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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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Unrequited love fuels deadly shooting in central Thailand bar
A violent outburst in a Thai bar led to a woman’s death and left her husband critically injured in central Thailand. The suspect, Sopon Thammasadang, who was reportedly fuelled by jealousy and unrequited love, turned himself in to the authorities after fleeing the scene. The incident occurred at a house in Sam Khok, Pathum Thani, yesterday, January 21. Sopon, also…
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Vietnamese mum sparks online debate over child’s mathematics test
A Vietnamese mother sparked a debate online after she questioned the marking of her child’s primary school mathematics test. Her child had answered 5 + 0 = 5 and 6 + 0 = 6, both of which she believed to be correct. However, to her surprise, they were marked as incorrect by the teacher. The mother shared her concerns and…
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Thai tourism sector optimistic about Chinese arrivals despite economic concerns
Despite the Thai tourism sector experiencing a drop in Chinese visitors last year, the government remains optimistic about an increase in arrivals this year, targeting eight million visitors from the mainland. This optimism is fuelled by the prospect of the visa-free policy becoming permanent in March. The Chinese government has been advocating for its citizens to travel domestically during the…
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3 Thais arrested for stealing credit cards from foreigners in Bangkok (video)
The Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMB) arrested three Thai nationals for stealing credit cards from foreigners at several tourist spots in Bangkok, causing a loss of more than 8 million baht. The Thai mastermind had close ties to a Chinese call centre scam gang leader. IDMB officers received numerous reports of credit card theft at popular Bangkok…
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Chinese new year holiday expected to boost Thailand’s tourism revenue
Anticipated to reach a staggering 34.4 billion baht, spending during the Chinese New Year holiday is set to surge, with foreign travellers, primarily from Chinese-speaking nations, contributing 28.4 billion baht. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) attributes this 29% year-on-year revenue growth, which spans from February 8 to 16, to the visa-free policy for Chinese and Taiwanese tourists. TAT Governor…
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Thai Commerce Ministry set to liberalise ten service businesses this year
The Business Development Department under the Commerce Ministry is anticipated to liberalise ten service businesses within this year, encompassing sectors like telecommunications services, treasury centres, and currency exchange businesses. Director-General Auramon Supthaweethum stated that the department has already completed studies on eight of these businesses, with the remaining two set to open for public hearings soon. As soon as the…
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2 dead, 4 survive after plane from Thailand crashes in Afghanistan (video)
Taliban officials confirmed that a plane, en route from Pattaya, Thailand, to Russia, crashed in Afghanistan yesterday, January 21, resulting in the loss of two lives, while four passengers managed to survive. The chartered Dassault Aviation AM.PA Falcon 10 aircraft took off from the U-Tapao International Airport in Pattaya on January 20 with six passengers bound for Moscow, Russia. The…
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Shocking escape: Aussie woman zaps back to life after electrifying encounter with deadly jellyfish near Koh Pha Ngan
An Aussie woman declared she is thankful to be alive after a bolt of “electricity had shot through her body” following a horrifying attack by some box Jellyfish near Koh Pha Ngan. The 23 year old woman from Queensland in Australia was left hospitalised for over a month after the attack and issued a cautionary message to fellow holidaymakers about the…
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Thailand bracing for temperature drop due to cold blast from China
A new blast of cold air is set to lower temperatures by four degrees Celsius, warns the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD). This weather shift, prompted by a strong high-pressure system from southern China and northern Vietnam, is anticipated to affect the northeastern and eastern parts of Thailand today. The cold weather and strong winds in the northeast are expected…
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Compliance with Factory Laws: What You Need to Know
A deadly explosion at a fireworks factory in Suphan Buri prompted the Ministry of Industry to consider amendments to the nation’s factory laws. Permanent Secretary for Industry Nattapol Rangsitpol revealed that Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin has tasked the ministry with managing small factories that might pose a risk to nearby communities. Plans are underway to form a committee to…
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Chinese rural mindset shifts as daughters disprove age-old favour sons belief
A traditional Chinese rural mindset of favouring sons has been challenged as a family with four daughters, all of whom have married, brings joy and envy to their village during festive seasons. The daughters, along with their respective husbands, regularly visit their parents, bringing gifts and helping with household chores, thus dispelling the long-held belief that only sons can carry…
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US woman lives as infant, spending 10,000 baht monthly on diapers
Paigey Miller, a 29 year old woman from the east coast of the United States, lives her life as an infant, complete with bottle-feeding and nappy-wearing, spending more than 10,000 baht (US$ 292) a month on diapers. Originally a fan of toys and stuffed animals, Miller decided to create social media content for the adult baby community, a lifestyle that…
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Learn from a 97-Year-Old Isaan Monk for Good Fortune
A 97 year old southern Isaan monk blessed 301 registration plates for pick-up trucks. The ceremony took place at Wat Phattanathammaram, also known as Wat Ban Dan Chong Chom, in Surin Province. The event aimed to bring luck and prosperity to the winning bidders. The ceremony, held yesterday, saw Sahachai Kampoon from the Surin Transport Office, along with other officials from…
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Discover the Feared Sai Thong Gang in Nonthaburi
Ekapop Luengprasert, a political advisor and founder of the Survive Facebook page, visited the notorious Sai Thong Gang in Nonthaburi today, following reports of their persistent harassment of locals. Ekapop threatened that if the police fail to manage the situation, they should relocate to a crime-free area. Ekapop, along with his team, visited the Sai Thong Village, known as the…
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Thai man’s 200,000 baht luxury watch gift for child’s teacher sparks online debate
A woman’s post on Pantip, an online Thai community, ignited a fiery debate after she expressed concerns about her partner buying a luxury watch worth over 200,000 baht (US$5,633) for their child’s attractive teacher. However, the post was met with stark criticism as some netizens urged her to face the truth, hinting at a hidden reality. The woman, in her…
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Thai initiative Kru Care Jai launched to tackle teen mental health issues
An initiative to address the increasing mental health issues among Thai adolescents has been launched under the name of Kru Care Jai. This programme, initiated by the Public Health Ministry, seeks to provide training to teachers to enhance their abilities in curbing mental health problems in students. The launch comes as data suggests that Thai youth are increasingly vulnerable to…
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New tiger discovery in Chumphon province’s forests sparks transboundary patrol theory
Three tigers, believed to traverse between Thailand and Myanmar, have been discovered in Chumphon province’s forests. The big cats were detected last Friday in the Tanao Sri Mountain Range, which forms the border between the two countries. The tigers are suspected of patrolling the forests of Duang Charoen, Nern Thong, and Chong Kamew in the Ta Sae district’s Song Pee…
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Large-scale anti-crime initiative launched in Sa Kaeo, Thailand following brutal murder
In a shocking development in Sa Kaeo, Thailand, a large-scale anti-crime initiative has been launched by the Aranyaprathet District Police, spurred by the brutal murder of a 47 year old woman. The alleged culprits, a group of teenagers aged between 13 and 16, reportedly include the sons of two local police officers from the eastern province. The campaign, aiming to…
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Win unrestricted access to Thailand’s national parks for a year
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has rolled out an intriguing tourism initiative offering winners unrestricted free access to national parks throughout Thailand for a whole year. Titled Passport to Thailand National Parks, the challenge encourages visitors to collect stamps from all 156 national parks in the country. The reward for this endeavour is not only…
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US warns Thai navy over salvage operations of sunk HTMS Sukhothai
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) received a second warning from the Joint United States Military Advisory Group Thailand (Jusmagthai) over salvage operations on the US-built HTMS Sukhothai, which sank in the Gulf of Thailand back in 2022. This information was revealed by Bangkok’s Move Forward Party MP, Chayaphon Satondee, during a parliamentary debate on the 2024 budget bill. Chayaphon explained…
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Thai prime minister tours royal projects to boost agriculture sector
The Prime Minister of Thailand embarked on a tour of royal initiative projects in Chiang Mai on Saturday. PM Srettha Thavisin’s visit forms part of a broader government strategy to boost the nation’s agricultural sector and strengthen farming communities. Accompanying the prime minister were high-ranking state officials and leaders from the private sector. The entourage comprised Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Thai…
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Wang Nam Khieo tourism business calls for measures against wild gaur attacks
Tourism business operators from Wang Nam Khieo district in Nakhon Ratchasima have put forward initiatives to tackle the escalating number of incidents involving wild gaurs. These large, wild bulls are causing havoc, attacking individuals, and wreaking destruction on crops. The most recent incident occurred on January 11, when a mother and her seven year old daughter were assaulted by a…
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Thailand’s Student Loan Fund tackles 100 billion baht in bad debts
The Student Loan Fund (SLF) in Thailand has accumulated bad debts amounting to 100 billion baht (US$2,816,902,000). This is a significant increase from 2017 when the total non-performing loans stood at 60 billion baht. The SLF’s manager, Chainarong Katchapanan, attributes this surge to borrowers prioritising other repayments, such as credit card debt and mortgages, over their student loans. The SLF…
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Best plants to repel mosquitoes in Thailand
As the relentless rainy season brings swarms of mosquitoes in and around homes in Thailand, one way to combat their existence is by using naturally repelling plants. Here, we have a list of plants that can help keep these Dengue Fever carriers at bay. 1. Rosemary Aside from being a versatile and delectable herb, rosemary leaf contains oils that have…
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Lazada Thailand’s CEO shake-up
Lazada Thailand is poised for a major shake-up as insiders reveal plans to oust current CEO Werapong Goo in favour of COO Varitha Kiatpinyochai. The anonymous source suggests Goo’s departure is driven by a pursuit of new horizons, leaving the company at a critical crossroads. Varitha, who has spent eight years at Lazada Thailand, emerges as the frontrunner for the…
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PM Srettha: Digital wallet scheme will go ahead despite postponement
The eagerly anticipated 500 billion baht digital wallet handout scheme, publicised as the government’s economic lifeline, faces an unexpected delay. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced yesterday, January 19, that the launch of the 500-billion-baht initiative will be postponed pending an inquiry by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Brushing off rumours of incorporating the scheme into the 2025 budget, PM Srettha…
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Knife-wielding Thai man sends tourist running for his life in Chon Buri
A knife-wielding Thai man was caught on CCTV attempting to attack a tourist on Soi Na Jomtien 20 yesterday morning, January 19 in Chon Buri. The confrontation began with the tourist inquiring about the location of a beer shop from a local woman and her friends. The group offered to fetch the beer for him, but before the kind gesture…
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Emily in Paris star Ashely Park battles with tonsillitis in Thailand
Ashley Park, a renowned actress from Glendale, California, recently survived a life-threatening ordeal during a new year vacation in Thailand, putting the filming of the much-anticipated fourth season of ‘Emily in Paris’ in jeopardy. In a candid Instagram post yesterday, January 19, the actress, who portrays Mindy Chen in the Netflix hit series, disclosed the harrowing details of her near-death…
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Bhumjaithai’s Chontida Asavahame quits party
Chontida Asavahame, the fifth candidate on Bhumjaithai’s political roster, has quit the party. The move dashes any hopes she had of replacing former Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob as an MP, according to an inside party source. Supachai Jaisamut, Bhumjaithai’s registrar, confirmed the development, revealing that the party promptly notified the Secretariate Office of the House of Representatives about Chontida’s resignation. This…
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Chiang Mai court demands PM2.5 emergency plan
The Administrative Court in Chiang Mai demanded Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the National Environment Board craft an emergency plan within the next 90 days. This decisive move comes as a response to the persistent threat of PM2.5 pollution plaguing northern provinces and signals a watershed moment for civil society in the region. The court’s verdict is a resounding call for…
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