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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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Phuket’s international convention centre supported by new PM
Phuket’s stalled international convention centre project might see new life with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin‘s promise to revisit it for local economic stimulation. During a recent visit to Phuket and Phangnga, PM Srettha engaged local tourism representatives, acknowledging their suggestions. Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, President of the Phuket Tourist Association, is confident the prime minister and Pheu Thai Tourism committee will seriously…
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Shaken, not stirred: Thai elephant Play Pepsi survives brutal training with no serious injuries
A Thai elephant named Play Pepsi, which was recently subjected to brutal training methods is not seriously injured said examining veterinarians. The owner, who paid 1.5 million baht for the elephant, is willing to sell it to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for a fair price. The case came to light when the Watchdog Thailand Foundation…
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Teen love triangle leads to shooting, father seriously injured
A midnight teen brawl over a girl ended up in a violent shooting, leaving one seriously injured in Bang Khonthi district in Samut Songkhram province. Officers from Bang Khonthi Police Station were alerted to the incident, which took place at around 10.30pm yesterday. The violence unfolded near the popular local eatery, Pad Thai Jee Tan. At the scene, authorities found…
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Human trafficking: Thai “masseuses” escaped from Maldives
A woman was arrested at Don Mueang airport on charges of human trafficking and exploiting two Thai women by promising them high-paying massage jobs in the Maldives. The women, however, were forced into prostitution upon arrival. The arrest took place yesterday, followed by a complaint by the victims who managed to escape and seek help from the Thai embassy in…
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Pattaya’s perfect crime: Fake cops fleece shop owners in cunning scam
The bustling city of Pattaya recently fell prey to a scam that saw numerous shop owners tricked into parting with large sums of money by a group of fraudsters, cunningly disguised as fake cops. The fake police officers coerced their unsuspecting victims in Pattaya into paying substantial amounts to avoid what was falsely presented as an impending arrest. The scammers…
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Brutal murder: Jealous rage suspected as motive behind sword attack
A horrifying incident unfolded in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region as a man armed with a sword invaded a home and committed a brutal murder. Law enforcement is now actively reviewing CCTV footage and questioning witnesses to piece together the shocking sequence of events. The incident took place around 5pm on August 28, in a single-storey house near HCK Trading and…
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Lottery frenzy: Seekers decode signs from pythons to prayers for winning numbers
Lottery enthusiasts are eagerly deciphering potential winning numbers from various events and rumours for the latest draw on Friday, September 1. Townsfolk have been seen praying and performing rituals by a Bodhi tree, hoping to get lucky numbers. An unexpected appearance of a python in a garage and the registration number of a car has also been interpreted as potential…
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Thailand’s Q2 economic recovery slows, full-year 2023 growth forecast revised
Thailand’s second quarter of 2023 saw a slowdown in economic recovery, with GDP growth falling from 2.6% year-on-year in the first quarter to 1.8%, as reported by the National Economic and Social Development Council on August 21. The figures fell significantly short of consensus estimates of 3.1% and growth projections of 2.9%. The economy’s quarter-on-quarter growth was a mere 0.2%,…
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Thailand’s household debt soars as auto loans and cooperative debts spike
The secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) issued a warning over the steady increase in Thailand‘s household debt. The critical areas requiring stringent monitoring were identified as auto loans and debt originating from savings cooperatives. During a press conference outlining the nation’s social outlook for the second quarter of 2023, Danucha Pichayanan revealed that household debt…
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What a bummer: Chinese couple’s fertility woes due to unconventional lovemaking, doctor reveals
A Chinese couple who had been married for four years were puzzled as to why they were unable to conceive until a doctor told them they were having sex the wrong way. The couple, from Bijie City in the southwestern province of Guizhou, are both in their early twenties and reportedly in good health. The revelation by a doctor that…
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Elderly man caught stealing from Nonthaburi temple sparks online debate
A dramatic video has emerged, showing an elderly man surreptitiously stealing money from a temple donation tree. The clip, shared by a Facebook user, has sparked a fierce debate among netizens, with some sympathising with the thief, suggesting his actions were driven by necessity. However, others condemned the act as a violation of religious sanctity, regardless of the amount stolen.…
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Thailand’s transit twist: Electric plans spark train fare cap talks in Bangkok
The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) in Thailand is currently considering plans to deliver on the Pheu Thai-led coalition’s promise of introducing a cap on Bangkok’s electric train fares at 20 baht per trip. This was announced by a department source on Monday, who also revealed that the findings from this investigation will be presented to the new administration once…
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Banking on change: Kasikornbank unveils shakeup with fresh faces and spin-off plans
Kasikornbank (KBank), Thailand’s second-largest lender by total assets, revealed a significant restructuring of its business operations. This includes the introduction of a new president, co-president, and a spin-off strategy. KBank notified the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) yesterday about the appointment of Chongrak Rattanapian to the position of president and executive director, effective from August 29. Chongrak, with over 20…
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Tragic injection: Medical mishap leaves young Trang boy’s life hanging by a thread
A severe incident of medical negligence occurred in Trang Province, where a four year old boy’s condition worsened and then he nearly died after allegedly receiving a wrongful adrenaline injection by a nurse. The Trang Province Public Health Office has initiated an investigation into the case, as stated by Chief Physician Sinchai Rongdech. The incident saw the light of the…
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Dot Property Thailand Awards 2023 recognizes the developers, projects and agencies supporting the Kingdom’s real estate market recovery
The Dot Property Thailand Awards recognized a record 44 winners from across the Kingdom with leading developers AssetWise, Central Pattana Residence and Property Perfect among those to be honored. Celebrations took place at the Park Hyatt Bangkok on August 24 as real estate industry leaders came together to commend the best of the best for another year. The Thailand real…
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Valorant Champions crowd demanding Elon Musk “bring Twitter’s back”
Elon Musk faced an unexpected wave of public demand to “bring Twitter back” during his recent appearance at the Valorant Champions competition today. The multibillionaire tech tycoon was greeted with shouts and chants from the crowd, turning the event for the popular first-person shooter video game into a global social media phenomenon. Jake Lucky, a well-known eSports commentator in the…
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Phuket Marine Office warns boats of upcoming harsh sea weather
Phuket’s Marine Office issued a stern warning to all boat operators due to the approaching turbulent weather, especially at sea. This advisory comes as the Thai Meteorological Department predicts strong wind, large waves and heavy rainfall in the upper Andaman Sea from tomorrow through Saturday. The forecast, delivered by Nachapong Pranit, Director of Marine Office 5 Phuket Branch, suggests that…
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Mysterious Mother Wrapped in Fig statue draws lottery hopefuls to Kamphaeng Phet
A century-old fig tree has become a sensation as villagers discovered a female statue, referred to as Mother Wrapped in Fig, entwined in its roots in Wat Charoen Suk, Klong Lan District, Kamphaeng Phet. The statue, which appears to be dressed in silk-like clothing and adorned with a crown, attracted over 60 villagers, who arrive daily to pay respects and…
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Indian teacher who forced student to slap classmate spurs controversy
A heated controversy has erupted in the online world following a viral video that shows a female teacher forcing a seven-year-old student to slap his classmate, allegedly for writing multiplication tables incorrectly. Investigations into the incident are currently underway by Indian police. The incident has led to the closure of the private school where the incident took place. According to…
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Highway havoc: Mercedes-Benz driver’s taxi riders gun threat and drug use lead to charges
Police charged a Thai Mercedes-Benz driver after he threatened motorcycle taxi riders in the Thong Lor area of Bangkok with a gun and used crystal methamphetamine. His five friends were charged with using the drug. The Thai man charged, 44 year old Chawin Chanintarawanich, crashed his Mercedes-Benz into a motorcycle taxi rider, 39 year old Kwanchai Tadee at 8.40am on Friday,…
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Zika outbreak: Warning for pregnant women as cases spike and concerns grow in Thailand
A surge in Zika virus cases sparked a warning from the Department of Disease Control (DDC). In the last month, 266 cases were reported. Pregnant women are at risk, as the virus can cause babies to be born with microcephaly, a result of underdeveloped brains. The DDC made the announcement yesterday, August 27. The monsoon season, with its frequent rain,…
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Thai Taxi Association’s controversial tips for satisfactory rides spark debate
The Thai Taxi Association stirred debate by posting six tips to ensure a satisfactory taxi ride. The recommendations include asking before getting in, not forgetting to tip, and calling for a Grab taxi during peak hours or if the location is difficult for a regular taxi to reach. The Thai Taxi Association’s Facebook page recently shared these suggestions, aiming to…
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Historic British pubs fall victim to escalating costs, shifting consumer habits
The Crown and Anchor, a historic pub in Llanidloes, mid-Wales, that has endured since the 17th century, has become another casualty in the ongoing decline of British pubs. This closure, instigated by the Covid-19 aftermath, escalating prices, and soaring energy costs, signifies the end of an era for the beloved local establishment. The decision was also influenced by notable shifts…
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Emergency decree against insurgency extended in Deep South
While emergency decrees over the Covid-19 pandemic situation are finally a thing of the past, the continuously troubled Deep South region of Thailand has been operating under an ongoing emergency decree aimed at protecting citizens from the threat of the long-term insurgency constant in the area. The three southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, are a buffer between…
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UPDATE: Thai woman stands by pregnancy truth after marriage fraud accusations
In an update to a previous article, every side has two stories. The woman accused of falsely claiming a pregnancy to collect a marriage dowry, only to leave her new husband just three days later is sharing her version of the events that transpired. A 35 year old man from Kanchanaburi had been dating the woman for six months when…
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VAT’s next? Thailand mulls talks amid dismissals over potential increase
The Thai administration yesterday dismissed the possibility of increasing the value–added tax (VAT) from 7% to 10%. Despite this official stance, talks have been initiated around this proposal, attributing the potential increment to the requirement for additional funding to cater to the escalating needs of the country’s ageing populace. From the Office of Fiscal Economy, Pornchai Thiravej, the director, shed…
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Beautiful Taiwanese woman’s struggle with Samoyed dog goes viral
The captivating video of a beautiful woman attempting to guide a Samoyed dog across the road has gone viral in Taiwan’s online world. The video was shared by a man on his Facebook group, revealing that he was on Jonghekgwongfu Road, New Taipei City around noon yesterday. The woman, having a hard time leading the large Samoyed across the zebra…
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Pha Ngan businesses raise awareness of Full Moon Party’s weeklong events
August hosts a rare occurrence, two full moons in one month. In Thailand that can only mean two Full Moon Parties, with the second on August 31. Now a group of local businesses have banded together to spread awareness that full moon festivities have grown from a single one-night party to a week of events at venues all over the…
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Thunderstruck: TMD predicts stormy weather across 32 provinces and Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warned of thunderstorms and stormy weather across 32 provinces, with Bangkok expected to experience heavy rainfall in 20% of its areas. The southwest monsoon is predicted to cover the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is stormy and a trough is to pass over Myanmar’s upper region…
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Liquid dreams: Thailand’s Pilatus Marine charts global growth with 1.05 billion baht vessel acquisition
Pilatus Marine, a SET-listed company and Thailand’s leading liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transport operator, is set to acquire three large used liquid-carrying vessels for a total cost of 1.05 billion baht. This move is aimed at expanding their services overseas. Operating in both marine and land transport of LPG, Pilatus Marine also leases vessels to other companies. The incoming ships,…
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