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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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How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Makhot scoops 50,000 baht in Miss LGBT Thailand heat
The winner of the Miss LGBT Chon Buri pageant announced she was proud to represent her community in the final of the competition next year. Makhot scooped first prize and 50,000 baht at the event yesterday hosted at the Royal Garden Plaza Pattaya by Miss LGBT Thailand. Miss LGBT Thailand 2023 provides an opportunity for all LGBT individuals to showcase…
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Woman takes poison & plunges to death from balcony in Pattaya
A woman who couldn’t face up to living alone took some rat poison and then threw herself off a fifth-floor balcony in Pattaya. It is believed the woman, Amphon Ersinger, was grief-stricken after recently losing her foreign husband so took some poison and jumped to her death from the balcony of her apartment in Soi Na Kluea 14, Moo (bloc)…
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Cambodia aims for 1 million tourists in 2022, has 740k already
As Southeast Asia reopens and scrambles to attract international tourists, Cambodia has announced triumphant numbers from the Ministry of Tourism, declaring over 740,000 tourists from abroad between January to the end of July this year. The swell of tourists is about 22.5% of the number of travellers pre-pandemic, but a 560% increase over figures for the first half of 2022.…
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Massive poll finds over 93% want PM Prayut to leave office now
With just one day before PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s premiership expires, the Constitutional Court still has not ruled if he can continue as Thailand’s leader or not, but the court of public opinion has spoken. A new phone survey from a group of universities, TV stations, and online media found that a whopping 93.17% of people do not want PM Prayut…
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Two cars plummet into enormous hole on ‘Friendship Highway’ in northeast Thailand
Two drivers were lucky to make it out alive as their cars plunged into a giant hole in the road in Nakhon Ratchasima province in northeast Thailand. The drivers said there were no indications of construction work as they sped along Mittraphap Road – or ‘Friendship Highway‘ – the 509 kilometre road linking Isaan to Bangkok. Both men were rushed…
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Transgender stabs boyfriend to death after he hit her with a ganja bong
A 19 year old man was stabbed to death by his transgender girlfriend yesterday after he hit her on the head with a ganja bong. Yesterday, police officers from the Bangkok Yai Police Station, and a rescue team, investigated a three-story machine shop building in Soi Petchkasem 4-6 in the Wang Tha Phra sub-district, Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok. There…
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Locals angry as Middle Eastern joyriders race through Pattaya
Middle Eastern joyriders have turned Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya into a racing track… again, and locals are sick of it. Locals urged police to use the full force of the law and impose serious measures as the number of racers on Sukhumvit Road has increased over the past two months. Last night, Thai media reported that a group of more…
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School burned down for robbery netting 500 baht
In Buri Ram, a desperate person burned down a school building to cover up a robbery that netted them just 500 baht. The Wat Kok Charoen Temple School was set ablaze on Friday and the unknown suspect in the arson attack left behind a bizarre note saying “I love the Prime Minister. I am sorry, I need money.” The Phlapphla…
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Is the 10-year visa attracting Europeans and others to Thailand?
Officials in Thailand have been heavily pushing the new 10-year golden visa options for digital nomads and rich expats, with Europeans as a primary demographic, but is it really a big draw? The government has predicted that one million wealthy tourists will jump at the chance to live long-term in Thailand over the next five years, but the programme that…
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UPDATE: 110 Thais on one flight denied entry into South Korea
UPDATE The Thai tourists who were denied entry into South Korea have filed a lawsuit against a tour company who they say is responsible for the whole nightmare. Despite forking out loads of cash for the package ‘holiday,’ 71 Thai tourists were detained at the South Korean border for four days and deported back to Thailand. Yesterday, eight Thais on…
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LGBTQ+ community hail Singapore’s gay sex repeal
The LGBTQ+ community hailed Singapore’s announcement to end the ban on gay sex as “a win for humanity.” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the decision, that the city-state will repeal the law that bans gay sex, on national television last night. The 70 year old PM said they would abolish the law as he believed it “is the right…
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2 teenagers from Klong Toey slum praised for capturing a thief
Two teenagers from the Klong Toey slum in Bangkok were praised by Thai netizens after they rode for 37 kilometres to help capture a thief who stole a motorbike from a resident in the community. The story of the teens’ heroic ride was highlighted on a Facebook page named Klong Toey Land (คลองเตยแลนด์) yesterday. The two teenagers, identified as Rin…
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Monk-turned-ladyboy bites back at netizens questioning how she bought a BMW
Former monk Phra Maha Phraiwan – now a ladyboy and influencer who goes by the nickname “Prairie” – ditched the orange robes for an orange dress and bought a BMW. Prairie has snapped back at netizens asking her, “How did you get so rich?” Phra Maha Phraiwan – also a successful writer – rose to fame in 2021 for his…
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Taiwanese YouTuber loses items worth 154,000 baht in Bangkok
Taiwanese YouTuber Alisasa was robbed of items worth about 154,000 baht while travelling in Bangkok last week. The popular YouTuber announced to fans that she was disappointed her camera and bag were snatched, resulting in lost videos recorded for her channel, but insisted she still enjoyed her trip to the Thai capital city. On August 16, the female YouTuber posted…
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China requests a five-time increase in flights to Thailand
A rise in Chinese tourism to Thailand may be on the horizon shortly as the Civil Aviation Administration of China has requested quintupling the number of flights between the two countries. There are currently three flights a week between Thailand and China but the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand announced that they received a letter from the CAAC asking to…
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Man shoots employer dead, wounds wife in southern Thailand
A man is believed to have shot and killed his former employer and wounded his wife over a money grudge in Songkhla, in southern Thailand. Neighbours revealed the alleged murderer, named An, arrived in a pickup, with his young sister and three other men about 6.30pm yesterday at the home of his former furniture maker boss, Achawee Cholsakhon, at Soi…
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Chao Leh Kitchen serves up a myriad of delectable cuisine on Patong Beach
Press Release A bright all-day dining destination located in Four Points by Sheraton Patong Beach Resort, Chao Leh Kitchen features a relaxed yet energetic vibe while serving up a myriad of delectable cuisine. Diners can view chefs working their culinary magic in open kitchens while sampling authentic local Phuket flavors, along with pan-Asian and Western favorites. Known for Phuket’s best…
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Drunk woman gets earful after biting tourist’s ear off in Pattaya
A drunken Thai woman was arrested on Saturday in Pattaya after an unprovoked attack on a Thai-American tourist without reason, biting his right ear off, and swallowing it. The 28 year old offender, Kannika Khamthon, was arrested after the incident and taken to Muang Pattaya Police Station. Police reported she was very drunk, and couldn’t answer questions. Kannika was also…
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Dengue fever cases in Thailand nearly double in past month
Taking extra measures to prevent mosquito bites is advised in Thailand, especially when cases of dengue fever have nearly doubled in the past month. Health authorities have voiced concerns about the threat of dengue fever this monsoon season. On July 11, Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) recorded 9,473 cases of dengue fever since the beginning of the year. By…
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China’s new battery charges EV revolution in Thailand
Great news for Thailand’s commuters as they get on board with the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. A new battery has been developed to ensure travelers can get to their destination faster and uninterrupted. Chinese car manufacturer Great Wall Motor (GWM) has developed a new 20Ah sulfur-based solid-state prototype battery that could expand the range of electric vehicles to 1,000km per…
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Police seize fake designer products worth 50 million baht in central Thailand
Thai police yesterday seized 50 million baht worth of fake “designer” products in the central province of Nakhon Nayok. Officers from the Department of Special Investigation found 60,000-70,000 fake products following raids on 15 warehouses in the main city district. The products had counterfeit logos of some of the world’s most famous, pricey brands, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Coach,…
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SAIJAI offers in-person learning in the comfort of your home
I am sure most of us have at least one interests that we always wanted to pursue. Whether it’s an instrument you want to learn, yoga, meditation or painting. But taking time out of our busy schedules and hectic lifestyles to pursue hobbies is not always easy. Furthermore, learning new skills take time and managing our time effectively is important.…
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Jealous boyfriend who shot girlfriend on the loose in Phang Nga
Yet another jealous boyfriend has shot his girlfriend in Thailand, this time in the southern province of Phang Nga. The man, 20 year old Chakrabongse, shot both his girlfriend and her friend as they were leaving the restrooms of a PTT petrol station. Police said the two women had just gone to a restaurant, and they had stopped to use…
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One dead and one rescued from deep well after cover breaks
In hindsight, sitting atop a well cover isn’t the safest place for a casual chat. Two local Thai men in Bang Lamung found that out the hard way after their chatting turned to horror when the cover they were sitting on broke, plunging them into a deep well. One man was rescued but the second man died in the water…
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Election Commission discussing prime minister term limit today
With what many believe to be the end of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s eight-year term limit just three days away, the Election Commission will discuss today the legal debate over if he can remain in the prime minister seat in any capacity beyond August 24. That date marks eight years since PM Prayut took office, and the current constitution allows a…
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Krabi tour boat captain missing after falling into ocean
A tour boat captain in Thailand’s southern Krabi province has gone missing after falling into the ocean during a tour on Friday. The captain, 27 year old Apichart Boonrat, had been at the helm of a long tail boat between Yaman Island and Rok Island when he fell in, according to marine police. There had also been 14 tourists and…
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Escalator accident at Bangkok train station leaves 27 injured
Twenty-seven people were injured last night after a group of teenagers fell down an escalator at a Bangkok train station. Rescuers from Ruam Katanyu Foundation said earlier that the escalator at BTS Surasak station malfunctioned. But police say the accident was caused by someone slipping and falling down the stairs. BTS has now released a statement saying that an initial…
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Phuket car suddenly catches fire
A car suddenly caught fire yesterday in the town of Chalong in Phuket. Firefighters rushed to the scene near the junction of Soi Ta-ied and Chao Fa East Road, to find the front of the Mazda sedan ablaze. Luckily, they were able to get the fire under control in only four minutes, and no injuries were reported. Still, the flames…
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Policewoman blames mental illness for torturing her maid
A policewoman facing accusations of torturing a female soldier who worked as her maid, turned herself in yesterday, claiming she has mental health issues. The twisted tale involved a 43 year old policewoman with the Special Branch Bureau claiming to be a senator’s wife and manipulating a 30 year old woman to work in indentured servitude for several years. The…
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100 masseuses in Phuket complain of 150 baht massage shop
Local massage shops in Phuket are complaining that another massage shop allegedly owned by a foreigner is offering unfair and possibly illegal half-price services. A coalition of about 100 masseuses banded together to file an official complaint, gathering at Phuket Provincial City Hall to ask for action from authorities on the matter. Karon Traditional Thai Massage Community Enterprise Group led…
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