News
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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Yom River surges: Phichit takes swift action to stay afloat
The swift ascent of water levels in the Yom River in Phichit has compelled the Phichit Irrigation Department to expedite the discharge of water from the Sam Ngam Dam. These proactive measures are designed to brace for the anticipated influx of water from the northern region. In light of this development, residents have received counsel to relocate their possessions to…
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Thailand hikes interest rate amid economic uncertainty, shifts focus to soft power
The Bank of Thailand unexpectedly hiked its interest rate to a decade-high of 2.5% in an effort to combat inflation and prepare for global economic fluctuations. This move has cast uncertainty over the nation’s economic outlook. The government has set an ambitious GDP target of 4.4% for the following year, a significant increase from this year’s projection of 2.5-3.0%. Despite…
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Chiang Mai school cancels controversial 2000 baht fine for exam failures
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between a teacher and students in a Chiang Mai secondary school, which required students to pay a fine of 2,000 baht per credit if they failed or scored zero in exams, has been scrapped. The MOU, which attracted criticism on social media, was not mandated by the school’s administrators but was the initiative of the…
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Man slits his throat after seeing his ex-girlfriend with male friend
A jealous Thai man crashed his SUV into the car of his ex-girlfriend’s male friend before slitting his own throat in his car in an attempt to take his own life. The man was saved but he is still in critical condition. Sattahip Police Station officers and a rescue team rushed to the SUV parked on Soi Rung Roj 4…
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World Bank’s growth forecast dips in East Asia: A downward spiral
The World Bank‘s most recent semi-annual report reveals a downward revision in growth predictions for developing economies across East Asia and the Pacific for the years 2023 and 2024. This downward adjustment can be attributed to various factors, including the constraints imposed by tighter financial conditions and the ongoing challenges within the global economic environment. According to the report, the…
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Evergrande chairman in troubled waters: Offshore asset investigation makes waves
China Evergrande Group‘s Chairman is currently under investigation, suspected of moving assets offshore amidst the property developer’s ongoing struggle to complete unfinished projects, according to The Wall Street Journal’s report on Monday. Evergrande, burdened with liabilities exceeding US$300 billion (11 trillion baht), has been endeavouring to secure approval from creditors to restructure its offshore debt. However, the situation became more…
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Lucky ‘aunts’ scoop Thailand lottery jackpot: 6 million baht windfall, pledge donation to local pagoda project
Two elderly Thai women hailing from Huay Sai Khao village in Huay Kaew, Phu Kam Yao district, Phayao province, clinched the first prize in the government lottery, each receiving a whopping 6 million baht from the draw held yesterday. The winning ticket bore the number 727202. Following this unexpected windfall, a stream of relatives, friends, and neighbours flocked to offer…
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Thai mother’s golden quest: 12 million baht lottery-winning son seeks a ‘jackpot’ bride
A Thai mother has embarked on a quest to seek a suitable wife for her son, who is Thailand’s most eligible bachelor after scooping a 12 million baht lottery jackpot. She said she had already bought a gold necklace in readiness for her future daughter-in-law. ThaiRath reporters went to the lottery millionaire’s house in the Nong Bua Daeng district of…
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Thai students shoot for the stars, clinch triple gold at Astronomy Olympiad in Greece
Thai students shone brightly at the second International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics Juniors (IOAA-Jr) 2023, bringing home three coveted gold medals. The event, which ran from September 24 to 30, took place in Volos, Greece, and saw high school students from around the globe vie for honours in these challenging scientific disciplines. Apiwit Channarong and Chayapol Nontasut, both studying…
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Flu outbreak sweeps Thailand: OCP9 reminds ‘mask up’ to stay well
Thailand is grappling with a severe flu outbreak, with tens of thousands of patients reported in the past two months. The Office for Disease Control and Prevention 9 in Nakhon Ratchasima (OCP9) urges everyone to intensify precautionary measures and to continue wearing masks. From January 1 to September 19, there have been 185,216 patients with flu and one death, with…
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Scope Langsuan penthouse frenzy: Bangkok’s priciest pad finds a buyer in a flash
A penthouse at Scope Langsuan in Bangkok swiftly changed hands for 436 million baht (US$11.832 million) just one week after hitting the market, setting a new record as Thailand’s most expensive condominium. Scope Langsuan is a collaboration between Scope Company Limited and SC Asset Corporation Public Limited. The condominium is positioned as an ultra-luxury residence targeting an international premium group,…
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Lisa from BLACKPINK wows Paris with a ‘crazy’ cabaret act, controversy and sizzling moves
Lisa Manobal, better known as Lisa from BLACKPINK, concluded her headline performance at the renowned Parisian cabaret, Crazy Horse Paris, between September 28 and 30, leaving audiences awestruck with her sultry dance moves. The show, without a doubt, managed to captivate audiences with its electrifying performance that left fans and celebrities alike buzzing with excitement. The praise that poured in…
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Thailand’s ‘influential figures’ list: Shedding light on dark influence
The Deputy Interior Minister of Thailand confirmed the completion of a list containing 600-700 individuals deemed as “influential figures” known for their dark influence across the nation. This list is set to be discussed at a committee meeting on Tuesday. In this register, less than a hundred individuals are classified as hardcore, falling under the Red group. The remaining majority are…
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Upskirt offender’s capture unfolds in Bangkok, skirt-chasing days over for Thai pervert
A 29 year old Thai pervert has been arrested in Bangkok for illicitly upskirt filming unsuspecting women. The arrest follows a warrant issued by the South Bangkok Criminal Court on September 15. The Thai pervert and upskirt offender, Thitisan, also known as Title, who allegedly comes from a wealthy family and holds a degree from a prestigious university, confessed to…
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Thai EV Club member sparks a ‘charged’ frenzy with Bangkok station surprise
A conversation in the EV Club Thailand Group on Facebook has gone viral, after one of its members, known as Penguin1, shared photos of four cars parked in an electric vehicle (EV) charging station. All four cars were seen plugged into the charging stations, with a message from Penguin1 stating, “All four cars at the ‘charging station’ in Ladprao, Bangkok,…
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Gold holds its ground: Steady prices shine in market update
Gold prices remained steady today according to the Gold Traders Association‘s opening market update, with the price of gold ornaments set at 32,650 baht per baht-weight. The price of gold bars in the country was also unchanged, with the buying and selling rates at 32,050 baht and 32,150 baht per baht-weight respectively. Meanwhile, 96.5% pure gold ornaments were bought for…
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Economic unit predicts ‘bond-ing’ boom amidst 2024 global recession
Tisco Economic Strategy Unit (ESU) warns the impending global recession in 2024 could likely lead to a surge in the return on bond investments to over 10%. This potential economic shift prompts Komsorn Prakobphol, the head of the economist strategy unit at Tisco ESU, to advise investors to lessen their stock investments and instead channel more into debt instruments, particularly…
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Midnight mayhem: Drunk passenger attack on Thai taxi driver leads to electrifying collision
During the early hours of today, a drunk passenger attacked a taxi driver, leading to a collision with an electricity pole in Samut Prakan province. The incident occurred on Thepparat Road, Bang Kaew district, where the intoxicated passenger was found unconscious with blood seeping from his ear. On arrival at the scene, police and rescue workers from Bang Kaew Police…
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October stargazing: Astrologer predicts ‘luck-turning’ moments for zodiac signs
Astrologer Thosporn, also known as Doctor Chang, unveiled predictions for the 12 zodiac signs for October, a month identified as a significant turning point for many. He highlighted the potential for massive financial transformations, particularly for those who have habitually had bad luck. These individuals could find themselves fortunate enough to win a substantial prize or award unexpectedly. Doctor Chang…
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Thai farmer’s luxury car market trip turns heads: Viral video hits 8.7 million views
A viral video, viewed by 8.7 million people, portrays an intriguing scenario of a Thai man venturing to a local market in his Audi A4 luxury car to sell freshly harvested vegetables. The man’s identity adds to the surprising narrative. The video clip, swiftly making its rounds on social networks, first appeared on the Instagram account @variety_farmer. It showcases a…
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Pattaya hotel fire injures Kuwaiti tourist and incurs over 1 million baht damage
The early hours of this morning saw a popular hotel in Pattaya, located on Third Road in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province, engulfed in flames. The Pattaya hotel fire incident, which occurred at 3am today, resulted in a Kuwaiti tourist suffering moderate injuries. The hotel’s name has been withheld in light of the ongoing fire investigation. In…
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Local fishermen discover dead body of foreign man in Chon Buri sea
Local fishermen discovered the dead body of an unidentified foreign man in the waters of Sattahip Bay in Chon Buri province. The Rojjana Dhammasatarn rescue team received a distressing report about the dead body at 4pm on Saturday, September 30. Upon arrival, officers encountered a group of fishermen, who had anchored their fishing boat near the body, while waiting for…
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Jackpot joy: Fish farmer reels in 12 million baht lottery win in central Thailand
A 44 year old fish farm owner in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi, was overjoyed yesterday to receive a cash prize of 12 million baht after his lottery ticket was announced as the first prize winner. Not Lottery Plus, led by Panthawat Nakwisut and a team of over 20 people, arrived at the farm late the previous night to deliver the lottery…
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Friendly catfish steals Thai hearts online with fin-tastic affection
A uniquely sociable freshwater catfish, known for its fondness for human interaction, has attracted widespread attention and concern for its well-being. Fish lover Denchai Lueklek shared the extraordinary behaviour of the catfish on his Facebook account. On September 27, news correspondents visited Denchai’s residence in the Sai Thai sub-district, Krabi, to witness the catfish’s behaviour first-hand. The 50 year old…
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Si Thep Historical Park battles overcrowding after UNESCO world heritage listing
A significant influx of visitors to Si Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun sparked concerns among officials, following its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list on September 19. The province was ill-prepared for the escalated tourist numbers, leading to calls for immediate action to protect the park and manage the crowds. Chatchaval Benchasiriwong, the 54 year old deputy governor…
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Thailand and Italy cook up a delicious deal for gastronomy and tourism
A mutual agreement has been reached between Thailand and Italy to collaboratively promote the gastronomy and tourism sectors of both nations, according to Thai trade representative, Nalinee Taveesin. The Thai-Italian collaboration announcement was made on Sunday, with Italy expressing an increased interest in investing in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Such an understanding was gleaned from a recent meeting between…
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China and Thailand bolster diplomatic ties, visa exemption for Chinese tourists
China and Thailand, marking 48 years of diplomatic rapport, continue to strengthen their cooperative ties, as highlighted by Han Zhiqiang, the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, in a recent interview. Han acknowledged the friendly neighbourly relations, shared bloodlines and mutual benefits that the two nations have enjoyed over the years. China has remained Thailand’s largest trading partner for a decade, contributing…
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Thai man arrested for raping female financial company worker
Police and residents in the eastern province of Rayong worked together until they successfully arrested a Thai man who raped a finance company worker after he hid in the forest for more than 30 hours. On Saturday, September 30, the rapist, 48 year old Chaiyot Liaodam, tricked a female financial company employee into meeting him at a rubber plantation in…
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Viral video: Taxi driver’s ‘you’re too fat’ confrontation leaves passenger speechless
A video of a taxi driver verbally confronting a passenger has gone viral, sparking widespread criticism and discussion online. The driver claimed he was afraid the shock absorbers would break due to the passenger’s weight, leading to an intense taxi confrontation exchange that left the passenger feeling insulted and upset. The taxi confrontation video clip begins with the passenger asking…
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Thailand’s heavy rain forecast puts regions on alert for more flooding ahead
Several regions across Thailand are bracing for more flooding following warnings of heavy rain from tomorrow until next Wednesday. The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) delivered this warning yesterday after much of the north and northeast regions of the country already experienced floods due to days of incessant rain. The impending heavy rain, which is set to last until Saturday,…
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