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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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Heatwarming gesture: Thai father dresses up as woman for adopted daughter on Mother’s Day (video)
A devoted Thai father dressed up as a woman in order to participate in a Mother’s Day activity at the school of his adopted daughter in the central province of Kampaeng Phet. Netizens praised him for his love and dedication to the girl. The 48 year old man, Pratchaya “Joe” Tadeebu, shared a video and picture of himself dressed as…
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Covid-19 survivors have 24% higher risk of developing Type-2 diabetes
In an announcement made yesterday, research revealed that people who test positive for Covid-19 are at an increased risk of developing Type-2 diabetes. The disclosure came from Dr Thira Woratanarat of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, who referred to a study recently unveiled on the MedRxiv.org portal. This research incorporated a sample size of 15 million people from the United…
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Massage parlour raid reveals galaxy of illegal operations in Phuket (video)
A spate of illegal operations was brought into sharp focus, after a massage parlour known as Universe Massage in Phuket was raided and its owner nabbed due to operating without requisite permissions. The drive to crack down on such infringing operations headlined by the Patong Police continues in earnest, with this instance being the third in just over a week.…
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Daria’s Pattaya condo fall: Arrest warrant denied for person of interest
A new wrinkle in the investigation concerning the tragic death of a Russian woman, Daria Iuzifiak, after her fall from a Pattaya condo window, raises questions. The Pattaya Provincial Court refused to issue an arrest warrant for a person of interest due to a lack of substantial evidence tying him to the fatal fall. The Russian woman, simply identified as…
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Twerk video outrage: teacher posts kindergarteners dancing inappropriately
The internet was set ablaze with controversy following a video of a kindergarten teacher instructing children to perform the raunchy twerk dance move during a school event. Critical voices arose, expressing their concern about the inappropriateness of such instruction. The now-infamous footage was initially posted by a teacher on her social media account. It captured some young students practising for…
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Deadly jealousy: Thai man’s jealousy leads to murder of employee’s spouse
A tragic incident unfolded as a Thai man’s jealousy led to a fatal outcome, resulting in the murder of his female employee’s husband. The horrifying incident occurred after the deceased Thai man accused the perpetrator of having an affair with his wife and attempted to assault him with a knife. Upon receiving notification of the murder, officers from Takhli Police…
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Teen survives life-threating 30-metre fall at Grand Canyon
In a miraculous story, a 13 years old boy survived a 30-metre tumble down the Grand Canyon, sustaining numerous grave injuries. Remarkably, the plunge did not kill him, and rescuers were able to reach him within two hours and transport him to a hospital. Kauffman, on vacation with his mother, had been admiring the scenic views at Bright Angel Point,…
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Factory explosion near Bangkok leaves two workers injured due to faulty cutting tool
An explosion at a factory has left two workers injured in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. The incident occurred yesterday when a newly bought cutting tool malfunctioned. The device had been in use for only a few hours when it exploded, severely injuring the employees. The factory specialises in recycling old car air conditioners. The explosion happened around 5.30pm yesterday…
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Kuwaiti rider’s downhill dash leads to street spectacle in Pattaya
A Kuwaiti motorcycle rider’s recklessness turned into a dramatic scene on the streets of Pattaya, Thailand, as he lost control of his bike while speeding down a slope, resulting in an accident and injuries. The incident unfolded as the Sawang Borriboon Meaung Pattaya Rescue team was summoned to the scene after receiving a distress call from a concerned local. Upon…
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Rolling the dice: Phuket authorities detain 18 in illegal betting crackdown
Following a tip-off, local authorities in Thalang in Phuket detained 18 people in connection with illegal gambling activities at the weekend. The raid on Sunday, August 13 was orchestrated by the Thalang Police and happened in a local venue in Moo 8, Srisoonthorn. Upon arrival, law enforcers discovered a crowd revelling in the forbidden pleasures of illicit gambling. Eight men…
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Snake charms monks: Unusual temple encounter in northern Thailand
In an unusual incident, over 500 monks peacefully gave way to a green snake that slithered into their temple meeting, ultimately cohabiting the space until the gathering’s conclusion in northern Thailand. The intriguing episode unfolded in a shared clip on social media at the Wat Jampa Temple in the Prakhon Chai district of Buriram province. The monks were convening for…
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Man kills wife, drags body to forest, arrested on return to crime scene
In a gruesome act of domestic violence, a man assaulted and killed his wife, discarding her body in the forest behind their house. Returning to the crime scene, he was swiftly apprehended by the police and confessed to the crime, sparked by rage over her communication with another man on the phone. The tragic event took place around 6..0pm yesterday.…
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Blazing a claim: Thai woman’s fiery bid ties her to former Premier League star Steven Gerrard
A drug-taking 27 year old woman embarked on an attention-seeking mission that culminated in her setting fire to a rental room and announcing former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard is her biological father in northeast Thailand. The woman, known as A, reportedly desired fame and the spotlight, showed a photograph of the former Premier League star Gerrard to reporters…
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Trunk of sorrow: Thailand’s orphaned elephant Tula crosses the rainbow bridge (video)
In heart-wrenching wildlife news from Thailand, Tula, a 10 month old orphaned elephant succumbed to illness despite diligent care from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The devastating news came to light after the department released a statement via its official Facebook page this Sunday evening. Tula had been under the radar of public attention since…
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Thailand’s first Monkeypox-related death highlights rising infectious disease threat
A severe case of Monkeypox in Thailand, infecting a 34 year old man with HIV and syphilis, culminated in the country’s first fatal mishap related to this viral scourge. The unfortunate news dropped yesterday, courtesy of Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC). Explicating the unfolding of events, the DDC’s Director-General Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong took note of the initial discomforts plaguing…
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Goodbye Family Mart, hello Tops: Thailand’s retail favorite gets a fresh aisle
The well-known Family Mart stores, a cornerstone of the local retail landscape for over 30 years, are set to be rebranded as Tops Daily in the heart of Thailand. The decision made by the Central Retail Corporation PLC (CRC) projected completion by the end of this year will bring an end to an era as it follows a decision to…
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Thailand’s railway safety upgrade: 693 unauthorised crossings to be rerouted
In the aftermath of a tragic accident last week in Chachoengsao, where a freight train collided with a pickup truck at an unrecognised railway crossing, taking eight lives and injuring three, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) resolved to close 693 unauthorised railway crossings across Thailand. The accident took place on an unauthorised crossing, lacking official signalling mechanisms. Of the…
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Gambling addiction fuels debt crisis among Thai manual labourers
The escalating gambling addiction among manual labourers is primarily fuelled by socio-economic challenges rather than personal enthusiasm for betting, according to social workers. Government agencies and NGOs alike are endeavouring to counteract this trend by offering rehabilitative intervention programmes. Pattamaporn Sooksomsod, an associate professor from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University, identified the root factor of such gambling addiction as…
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Traffic violations rampant in Phetchabun exposed in viral video
The terrible driving habits of motorists in Phetchabun were thrust into the public spotlight following a Facebook video going viral. In a startling traffic violations revelation, the video displayed rampant disregard for traffic rules in the city. The ten-minute clip, comprised of footage from a car’s dashboard camera, exhibited numerous motorists, including bicyclists, openly flouting laws such as cutting through…
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Disability debate over hearing-impaired food delivery rider
A viral video of a woman criticising a hearing-impaired food delivery rider for leading her astray sparked public disability discrimination controversy, accumulating as many as 2.7 million views in Thailand. This incident, which occurred in June, has stirred debates on the appropriateness of allowing individuals with disabilities to handle such job roles, as well as sparked, calls for compassion and…
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Patong Police raid massage parlours exploiting underage workers
In a recent crackdown on unlicensed operations, the Patong Police force swooped in on two massage parlours suspected of exploiting underage workers. Hatha Massage, located on Rat-Uthit 200 Pi Road, underwent a law enforcement raid at 9.40pm on August 12. The law enforcement action came on the heels of allegations that the establishment was not only operating without the necessary…
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Blueberry cheesecake worth 330 baht at Bangkok bakery sparks furious Internet debate
A small bakery shop in Bangkok’s Nana neighbourhood has stirred social media ire, with a single slice of blueberry cheesecake priced at 330 baht. Worse still, the price is omitted from the menu, shocking customers when the bill comes. Angry Internet commenters made suggestions for reporting the matter to the relevant authorities. A Facebook user shared their experience in the…
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International influencers invited to bolster Thai tourism in TAT initiative
In a move to bolster the nation’s tourism industry, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) held a lively event over the previous extended Mother’s Day holiday weekend, extending an invitation to notable international influencers. Write Your Own Amazing New Chapter was the title chosen for the event that took place over five days, from August 9 to August 13. The…
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Train dance of Thai woman sparks criticism and debate
A recent Internet sensation involving a Thai woman, who was caught on camera dancing on a train in Japan, took a cynical turn as the online community, both in Thailand and Japan, voiced criticism. The woman seemed to be unfazed by the attention, causing controversy due to Japan’s traditional public decorum and strict regulations on public transport. The Thai woman…
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SmartLand app scam: Phuket arrest made, victims lose millions
On the popular tourist island of Phuket, a 25 year old man has been apprehended on charges of facilitating a mule account for a fraudulent application known as SmartLand. The application has reportedly swindled people out of millions of baht. The individual, referenced by authorities solely as Winat or Oil, was arrested in a high-traffic lifestyle shopping mall located in…
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Flatulence incident: Chinese bus tour rocked by passenger’s relentless gas emissions
A flatulence incident on a bus caused by an unexpected intestinal complication has promoted a flurry of laughter and serious health discussions online. The event took place on a bus tour in China where passengers, including a notable online influencer, were reportedly subject to a barrage of foul-smelling wind expulsions from a passenger. The influencer, known to her online followers…
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Indian woman climbs 24-metre electric pole after argument with boyfriend
There are many ways to cope with a tense argument, to calm down or diffuse the situation. But some options are more reasonable, and some are far more dramatic. A disgruntled Indian woman made the baffling and dangerous decision to scale a 24-metre-high electric pole following a heated argument with her boyfriend. The bizarre pole-climbing incident took place in India.…
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Patong police clamp down on tuk tuk misuse of public parking spaces
In a stringent move, Patong Police issued a stringent directive for all tuk tuk drivers to cease occupancy of public parking spaces, with a particular focus on the area alongside Patong Beach Road. The authorities swung into this action following an incident involving a tuk tuk driver who unlawfully utilised a public parking spot on the Beach Road, also known…
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Phuket downpours wreak havoc, TMD issues repeat weather advisory
Rolling thunder and consecutive downpours continued to wreak havoc in Phuket as the Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasted heavy rain and strong wind waves in the Andaman Sea through until at least tomorrow. The Phuket downpours announcement came this morning, marking the fifth consecutive wet weather advisory. This series of soaking weather is blamed on the “quite strong” southwest monsoon…
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Bride demands refund after wedding photographer allegedly sleeps with new husband
A recent chain of events has led to a newlywed furiously demanding a refund from two contracted wedding photographers after she discovered surprising images implicating that one photographer slept with her husband shortly after their marriage ceremony. The tale unravelled when a wedding photographer sought advice on Reddit from fellow users on how to handle an unexpected situation. The photographer,…
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