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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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Thammasat University greenlights leave for menstruating students
Thammasat University has granted permission for menstruating students to take leave without affecting their studies. This move has been greatly welcomed by the students, following a post on the Thammasat University Student Organisation’s Facebook page stating that menstruating students can now take leave without it affecting their academic progress. “Thammasat University recognises everyone’s rights and has approved leaves for menstruating…
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Starry spectacle alert: Catch the Leonids meteor shower’s dazzling dance on November 17
The National Institute of Astronomical Research (NARIT) announced that the Leonids meteor shower will be visible from the night of November 17 to the early morning of November 18, with a peak rate of up to 15 meteors per hour. Suparerk Karuehanont, the director of the Academic Services and Astronomical Communications Centre, revealed that the Leonids meteor shower, also known…
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Thai rice exports prediction rises amid high global prices
Thailand is now aiming to export 8.5 million metric tonnes of rice this year, an increase from their initial projection, as reported by Chookiat Ophaswongse, the honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association. The decision comes as rice prices escalate in competing nations such as Vietnam. Chookiat informed that due to the high cost of Vietnamese rice, countries including…
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Knockdown house scam: Elusive Thai builder arrested for defrauding clients
A high-end knockdown house builder, known in the community as Tiger Craftsman, was apprehended by the police and highway patrol today, after absconding with deposit money from clients. The 30 year old suspect responsible for orchestrating this knockdown house scam, identified only as Watthit, was detained by the authorities on Sirisothon Road, Lat Khwang, Ban Pho, Chachoengsao province. Watthit allegedly…
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Phimai Festival alert: Homemade bomb found near Nakhon Ratchasima school
A suspicious object resembling a homemade bomb was discovered today in front of a school in the Nakhon Ratchasima province. Authorities quickly intervened to inspect and safely dispose of the object, suspecting it was created by teenagers planning to use it during the Phimai Festival. The police station in Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima, received a notification from a member of the…
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Teen accuses spiritual medium of sexually abusing her and a friend
A 17 year old Thai girl accused a spiritual medium in the Isaan province of Buriram of raping her and sexually harassing her friend while performing rituals to wash away bad luck and evil spirits. The teenager, 17 year old Bee, revealed to the public that she and another friend were victims of sexual abuse by a 60 year old…
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Thai CIB crackdown reveals 500 million baht online loan scam
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has launched the CIB Anti Online Scam, a crackdown operation against a ruthless online loan scheme that has been running through various mobile applications. The operation, which took place at 11am today, led to the arrest of two key suspects and the discovery of more than 500 million baht in circulation. CIB’s operation took place…
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Smooth sailing: Suvarnabhumi Airport’s snazzy channels promise swift boarding for foreign jet-setters
Foreign passengers will soon experience expedited boarding at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, thanks to the introduction of automatic channels set to go live next month. The move aims to ease congestion at the airport, allowing for a smoother transit experience for travellers. Currently, the automatic processing at Suvarnabhumi is limited to travellers holding Thai, Hong Kong or Singaporean passports, as relayed…
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Burglary at roadside restaurant in Ban Bueng shocks community
An incident of burglary at a roadside restaurant in Ban Bueng, Chon Buri, shocked the community today at 9am. The local police, led by Police Captain Suradet Imjai, swiftly responded to the scene. Their investigation revealed that the suspect, identified as 37 year old Sanchai, also known as Ton, was a familiar face who had been previously helped by the…
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Thai celeb Baitoey granted bail in Forex-3D Ponzi scheme case for 5 million baht
Renowned singer and actress Suteewan Thaweesin, better known as Baitoey, burst into tears as the court granted her bail in the aftermath of the Forex-3D Ponzi scheme scandal. She was instructed to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, report to court as scheduled, and is prohibited from leaving the country. The bail was set following the submission of a 5 million…
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River ruckus: Barge bash at Bang Pakong Bridge sends locals into a rescue race
A significant barge crash into the Bang Pakong River bridge sparked panic among locals, leading to a hasty rescue operation. The incident, which occurred at 8am today, threatened to damage 50 residential houses and restaurants, prompting a swift response from the Chachoengsao City Police. The large barge, loaded with cement and stones, was suspected to have drifted from a construction…
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Unrest brews over forced card stunts at Thai school football match
A traditional, unity-building football competition has sparked a social media outcry, with the hashtag #EndForcedCardStunts trending. The controversy started during the 30th Jaturamitr Samakee (Unity) Football Match held at the National Stadium in Pathum Wan district between four all-boys schools, namely: Suankularb Wittayalai School, Bangkok Christian College, Assumption College, and Debsirin School, from November 11 to 18. The biennial competition, aimed…
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Loan sharks heartlessly kill Thai fruit vendor over 400 baht debt near Pattaya
In a shocking event, a 45 year old fruit vendor tragically lost his life after a gang of loan sharks terrorised and shot him right outside a convenience store. The victim’s girlfriend, 41 year old Saengduen revealed the heartbreaking moments leading up to the event, which happened on the evening of November 14. The storefront of Itthiphol (surname withheld), is…
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Ham handed: 2 Thai men arrested on illegal pork imports, over 10 officials found involved
Two Thai men surrendered to police over illegal pork imports after fleeing Thailand to evade the arrest. More than 10 government officials were found to be involved in the illegal operation. Recently, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for the delay in investigating and arresting suspects in the illegal…
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Amazing Seafood Festival 2023: Si Racha gears up for shell-ebration
The coastal town of Si Racha is ready to host the highly anticipated Amazing Seafood Festival 2023, taking place from November 25 to 27. This gastronomical extravaganza is expected to be a major draw for food enthusiasts, with a smorgasbord of sea-derived delicacies being prepared for the attendees to savour. From the freshest of sashimi to succulent squid, shrimp, richly…
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Thai-British boy fights school bully with Thai boxing skills: Video stirs online outrage
The online world is ablaze following a video leak of a school brawl in the UK. The footage shows a 12 year old Thai-British boy being bullied by a 17 year old cohort. Despite his younger age and smaller size, the boy puts up a brave fight using his Thai boxing skills but ultimately fails to withstand the physical assault. The…
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Birthday celebration turns tragic: Man stabbed by jealous wife in Pattaya
A birthday celebration turned tragic for a 34 year old Cambodian man when his jealous wife stabbed him in the chest after he glanced at another woman at a bar in Pattaya’s Bang Lamung District. The incident occurred in their rented room today, around 2.30am. The police, led by Police Captain Itthikorn Saiyatok of Pattaya City Police Station, received a…
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Thai merchant in warrior outfit draws crowds for lottery luck at local temple
A merchant has donned a warrior outfit in a bid to promote some good luck ahead of tomorrow’s national lottery draw. At Wat Salalee, Bang Phai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nonthaburi Province, residents yesterday flocked to the local temple to pray for fortune, seek career advice, and crack an egg for lucky numbers. The lottery good luck faithful have returned multiple…
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Doi Inthanon’s chilly spell boosts tourism in Chiang Mai
Tourist activity is bustling in Chiang Mai as visitors flock to experience the chilly weather of Doi Inthanon, witness the sunrise, and admire the beautiful sea of mist. Doi Inthanon National Park, located in Jomthong, Chiang Mai, reported the cool morning atmosphere at 7am, with temperatures plunging to a low of 9 degrees Celsius at the peak of the mountain. Temperatures…
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Pattaya businesses backs discarded proposal for Chinese police patrols in Thailand
Pattaya Nightlife Business Association chairwoman Lamphueng Hamilton expressed her support for a now-discarded proposal for Chinese police officers to patrol popular tourist areas in Thailand. The proposal, originally mooted by the Thai government, has since been unequivocally dismissed. However, several Pattaya-based private tourism operators continue to champion the idea. Their support stems from a notable decrease in Chinese visitors, which…
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Southern Thailand: 30K meth pills found in car wreck after fatal crash
A high-speed car crash in the rainy weather led to the discovery of a large stash of meth pills. The driver of a white Honda sedan collided with an electric pole around 10.30pm last night, in Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The severe impact left the car in ruins and the driver, identified as 41 year old Phatthrawatee from…
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Unusual banana tree stirs lottery frenzy in central Thailand
An unusual banana tree in Prachin Buri province has become a source of fascination for locals and lottery enthusiasts. The tree’s peculiar flower, resembling a pointing skyward lotus, has led to a rush of locals seeking to tap into its assumed good fortune. People flocked to the site, carrying five flowers, incense, and candles to pay homage and request good…
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Legal eagle throws down gauntlet: Lawyer challenges health minister to probe effectiveness of psychic practitioner
Renowned lawyer Ronnarong Kaewpaet challenged Public Health Minister Dr Chonlanan Srikaew to scrutinise the healing methods of a psychic practitioner. This comes after the lawyer experienced no relief from his body aches following a session with the psychic practitioner, named Keerati Somkid, or Ajarn Aek. The incident took place yesterday at 5.30pm at Sasi Nonthaburi and Apartment, located on Kanchanapisek Road,…
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Thailand PM invites Tesla, HP, and Analog Devices to invest
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin extended an invitation to three significant American corporations to consider investing in Thailand, asserting the nation’s capability to act as their productive bases. The 61 year old prime minister recently visited the manufacturing plant of Tesla’s electric vehicles (EVs), where he participated in a trial run of the company’s cyber truck, which is set for unveiling…
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TMD: Thailand braces for winter onset with lower temperatures and shifting winds
The Thai Meteorology Department (TMD) officially marked the onset of the winter season from yesterday, November 14. With this shift in seasons, the northern regions of Thailand are bracing for a noticeable drop in temperature, potentially reaching below 23 degrees Celsius in some areas. Signifying the winter’s arrival, the wind direction across Thailand, ranging from 100 to 3,500 metres in…
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Sobering reminder: Entertainment venues to open until 4am, but no alcohol sale to drunks
The Thailand Health Minister yesterday stressed that entertainment venues must not serve alcohol to customers who are already drunk, even if establishments are allowed to stay open until 4am. Partygoers have been advised to carry breathalysers. Public Health Minister Cholnan Sikaew said that the policy allowing nightclubs to stay open until 4am had not yet been implemented. Cholnan made known…
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Thailand’s digital wallet initiative raises concerns among tourism sector
The forthcoming 10,000-baht digital wallet initiative has raised concerns among tourism operators in Thailand. The scheme is viewed as primarily beneficial to the retail sector, leaving the tourism sector behind, which could have potential economic repercussions leading to a potential decline in domestic travel. Sanga Ruangwattanakul, the head of the Khao San Road Business Association, suggests the scheme offers limited…
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Illegal botox operation uncovered in Chumphon beauty clinic
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau officers raided a renowned beauty clinic, arresting a 31 year old medical assistant, identified as Urairat. Today, she was caught operating an illegal Botox and skin whitening injection operation on the premises located in Sukkasem Road, Tha Taphao, Chumphon. The suspect revealed that she had learnt the injection procedure from a doctor and initially practised on…
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Serpent-haired sensation slithers into the spotlight: Indian woman’s knotted hair captivates community
A woman with a distinctive long, unkempt knotted hair that bears an uncanny resemblance to a coiling snake has become a sensation in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Her peculiar appearance has prompted locals, who believe in sanctity, to chant prayers in her presence, offer flowers, and donate money. The woman’s videos have swiftly gone viral online, leaving netizens in awe…
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Woman from Kalasin province tragically killed in high-speed collision with pickup truck
A tragic accident occurred when a woman from Kalasin Province rode her motorbike onto the road and was hit by a speeding pickup truck. The force of the collision propelled her into a forest across the road where she tragically lost her life. The incident took place yesterday. The local police in Ban Pho, Chachoengsao Province, were notified about the…
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