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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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Yacht fleet breakfast: Thaksin and Thamanat’s island meet-up
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and ex-Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow made waves yesterday, December 26 as they were spotted enjoying a private breakfast on the picturesque Koh Lipe, Satun province. The political duo arrived in style, leading a fleet of six luxury yachts to the tropical getaway. Landing unannounced at the upscale Bulow Casa Grand View Resort, they dined from…
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Missing Bangladeshi man found high on crystal meth in Bangkok hotel
Police yesterday, December 26, found a Bangladeshi man, reported missing by his concerned mother, relaxing and using crystal methamphetamine in a hotel room in the Bang Na area of Bangkok. Officers from the Immigration Bureau launched a search for the 30 year old Bangladeshi financial consultant, Abu Alkasim, after his mother reported him missing. She revealed that she lost contact…
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Thailand allows daily airport alcohol sales to boost tourism
The Prime Minister’s Office has implemented a regulation allowing the daily sale of alcoholic beverages at major international airports. This directive, detailed in the Royal Gazette on Christmas Day, became effective yesterday, December 26. The modification aims to align legal practices with the current situation, an observer noted. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, following the counsel of the Alcoholic Beverage Control…
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Thailand’s top destinations gear up for new year surge
A jaw-dropping wave of tourists is set to descend on Thailand’s favourite hotspots this new year, with Phuket leading the charge and Chiang Mai hot on its heels. Here’s how the Land of Smiles is gearing up for the festive frenzy. Phuket is bracing for an influx of over 230,000 visitors between December 28 and January 1, projected to inject…
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Bangkok woman arrested for call centre scam impersonating police
A 63 year old woman was recently arrested in Bangkok for allegedly participating in a call centre scam that impersonated police officers from the Surin City Police Station. The scam involved video calls to victims, convincing them to transfer money for “verification” purposes, resulting in losses exceeding 1 million baht. The arrest was made yesterday by the Metropolitan Police Bureau,…
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Frenchman loses 6,000 euros to foreign sex worker in Phuket
A Frenchman lost 6,000 euros in cash (approximately 210,000 baht) to a sex worker of colour in Phuket on Christmas night, December 25. The Facebook news page Phuket Times reported today that the French victim took a foreign sex worker to a hotel after a Christmas party in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket. He was intoxicated and subsequently fell asleep.…
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Fight breaks out between 2 foreign men on Bangla Road in Phuket
Two foreign men engaged in a fight using Muay Thai and wrestling skills on Bangla Road in Phuket on December 25, drawing hilarious comments. Some Thai netizens remarked that it was just another typical day on Bangla Road. A video of the altercation between the two men was shared yesterday, December 26, on the Facebook pages of Phuket Times and…
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Festive cops hit Pattaya Walking Street with candies
Tourists in Pattaya got an unexpected festive surprise on Christmas Day as the city’s Tourist Police doled out sweets to delighted visitors while promoting the Thailand Tourist Police app, a tool designed to enhance safety and provide quick assistance across the country. “Safety doesn’t take a holiday,” quipped one officer, handing out candy to a group of tourists. The app,…
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Ethereum co-founder donates 10 million baht gift to Moo Deng and friends
The co-founder of the leading cryptocurrency Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, donated 10 million baht to Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri to support its wildlife adoption project and to fund the construction of a new home for Moo Deng and his companions. Buterin previously visited Khao Kheow Open Zoo in November to meet the zoo’s celebrity pygmy hippo, Moo Deng,…
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Traffic congestion rises as Thai motorists head home for new year
Traffic congestion has begun as people return home for the new year celebrations. Roads across Saraburi, particularly Phahonyothin and Route 304, are seeing increased volumes of vehicles, prompting traffic police to expedite the flow towards the gateway to Isaan. Reports yesterday highlighted the growing traffic on Friendship Highway as people journey back to their hometowns for the new year festivities.…
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Thai police halt illegal migrant smuggling in dramatic Phetchabun chase
A dramatic chase unfolded yesterday, December 26, as police pursued a group smuggling illegal migrant workers in Thailand. Two vehicles, packed with a total of 26 individuals, were intercepted in Phetchabun, revealing an illicit operation that charged 1,000 baht per head. Police officer Warabodin Lertsupasinstit, leading the Highway Police Division 5, was alerted to a potential smuggling attempt involving migrants…
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4 Pattaya teenagers arrested for brutally attacking and robbing Belgian man
Police arrested four Thai teenagers yesterday, for brutally assaulting and robbing an 80 year old Belgian man in Pattaya on Christmas Eve, December 24. A 38 year old Thai woman, Phonthip, alerted officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station and rescuers to assist the injured Belgian man, identified as 80 year old Richard Ander M. Van Bogaert, at a village in…
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Christmas cable heist sparks outrage in Pattaya
Pattaya residents were left fuming after two brazen thieves swiped 60 metres of electrical cable worth 27,000 baht on Christmas Day. The audacious theft occurred behind the Pattaya Indoor Sports Stadium, prompting Deputy Mayor Manot Nongyai to demand immediate action from officials and investigators. Huay Yai Police acted swiftly, conducting a thorough investigation at the scene and nabbing the culprits…
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Thailand tackles high household debt with new relief programme
Household debt continues to pose a significant challenge for policymakers in Thailand, with fears it could destabilise the economy. The Fiscal Policy Office reports that it stood at 89.6% of GDP by the second quarter of 2024. This marks a slight decrease from the first quarter’s 90.7%, yet it remains alarmingly high when compared to recommended thresholds. Pornchai Thiraveja, director-general…
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From seed to fortune: The Chearavanont family’s billion-dollar rise
What started as a humble seed shop in Bangkok has blossomed into one of the world’s wealthiest empires. The Chearavanont family, with a staggering net worth of US$44.1 billion (approximately 1.5 trillion baht), ranks 19th on Bloomberg’s list of the 25 richest families globally. Here’s how they did it. A century ago, brothers Chia Ek Chor and Chia Siew Whooy…
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Thai father kills 2 children before committing suicide, only 8 year old boy survives
A desperate Thai father committed a murder-suicide involving his three children after his wife requested a divorce to start a new family. Tragically, only an eight year old boy survived the horrific incident. The distressing event took place in a bathroom near Mae Khao Tom Reservoir in the northern province of Chiang Rai at around 7.30am on Wednesday, December 25.…
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Thailand video news | British Woman Arrested for Drunken Hotel Incident in Pattaya, Dutchman Injured in Poolside Fall in Pattaya
Today we’ll be talking about the tragic death of a Thai influencer in a drinking challenge, a baby gorilla smuggling plot foiled by authorities, and a little later leaders in South Korea, Cambodia, and Taiwan all facing dire legal challenges. British Woman Arrested for Drunken Hotel Incident in Pattaya A British holidaymaker’s Christmas took a wild turn after an alleged…
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SRT ready to take over delayed 120-billion-baht airport rail project
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is poised to take over the high-speed rail (HSR) project connecting Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and U-Tapao airports if the current contractor falls short. This project, delayed for five years, is currently managed by Asia Era One, a joint venture involving CP Group. SRT’s governor, Veeris Ammarapala, expressed readiness to assume control should the Eastern…
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Bangkok pawnshops cut interest rates by 20% for new year
Bangkok pawnshops have announced a special initiative to reduce interest rates by 20% for all loans, offering this as a new year gift to alleviate financial burdens for residents. The programme aims to spread happiness and ease expenses for citizens during the festive season. Chanathip L. Virapark, Director of the Pawnshops Office, revealed the initiative following a policy set by…
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Thailand to impose stricter penalties for drunk drivers
Drunk drivers in Thailand will soon face stricter penalties, as announced by Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. The government plans to collaborate with the Interior Ministry to enforce tougher laws aimed at reducing traffic accidents. Suriya highlighted the growing concern over traffic accidents, especially those caused by drunk driving, smartphone distractions, drowsiness, speeding, and other traffic violations. According to the Don’t…
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Bangkok to Loei bus crash in Chum Phae leaves one dead
A Bangkok to Loei bus tragically veered off the road in Chum Phae, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. Rescue teams promptly responded to the scene to offer assistance and transport the injured to hospital facilities. The accident occurred at 6.50am today, December 27, when the bus lost control near the Don Lan Forest Park junction on Maliwan Road…
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Thailand boosts child welfare benefits to 1,000 baht monthly
Thailand’s Social Security Office (SSO) has announced an increase in child welfare benefits for insured individuals, with payments rising from 800 baht to 1,000 baht per month per child. This adjustment will take effect in January 2025, following a decision made by the Cabinet on December 17. The move is aimed at encouraging childbirth among insured citizens, as Thailand faces…
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Man suffers electric shock during power line theft near police station
A daring incident unfolded today as a man attempted to cut high-voltage power lines just 200 metres from a police station in Samut Prakan, resulting in a severe electric shock and a precarious rescue operation. The man, approximately 30 years old, was found hanging from the power lines after suffering a shock, prompting an urgent response from emergency services. The…
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Elephant rampage devastates village in Chanthaburi province
A group of wild elephants recently stormed a village in Khlong Daeng, Chanthaburi province, causing significant damage to a house and rubber plantation. This incident followed merely two days after a young male elephant was shot and killed in the area. Residents alerted local police after several elephants invaded the village, wreaking havoc by destroying a house and toppling numerous…
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Top official inspects Phuket’s safety amid landslide scandal
A high-profile visit to Phuket has reignited scrutiny over the island’s safety protocols and infrastructure as former Vice Governor and now Inspector-General of the Ministry of Interior, Supoj Rodruang Na Nongkhai, returned on Christmas Day. Supoj, whose career has soared since leaving Phuket in 2020, arrived to review critical policies including tsunami preparedness, illegal hotels, and landslide prevention. Accompanied by…
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Cyber theft in Udon Thani drains 2.4 million baht from firm
A significant cyber theft incident involving a mobile banking app has emerged, affecting an accountancy firm in Udon Thani. The firm found its bank accounts emptied of 2.4 million baht across three banks, and the lack of notification about these transactions has raised serious concerns. Ornanong Boonto, managing director of a company in Moomon, Mueang district, shared her experience to…
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Police vehicle attacked in Yala, one officer killed
An armoured police vehicle was severely damaged in an ambush involving a bomb and gunfire in Yala, Thailand, resulting in the death of one officer. In the evening yesterday, December 26, a violent incident occurred in Thanto, a district in Yala province. An explosive device was detonated by unidentified assailants targeting border patrol police officers, followed by gunfire. The officers…
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Young man dies in big bike and pickup collision near sugarcane field
A tragic accident occurred when a young man tragically lost his life in a collision between a big bike and a pickup truck near a sugarcane field. The incident prompted police to initiate an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. At 7.30pm yesterday, December 26, Noppol Han Khunthod, an investigator from Khao Din Police Station in Photharam district,…
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Bangkok and northeast Thailand to see rain and cooler temperatures
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecasted rainfall for Bangkok and northeastern Thailand with cooler morning temperatures tomorrow. Additionally, two other regions will experience similar weather patterns, with temperatures expected to drop between December 28 and December 30 due to strong winds and heavy rain in the south. Tomorrow’s weather forecast indicates that a moderate high-pressure system is covering the…
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Young man dies in motorbike crash on Chon Buri motorway
A tragic accident claimed the life of a 24 year old man when his motorbike crashed into a streetlight pole. He was on his way to pick up his girlfriend for new year celebrations when the fatal incident occurred. At approximately 3.30am today, December 27, police officer Suchaiyos Chuaykaew received reports of a motorcycle accident along the Don Hua Lo…
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