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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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What do you need before moving from Australia to Thailand?
Moving from Australia to Thailand is a big step that brings exciting new experiences, a rich culture, and often a more affordable way of living. To settle in with less stress, you need to plan ahead. This means sorting out...
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US woman travels 4,800km for Scottish wedding, lands at wrong venue
A video has gone viral after a Washington DC native embarked on a 4,800-kilometre journey to attend a friend’s wedding in Glasgow, Scotland, only to arrive at the wrong venue. Arti Mala had travelled for 12 hours, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, to be present at the event. However, upon arrival, she was baffled to see unfamiliar faces at the ceremony.…
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Heavy rainfall forecast across Thailand with thunderstorms in 70% of regions
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, forecasting heavy rainfall across the northern, northeastern, central, and eastern regions, as well as Bangkok, with a likelihood of up to 70% in some areas. These conditions are due to the convergence of a monsoon trough over northern and northeastern Thailand towards a low-pressure area along the central…
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Transformer explosion in Pattaya destroys six motorbikes
A power transformer located near Pattaya Beach Road met with an unfortunate incident in the early hours of yesterday when it exploded during a heavy rain shower. The blast resulted in the destruction of six motorbikes parked beneath it. However, in a stroke of luck, no casualties were reported. The Pattaya Fire Department received the report of the explosion at…
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Woman goes viral asking if higher-earning man should pay more in relationship
What is a fair way for a couple to split their bills? Should it be based on who earns more? In Thailand, an expat man earning significantly more pay than his Thai girlfriend or wife is common, making this a pertinent question. But the UK website Mirror tackled the issue when they covered a woman who is dating a man…
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Ex-army officer arrested for exploiting underage girls in Thai karaoke bar
A retired military officer has been arrested by Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division (CSD) for running a karaoke bar where he was allegedly exploiting underage girls. The ex-lieutenant, identified only as 59 year old Ratwut, was apprehended earlier today at one of his establishments in the southern province of Chumphon. Ratwut, also known as “Uncle Odd,” is accused of profiting from…
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TikTok mobile shop owner praised for aiding elderly man with utility bills
A TikTok user who runs a mobile phone repair and purchase store made headlines this week for his kindness towards an elderly man that pawns his mobile phone every month to pay his utility bills. The shop owner not only refrains from charging interest but also provides the elderly man with food to take home. The account @5parinyaaek888 posted a…
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Chiang Rai police seize nearly two million meth pills in major drug bust
In a massive crackdown on drug trafficking, Chiang Rai Police Force seized nearly two million meth pills in two major cases. From October 1, 2022, to July 19, 2023, the Region 5 Provincial Police intercepted more than 90 million meth pills and confiscated property worth 453 million baht. The announcement was made today, by a team comprising senior officers from…
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23 year old graduate reports train harassment incident to police
A recent graduate has reported harassment from an alleged rail official aboard a train to Bang Mun Nak Police Station. The woman, 23 year old Punyanuch is seeking justice for an incident that took place on August 15. While travelling on train number 202 from Phitsanulok to Nakhon Sawan, she was molested by a man claiming to be a train…
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China investigating ministry member for alleged CIA espionage
China’s state security ministry has launched an investigation into a 39 year old Chinese national, identified only by his surname Hao, over allegations of espionage on behalf of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Hao, who once held a position at a ministry, was reportedly recruited while studying in Japan. This development comes less than two weeks after another…
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Lightning bolt strikes during trio’s rain-soaked football match
Three young men, overcome by daring, braved adverse weather to play football, only to face an unexpected lightning strike. The incident took place amidst harsh rains yesterday. A TikTok user shared a post featuring the reckless behaviour of the trio, casually playing amidst a severe rainstorm. Despite the intense rainfall, they continued to enjoy their game. The individual filming the…
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Fare play: Bangkok taxi driver bucks trend, returns 400,000 baht to passenger
A Bangkok taxi driver put the breaks on the capital’s bad boy cabbie reputation after he returned nearly 400,000 baht to a Bangladeshi passenger. There’s not a day that goes by without a story breaking of one of Bangkok’s bad boy taxi drivers ripping off customers, refusing to service or turn on meters, brawling with passengers or even masturbating. One…
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Rice prices spike threatens farmers in Thailand
An increase in rice prices is causing concern for local farmers and rice millers in Uttradit, Thailand. The Agricultural Cooperative of Uttradit City Limited, known for producing and selling the “Good Udom” brand of bagged rice, is currently facing a shortage of husked rice. This crisis is due to large-scale rice millers purchasing at high rates, causing the price of…
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Car wash scam exposed: TikTok user reveals mechanics stealing parts in viral video in Khon Kaen
A TikTok user’s video showing car wash technicians allegedly stealing car parts has caused an uproar. The clip was accompanied by a warning caption that read… “Took my car to get washed and got my catalytic converter stolen. Saw it with my own eyes, four to five mechanics were working on it enthusiastically. Ended up at the police station.” The…
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Scam buster: Taiwanese mastermind nabbed in Bangkok condo for global web of crime, money laundering
Thai police arrested a Taiwanese man behind a money laundering operation, a scam call centre and organising online gambling gangs across Asia and Europe. The 39 year old man was apprehended in a luxury condominium in Bangkok. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand alerted the Royal Thai Police (RTP) about the wanted suspect, Guo She Min, due to…
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Yaba ordeal: Mother seeks aid as son’s dark turn targets family cat
A Thai mother reached out to a non-profit organisation for help after her 10 year old son was exposed to methamphetamine, commonly known as Yaba, and attempted to kill the family’s pet cat. The woman told the Paveena Foundation for Women and Children that her son’s personality had changed for the worse during the past month. The boy is out…
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Climate change: Thai businesses warned of ‘global boiling,’ rising power costs
The United Nations has warned of the global boiling – the intense rise in temperatures and associated power costs we are seeing now, which are predicted to only worsen in the future. Thailand witnessed an unprecedented rise in electricity bills and an all-time high average temperature in July. This salient shift in weather patterns is leading businesses and governments to consider…
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Gold demand dips, jewellery market sees prices fall to 32,100 per baht weight
Demand for gold jewellery in Thailand experienced a drop causing a significant price dip in today’s market, according to the local gold traders association. The gold bar was trading at 32,100 baht per baht weight, a reduction of 150 baht compared to yesterday’s closing price, as reported on the association’s official website at 9.24am today. The 96.5% pure gold bars…
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Man tells police his son was murdered, stuffed in a wardrobe. But was he?
Police were called to the home where a grizzly murder took place… or did it? In Chachoengsao province, a father claimed his son had been murdered and placed inside a wardrobe in a room of a neighbouring house. When police and rescue teams investigated the case, the situation turned out to be a bit more perplexing. Earlier today, at around…
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Splash clash: Food delivery rider’s water incident leads to physical assault in Chaing Rai (video)
A food delivery rider physically assaulted a Thai woman on a road in the northern province of Chaing Rai after she reportedly complained he splashed her with water. A video of when the Grab food delivery rider physically attacked the 40 year old Thai woman, Chanadda Sae-ue, went viral after being shared on Facebook on Friday, August 18. The rider…
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NIDA survey says: Pheu Thai Party’s unique political partnership faces public disapproval
A recent telephone survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed significant disapproval of the Pheu Thai Party‘s plan to form a special government in collaboration with its political adversaries, Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation (UTN) parties. This survey, also known as the NIDA poll, was conducted from August 15 through August 17 and involved a detailed…
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Police officer damages woman’s motorcycle, leaves note, pays for repair
A 29 year old woman named Supapan was angered when she returned home to find her motorcycle damaged but was pleasantly surprised to discover a letter of responsibility from a local police officer. His sincere gesture has drawn public praise and demonstrated a shining example of accountability within the police force. The incident occurred at a convenience store opposite the…
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PTTEP plans Middle East expansion for greater petroleum output and renewable energy
PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) announced its strategic plans to centre business operations in the Middle East to expand petroleum output and explore opportunities for innovative energy enterprises, revealed Montri Rawanchaikul, PTTEP’s Chief Executive and President. On the domestic front, the company aims to escalate gas production at the Erawan gas field to 800 million standard cubic feet…
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Spark to action: Villagers shaken by Narathiwat firework explosion ignite legal action for justice
In the aftermath of the catastrophic firework warehouse explosion that rocked a rural hamlet in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district on July 29, a contingent of the beleaguered villagers from Muno have decided to take legal recourse. The devastating incident claimed the lives of 12 and left an alarming 389 casualties, with three schools reduced to ruins and a mind-numbing 682…
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Flood prevention measures secure Phetchaburi for monsoon season
The province of Phetchaburi is preparing in advance this year for monsoon-induced flooding from September to October, with measures in place to minimise damage and inconvenience to locals. Key to these flood prevention efforts is the Kaeng Krachan and Mae Prachan dams, both currently low and ready to absorb the impending rainfall. Each year, Phetchaburi experiences flooding during the rainy…
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Rainfall reign: 46 provinces under threat as TMD predicts deluge and Bangkok braces for flash floods
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns that increased rainfall poses a threat to 46 provinces today, forecasting heavy rainfall in 70% of the areas while Bangkok is also at risk, with an abrupt flash floods warning issued due to tormenting forest runoffs. The TMD claims that a tropical storm flowing over the northern and upper northeastern regions of the country,…
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Thai woman murdered on street outside restaurant in Germany
Local police officers are hunting for a suspect who murdered a 61 year old Thai restaurant owner on Kantstrasse Road in the city of Berlin in Germany. German police officers reported on Friday, August 18, that they discovered the dead body of a Thai woman, 61 year old Siliya Saiwongpanya on a footpath near Fuggerstrasse Road in the Schoeneberg neighbourhood…
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Teenage gang violence: Perpetrators accused of fatal schoolboy killing in Nakhon Phanom road chase
A gang of six teenagers have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in the death of a 14 year old boy, who was attacked with weapons on August 19. The teenage gang violence incident took place by the roadside of a dual carriageway in Nakhon Phanom province of northeast Thailand. News reports advancing the teenage gang violence case details reveal…
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Celebrity split: Keng Lai Phong and Joy Jirawan’s separation shock fans, infidelity rumors arise
The announcement of the high-profile celebrity split between the previously much-loved couple, Keng Lai Phong and Joy Jirawan, has shocked many fans, causing palpable heartache. The couple’s marital strife was revealed when Joy took to social media to announce her singlehood, three days after she had posted a problematic photo that provoked controversy. Keng, known for his playful nature, has…
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EV sales in Thailand to hit 50,000 despite auto loan regulations
The Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI) anticipates a surge in electric vehicle (EV) sales to 50,000 units this year. This comes despite challenges such as diminishing purchasing power, rampant household debt, and the implementation of stricter auto loan regulations by banks. Last year, local EV sales in Thailand saw approximately 20,000 units sold. The popularity of EVs in the country can…
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Awaiting arrest, ex-Prime Minister Thaksin returns to Thailand amidst political unrest
As Thailand anticipates the arrival of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, fresh from a self-imposed exile, arrest warrants are ready for viewing and inevitable jail time awaits him. His expected return is scheduled for tomorrow, incidentally, coinciding with parliamentary proceedings to elect the country’s 30th leader. His daughter, Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra, a former prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu…
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