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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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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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Firestarter housemaid: Thai police uncover shocking twist in theft and Bangkok blaze case
In a surprising revelation following a fire incident, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) confirmed that a housemaid, a long-standing occupant of the damaged property, was indeed the criminal behind the theft and subsequent fire outbreak. Unforeseen by the homeowners, the incident came to light following investigations by the local police. The fire broke out yesterday, August 6, in one of…
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Rice prices skyrocket in Thailand due to drought effects and export ban
A meeting is set to be convened today by Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit evaluating the repercussions of the drought instigated by the El Niño weather occurrence, and potential courses of action in response to the surge in rice prices. Concurrently, the Commerce Ministry under the watchful eyes of Wattanasak Sur-iam, chief of the Internal Trade Department, is monitoring good prices,…
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Arun Plus aims for profitability with Thailand’s growing EV demand
National oil and gas conglomerate, PTT Plc, is forecasting that its subsidiary company, Arun Plus Co, is likely to attain profitability in the next three to five years, fostered by higher demand from Thai drivers for electric vehicles (EVs). Arun Plus was founded three years prior when PTT ventured into the EV sector as part of its futuristic energy plan.…
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Online scams: Thai restaurant reservation fraud nets 140 million baht in July, warns CCIB
Warnings of escalating online fraud rings capitalising on the growing demand for restaurant reservations have been issued by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB). Based on emerging reports, a significant financial hit of over 140 million baht landed on consumers in July due to a proliferation of online scams. According to the latest information detailed by the CCIB spokesperson, Police…
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Food safety fears triggered in China’s Shaanxi region as rat found in noodle bowl
A mystifying episode at a restaurant in the Shaanxi region of China sparked concerns over food safety. A customer shockingly discovered an entire rat carcass nestled in their bowl of noodles, leading to the temporary closure of the establishment for reassessment. Formally reported on August 3, the customer had ordered a large bowl of noodles at a local Shaanxi restaurant, only…
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Transgender identity revelation: Social worker’s love for accident victim unravels a journey of self discovery
A 40 year old man met with an accident, left helpless in a hospital before he was fortunately cared for by a 63 year old woman. Their affection escalated leading to a marriage, only then he discovered she wasn’t a woman, leading to an unexpected transgender identity revelation. The story of 63 year old Kalin, a dedicated social worker frequently…
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Public misconduct: Elderly woman removed from Chinese train for occupying three seats
Drama unfolded on a Chinese train when an elderly woman refused to give up occupying three seats, signifying public misconduct. Despite other passengers’ concerns and the attempts of the train staff, the woman clung to her self-imposed entitlement, ultimately leading to her removal from the train. In the province of Liaoning, China, an elderly woman was found sprawled out, claiming…
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BREAKING: Bombshell details emerge in Koh Pha Ngan murder
BREAKING NEWS: In Koh Pha Ngan, after 29 year old rising star Spanish chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo brutally murdered and carved up his alleged lover, 44 year old Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, the missing top half of his body has now been recovered. Further details of the motive have been revealed but not confirmed. The torso and head of the murdered…
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Thai Mother’s Day long holiday weekend brings TikTok FoodFest to Pattaya
If it feels like Thai banks and government services are closing all the time, the upcoming long holiday weekend will feel like deja vu following almost directly on the heels of the just-concluded super-long holiday weekend. Thai Mother’s Day, coinciding with the 91st birthday of the Queen Mother, will be highly celebrated on August 12, saturating the city in hues…
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Manchester United, Buriram United top football favourites in Thai pre-season survey
As the fervent anticipation for the 2023-24 football season begins to resonate amongst fans in Thailand, a recent survey divulges that Manchester United from the English Premier League, and Buriram United from Thai League 1, are the crowd favourites. This comes from a research study conducted by the renowned National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). The study, which ran between…
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Oil slicks threatens Phuket beaches, authorities seek culprits
In the Thalang district of Phuket island, the beautiful scenery was marred by the unexpected appearance of oil slicks and tar balls along four beaches. These are being carefully removed from the coastline of the Sirinat National Park by a mix of residents and authorities. The cleanup started on Friday after an alert was raised by the Layan Beach station…
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Phuket Blood Bank appeals to foreigners for donations amid alarming demand
In a humanitarian call, the Phuket Blood Bank at the Vachira Phuket Hospital reached out to foreign residents and tourists in Phuket encouraging them to contribute to a blood donation drive on August 8 in Phuket Town, aimed at urgently replenishing the hospital’s blood reserves. The initiative comes with an alarming demand for blood from all groups seen at both…
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Car bomb shock in Narathiwat: No casualties as police close district (video)
In Narathiwat, a car bomb detonation led to the temporary closure of a region surrounding the location of a police base situated in Sungai Kolok district. The blast last night fortunately did not result in any injuries or deaths. The incident took place close to Orakan intersection, in proximity to both a rail route and the ad hoc police stronghold…
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Pheu Thai Party confides challenges in forming new Thai coalition government
In an evolving political landscape where the constitution, power structures and group conflicts have become major challenges, the Pheu Thai Party acknowledged that manoeuvring the formation of a new coalition government is far from simple. According to Pheu Thai’s Deputy Leader, Phumtham Wechayachai, the party has to remain committed and steadfast in its approach to lead the nation out of…
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Thai health ministry plans dental hospital in each province to boost care access
In a bid to tackle the absence of adequate oral health facilities, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has unveiled a plan to establish a dental hospital in each of the country’s 77 provinces. Dr Opas Kankawinpong, the ministry’s permanent secretary, underscored the urgent need for increased dental care coverage during a seminar, highlighting that with the current number of dentists,…
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Climate change threatens Thailand’s tiger conservation efforts, reveals study
The future conservation of tigers within Thailand’s natural habitats confronts a formidable adversary in the form of climate change, according to Jatuporn Buruspat, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Something that is significantly augmenting his concern is the forest fires that relentlessly gnaw away at the territory of these apex predators. In his remarks offered…
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Thai fireworks depot owners surrender following fatal explosion investigation
The owners of a recently annihilated fireworks depo in Narathiwat yesterday handed themselves over to the police. This revelation was announced by an on-scene informant who wished to remain unnamed. The owners, Sompong Napol and Piyanuch Puengwirawat, both 42, made their way back into Thai territory through the Sadao checkpoint connecting Thailand and Malaysia. This development came on the heels of…
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Phuket drownings prompt safety measures and Australian aid
Five people lost their lives in drowning incidents in Phuket just over the past week. The unfortunate victims included four international tourists and a Thai national. This troubling streak has provoked local authorities into a state of high alert, with Thai authorities even recruiting help from Australia. The drownings occurred in Phuket between July 28 and today. In the current…
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Oil spill on Phuket beaches met with quick cleanup response
Late yesterday afternoon marked the start of a clean-up operation on the northwest shores of Phuket. Beachgoers were met with harrowing sight of oil and tar balls, accompanied by traces of oil slick that had made their unpleasant appearance on the beaches. The beaches targeted by the operation included locations at Nai Yang, Mai Khao, Nai Thon, and Layan. The…
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Phuket lucky license plate auction raises 25 million for disabled road accident victims
Funds raised from an online auction of “lucky” vehicle registration plates by the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) were generously donated to aid nine individuals left disabled by tragic road accidents. The auction that took place on July 22 accrued over 25 million baht in proceeds. The lucky number plates auctioned flaunted the Thai alphabet’s “KorJor” set against an exquisite…
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CIB arrest Phuket man for online scam they’ve tracked since 2022
Thai police have taken into custody a local man in connection with a number of online scams, the Royal Thai Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) shared in a media update. The arrest took place on Freedom Beach in Phuket, as the CIB disclosed through a post on its official Facebook page. Although the detailed report refrained from stating the family…
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A young boy’s plea to King for rooftop repairs gets heartwarming response
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, a young boy from a destitute family has successfully received aid to restore the dilapidated rooftop of his home after his plea to His Majesty the King was met with a positive response. Nine-year-old, Thirat Thongphet lives in a modest village within Khuntalay, a section of the Lan Saka district. The youngster penned a plea on…
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Pattaya beach businesses blighted by proliferating food cart vendors
In Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach area, numerous businesses are expressing displeasure over what they describe as a monopolisation of the beach area by an excessive number of food cart vendors. The number of street stalls has swollen to over one hundred food carts that set themselves up and heavily populate the roadway. Lamphueng Hamilton, known locally as Lisa, who presides over…
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Dramatic leap in tourism to Thailand rakes in 1.08 trillion baht
Exceeding expectations and the grim shadow of the previous year, the tourist influx to Thailand recorded a dramatic leap in the first half of 2023. From January to the end of July, over 15 million people travelled in Thailand, marking an increase in tourism to Thailand of 384% in comparison to the same period in the prior year, according to…
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Chuvit Kamolvisit continues crusade despite liver cancer
Chuvit Kamolvisit has publicly disclosed the severity of his ongoing battle against stage 3 liver cancer. Despite the prognosis, he pledged to utilise his time remaining to illuminate wide-ranging societal quandaries courageously. Chuvit, a former magnate in the massage parlour industry, unveiled his grave health condition ahead of a press conference he hosted on Thursday. The conference was organised to…
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Pattaya retains travelers’ top spot during Mother’s Day holiday
Pattaya‘s status as a hotspot for families is once again confirmed as online booking firm Agoda discloses that the resort city holds its charm for domestic travellers anticipating their extended Mother’s Day holiday. According to data derived from Agoda, Pattaya emanates an irresistible allure to Thai vacationers planning their holiday from August 12th to the 14th in observance of National…
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Bangkok freehold land in Lang Suan invites global investor bids
A prestigious piece of freehold land nestled in Bangkok‘s highly-prized region, Lang Suan, has notably emerged on the bidding block. Managed by Colliers Thailand, the real estate and professional services heavyweight, offers are being invited for a prominent development plot on the distinguished Lang Suan Road in Bangkok. Investors around the world have turned a keen eye towards this proposition,…
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Pita highlights global democracy’s decline, urges youth involvement
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP), highlighted the worrying decline in global democracy during a recent talk at a Thammasat University orientation event, encouraging young learners to take a hand in shaping their country’s fate. An influential figure at the frontline of political transformation, Pita confronted the issue of democratic regression emphatically. Pita was a keynote…
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Mountain B nightclub fire: anniversary of Thai tragedy remembered
Sattahip, a picturesque coastal town in Thailand, became etched in the mind of the nation on August 5th last year when flames engulfed the lively Mountain B nightclub, metamorphosing the hub of entertainment into a scene of tragedy. The eruption of the inferno, around 1am which swiftly transformed the nightlife hot spot into a furnace, was a catastrophe that remains…
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Prime minister fast-tracks aid for firework warehouse blast victims
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, along with Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, toured the site of a devastating fireworks warehouse explosion in Narathiwat yesterday. The visit aimed to expedite the rehabilitation process for victims and address housing issues caused by the unfortunate incident. Chan-o-cha journeyed to Muno, a village in Sungai Kolok district, to evaluate first-hand the circumstances of those affected by…
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