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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 Why long-term expats in Thailand say insurance is worth every baht
Thailand’s warm weather, low cost of living, and good healthcare attract many long-term expats, including retirees and remote workers. Life here feels easy and affordable, but medical costs can be high if something goes wrong. Private hospitals are popular because...
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Thai banking industry faces hurdles amid high auto loan rejections
Last year’s robust profits from the Thai banking industry stirred debates, as critics pointed to excessively high interest rates. The sector witnessed a 17.8% surge in net interest income (NII) to 727 billion baht (US$20.2 billion) in 2023, up from 617 billion in 2022. The five biggest banks by assets contributed significantly to this rise with an increased net interest…
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Drunken foreigner turns heads in Pattaya pandemonium
Pattaya residents witnessed more quality tourists at the weekend when a half-naked drunken foreigner caused chaos on the bustling roads of the popular holiday destination. Responding promptly to reports, Pattaya police arrived at the scene on Saturday, February 17, where the drunken foreigner was seen creating a public disturbance at the intersection of Pattaya Klang Road. Upon arrival, officers encountered…
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Bangkok airport battles congestion with tech amid tourism recovery
Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand’s busiest, is facing daily traffic congestion as vehicles compete for parking spaces. The problem is compounded by long queues at immigration and baggage claim areas due to inoperative kiosks and staff shortages. Tourist complaints prompted an unannounced visit from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who has since ordered airport authorities to quicken procedures to under…
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Fuel dispensers’ accuracy standards to tighten in Thailand
The Internal Trade Department of the Commerce Ministry is set to tighten the accuracy standards for fuel dispensers at petrol stations. The new directive seeks to lower the margin of error to ensure that consumers receive fair and accurate fuel measurements. The department expects to enforce the new criteria within the next one to two weeks. Chakra Yodmani, the department’s…
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Thailand battles highest bile duct cancer rate in Southeast Asia
Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew revealed that Thailand has the highest rate of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) among the ASEAN nations. The minister announced this worrying statistic at an event commemorating World CCA Day in Maha Sarakham. The primary cause of this cancer is identified as liver fluke. Thailand, being the Southeast Asia nation with the highest prevalence of CCA,…
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Thailand’s DNP refutes Khao Yai National Park farmland claims
Claims to farmland within Khao Yai National Park were strongly refuted yesterday by Thailand’s Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). This came in response to a recent announcement by the Agricultural Land Reform Office (Alro) that approximately 2,933 rai of land within Pak Chong district, a Unesco World Heritage site area, have been designated as agricultural land…
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Thailand’s private ownership of lions raises safety concerns
The private ownership of wild animals, notably lions, has come under scrutiny in Thailand following several incidents where these creatures were observed in public areas. The issue has sparked widespread concern among the public regarding safety and animal welfare. The first case surfaced in January when a lion cub was noticed in the backseat of a fancy convertible in Pattaya.…
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Proposed amendment extends universal healthcare to cover surrogacy
An impending amendment to the surrogacy law, governing technology-assisted reproduction, proposes the inclusion of any complications arising during pregnancy within the universal healthcare scheme (UHS). This legislation is slated for approval in the year’s third quarter. Dr Sura Wisedsak, Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) Director-General, elaborated that the proposed coverage would span from conception through to a minimum of…
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Cat in coma after receiving dog flea treatment
A veterinarian using the TikTok handle @tobtabvet raised a serious alarm about the dangers of administering flea and tick medication intended for dogs to cats. A recent case involving a cat that fell into a coma after being given dog-specific flea treatment by its owner sparked a warning about the risks of blindness and even death from such actions. The…
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Pharmacist dies after falling from MRT Tha Phra station
A pharmacist tragically lost his life after falling from the third floor of the Tha Phra MRT station today at approximately 10.57am. The incident, which left witnesses in extreme shock, unfolded when a 62 year old pharmacist and manager of a medical supply company, was seen plummeting to his death right before their eyes. At the scene under the MRT…
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Thailand braces for intense heat with temperatures soaring
Thailand is bracing for a severe heatwave, with weather maps turning a deep red, verging on black, indicating extreme temperatures are on the way. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts this year to be hotter by approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius compared to the previous year. Some areas may experience highs of up to 44.5 degrees Celsius. The five provinces expected…
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Content creator clash with gang leader goes viral in Bangkok
A heated altercation escalated to a bout of fisticuffs between content creator Jack Papho and Melai Ratchada, leader of the notorious Unbathed Gang, following a dispute over damaged property. Jack, known for his humorous and sometimes controversial content, found himself at odds with the famed gang leader, leading to an incident that ended at the police station. The drama unfolded…
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Woman hijacks rescue truck in Bangkok, sparks police chase
In a bizarre incident this morning, a Japanese woman seized a rescue pickup truck in front of the Lumpini Police Station while the vehicle was assisting an injured foreign man. The woman, whose identity is yet to be determined, drove off with the vehicle at approximately 8.10am, leading authorities on a chase that concluded near the large roundabout in the…
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Malaysian bride heartbroken as groom’s ex attends wedding
The wedding of a Malaysian bride turned bittersweet when her husband’s ex-girlfriend attended the event, and the groom’s family’s actions left her heartbroken. The father of the groom’s comments struck a particularly painful chord, prompting sympathy from those aware of the situation. Marriage ceremonies are traditionally occasions of immense joy, marking the beginning of a new shared life. Yet, when…
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Brazen subway act atop NYC train sparks safety, decency outcry
A daring and reckless display by two men atop a New York City subway train has become the talk of the online world. The pair engaged in explicit acts in broad daylight, not only shocking onlookers but also creating a serious safety concern. This incident, caught on camera, shows the two individuals performing the dangerous act above the Van Wyck…
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Family pilgrimage ends in van-truck collision tragedy in Buriram
A family outing turned tragic yesterday evening when their van collided with a eucalyptus wood transport truck, leaving two dead and four seriously injured. Around 8.30pm on February 17, authorities from the Satuek Police Station in Buriram Province, led by Deputy Investigator Thanadorn Phaksarum, were called to the scene of the accident on the Buriram-Stuek Road, heading towards the city…
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Kanchanaburi to benefit from 12 billion baht water diversion project
Kanchanaburi’s five districts are set to benefit from a water diversion tunnel project that aims to alleviate drought problems. The project, which is valued at 12 billion baht (US$335,746,080), seeks to transfer 378 million cubic metres of water from the Srinagarind Dam, the largest dam in the western region, to an area of 200,000 rai in the Huay Krachao, Lao…
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Thai security academic calls for transparency in government assets
An independent security academic, Panitan Wattanayagorn, recently suggested a closer examination of the assets of military and government agencies in Thailand. His proposal aims to enhance transparency through regulated financial accounts and the disclosure of expenditures. Panitan, who specialises in security and foreign affairs, expressed his concerns, highlighting the ministries of Education, Higher Education Science Research and Innovation, and Finance…
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Joint Thai-US operation to salvage sunken HTMS Sukhothai begins
A joint operation to salvage HTMS Sukhothai, which tragically sank approximately 35 kilometres off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan on December 18, 2022, will kick off this Thursday, as announced by the Thai and US navies. The vessel was victim to a fierce storm that led to its sinking. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) spokesperson, Rear Admiral Veerudom Muangjin,…
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Mekong basin developmental projects threaten livelihoods, wildlife
An expert in sustainable growth and fair use of natural resources has warned that lives and livelihoods along the Mekong Basin could be in jeopardy as a result of developmental projects. The 14,000-rai Wiang Nong Lom in northern Thailand, a shared resource and home to a multitude of freshwater species, has long been a haven for local wildlife. Now, however,…
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Concerns rise as wild tiger lurks near Kamphaeng Phet village
A wild tiger prowling the vicinity of a village in Kamphaeng Phet sparked serious concerns among locals, prompting the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to dispatch a team of officials and veterinarians to capture the big cat. The tiger was sighted in the forest adjacent to Kariang Namtok village in Khlong Lan Pattana of Khlong Lan…
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Fresh water supply solution for Pattaya’s Koh Larn
In a bid to tackle the parched plight of Koh Larn amidst soaring tourist numbers, Pattaya is eyeing a collaboration with a new water supplier to bolster freshwater production. Deputy Mayor Manote Nongyai revealed plans for a potential alliance with a novel water supply venture, projecting a surge in production capacity to a substantial 1,000 cubic metres per day, catering…
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OpenAI breaks barriers with ‘Sora’ project
Artificial intelligence (AI) juggernaut OpenAI unveiled its groundbreaking project dubbed Sora, a text-to-video model set to democratise video creation as we know it. Gone are the days of pricey equipment and inaccessible know-how. With Sora, all you need is a prompt and a dream. Sora operates much like its predecessors, ChatGPT and DALL·E, responding to written cues by conjuring up 60…
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Thailand’s cultural marvel: Khon dance meets history in Ayutthaya
In a fusion of ancient artistry and historical grandeur, the Khon masked dance will weave its enchanting tales against the backdrop of Ayutthaya next month. This cultural extravaganza promises to be a visual feast, celebrating Thailand’s vibrant legacy in a way never seen before. Part of the esteemed Ayutthaya Sundown 2024 programme by the Ministry of Culture, this Khon performance…
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Thailand tourism council study reveals surprising spending trends
In an investigation undertaken by the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), it has emerged that a significant portion of the Thai populace has adopted a more frugal approach to their expenditure in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The TCT’s exhaustive survey, spanning from last year up to now, canvassed the travel inclinations of 418 Thai individuals earning over 10,000…
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Update: Srettha confirms Thaksin’s release tomorrow
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s release from hospital detention, confirmed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, marks the end of a dramatic chapter in Thai politics. Thaksin, who returned to Thailand after 15 years in self-imposed exile, will step out of confinement on Sunday, according to Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. The 74 year old ex-PM, serving a commuted one-year sentence for…
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Myanmar nationals flee to Thailand to evade military conscription
In Thailand’s border province of Tak, young Myanmar nationals, now including women, attempt to evade compulsory military conscription. Soldiers from the Ratchamanu Taskforce, stationed in Tak’s Mae Sot district, made a startling discovery on Friday, apprehending 27 youths comprising 13 men and 14 women near a stream in Phop Phra district. These young individuals revealed they had embarked on their…
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Uncovering trends in Thai consumers self-confidence by generation
Merz Aesthetics Thailand unveiled the inaugural Self-Confidence Index, shedding light on the mental fortitude of Thai consumers and their quest for physical perfection. Spearheaded by Assistant Professor Dr Watcharaporn Bunyasiriwat, a Social Psychology Lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, this survey marks a significant leap in understanding consumer confidence trends. Delving into the psyche of 1,000 Thai consumers, the survey uncovers intriguing…
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Chon Buri: Teenage girl sexually assaulted by motorcycle taxi driver
A teenage girl became the victim of a sexual assault after being abducted by a motorcycle taxi driver she had hailed through a popular ride app. The perpetrator, 39 year old Pramual was arrested at a lodging house in Na Jomtien Soi 2, Chon Buri province, following the victim’s report of the assault at his residence. The 16 year old…
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Central Thailand: Stepfather fatally shoots stepson then kills himself
A family dispute culminated in a fatal shooting last night at around 9.30pm in the community of Ban Saeng, Bang Pa-in district, Ayutthaya province, when a stepfather shot his stepson before turning the gun on himself. Bang Pa-in Police Station received an emergency call reporting a serious gun-related injury within the Eua Arthorn housing village. Led by Police Lieutenant Colonel…
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