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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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How much travel insurance should cost you in Thailand (By trip length)
When planning a trip to Thailand, travel insurance is a smart investment that can save you from unexpected costs. Whether it’s medical expenses, lost luggage, or trip cancellations, the right coverage can provide peace of mind and financial protection against...
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Russian man arrested in Phuket for teaching riding illegally
Phuket Tourist Police detained a Russian man for illegally working as a motorbike driving instructor in Kathu. Following a tip-off, officers initiated an investigation into motorbike-riding lessons advertised on Instagram. Their inquiries led them to the now-defunct floating market’s parking lot in Kathu, where they apprehended 29 year old Roman Lazarev around 2.30pm yesterday. Upon arrival, officers found Lazarev in…
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Female dugong found dead from illegal fishing nets in Krabi
In a tragic event marking the fourth dugong death caused by fishing equipment this year, a female dugong was discovered dead this morning, entangled in a crab fishing net off Ao Nang Beach, in Krabi Province. The incident was reported by a local tour boat operator who spotted the floating carcass approximately 600 metres from the shore. Staff from the…
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Thai man consumes whale puke to treat gout and nourish his skin
A 54 year old Thai man in the southern province of Satun ate whale puke in the belief that it could cure gout, nourish his skin, and improve his health. During an interview with Channel 3, the Thai man Sinong displayed 3 kilogrammes of whale puke. He explained that he had found the substance near Koh Daeng, an island in…
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Post-pandemic airfares to remain high amid travel surge
Despite a slight relief due to declining jet fuel prices and increased flight capacity, airfares are expected to remain high in the post-pandemic travel surge and are unlikely to revert to pre-pandemic levels soon. AirAsia Aviation’s CEO Bo Lingam spoke on the changes in travelling patterns post-pandemic in an interview. “[The aircraft] load factor is around 90%, this was unheard…
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Heartbreak leads to drink driving arrest of former Buriram monk
Police charged a former Thai monk with drink driving after he was found sleeping with four cases of beer in a sedan car at Pa Kluay Intersection in the Isaan province of Buriram. The suspect claimed he drank hard because a woman tricked him into leaving his monastery before breaking his heart. A local who stumbled upon the former monk,…
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Thai police squash pumpkin smuggling ring from Laos to Mukdahan
The Thai police and related services intercepted an illegal shipment of 1,170 kilogrammes of pumpkins being smuggled from Laos into Mukdahan, Thailand. The suspects fled upon seeing officials, leaving behind the contraband valued at 35,000 baht. A coordinated operation involving the Surasak Montri Army, Phayanakrit Special Task Force, Mukdahan Plant Quarantine Station, Mukdahan Animal Quarantine Station, and Wan Yai Police…
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Civil group to submit climate bill targeting 2035 carbon neutrality
A civil society group is preparing to present a bill to Parliament, aiming to accelerate climate goals while safeguarding local communities’ rights to their natural resources. Coordinator of Thai Climate Justice for All, Kritsada Boonchai, announced that the draft law, the group’s first, intends to support the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “Currently, tackling climate change is a…
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Harman hits the gas with Thailand factory for electronic auto boost
Harman, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics based in the United States, has announced the establishment of its first factory in Southeast Asia, selecting Thailand as the location for its production hub aimed at exporting electronic automotive products. Harman’s head of operations, Sami Krimi, stated his excitement at the project. “Thailand’s extensive experience in the automotive and related industries has encouraged…
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Commerce Ministry monitors 18 categories as transport costs surge
The Commerce Ministry launched a comprehensive monitoring initiative for prices across 18 categories as transport costs for the logistics sector surged by up to 9%. The Director-General of the Internal Trade Department, Wattanasak Sur-Liam, stated that the categories under scrutiny include instant noodles, fresh food, canned food, bagged rice, seasoning sauce, vegetable oil, carbonated drinks, milk and dairy products, electrical…
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Impending impacts of upcoming court rulings on Srettha and MFP
Thailand’s political landscape is set for a significant shift as the upcoming Constitutional Court ruling on the cases of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) leader next month. The outcomes, scheduled for July 3 for the MFP and July 10 for PM Srettha, have the business community on edge, worried about potential disruptions to the…
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PDMO issues 20 billion baht in ESG bonds
The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) is set to issue 20 billion baht in sustainable bonds to institutional investors this year. The public debt advisor for PDMO, Jindarat Viriyataveekul, stated that these bonds are designed for businesses adhering to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Sustainable bonds are a subset of ESG bonds, and PDMO currently has 467 billion baht…
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US equity funds attract record inflows amid Thai market decline
US equity funds have seen the largest inflows this year, spurred by the US economic recovery and expectations of interest rate cuts, while mutual fund investments in Thai stocks have dropped by nearly 10 billion baht, according to Morningstar Research (Thailand). Nearly 7.8 billion baht has been invested in US equity funds this year, marking a 5.04% increase from 2023,…
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Astrology predicts fortune and challenges for all zodiac signs
The astrological forecast reveals significant fortune for 12 zodiac signs, highlighting newfound luck and unexpected opportunities. Following a period of challenges, some signs will see resolutions and improvements, while others need to be cautious of potential betrayals by associates. Topping the list of zodiac signs experiencing immense fortune are Libra and Leo. Despite facing obstacles previously, individuals under these signs…
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Foreigner criticised for hammock stunt on Bangkok billboard (video)
A foreign man is facing backlash after he created a video of himself lying in a hammock hung from a large advertisement billboard near Asoke Intersection in Bangkok. Thai social media account Red Skull shared a video of the foreign man yesterday, June 23, with a caption that read, “Is this the same foreigner from the previous viral video, where he…
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AI to impact less than 4% of Thailand’s service sector jobs
Artificial intelligence (AI) is projected to have a limited impact on employment in Thailand, with fewer than 4% of service sector workers at high risk of being replaced by the technology, according to Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research). A study conducted by Microsoft and LinkedIn revealed that 74% of Thai business leaders, compared to 66% globally, stated they would not hire…
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British pedophile’s 30-year Thai escape leads to 30 new charges
A British pedophile arrested at a London airport after hiding in Thailand for almost 30 years is facing an additional 30 historic sex-related charges. Richard Burrows, one of the UK’s “most wanted” fugitives, saw his 50-year reign of terror come to an end when he was apprehended on Thursday, March 28, at Heathrow Airport after hiding in Thailand and evading…
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Foreign man caught urinating on tuk tuk amid traffic jam in Phuket
A foreign man was caught on camera taking the p*ss on a red tuk tuk in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket on Friday. A video of the incident quickly went viral on Thai social media on Friday, June 21. A Thai baht bus driver shared the video on his Facebook account, เบส ซาโจ้, on Friday with a caption that read,…
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Suspect in Sattahip vanishes from police station after alcohol theft
A daring escape took place yesterday at Sattahip Police Station when a suspect was whisked away by an accomplice, leaving police scrambling for clues. The suspect, who had been apprehended for stealing alcohol from a local mall, managed to flee the scene with the help of a man on a motorcycle. At 1.52pm, the Chief of Sattahip Police Station in…
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Tour bus U-turn results in fatal collision with motorbike in Chon Buri
A tragic accident occurred yesterday at 10.36pm on Highway 36 in Chon Buri when a tour bus made a U-turn and collided with a motorcycle, resulting in a fatality. Rescue units and local police were promptly dispatched to the scene. The tour bus showed damage on the storage compartment door near the rear wheels. Nearby, a Yamaha sports bike was…
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Heavy rainfall warning issued across 56 Thai provinces
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning for heavy rainfall across 56 provinces in Thailand today, affecting 70% of the area, including Bangkok. The public is advised to be cautious of potential flash floods and sudden water surges. The TMD forecasts 24 hours of intense weather conditions due to a strong southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand,…
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Revered monk’s lost diamond ring returned for 50,000 baht
A diamond-studded gold ring, blessed by the revered monk Luang Por Perm and lost during a ceremony, has been returned to its owner, earning the finder a 50,000 baht reward. The story began when a Facebook user, Pong Lotus Ayutthaya, reported losing the precious ring at a merit-making ceremony at Wat Hua Khung in Suphan Buri on June 16. The…
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Ex-general’s house goes up in flames under MFP MP’s watch
A fire erupted last night at a historic half-concrete, half-wooden house in Bangkok, once owned by General Chatichai Choonhavan and now home to Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Tisana Choonhavan. The inferno ignited around 9.30pm, June 23, and was swiftly extinguished within half an hour, but not before causing extensive damage to roughly half of the property. Miraculously, there were…
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Bull-dozed: Wild chase ends in tragic crash near Khao Yai
A wild bull fatally crashed into a cement pillar while chasing a resident near Khao Yai National Park in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima. The incident occurred at 9.40am yesterday, June 23, when park officials received the alarming report. Surasawadee Rueangjab, the headwoman of Pong Ta Long Subdistrict, stated that a resident was gathering vegetables near the park’s boundary when a…
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Tourists flee as tuk tuk leader threatens taxi driver in Patong
A heated confrontation erupted in front of Jungceylon in Patong yesterday when a local tuk tuk leader threatened a metered taxi driver, prompting the taxi’s foreign passengers to quickly exit for their safety. The incident unfolded as the metered taxi was dropping off a customer at the bustling mall. Two foreign tourists entered the taxi, unaware of the turmoil that…
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Thailand warns 43 provinces of flash floods and strong winds
Thailand’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DPMD) issued an urgent alert for 43 provinces to brace for potential flash floods, forest runoff, stagnant flooding, and strong winds. The warning covers the period from today through three days from now. Chaiwat Junthirapong, Director-General of DPMD, revealed that the Central Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Division has been closely monitoring weather conditions and…
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British man found dead in Phuket hotel room, drugs suspected
A 48 year old British man was discovered dead in his hotel room in Cherng Talay, Phuket, prompting an investigation by local police. Police were alerted to the scene in Soi Cherng Talay 14 at 4.30pm yesterday, June 22. The man was found lying on his back on the bed, clad in grey boxer shorts, with his hands tightly clenched.…
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Cobra in new motorcycle sparks three-hour rescue in Ayutthaya
A spitting cobra slithered into a new motorcycle, prompting a three-hour rescue mission by local authorities. The 46 year old owner, who recently acquired the vehicle, believes the snake might bring good luck, as she just received the new license plate. Emergency services in Ayutthaya were alerted by a resident needing assistance to capture a cobra inside a motorcycle parked…
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Motorcyclist with epilepsy dies in crash, girlfriend severely injured
A 25 year old man suffering from epilepsy crashed his motorcycle into a utility pole and died instantly, while his girlfriend sustained severe injuries. His sister revealed he had been using a prosthetic leg for several years and frequently experienced seizures. Police Lieutenant Warachet Dechdecho, an investigator from Phra Samut Chedi Police Station in Samut Prakan province, reported the accident…
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French tourist arrested in Koh Pha Ngan for visa overstay
Thai police apprehended a French tourist, claiming to be a religious leader, who was encouraging other international visitors to join Islamic ceremonies. The individual was found to have overstayed his visa by three months. Police reported that on June 22, police led by Police Major General Saksira Phueak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police, ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Winich Boonchit, Superintendent…
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Thailand approves 3.75-trillion-baht budget for 2025 fiscal year
Thailand’s House of Representatives approved the 3.75-trillion-baht budget bill for the 2025 fiscal year late yesterday with 311 votes in favour, 175 against, and two abstentions. A special 72-member House committee has been established to scrutinise the bill, consisting of 18 Cabinet representatives and 54 members from both government and opposition parties. This committee will convene its initial meeting tomorrow…
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