is likely to receive the death penalty. Benny Kee Soon Chuan orchestrated a smuggling operation involving crystal meth, ketamine, and ecstasy, shipping these substances from Thailand to Australia and Singapore, according to Police Lieutenant General Panurat Lakboonto, secretary-general of the Office…
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Landslides and floods in Thailand claim 19 lives
A severe landslide and flood disaster has affected nine provinces in Thailand, resulting in 19 fatalities and numerous injuries. The Ministry of Public Health is mobilising medical supplies and healthcare personnel to assist the affected populations. The disaster, which occurred between September 8 and yesterday, September 18, has created a critical situation requiring a coordinated response from multiple government agencies.…
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People’s Party bets on transparency in casino concerns
The People’s Party raised concerns about the Thailand government’s casino project, citing fears that recent revisions to the plan could lead to questionable business practices. Nont Pisarnlimjaroenkit, a People’s Party MP for Nonthaburi, addressed Parliament, stating that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s administration aims to generate new revenue by integrating underground businesses into the tax system. This proposal includes an entertainment…
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Entry Thailand: The portal to paradise
The Tourism and Sports Ministry has rolled out a brand new web portal designed to revolutionise the way foreign tourists access essential services in Thailand. Dubbed “Entry Thailand,” this innovative platform not only features an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system but also prepares for a future 300-baht fee for incoming visitors. Mongkon Wimonrat, the Tourism and Sports Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary,…
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Barking mad: Dog row turns deadly as woman guns down neighbour
A neighbourhood dispute over a dog’s incessant barking in Chon Buri escalated dramatically, resulting in a woman firing a gun and injuring a man. Police officers responded to the incident, which occurred in Soi Wat Boonsampan 17, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri yesterday, September 17, at around 7pm. The 42 year old man, Niwit, was found with a gunshot…
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Thai police shut down 21 villas on Koh Samui, foreigners evicted
Police on the picturesque island of Koh Samui swooped and shut down 21 luxury villas that were built illegally on the pristine Khao Ma Ngaen mountain, leaving foreign tenants scrambling to pack their bags. Municipal, military, and ombudsman officials yesterday, September 17, slapped closure notices on the villas, which were among 46 properties constructed without permits. These villas had brazenly…
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Waste not, want not: Thailand tightens reins on dirty paper imports
Thailand’s Foreign Trade Department is cracking down on dirty deals—literally. Stricter import controls on waste paper are in the works to safeguard public health and protect the environment. Ronnarong Phoolpipat, Foreign Trade Department Director-General, dropped the bombshell. The Commerce Ministry has been inundated with reports all year from concerned entrepreneurs. These tip-offs revealed that imported waste paper is ending up…
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Knockout blow: Thai boxing star floored in gambling promo ring
Police officers went toe-to-toe with a famed Thai boxer, known only as “Sutthiwat,” who flaunts a staggering 440,000 followers on Facebook, for promoting gambling websites at 1,500 baht a post. The dramatic bust came yesterday, September 17, spearheaded by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) under Police Lieutenant General Jiraphob Bhuridej and the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) led by Police…
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Pattaya mayor’s surprise delivery transforms elderly woman’s life
The life of an elderly woman with limited mobility in Na Kluea, Bang Lamung district, Pattaya was dramatically changed when Mayor Poramet Ngampichet personally arrived at her doorstep with life-altering support. For 75 year old Wanram Singupatham, life had become a daily battle. Trapped in her modest Na Kluea home near Soi Bo Bae, her limited mobility and low income…
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Cigarette rites spark fiery debate among netizens in Thailand
A Thai man’s online query about the unusual practice of lighting cigarettes instead of incense sticks at funerals ignited a spirited discussion among netizens. On Monday, September 16, an anonymous user on the Facebook page Knowledge Around posed the question: “What does lighting cigarettes instead of incense at a funeral signify?” The post quickly went viral, attracting a flurry of…
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Phuket drug suspect nabbed in mangrove forest hideout
A Thai man wanted on serious drug charges was finally captured today after being tracked down to a remote mangrove forest in Pa Khlok subdistrict, Thalang district, Phuket. A police investigation team from Thalang Police, supported by local patrol officers, swooped in on the suspect’s hideout. The high-stakes raid, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Luecha, Inspector of Investigation at…
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Heartless landlord in China evicts terminally ill woman
A landlord in China is under fire after heartlessly evicting a cancer-stricken tenant, fearing her death could devalue his property. Zhang, the landlord from Beijing, booted out Wang, a terminally ill woman renting his flat, claiming that her presence could turn the property into a haunted house and slash its value by up to 1 million yuan (nearly 4.7 million…
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Durian plantation owners busted for cheating electricity meters
More than 10 durian plantation owners in Khon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, have been caught red-handed in an electricity scam. A daring investigation by the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) exposed the scam after officials noticed suspiciously low electricity bills. The durian plantations, which typically cover between 32,000 and 48,000 square metres, were racking up bills of just 200 baht a month,…
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Finance Ministry set to cash in: £400bn portfolio gets a stock-over
In a bold new move, the Finance Ministry is gearing up to overhaul its colossal 400 billion baht stock portfolio, hinting at potential sell-offs. This announcement comes straight from Finance Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit, who let the cat out of the bag. Lavaron, a key player in the State Securities Management and Development Committee within the State Enterprise Policy Office…
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Virtual bank race: Five giants vie for digi-crown in Thailand
The race is heating up for the new virtual bank licences, with five heavyweight business groups ready to battle it out. Gulf consortium has already thrown its hat into the ring, according to Krungthai Bank (KTB) president Payong Srivanich. This power team includes Gulf Energy Development and PTT Group. Armed with a solid business plan and robust ecosystem that meets…
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Whoscares? Scam alert app is here to call out the cons in Thailand
Gogolook, the brains behind the wildly popular Whoscall app, have unleashed a game-changer: Scam Alert, and it’s rocking the scene thanks to a team-up with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). A whopping 11 heavy-hitter organisations are on board this powerhouse initiative, including telecom giants, police forces, top banks, the National Cyber Security Agency, the Central Investigation Bureau, and…
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Prawit’s leaked audio drama: Secret ambitions exposed?
An aide to Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader General Prawit Wongsuwan filed a police complaint against two high-profile figures for allegedly leaking a bombshell phone conversation. The explosive recording, which Prawit previously dismissed as a doctored or AI-manipulated fake, has now landed two individuals in hot water. PPRP Secretary-General Paibul Nititawan took the reins, filing the complaint today at Hua…
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Covid-19 now just flu-ing under the radar, says Thai virologist
Covid-19 is officially being treated like any run-of-the-mill respiratory illness, claims Dr Yong Poovorawan, a leading virologist from Chulalongkorn University. This dramatic shift comes as case numbers tumble and symptoms become milder. In a Facebook post yesterday, Dr Yong revealed that this year’s Covid-19 cases are on a clear downward trajectory. At the start of the rainy season, Covid-19 made…
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Snakes alive: Thai woman battles 4-metre python in Samut Prakan
A quiet night turned into a nightmare for a woman in Samut Prakan province when a 4-metre-long python wrapped itself around her for nearly two hours, leaving her fighting for her life. The woman, 64 year old Arrom Arunroj, had just finished her dinner and was washing dishes at the back of her house, located near a dense reed forest…
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Smart Digital Prime project launched at Nakhon Pathom school
The Miracle of Life Foundation and the National Telecommunications Public Company (NT) officially signed an agreement for the Smart Digital Prime project to enhance digital skills and technology education at Ubon Rattana Rajakanya Rajawittayalai School in Nakhon Pathom, central Thailand. The agreement was signed to promote and support digital and technological skills, with R.T.N. Dr Manat Nonuch, Chairman of the…
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Thai influencer injured in accident during flood relief in Nong Khai
A Thai influencer was injured in a car accident while assisting with flood relief efforts in Nong Khai, causing concern among fans. Updates on his condition are expected tomorrow. Sungstarwin, whose real name is Starwin, experienced a serious car accident while on his way to help flood victims in the Phon Phisai area. The incident occurred amidst ongoing flooding issues…
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Bangkok joins 30-baht healthcare scheme with 6 billion baht budget
A budget allocation of 5.9 billion baht has been approved to support the 30-baht healthcare scheme, which will now extend to Bangkok, making it the 46th province in the programme. The project will be officially launched on September 27. The announcement was made at the National Health Security Office (NHSO) in Bangkok, where Jadej Thamatachaaree, Secretary-General of the NHSO, explained…
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Flooding in Thailand reduced to 13 provinces, 45 dead, 24 injured
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) initially reported that 30 provinces experienced flooding but it has now reduced to 13 provinces. Some 45 people have died, and 24 sustained injuries. Efforts are ongoing to assist those affected and alleviate public distress. The floods, which occurred between August 16 and yesterday, impacted 30 provinces including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai,…
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Man found in longan orchard after fatally shooting ex-wife
Police successfully apprehended a 42 year old man who had been hiding in a longan orchard after fatally shooting his ex-wife in front of her home. The incident stemmed from unresolved resentment over their breakup. Suksan, shot his 43 year old ex-wife, Ko, in the forehead, causing severe injuries while she was waiting for a ride to work outside her…
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Capella Bangkok named World’s Best Hotel 2024
Capella Bangkok has taken the hospitality world by storm, claiming the coveted top spot on The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024 list. Leaping from No.11 in 2023 to No.1 this year, the hotel not only tops the global rankings but also secures the title of Best Hotel in Asia. Since its 2020 opening, the riverside retreat has charmed guests with…
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