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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 Top 10 reasons for expats to get a comprehensive health insurance in Thailand
Moving to Thailand offers a prospect full of excitement and adventure, but in the same vein, if any injuries were to occur (and god forbid it does), the local healthcare system can be confusing at first glance for many expats...
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Taiwan permits joint adoption for same-sex couples in marriage equality milestone
Taiwan‘s parliament approved an amendment permitting same-sex couples to adopt children jointly, a significant milestone for marriage equality in the country. Taiwan has been a leader in Asia’s growing LGBTQ+ rights movement since becoming the first nation in the region to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019. However, same-sex couples still faced limitations, such as being unable to adopt children together.…
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Thai cyanide serial killer reveals cyanide source, x-husband implicated
The Thai cyanide serial killer, Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn, yesterday made a shocking confession to investigating officers that she obtained the poison from her now-dead ex-husband. While Sararat has yet to confess to any murders, she did acknowledge giving cyanide to her late husband, Suttisak “Dae” Poonkwan, as well as one of the victims, Siriporn “Koy” Khanwong. Police Officer Namkiat Theerarojanapong…
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Future MFP MP arrested for drink driving in Bangkok
A soon-to-be Member of Parliament from Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP) was arrested for drink driving in Bangkok in the early hours of the morning. Today, she apologised for her behaviour and announced her resignation from the party. The drink driver held the 27th spot on the MFP’s party list, meaning she would have definitely become an MP once MFP…
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Dresden heist verdicts due: Historic jewels’ fate hangs in balance
A German court is set to announce verdicts for six members of a criminal gang accused of stealing priceless 18th-century jewels from Dresden’s Green Vault museum in a heist dubbed the biggest in modern history by German media. The theft, which occurred in November 2019, saw the criminals make off with artefacts worth over US$123 million. The trial, which began…
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Active gunman training in Thailand with FBI boosts police crime response
In a proactive move to address the increase in crime, Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Torsak Sukwimon organised an active gunman training session yesterday. The event took place at the Border Patrol Police Headquarters in the Cha-am district of Phetchaburi province, located in western Thailand. A total of 150 police officers participated in the training, which aimed to enhance…
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Thai tycoon’s firm doubles spending amid tourism boom and economic growth
Asset World Corporation, the property and hotel development unit owned by Thailand‘s wealthiest individual, is set to more than double its spending on acquisitions and development of hotel resorts and commercial properties this year due to the tourism boom. The company plans to invest over 20 billion baht (US$590 million) in 2023, up from around 10 billion baht last year,…
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Vietnam PM approves $134.7bn power plan, unlocking G7 green-transition funds
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has approved a power development plan requiring US$134.7 billion of funding for new power plants and grids, a move that could potentially unlock billions of dollars in foreign investment. The plan, known as PDP8, aims to ensure energy security for the Southeast Asian country while transitioning from its current heavy reliance on coal to…
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Family, friends bid farewell to Thai-British teen murdered in Thailand
UPDATE 3 Family and friends bid farewell to Thai-British teenager Woramet “Ben” Taota in an emotional funeral ceremony held in Lampang province in northern Thailand yesterday. Ben was murdered by local criminal 44 year old Chaiwat in what police suspect to be a drug deal gone wrong. He was last seen riding away from his house on a motorbike with…
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Argentina hikes interest rate to 97% amid soaring inflation and election
Argentina’s central bank has raised its base interest rate by six points to 97% to combat soaring inflation, which reached nearly 109% year-on-year in April. This marks the second increase in less than a month, as the government plans to announce a series of measures to address the economic crisis ahead of the General Election in October. The central bank…
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The Weeknd hints at shedding stage name, embracing Abel Tesfaye identity
Canadian singer-songwriter Abel Tesfaye, widely known as The Weeknd, seems to be taking steps to revert to his birth name after achieving worldwide fame under his stage name reported Bangkok Post. The artist recently changed his display name on social media platforms Twitter and Instagram, although his handles on both sites remained @theweeknd. This change comes after Tesfaye’s remarks in…
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Environmental DNA tracking raises privacy, surveillance concerns
Scientists have recently discovered that environmental DNA (eDNA) could potentially be used to track individuals or even entire ethnic groups, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance. The technique, which can gather a wealth of information from small samples of genetic material, has potential applications in medicine, science, and even criminal investigations. However, the ethical implications of using eDNA in this…
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Six dead, dozens missing in devastating Wellington hostel fire
A devastating fire engulfed a four-storey hostel in Wellington, New Zealand, claiming the lives of at least six people and leaving many others unaccounted for. The blaze at Loafers Lodge hostel raged throughout the night, with 80 firefighters and 20 trucks battling the flames. A total of 52 people were rescued, while the final death toll remains uncertain reported Bangkok…
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Military-backed senators refuse to back MFP form a government
Military-backed senators yesterday told the Move Forward Party (MFP) that they won’t be helping them form a government. The MFP need at least 376 members to form a coalition government but Thai senators said that they won’t be getting any votes from them. They will have to find the votes from somewhere else if they have ambitions to run the…
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China prioritizes education, tech for skilled population and moderate fertility
China is emphasizing the importance of education, science, and technology in developing a skilled population, as the state-backed People’s Daily reported that the country aims for a “moderate fertility” level to support economic growth. The Chinese government has been concerned about the nation’s first population decline in six decades and its rapid ageing, prompting urgent measures to raise the birth…
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Massachusetts man arrested for spying on Chinese dissidents for Beijing
A Massachusetts resident Litang Liang has been detained for allegedly supplying information on Chinese dissidents in the United States to the Chinese government, according to the Justice Department. Liang was arrested on charges of acting as an agent for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without informing US authorities reports Channel News Asia. The news of the 63 year old’s…
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China’s industrial output and retail sales miss forecasts, raising recovery concerns
China‘s industrial output and retail sales growth for April fell short of expectations, indicating the economy experienced a further slowdown at the beginning of the second quarter. This comes amid a series of recent data pointing to a shaky post-pandemic recovery. In April, China’s industrial output increased by 5.6% year-on-year, picking up pace from the 3.9% growth seen in March,…
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Polish man murders and dismembers Ukrainian girlfriend in Bangkok condo
A Polish man allegedly murdered and dismembered his 25 year old Ukrainian girlfriend “Alona” inside a condo room in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. He tried to flee the country via taxi yesterday but was arrested near the border of Cambodia in Sa Keao province last night. Yesterday, police from Wat Phraya Krai Police Station were informed that the body…
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Thai resident hissed off after home turned into a snake pit
In a bizarre incident, a Thai resident discovered that his home was turned into a snake pit by a horde of green snakes after his Naga statue fell to the ground in Rayong, Thailand. The family sought assistance from rescue workers who managed to capture 13 snakes while six others escaped. The snakes found refuge in various parts of the…
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Phuket power outage announced for airport area on May 18
A power outage is set to affect homes and businesses south of Phuket International Airport on Thursday, as announced by the Thalang branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA Thalang). The power cut, scheduled from 9am to 4.30pm, is necessary to allow workers to safely conduct improvements to high-voltage cables in the area, as part of an apartment expansion project.…
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Khon Kaen Chamber urges rapid election endorsement for timely fiscal boost
The Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce urged a swift endorsement of General Election results to ensure the timely allocation of the fiscal 2024 budget for the Thai economy. Channarong Buristrakul, the chamber’s president, stressed the importance of forming a new government without delay and removing any hindrances to effective governance. The chamber emphasized the need for a new government to…
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Centel Q1 net profit soars as tourist arrivals boost hotel recovery
Central Plaza Hotel Plc (Centel) has reported a significant increase in net profit for the first quarter of this year, reaching its highest level since the beginning of the pandemic. This improvement is attributed to a substantial rise in tourist arrivals. In comparison to a net loss of 44 million baht in the first quarter of last year, Centel recorded…
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Thai voters accuse Election Commission of corruption and electoral interference
The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) has been accused of corruption and interfering in the electoral process by voters in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri. Thai voters in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri filed complaints against the EC after the number of votes exceeded the actual number of voters by nearly 5,000. The EC is responsible for overseeing…
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Business sector urges swift government formation for economic stability
The business community in Thailand is urging the formation of a new government and the agreement of policies by coalition parties, as this will significantly impact the nation’s confidence. Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the importance of a stable government that can govern without interruption. He also noted the high level of public engagement in…
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Cyclone Mocha death toll rises in Myanmar as storm spares Rohingya camps
Cyclone Mocha, which swept through the Bay of Bengal, has left 29 people dead as communication is slowly restored to western Myanmar. The cyclone, carrying winds of up to 195 kilometres per hour, is the largest storm to hit the Bay of Bengal in over a decade. While the storm had mostly passed by late Sunday, sparing the refugee camps…
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China’s Afghan position paper reveals reluctance to invest in political solutions
China‘s recent release of an 11-point position paper on Afghanistan demonstrates its growing involvement in international diplomacy. The document, which follows a 12-point position paper on Ukraine, outlines China’s interests in the region with a focus on counterterrorism and combating the Uyghur separatist East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). However, the paper also highlights China’s reluctance to invest significant political capital…
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Biden and Republicans in crunch talks to avert US default risk
President Joe Biden is set to hold crucial debt discussions with top Republican leaders, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, to prevent a potentially damaging US default. The US Treasury has cautioned that the country may run out of funds to pay its bills by June 1, resulting in federal workers not being paid and a likely spike in interest rates,…
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Social media pivotal in Moving Forward Party’s election victory, experts say
The 2023 election results have highlighted the significant role social media played in the Moving Forward Party‘s victory, as digital agencies and communication experts emphasise the importance of appealing content and social media engagement. It has become evident that social media is not just an alternative channel for election campaigns, but a mainstream media channel, reaching 85% of the population,…
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New government urged to tackle living costs, support steel industry
The incoming government, led by the Move Forward Party, has been urged to address the high cost of living and expensive electricity bills while continuing to support the domestic steel industry, according to Somsak Leeswadtrakul, a prominent steel magnate and philanthropist. Tackling the rising cost of living, particularly for low-income earners, should be among the top priorities for the new…
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Inspector Sua’s gambling network busted
A three-day operation targeting a criminal network allegedly connected to a former officer known as “Inspector Sua” has resulted in the arrest of 30 individuals. Law enforcement agencies conducted raids on 39 locations throughout Thailand, detaining suspects on charges of operating a secret organisation, gambling operations, and money laundering collusion. National Police Chief, Pol. Gen. Damrongsak Kittiprapas revealed that significant…
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Erdogan set for 2028 rule extension after defying opposition in Turkey election
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reinforced his reputation as a political survivor after a robust showing in the country’s recent elections, setting the stage for him to extend his tenure as Turkey’s longest-serving leader. At 69 years old, Erdogan has already weathered jail, mass protests, and a violent 2016 coup attempt, but this year’s election seemed to be a…
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