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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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Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you
Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...
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Hong Kong sees almost double fatal and severe Covid-19 cases in a week
The number of fatal and severe Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong saw a significant increase last week, nearly double the amount of the previous week, according to health authorities. Despite the rise, experts emphasised that the death rate remains small when compared to the potential daily number of infections. The news coincided with the death of a 13 year old…
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Thai company expects more cement consumption due to tourism
SCG Cement-Building Materials, a subsidiary of Thailand’s Siam Cement Group, anticipates cement consumption to grow by 1-2% year-on-year, exceeding 30 million tonnes in the current year. This growth is primarily due to the recovery of the tourism sector. Having developed a “hybrid structural cement” that reduces carbon dioxide emissions during production, the company demonstrates its commitment to battling climate change.…
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Bicycle thief interacts with kind owner who eventually lets him keep it (video)
A heartwarming video of a Thai woman confronting a bicycle thief has gone viral on social media, garnering nearly a million views. Posted by Tiktok user tai_1138, the clip shows the woman speaking to a man who had stolen her bicycle in a gentle and compassionate manner. @tai_1138♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – กระต่าย 🐰สายแว๊บ🤭 In the video, she asks the thief where…
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Vietnamese man allegedly impersonated Thai citizen and forged land documents
A Vietnamese man impersonating a Thai citizen was arrested for allegedly forging land documents before attempting to sell them on the market. Numerous villagers throughout the northeastern provinces have reportedly suffered losses as a result of his fraudulent activities. Police, along with a special task force, apprehended the 55 year old suspect known as Kittinan, who was wanted by an…
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Thai rescue volunteer mourns his 4-day old son’s burial
A 20 year old Thai rescue volunteer, Witwattanachan Chanthasri, faced a heartbreaking tragedy when he had to perform the burial of his four-day old son recently. Witwattanachan, who works as a rescue volunteer for the Buriram Provincial Highway Police, is known for his dedication to helping others in need. He often transports patients and deals with a variety of emergencies.…
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Hotel warns of pretty woman who dodges room fees, leaves mess and bloodstains
A hotel owner in Udon Thani province has posted a warning for other hotel operators about a pretty 25 year old woman who has not only avoided paying her hotel bill but also left her room in a miserable state. The owner claims that upon inspection, the room was found to be unclean and damaged to such an extent that…
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Chinese couple caught having sex outside convenience store
In a shocking incident, a couple was caught having sex outside of a popular convenience store entrance in Zhumadian, Henan Province, China, much to the surprise of passersby and the astonishment of netizens. Onlookers appeared to be indifferent to the scene, with some speculating that the woman seemed to be intoxicated. Local news reports indicated that the event took place…
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Two storms to hit Thailand affecting Election Day, warns disaster centre
Rangsit University’s Climate Change and Disaster Centre expects two storms are set to hit Thailand next week, with potential impacts on General Election Day, May 14. The centre’s director, Seri Suparatit, revealed in a Facebook post yesterday that two storms – one originating in the Indian Ocean and the other in the South China Sea – are moving towards Thailand.…
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Prominent Pattaya hotelier urges next Thai government to extend tourism-subsidy scheme
A prominent Pattaya hotelier has urged the next Thai government to extend its tourism-subsidy scheme to promote domestic travel. Yuwathida Jeerapat, managing director for J Pattaya Hotel Group, expressed confidence that the “We Travel Together” programme, launched in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, has positively impacted domestic tourism. The latest round of funding, referred to as “We Travel Together’s fifth…
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Philippine president clarifies use of military bases granted to US
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr emphasised on Thursday that the additional military bases in his country, recently granted to United States access, will not be utilised to target China or any other nation. Marcos spoke at a think-tank event and responded with a simple “no” when questioned if the United States had requested his government contribute troops for combat operations…
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French purists claim British coronation quiche mislabelled
The British palace has introduced a unique vegetarian “quiche” to celebrate King Charles III‘s coronation on Saturday. However, culinary experts in France argue that the dish has been erroneously labelled. Last month, the palace shared the recipe for the Coronation Quiche, which aligns with the new monarch’s environmental concerns and contains no meat. The dish features ingredients such as spinach,…
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Husband caught holidaying with mistress on livestream by shocked wife during Labour Day
One married woman got an unwelcome surprise while she was staying home during the Labour Day holiday to take care of her children – she discovered her husband on holiday with his mistress on a livestream. The unexpected revelation occurred in China when the woman was at home attending to her children. Feeling bored, she spent her time engaging in…
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Felicity: A museum at the centre of the world
In the heart of California’s Sonora Desert lies the unique town of Felicity, founded by the 94 year old visionary, Jacques Andre Istel. This enigmatic location is home to an ambitious project: a museum of human history that continues to expand, aiming to encompass the entirety of documented humanity. What began in 1986 with two small houses has grown to…
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Indonesia’s efforts to kick-start peace process in Myanmar
Indonesia has been discreetly engaging with Myanmar’s pro-democracy shadow government, the ruling junta, and ethnic minority armies for several months, according to Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. As this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia aims to kick-start a peace process and reduce violence in the region. In an interview, Marsudi revealed Indonesia’s behind-the-scenes efforts to…
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Massage parlour in northern Thailand raided for underage sex trafficking
Police swooped on a massage parlour in the northern province of Tak after a tip-off on underage sex trafficking. The owner of the parlour was arrested and two teenage Burmese girls were rescued. The Anti Trafficking In Persons Division Police (ATPD) received a tip-off that a Thai woman, 40 year old Suphaporn Makaew, was operating an underage sex trafficking racket…
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Charles III’s coronation: A mix of tradition, modernity and controversy
In a moment of historic splendour, Britain is set to witness its first coronation in 70 years as the nation prepares to crown King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on Saturday. This religious confirmation follows the passing of Queen Elizabeth II last September, and besides crowning Charles, the ceremony will also crown his second wife, Camilla, as queen. Although many…
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Philippine annual inflation on track for government target as food prices ease
Philippine yearly inflation is predicted to remain within the government’s 2% to 4% target range in Q4, following a decrease in April due to reduced food prices. The consumer price index increased by 6.6% YoY in April, the lowest rate since August, and lower than the 7.0% predicted in a Reuters poll. As a result, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas…
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20,000 tourists flock to Thailand’s Full Moon Party
Around 20,000 tourists flocked to Thailand’s Full Moon Party on the island of Koh Pha Ngan last night, located in the southern Surat Thani province. The popular event, held on the full moon night of each month, is known for its lively atmosphere and attracts a significant number of young travellers from around the world. To ensure the safety of…
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Singapore car COE prices to remain high due to limited supply and strong demand
Prices for Singapore’s Certificate of Entitlement (COE) are likely to remain high as demand continues to outstrip limited supply. Despite a dip in premiums for cars after the latest bidding exercise closed on 4 May, it is too early to tell if prices have peaked, said analysts who forecast that COE premiums for cars may rise in the next few…
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Turtle nest discovered on Koh Phra Thong beach, Phang Nga
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Region 6 office in Thailand has reported the discovery of a turtle nest on Koh Phra Thong island, located off the coast of Kuraburi District in Phang Nga province. Yesterday, a team of DMCR officials, along with a village chief assistant from Moo 3 Baan Koh Ra, inspected the turtle nest situated…
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China’s aircraft carriers: A threat or propaganda showpiece?
While China’s recent military drills with its Shandong aircraft carrier showcased its modernizing forces, experts believe it could take over a decade for China to pose a credible carrier threat far from its shores. Military attaches and defence analysts question the value of China’s carriers in a potential conflict with the US over Taiwan or their ability to be protected…
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Honest Thai couple hand over bag with lost 100,000 baht to police in Ratchaburi
An honest Thai couple discovered a bag with 100,000 baht inside in front of a shopping mall in the central province of Ratchaburi and notified the police so they can search for its owner. Eighteen year old Kittisak “Zen” Thaweechokhirun, and his 18 year old girlfriend, Potchathawat “Mali” Sabumuang, last night reported the cash-filled bag they found at a shopping mall…
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Prachuap Khiri Khan braces for rainy season to start in mid-May
Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan province is bracing for the rainy season to start in mid-May. The Thai Meteorological Department predicts that the rainy season in Thailand will start around the third week of May 2023, with one to two tropical storms possibly passing through the northeastern and northern regions in August and September. Thailand’s rainy season typically occurs from May to…
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Chinese foreign minister assures Russia and India of deepening bilateral ties at SCO meeting
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has assured his Russian and Indian counterparts that China will continue to deepen bilateral relations and that “coordination and cooperation” will only grow stronger, as it demonstrates its solidarity with two of China’s biggest neighbours. Qin met with other foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in India last week, as Beijing seeks to…
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Thailand welcomes 8.5 million foreign tourists so far this year
Thailand welcomed over 8.5 million foreign tourists in the first four months of 2023, generating revenue of 353 billion baht, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Government spokesperson Anucha Buraphachaisri revealed today that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was delighted to hear about the strong recovery of Thailand’s tourism sector from January to April. In total, 8,596,452…
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Cannabis crooks caught on camera: Foreigners caught stealing from Phuket pharmacy
CCTV footage captured two foreigners stealing cannabis from a pharmacy in Phuket. Fortunately, a member of staff caught them red-handed on the job. The Facebook page, Phuket Info Center, posted two videos of the incident yesterday, May 4, with a caption that said… “Warning! Foreigners stole cannabis from a shop on Rat U Thit 200 Years Road in the Patong…
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Heartbroken Thai durian farmer cries after trees poisoned, causing 30 million baht loss
A heartbroken durian farmer in South Thailand cried after he discovered on Wednesday that most of his trees had been poisoned, causing a long-term loss of around 30 million baht (US$936,000). The farmer, 51 year old Charin Phuachai, lives with his family in Chumphon province, in the Hat Phan Kraj sub-district of the main city district. Charin had 25 Mon…
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Dexon Technology’s overseas expansion strategy amid global recession forecasts
Despite numerous predictions of a potential global economic recession, Dexon Technology’s chief executive Mallika Kaekla is confident that the company’s strategy to expand overseas will help boost revenue this year. Established in 1996 close to the Map Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong province, Dexon Technology originally provided engineering inspection services for the energy and petrochemical sectors, ensuring efficiency and…
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CIA accused of using powerful cyberweapons against China and other countries, report reveals
China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Centre (CVERC) and cybersecurity company 360 jointly released a report yesterday, accusing the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of using powerful cyberweapons to attack other countries, including China. The report claims that the CIA has orchestrated “peaceful evolution” and “colour revolutions” worldwide through superior technology. The report concentrated on numerous cyberattacks within China. Investigators…
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Airbnb reports first annual profit and optimistic outlook for tourism
Airbnb has made a strong recovery in 2022, achieving its first annual profit on a 40% revenue growth to US$8.4 billion, and reporting net income of $1.9 billion. Optimistic about further growth this year fuelled by the tourism industry, the company’s co-founder and chief strategy officer, Nate Blecharczyk, highlights the importance of adapting to changing consumer behaviour. The San Francisco-based…
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