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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Thailand’s economic growth forecast revised down
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB) has revised Thailand’s economic growth forecast downward from a range of 2.8 to 3.3% to 2.2 to 2.7% for the year. The revised outlook is due to a slowdown in exports, which is negatively affecting the manufacturing sector. The panel also flagged a decrease in export expansion from 2% to…
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Microsoft announces first data centre investment in Thailand
Microsoft‘s announcement of its inaugural investment in a data centre region in Thailand is likely to boost the country’s digital ecosystem and potentially stoke competition within the data centre sector. The news came as part of a tour by Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, who visited Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia to unveil a series of investments in data centres,…
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Thai govt’s minimum wage hike to 400 baht faces opposition
The government’s recent announcement of an impending nationwide minimum wage hike to 400 baht per day in October has provoked strong opposition from a member of the tripartite wage committee. The committee member in question, Atthayuth Leeyavanich, who represents employers, criticised the premature disclosure of the wage increase, asserting that it had not yet been discussed or approved by the…
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Thailand and China to continue submarine purchase negotiations
Negotiations are set to resume next Wednesday between Thailand and China, as they seek to resolve the protracted issue surrounding a submarine purchase agreement. A 13-person delegation from China, encompassing military officials and representatives of the S26T Yuan-class submarine manufacturers, is due to meet their Thai counterparts. The submarine was part of a procurement deal agreed upon by the Royal…
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Concerns rise over Thai ministry’s plan to sell decade-old rice
Concerns are escalating over the Thai Commerce Ministry’s plan to sell decade-old rice from the former government’s rice-pledging scheme. Consumer safety watchdogs, including the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have been urged to investigate potential aflatoxin and chemical contamination in the grain. This appeal comes in the wake of Commerce Minister…
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Thai comedian Udom’s Netflix special stirs self-sufficiency debate
The recent stand-up special by Thai comedian Udom Taepanich, also known as Nose, on Netflix has sparked a flurry of discussion, particularly for his candid remarks about the concept of self-sufficiency and the realities of rural life versus the portrayal of it by celebrities and influencers. His comments have drawn attention from various quarters, including a pointed response from retired…
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Thai technician’s no-drill aircon install in Trat goes viral
A Thai air conditioning technician from Trat has ingeniously circumvented a landlord’s strict no-drilling policy by innovatively installing an air conditioning unit without altering the property’s walls. The landlord’s uncompromising stance on wall modifications led to the resourceful solution, which was shared on ช่างแอร์ พัทยา Facebook group. The Facebook post, by แอร์ด่วน พัทยา, showcased a creative workaround to the typical…
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How Cryptocurrency is changing consumer behaviour in Thailand
Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin or similar have played a significant role in the global economy in recent times, and Thailand is just one of the countries where these changes are taking place. Since the country has a young population, and this population is actually tech-savvy, it didn’t take long for cryptocurrencies to be adopted. While the popularisation of cryptocurrencies in Thailand…
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Thai woman’s nostrils infested by hundreds of maggots
A Thai woman got more than she bargained for during a routine nasal examination when doctors unearthed a horrifying secret lurking inside her nose. A 59 year old Thai woman received a chilling diagnosis during what she thought was a routine visit to address her stuffy nose. Doctors at Nakornping Hospital, nestled in Thailand’s Chiang Mai Province, made a startling discovery,…
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Thai man seized for laundering 5 million baht from online gambling
In a striking cyber raid, the Thai authorities arrested a 29 year old man in Nonthaburi for his involvement in an online gambling ring and for laundering over 5 million baht through multiple transactions. The arrest was part of a larger crackdown on illegal online gambling activities facilitated by the website wtf55, which offered games such as Baccarat and Dragon Tiger.…
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Secret talks with rebels: Ex-PM Thaksin’s shadow diplomacy
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s clandestine discussions with Myanmar’s resistance groups have ignited a storm of controversy. As the international community watches with bated breath, the House Committee on National Security and Border Affairs gears up for a probing investigation into this explosive development. The House Committee on National Security and Border Affairs announced a thorough investigation into the reports…
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Traffic violation leads to serious bike crash in South Pattaya
A tragic accident occurred in South Pattaya yesterday, resulting in a sports bike rider sustaining serious injuries following a collision with a sedan. The 52 year old driver of the sedan, who allegedly disregarded a red light, was involved in the accident at 2.46am on Sukhumvit Road. Upon arriving at the scene, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation found a heavily…
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Pattaya pandemonium: Residents clash with illegal migrant influx
In the bustling streets of Pattaya, a storm brews as residents raise their voices against the encroaching presence of illegal migrant workers. They decry the theft of Thai people’s livelihoods and the nuisance inflicted upon tourists by these unauthorised labourers. Voicing their grievances to the local press, residents unveil a troubling narrative. Foreign women, predominantly hailing from Laos, Cambodia, and…
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School van driver confesses to murder of woman in Roi Et
Investigations concluded yesterday as police made a definitive arrest of a school van driver for the murder of a 23 year old woman whose body was found handcuffed, abandoned in a scrubland by the Chi River in Roi Et province. After a meticulous search, authorities apprehended a 67 year old school van driver, named Ken, from the same village as…
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Pattaya officials provide free water to drought-hit Koh Larn island
Residents of Koh Larn breathed a sigh of relief as the Governor of Chon Buri, and city officials made their way to the island on May 7, bearing the gift of water. Thailand’s ongoing dry season had left the locals parched, thereby leading to this much-needed intervention that saw the distribution of 100,000 litres of free water. This act of…
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Bangkok building crumbles unexpectedly, no injuries reported (video)
A demolition task spiralled into chaos as a building unexpectedly collapsed along Charan Sanitwong Road in Bangkok this morning. The incident, reported around 10.30am, May 8, by Tee Nee Bang Phlat Facebook, unfolded in the Bang Phlat district, leaving a trail of debris. The aftermath of the collapse saw portions of the wreckage spilling onto Charan Sanitwong Road, in the…
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Pattaya security guard loses control in alcohol-induced frenzy
A middle-aged security guard caused a ruckus in the serene neighbourhood of Eakmongkol 4 Village in Soi Khao Talo, Pattaya when he lost control of his senses due to suspected heavy alcohol consumption. The incident occurring yesterday, May 7 shortly after 9pm, was swiftly reported to Pattaya police and officers were promptly dispatched to the scene. Upon their arrival, it…
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Phuket’s Ko Phai Ling closes to protect coral from bleaching
Thailand’s beloved Ko Phai Ling, along with its surrounding coral reefs within Sirinat National Park in Phuket, stands temporarily closed to tourists from today until the situation improves, with the closure slated to remain until further notice. Park Chief Watchara Songsi-awn, made the announcement following the discovery of widespread coral bleaching across the area. With the Andaman Sea temperatures soaring…
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Phuket police search for woman’s ex-girlfriend after acid attack
A manhunt is underway in Phuket, as police are fervently looking for a woman accused of committing a horrifying acid attack on her former partner. This violent incident unfolded yesterday evening on Soi Ta-iad, in the district of Chalong. The distressing call to authorities was made from outside a pharmacy situated opposite the popular Ali’s BBQ restaurant. The report came…
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Thai woman turns to Gun for help with polygamist cop husband
A Thai woman turned to social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet for help after her alleged polygamist husband, a Cyber Police officer, allegedly assaulted her and refused to support their five children. The police officer reportedly has five wives and 16 children. Well-known Thai influencer Gun, today, May 8, accompanied the 37 year old Thai woman to the Royal Thai…
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Thai protest leader gets 3-year sentence for lese majeste violation
The Criminal Court has sentenced a key protest leader to four years in prison for lese-majeste law violation. The verdict was delivered in absentia after the defendant, 28 year old Panupong, also known as Mike Jadnok, failed to appear for the second time in today’s hearing at 10am, at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road. Panupong, charged with making defamatory statements…
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Scoot unveils next-gen jet Embraer in Krabi and Hat Yai flights
Scoot, the budget airline subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), has soared into a new era of aviation with the inauguration of its first Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. The momentous occasion unfolded amidst much fanfare at Singapore Changi Airport, with esteemed guests including Singapore’s Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance, Chee Hong Tat, alongside aviation partners and media from across…
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Thailand’s spectacular showcase at Arabian Travel Market 2024
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unleashes its latest concept Amazing Thailand: Your Stories Never End at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, captivating audiences with tales of wonder and adventure. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool declared that the event marks Thailand’s 24th year at the ATM, showcasing TAT’s commitment to endless innovation in tourism. “Collaborating with the Phuket Tourist Association, we’ve…
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Daughter finds father after tragic suicide in Samut Songkhram
A tragic incident unfolded this morning when a daughter, returning from a hospital visit with medication for her ailing father, discovered his lifeless body at their home in Samut Songkhram province. Authorities identified the cause of death as suicide, noting the deceased had a history of mental health issues and previous suicide attempts. Police Lieutenant Chutima Banjongbur, Deputy Investigator at…
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Police seize over 1,000 Yaba pills in Phetchaburi drug sting
A drug sting in Phetcha Buri by Thai police earlier today saw the apprehension of a 28 year old man and his unsuspecting 24 year old girlfriend. The police had been tipped off about a planned drug transaction, with delivery in an Isuzu pickup truck near the Nong Buay Agricultural Market in Tha Yang. Upon receiving the intelligence, Police Colonel…
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Thai soldier and 12 friends accused of assaulting teenage boy
A Thai woman accused a soldier and 12 of his friends in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat of severely assaulting her 15 year old son, causing severe injuries to the teenage boy. The victim, identified as A, told Channel 3 that the soldier, Raphephat, repeatedly accused him of stealing a shirt despite his denials. Raphephat allegedly continued to…
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Sausage scandal sizzles: Firm’s funds filched, couple cuffed
A prominent fermented pork sausage firm has been hit by an enormous embezzlement case, leading to the arrest of a couple believed to be the prime culprits. A 41 year old man and his 39 year old wife are under investigation for the alleged theft of a staggering 396 million baht. Today, around 6.30am, teams from the Crime Suppression Division…
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Sunken boat survivor recounts her harrowing experience
A chilling tale of a capsised tourist boat survivor off the coast of Trang speaks out against the delayed rescue efforts that led to the death of her mother in law, and her child contracting a severe lung infection. The incident unfolded near Pak Meng Bridge in the Mai Fat district on May 4 and resulted in 14 individuals fighting…
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Man mistakenly shot as mouse deer in Phuket jungle
Phuket’s Karon View Point jungle was the scene of a tragic and unusual death when a 40 year old man was mistakenly shot by his friend, who mistook him for a mouse deer. The body was discovered late on May 5. Responding to the alert around 11.30pm, police arrived at the area, which was situated behind the Sabai Corner Restaurant.…
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Thai drug addict throws 1 year old boy into pond, killing victim
A Thai drug addict yesterday murdered his one year old employer’s son by throwing him into a pond in the eastern province of Rayong. The killer then enjoyed swimming in the pond after his horrific action as if nothing serious had happened. Officers from Klaeng Police Station responded to a murder report at a house in the Neunkho sub-district of…
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