News
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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Food delivery driver apologizes after refusing overweight customer due to bike damage
Maligned for rejecting an overweight customer due to breaking his motorcycle suspension, a food delivery driver has issued a heartfelt apology. Initially voicing his frustration by sharing images of a broken motorcycle shock absorber, attributing its damage to heavy passengers, his comments now sit at the heart of a heated online debate. As reported, images appeared on the Red Skull…
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Taxi accident: Fatal crash as vehicle plunges into Samut Prakan canal
A tragic taxi accident incident unfolded today where an ill-fated taxi plunged into a canal and burst into flames in Samut Prakan province, resulting in the death of the driver. The unidentified individual crashed the vehicle, firmly igniting a mournful atmosphere at the Bang Bo Police Station. The devastating taxi accident was reported to have occurred at the bridge over…
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Three Bangkok drug traffickers caught with 503,005 meth pills and 12 kilogrammes of ice
In a recent police operation, three drug traffickers were arrested in Khlong Sam Wa district, Bangkok. The bust saw the seizure of drugs, including 503,005 methamphetamine pills and 12 kilogrammes of crystal meth or ice. The report indicated that the trio had been involved in previous drug-related incidents. Around 9am today, directed by Colonel Sarawut Jindakam, commander of the 3rd Border…
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Student lunch budget allocated for Nakhon Ratchasima’s Kulno School
Students at Kulno School in Nakhon Ratchasima province no longer need to bring packed lunches from home. This follows a speedy allocation of school lunch funding by the Phimai Sub-district Municipality, which was confirmed in a letter to parents yesterday. Previously, a delay in allocating this budget led the school to ask parents to provide food for their children from…
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Century-old In Buri market: fire crews struggle to control flames
A blazing fire has plagued the 100-year-old In Buri market, with the latest reports indicating that around 15 fire trucks have not yet been able to control the flames. An initial assessment reveals damage to approximately 12 residences. The fire crisis at the In Buri market was reported yesterday evening. Located in the ancient commercial district of Sing Buri province,…
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60 year old truck driver with gun nabbed after 30km police pursuit
A tense standoff between two truck drivers ignited a 30-kilometre, multi-jurisdictional police chase that ended in the capture of a 60 year old man armed with a 9mm gun. The man claimed he had brandished his weapon in self-defence during the heated exchange yesterday. Somchai Suksabay then fled with the gun and was eventually intercepted and detained near a house…
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Child seat vehicle laws go into effect in Phuket: 2,000 baht fine
Buckle up kids! The public, particularly parents, have once again been reminded about the new safety regulations regarding child seats in vehicles within Phuket. As relayed by the Phuket Info Centre today, the National Police Agency’s legislation demands the use of industry-approved child safety seats. The fledgeling law, enforced from August 17, mandates that all children below the age of…
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Phetchabun karaoke bar raided for suspected child exploitation, owner arrested
Police conducted a raid on a karaoke bar in Phetchabun, arresting a 39 years old woman, for allegedly running a service offering underage girls catering to customers’ pleasures. The bar, advertised under the Facebook account E ลำยองโอ้ลั้นล้า, allegedly allowed teenagers under 18 years old to engage with customers in a salacious manner. The bar raid was conducted as part of…
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ATM theft: Police nab debt-driven man who stole 400,000 baht
Police in Nakhon Si Thammarat successfully apprehended a lone desperate man responsible for the theft of a Krungthai bank ATM. The incident took place in front of the Rajaprajanukroh 8 School, a secluded area in the Ban Na Thap community. The arrest was made following an investigation into the theft from August 16, where the culprit made away with almost 400,000 baht.…
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Monk goes viral for auto rubbish-collecting cart to clean temple
A monk came up with an ingenious idea borne out of necessity, giving birth to a functional, automatic rubbish collection cart. The monk, who lives in the Ayutthaya province, created a cart that can gather and collect discarded items and fallen leaves from a 14-acre temple area without the need for manual labour. Built from scraps collected around the temple…
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Exat toll hike on key expressways pauses by Ministry of Transport
The Progressive Ministry of Transport has issued a directive to the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) to maintain the current toll charges for Chalong Rat and Bang Na expressways for another six months, running through February of next year. This development will stave off the proposal by Exat to implement a 10% increase in tolls on both routes. The toll…
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Chinese resurgence transforms Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district into new Chinatown
Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district, home to a rising number of Chinese expatriates, is reinforcing its reputation as the city’s second Yaowarat or New Chinatown. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a temporary withdrawal of Chinese vendors from the district, but with the Chinese government deciding to lift border restrictions earlier this year, investors appear to be flocking back. The district’s pulse…
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Thailand Consumer Council appeals for higher elderly pension
In a recent online forum, the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) voiced a call to the new government the reconsideration a policy that restricts certain elderly individuals from obtaining monthly grants, advocating instead for the reinstatement and enhancement of the universal pension scheme to pay 3,000 baht each month. Nimit Tienudom, the vice-chair of TCC and the representative of the People’s…
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Thailand aims to be top Muslim tourism destination within 5 years
Thailand is projected to emerge as a principal destination for international Muslim tourists within the next half-decade. The Deputy Government Spokesperson, Rachada Dhnadirek, put forth this intent to lure more Muslim travellers, citing their rising numbers and increased spending capacity. She noted, during her Friday announcement, that Muslim tourists comprised a major segment of Thailand’s tourism industry. An impressive surge…
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Songkhla mother alleges neighbour tricked son into drug use
A mother in the province of Songkhla has filed a complaint with the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Women and Children, claiming that her 10 year old son has recently been showing signs of drug abuse. His erratic behaviour included destructiveness, verbal abuse towards family members, and attempting to harm a cat. The distressing behavioural shift came to a head when…
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Online fraud declines as Thais embraces digital safety measures
Chaiwuti Thanakamanusorn is confident that online crime measures are effective, as statistics of online scams show a decline. The public is also increasingly aware and cautious, preventing themselves from becoming victims of online fraud. Chaiwuti, the Thai Minister of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), is urging the public to adopt measures to protect themselves from becoming victims of organized cybercriminal…
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12 year old girl duped into sending explicit photos by school fraudster
Soliciting explicit images under the guise of a teacher, a person online commanded a 12 year old girl to capture and send revealing photos of herself. After these images were posted on social media, they were discovered by the girl’s mother who was shocked to stumble upon her daughter undressing. A plea for help yesterday was submitted to the Nakhon…
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Easyrice transforms Thai rice industry with AI-powered inspection solutions
Emerging from academic research projects, Easyrice Digital Technology Co Ltd has grown into a cutting-edge tech startup focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) within the agricultural sector, specifically tailored towards bettering the rice industry in Thailand. Easyrice provides AI-powered solutions designed to simplify and enhance the systems of rice quality inspections and data management, offering faster, more precise processes. As a…
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Prachinburi print shop overcharges customer, shocking Internet
A disheartening incident unfolded when a woman was charged 500 baht for scanning four documents, at a print shop in the area of Ban Rabao Phai, Sri Maha Pho District, Prachinburi. The shop owner extended his apologies due to a lack of knowledge about appropriate pricing and offered a reimbursement, which the woman declined. Upon scanning the documents, the customer,…
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Cockroach’s thrilling 2,000-km journey rivets Chinese plane passenger
An exciting in-flight encounter with a stowaway cockroach caught the attention of social media after a female Chinese passenger on a flight from Shibaoshan to Ningbo noticed the critter. The insect’s surprising endurance while clinging onto the aeroplane window during a 2,000-kilometre journey at high altitudes added a thrill to the passenger’s air travel experience. The passenger, who opted for…
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Phuket tackles youth e-cigarette control through educational drive and policy reform
Phuket leadership convened yesterday with members of anti-tobacco organisations, reaching an agreement aimed at new control to limit e–cigarette access to young individuals across the island. Yesterday’s gathering saw Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew meet with representatives from the Non-Smoking Campaign Foundation and the Phuket Smoke-Free News Centre Network. The meeting took place at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, where a…
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Thai MP has beef with beef restaurant that calls him scum
In an unusual incident, a Member of Parliament found himself on the receiving end of a vulgar slur. The slur was scribed on a delivery package from a renowned beef restaurant, which was ordered by the MP himself, creating a whirlwind of controversy. Piyarat Chongthep, the offended MP in question, represents the Phra Khanong Bangna area of Bangkok. He is…
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InterContinental attends funeral for hotel employee’s mum after denying leave request
The InterContinental Khao Yai Resort in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district expressed its condolences and empathy towards a former staff member whose mother died. But after they denied her leave – a move that went viral – the hotel management attended the funeral of the employee’s mother. Is it a change of heart, or a desperate bid to look caring…
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Bangkok hotel’s eerie statue to stay despite public outcry, officials seek shield solution
A controversial statue displayed at Bangkok’s Bazaar Hotel on Ratchadaphisek Road stirred a debate within the community, prompting the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to weigh in on the matter. Despite public criticism, the unique sculpture has been permitted to remain at the hotel premises by the BMA. Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, responded to inquiries about any potential legal…
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Luxury car owner threatens debt collectors with pistol before fleeing
A video went viral yesterday showing a posh sedan owner brandishing a pistol to threaten repossession officials, before speeding off. The video was posted to Twitter by user Red Skull. In it, viewers could see a debt collection agency attempting to seize a luxurious car due after consecutive defaults on instalment payments. The attempt was thwarted when the in-debt owner…
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Man awarded multimillion-dollar payout for wrongful conviction in 1986 murder case
In a significant development, a New Zealand man received a multimillion-dollar compensation package after enduring nearly 18 years of imprisonment for a murder he didn’t commit. Alan Hall, first convicted and sentenced to life in 1986 for his alleged involvement in a fatal stabbing during an Auckland home invasion, has finally been served justice in the form of generous financial…
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Rayong lottery seller scoops 6 million baht first prize following temple rites
A local lottery vendor in Rayong Province struck gold recently with the first prize in the national lottery, following a round of prayers at Wat Lao-ok. The win came soon after the lucky aura of Toa Wessuwan at Wat Lao-ok presumably assisted in a second-prize win. The extraordinary turn of events unfolded on August 18 when 61 year old vendor…
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University student falls for double onlinescam, losing 350,000 baht
A university student found himself in a web of deception after falling victim to an online scam, only to be scammed again by fake police officers who offered to reclaim his lost money. The young man ended up losing a total of 350,000 baht. The incident led to a warning about such online scams appearing on the Facebook page Drama-addict.…
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Runway cracks resolved: Phuket Airport gets back on smooth flight path
Airports of Thailand’s Phuket branch, responsible for managing Phuket International Airport, confirmed yesterday, that the runway cracks which led to multiple flight delays and one diversion to Krabi have been addressed and rectified. The announcement was initially made via state-run Radio Thailand Phuket last night. It was also announced by the National News Bureau of Thailand’s national platform but it…
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Rainfall roulette: Heavy downpour forecast for 43 provinces, including Bangkok
According to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), heavy rainfall is expected across 43 provinces, including Bangkok, later today. The TMD issued a warning for these regions and cautioned citizens in the affected areas to be aware of potential risks associated with heavy rains. Meanwhile, moderate winds from the southwest are sweeping across the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of…
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