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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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Jomtien Beach fishing frenzy: Pattaya’s untidy shoreline sparks concerns
Jomtien Beach in Pattaya has been a subject of concern recently due to the cluttered state of its local fishing section. The area, specifically near the Chaiyapreuk intersection, has been criticised by citizens for being untidy and disorganised, potentially harming the city’s tourism image. This area serves as a docking and temporary seafood market spot for local fishermen. Locals have…
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Fiery family feud: Drunk daughter sets fire to Mother in Isaan after sobriety plea
A drunk woman set fire to her 73 year old mother at a house in the Nong Hong district in Isaan province of Buriram after her mum urged her and her husband to stop drinking. The victim, 73 year old Preeda, revealed to Nong Hong District Office authorities that her 40 year old daughter, La, was the perpetrator. La poured…
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High-speed pickup collides with trailer in Khon Kaen, killing two instantly
A high-speed pickup truck collided with a trailer truck attempting a U-turn, killing two people instantly. The pickup driver, an employee delivering goods, and an unidentified passenger died at the scene. The incident occurred at 3am yesterday, near the Makro shopping centre, Chum Phae district, Khon Kaen province. At the accident scene, in the middle of the road at a…
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Flash flood rescue heroes: Kalasin’s disaster team saves tree-clinging locals in N.E. Thailand
Kalasin’s Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office swiftly came to the aid of locals trapped by flash floods, stuck to trees for up to 14 hours in northeastern Thailand. The local government, led by Thanaset Chaisongkramthanatat, the Mayor of Kuchinarai, called on officials to stay alert and assist affected citizens. Ongoing rainfall has already resulted in flash floods across four…
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Pattaya shipyard owner perishes in tragic beach tractor accident
A grim scene unfolded on Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach earlier today when a Thai shipyard owner tragically lost his life in an accident involving his tractor. The incident occurred around 7am, near Jomtien Soi 11, a boat ramp where the shipyard owner was attempting to pull his speedboat from the sea using his tractor. Pattaya Police and rescue teams rushed to…
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Party-goer’s predawn plunge: Drunk biker crashes into 5-metre pit in central Thailand
A young biker returning from a party at 4am today, suspected of being drunk while driving, ignored warnings and crashed his motorcycle into a 5-metre deep concrete pit. The incident occurred beneath a bridge in Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi. The driver, from Suphan Buri province, was found unconscious and reportedly drunk at the bottom of the pit. The pit, approximately…
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Ride of terror: Malaysian tourist’s Bangkok kidnap nightmare with a twist
A Malaysian tourist recently shared a harrowing experience while travelling in Bangkok, accusing a Thai ride-hailing driver of attempting to kidnap him and his four friends for a human trafficking gang. The Malaysian tourist, who goes by the name Andrew Tong on Facebook, recounted this life-changing experience. According to Tong, the incident unfolded on their final day in Bangkok as…
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Baht-ing for growth: Pheu Thai Party’s digital policy to boost Thai economy
The 10,000-baht digital currency policy handout by Pheu Thai is expected to inject an estimated 2 trillion baht into the country’s economy, according to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. This initiative aims to contribute to a growth of at least 5% in the GDP by 2024. Julapun Amornvivat stated that the economy would get a boost from the widespread use…
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House fire claims lives of 3 year old boy and his bedridden grandmother
A house fire claimed the lives of a three year old boy and his 68 year old bedridden grandmother in the central province of Lopburi. The Kok Samrong Police Station officers yesterday, September 6, summoned firefighters to the scene in the Kok Samrong district of Lopburi province. Upon arrival at the scene officers met the house owner, 21 year old…
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Thai women’s volleyball team clinch third Asian championship title in thrilling match
The Thai women’s volleyball team won their third Asian championship title by defeating China 3-2. Police General Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party and President of the Thai Olympic Committee, praised the team’s skills and determination. The tournament, officially known as the PPTV 22nd Asian Senior Est Cola Women’s Volleyball Championship, was held from August 30 to September…
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Draining dilemma: ONWR chief dives into Phuket’s watery challenge
The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) Secretary-General visited Phuket to see if he could manage to solve the popular Thai island’s daily wastewater conundrum. Phuket has to deal with about 55,000 cubic metres of wastewater daily. ONWR Secretary-General Surasee Kittimonthon visited Phuket to address the resort’s water management issues, including flooding and potential droughts. Surasee inspected the Patong Municipality…
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Isaan fishing tragedy: Thai woman’s life snapped by mysterious gunshot
A woman tragically lost her life to a mysterious gunshot while she was fishing with her husband and a friend near a rice field in the Isaan province of Buriram. The 29 year old woman, named Bee, died at Laharn Sai Hospital after she was shot near her breast in a rice field on Tuesday, September 5. Bee’s husband, 25…
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Elderly man braves heavy rain to rescue toddler from sixth-floor balcony in China
A local community was alarmed when a three year old toddler after she got her head stuck between the bars of an apartment balcony on the sixth floor, in the southern city of Chongqing, China. As the rain poured heavily, making the wall slippery and dangerous to climb, a 60 year old man, Chen, courageously ascended the building to rescue…
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Cutting connections: Thai love triangle leads to sharp conflict
A Thai woman filed a complaint with the police stating that her friend, and husband’s mistress, attacked her with a knife in the Wiang Hang district of Chaing Mai. The woman also claims that she was attacked by her husband and the mistress’s son. On Monday, September 4, the victim’s niece shared a picture of her injured aunt, named A,…
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Thai man’s mysterious disappearance makes waves: Fortune-teller’s underwater prediction sparks search
A local fortune-teller prophecised that a missing 68 year old Thai man, who mysteriously disappeared from his home in Buriram, northeast Thailand, was underwater. The local fortune-teller’s claims prompted villagers and rescue teams to search both underwater and on land. Incredibly, two days after he went missing, the man returned home unharmed, revealing that he had been sitting and sleeping…
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Cash crackdown: Thai government’s e-payment pledge to curb corruption
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed yesterday that the Thai government is set to implement e-payments across the state sector as a pivotal strategy to tackle the rampant issue of corruption. The announcement was made at an Anti-Corruption Day event organised by the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT), which the prime minister chaired. This event marked Srettha’s first public forum since…
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Cocaine surprise: Kenyan women’s shocking 3-kilo stash at Phuket Airport
Phuket International Airport officials recently detained three Kenyan women, who were found carrying nearly 3 kilogrammes of cocaine. The narcotics, estimated to be worth approximately 10 million baht, were concealed within their bodies. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board had earlier tipped off local police and customs officials about foreign nationals smuggling cocaine into the country through Phuket Airport.…
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Fatal family feud over missing cat ends in son’s shooting in Phetchabun
A 70 year old man fatally shot his 43 year old son on Monday, September 5, following a heated dispute over a missing pet cat. The incident occurred outside their two-storey wooden house in the Nong Phai district of Phetchabun province. Police Lieutenant Colonel Montri Phulketkit, a Nong Phai police investigator, was alerted to the incident on September 6 and…
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Lat Phrao Road takes a dive: Sinkhole chaos in Bangkok
There was a bit of a sinking feeling in Bangkok last night when Lat Phrao Road in the Wang Thong Lang district of the city collapsed, resulting in a 2-metre-deep hole in the left lane, causing chaos and a gridlock in the capital. The road collapse is believed to be connected to the ongoing cable tunnel construction in the vicinity.…
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Former Thai deputy speaker implicated in corruption scandal over educational project
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) declared yesterday that Charoen Jankomol, the previous first deputy House speaker, engaged in corrupt practices related to a parliamentary project’s misappropriation. The former Pheu Thai Party MP served from August 2, 2011, to December 9, 2013. The NACC’s investigation revealed that Charoen, along with six parliamentary officials, were indicted for corruption in the administration of…
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Red Bull heir’s hit-and-run case mishandled by 15 top Thai officials, says NACC
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) declared 15 high-ranking police officials and prosecutors culpable for mismanaging the infamous 2012 hit-and-run case connected to the Red Bull heir. Among the implicated are prominent figures including Somyot Poompanmoung, the former national police chief, and Nate Naksuk, the previous deputy attorney-general who had dismissed the residual charges against him, according to NACC spokesperson Niwatchai…
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Teenager fatally shot in central Thailand crossroads crime, ignites police chase
A teenager was fatally shot while crossing a road in a cross-regional community incident, sparking a swift police hunt for the perpetrator. The incident occurred in the heart of the community on Pa Phai Road, Soi 1, Nakhon Chum, Kamphaeng Phet, with the 19 year old man sustaining a gunshot wound to his temple. A Thai-made gun with one shell…
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Thai-dal wave: Taiwanese electronics firms spark 30 billion baht boom in Thailand
The electronics industry of Thailand is set to experience significant growth as 20 new investments, amounting to 30 billion baht, have been approved by the Board of Investment (BoI). These investments are from Taiwan-based electronics firms that have shown intent to establish Thailand as their new export base. The BoI indicated that this move is particularly noteworthy for manufacturers of…
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One Family, One Soft Power policy introduced to promote Thailand’s soft power
The new government of Thailand, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, has introduced a policy known as One Family, One Soft Power (OFOS). This policy aims to promote Thailand’s soft power, starting by improving the skills of Thai people with free training programmes and workshops. The political campaigns of the Pheu Thai Party gained a lot of interest from the…
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Severe weather warning for 56 Thai provinces as heavy rain and flash floods loom
A severe weather warning has been issued by the Thai Meteorological Department today, warning 56 provinces against heavy thunderstorms. The northeast region, accounting for 80% of the area, is expected to face the brunt of the downpour. Bangkok, too, is under a warning to prepare for potential flash floods and runoff. This alert comes in response to a strong monsoon…
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Thailand’s ruling party seeks consensus amid dispute over House committee leadership
A dispute over who should preside over various House committees in Thailand prompted an invitation for a meeting this week, issued by the whip of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. The aim is to reconcile the differing views. Wisut Chainarun, a Pheu Thai list-MP and party whip, revealed that out of the 35 House committees, multiple parties are vying for…
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Thai hotels see surge in bookings as government agencies rush to spend budget
Thai hotels are seeing a bookings surge as government agencies rush to exhaust their fiscal 2023 budget ahead of the September cut-off. This comes following a period of stagnation in the booking of meetings due to the country’s political uncertainty. Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, the Thai Hotels Association (THA) president, reported a 10-20% increase in both government and private sector meetings…
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Ex-Pattaya mayor faces arrest over decade-old condo scandal
The former Pattaya mayor and culture minister faces an arrest warrant after failing to appear for his arraignment over charges from a decade-old condo development scandal in Pattaya. Itthiphol Kunplome’s current location remains undisclosed. Neither his house nor his political faction’s office in the Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri saw any sign of him yesterday. The properties were markedly…
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Bangkok warehouse fire causes chaos in the Vibhavadi area
A four-storey warehouse, adjacent to a luxury car showroom in Vibhavadi area was engulfed in a rapid fire yesterday. The incident, which led to minor injuries for two fire-fighters, reportedly started with sounds of explosions before the fire spread quickly. The warehouse, located in Soi Vibhavadi 22 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Jompol, Chatuchak District, Bangkok, stores various types of goods, including electric…
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Bangkok gems and jewellery fair targets 3 billion baht in trade value
The 68th Bangkok Gems and jewellery Fair, a global hotspot for buyers, importers, and visitors, kicked off yesterday with an anticipated attendance of over 30,000 international guests. The fair, held at the Plenary Hall of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) until Sunday, is projected to amass a trade value surpassing 3 billion baht, stated Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit, Director-General…
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