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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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Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you
Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...
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Thai man arrested for stealing from Bangkok laundrettes
Thai police arrested a man suspected of breaking into coin-operated machines at several laundrettes in Bangkok. Despite his attempts to evade detection by adjusting surveillance cameras, he was ultimately caught. Police Lieutenant General Thiti Saengsawang, Police Major General Noppasil Poolwasawat, Pol. Maj. Gen. Teeradech Thammasuthee, and Colonel Niwat Phuenguthaisri, along with their investigative teams, successfully apprehended 29 year old Chaiyanan.…
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Urgent call for O-negative blood donations in Phuket
A call for urgent blood donations has been issued by the RH-Emergency Donation group to aid a Frenchman in dire need of O-negative blood. The plea highlights the scarcity of this blood type among the Thai population, underscoring the importance of donations from Westerners. This urgent request was made through a Facebook post, emphasising the critical need for O-negative blood…
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Ex-PM Thaksin’s Dubai dreams dashed: Medical treatment declined
The Criminal Court dashed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s hopes of jetting off to Dubai for medical treatment. The embattled ex-leader requested to travel to the UAE from August 1 to 16, citing a slew of health issues, including chronic pneumonia, respiratory and coronary symptoms, a torn right rotator cuff, and spinal disc herniation. Thaksin, who celebrated his 75th birthday last…
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Phuket police seize nearly 3 kilogrammes of crystal meth in Rawai
Phuket police apprehended two men in possession of nearly 3 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine at a residence on Saiyuan Road in Rawai. The arrests, executed by the Crime Suppression Division of the Phuket Provincial Police, were led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phichit Thongto yesterday. A 47 year old man, Tribut Samaktalay, aka Tor, who is registered as living in Moo 4,…
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Love and lies: Thai man turns to influencer after wife’s affair with rescuer
A Thai man in Chon Buri sought protection from social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet after catching his wife having sex with her “darling” lover, a volunteer rescuer. The Thai man, christened “that bastard” by his girlfriend, later faced violent threats from her lover and his friends. The 42 year old engineer, identified only as A, held a press conference…
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Khon Kaen residents find bag of 134,000 meth pills by roadside
Residents in Khon Kaen stumbled upon a black bag containing 134,000 methamphetamine pills (meth) discarded by a roadside. Police are investigating fingerprints left behind to track down the drug trafficking network involved. Police Colonel Pichai Nakhundi, head of the Manchakhiri Police Station, explained that the drugs were found on the route between Ban Burana and Ban Nong Hai in Phon…
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Crackdown reveals 2,000 fake vehicle registrations in Thailand
Royal Thai Police launched an operation titled Crackdown on Illegal Vehicles Flooding the City, leading to the search of four locations and the discovery of over 2,000 fake registrations, including a single registration number used on 26 vehicles. The operation, conducted yesterday, involved the Crime Suppression Division and the Department of Land Transport (DLT). Senior officers including Sopon Saraphat, Montri…
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Thailand to send 900 workers to Finland for berry picking
Thailand’s Minister of Labour discussed with Finland’s Minister of Employment plans to send 900 Thai workers to pick wild berries. The safety, welfare, and benefits of the workers are guaranteed, with strict visa and work permit checks in place. Minister of Labour Pipat Ratchakitprakarn engaged in a video conference with Finland’s Minister of Employment Arto Satonen and his team. The…
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Renowned monk electrocuted in tragic accident at Lampang temple
A revered monk, known for his significant contributions to a famous temple in Lampang, was fatally electrocuted in his quarters. The 75 year old monk, Luang Pu Sa-ad Kusoljittho, was found alongside a massage device, which is believed to have caused the fatal accident. Officers from Kokha Police Station received the distressing report around 9.35am today, July 31. They, along…
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Tour bus crash in Pattaya injures Chinese tourists and motorcyclist
A tour bus filled with Chinese tourists collided with a truck while en route to Pattaya last night, resulting in multiple injuries. The incident occurred at 4.30pm, July 30, on Route 36 (Katinglai-Rayong) in the Nong Plalai sub-district of Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Responding swiftly to the scene were Bang Lamung Police, reporters, and rescue workers from the…
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Thai Olympic boxer Somluck denies sexual assault charges in court
A Thai Olympic boxing hero arrived at Khon Kaen Provincial Court today, confident he could prove his innocence against sexual assault charges. The 51 year old boxer, Somluck Khamsing, and his close aide Pichet Chinaehantha, accompanied by their lawyer, attended court for the first hearing today, July 31, which involved the examination of evidence and witness lists. Prosecutors have indicted…
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AirAsia launches direct flights from Phuket to India
AirAsia Thailand unveiled new direct flight routes from Phuket to Chennai and Kolkata, promising seamless travel to paradise from two of India’s major cities. Starting from October 27, these flights will offer travellers a convenient gateway to Phuket’s pristine beaches, vibrant cultural scenes, and delectable seafood. The Chennai-Phuket route will operate thrice weekly, while the Kolkata-Phuket connection will take off…
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Drug-addicted Thai man’s petrol fury leaves neighbours in critical condition
A drug-addicted Thai man with a mental illness set fire to three neighbours on Sunday in the central province of Lopburi on the night. Two victims are in a critical condition. The incident took place at about 7pm on Sunday, July 28, at the house of one of the victims in the Ngew Rai sub-district, Mueang district, Lopburi. The three injured…
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Activist Parit Chiwarak sentenced to two years for lese majeste
The criminal court of Thailand sentenced political activist Parit Chiwarak, also known as Penguin, to three years in prison for lese majeste, later reduced to two years without suspension. An arrest warrant has been issued for him to serve the sentence within a 10-year statute of limitations. The verdict was delivered today, July 31, at 10am at Criminal Court Room…
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Steel plate falls on car on Rama 2 Road, Bangkok, during storm
A steel plate fell onto a vehicle on Rama 2 Road, Bangkok, due to turbulent weather and strong winds, prompting a three-day suspension of work and compensation for those affected. The incident occurred on July 29 at approximately 11.45am. Sarawut Songsiwilai, Director-General of the Department of Highways, addressed the incident where a steel plate fell onto the bonnet of a…
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Pathum Thani prosecutor’s fake certification scandal
Controversy erupted after a prosecutor in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani province, allegedly endorsed a fake prosecutor named Mongkol, granting him a rank equivalent to a level five prosecutor despite lacking the legal authority to do so. Reports emerged that a certification letter, signed on March 26 last year by the Thanyaburi prosecutor’s office on Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road, Pathum Thani, was…
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Paws for thought: Orphaned dogs named after 28 Thai provinces
The Voice Foundation is urgently seeking new homes for 28 small-sized dogs, all named after Thai provinces, following the death of their owner in Khlong Sam Wa district, Bangkok. The story has captivated the public, with the foundation’s unique naming scheme for the dogs catching widespread attention. The dogs were discovered after a concerned neighbour noticed the absence of their…
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Gunman sought after shooting at molam singer’s car in Khon Kaen
A gunman has been issued with an arrest warrant after shooting at a molam singer’s car, peppering it with bullets. Police detained a woman who was in the car during the incident and questioned her for two hours. Tanadol Ballangsaprom, a 25 year old molam singer and owner of the band Sua Theeraphon Chailert, reported the shooting to the Khon…
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Duty-free shutdown drama: Thai airports set to lose big bucks
Airports of Thailand (AOT) is bracing for a colossal monthly loss of 143 million baht after announcing the closure of all duty-free shops in the arrivals areas of five major airports. This shocking move, aimed at boosting domestic spending, was approved by the Cabinet on July 2 and will come into effect on August 1. The closure affects duty-free shops…
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Chiang Rai officials seize six million meth pills, arrest two suspects
Officials in Chiang Rai intensified efforts to intercept drugs along the northern border, resulting in the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of six million methamphetamine pills, along with a pickup truck and a large motorcycle. Narit Thavornwong, Commander of the Drug Suppression and Prevention Command, yesterday, July 30, revealed that enhanced measures have been implemented along the borders…
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Chinese woman rescued from 15 million baht virtual kidnapping
Thai police rescued a Chinese woman in Bangkok from a virtual kidnapping after a call centre scam gang tricked her into staging a kidnap and extorting 15 million baht from her parents. The Chinese man, Liang Luihua, hired a Thai woman, Napaphat Noppasettakarn, to file a complaint at Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station after his daughter, 21 year old Wang Jia…
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Motorbike taxi driver assaults UAE tourists in Patong
Patong Police are still yet to confirm any action taken against a motorbike taxi driver who assaulted two tourists from the United Arab Emirates in Soi Saen Sabai on July 29. The incident took place in front of the Hallo Massage shop, leaving the two tourists injured. The police were alerted to the situation around 10pm. The victims, identified as…
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Udon Thani noodle shop owner fined for pavement obstruction
Thai officials confirmed that the removal of tables and chairs from a noodle shop obstructing the pavement and road in Ban Dung district, Udon Thani province, was carried out in accordance with the law. The shop owner admitted to causing inconvenience and revealed that he and his nine year old daughter have been selling noodles since the early hours of…
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Thailand-based Ling app scoops language learning Olympic gold
From the heart of Chiang Mai, the Ling App has carved a unique niche in the global market with its recent App Store spotlight for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This innovative language-learning tool from Thailand is not just another app, it’s a traveller’s essential must-have, crafted to enhance the Parisian adventures of athletes and spectators alike. Amidst a…
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Vaping troubles: British tourists warned of costly holiday mistake
British tourists heading abroad this summer are being warned of a costly mistake that could ruin their holiday. E-cigarette smokers need to be aware of strict anti-vaping laws in popular South East Asian destinations. The penalties for breaking these rules range from hefty fines to imprisonment. Countries like Thailand and Singapore have some of the strictest vaping bans in the…
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Drunk driver in Ayutthaya leads police on high-speed chase
A man driving a red four-door pickup truck with blaring loudspeakers along Phahonyothin Road in Ayutthaya attempted to evade police, resulting in a high-speed chase. He was eventually apprehended and found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 234 milligrammes percent. Ayutthaya Police received reports from concerned citizens about a red pickup truck driving erratically and playing loud music on…
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3 Chinese nationals arrested in Bangkok for call centre scam
Officers from the Provincial Police Region 2 Investigation Division arrested three Chinese nationals at a condominium in the Prawet district of Bangkok on July 19 for running a call centre scam using a SIM box to contact targeted victims. The Investigation Division of Provincial Police Region 2 explored the scammers who used the SIM boxes or GSM Gateways to remotely…
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Worker found electrocuted in Chon Buri camp holding wire cutters
A woman found the lifeless body of a missing worker, who had been electrocuted and was holding a pair of scissors tightly, in his room. Police are investigating the incident that took place last night. Police Lieutenant Pacharak Suriya from Huai Yai Police Station reported receiving a distress call at 7pm yesterday, July 30, about a death at an unnumbered…
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Shameless Buriram school insists janitor pays 25,000 baht pickup bill
A shameless school in Buriram has driven a school janitor into poverty after insisting he pays for repairs to the old school bus he drives. The unnamed school insists he pays a 25,000 baht repair bill despite being on a modest monthly salary of 10,000 baht. Kritsana Pitakkoet has been employed as a janitor at a local school for more than…
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Golden eel discovery sparks lottery frenzy in Kamphaeng Phet
A peculiar discovery in Kamphaeng Phet has captivated local villagers, who flocked to witness a rare golden eel found by a farmer. The unusual find sparked a wave of superstitions and dreams among the community, leading to a frenzy of lottery number predictions. At 3pm yesterday, news reporters visited house number 17 in Moo 4, Wang Yang Subdistrict, Khlong Khlung…
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