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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 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Thai rescuer celebrates Halloween by working in devil costume
A Thai rescuer celebrated Halloween yesterday by donning a devil costume representing the Thai-style messenger of death called Yom-ma-thut. The 53 year old rescuer, Narongsak Noppasit, from the Jaturatham Pratheep Foundation in the Panthong district of Chon Buri province, shared a picture of himself in a fancy dress costume on the foundation’s official Facebook page yesterday with the caption “Ready…
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Oil palm fruit theft surges in southern Thailand as prices hit 6 baht per kilogramme
Farmers across Trang province, in southern Thailand, are facing serious problems due to the widespread theft of oil palm fruits. This situation has arisen following an increase in the price of these fruits, making them a lucrative target for thieves. This has led to the farmers calling upon the district chief and police to urgently tackle the problem, urging them…
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Phuket drivers protest against new baht bus service threatening livelihoods
Around 50 tuk tuk and taxi drivers swarmed the Patong Municipality offices in Phuket yesterday to express their discontent about a proposed baht bus circular service that could potentially disrupt their livelihoods. Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri, along with other officials, received the formal complaint as the officers of the Patong Police maintained order. The complaint predicted a significant impact on the…
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Sattahip: Karaoke venues police check for compliance with regulations for tourist safety
In Sattahip, a thorough check of karaoke establishments in the vicinity of Tao Than Thong Thip Market took place on October 30. The inspection was led by the Sattahip Police Station’s chief, Police Colonel Panya Damlek, following the Royal Thai Police’s guidelines to maintain order in every area. The main focus of the inspection was to ensure adherence to closing…
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Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel amid Gaza conflict (video)
Bolivia announced the severance of diplomatic ties with Israel, becoming the first nation globally to make such a decision following the recent flare-up of conflict in Gaza amid the brutal Israeli assault on Palestine. This declaration was made yesterday by Bolivia’s Presidential Minister, Maria Nela Prada. “Bolivia has decided to terminate diplomatic relations with the State of Israel in order…
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Cabinet’s gasohol price cut draws scrutiny despite public approval
The recent resolution by the Cabinet to trim the prices of gasohol 91 and 95 by a single baht per litre has prompted queries from energy experts and firms, despite the public’s eager acceptance of this cost-of-living alteration. This determination was reached following Bangchak Corporation, a crucial oil retailer, increasing the prices of the majority of gasohol types, an amalgamation…
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Taiwanese child Internet sensation Ming Ming grows up
Ming Ming, the famed Taiwanese child who once caused a global Internet sensation with her faceless ghost costume from the animation Spirited Away, has grown significantly in the seven years since that event. Now nine years old, Ming Ming is in her third year of primary school and consistently ranks within the top five of her class. Ming Ming originally…
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Cosmetics industry goes global: Thai NSTDA’s empowering touch
The Thai National Science and Technology Development (NSTDA) initiated a comprehensive service to aid cosmetics industry entrepreneurs in their global market expansion. The NSTDA director, Chukit Limpijamnong, indicated that the cosmetics industry is a key sector for the agency and possesses significant expansion potential, both domestically and internationally. Therefore, firms in this sector require robust support in innovation and technological…
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Mid-movie capture: Bangkok burglar busted on Halloween date night
A 32 year old Bangkok burglar was nabbed by police on Halloween in a cinema at a well-known shopping centre in Rama 3 district. The arrest occurred while he was taking his girlfriend to see a movie titled Death Whispering: Tee Yod. The Bangkok burglar was served with a warrant issued by the South Bangkok Criminal Court under the charge…
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Recruitment scams exposed: Protecting job seekers and employers
The recruitment industry is riddled with a number of deceptive practices and scams. Attracting a wide range of individuals due to its low setup costs, the sector is increasingly becoming a hotbed for unscrupulous activities. There are five prevalent recruitment scams that job seekers and employers should be aware of. Scam one involves recruiters pretending to represent a non-existent client.…
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Forgot to cook the rice: Family’s humorous response goes viral on TikTok
A family‘s humorous response to a common kitchen mishap, forgetting to cook the rice, has lit the blue-touch flame on social media. This light-hearted moment was shared on the popular social media platform, TikTok, where it has since been met with widespread admiration. The family’s positive reaction to the situation has sparked online discussions about the importance of maintaining a…
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Thai economy’s Q3 bounce-back: Warming up after a cool Q2
The Thai economy’s growth rate for the third quarter of this year is anticipated to surpass that of the second, according to the Bank of Thailand. This forecast comes after the nation’s economic expansion fell short of the central bank’s estimations for the preceding quarter. Chayawadee Chai-anant, the assistant governor for the corporate relations group at the central bank, reported…
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Government offers loans to Thai workers returning from Israel
The Thai government pledged to extend low-interest loans of up to 150,000 baht to each Thai worker who has been forced to return from Israel due to the ongoing war in Gaza, Palestine. The loans aim to help Thai workers settle any outstanding debts with job brokers or to fund alternative career paths. Paopoom Rojanasakul, the finance minister’s secretary, revealed…
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Fireballs face-off: Biologist Jesada dares to unravel Naga mystery
Renowned biologist Jesada Denduangboripant from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, has been challenged by Boonma Punduang, the mayor of Bueng Kan, to prove the phenomenon of Naga Fireballs. In response to the challenge, Jesada has proposed an alternative method of scientific examination, dismissing the need for a 1 million baht wager. Jesada Denduangboripant, a respected figure…
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Thai tourists’ Korea travel ban outcry impacts agencies amid visa woes
Following a surge in posts under the hashtag #BanTravelToSouthKorea (#แบนเที่ยวเกาหลี) on the Twitter (X) platform, tourism agencies are being urged to pay heed to the concerns of Thai tourists. Over a million posts were generated during the past weekend alone, highlighting the losses suffered by both tourists and tour operators in recent years. The Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) reported that…
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Thai transwoman caught giving handjob to South Korean man on Pattaya Beach
Thai netizens called the relevant authorities to take action after a video showing a Thai transwoman giving a handjob to a South Korean man on Pattaya Beach went viral. The Facebook page, This is Beauty Queen (นางงามนะคะ), posted news of the video it found on Twitter (X) on October 29. “Just found a video of a Thai transwoman giving a…
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River tragedy strikes at traditional race: Young oarsman’s celebration ends in drowning
Phetchabun bore witness to a tragic incident during a traditional long boat racing event at Thung Thong Chai Temple, Lom Kao, Phetchabun on October 30. An 18 year old young oarsman tragically drowned after attempting to swim across the river in celebration of his team’s fourth-place finish. As the local media in Phetchabun reported, the incident unfolded around 4pm, Monday.…
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PM Srettha forms team to clarify digital wallet scheme amidst confusion
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin agreed to establish a dedicated team to effectively communicate details about the government’s flagship digital wallet scheme. This move yesterday, October 31, comes in response to a wave of suggestions from various sources, aiming to avoid any public confusion regarding the scheme. PM Srettha acknowledged the circulation of differing information about the wallet scheme. He urged…
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Pattaya suicide attempt: Thai man makes the jump after arguing with girlfriend
A 30 year old Thai man attempted to take his own life yesterday when he jumped from the second floor of a condominium in Pattaya. The Thai man, whose name is being withheld to protect his privacy, leapt after a disagreement with his girlfriend. The incident occurred at 6am at a residential complex in the Nongprue sub-district of Banglamung district,…
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Thailand’s drug policy shift: Possession of 10 or fewer meth pills no longer means jail time
A significant shift in Thailand’s approach to drug possession is underway, as the Justice Ministry and the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) are supporting an initiative by the Public Health Ministry. This initiative aims to reclassify individuals found with 10 or fewer methamphetamine pills as users rather than dealers. Somsak Thepsutin, Deputy Prime Minister and ONCB president, addressed the…
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Chiang Mai club raided in Pa Cha Tek operation for serving underage drinkers
In the early hours of today, a popular club in Chang Phueak, Chiang Mai, was raided as part of the Pa Cha Tek operation. Led by Atsathit Sampantarat, Director of the Department of Provincial Administration, the operation was launched after the club was discovered to be allowing underage patrons, as young as 18, to enter and buy alcohol. The operation…
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Belgian man in Thailand hospitalised after violent road rage incident
A 70 year old Belgian expatriate found himself in a violent altercation with a Thai citizen in a recent incident that took place in Chon Buri province. The Belgian man, a long-term resident of Thailand for two decades, was allegedly attacked following a road incident sparked by a language barrier and misunderstanding. The Belgian, Danny and his 50 year old…
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Durian vendor found dead in pond after business trip
The family of a durian vendor was left in shock upon discovering that the man had been found dead, his hands and feet bound, in a pond after he had returned from selling durians in the south. The police were alerted to the incident at 6 am today and promptly arrived at the scene, accompanied by emergency medical personnel from…
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La Tavola offers a slice of Italy’s coastal flavors in Bangkok
Bangkok just got a touch more dolce with the reopening of La Tavola, an authentic Italian restaurant on the 3rd floor of Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel. Celebrating all there is to love about Italian food, the restaurant serves up mouth-watering flavors of Italy’s seaside towns right here in the capital of Thailand. The essence of Italian coastal flavors Under the…
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Paws for concern: Unlicensed vet accused in Nonthaburi pet death scandal
A dog owner complained to a veterinary clinic in Nonthaburi, alleging that an unlicensed vet performed a sterilisation operation on his pet, which subsequently died. The 36 year old owner, Songwut Sammawutikun, has sought an investigation into whether the individual who conducted the operation was, in fact, a qualified veterinarian. Songwut Sammawutikun disclosed that his three year old Thai-breed female dog, named…
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Trade negotiations with EFTA set to boost Thai GDP
The Trade Negotiations Department of the Commerce Ministry gears up for the seventh round of trade negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), to seal the deal by mid-2024. The announcement was made by Auramon Supthaweethum, the director-general of the department, who confirmed that the negotiations will take place from November 6 to November 9 in Geneva, Switzerland. The…
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Sugar prices clampdown: Thai Government enforces caps amid production cost hike
The Thai government yesterday resolved to regulate sugar prices to lessen the burden on the public. The Minister of Commerce, Phumtham Wechayachai, expressed confidence that the move will not cause controversy with Brazil. Following the weekly cabinet session, Phumtham disclosed that the government had decided to set a limit on the ex-factory prices for granulated sugar at 19 baht per…
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Snake catching fiasco: Man’s hilarious mistake with palm frond goes viral
A man’s humorous display of catching a snake barehanded left viewers laughing out loud. The clip, which ends up as a comedy sketch, caused viewers to gasp and burst into raucous laughter. The video, shared on social media, shows a young man walking in a resort’s walkway when he stumbles upon a cobra rearing its head menacingly. However, he remains…
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Nakhon Ratchasima battles major flooding after day-long downpour
The urban area of Nakhon Ratchasima was hit by a significant downpour that lasted from 2am until late in the evening yesterday. The persistent rain resulted in severe flooding that engulfed the city’s streets, public areas, and residential properties. The deluge posed considerable challenges to local inhabitants, motorists, and pedestrians alike. Inundated roads caused trouble for drivers, many of whom…
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Thai-Ghanaian football player condemns racist Thai referee
A half-Thai, half-Ghanaian Prachin Buri City football player condemned a racist Thai referee who allegedly called him a “ni**a!” The drama erupted after the match between Prachin Buri City FC and Pluakdaeng United FC on October 29. Prachin Buri City FC player Abdulkordiri Hamit, also known as Abdul, posted on his Pog Dul Facebook account what happened. “I can understand…
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