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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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Thai cyber police arrest TikTok influencer over gambling links
Thai cyber police arrested a popular TikTok influencer for posting links to online gambling sites, earning 30,000 baht per month. Police led by Worawat Watnakornbancha and Sathit Promuthai, along with Adichat Amornpradit, carried out a search warrant at the home of the owner of the Ara Tae page in Khon Kaen. The search revealed 34 year old Phusanisa, known as Ara…
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Body of Thai woman found abandoned in Samut Sakhon forest
A garbage collector yesterday stumbled upon the dead body of a Thai woman by a roadside forest in the central province of Samut Sakhon. Officers from Khokkham Police Station yesterday, July 11, were called to the roadside forest along Ban Khanom-Ban Kwang Road to investigate the dead body. The spot was far from any residential area and was used as…
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Ubon Ratchathani melts hearts with divine candle creation to win ice sculpting world title
Ubon Ratchathani province clinched the world ice sculpting championship title, showcasing its skill by carving a candle into the figure of Phra Mae Thorani squeezing her hair. This reflects a Buddhist narrative, blending the identity of the ancient cave paintings of Pha Taem with symbols of prosperity and success. The masterpiece will be displayed at the Miracle of Candle 2024…
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Elderly woman abducted and sexually assaulted by drug addict
An elderly woman in Kanchanaburi was abducted and sexually assaulted in a forest at 4.20am yesterday, July 11, with the assailant stealing 5,000 baht. The suspect was captured on CCTV, facilitating a quick arrest by the police. Police responded swiftly to the incident as witnesses reported a man entering the home of a 64 year old elderly woman in Wangdong,…
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Monk arrested for sexually assulting seven year old niece
Thai police today arrested a monk in his monastic residence in Buriram for allegedly raping his seven year old niece and subsequently fleeing to the northeastern region of Thailand. Police Lieutenant General Titi Saengsawang ordered the arrest of a 57 year old monk, Nookun, today, July 12, who was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Sisaket Provincial Court…
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Thai man arrested for pimping out 16 year old boy to sex creator
Police arrested a Thai man in the central province of Prachin Buri for pimping out a 16 year old boy to a sex creator who sold child pornography on X (Twitter). Officers from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) arrested the 24 year old Thai man, Weerayut, also known as Toey, at his home in the Nadee district of Prachin…
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Centara ranked as Thailand’s strongest brand two years in a row
Centara Group has been recognised as “Thailand’s Strongest Brand” for the second year in a row by the Brand Finance Thailand 50 report. This achievement follows a series of domestic and global success as Centara continues to expand their hotel and resort locations. The Thailand 50 report Brand Finance is an international brand evaluation and consultancy agency which independently assesses…
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Tourists from 93 countries can now come to Thailand visa-free
Thailand is set to become the ultimate tourist hotspot as the Ministry of Interior rolls out a sweeping visa waiver, allowing travellers from 93 countries to enter visa-free starting next Monday, July 15. This move, designed to boost tourism and simplify travel, marks a significant increase from the current 57 visa-exempt nations. Traisulee Traisoranakul, secretary to Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul,…
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Teen gunman shoots seafood vendor over debt in Phetchaburi
A teen gunman surrendered to police after shooting a seafood vendor over a 200 baht debt. The incident occurred in Cha-am, Phetchaburi province, leaving the vendor dead in his pickup truck. The incident unfolded when the seafood vendor, 24 year old Thawatchai, was shot dead in his pickup truck on a road in a Karen village in Ban Hu Pakhong,…
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Thai auto parts makers pivot to medical devices amid EV shift
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) plans to present a proposal to the government this month aimed at bolstering the local medical device business. This initiative seeks to assist auto parts manufacturers in diversifying their operations amid the vehicle industry’s transition to electric vehicle (EV) technology. The shift in the industry provides an opportunity for auto parts makers, particularly those…
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Thai man arrested for special needs girl sexual abuse
A 25 year old Thai man was arrested for allegedly luring an 18 year old special needs girl onto his motorcycle and taking her to a secluded area where he committed indecent acts. The police caught him at his grandfather’s house following a warrant issued earlier. The Songkhla Provincial Police, together with Hat Yai Police and the Anti-Human Trafficking Division,…
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Thai school director denies sexually assaulting 27 girls in Lopburi
A Wat Phongam School director in the central province of Lopburi denied sexually assaulting 27 schoolgirls and accused a dance teacher of fabricating the story due to an ongoing conflict. The schoolgirls and their parents filed a complaint against the director of Wat Phongam School, Nitisak, accusing him of sexually assaulting the girls. Nitisak reportedly spoke inappropriately to the girls,…
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Friends assault teenager, anger over harmless message to Thai ex
A teenager became the victim of an assault by three friends, who forced her to kneel and apologise, before trapping her in a home. The altercation stemmed from a seemingly harmless message exchange between her and an ex-boyfriend of one of her friends. At 5pm yesterday, July 12, the 18 year old, referred to as A, filed a complaint with…
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Former Justice Minister leads probe into Stark share scandal
Former Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana has been appointed as the new head of the government’s working group investigating the multi-billion-baht Stark share scandal. Pongthep replaces Pichai Nilthongkham, who resigned, according to the Ministry of Justice. Pongthep’s appointment is accompanied by the inclusion of the Secretary-General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), the President of the Thailand Federation of Accounting…
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FTI disappointed by the underutilisation of biomass and biogas
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) expressed discontent with the state’s plan to reduce biomass and biogas fuels in the upcoming power development plan (PDP). The FTI advocates for maintaining or increasing the proportion of these fuels to better utilise agricultural waste. Scheduled for enforcement from 2024 to 2037, the PDP promotes a substantial increase in renewable power, with a…
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Pickup truck crashes into van injuring passengers in Chachoengsao
A serious accident involving a pickup truck crashing into a van left numerous passengers injured, including a two year old with a severe head injury and a two month old baby who was ejected from the vehicle. The incident occurred at 4pm yesterday, July 11, on Road 3076 near the Hua Fai intersection in Nong Khok village, Klong Takrao subdistrict,…
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Udon Thani residents offer reward to stop nightly disturbances
Residents in Ban Dung, Udon Thani have reached their limit with local teenagers causing nightly disturbances by ringing doorbells. They are offering a 5,000 baht reward for information leading to their capture. Weeraphon Rak Samerwong, administrator of the Ban Dung Update Facebook page, reported receiving numerous complaints from residents in the municipal area of Ban Dung. The complaints involve three teenagers,…
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Fire destroys 13 rental rooms in Bangkok, residents relocated
A devastating fire engulfed a two-storey wooden house divided into rental rooms in Bangkok, destroying 13 rooms. Investigators suspect an electrical short circuit as the cause and have temporarily relocated the affected residents to Wat Don temple for shelter. The incident occurred at 12.20am today, July 12, when the Deputy Inspector at Yannawa Police Station, Phuriwat Jirakratathat, received a report…
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Three women injured after motorcycle runs red light in Udon Thani
Four young women riding a single motorcycle ran a red light and collided with a car in Udon Thani, resulting in three of them suffering broken legs and requiring immediate hospitalisation. The accident occurred while they were on their way to get food. Ekaphan Laiking, head of the Udon Thani Songserm Dharma Rescue Foundation, received a report of the accident…
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Meatball mishap prompts prosecutors to grill Buriram thief
Prosecutors have called for additional investigation into a case involving the theft of grilled meatballs, which were stolen out of desperation to cook for a man’s children and to share with his elderly, ill parents. This case raises concerns about whether it should be classified as a non-beneficial prosecution. The Lawyers Council of Thailand offered assistance, noting that the crime…
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Pickup crashes through Nakhon Phanom merit-making event
A high-speed pickup truck rammed into a group of villagers attending a merit-making event, resulting in one fatality and four serious injuries. The incident occurred late yesterday in Nakhon Phanom province, sparking anger among the attendees. Police Lieutenant Satchanan Bangsai received a report of the collision at 11.40pm yesterday, July 11. Emergency services were dispatched to Kam That village in…
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Boy’s temple plate prediction stirs lottery hopes in Thailand (video)
A young boy captured public interest by pointing out a car registration plate at a temple, leading many netizens to believe he could bring them luck. Previously, he had successfully predicted lottery numbers, gaining a following on TikTok. TikTok user sakon1876 shared a video featuring his son, Inter, who has a knack for pointing out vehicle registration plates that often…
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Digital wallet woes: PM Srettha quizzed in Parliament by MFP
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin faced intense scrutiny in Parliament yesterday over the government’s digital wallet handout scheme, marking his first significant confrontation with the opposition since taking office. Deputy leader of the main opposition Move Forward Party, Sirikanya Tansakul, challenged the 62 year old PM on the digital wallet programme and the government’s economic strategy. She acknowledged the PM’s presence…
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Computer technician attacked with key in Pattaya street incident
A computer repair technician narrowly avoided serious injury after a street altercation in Pattaya on Wednesday, July 10. The incident unfolded around 12.20pm in front of a hardware store on Soi Bunsamphan 9, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. The attacker accused the victim of interacting with his wife. Sawang Boriboon rescue workers arrived quickly, finding 23…
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Nation Group: Salary cuts apply to management team only
Nation Group has clarified that its recent salary suspension affects a mere 10% of its staff, primarily targeting the management team. This revelation comes amid swirling rumours and public outcry, which the company attributes to distorted messages presenting partial truths, causing widespread public misunderstanding and online criticism, damaging the organisation’s reputation. Dismissing any notions of being in crisis, Nation Group…
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Heavy rainfall to impact 41 provinces across Thailand today
Heavy rainfall is set to impact 41 provinces across Thailand today, July 12, with the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) predicting significant precipitation in regions including the northeast, central, and eastern parts of the country. The Bangkok metropolitan area is expected to see rain over 60% of its expanse. Over the next 24 hours, a southwest monsoon will cover the…
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New fossil book honours king on 72nd birthday
Seventy-two samples from 56 species on the National Registered Fossils list will be featured in a new book honouring His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn on his 72nd birthday on July 28. The Department of Mineral Resources curated this selection to showcase Thailand’s diverse and significant paleontological heritage. The book will showcase reptiles, mammals, and fish, with 23 species of reptiles…
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Rail ale rally: Bangkok victims group derails alcohol repeal bid
Over 50 members of the Bangkok Drunk Driving Victims Network, led by President Jessada Yamsabai, submitted a petition opposing the repeal of the ban on alcohol sales and consumption on trains and at train stations to the acting Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, Jarae Rungthanee. This petition, submitted yesterday, July 11, follows a tragic 2014 incident where a…
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Woman alleges assault by district officer boyfriend, fractured ribs
A woman today filed a police report against her boyfriend, a district officer, accusing him of physical assault, leaving her with two fractured ribs. The Surin province district chief today, July 11, ordered an investigation and apologised to the victim. The 41 year old victim, a woman referred to as A, provided CCTV footage showing her boyfriend, a district officer,…
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Public health vice minister’s sudden exit from Pheu Thai Party
Wan Yubamrung, the vice minister attached to the public health minister, announced his resignation today. He is set to leave the Pheu Thai Party next week. Wan, the son of outspoken veteran Pheu Thai Party member Chalerm Yubamrung, revealed his decision in an emotional Facebook Live post. “I had never thought about leaving the Pheu Thai Party, as long as…
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