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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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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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Transwoman fined for dancing naked on Bang Saen Beach
Police fined a Thai transwoman 2,000 baht for dancing naked during Wan Lai along Bang Saen Beach Road last week. A video of the naked dance was circulated on Thai Twitter and quickly went viral on Sunday, April 16. In the video, the transwoman can be seen dancing on top of an ice bucket, taking off her panties and hanging…
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Pattaya Police raid nightclub in late night crackdown on illegal activities
Late last night, at around 10.30pm, a nightclub in Pattaya was raided by local police in search of overstayers and those partaking in illegal activities. The venue, known as “Hollywood,” is located on Petchtrakul Road and was filled with approximately 300 patrons, both Thai and foreign, when the police arrived. This raid comes as part of an ongoing campaign spearheaded…
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Pregnant elephant tramples mahout to death in northeast Thailand
A pregnant elephant trampled its 60 year old mahout to death in Buriram province in northeast Thailand yesterday. The deceased’s wife said the elephant was moody because of the extremely hot weather. Officers at Satuek Police Station were called to Ban Nong Kaen village in Sanam Chai district after receiving a report that an elephant killed its owner. Police found the…
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Europe’s military spending skyrockets in wake of Ukraine crisis
In a jaw-dropping revelation, Europe‘s military spending has leapt to unbelievable heights this year, and the situation in Ukraine is the primary reason for this trend. Global security researchers unveiled that the ongoing strife has catapulted European military expenditure to dizzying levels, something not witnessed since the end of the Cold War! With challenges brewing in East Asia between the…
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XBB Omicron variant rising in Thailand: New strategies deployed
Approximately 52% of new Covid-19 cases in Thailand have been attributed to the XBB sub-strain of the Omicron variant, according to the Centre for Medical Genomics. As a result, a prominent doctor has urged the public to obtain booster shots before the onset of the rainy season. The XBB variant and its sub-strains have been responsible for recent surges in…
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BJT’s ambitious plan to creating a ‘land bridge’ to boost economic growth in southern Thailand
The Bhumjaithai Party in Thailand vows to push forward with the development of a “land bridge” connecting the Andaman Sea with the Gulf of Thailand, which they believe will stimulate economic growth in the South. Itthidet Supong, spokesperson for Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, stated that Anutin is particularly keen on constructing an overland freight route, which is slated to link…
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Thailand’s Tourist Police under fire for carrying famous lawyer’s luggage (video)
Thailand‘s police chief Pol. Gen. Damrongsak Kittipraphat ordered an urgent investigation into a video of Tourist Police officers assisting with the luggage of a famous lawyer at Suvarnabhumi Airport after the clip sparked concerns that the act was inappropriate and outside of the officers’ specified duties. Chief Damrongsak held a conference yesterday at the Royal Thai Police (RTP) Headquarters to…
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Jordanian attacks Thai singer’s brother at condo in Thailand
A Jordanian man allegedly attacked the brother of a Thai singer, Kanyarat “Lula” Tatiyaporn, at a condominium in Thailand. The victim sustained a ruptured eardrum and multiple wounds all over his body. Lula revealed details of the incident and provided an update on her brother’s condition to KhaoSod yesterday. She explained that the incident occurred on the evening of Saturday,…
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Thailand’s Grade 5 textbook sparks outcry over alleged malnutrition endorsement
Critics have misinterpreted the content of a Thai-language textbook for Grade 5 pupils, following allegations that it appeared to condone malnutrition among young children, according to the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC). OBEC’s secretary-general, Amporn Pinasa, asserted that the criticised chapter, found in the Pasa Patee textbook used by fifth-graders, is actually a story about appreciating the value…
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Thai government acts fast to evacuate nationals from Sudan
The government of Thailand is making arrangements to evacuate Thai citizens from Sudan as swiftly as possible, utilising nearby airports such as Cairo Airport in Egypt and the American Air Force Base in Djibouti. This decision follows increasing concerns over the security situation in Sudan, with fears growing for the safety of the estimated 300 Thai nationals residing in the…
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Thailand’s Raja Ferry temporarily suspends Pha Ngan – Sumui route
Raja Ferry Port Company suspended all ferry services between Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Samui in Surat Thani province in southern Thailand from Sunday – Wednesday (April 23-25). The company made an official announcement on Saturday… “Raja Ferry Port will suspend ferry service from Pha Ngan to Samui and Samui to Pha Ngan route from 23-25 April 2023. Customers who…
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Vote wisely: PM Chan-o-cha’s election appeal
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party’s candidate for prime minister, has called on voters to think carefully before casting their ballots, cautioning that electing the wrong politicians could have disastrous consequences for the country. As part of his election campaign, Prime Minister Chan-o-cha visited Tha Pla district to drum up support for the UTN candidates running…
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Thailand’s heatwave nears end, rainy season looms
Thailand’s hot season approaches its conclusion as the rainy season is set to begin in mid-May, according to the country’s Meteorological Department. The hot season peaked on April 15, when the temperature reached a record high of 44.6°C in Tak. Deputy director-general Thanasit Iam-ananchai has stated that throughout the weekend, daily heat indices or apparent temperatures are anticipated to surge…
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Thailand’s fruit exports to China keep on peel-ing with a juicy growth
Thailand, already a dominant fruit exporter to China, witnessed a remarkable growth of 3.72% in 2022, generating more than 168 billion baht in revenue. The country’s thriving fruit industry found an avid market in China, which imported over 2.17 million tonnes of Thai fruit last year, according to a recent report from the Commerce Ministry. A diverse assortment of Thai…
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Norway surpasses Russia in energy exports
Norway is now surpassing Russia in energy exports. In a remarkable turn of events, a humble office building overlooking a fjord in Stavanger, Norway, now holds the key to European energy security. Here, the company Petoro oversees several of the continent’s largest oil and natural gas fields on Norway’s petroleum-rich continental shelf. This unassuming location has become central to Europe’s…
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Summer storm wreaks havoc on 2 districts of northeast Thailand province
A summer storm wreaked havoc on two districts of Thailand’s northeast Nakhon Phanom province. Around 70 houses in That Phanom and Renu Nakhon districts were damaged yesterday afternoon, according to authorities. In That Phanom district, both Moo 3 and Moo 8 villages of Tambon Phon Phaeng faced heavy showers, strong gusts of wind, and thunderstorms for approximately an hour. As…
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Daily Covid-19 cases in Bangkok spike
Bangkok‘s daily number of Covid-19 cases has experienced a significant spike, nearly doubling from 400 to 700 in the wake of the city’s recent Songkran festival. This has led to growing concerns among local authorities, who fear that the true extent of the situation might not yet be fully understood. The deputy City Clerk at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA),…
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Owner of mansion in Thailand angered at rumours it’s haunted
The owner of a grand, allegedly haunted mansion in northeast Thailand‘s Nakhon Phanom province came out to dispel rumours surrounding the house. The dilapidated building, belonging to the descendants of local nobility, garnered attention after it was reported to be worth millions. The owner has confirmed that the house has never been haunted and has never served as a repository…
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Thai airforce gets ready to rescue Thais in Sudan
Amidst the ongoing violent conflict in Sudan, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is getting ready to rescue Thai nationals currently stuck in the country. The RTAF has readied an Airbus A340-500 and a C-130 aircraft for the operation. Spokesperson AVM Prapas Sornchaidee said that RTAF commander ACM Alongkorn Wannarot has expressed deep concern for the Thai citizens in Sudan.…
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Mother heartbroken after son returns to Thailand for 3 days, only to be found dead
A young man from Thailand‘s northeast Udon Thani province, who had returned from working in Israel only three days prior, mysteriously disappeared and was later found drowned in a nearby pond. His mother is now heartbroken. The young man, identified as Thanom, from Chai Wan district, had gone missing from his home since early morning. Concerned villagers searched all day,…
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Chinese nationals kidnap and rob woman in Bangkok before fleeing Thailand
A Chinese nationals kidnapped and robbed a woman in Bangkok before fleeing Thailand. According to Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Pol. Col. Nopphasil Poonsawat, the incident took place on April 17. A group of Chinese nationals abducted a 28 year old Chinese woman in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district. The victim, a solo traveller, had gone to an entertainment avenue…
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Life Sentence for Canadian professor over 1980 Paris Synagogue bombing
A Paris court has just slapped a Lebanese-Canadian sociology professor with a life sentence. Hassan Diab, 69 years old and living in Canada, got the maximum penalty for his alleged involvement in a 1980 bombing that killed four people at a synagogue in the French capital. It was quiet in the courtroom as the sentence was declared, but some victims…
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Turkish man assaults older Thai man in Pattaya, resulting in serious head injury (video)
A Turkish man assaulted an older Thai man in Pattaya, resulting in a serious head injury. The incident occurred on Pattaya‘s Walking Street on April 18, known as ‘Wan Lai‘ or ‘Flowing Day,’ at around 3am. The Turkish man, 28 year old Mustafa, appeared in video footage to head-butt and shove 61 year old Chadayut, who poured on him during…
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Authorities bust 2 brutal loan sharks in central Thailand
Thai authorities busted two brutal loan sharks in Thailand’s central Pathum Thani province yesterday. The Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECSD) arrested the loan sharks, a 42 year old woman named Natthajaree Muangthong and a 43 year old man named Thanachai Ruangphueng. The individuals were accused of “conducting unauthorised personal lending and charging interest rates exceeding those permitted by law.” They…
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Heat and drought expected to impact Thailand
Heat and drought are expected to impact Thailand soon. The end of the summer season is predicted to arrive by the middle of month, but Thailand is expected to face the harsh impact of the El Niño phenomenon around the middle of June. This will lead to severe drought conditions, according to the Meteorological Department (MD), Bangkok Post reports. The…
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Thai activists say new electricity rates won’t solve root causes of high prices
A decision by an Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) subcommittee to reduce electricity rates from May to August has been met with reservations from Thai energy activists and politicians, who argue that the move does not address the root cause of expensive power bills. Yesterday, the subcommittee approved the fuel tariff (Ft) rate adjustment, which considers changes in fuel costs and…
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Officials establish help centre for Thais in Sudan
Following the outbreak of violent clashes in Sudan, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) has established a help centre for Thais who are currently in Sudan. The SBPAC set up the centre to aid 210 Thai students who are currently facing difficulties in Sudan, as fighting continues to escalate in the nation’s capital, Khartoum. The centre is located at…
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Thailand’s PM visits Chiang Mai, a Pheu Thai stronghold
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is hoping to win over supporters in Chiang Mai, a province historically known as a stronghold of support his rival Pheu Thai Party. The No.1 prime ministerial candidate for the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party visited Chiang Mai yesterday in an attempt to sway voters, Bangkok Post reported. Prayut, joined by key UTN Party members including…
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Pattaya mayor takes part in rice festival
On Thursday, Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches took part in the traditional Kong Khao (rice) festival in the local town of Naklua. This fascinating ceremony is an integral part of Chonburi province culture, attracting hundreds every year to honour and seek the blessings of the sacred guardian spirits, deities and other protective entities known to protect the local population. The Kong…
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Phuket’s must-try dishes: what to try and where to find them
Phuket, a beautiful island paradise in Thailand, is not only known for its stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife but also for its delectable cuisine. With an array of mouth-watering dishes, Phuket offers a gastronomic experience that will leave your taste buds craving more. Here, we explore Phuket’s top 10 must-try dishes and the best places to relish them. Top 10…
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