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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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Medical glove exports decline amid allergy concerns and easing Covid-19 cases
The export of medical gloves made from rubber latex is expected to continue its decline this year, as Covid-19 infections ease and some countries impose bans on natural rubber gloves due to allergy concerns, according to the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE). The decline in glove exports has been significant since last year, impacting Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, said Warawan…
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OpenAI CEO dismisses public listing, discusses AI’s future and regulation
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated that the company, backed by Microsoft and known for its ChatGPT technology, has no intentions of going public in the near future. Speaking at a conference in Abu Dhabi, Altman expressed concerns about potential conflicts with investors’ expectations and the need for a unique structure to maintain OpenAI’s capped-profit model. OpenAI has received US$10…
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Customs Chief orders probe into high-ranking official clearing illegal fuel truck
The Director of Thailand’s Excise Department ordered an urgent investigation into allegations of a high-ranking official calling to clear an illegal fuel transport operation. If found guilty, the official will be suspended or dismissed from service immediately. The operation led by a provincial excise officer resulted in the arrest of a 47 year old man accused of illegally possessing untaxed…
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Viral image ties social media in knots as love triangle unfolds in Vietnam
A viral image featuring a woman who married her neighbour’s older brother a decade after attending his first wedding has captivated social media users in Vietnam. The unexpected love story defies conventional expectations and caused quite a stir online. This unexpected love story began over 10 years ago when a young woman attended the wedding of her neighbour’s brother. No…
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Thai coalition parties propose zero-based budgeting for efficiency
The implementation of zero-based budgeting (ZBB) has been proposed by the Move Forward Party (MFP) as part of a 23-point memorandum of understanding signed by eight political parties seeking to form a new coalition government. The MFP argues that the current budgeting system fails to address the public’s needs due to bureaucratic hurdles. ZBB requires state officials to justify expenses…
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Bangkok’s YMID initiative drives Thai medical innovation to meet Asian demand
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) is continuing to push forward the Yothi Medical Innovation District (YMID) initiative in Bangkok, aiming to meet the growing demand for a central medical hub in Asia, according to NIA’s executive director, Pun-Arj Chairatana. Situated in Bangkok’s Yothi neighbourhood, the YMID project seeks to decrease imports of medical innovations and establish a Thai medical innovation…
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Soldier death sparks rumours: Mother refutes claims of hazing over e-cigarette incident
A 21 year old Thai soldier was found dead in the barracks of an army camp in Saraburi Province, sparking rumours that he was punished for bringing an electronic cigarette into the camp. However, the deceased soldier’s mother has refuted these claims, stating his cause of death was unrelated to any physical abuse or a ruptured spleen, and the truth…
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Lorry driver survives crash while transporting corn, credits protective spirit
A lorry driver miraculously survived after losing control and crashing his pickup truck, loaded with corn, into a tree in Thailand‘s Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The driver, 27 year old Patinya Muangsri, was unharmed during the incident, while his girlfriend sustained a minor injury. The accident occurred along Phet Kasem Road, near kilometre 314 in Nong Bua Village, Kho Lak,…
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Chinese streamer dies in alcohol challenge, second incident in a month
A popular Chinese live streamer, known online as Zhong Yuan Huang Ge, passed away on June 2 after indulging in excessive alcohol consumption during a live show to win a cash prize from his viewers. His death marks the second such incident within a month and highlights the dangers of internet fame mixed with alcohol challenges. Zhong Yuan Huang Ge,…
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Heritage Foundation seeks Prince Harry’s immigration records over drug use
The Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank, has called for the release of Prince Harry’s immigration records in light of his past drug use revelations in his memoir, Spare. The organisation has appealed to US District Judge Carl Nichols for a faster response to a records request, which the US government has currently deemed private. Judge Nichols advised the…
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Foreign investors sell 100 billion baht in Thai stocks and shares amid global rate rise
In the first five months of this year, foreign investors offloaded almost 100 billion baht worth of Thai shares, with 33.4 billion baht sold in May alone, due to increasing global interest rates and uncertainties surrounding the formation of a new government. Despite this, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) expressed optimism yesterday, believing that the recent easing of the…
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Depressed woman kills partner with hammer, hangs herself in tragic double death
A shocking tragedy unfolded as a Thai woman discovered her sister’s lifeless body hanging under the stairs at their home in Nakhon Nayok province. The search for her sister’s partner led her to find a second body, brutally beaten in the bathroom. Yesterday, authorities were called to a gruesome scene in a house near Mongkol Tham Park, in the Phrommani…
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Trang warns of severe dengue fever outbreak, 2 deaths and 164 cases reported
Trang province‘s public health department urges citizens to be vigilant against dengue fever as outbreaks become more severe, with two deaths and 164 infections reported, mostly among children. Authorities are expediting efforts to eliminate mosquito larvae. The province’s deputy public health director, Wacharananon Tin-naiaython, revealed that dengue fever cases have increased significantly in the past two weeks, with 164 infections…
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Thai Shippers’ Council eyes 0-1% export growth amid new government push
The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) maintains that the nation’s exports can achieve a growth of 0-1% this year, calling for the swift formation of a new government to boost trade competitiveness and tackle economic challenges. TNSC Chairman Chaichan Chareonsuk anticipates that Thai exports from May to June will experience a slight year-on-year contraction, leading to a 5-6% decline for…
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Thai family plagued by swarms of beetles struggles to eat and sleep
A family in Thailand‘s western Ratchaburi province faces a severe infestation of beetles, making their daily lives difficult as they struggle to eat, sleep, and conduct their regular routines. The 70 year old wooden house is the only one in the area affected by the insects, which have invaded various parts of the home, resulting in a desperate cry for…
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Shanghai court freezes £200m in Dalian Wanda unit shares
A Shanghai court has imposed a freeze on 1.98 billion yuan (US$278.18 million) worth of shares in a subsidiary of Dalian Wanda Group, the largest commercial property developer in China. The affected shares were issued by Dalian Wanda Commercial Management Group, the property management division of Dalian Wanda Group. Two court notices, dated June 5, revealed that the shares were…
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Tour bus catches fire on Sirat Expressway causing heavy traffic (video)
A tour bus caught fire on the Sirat Expressway’s outbound side in Bangkok, causing heavy traffic but no injuries or deaths. The bus carried 15 Polish tourists, a Thai guide, and a driver, 46 year old Kwonchit. The tour bus caught fire on the Sirat Motorway this morning, blocking the left lane and causing heavy traffic. The fire is under…
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China’s CCP accused of spying on TikTok users with ‘god credential’
In a recent lawsuit, a former ByteDance executive has alleged that China’s Communist Party (CCP) can access user data collected by TikTok through a “god credential” that was used to monitor and track Hong Kong activists and protesters in 2018. Yintao “Roger” Yu, the former head of engineering at ByteDance in the United States, claimed that a special committee in…
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OECD warns Vietnam on handouts to offset global tax rule impact
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has expressed concerns over Vietnam’s plan to provide subsidies to large companies to offset higher taxes under the new global tax rules. A person familiar with the discussions revealed that the OECD warned Vietnam of the risks posed by such arrangements, potentially undermining the purpose of the tax reform. Last week, Reuters…
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Pattaya officials make waves, eyeing a ‘shore’ bet for new tourism landmark
Pattaya City officials yesterday gathered to discuss the possibility of creating a new tourism landmark on Pattaya Beach. The meeting was attended by various leaders, such as Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngampiches, Surat Thepchaito, Director of the Tourism and Sports Office, and Nuttawut Iamsaad, Creative Director of Siam Commercial Company Limited. The proposed landmark would serve as a central point for…
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Asia-Pacific stocks rise on China stimulus hopes and Wall Street gains
Asian-Pacific stock markets experienced gains on Wednesday, as expectations for economic stimulus from China and Wall Street’s overnight gains boosted investor sentiment. The MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose by 0.7% in the morning, with China’s benchmark equity index increasing by 0.3% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng adding 1.2%. This comes after China reportedly requested major banks…
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Malaysia wins Paris court case against $15bn colonial-era land deal
The Malaysian government has achieved a significant victory in a Paris court, which upheld their challenge against enforcing a partial award of US$15 billion to the heirs of a former sultan in an arbitration case concerning a colonial-era land deal. This decision implies that the final award will be annulled, and the descendants’ attempts to seize Malaysian assets will come…
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China’s May exports plunge as domestic consumption falters
China experienced a sharp decline in exports in May, with a 7.5% year-on-year drop, marking the largest decrease since January. This slump in exports is attributed to weakened demand for Chinese goods, while imports also fell by 4.5%. The decline in exports has led to increased pressure on the government to boost domestic consumption for the remainder of the year,…
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Mahathir Mohamad won’t contest in state elections, cites age and senility
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the former Malaysian prime minister, stated that he will not participate in the upcoming state elections, citing his age and the effects of senility. The 97-year-old made the announcement during a press conference following a meeting on the Malay Proclamation, a document he authored that aims to protect the interests of the Malay community and restore their…
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Pita Limjaroenrat’s PM bid threatened by iTV share controversy
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP), is facing a legal challenge regarding his ownership of shares in iTV, an independent broadcaster. Although he has transferred these shares to his relatives, legal expert Jade Donavanik has argued that Pita’s eligibility for the role of prime minister still hangs in the balance. The issue revolves around whether iTV…
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Mystery surrounds drowning of missing 2 month old found under home
A 19 year old mother reported her 2 month old child missing before the baby was found drowned under the house. Police are investigating how the child fell as there was no apparent gap in the sleeping area for the baby to have fallen through. Veena (surname withheld), 19, informed the Pak Kret Police that her 2 month old son…
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Pattaya Beach vendors petition city to reverse parking ban impacting business
Pattaya Beach vendors have united in requesting the city of Pattaya to revoke a parking ban imposed on the beachside of Pattaya Beach in early March. The vendors, led by Wirawit Charoenrit Taweechok, claim that the ban has significantly impacted their businesses. They recently met with Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai to discuss their concerns and issues with the order.…
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Aussie tourists support Pattaya restaurant owner after dine-and-dash incident
A heartwarming turn of events unfolded as a group of friends came together to support a local restaurant owner who had previously experienced an unfortunate incident in Pattaya, Thailand. The owner, Jinwara Rebedef, had recently fallen victim to a dine-and-dash customer at his Kin Kab Kia restaurant on Thepprasit Road. The story (read HERE) caught the attention of Paul Kinsey…
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Thief smashes donation box at Chiang Mai temple, gets caught and confesses
Chiang Mai police have arrested a 24 year old Myanmar national, accused of stealing a donation box from Chedi Luang Worawihan temple and other thefts in the area. The suspect confessed to the crimes after being detained for a separate incident involving stolen motorcycles. Investigating the case, Police Lieutenant Colonel Phuwanat Duangdi, the superintendent for Chiang Mai’s local police, reported…
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Thailand’s TPIPP allocates 14 billion baht to phase out coal by 2026
TPI Polene Power Plc (TPIPP), the leading waste-to-energy project developer and operator in Thailand, is set to continue its five-year capital expenditure plan of 14 billion baht. The plan, which began last year, aims to replace coal usage with renewable energy sources and increase the company’s power generation capacity. TPIPP has earmarked 3 billion baht for projects focused on reducing…
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