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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 Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Nightclub fire in Murcia claims 13 lives, many still missing (video)
A devastating nightclub fire in the city of Murcia, Spain, resulted in at least 13 fatalities, four people suffering smoke inhalation injuries, and 15 individuals reported missing. The blaze, which erupted in a building housing two entertainment venues – Teatre Disco and Fonda Milagros Disco, has left investigators searching for the cause. The incident took place over the past weekend.…
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Pattaya hotel fire injures Kuwaiti tourist and incurs over 1 million baht damage
The early hours of this morning saw a popular hotel in Pattaya, located on Third Road in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province, engulfed in flames. The Pattaya hotel fire incident, which occurred at 3am today, resulted in a Kuwaiti tourist suffering moderate injuries. The hotel’s name has been withheld in light of the ongoing fire investigation. In…
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Local fishermen discover dead body of foreign man in Chon Buri sea
Local fishermen discovered the dead body of an unidentified foreign man in the waters of Sattahip Bay in Chon Buri province. The Rojjana Dhammasatarn rescue team received a distressing report about the dead body at 4pm on Saturday, September 30. Upon arrival, officers encountered a group of fishermen, who had anchored their fishing boat near the body, while waiting for…
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Jackpot joy: Fish farmer reels in 12 million baht lottery win in central Thailand
A 44 year old fish farm owner in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi, was overjoyed yesterday to receive a cash prize of 12 million baht after his lottery ticket was announced as the first prize winner. Not Lottery Plus, led by Panthawat Nakwisut and a team of over 20 people, arrived at the farm late the previous night to deliver the lottery…
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Container catastrophe near Bangkok airport claims Thai woman’s life
Tragedy struck over the weekend, as a Thai woman lost her life in a fatal accident near Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn province, just outside Bangkok. The incident occurred on Motorway No. 9 when a container dislodged from a truck, striking the taxi in which the woman and another man were passengers. Security cameras positioned along the motorway captured…
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Si Thep Historical Park battles overcrowding after UNESCO world heritage listing
A significant influx of visitors to Si Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun sparked concerns among officials, following its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list on September 19. The province was ill-prepared for the escalated tourist numbers, leading to calls for immediate action to protect the park and manage the crowds. Chatchaval Benchasiriwong, the 54 year old deputy governor…
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Thailand and Italy cook up a delicious deal for gastronomy and tourism
A mutual agreement has been reached between Thailand and Italy to collaboratively promote the gastronomy and tourism sectors of both nations, according to Thai trade representative, Nalinee Taveesin. The Thai-Italian collaboration announcement was made on Sunday, with Italy expressing an increased interest in investing in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Such an understanding was gleaned from a recent meeting between…
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China and Thailand bolster diplomatic ties, visa exemption for Chinese tourists
China and Thailand, marking 48 years of diplomatic rapport, continue to strengthen their cooperative ties, as highlighted by Han Zhiqiang, the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, in a recent interview. Han acknowledged the friendly neighbourly relations, shared bloodlines and mutual benefits that the two nations have enjoyed over the years. China has remained Thailand’s largest trading partner for a decade, contributing…
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Huawei, NCSA launch Thailand Cyber Top Talent 2023 amid rising online threats
A landmark cybersecurity competition named Thailand Cyber Top Talent 2023 has been launched by Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co, Ltd and the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA). The contest, open to students and the general public, offers the chance to win a total of 521,000 baht in cash prizes. The initiative is intended to promote cybersecurity knowledge, serve as a platform…
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Viral video: Taxi driver’s ‘you’re too fat’ confrontation leaves passenger speechless
A video of a taxi driver verbally confronting a passenger has gone viral, sparking widespread criticism and discussion online. The driver claimed he was afraid the shock absorbers would break due to the passenger’s weight, leading to an intense taxi confrontation exchange that left the passenger feeling insulted and upset. The taxi confrontation video clip begins with the passenger asking…
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Thailand’s heavy rain forecast puts regions on alert for more flooding ahead
Several regions across Thailand are bracing for more flooding following warnings of heavy rain from tomorrow until next Wednesday. The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) delivered this warning yesterday after much of the north and northeast regions of the country already experienced floods due to days of incessant rain. The impending heavy rain, which is set to last until Saturday,…
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Thailand’s soft power strategy eyes tech and regulatory overhaul
Thailand’s soft power is set to receive a significant boost, with creative content experts advocating for the removal of obsolete regulations and the incorporation of cutting-edge technology. This approach, they argue, will stimulate innovation and cultural assets. Asa Piwkhum, tasked with business and innovation development at the Creative Economy Agency, indicated that the imminent meeting of the national soft power…
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Digital lottery: Thai man challenges ‘Paotang’ app for unpaid winnings
A 52 year old man lodged a police complaint after purchasing 20 digital government lottery tickets via the ‘Paotang’ application, which won but were declared as non-winning by the system. Sarawuth Jangkina who had previously won up to 31 tickets without issue, questioned whether the discrepancy was due to a system glitch or duplicate digital ticket sales. Sarawuth, the president…
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Siam Piwat’s ambitious goal: 100% renewable energy by 2030
Siam Piwat Group, a pioneer in Thailand’s real estate and retail sector, is making strides towards sustainability by seeking diverse collaborations. The group has set an ambitious target to shift all its properties to 100% renewable energy by 2030. According to the group’s chief operating officer, Naratipe Ruttapradid, Siam Piwat is reinforcing its leadership in sustainable world-class destination development through…
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China’s rise as global superpower lauded by Thai-Chinese Cultural Council president
Pinit Jarusombat, the president of the Thai-Chinese Cultural and Relationship Council (TCCRC), has acknowledged China’s ascension to the ranks of global superpower in terms of technology and economic might. The statement was made in light of the upcoming National Day of China, marking the 74th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China’s establishment. Pinit appraised China’s development, pointing out the significant…
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Vietnamese model Ngoc Trinh’s motorcycle stunt sparks safety concerns on social media (video)
Vietnamese model and entrepreneur, Ngoc Trinh, stirred controversy on social media with a video clip of her doing a motorcycle stunt. Despite riding in a sparsely populated area, the model faces criticism for her hazardous manoeuvres, including lifting both hands off the handlebars and posing for the camera. Ngoc Trinh, a well-known figure in Vietnam’s entertainment industry, has faced several…
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Discovering the unknown card games in Thailand
Different cultures have taken to card games and ‘playing for money’ in various different ways, with poker being the primary card game to gamble at the world over. Thailand is no exception, but if you look beyond the more common games, there’s a rich history of ancient card games which originated here and it’s fascinating to see how they’ve stood the…
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Hit-and-run in Chon Buri: woman urges culprit to own up after car gets battered
A vehicle parked outside a house was hit by a car that subsequently fled the scene, prompting the car’s owner to urge the culprit to take responsibility. The incident was captured on CCTV and shared by a Facebook user named มิสเตอร์แบตเตอรี่ ชลบุรี. The car owner, Thanawan, a 21 year old woman, showed the damage to her black Ford sedan, which…
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Woman found dead in Prachin Buri hut prompts discussion on rural mental health awareness
In a tragic incident, a 40 year old woman was found dead in a hut located approximately 2 kilometres away from a village in Prachin Buri, Thailand. The incident happened today. The woman was discovered by local police and medical professionals who confirmed her death to be over three hours old. There were no signs of physical violence or struggle…
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Don Mueang to host first hospital in Thai 50-district healthcare roll-out
Bangkok’s Don Mueang district is set to be the inaugural recipient of a new hospital as part of the 50 districts, 50 hospitals initiative, as revealed by Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew. The scheme is one of 13 programmes introduced by the Minister upon taking office. The project’s first phase entails the selection of an existing building within the district,…
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New pit viper species discovered in Thailand’s Thale Ban National Park
A novel species of pit viper, the smallest in its venomous subfamily, has been discovered by personnel at Thale Ban National Park in Satun, a southern province of Thailand. Saengsuree Songthong, the national park’s chief, along with his assistant Nakhen Kaweethanatham and research official Bunyarit Dechochai, stumbled upon the hitherto unknown species of pit vipers during a short break under a…
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New era in Thai law enforcement as Torasak Sukwimon steps into National Police Chief role
The newly appointed National Police Chief, Torasak Sukwimon, accompanied by his wife, Nipaphan Sukwimon, and several police officers, performed a sacred ceremony at the National Police Office in Pathumwan earlier today, October 1. Following a royal command, Torasak was relieved of his previous position as Deputy National Police Chief and ascended to the position of National Police Chief of the…
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Reddit user’s video sparks debate over mysterious 514 scribbled by food delivery rider
A recent video posted on Reddit by a user named @yellowenthusiastt sparked a heated debate, revolving around the puzzling number 514 written by a food delivery rider outside her house. The woman, who had ordered food online, was left bewildered by this random act, which led to a flurry of speculation among netizens. The video shows the food delivery rider,…
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Flood warning issued for 10 provinces and Bangkok as heavy monsoon rains threaten Chao Phraya River
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) issued a flood warning for 10 provinces and Bangkok, highlighting the risk to low-lying areas outside the Chao Phraya River’s embankments from tomorrow. This warning follows the report from the Irrigation Department about the influence of the monsoon trough causing heavy rains in the northern region, leading to an increase in the…
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Tourism body urges Thai government to lift Malaysian bus restrictions
A plea has been lodged by the Tourism Association of Phatthalung to the government, urging for the removal of restrictions that prevent Malaysian buses from entering Thailand‘s southern provinces. The goal is to revitalise local tourism, currently experiencing a lull due to these limitations. Jarun Kaewjeesub, the president of the Tourism Association of Phatthalung, declared that a separate letter will…
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Patongtharn Shinawatra tipped as new Pheu Thai Party leader
Anusorn Iamsa-ard, a list MP of the Pheu Thai Party, believes that Patongtharn Shinawatra is suitable to take over as the new head of the Pheu Thai Party. He sees her as capable of leading the party to become a dependable political institution for the people. On the matter of the Pheu Thai Party’s general meeting on September 27, Anusorn…
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Thai lottery livestream draws in eager participants with six million baht top prize
The Government Lottery Office livestreamed the lottery results today with eager participants tuning in to check the results. The event was marked by anticipation as participants hoped to land the top prize, along with other rewards such as the last two digits and the last three digits, among others. The live broadcast of the lottery results for the government lottery…
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Chon Buri man fatally shot seven times leaves toddler behind: Mother pleads for justice
A 40 year old man was fatally shot seven times, leaving his three-year-old child behind, in a tragic incident in a rental room in a village in Chon Buri province. The deceased, identified as Atsana, was well-liked and sociable with friends, according to his grieving mother. The shooting took place on the night of September 30. Thaworn Naiyen, a senior…
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Thai senator sparks outrage for disrespecting protected moss in Iceland and facing public rebuke
A video that went viral on social media depicted a Thai gentleman displaying rather impolite behaviour towards a woman bearing a striking resemblance to Senator Dr Porntip Rojanasunan, during her overseas travels. This gentleman employed a series of unkind words in both the Thai and English languages, thereby eliciting a broad spectrum of criticism on various social media platforms. Opinions…
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Bangkok father faces charges for child abuse: Paweena Hongsakul Foundation steps in
The Paweena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women, in conjunction with the Bangkok Children and Family Home, lodged an official complaint today on behalf of a six year old girl and her aunt after an alleged child abuse case came to light. They reported the child’s 33 year old father for assaulting the child using a PVC pipe and a…
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