Thailand News
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Sponsored Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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Election commission sets up cyber threat surveillance centre to ensure transparency
The Election Commission (EC) has established a Cyber Threat Surveillance and Response Operations Centre to ensure transparency in elections, according to EC Secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee. This development comes in partnership with the National Cyber Security Agency, Office of the Personal Data Protection Commission, Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, the Bureau of Registration Administration, and National Telecom Public Co Ltd. Sawaeng, aged…
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Nine arrested after violent confrontation at Bangkok police station over detained teen
Nine individuals found themselves under arrest following a brutal clash outside a police station in Bangkok involving law enforcement and a group supporting a 15-year-old girl detained for over 40 days on allegations of royal defamation. The arrestees, comprising seven men and two women, included Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon and Orawan “Bam” Phuphong. Earlier this year, the two individuals had engaged…
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Mixed responses to calls for ending compulsory military service in Thailand
Academics and human rights defenders have provided mixed responses to the increasing calls to end compulsory military service in Thailand, intensifying as the May 14 polls approach. The Move Forward Party and the Pheu Thai Party have both pledged they will terminate compulsory service in favor of voluntary enlistment if they win the elections and form the next government. These…
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Woman seeks help from restaurant owner as man threatens her with violence and gun
A woman in distress sought help from a food vendor, who drove away a threatening man, earning praise from social media users. The incident took place in Hat Yai city’s food court when a terrified woman entered a restaurant to ask for help, followed by a man on a motorcycle. The man verbally abused the woman and threatened to hit…
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Wild elephant tramples woman to death in front of officials, shooting two magazines fails to stop the attack
In a devastating incident, a woman was trampled to death by a wild elephant in front of wildlife officials in Wang Chan District, Rayong. Even after firing two magazines of bullets, the authorities could not stop the charging animal, which was extremely fast and caught everyone off-guard. The tragic event occurred at a palm plantation in the district, where 40…
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Thai political fault line: Divided opinions on royal defamation law ahead of election
As Thailand’s general election approaches this Sunday, a series of TikTok videos featuring prime ministerial candidates answering questions about controversial topics has gone viral. The topics raised during the electoral campaign include the legalization of e-cigarettes, local alcohol industry deregulation, sex work decriminalization, and amending the country’s strict royal defamation law. The royal defamation law, known as Section 112 of…
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Thai Vietjet launches premium lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport
Budget airline Thai Vietjet opened ‘The Coral Executive Lounge’ at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, where passengers can indulge in a range of premium services while waiting for their journey to begin. Services offered at the lounge include food and refreshments, snacks, a bar, WiFi, flight information services, private rooms, neck and shoulder massages, newspapers and magazines, televisions, and disabled…
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Thai PM candidate Pitha clears air over ITV shares controversy
Pitha Limcharoenrat, head of Thailand’s progressive party, Move Forward Party, and candidate for prime minister, has refuted allegations surrounding his ownership of shares in ITV Plc. Ruangkrai Leekijwattana recently claimed to have discovered that Pitha holds 42,000 shares in ITV Plc, and has called for the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) to investigate the matter. The situation is significant as…
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Pheu Thai candidate Dr Silp champions cultural diversity for economic revival
Dr Silp – Silpwichai Noisyamitr, a candidate for the constituency 24 of Khlong San, Thonburi, and Ratchaburana, Bang Pakok, under the Pheu Thai Party, aims to revive the economy with the diverse local culture. Growing up, he was a keen reader of Bangkok’s column in the newspaper, which made him an “active citizen” with a great knowledge of urban development.…
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Thai cyanide serial killer claims 15th victim, confirms RTP deputy commissioner
The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, today confirmed that the number of victims of the Thai cyanide serial killer increased from 14 to 15. Big Joke added that officers are now investigating 78 million baht found in the bank accounts of the cyanide serial killer, Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, and 12 other people. The…
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Tangmo: Court in Thailand sentences 2 defendants over actress’s death
A local court in Nonthaburi has ruled on the case involving the death of Pattharathida Patcharaweerapong, also known as Tangmo, a 37 year old actress. The investigation found that Thanatphat Lertthawiwit, also known as Por, 33 years old, was guilty and sentenced to five years, eight months in prison, and a fine of 128,000 baht (US$3,784). However, as Thanatphat showed…
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Suspected murderer of Thai-British teen attacked during re-enactment
UPDATE A relative of the 17 year old Thai-British teenager Woramet “Ben” Taota – who was murdered in Lampang in northern Thailand on Saturday – attacked the suspected murderer with a wooden stick during a re-enactment of the crime this morning. At 11am, officers from Mae Tha Police Station and Lampang Provincial Police escorted the accused, 44 year old Chaiwat…
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Laotian woman gives birth in pickup truck on Thai road
At around 2am yesterday, volunteer staff from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation received a report of a woman giving birth in a pickup truck on Tiwanon Road, near the Amphornphisarn intersection in Bang Phut Subdistrict, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi. The emergency team quickly arrived at the location to provide assistance reports Sanook. Upon arriving at the scene, they found a…
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Couple condemned for having sex on a public beach in southern Thailand
A viral video of a couple having sex on Chang Lang Beach in Trang province, southern Thailand, has caused outrage among Thai authorities and netizens. The video, which shows a Thai man and woman having sex inside a camping tent on the beach, was widely circulated on the Facebook groups of Trang residents. The man was said to have repeatedly…
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Move Forward Party aims to make an impact in upcoming Thai elections
The Move Forward Party, which emerged in the wake of the dissolution of Thailand’s Future Forward Party, is set to make a significant impact in the upcoming polls. The latter won 81 seats in the 2019 Thai elections, enjoying overwhelming support from young voters due to its liberal-progressive stance. However, the country’s Constitutional Court disbanded the party over campaign finance…
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Southern Thailand’s struggle to attract foreign investors
The Southern Region Industrial Estate in Songkhla province of Thailand is unusually quiet. Long winding roads, usually bustling with heavy vehicles, are mostly empty. There are only two industrial estates in southern Thailand, the other being the Songkla Industrial Estate. In total, there are 67 industrial estates across the country. Sirianya Pornsuwankun, a tenant of the Southern Region Industrial Estate…
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Will the Thai election help sex workers?
Many are hoping to see a change in their country after Thailand‘s upcoming General Election on May 14, and sex workers are no exception. Sex workers are crossing their fingers for the elections to bring about a change in the country’s antiquated sex industry legislation. With an estimated 300,000 people involved in the sex industry, campaigners are working to pass…
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Monk shoots rival monk due to dispute over seniority
A monk yesterday shot a fellow monk over a dispute regarding seniority shocking the community around Rat Samak Khee Temple in Nong Bua Lamphu province in the northeastern part of Thailand. The monk survived the shooting despite being shot five times. Officers from Na Klang Police Station rushed to the scene and discovered the injured monk, 57 year old Weerapong…
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Thailand is the world’s biggest exporter of durian
Thailand, known for its rich culture and stunning beaches, is also the world’s biggest exporter of the notorious fruit, durian. According to the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand has retained its top spot for durian exports, accounting for a whopping 93.3% of the global market share, Pattaya Mail reported yesterday. In 2022, Thailand exported fresh durian…
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Hungarian diver summoned by police for touching pipefish in Thailand
A Hungarian diver was summoned to the police station in Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province in southern Thailand yesterday for allegedly touching a pipefish. Police say he was formerly charged with touching protected marine life once before in 2020. In a video entitled “Scuba diving in the paradise, Koh Phangan” on the YouTube channel “Paradise Films by Attila…
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Eastern economic corridor barely accessible to small businesses
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project in Thailand is falling short of its intended purpose, as only a few small local businesses are able to access and benefit from it, according to the Thai Sang Thai (TST) Party. Prime ministerial candidate for the TST, Supan Mongkolsutee, stated that the EEC scheme is predominantly aimed at larger companies, leaving small businesses…
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Royal guard dismissed for misconduct without pension
A recent royal command has resulted in the dismissal of a Royal Security Command officer from military service and the royal guard, without a pension, due to severe misconduct. The order, which became effective on May 5, was announced in the Royal Gazette yesterday. The officer in question is Colonel Chaimethi Phubodiwarochuphan, who served in the office of the deputy…
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Murderer arrested in Thailand after 16 years on the run
A Thai man who brutally murdered his wife 16 years ago was arrested at a temple in Roi Et province in northeast Thailand yesterday. He confessed to beating his wife to death with a helmet in 2007. Police arrested 63 year old Adirek at a temple in Nong Phok district under an arrest warrant from Phitsanulok Provincial Court dated August…
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6-wheel truck crashes into 4 cars: 11 injured including 5 month old child
A six-wheel truck smashed into four cars resulting in 11 injuries, including a five month old child, on Bang Na-Trat Road in the Bang Wua sub-district, Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao province. The driver allegedly confessed that he picked up his phone to answer a call and did not notice the other cars. At 8.30pm yesterday, officers from Bang Pakong Police…
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Thai man dies reconciling with wife: Fatal asthma attack in rice field
A man from Thailand died in a rice field in Ang Thong province while trying to walk 24 kilometres to his wife’s house to reconcile with her. It was later revealed that he had suffered a fatal asthma attack during the journey. Officers from Meaung Ang Thong Police Station were notified of the man’s death by 45 year old tractor…
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Tattooed Thai gangster-turned-movie star arrested on gambling charges
Thai gangster-turned-actor Panya Yimumphai – famous for his role in ‘A Prayer Before Dawn’ – was arrested on gambling charges at a house in Pathum Thani, just north of Bangkok, on Monday. Thailand’s Cyber Police raided the property after Panya, better known for his gang name Keng Laiprang (“Keng Camouflage”), posted a TikTok clip inviting his followers to gamble on…
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Elderly woman dies in heatstroke after walking 2km barefoot
An elderly woman, famously known for walking barefoot for two kilometres to ask for money for food, was found dead alongside a road in Udon Thani province yesterday. The 81 year old woman named Boon, who was discovered naked, is believed to have succumbed to the sweltering heat. At 9am, Ratpol Mora Rat, an investigator at Na Kha Police Station,…
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Man discovers his 17 year old twins aren’t his, DNA test reveals wife’s cheating
A man was left stunned after discovering that his wife cheated on him and that the twins he had raised for 17 years were not his children after they took a random DNA test. The unnamed American man immediately realised that his wife had cheated on him when news of the DNA test was revealed. He shared the story on…
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Chinese tour minibus crashes in northern Thailand, 8 injured
A minibus carrying 30 Chinese tourists overturned in Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand on Monday. Eight people were injured in the crash. Officers from Mae Chan Police Station were informed that a minibus lost control and crashed on the Mae Chan-Fang Road in Ban Thung Thang, Pa Tueng subdistrict, Mae Chan district. Police rushed to the scene with Highway…
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80 million baht cash found buried at Buddhist temple in Thailand
A stash of 80 million baht cash and a pile of gold bars were found buried in the soil behind Wat Pa Dhammakiri temple in Nakhon Ratchasima province in northeast Thailand on Monday. The temple was searched after the former abbot and two others were arrested under suspicion of embezzling 180 million baht of temple funds last week. The three…
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