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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 Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money
Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...
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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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Pattaya taxi turf war leaves four ride-share drivers severely injured
An otherwise quiet alleyway in Pattaya erupted in violence at around 2.30am today when an eruption of animosity between rival motorbike taxi groups led to a serious altercation. The stand-off which unfolded nearby a popular tourist spot, Central Mall, and within a stone’s throw of the Pattaya Police Station, involved traditional orange-vested motorbike taxi riders, known as Win, and ride-sharing…
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Phuket braces for rain havoc: Urgent weather alert signals flood risk
The southern province of Phuket has been included in an urgent weather notification that advocates for all hands on deck amid the risk of flash floods possibly instigated by heavy, persistent rain forecasted to batter the Andaman coast starting from Sunday, August 20. This alert was issued yesterday by Boonsom Cholpitakwong, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of National Water…
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Bangkok property developers anticipate economic rebound
Bangkok-based property developers on the Stock Exchange of Thailand are optimistic about an economic bounce back in the latter half of the year, expecting it to help meet their annual performance targets after a subdued start to the year. Property Perfect Plc., under the management of Wongsakorn Prasitvipat, is set to launch nine fresh housing ventures in the second half.…
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Deceitful customer exposed: CCTV reveals scheme to gain free meals in Chinese restaurant
A bizarre incident emerged in a Chinese restaurant where a customer falsely accused an eatery of poor hygiene in Taizhou, China. The claim involved a hair in the food but the Chinese restaurant CCTV revealed a different story. The customer placed her own hair in the dish, trying to blame the restaurant. This patron ordered a few dishes like others…
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Cash caper: Thieves on the run after snatching 400,000 baht from Krung Thai Bank ATM
Thieves remain at large after stealing about 400,000 baht from a Krung Thai Bank ATM in front of Prachanukroh School in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The deputy manager of the Krung Thai Bank, Janjira Saelim, yesterday lodged a complaint at Tha Sala Police Station complaining that thieves had stolen money from the ATM in the early hours…
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Brewing trouble: Woman fined for stirring up coffee chaos with laxative prank
In a recent ruling by a South Korean court, a woman in her twenties has been fined 2 million won (53,000 baht), for spiking a man’s coffee with laxatives last year. The incident led to health issues and emotional distress for the 19 year old victim, who alleged that the resultant trauma hampered his performance in college entrance examinations. This…
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ONCB crackdown: Hong Kong men nabbed with smuggled heroin in Bangkok condo
Officers from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) arrested two men from Hong Kong at their condominium in the Rama 9 neighbourhood in Bangkok after finding two smuggled heroin packages addressed to their home country. The collaborative efforts of Thai and Hong Kong authorities have recorded remarkable success since they embarked on a mission earlier this month to…
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Thai couple detained for alleged unauthorised infant burial near Pattaya
A Thai couple was taken into custody following an alleged infant burial attempt near the Huai Chak Nok Reservoir, neighbouring Pattaya in the province of Chon Buri. Their arrest on Wednesday, August 16, was undertaken by the coordinated efforts of the Huay Yai Police and their counterparts in Pattaya. Acting on a tip-off from public-spirited locals, who had concerns about…
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Blazing fire obliterates deserted Pattaya-based construction camp overnight
A blazing fire sparked and swiftly wreaked havoc on a vacant construction camp in the Banglamung district, Chon Buri province, near the famous resort city of Pattaya. Officials reported that the seemingly intense electrical fire completely consumed the deserted wooden structure on Wednesday. Alarming as the blazing destruction was, there were no reported injuries or fatalities, providing some comfort amidst…
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Thai railways: Double-track upgrade paves the way for 120km/h passenger speeds
The Thai government is set to partially inaugurate the Map Kabao-Jira Junction double-track railway line next year. This Thai railway development will result in an increased speed limit for passenger trains, potentially enabling them to travel up to 120 kilometres per hour, a significant leap from the existing 50 kilometres per hour. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made a visit to…
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82 year old man dies after being stung by swarm of wasps
An 82 year old Thai man tragically died after he was stung by a swarm of wasps in an abandoned house in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham. ThaiRath reported that the old man, Sai Romyen, requested to use the bathroom at a local grocery shop nearby his house on the incident day. Unfortunately, all the bathrooms were occupied by…
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Bangkok fire outbreak traps ‘Mother of the Year’
A horrifying fire outbreak occurred at a renowned townhouse in the Lat Phrao district in Bangkok mobilising emergency services to rescue an 80 year old woman. The fire services were summoned to Amornphan Village 9, Soi Chokchai 4, Soi 84, Lat Phrao district at approximately 4am today. Terror engulfed the popular Lat Phrao neighbourhood as a blaze erupted in a…
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