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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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New in July: Save 10% for life on family health plans in Thailand
Cigna has a special offer this July for families in Thailand. When you sign up three or more people on a family health plan, you will save 10% on your premiums for life. This deal helps you get affordable, high-quality...
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Internet sensations make waves in dramatic love triangle
A drama involving three Thai Internet celebrities blew up into a full-fledged love triangle melodrama over the weekend surrounding a couple, nicknamed Wave, his ex-partner P’Porn, and his new girlfriend. Following a tumultuous episode marked by accusations of infidelity, disputes over valuables, and car-related issues, Wave and Pee Lek, Wave’s new partner, issued apologies to P’Porn. This development came after…
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Thai business department investigates 439 firms for potential nomination violations
In a move to suppress the ‘grey’ market in the fiscal year 2023, the Business Development Department (BDD) investigated 439 companies, suspecting them of acting as nominees for foreign corporations. Interestingly, legal entities potentially involved in nominee activities were discovered in Chiang Mai and Chon Buri provinces. The BDD Deputy Director-General, Jitakorn Wongkhatekorn, revealed that the agency inspected three targeted…
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Thai gold prices hold steady: 33,000 baht for ornaments and 32,500 baht for bars
The Gold Traders Association announced that Thai gold prices remain steady today, compared to yesterday’s final prices. The association revealed that the selling price of gold ornaments stands at 33,000 baht per baht weight. This information was obtained from the Gold Traders Association’s website at 9.22am today. The domestic buying price for gold bars is set at 32,400 baht per…
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Criminal suspects nabbed by security forces in Southern Thailand
A group of criminal suspects wanted for multiple security-related offences, were apprehended by officials in Thailand. The incident occurred when the suspects, driving a blue Toyota car, attempted to evade a police checkpoint in Narathiwat province. Following a pursuit by law enforcement officers, the suspects were detained. It was later revealed that one of them, 28 years old Azman Paola,…
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Tragic gym death in China as young man gets trapped under 100kg barbell
A tragic incident unfolded in Wuhan, China, Hubei province when a 25 year old man lost his life during a gym workout. The tragic gym death occurred as Zhang attempted to lift a 100-kilogramme barbell, which unfortunately fell onto his neck, trapping him beneath its weight. Despite his desperate efforts to free himself, Zhang was unable to do so, prompting…
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Identity heist: Thai man’s plastic surgery ploy backfires, friend jailed in case of mistaken identity
A Thai man resorted to using his friend’s identity to commit a crime and then underwent plastic surgery in an attempt to evade capture. This wrongful act led to his friend being wrongfully imprisoned for 80 days in his place. The transformed criminal was eventually apprehended on Saturday, September 16. The incident unfolded on September 10 when the parents of…
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Mercedes driver faces charges after road rage incident with taxi in Phuket
A road rage incident involving a Mercedes Benz driver and a taxi driver near the Darasamut Intersection in Phuket, Thailand, resulted in the former facing charges for his violent reaction. The event took place on a Saturday night in September and quickly escalated when the green plate taxi allegedly cut off the Mercedes Benz. The 38 year old taxi driver,…
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Flowing frustration: Mysterious water bill surge drowns Thai homeowner in questions
A baffling water bill totalling 2,428 baht has left 42 year old homeowner seeking answers from the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA). Despite living in a three-person household with modest water usage, homeowner Kalya Kanfeun usually pays less than 200 baht per month. A news team last night visited Kalya’s residence at 161, Moo 11, Klong Darn Subdistrict, Bang Bo District,…
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TasteAtlas stirs the pot: Pad kaprao sizzles to the top of global stir-fry rankings
Food guide platform TasteAtlas unveiled its list of the 50 best stir-fry dishes in the world, with Thai fast food favourite pad kaprao claiming the coveted top spot. The website added that Thai pad kaprao also stands as the fourth most frequently ordered dish by foreigners visiting Thailand. Pad kaprao scooped first place in the rankings with an impressive 4.8…
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Asia-Pacific bond defaults surge amid China’s real estate crisis
Asia-Pacific bond defaults are on the rise, outpacing the global average, amid China’s real estate crisis. A joint study by the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (FETCO) and the Capital Market Development Fund (CMDF) highlighted a concerning uptick in debenture default rates, signalling a potential global crisis. The study revealed that bond defaults occurred at a faster pace in…
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Roadside accident: Truck splits in two after lamppost crash
A dramatic incident was recorded by a dashboard camera as a young driver lost control of his vehicle, causing it to crash into a lamppost by the roadside and split into two. The roadside accident occurred in the early hours of this morning and resulted in a head injury for the 24 year old driver. The incident happened as the…
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Trading doubts for trust: Thai Trade representative addresses past controversy
The newly designated Thai trade representative recently responded to lingering media scepticism regarding her background and qualifications. Nalinee Taveesin insisted that any past misunderstandings had been resolved. This was a reference to her blacklisting by the United States Department of the Treasury approximately ten years ago. This was due to her alleged business connections with the then-sanctioned regime of Zimbabwean president, Robert…
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Thailand’s healthcare sector transformed by AI innovations
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming Thailand’s healthcare sector, with innovative solutions designed to enhance patient care, ease the workload of medical professionals, and address the specialist shortage. In a collaboration aimed at advancing medical treatment, public hospitals, state agencies, and local startups are joining hands to develop AI-based healthcare products and services. These advancements are expected to boost the…
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Debt moratorium to benefit 7 million farmers and SMEs
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced that no more than seven million farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will qualify for the initial phase of the debt moratorium. The breakdown of this figure is expected to be around four million small-scale farmers and three million SMEs. The Deputy Finance Minister refrained from providing specifics on the scope and limit…
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Chiang Rai’s new college to tackle Mekong region drug trafficking
The International Narcotics Control College (INCC), a newly founded institution in Chiang Rai, Thailand, is set to provide specialised training for law enforcement agents and associated organisations, with the mission of curbing drug trafficking in the Mekong subregion. Nestled within the compound of the Hall of Opium, Thailand’s opium museum, in Chiang Saen district, the INCC is the first of…
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Tablet talk: IT companies endorse education ministry’s digital vision, but call for a SMARTer plan
The plan of the Education Ministry to equip every student and teacher across the nation with a tablet has received support from several IT companies. They believe the tablet initiative is a step towards promoting equal educational opportunities. However, they recommend a well-thought-out strategy about device specifications, relevant courseware, and the necessary skills students should acquire. This tablet initiative is…
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Farmer’s pickling stone revealed as rare jade worth over 24 million baht
A farmer’s luck takes a surprising turn when a ‘stone’ used for pickling vegetables is valued at a staggering 5 million yuan (over 24 million baht) on a Chinese television show. The farmer, known as Li, brought the peculiar black stone to the show, where experts were astounded by its true worth. China has a history spanning more than 5,000…
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Thai man’s chest hair pillow for long-distance girlfriend sparks online debate
A long-distance relationship can be challenging, and couples often find various ways to maintain their bond. Some people even resort to unconventional methods to alleviate the feeling of missing their partner. This became a controversial online topic when a man revealed what he believes to be his “greatest invention” – a pillow for his long-distance girlfriend, adorned with his chest…
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Erratic behaviour on high-speed train reveals woman’s struggle with mental health
A shocking incident unfolded on a high-speed train in China when a woman suddenly rose and began to act erratically. Her strange behaviour, which included speaking incoherently and appearing to dance as if intoxicated, alarmed fellow passengers. As the situation escalated, a concerned onlooker contacted train staff, fearing something was amiss, raising concerns about the woman’s mental health. The woman…
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Nok murder: CIB has strong evidence, 14 other officers charged
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Police Lieutenant General Jirabhop Bhuridej has unequivocally affirmed the strength of the case against the key suspect, Praween Chanklai, known as Nok, in the alleged orchestration of the shooting of two highway police officers on September 6, a crime that carries the possibility of a death sentence. The victims of the fatal shooting were Police…
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Villa robbery in Phuket raises safety concerns for foreign family
A foreign family, currently residing in Phuket, experienced a shocking robbery of their villa in Chalong, raising serious safety concerns. The audacious theft occurred while the family of four, including two children, were present in the house, and the thief managed to escape with stolen goods worth over 50,000 baht. The family, of Russian origin, reported the invasive villa robbery…
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Universal healthcare pilot scheme offers flexible hospital choice in Thailand
The Public Health Minister, Cholnan Srikaew, has announced the readiness of a new pilot scheme that will enable members of the universal healthcare (UC) programme to seek health services at any hospital. The initiative is aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery, providing UC members with the flexibility to seek eligible services at any hospital. It is expected that the scheme will…
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Srettha Thavisin to bolster Thai-Chinese tourism, bilateral ties in China visit
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is slated for a diplomatic visit to China from Oct 8-10 to negotiate on 10 pivotal issues, among which strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing Thai-Chinese tourism cooperation take precedence. The announcement came yesterday during his visit to Chiang Mai, where he also hinted at the renewal of the Thai-Chinese memorandum of understanding on the loaning of…
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Chaiya Pier 60m baht investment to boost Surat Thani tourism
A significant boost to Chaiya district’s tourism is on the horizon as provincial authorities of Surat Thani have earmarked a budget of 60 million baht for the construction of a new pier. The announcement came from Surat Thani governor, Witchawut Jinto, who confirmed that construction will commence shortly. The construction is said to be positioned near a public park in…
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Phuket tourism and property sectors propose Andaman Wellness Economic Corridor
Phuket’s tourism and property development sectors have called on Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to swiftly consider their proposal for an Andaman Wellness Economic Corridor (AWC). This initiative is intended to align with the global wellness trend, enhancing the tourism industry and related investments. This came to light during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Phuket and Phang Nga, where he…
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Birth rate plunge triggers health minister’s urgent action plan
The national birth rate in Thailand is on a steep decline, prompting urgent action from the country’s Minister of Public Health Chonlanan Srikaew. He plans to push fertility to the forefront of the country’s national agenda, aiming for swift implementation within 100 days as part of the ministry’s “quick win” policies. Chonlanan revealed after Friday’s executive meeting that the current…
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Weighing passengers to become standard for Bangkok Airways
Your chance to weigh in on airport and flight practices in Thailand may be coming, quite literally. Bangkok Airways is looking to join a number of international airlines that will be weighing passengers before boarding. On September 16, it became clear that airlines were getting a bit nosy about passengers’ pounds. Foreign giants like Korean Air and Air New Zealand…
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Thai citizens suspect state officials’ collusion with mafia-style figures, survey shows
A significant proportion of Thai citizens suspect some state officials, including the police, of colluding with mafia-style influential figures, according to a recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). The survey, carried out from September 12 to 14, involved telephone interviews with 1,310 participants over the age of 18, representing a diverse range of educational backgrounds,…
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Cannabis bill to be reviewed, focusing on medical use only
Cannabis will come under scrutiny as new Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew announced the formation of a committee to analyse a bill to regulate the plant. The primary objective, he insisted yesterday, is to ensure the use of cannabis remains strictly within the medical and health realm, prohibiting any recreational use. The cannabis and hemp bill, sponsored by the Bhumjaithai…
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Young cow fatally hit in Phuket car accident sparks safety concerns
A tragic incident unfolded last night in Srisoonthorn, Phuket, when a young cow was fatally hit by a car. The cow, believed to be between six to eight months old, had wandered onto the Thung Suea Khruan – Ban Don Road, leading to the unfortunate accident. The incident was reported at 8.30pm, with residents gathering around the lifeless body of…
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