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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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Thaksin denies political deal on return from exile
Thaksin Shinawatra firmly stated yesterday that no political arrangement was crafted with his conservative adversaries to facilitate his return from a 15-year exile last year. The former Thai premier made the statement during an on-stage interview at a forum organised by a local media group. “There is no deal, no one dare do a deal with me.” The 75 year…
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3 Chinese men arrested in online gambling and call centre scam
Immigration Bureau officers arrested three Chinese men in Chon Buri for operating a multinational online gambling and call centre scam with over 5.5 billion baht in circulation. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China requested cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand to arrest the Chinese suspect, 47 year old Su, for fraud and operating a casino.…
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Asia on alert: Deadly new mpox strain hits Thailand
Thailand confirmed its first case of a potentially deadlier strain of mpox, marking Asia’s first encounter with the virus variant known as Clade 1b. This alarming development follows hot on the heels of the first reported case outside Africa, in Sweden, just a week ago. The infected individual, a 66 year old European man, arrived in Bangkok from an undisclosed…
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Thailand concludes major anti-terrorism drill
The Counter Terrorist Operations Centre under the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) Headquarters is wrapping up a five-day anti-terrorism drill today in Chiang Rai. The Crisis Management Exercise 2024 (C-MEX24) at Chiang Rai Rajabhat University saw participation from over 500 individuals representing 60 agencies. This comprehensive exercise included officers from the army, navy, air force, and police, aiming to assess their…
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Nine confirmed dead in Chachoengsao plane crash (video)
A small plane carrying nine people, including passengers and crew, tragically crashed just 10 minutes after takeoff in Chachoengsao province yesterday. All on board are dead. The harrowing incident occurred yesterday afternoon, August 22, when officials began the grim task of recovering the wreckage in Moo 6, Ban Khao Din, Bang Pakong district. Initially, the bodies of the passengers were…
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Thai cops ‘bud’ out Taiwanese cannabis smugglers in Bangkok bust
Immigration officials in Thailand, in collaboration with other agencies, snagged two Taiwanese nationals in a high-stakes cannabis smuggling operation. The suspects were arrested in Bangkok’s Bang Rak and Din Daeng districts and now face serious charges for planning to export a controlled drug without permission and overstaying their visas. The bust came after a tip-off from a vigilant citizen who…
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No need to panic, flood’s just a ‘ripple’ in northern Thailand
The Government of Thailand urged residents not to panic after the recent deluge in the north of the country, adding it won’t flood Bangkok or its neighbouring provinces. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai declared that the caretaker administration has everything under control. With waters wreaking havoc in Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, and Sukhothai, the emergency services are stepping up…
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FDA puts the ‘test’ in ‘protest’ over mpox spread
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has swung into action, kicking off the registration process for mpox (formerly monkeypox) diagnostic test kits amid growing fears over the viral infection’s spread. In a bold move, FDA Deputy Secretary-General Lertchai Lertwut revealed the new initiative yesterday, August 22. He stressed that the FDA is cutting red tape for manufacturers and importers alike,…
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Foreign man caught standing naked in cannabis shop in Phuket
A picture of a naked foreign man proudly showing off the family jewels inside a cannabis shop in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket went viral on Thai social media. The reason for his nakedness is still under investigation. The Phuket Times shared the picture of the naked foreigner yesterday, August 21, with a caption that read, “Free visa! Drunk foreign man…
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Mystical turtle discovered at Chon Buri temple
A rare turtle species was discovered at the Wang Sam Sien Chinese Temple on Big Buddha Hill, Khao Phra Tamnak in Chon Buri province. A concerned local, who believed they stumbled upon something extraordinary, alerted local officials after spotting the turtle lying exhausted under the sun, seemingly injured or ill. Katanyu Thongphu, a fisheries scientist from the Chon Buri Provincial…
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Beloved gay penguin dies in Sydney (video)
In a tearful farewell, Sphen, the gentoo penguin who captivated the world as part of a famous same-sex power couple, has died at the age of 11. Sphen and his partner, Magic, shot to global fame in 2018 after falling in love at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and later adopting and raising two chicks. Their heartwarming story touched millions and…
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Scandal erupts over judge’s joke about defunct MFP
A Pheu Thai MP is set to submit an urgent motion in the House of Representatives, calling for an investigation into a Constitutional Court judge’s controversial comments regarding a dissolved political party. The judge, Udom Sittiwirattham, already under scrutiny for his role in dissolving the Move Forward Party (MFP), has now sparked outrage with a flippant remark about the People’s…
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Bulletproof Buriram man survives triple shooting, claims immortality
A Thai man shot his foe three times in a village in the Isaan province of Buriram amid a seven-year feud, after the victim claimed he was immortal. Remarkably, the victim’s boast turned out to be true as he survived the shooting. The victim, 40 year old Somchai, sought justice at Satuek Police Station, claiming that his foe, 44 year…
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Harvard comeback: Pita’s return to the political arena
Pita Limjaroenrat, the exiled political leader with unfinished business in Thai politics, is making an unexpected return to his old stomping grounds. The former leader of the now-disbanded Move Forward Party (MFP), who’s currently sidelined by a 10-year political ban, snagged a prestigious spot as a Democracy Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School. “This is an exciting opportunity to continue…
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Thailand’s tourism boom tainted by zero-dollar tours
Thailand’s booming tourism sector is thriving under a new visa-free policy, attracting millions of foreign tourists. Yet, while Chinese visitors top the list, concerns are mounting over the resurgence of Chinese zero-dollar tours, which could be draining potential revenue from the Thai economy. From January 1 to August 18, Thailand welcomed a staggering 22,474,172 international tourists, who pumped 1.05 trillion…
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Bangkok jewellery fair set to sparkle with 3.5 billion baht in revenue
The upcoming 70th Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair is gearing up to dazzle with an expected revenue haul of at least 3.5 billion baht, according to the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and the Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand (GIT). This glittering event, scheduled from September 9 to 13 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), is…
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Northern Thailand flooding: Phichit’s Yom River water levels rise
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) is closely monitoring the water levels in the Yom River in Phichit province, which has been rising steadily due to heavy rainfall in northern Thailand, particularly in Phrae and Phayao. This surge in water is expected to flow down to Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, and Phichit. Chuchart Rakjit, the Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department, announced yesterday,…
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EV battery boom: Can AI help Thailand drive to the top?
Thailand is revving up for a major geopolitical boost by focusing on electric vehicle (EV) batteries and auto components, including integrated circuit packaging and testing. According to Taiwan’s Profet AI, the key to speeding up product delivery, slashing costs, and raising standards lies in adopting cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) amid ongoing economic headwinds. Jerry Huang, co-founder and CEO of Profet…
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Shocking survey reveals Thai government’s trust crisis
A recent survey has uncovered a deep-seated distrust among the Thai populace towards their government, with more than 69% of respondents expressing doubts that the government acts in the country’s best interests. Conducted by the Institute of Future Studies for Development (IFD) from August 17 to 20, the survey sampled 1,251 adults nationwide. The findings paint a troubling picture of…
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Thai dancer and her boyfriend arrested for child prostitution
Chiang Mai police arrested a 20 year old Thai dancer and her boyfriend on charges of child prostitution. The woman alleged that dancing did not provide sufficient income, leading her to become a part-time sex worker and recruit other underage dancers into prostitution. Anti-human trafficking organisations ZOE and the Immanuel Foundation reported the child prostitution racket to the Cyber Crime…
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Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper’s laughing gas caper goes up in smoke
A Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper has been caught red-handed peddling balloons stuffed with nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, without a licence, and it’s no laughing matter! Rangsiman Jaisamer was busted by police in his Haad Rin shop early today, August 22, where officers discovered two cylinders of the giggly gas and a stash of balloons ready for sale.…
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Chachoengsao man builds new gate to avoid neighbour’s threats
A 60 year old Thai man in Chachoengsao province opted to build a new gate to his home to avoid further conflict with his neighbour, who has been reportedly harassing him and brandishing a firearm. The Thai man, Thitiwat, complained to Athiwat Sirikangwalwong, founder of the Dare to Step Forward Facebook page, about the threats he faced from his neighbour,…
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3 Thai TikTok stars arrested for 6 million baht Forex scam
Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested three Thai TikTok stars for deceiving victims in a Forex scam, causing a total loss exceeding 6 million baht. The three arrested TikTokers were identified as a 31 year old woman named Apinya, a 43 year old man named Rattawut, and a 41 year old woman named Prapakorn. Various valuables worth approximately 6…
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Baht hits 13-month peak as Bank of Thailand holds rates
The baht is poised to strengthen further, potentially reaching 34 per US dollar or even higher, following a 13-month peak attained yesterday. This surge occurred as the Bank of Thailand opted to keep the policy rate steady at 2.5%, encouraging potential inflows ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s upcoming September meeting. Closing at 34.21 on August 20, the Thai currency…
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Bangkok to Beijing train: Mekong River railway bridge opens
Travellers are one step closer to an epic train journey from Bangkok to Beijing as a new railway bridge over the Mekong River has opened, linking Thailand and Laos by rail for the first time. This milestone, completed last month, leaves just a few dozen miles of a trackless gap before the route can finally reach China. With the launch…
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Pickup truck runs red light, kills motorcyclist in Buriram
A pickup truck ran a red light and struck a motorcyclist, resulting in the rider’s immediate death. Despite efforts by a nurse and a postman to revive him, the man succumbed to his injuries on the spot. Around 3.30pm yesterday, August 21, Police Lieutenant Prachat Raksawang, Deputy Inspector of Mueang Buriram Police Station, was alerted to an accident involving a…
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Thailand urged to subsidise public transport with vehicle tax funds
The Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) urged the government to subsidise public transport fares using funds sourced from taxes on personal vehicles, land, and windfall profits. This recommendation emerged during the inaugural meeting of the Consumer Council for Public Transportation Users, aimed at developing a safer and fairer public transport system through collaborative guidelines and projects. TCC President Boonyeun Siritham highlighted…
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8 South Korean men arrested in Bangkok for call centre scam
Immigration Bureau officers yesterday arrested eight South Korean men at a luxury condominium in Bangkok for using the condo to run a call centre scam, swindling money from fellow South Korean nationals residing in Thailand. Officers received a tip-off from an informant that South Korean nationals used a condominium in Soi Ekkamai 3, in Bangkok’s Wattana district to run the…
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Teenager critically injured in brutal knife attack in Nonthaburi
A first-year vocational student was brutally attacked in broad daylight, leaving him in critical condition. The incident took place in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi, when a group of teenagers wielding knives clashed violently. Yesterday, August 21, at 5pm, officers from Bang Bua Thong Police Station in Nonthaburi received reports of a stabbing incident involving teenagers. The event occurred in Soi…
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Thai MP faces axe for defying party and mingling with rivals
The Thai Sang Thai (TST) Party plans to boot out one of its MPs for repeatedly flouting the party’s stance and rubbing shoulders with rival factions. The ethics panel, led by TST bigwigs Khunying Sudarat Keyurapan and Pokin Polakul, has put Yasothon MP Supaporn Salapsri in the hot seat after she voted against the party line multiple times. Supaporn, a…
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