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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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Prachin Buri villages soaked as forest stream’s overflow leads to distress in central Thailand
Rapid rainfall across Prachin Buri province in central Thailand caused a forest stream from Thap Lan National Park to overflow into Khlong Lam Phaya Than, resulting in the flooding of five villages. It has been reported that residents are greatly distressed by the event, and schools have been ordered to close for one day. The stream, originating between Wang Nam…
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Thrill-seekers left hanging: Canandian Wonderland ride mishap chills visitors (video)
A chilling incident unfolded at Wonderland amusement park in Ontario, Canada, when a thrill ride malfunctioned, leaving numerous riders suspended in the air, upside down for nearly 30 minutes. While all riders were safely returned to the ground by park staff, two complained of chest pains, prompting an immediate medical examination. Fortunately, their conditions were minor and hospitalisation was not…
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Twisted tale of chubby-chasing motorcycle thief ends in jail suicide
The chubby-chasing motorcycle thief, who used a dating app to target victims and steal their motorcycles, reportedly committed suicide while in custody at Sam Kork Police Station in the central province of Pathum Thani. The deceased prisoner, Pacharapon, was arrested in Ayutthaya province on Monday, September 25 before officers transferred him to Sam Kork Police Station in Pathum Thani, where…
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Thailand skies set to THEOS-2: A space-age milestone on the horizon
The forthcoming launch of Thailand’s second earth observation satellite, THEOS-2, on October 7, was announced by Supamas Isarabhakdi, the Minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation. At a recent press conference, Supamas shared that the low-earth orbit satellite’s launch will be a significant milestone for the country’s expertise in space technology and expressed plans for the THEOS-3 project. Supamas…
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Bridging the gap: DRR lays tracks for Kui Buri railway safety and progress
The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) has completed two rail crossing bridges in the Kui Buri district, as part of safety measures to prevent road accidents. The bridges, located between the fourth intersection of Highway No 1003 and Baan Pho Riang, are expected to support the Transport Ministry’s future double-track railway projects. This initiative comes in response to the State…
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Border Banter: Thai and Cambodian PMs tackle disputes and scams in talks
The discussion between Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand, and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, will primarily revolve around the issues of Thai-Cambodia border disputes and call centre scams. The meeting is regarded as a significant move towards strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations, as this is the Thai PM’s first visit to an Association of Southeast…
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Love on a ledge drama: Thai man rescued after his suicide attempt at Bangkok condo
Ratburana Police Station officers and rescuers successfully rescued a Thai man who attempted to commit suicide at a condominium in Bangkok after an emotional domestic dispute with his girlfriend. The police and rescue team were called to the five-storey condominium on Soi Suksawat 62 in Bangkok’s Thung Khru district at around 9.20am yesterday, 27 September. On arrival, officers found a…
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Currency crunch: Thai SET under strain as rates rise and baht bites
A recent policy rate hike of 0.25% by the Bank of Thailand, coupled with the weakening baht, is placing pressure on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). Analysts have suggested this after observing that the index slipped below the resistance level of 1,500 points. The Thai bourse experienced a downturn at the opening yesterday, following a 0.88% drop to conclude…
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2 Thai taxi drivers deceived by scam passenger posing as wealthy man
Two Thai taxi drivers urged Channel 3 and the media to issue a warning after they were deceived by a scam passenger who posed as a wealthy man. The drivers lost valuable amulets, a mobile phone, and 2,000 baht. The Thai taxi drivers were identified as 54 year old Yanyong Pongkit and 35 year old Nopporn Chewanitjakun. Yanyong revealed that…
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Yunnan man’s ‘pork belly’ rock discovery could fetch millions of baht
The ancient hobby of collecting precious gems in China has evolved into a modern treasure hunt, where anyone with a good fortune can find items of value and potentially become overnight millionaires. This was the case for an elderly man from Yunnan province who, while gathering firewood and hunting in the mountains, stumbled upon an unusual rock. Distinctly different from…
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Thai police dismantle major drug syndicate seizing narcotics worth 300 million baht
In a first major operation under new leadership, the Thai Police successfully dismantled a significant drug syndicate, seizing 15 million methamphetamine pills, 443 heroin bars, 420 kilogrammes of crystal meth, and a significant quantity of Happy Water and Five Five drugs. The raid took place yesterday, at 11.30pm in a house in Nakhon Pathom. The operation, led by Deputy Commissioner,…
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Thai AirAsia CEO urges government to curb rising travel costs
Thai AirAsia‘s chief executive Santisuk Klongchaiya advocates for government intervention to mitigate escalating travel expenses for tourists, alongside the visa-free scheme for Chinese visitors. He justifies this by citing the disproportionate resumption of travel demand compared to the supply side, particularly in the airline industry, in the past year. Thai AirAsia’s capacity to serve China routes has notably reduced. Previously,…
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Thailand braces for heavy rain and strong winds, warns TMD
The Department of Meteorology (TMD) issued its 13th announcement, revealing that numerous provinces are set to be impacted by heavy rainfall today and tomorrow September 28-29. Strong winds, flash floods, and forest run-offs are expected in many areas. High waves are anticipated in the sea today. The announcement focused on the low-pressure area covering the western part of the northern…
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Thai farmers offered debt suspension to regain good debtor status
Farmers with outstanding debts at the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) in Thailand can now enter a debt suspension scheme without the need for prior debt restructuring, according to Paopoom Rojanasakul, the secretary to the finance minister. The move aims to help these farmers regain their good debtor status and is applicable to all BAAC debtors whose total…
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Tragic motorcycle collision kills two young men in Buriram province
A shocking collision between two motorcycles in Buriram province resulted in the tragic demise of two young men. Police Lieutenant Colonel Rek Wichian, deputy investigator of Nang Rong Police Station, Buriram, coordinated with medical staff from Nang Rong Hospital and Siam United Heart Rescue unit to investigate the incident that occurred at about 8pm yesterday. At the scene of the…
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Nonthaburi man livestreams suicide following legal woes
A 29 year old man identified as Anan committed suicide by shooting himself, following a livestream on social media where he vented his frustrations about ongoing court cases. The incident took place at his rented two-storey townhouse in the Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi province. Upon arrival at the scene, Lieutenant Colonel Pruet Jamroonsartsiri, the head of Bang Bua…
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Unmasking the money: The underworld of ‘dummy accounts’ in illicit finance
A bank account referred to as a dummy account is typically held by a person who is not the actual owner. These accounts are commonly used in illicit financial activities such as fraudulent transfers, gambling, drug trafficking, or money laundering. Dummy accounts can be obtained in two main ways: 1. Paying someone else to open an account. 2. Deceiving or…
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Ele-fantastic fortune: Thai cactus with trunk-like growth attracts good luck-seeking locals
Residents of Phayao province are flocking to a golden chicken ball cactus, believed to be a good luck charm due to its unusual growth resembling a baby elephant’s trunk. The cactus belongs to 46 year old Phatharaporn, who has experienced an influx of customers and a significant increase in income since the peculiar growth appeared. The golden chicken ball cactus,…
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Bangkok braces for wet woes: Governor rallies to tackle flood fury
Heavy rainfall last night in Lat Krabang and Bang Khen prompted Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to establish six rallying points to tackle flood-prone areas around the clock. He urged citizens to plan their travel and return home early. This action was inspired by the rainfall recorded in the Bang Na and Phra Khanong areas yesterday, September 27 which lasted for…
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Tennis tantrum tamed: South Korean player apologises for unsportsmanship behaviour
Petulant South Korean tennis player Kwon Soon-woo apologised to Thai tennis opponent Kasidit “Boom” Samrej and Thai sports fans for his unsportsmanlike, aggressive behaviour during their encounter at the 19th Asian Games in China. Thai tennis player Boom recorded an impressive victory over South Korea’s Kwon in the men’s singles match on Monday, September 25, at the Olympic Tennis Centre in…
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Year-end bonus frenzy: Thai companies make it rain with envy-inducing rewards
Over ten renowned Thai companies are set to distribute generous year-end bonuses for 2023, leading to a wave of envy. The highest bonus reported is 7.3 months’ salary plus an additional 37,000 baht. Some of the companies declaring such bonuses include IHI Turbo Thailand, Jtekt (Thailand), Siam Toyota, Siam ATT I-Shin, Trimotive, SIAM DENSO KYOSAN, IJT Thailand, TTK, TBKK, and…
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Bartender’s ‘scratch’-of-luck: 20-dollar tip turns into lottery ticket jackpot
A bartender in California, USA, had a significant windfall after a customer tipped her with a lottery ticket worth approximately 20 dollars (730 baht), which turned out to be a grand prize winner. The lottery ticket was a scratchcard, a type that requires scratching off a silver coating to reveal potential prizes. According to a post on the international forum…
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American TikToker condemns Bangkok taxi driver for trying to rip him off
An American TikToker condemned a Thai taxi driver in Bangkok for trying to rip him off by refusing to use a meter and charging him 300 baht for a trip to Khao San Road. The American, Jason Rupp, shared a video on TikTok on September 5. The video showed Rupp confronting a taxi driver in Bangkok who refused to use…
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Tragedy on the rocks: Missing Russian tourist found dead after speedboat collision
The body of a Russian tourist who had gone missing following a collision with a speedboat was discovered today on the Haad Tian rocks near Pattaya’s Koh Larn. The tragic incident occurred on Monday, September 25, when a speedboat strayed into a restricted area, resulting in a collision that claimed the life of the Russian tourist and injured his Thai…
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Under the magnifying glass: China Evergrande’s billionaire chairman under police watch
China Evergrande Group‘s billionaire chairman has been placed under police surveillance, sources with knowledge of the situation disclosed. Earlier this month Hui Ka Yan was escorted by Chinese law enforcement and is currently under observation at an undisclosed location. The reasons for the residential surveillance, which is not tantamount to formal detention or arrest, remain unclear. Under China’s Criminal Procedure Law, this…
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Flash floods warning in Loei as heavy rainfall continues for two days
Heavy rainfall for two consecutive days in Loei province, specifically in Phu Kradueng district, caused a surge of forest run-off into the Pong River. The sudden rise in water level prompts officials to alert residents to the potential flash floods, urging them to move their belongings to higher ground. Phu Kradueng experienced intense rainfall day and night over two days…
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Egg-stonishing discovery: Thai woman finds unusual ‘rock’ in boiled egg in eastern Thailand
A 55 year old Thai woman encountered an unusual incident while eating her boiled egg in Rayong, eastern Thailand. Patcharin Jaisuk bit into a hard substance which, upon extraction, turned out to be a peculiar stone nestled within the egg yolk. Believing it to be an auspicious sign, Patcharin, who has been selling boiled rice for more than 30 years,…
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Masked mayhem: Philadelphia stores hit by teenage looters in daring heists
Over 100 hooded, masked teenagers stormed various stores across Philadelphia, USA, looting valuable merchandise and filming their exploits without any apparent fear of repercussions. The police have sealed off streets in pursuit of the teenage gang. As per international website reports, the incident may be a response to a recent verdict acquitting a police officer of murder charges. The Philadelphia…
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Man divorces wife over iPhone 15 Pro Max purchase for father
A family feud has been ignited by the latest model of a smartphone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max. A Chinese man’s decision to purchase a new model for his father before his wife led to a marital dispute that culminated in his filing for divorce. The man explained in a social media post that his father is very frugal and…
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Wedding photo dispute sparks social media backlash as disappointed Thai bride seeks sponsors for reshoot
A social media feud erupted over wedding photos between a recently married Thai couple and their photographer due to dissatisfaction with the quality of the 4,000 baht pictures in central Thailand. The bride openly voiced her disappointment, even seeking sponsors to fund a redo of the wedding shoot. However, the photographer later clarified the situation, resulting in public backlash and…
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