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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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Former health official faces summons over molestation allegations
A former public health official, who still practises as a doctor in Udon Thani, is set to be summoned by the police over allegations of molesting an 18 year old Lao housekeeper. Identified as Praewa, the young woman was employed by the doctor to provide care for his 80 year old mother at his residence in Soi Phon Phisai 2,…
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Indian tourist survives 6th floor plunge onto floating deck
In North Pattaya, a 43 year old Indian tourist defied the odds as he miraculously survived a terrifying fall from a condominium building’s 6th floor, only to land on a floating deck one floor below. Responding to a frantic distress call at approximately 4.36am today, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation’s rescue volunteers arrived on the scene to find the tourist,…
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Facebook, Instagram overcome global outage, services restored
Social media giants Facebook and Instagram fully restored their services after a global outage that lasted over two hours. The platforms experienced a significant disruption that left users worldwide unable to access their accounts. Yesterday around 10pm, multiple users reported on Twitter that they were logged out of Facebook and Instagram and could not log back in. The outage was…
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Russian boy cheats death after gate mishap
Pattaya rescue volunteers received a distress call reporting a Russian boy trapped beneath a fallen gate in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province on Monday, March 4 at 8.36pm. Arriving swiftly at the scene, responders discovered a harrowing sight: a seven year old Russian boy pinned under the weight of a large metal gate, his head injury…
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Thai PM sets sail with plans for exclusive mid-sea airport in Hua Hin
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin plans to create a cutting-edge mid-sea airport in Hua Hin, exclusively catering to the jet-setting elite. This visionary project aims to connect Thailand’s most stunning destinations, promising unparalleled luxury and convenience for affluent travellers. But the innovation doesn’t stop there. The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is gearing up for a groundbreaking seaplane terminal at Phuket International…
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Japan’s banana boost leaves Thai growers going ape
Thai banana growers are going ape over the news that Japan is considering increasing the import quota of Thai bananas, potentially adding a bunch of up to 100,000 tonnes. This announcement came after a fruitful meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Tokyo, Japan, where the Thai Trade Representative, Naruemon Phinyosinwat, alongside the Thailand team, held discussions…
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Ryal Thai Navy appeal for frigate procurement funds rejected
A Thai government source revealed yesterday that the special House committee responsible for scrutinising the 2024 budget rejected a Royal Thai Navy (RTN) appeal against its decision to deny its request for budgetary funds for the procurement of a new frigate. The House committee dismissed the RTN’s appeal with a vote of 37 against and 16 in favour, along with…
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Russian roulette: Cops put brakes on illegal workers at Phuket car shop
Officers from the Provincial Police Region 8 yesterday continued the recent crackdown on illegal foreigners by charging two Russian men for working at a car rental shop in the Cherng Talay sub-district in the Talang district of Phuket province. The Russian business owner also faced a charge for hiring foreigners without work permits. The investigation is on the back of locals…
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Thai brothers dead, Indonesian tourists injured in road accident
An accident on Highway 7 en route to Pattaya, left two brothers dead and several Indonesian tourists injured on Monday, March 4 at 3pm. The accident involved a six-wheeled truck and a minivan which collided with each other. Promptly responding to the distress call, Highway Police dispatched rescue personnel. Upon arrival at the accident scene, authorities were met with a…
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Commerce Ministry sees business boom: Registrations set to soar
The Business Development Department of the Commerce Ministry foresees a positive trend in new business registrations for the year. The projection rides on the anticipated recovery of the tourism sector, thriving e-commerce, and the burgeoning electric vehicles (EV) market. In the first couple of months of 2024, new business registrations have seen a 1.57% increase, reaching a total of 17,270.…
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2 Russian women arrested for providing sex services in Phuket
Police arrested two Russian women at a hotel in the Katu district of Phuket on March 4 for illegally providing sex services. Officers from Patong Police Station investigated the illegal activities being offered by foreigners in the area. Upon discovering that these illicit sex services were being provided by Russian women, the officers proceeded to search for their contact details.…
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Israel-Hamas war survivor denied financial aid by Israeli authorities
A 35 year old Thai labourer hailing from Udon Thani province, recently voiced his grievances to the media. The Thai labourer, Wittawas Kulwong, alleged that despite being a survivor of the Israel-Hamas war, his name was conspicuously missing from the list of Thai workers set to receive financial aid from Israeli authorities. According to a report yesterday, March 5, Wittawas…
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Thailand Video News | Swiss man assaults Thai woman, Belarusian tourist rescued from Phuket jungles
In today Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover the stories across the country. Beginning with Thailand’s inaugural cell broadcast service test, a distressing altercation between a Swiss man and a Thai woman, the safe rescue of a lost tourist in Phuket’s jungles, a shocking incident of flag theft in Phuket, a miraculous rescue of a fisherman trapped in a drain…
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Thailand’s influencer marketing boom sparks regulatory debates
The burgeoning influencer marketing trend is powering the local creator economy while simultaneously causing societal implications, thereby sparking debates over regulatory measures. Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) and Nielsen’s data highlighted the meteoric rise of influencers, with over 13.5 million influencers in the ASEAN Economic Community, and more than two million influencers in Thailand alone. The scramble…
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NBTC disaster alert system: No more SMS alerts
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) alongside Advanced Info Services Plc (AIS) has pioneered a mobile phone broadcasting service primed to forewarn citizens of imminent natural disasters. At a joint press conference, NBTC chairman Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck and Varunthep Watcharaphon, AIS’s chief of business relations, unveiled the successful trial of this innovative broadcasting service. Funded by the Universal Service Obligation…
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Thailand’s social security fund faces bankruptcy risk in 30-40 years
The Labour Ministry raised the alarm that the Social Security Fund (SSF) of Thailand is on the brink of bankruptcy, and could be insolvent in 30 to 40 years if there are no changes made to its current policies. This warning was issued during a meeting between the newly established Social Security Board (SSB) headed by Sustarum Thammaboosadee, an academic…
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Thai abbot found burnt in forest shocks local community
A revered abbot’s tragic demise has sent shockwaves through a Thai community after his body was found burned to the extent that only his upper torso remained identifiable. The abbot, Luang Pu Poon Thitapunyo, of Wat Pa Kesem Suk in Phetchabun Province, was discovered in a forested area behind the temple. The police have been meticulously piecing together evidence ever…
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Thailand’s tourism trunkated: Captive elephant breeding exposed
Thailand stands accused of a sinister practice: the captive breeding of elephants for its lucrative tourism industry. But the horrors extend far beyond just elephants. Researchers have uncovered alarming findings, exposing the grim reality lurking behind the scenes of the wildlife entertainment industry. In a study conducted by World Animal Protection (WAP), the scope of the issue is laid bare.…
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Bangkok ramps up safety with tech for Songkran Festival
Ramping up safety measures for the upcoming extended Songkran Festival, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has proposed an increase in the deployment of cutting-edge technology. Adit Ngamjitsuksri, an advisor to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, shared on Tuesday that the BMA has instructed the Traffic and Transportation Department to enhance surveillance by installing additional CCTV cameras along the popular Khao San…
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Thailand braces for intense heatwave and summer storms
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for sweltering to intense heat this weekend across upper Thailand, with the risk of summer storms causing heavy rainfall, potential hail, and strong winds. Bangkok is among the areas to be affected. The forecast for the coming week, from March 5 to March 11, indicates that a low-pressure system caused by intense…
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Post-pandemic shift in tourist spending habits reveals TikTok’s role in Thai travel
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) divulged insightful data revealing a shift in foreign tourists’ spending habits post-pandemic and the surge in popularity of TikTok as a source of travel information and inspiration. A survey conducted by TAT’s digital R&D Deputy Governor Teerasil Tapen, encompassing 30,054 tourists in 2023, unveiled an increased average expenditure on individual trips, rising from 48,209…
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Thai Finance Ministry sets eligibility for virtual bank licences
The Thai Finance Ministry unveiled the eligibility criteria for obtaining a virtual bank licence, which includes a minimum registered capital requirement of 5 billion baht (US$139 million). The specifications were published in the Royal Gazette on March 4, as revealed by Paopoom Rojanasakul, secretary to the finance minister. Virtual banks will be mandated to establish their headquarters in Thailand and…
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Thailand stock exchanges extend trading hours to attract foreign investors
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI) announced an extension of their daily trading hours starting March 25. This move will see the afternoon session open half an hour earlier, thus facilitating five hours of trade on the two exchanges daily. The SET stated that this alteration in trading hours is an effort to…
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Thailand trials first mobile phone emergency alert system
The inaugural trial of Thailand’s first cell broadcast service (CBS), a pioneering emergency alert system for mobile phones, kicked off yesterday. The trial was a joint venture between the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and Advanced Info Service (AIS). Conducted at the NBTC headquarters on Phahon Yothin Road, the trial demonstrated the capabilities of the CBS system. The system…
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Sena unveils rent-to-own strategy to tackle mortgage rejections
Sena Development, a publicly traded property developer, revealed new plans this month to rent and transfer ownership of its unsold condo units. This move is in response to a high rate of mortgage rejections. The company aims to enhance sales and revenue in the current year. Kessara Thanyalakpark, the managing director, stated that the innovative strategies would target two distinct…
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NACC investigates high-profile online gambling network case
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has taken charge of a high-profile investigation into the alleged association of Deputy National Police Chief, Police General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, and four others with a large-scale online gambling network. The decision, backed by a majority vote during a commission meeting on Monday, was made public yesterday. The NACC will also probe a connected…
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Swiss retiree’s brutal attack on Thai woman sparks outcry in Trang
A shocking incident at a shopping mall in the city of Trang Yesterday left a 58-year-old Thai woman with severe injuries after a violent altercation with a 60 year old Swiss national, Dieter Matthias Straumann. The 25 year old victim’s son, Kritpong Kikkham, is resolute in seeking justice for his mother, who is now hospitalised with a prognosis of at…
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DSI grills teacher candidates over Khon Kaen exam scam
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has initiated an extensive interrogation of candidates for assistant teacher positions at the Primary Educational Service Area Office 2 in Khon Kaen, following allegations of widespread exam fraud. Investigators have discovered that exam materials were being sold for 600,000 baht each. The probe, which took place today at the Learning Promotion Office in Ban…
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Former salesman’s illegal bullets seized by Thailand police
The Thai authorities apprehended a former ammunition salesman for allegedly engaging in illegal bullet sales online, unearthing an arsenal of 31,800 cartridges at his residence in Khlong Toei district. Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Police Major General Theeradet Thumsuthee, disclosed today that 66 year old San Panjitkaeo was apprehended while dispatching parcels of cartridges to buyers at a courier…
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Thai cop accused of cheating on wife, impregnating teenage mistress
A Thai woman is seeking justice after her police sub-lieutenant husband cheated on her and impregnated his 17 year old teenage mistress. The police officer allegedly assaulted and threatened his wife to accept the polyamorous relationship as the teenager is seven months pregnant. The 55 year old Thai woman from the Isaan province of Roi Et told her story to…
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