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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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Aussie tourists support Pattaya restaurant owner after dine-and-dash incident
A heartwarming turn of events unfolded as a group of friends came together to support a local restaurant owner who had previously experienced an unfortunate incident in Pattaya, Thailand. The owner, Jinwara Rebedef, had recently fallen victim to a dine-and-dash customer at his Kin Kab Kia restaurant on Thepprasit Road. The story (read HERE) caught the attention of Paul Kinsey…
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Blinken likely to reschedule China visit amid easing tensions
A rescheduled visit to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is anticipated in the coming weeks, as both nations attempt to ease tensions. Blinken’s initial trip in February was cancelled after the US detected and subsequently shot down a Chinese espionage balloon over its territory. However, recent talks in Beijing involving senior US officials, including Daniel Kritenbrink, the…
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Thief smashes donation box at Chiang Mai temple, gets caught and confesses
Chiang Mai police have arrested a 24 year old Myanmar national, accused of stealing a donation box from Chedi Luang Worawihan temple and other thefts in the area. The suspect confessed to the crimes after being detained for a separate incident involving stolen motorcycles. Investigating the case, Police Lieutenant Colonel Phuwanat Duangdi, the superintendent for Chiang Mai’s local police, reported…
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Thailand’s TPIPP allocates 14 billion baht to phase out coal by 2026
TPI Polene Power Plc (TPIPP), the leading waste-to-energy project developer and operator in Thailand, is set to continue its five-year capital expenditure plan of 14 billion baht. The plan, which began last year, aims to replace coal usage with renewable energy sources and increase the company’s power generation capacity. TPIPP has earmarked 3 billion baht for projects focused on reducing…
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Record 13 million Chinese students tackle gaokao exams after zero-COVID rules lifted
A record-breaking 13 million Chinese students are set to take the notoriously challenging “gaokao” college entrance exams this year, following the lifting of the country’s zero-COVID rules. These exams, which test high school students on subjects such as Chinese, English, mathematics, and their preferred science or humanities subjects, play a crucial role in securing places at China’s top universities. “I’ve…
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Weight-loss jabs offered by GPs may ease NHS obesity crisis
Weight-loss injections may soon be offered to some patients by GPs in England as a means to combat obesity-related illnesses and alleviate pressure on hospitals. The drug Wegovy has been approved for use within the NHS after studies indicated that users could lose over 10% of their body weight. Wegovy works by suppressing appetite, causing users to feel full and…
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Desperate search: Loved ones cross borders to find missing Chinese woman
Concerned family members and friends of the Chinese woman who went missing last week on the Thai-Myanmar border arrived in Thailand to try and find her. Two videos featuring Chong Sumyee, also known as Angie, have emerged, providing information about her whereabouts. The mother, brother, and friends of Angie arrived in Chiang Mai province yesterday, June 6. Angie’s mother, 51…
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Phuket orders small boats to stay ashore until Saturday amid heavy weather
In Phuket, a ban has been issued on boats shorter than 10 metres leaving the shore until Saturday, June 10, due to heavy weather conditions. The order, issued by Phuket Marine Office Chief Natchaphong Pranit, applies to all sailing and motor yachts up to 32.8 feet. The ban comes as a reminder of the importance of safety measures in the maritime industry,…
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Ghost hunter investigates eerie ex-DJ’s flat after haunting reports
After the mysterious death of a former DJ, whose body was found at a rental residence in Rayong province, a ghost hunter is investigating. This case drew the attention of Dr. Jiranphan Phetkhaw, a well-known psychic. Locals claimed to have seen the DJ’s ghost, while investigations into the cause of death continue. Dr. Jiranphan visited the room in the early hours…
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AI boom offers productivity boost, defying dotcom bubble fears
Despite the hype surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) since Microsoft’s investment in ChatGPT back in January this year, the buzz in the markets is far from the excesses of the dot-com bubble. The recent rise in Nvidia’s market capitalisation, reaching US$1 trillion, has raised some eyebrows. However, the AI boom has a more solid foundation. The decline in Big Tech stocks…
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SEC seeks to freeze Binance US assets amid web of deception claims
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sought a temporary restraining order from a federal court to freeze the US assets of leading cryptocurrency exchange Binance. This development follows the recent lawsuit filed by US regulators against Binance and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao, accusing them of operating a “web of deception.” The pressure on the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange…
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EU mulls mandatory ban on high-risk 5G firms like Huawei
The European Union is contemplating a compulsory prohibition on member states utilising firms that may present a security threat in their 5G networks, which includes China’s Huawei Technologies, according to the Financial Times. This decision is a reaction to growing apprehensions in Brussels regarding specific national governments postponing measures on the issue, as reported by officials. In 2020, the EU…
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Japan debates bill redefining rape to include non-consensual intercourse
Days after being raped, Megumi Okano knew that the attacker would likely escape punishment. Megumi, who uses “they” as a personal pronoun, knew the man and where to find him. However, they also knew that Japanese authorities were unlikely to consider the incident as rape. As a result, Megumi, a university student, decided not to report the incident to the…
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Thailand aims for 300k digital volunteers to boost village tech accessibility
A collaboration agreement between the Office of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission (ONDE) and nine other agencies was signed yesterday, aiming to increase the number of digital volunteers in Thailand to 300,000 by 2024. The primary goal is to enhance the accessibility and comprehension of digital technology among villagers across the country. The plan involves establishing a digital…
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Boeing halts 787 Dreamliner deliveries again due to manufacturing issue
Boeing announced on June 6 that the delivery of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft has once again been delayed due to a manufacturing issue. This is the latest in a series of setbacks that have affected the two-aisle jet. The company stated that it is currently inspecting fittings on the horizontal stabiliser, a part of the tail, for a “nonconforming condition.”…
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American transwoman marries Thai woman, fuelling hopes for future of same sex marriage (video)
In a heartwarming story that transcended stereotypes, an American transwoman married her Thai partner in Thailand on Sunday, June 4. They hope their same-sex union will be accepted in the country. The touching tale gained widespread attention after a popular Thai makeup artist, known as Wave Make Up on TikTok, shared videos of the couple, introducing them to the online…
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Thai Buddhist monk’s daily life TikTok goes viral (video)
A video showing a day in the life of a Thai Buddhist monk went viral, garnering over 600,000 views within hours, as the TikTok vlog gained praise from netizens and increased interest in monastic life. Yesterday a Thai Buddhist monk using the TikTok handle @mek_tc posted a video blog (Vlog) offering a glimpse into the daily life of a monk.…
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Drunk driver hits motorcyclist, injures pedestrian before crash in Bangkok
A motorcyclist tragically lost her life when she was struck by a drunken pickup truck driver, who then went on to hit another woman. The driver, a 57 year old man, claimed he had a blackout caused by pre-existing health problems. The collision occurred yesterday at approximately 9pm, in the vicinity of the entrance to Soi Krungthep Kreetha 45, Thap…
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Notorious Taipei noodle shop employee caught wringing dirty rag into soup pot
A video showing an employee at a famous beef noodle shop in Taipei, Taiwan squeezing dirty rag into a soup pot has sparked outrage online. The longer video potentially contradicts the owner’s insistence that they did not use the water in preparing dishes for customers. According to the report, a delivery driver who witnessed the incident on June 4 while…
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Clop gang ultimatum to MOVEit hack victims: email before 14 June or data leaked
A cybercrime gang believed to be operating from Russia has issued a deadline to victims of a global hacking attack, warning that stolen data will be published if they fail to contact the group by June 14. The Clop group posted the notice on the dark web, targeting organisations affected by the MOVEit hack. Over 100,000 employees at the BBC,…
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Isle of Man TT racer dies in crash, organisers confirm
A tragic accident occurred during the Isle of Man TT Races, resulting in the death of Raul Torras Martinez, 46 years old. The fatal crash took place during the year’s first Supertwin Race at Alpine, between the 16th and 17th mile markers on the final lap of the three-lap race. The organisers released a statement acknowledging the loss of the…
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Prince Harry accuses Mirror Group of illegal info gathering in court
In an ongoing legal battle, Prince Harry has attended the High Court, accusing Mirror Group Newspapers of illegally obtaining information for stories about him. Sky News provided a transcription of the Duke of Sussex’s statements and recreated his court appearance using an actor. Here are five key moments from Harry’s first day in court. Questioning the source of information Prince…
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Quebec wildfires cause hazy skies and poor air quality in Ontario and US
Hazy skies and poor air quality have been reported in parts of Ontario and the northeastern United States due to smoke from over 150 wildfires burning in the Canadian province of Quebec. Environment Canada issued a “special air quality” statement for Ottawa and Toronto, warning of high levels of air pollution caused by smoke from the forest fires. The smoke…
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Oliver Stone’s Nuclear Now documentary champions atomic energy
Renowned Hollywood director Oliver Stone remains a staunch advocate for nuclear power, even amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. In his latest documentary, Nuclear Now, Stone argues that the dangers of nuclear power have been greatly exaggerated, especially when compared to the devastating impact of fossil fuels on human health and the environment. Based on research from the book A…
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Chris Christie joins 2024 presidential race, targets Trump and DeSantis
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has officially entered the race for the United States presidency in 2024, joining a growing list of Republican candidates. Having filed the necessary paperwork on Tuesday, Christie is set to launch his campaign at an event in New Hampshire. Known as a pragmatic conservative, Christie previously ran for president in 2016 but withdrew after…
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Judge hears case to reveal Prince Harry’s US immigration records
A federal judge in Washington DC has started hearing arguments in a lawsuit that aims to make the Duke of Sussex’s US immigration records public. The conservative Heritage Foundation has filed the lawsuit, seeking to force the government to reveal the records to determine whether Prince Harry, 38, disclosed his past drug use. The outcome of the case may take…
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Christie enters 2024 race targeting Trump, hindered by low Republican support
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has entered the 2024 race for the White House with one primary goal: to hinder Donald Trump’s campaign. However, Christie’s low popularity among Republicans could obstruct his efforts to directly challenge Trump. Christie’s unsuccessful bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination saw him endorse Trump early on, but he now seeks to bring the…
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Atlanta council approves £25m Cop City despite protests and environmental concerns
The Atlanta City Council has given the green light for additional funding towards a contentious police training centre, which has been the subject of protests for almost two years. The council members voted to allocate US$31m (£25m) towards the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, commonly referred to as “Cop City” by its detractors. The centre was initially…
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SNP’s Ian Blackford to step down as MP at next general election
Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has announced his intention to step down as MP for Ross, Skye, and Lochaber at the upcoming general election. Blackford has held the position since 2015 when he defeated ex-Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy. He led the SNP’s Westminster group for half a decade, facing four Conservative prime ministers during question time in the…
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Elderly woman’s death prompts criminal probe into police escorting Duchess
A criminal investigation is underway following the tragic death of an 81-year-old woman who was struck by a police motorbike escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh. Helen Holland was hit at a junction in Earl’s Court, West London, on May 10. The police officer riding the vehicle is being investigated for offences, including causing death by dangerous driving, by the Independent…
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