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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 Top 10 reasons for expats to get a comprehensive health insurance in Thailand
Moving to Thailand offers a prospect full of excitement and adventure, but in the same vein, if any injuries were to occur (and god forbid it does), the local healthcare system can be confusing at first glance for many expats...
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Student pours food on another student over cat smell debate in heated altercation
A male student engaged in a heated conversation about the smell of cats found himself slapped with a tray of food and involved in an altercation with a female student who allegedly took offence at his discussion. The incident occurred in the cafeteria of Tienjin University, China, where the extent of the argument led to police intervention and further controversy…
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Thailand tourism thrives with 1,200% surge in Klook bookings
Online travel platforms continue to express optimism about Thailand’s tourism growth this year, propelled by a substantial increase in visitor arrivals. Wilfred Fan, Chief Commercial Officer at Klook, an online travel platform, stated that the company experienced a 1,200% increase in bookings for activities in Thailand year on year in the first five months of 2023. The top five markets…
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Tourism promotion: TCT urges government to market Thailand as prime retiree destination
Tourism promotion has driven the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) to urge the new government to market Thailand as a prime destination for retirees while advocating for regulatory changes that would encourage the development of the tourism industry. The TCT yesterday met with representatives from the Thai Sang Thai Party to discuss these proposed changes, following the party’s consultation with…
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Kamaa drama: Indian-owned club sparks chaos as tourists become targets in Pattaya (Video)
Staff from the Indian-owned Kamaa Club on Pattaya Walking Street attacked two Indian tourists yesterday. The victims fled the scene and have not yet filed a complaint with the police regarding the attack. The altercation was captured on video by a witness and later circulated on Thai social media platforms. The footage clearly shows the confrontation between the Indian tourists and…
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Take Me Out Thailand: American man gets blackout for his male chauvinistic attitude
Thirty Thai women in the popular dating game show Take Me Out Thailand gave a blackout to an arrogant 22 year old American man after he showed his male chauvinistic side. He insisted at the end of the show that he told the truth, thankfully the Thai contestants would not accept a man who appeared to have stepped out of…
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Thai community gathers to pay respects to turtle for good fortune
It was reported today that residents of Sai Kaew Community, Phimai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, gathered at house number 127/1 to pay their respects and seek good fortune from a beautifully kept turtle, ‘Kai Toon.’ The turtle is owned by Sawang Saungsombat, a 62 year old local. Sawang explained that her son bought the turtle for her to care for…
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Young policeman dies in taxi collision, shattering dreams and family plans
A tragic incident claimed the life of Thai sub-Lieutenant Anawat Phongerd, a young policeman from the Metropolitan Police’s Naval Unit, who collided with a taxi when chasing a suspect on his motorcycle. Despite his dreams and future plans for education and family, 27 year old Anawat left this world far too soon. According to reports, Anawat was pursuing a suspect…
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Heavy rain persists across Thailand: Bangkok flood risk increases, boats cautioned
Heavy rainfall is expected across Thailand today, with Bangkok facing a 70% chance of flooding. Authorities are warning people to avoid boating activities during this period. The Meteorological Department has predicted 24-hour weather conditions, stating that a moderate southwest monsoon system is covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand, while a trough is passing through Myanmar and…
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Myanmar conflict surge: Over 3,300 refugees seek shelter in Thailand
The conflict in Myanmar‘s Kayah State has led to a new surge of refugees seeking shelter in Thailand. Provincial Governor Chettha Mosikkharat confirmed that Thai authorities have rescued 3,342 refugees who fled the border war. The fighting in Kayah State involves the Karenni Army (KA), backed by the People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) and the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), and…
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On-the-job ride: Rookie worker accused of motorcycle theft, owner in hot pursuit
A worker was accused of stealing a motorcycle after just one day on the job, causing the owner to track him down. The incident occurred in the Mueang district of Udon Thani province on May 17. The owner finally found the thief in Pattaya with a female companion, immediately informing the police. Yesterday, 37 year old Kanitta Jaikhaan, who owns…
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Thai vocational students clash, leading to injuries
A clash between two groups of Thai vocational students yesterday resulted in injuries. The incident took place near a passenger terminal in Chachoengsao province, leading to police intervention and the questioning of one 16 year old student. Around 10 students from one vocational college had a standoff with a student from another technical institute, leading to a weapons-drawn clash before…
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Caught in bed: Cheating wife shields lover, demands husband admit mistakes
A married woman was caught red-handed with her lover, boldly protecting him even as her husband attacked them both physically. The cheating wife had tried to end her marriage unsuccessfully, and argued for her husband to own up to his mistakes, further infuriating him. Reporters said that in a viral case in China, a husband, alongside his friends, caught his…
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Ukraine reclaims 100 sq km in counteroffensive: Putin cites catastrophic losses
Ukrainian forces have reclaimed approximately 100 square kilometres of territory during the counteroffensive’s nascent stages in the 68th week of Russia’s invasion. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, has asserted that Ukraine is experiencing “catastrophic” losses, with Kyiv’s casualties being tenfold higher than Moscow’s. The ongoing counteroffensive efforts involve softening the Russian front lines using methods ranging from small arms and rocket…
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Serbian arrest of armed Kosovo police stirs tension, claims of kidnapping
Tensions have heightened as Serbian officials claim they have apprehended three armed Kosovo police officers within Serbian borders, whilst Kosovo authorities assert the officers were patrolling within their territory and were consequently “kidnapped.” Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, held Serbia responsible for the abduction and called for the officers’ release, claiming they were detained within Kosovo’s borders. In response, Serbian…
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Dorries awaits clarification on peerage before resigning as MP
The former culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, has stated that she will not officially step down until she receives clarification from Downing Street regarding why her peerage was not granted. In a series of tweets, Dorries addressed speculations surrounding her decision to delay her resignation from the House of Commons, which she initially announced her intentions to do on Friday. She…
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Malaysia’s Klang Valley sees singles’ high monthly spending due to cars
A recently published spending guide reveals that single individuals residing in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia must budget a minimum of RM2,600 per month if they own a car, and at least RM1,930 per month if they rely on public transportation. The guide seeks to provide a comprehensive outline of expenses for those living in this area, encompassing Kuala…
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US seeks answers from Israel on citizen’s death, army avoids charges
US authorities are planning to address the case of Omar Assad, an 80-year-old American citizen who was killed by Israeli forces last year, directly with Israel. This decision comes after the Israeli military opted not to pursue criminal charges in the case, claiming there was no “causal link” between Assad’s stress-induced heart attack and the actions of the soldiers. The…
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Miami Mayor Francis Suarez enters 2024 presidential race as GOP contender
Tossing his hat into the ring, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has joined the race for the 2024 United States presidential elections from the Republican camp. The son of a renowned Cuban American politician, Suarez recently filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, marking the beginning of his campaign journey, as reported by various US media outlets. Suarez now becomes the…
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Fed halts rate hikes as inflation decline slows, growth outlook brightens
A halt in interest rate hikes has been announced by the Federal Reserve, reflecting a response to an unexpectedly robust economy and a reduced pace in inflation decline. In order to simultaneously tackle both economic risks and inflation control, the Federal Open Market Committee unanimously agreed to maintain the current interest rate range. In a statement following the announcement, Fed…
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Modelo Especial tops US beer sales as Bud Light faces boycott
Constellation Brands’ Modelo Especial has surpassed Bud Light as the leading beer in the US market amidst a conservative backlash against Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Bud Light for partnering with transgender influencer, Dylan Mulvaney. Sales of Bud Light and Budweiser fell considerably by 24.6% and 9.2%, respectively, in the four weeks through June 3, compared to a year ago. In contrast, Modelo…
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Fed holds interest rates steady amid persistent inflation concerns
The Federal Reserve has opted to keep interest rates steady, marking the first time in over a year that it has not increased them. The decision, which holds the benchmark rate between 5% and 5.25%, allows officials time to evaluate the impact of ten prior rate hikes since March 2022. These measures were implemented in an attempt to control inflation.…
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Indian students facing removal in Canada granted temporary respite
A group of Indian students in Canada facing removal due to allegedly fraudulent college admission letters have been granted temporary respite. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced that “genuine students who are the victims of fraud” will be permitted to stay in the country pending further investigations. The students claim to have been deceived by an immigration agency in India and…
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Ex-Starbucks manager awarded £20m in racial discrimination lawsuit
A former Starbucks manager, Shannon Phillips, has been awarded $25.6m (£20.2m) in a racial discrimination lawsuit after she was fired in connection to the arrest of two black men at a Philadelphia branch in 2018. The incident led to significant protests, while a black colleague retained his job. A jury found that race played a role in Phillips’s dismissal, contrary…
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Belarus receives Russian nuclear weapons; Tikhanovskaya criticises West’s silence
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has voiced her concerns over the potential transfer of nuclear weapons from Russia into the control of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. In a recent interview with the BBC, she criticised Western politicians for remaining silent on the issue. This marks the first deployment of tactical nuclear weapons outside of Russia since the collapse of the…
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Red Sea diving boat fire claims lives of 3 Brits, including hospice CEO
A tragic blaze onboard a diving boat in Egypt’s Red Sea claimed the lives of three British people, including Christina Quinn, 58 years old, the chief executive of St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth. According to her family, she will be “missed beyond words” and was considered a “rock to many.” An electrical fault in the boat’s engine room at around…
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Partygate report release today; Boris resigns amid kangaroo court claims
The long-awaited report from the Privileges Committee, which examines whether former Prime Minister Boris Johnson intentionally misled Parliament about Partygate, is slated for release today. Johnson resigned as an MP after seeing an advanced copy of the report, stating that it found him guilty “regardless of the facts.” The investigation has been ongoing for a year, and yesterday Johnson requested…
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Dorries delays resignation amid honours list omission row
Nadine Dorries, a former cabinet minister and ally of Boris Johnson, has decided against immediately resigning as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire. Her decision follows the alleged omission of her name from Johnson’s resignation honours list by Rishi Sunak’s team. Dorries has demanded to see all correspondence related to the removal of her name and submitted Subject Access Requests to…
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Beyoncé’s tour boosts Swedish inflation as hotel rates surge
The music industry powerhouse Beyoncé has garnered attention for her potential influence on inflation, particularly in Sweden. Last month, as part of the singer’s world tour, two concerts held in Stockholm resulted in increased hotel bookings and restaurant visits. Consequently, Sweden reported a higher-than-expected inflation rate of 9.7% in May. Michael Grahn, an economist at Danske Bank, highlights that the…
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Three UK tourists killed in Egypt dive boat blaze near Marsa Alam
A tragic fire recently claimed the lives of three British tourists on a dive boat trip in Egypt. One of the victims has been identified as Christina Quinn, 58 years old, the chief executive of St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth. A family spokesperson expressed their deep grief over her death, describing her as a sister, daughter, wife, aunty, friend, and rock…
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Wardrobe malfunction: Bangkok taxi takes fashion on the road
A viral photo of a taxi in Bangkok carrying a large wardrobe in its boot sparked amusement and concern among netizens. The image shows the yellow taxi driving through the city with the wardrobe sticking out of the open boot. The image was shared online today causing a stir among social media users. The photo was taken by a Thai…
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