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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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Thai police suspend eight officers over online gambling probe
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) chief has signed an order to temporarily remove eight close aides of former Police General Surachate Hakparn, better known as Big Joke, from their positions, pending a serious disciplinary investigation related to an online gambling case. National Police Chief Police General Torsak Sukwimol issued the directive yesterday, September 2, appointing an investigation committee to look into…
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Central Fraud Register curbs mule accounts in Thai banking sector
The banking industry has taken a significant step towards curbing financial fraud by introducing a Central Fraud Register (CFR) system, designed to facilitate data-sharing and clamp down on mule accounts. In a joint effort with the Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA), the Bank of Thailand (BoT) began implementing this system last month, targeting the prevention and eradication of financial fraud related…
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Thai chamber warns flood damages may exceed 10 billion baht
The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) raised alarms over the economic repercussions of the ongoing floods in northern Thailand. Should the flooding persist for another month, financial damage could surpass 10 billion baht, officials warn. Estimates from the TCC and the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce reveal that if conditions improve within the next two weeks, the current…
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Thai man walks over 200km to hospital for daughter’s treatment
A Thai man walked over 200 kilometres to take his one year old daughter, who suffers from heart disease and a severe lung infection, to a hospital in Chiang Mai‘s city centre. A rescue team came to his aid after observing him weeping by the roadside. The rescuer from the Nopparat Rescue Foundation in Chiang Mai offered a free ride…
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Crackdown on financial crimes suspends 34,000 bank accounts
The Thai Bankers Association (TBA) announced a significant crackdown on financial crimes, blacklisting 15,000 individuals and suspending 34,000 bank accounts linked to call centre scams. TBA Chairman Payong Srivanich revealed today, September 2, that the association’s new AI-driven system, the Cross-Reference File (CRF), uncovered over 15,000 people involved in money laundering schemes. This system, which has been analysing data from…
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Man fatally attacks friend over allegedly rape attempt on his girlfriend
The family of a 44 year old Thai man is seeking justice after he was fatally attacked by his 20 year old friend, over a rape attempt on the attacker’s 14 year old girlfriend at a house in the Isaan province of Roi Et. The victim’s sister disclosed to Channel 7 yesterday, September 1, that her older brother, 44 year…
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Transport Minister reiterates commitment to Land Bridge Project
The Pheu Thai-led government remains dedicated to advancing the land bridge project, aiming to enhance benefits for the nation and foster sustainable economic growth, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Juangroongruangkit. In an update on the initiative, which will connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea, Suriya explained that the Office of Transport and…
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Second-hand tsunami: Used car flood drives Thai sellers to despair
A torrent of high-quality used cars flooding the market might sound like a bargain hunter’s dream but it’s turning into a nightmare for sellers. While buyers drive off with the deals, automakers in Thailand are hitting potholes trying to move new stock, and used car dealers are struggling to keep sales engines running. The second-hand car market skidded to a…
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Game on: Thailand to level up with new Game Industry Act
Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry is set to draft the Game Industry Act, aiming to address the rapid growth of the video game sector, valued at 40 billion baht annually. The initiative also seeks to position Thailand as a key player in the regional gaming market, according to the ministry. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and Chief Executive of the Digital…
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Accidental self-praise of Democrat Party MP amuses Thai netizens
Democrat Party MP Date-it Khaothong has become a laughing stock among Thai netizens after he posted a comment praising himself on Facebook. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, has been selected as the new Prime Minister of Thailand. However, she has not yet officially begun her duties, as she awaits royal endorsement. Her new Cabinet has also yet…
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Phuket’s road to relief: Green light at the end of the traffic tunnel
Phuket’s long-awaited new road linking Kathu and Srisoonthorn is finally getting the green light, thanks to generous land donations from three of the island’s most prominent families. Local bigwigs have confirmed the long-stalled project is now full speed ahead. The Ekwanich, Kulwanich, and Saksaktawee families have handed over the land needed for the ambitious 5.6-kilometre road, designed to ease traffic…
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TAT targets 12.2 million foreign visitors in late 2024
Thailand anticipates a surge in foreign arrivals, targeting 12.2 million visitors in the final four months of 2024. This influx is projected to elevate the annual total to nearly 36 million, generating 1.8 trillion baht in revenue, as reported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). According to TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the market’s growth is expected to benefit from…
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Teen motorcyclist dies in head-on crash on his birthday
A 19 year old motorcyclist tragically lost his life on his birthday after colliding with a pickup truck while riding against traffic in heavy rain. The accident occurred yesterday, September 1, revealing a poignant coincidence with the motorbike’s registration plate matching his birth date. The incident took place at 11.50pm the previous night on Highway 3056, in front of Wat…
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Thai family accuses government official of six-year harassment
A Thai family in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima accused their government official neighbour of six years of anti-social harassment. The allegations include throwing glass bottles and rubbish at the family and attempting to physically attack a family member. The 50 year old woman sought help from social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet after police officers in Nakhon Ratchasima…
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Murky waters: Shady investors dive into Koh Chang land grab
Fresh fears are bubbling up in Koh Chang, Trat province, as sneaky investors with murky ties have started to snap up land. Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn, National Parks Office Director, raised the red flag on these shady dealings. “Private investors are buying swathes of land from locals, and we suspect sinister connections behind these transactions. The government and local officials need to…
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Police crack down on illegal residents, gambling in Samut Prakan
Immigration officers in Samut Prakan recently conducted a sweeping crackdown on illegal foreign residents and unlawful gambling activities. The operation, which took place yesterday, September 1, was led by high-ranking officials including Police Lieutenant General Itthipol Itthisarnronnachai. Police targeted the area in Samrong Nua subdistrict, Mueang Samut Prakan district. The directive for this crackdown came from Police Major General Natthakorn…
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Thai taxi driver attacked by passenger for overcharging (video)
A Thai taxi driver is seeking justice after a male passenger attacked him for overcharging on a roadside in the Sathorn district of Bangkok. The taxi driver, Pipol Sawangsuk, shared three videos showing him in a heated argument with the passenger on a footpath along Chan Road in Bangkok on Saturday, August 31. He later shared another video explaining the…
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Thai man arrested for launching Internet cables across border
A joint task force in Tak apprehended a resourceful individual who was using a water rocket launcher to extend Internet cables across the border into Myanmar for Chinese clients. The suspect admitted that was hired by Thai individuals from across the border. Yesterday, September 1, a joint task force comprising the 431st Infantry Company, local administrative officers from Mae Sot…
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Foreign wheeled-dealers busted: Koh Pha Ngan car crackdown
Police in Surat Thani nabbed two foreign nationals on Koh Pha Ngan for illegally renting out vehicles. The crackdown happened yesterday, September 1, with a 60 year old Russian man and an 18 year old Ukrainian man being detained. Tourist police and local officials swooped in on the Russian at an unregistered house in Moo 1 village, where they seized…
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Stepfather arrested in Nonthaburi for alleged year-long child abuse
Thai police apprehended a stepfather for sexually abusing his eight year old stepdaughter for nearly a year. The suspect, 36 year old Wichan, denies the allegations and challenges the evidence. Police remain sceptical of his claims. A joint operation of the Metropolitan Police and criminal investigation trainees led to the arrest at a residence in Bang Si Mueang, Nonthaburi, following…
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Cambodian motorcyclist killed in Chon Buri crash with Porsche
A Cambodian motorcyclist was tragically killed in a high-impact crash with a luxury Porsche in Chon Buri. The deadly collision happened at 3.06am yesterday, September 1, on Soi Chaiyapreuk 2, Huay Yai. Local police and rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rushed to the scene. The aftermath of the crash was dramatic, with tyre marks stretching over 10…
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Rising tourism in Thailand to boost sluggish motorcycle market
Increased tourism activity later this year is anticipated to boost Thailand’s domestic motorcycle market, which has experienced sluggish sales in the first seven months of 2024, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Surapong Paisitpatanapong, Vice-Chairman of the FTI and spokesperson for its Automotive Industry Club, stated that the number of foreign tourist arrivals is on the rise and…
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Free rides on Bangkok’s upgraded BRT system for two months
Passengers can now enjoy free rides on Bangkok’s newly upgraded Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for the next two months, according to a transport official from the operating company. This new service, which started yesterday, September 1, features electric buses that have replaced the old ones running on natural gas for vehicles (NGV) after more than 14 years of use.…
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Pattaya eyes one-way system traffic shake-up to Soi Buakhao
Local government officials in Pattaya are considering extending their new one-way traffic system, currently operating on Soi 11 (Soi Honey) and Soi 13 (Soi Diana Inn), to Soi Buakhao. The move follows a successful trial and positive feedback from residents. Led by Anupong Phutthanavarat, the Pattaya City Council’s Committee on Administration and Public Safety recently visited these streets to evaluate…
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Thai team wins UN award for Covid-19 detection via wastewater
A research team from Chulalongkorn University clinched a United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA) for Innovation in Public Institutions. This UN award was given for their work titled Academic Insight into Action for Pandemic Response during a recent ceremony in Seoul, South Korea. This award-winning study addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals on health and well-being as well as clean…
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US officials’ alert leads to arrest of Thai photographer on child porn
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers arrested a Thai photographer at his home in the central province of Samut Sakhon on Saturday for possession of child pornography. The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), based in the US, reached out to the Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children Unit after discovering child pornography on a cloud storage account belonging…
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Thailand video news | 18 year old killed by American Bully dogs in Lopburi, Indonesia to reform Bali tourism amid growing concerns
In Thailand video news, Jay covers stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia countries. The news stories include a tragic incident in Lopburi as an 18 year old man was fatally attacked by his brother’s American Bully dogs, while flash floods in Sukhothai collapsed a major road and affected thousands of residents. Meanwhile, gunfire erupted in a Yala market after…
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Labour minister to investigate measures to save social security fund
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn vowed to investigate measures to avert a potential collapse of the Social Security Fund (SSF) within the next decade due to funding shortfalls. The SSF, currently holding 2.6 trillion baht, is projected to grow to at least 4 trillion baht by 2034, according to the Thailand Development Research Institute and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Despite…
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Residents protest 200-billion-baht dam project in Phrae
Approximately 150 residents from Tambon Sa-Ieab in Phrae‘s Song district gathered yesterday, September 1 to protest against the proposed Kaeng Sue Ten dam project, arguing it would impact thousands of households and devastate over 10,000 rai of prime forest. The protesters, who assembled at Wat Sri Don Chai, voiced their disapproval of politicians advocating for the dam‘s revival following recent…
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2 Burmese wanted for killing 3, including pregnant woman and child
Police officers in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan are searching for two Burmese men who allegedly killed a fellow countryman, his pregnant wife, and their seven year old daughter for 50,000 baht in cash. A Thai employer revealed how he hired a 40 year old Burmese man named Saw to work on his rubber plantation. However, Saw was…
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