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Sponsored Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Thailand gears up for stricter AI regulations, eyeing legal framework
The need for stricter artificial intelligence (AI) regulations has been highlighted, as countries, including Thailand, prepare to develop comprehensive AI legal frameworks. This follows the approval of the world’s first comprehensive AI law, the AI Act, by the European Parliament. Putchapong Nodthaisong, Secretary-General of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission, revealed that the commission already has AI ethics guidelines…
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Chiang Rai province battles wildfire
The lush province of Chiang Rai was at the mercy of a raging wildfire on Tuesday which incinerated over 400 rai (640,000 square metres) in the vicinity of the Golden Triangle, a renowned region in the district of Chiang Saen. The incident demanded the immediate action of the Chiang Saen District Administration and other responsible officers. The wildfire initially reared…
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Massive python stuck in Ayutthaya drainage pipe sparks rescue
A nearly 4-metre slithering python, bloated as though it had just ingested a cat, was discovered trapped in a drainage pipe at a residence in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, sparking both rescue efforts and local superstition. Today, April 25, the Ayutthaya Radio Centre received an unusual distress call from the homeowners at 150/7 Moo 8, Hua Ro Subdistrict. A…
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Cross-border manhunt: Thai police search for 2 Japanese killers
Thai police officers are collaborating with the Japanese authorities to hunt for two killers involved in the murder and dismemberment of a Japanese man in Nonthaburi province. Officers also discovered that the two Japanese nationals were operating a call centre scam in Thailand. The body parts of the 47 year old Japanese man, Kabashima Ryosuke, were abandoned in a roadside…
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Charter change up for a vote: Referendum needed, House speaker
A referendum is required to get voters’ approval before the charter amendment proposals can be considered, according to Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the House Speaker. He was responding to questions about a possible special House session for the first reading of the 2025 fiscal year’s budget bill. He added that it remains undetermined if other significant legislation will be discussed…
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Bank of Thailand warns government against digital wallet plan
Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, dismissed concerns about a confidential Bank of Thailand (BoT) document warning the government against the proposed digital wallet handout initiative. Phumtham, a prominent figure in the Cabinet, stated he was unaware of the document’s contents and questioned its credibility, insisting that if it were a real warning, it would have been officially…
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Blaze rips through Loei’s motorcycle shops, igniting chaos
A fierce blaze tore through three connected motorcycle parts shops in Loei, a province in Thailand, sparking a series of explosions and marking the city’s worst fire in 11 years. The inferno, which erupted at 8.30pm yesterday, prompted an intense firefighting effort that lasted nearly two hours before the flames were finally subdued. The fire, reported at Saeng Thong Parts…
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Thailand proposes ASEAN Troika to mediate Myanmar crisis
Thailand has proposed a collaboration between three or more ASEAN member nations to engage with Myanmar’s military junta, to mitigate the crisis and restore peace in the conflict-stricken country. The nation maintained its commitment to extend humanitarian assistance and foster peace amid the turmoil. Nikorndej Balankura, spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, announced yesterday that Thailand, through Laos, the current…
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Minnie network’s luck runs out as AMLO confiscates 68 million baht
The high-profile online gambling network, known as the Minnie network and associated with Suchanun Sucharitchinsri, faced another blow recently when the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) confiscated additional assets worth around 68 million baht (US$1.8 million). The seizure took place under a court order and is the latest in a series of actions against the network. AMLO Secretary-General Thepsu Bowornchotedara announced…
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Thailand issues alert for 43C heatwave and severe summer storms
As Thailand grapples with a scorching heatwave, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today issued an alert for extreme temperatures reaching up to 43 degrees Celsius, accompanied by summer storms, strong winds, and hail in some areas. The warning covers 45 provinces and advises the public to brace for potentially hazardous weather conditions. The entire upper part of Thailand is experiencing…
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Thai government changes funding approach for digital wallet project
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s coalition government has made a crucial change to its flagship scheme, a digital wallet project aiming to distribute 10,000 baht (US$270) to 50 million Thais. The government has switched from borrowing funds, which faced severe criticism and raised concerns about possible violations of financial and fiscal discipline regulations, to using money from the annual expenditure budget.…
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Thai minister to push for Land Bridge megaproject in China visit
Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the Thai Transport Minister, is set to lead a delegation to China to explore further developments concerning the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project and advocate for the 1 trillion baht (US$27 billion) Land Bridge megaproject. The visit, which is scheduled for next month, will involve participation in the 31st Thailand-China joint ministerial committee meeting. A key agenda item is…
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Pattaya police raid reveals 21 Burmese living illegally
In Pattaya, a police raid led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Weerachai Thinkhamut, Superintendent of the Immigration Police for Chon Buri province, resulted in the arrest of 21 Burmese nationals living illegally in rented properties on Soi Kho Phai. The operation, which took place around midday yesterday, April 24, was instigated following complaints from locals about the disruptive behaviour of the…
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Meth-induced crime wave hits Hat Yai leading to police chase
A drug-fuelled crime spree has gripped the city of Hat Yai in Songkhla province, as a 35 year old man, identified by locals as Num Thip, went on a violent rampage following heavy consumption of methamphetamine and crystal meth. The series of events, which occurred today, April 25, resulted in the apprehension of Thitipong Kwamsup by a 50-officer police force,…
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Ang Thong’s spirit boat lures lottery hopefuls with sacred numbers
A boat believed to be inhabited by spirits has become the centre of attraction in Ang Thong province, attracting locals with the lure of winning lottery numbers. The boat, located at Wat Mai Khok Marum temple, is linked to the tragic tale of a woman named Praewa and her unborn child, Grung Gring. It is thought to have sailed from…
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Thailand households cut cooling costs with aircon and fan trick
In the grip of summer heat, Thailand households are finding that using air conditioning is a necessity rather than a luxury. However, the spike in electricity bills at the end of the month has many looking for cost-effective ways to stay cool. A recent experiment by the YouTube channel CLEAR ENERGY sparked significant interest, offering insight into which is more…
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South Korean man’s cat-killing spree lands him in prison
A South Korean man, identified only as being in his twenties, has been handed a 14-month prison sentence for slaughtering 76 cats. This harrowing revelation emerged from the recent verdict delivered by the Changwon District Court, which condemned the perpetrator for violating South Korea’s stringent animal protection laws. According to court documents obtained by the Associated Press, the man’s gruesome…
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Thailand’s heatwaves claims 30 lives so far
The Ministry of Public Health issued a warning about the dangers of Thailand’s heatwaves after 30 deaths were attributed to heatstroke this year. Medical professionals are advising the public to avoid prolonged exposure to intense sunlight and to take precautions against a potential spike in Covid-19 cases, particularly among vulnerable groups. With the temperature soaring, Thailand is grappling with the…
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Health Ministry greenlights medical opium and magic mushrooms
The Public Health Ministry authorised the utilisation of opium and magic mushrooms for medical treatment and research purposes. This groundbreaking decision, disclosed in a directive published in the Royal Gazette yesterday, signifies a significant shift in drug policy. Signed by Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, the directive came into effect today. It categorises opium and psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as…
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Thai netizens slam illegal workers in South Korea for arrest protest
Thai netizens slammed illegal Thai workers in South Korea for organising a protest, demanding local authorities stop arresting them. A Facebook account under the name Fonfon Snt shared pictures of herself and other illegal workers protesting outside the immigration office in Yangju City, Gyeonggi province, South Korea. “Stop arresting Phi Noi (an illegal Thai worker in South Korea). We are…
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Bangkok taxi driver aids drunk motorist with damaged car
A recent incident involving a drunk driver whose vehicle sustained severe damage, including a missing tyre, has become a stark reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence. The event unfolded late at night on a busy Bangkok street and was captured on video by a local taxi driver who intervened to prevent further mishaps. The taxi driver, Phasda…
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Papaya seed cancer cure hoax debunked by health experts
Health authorities debunked the viral myth of papaya seeds as a cancer cure, revealing a tangled web of misinformation. Health authorities swiftly crushed the viral sensation surrounding papaya seeds as a miracle cure for cancer, following a surge of social media posts peddling the tropical fruit as a potent destroyer of cancer cells. A Thai scientist, falsely implicated in the…
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Facebook group blooms sharing poison plant pointers
A Facebook group dedicated to identifying poisonous plants and trees has become an online sensation, amassing more than 250,000 members. The group’s popularity surged when a young man posted a picture of a leaf with the caption, “What is this plant? Touched it and it’s very itchy.” The image captured a beautiful green leaf with sharp hairs on both sides,…
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Buddhism Office probes monks over ‘Mind Connection’ cult claims
A controversial spiritual practice in Thailand, dubbed the “Mind Connection” technique, has prompted an investigation by the National Office of Buddhism (NOB). The director of the NOB, Intaporn Jantaeiam, recently announced a legal pathway to take action and initiated a probe into two monks whose images appeared at an event related to this practice. The case came into the spotlight…
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Koh Pha Ngan: French tourist nabbed for drug dealing
Surat Thani police officers, alongside the Pa Cha Da Special Operation Unit, apprehended a 41 year old French national at a hotel bar on Koh Pha Ngan yesterday. Authorities unveiled a stash of narcotics and incriminating evidence. Among the damning items seized were 19.7 grammes of cocaine, 23 ecstasy pills, a digital scale, and 6,000 baht in cash, along with…
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Nakhon Pathom dairy raid reveals years of hygiene neglect
Royal Thai Police (RTP) raided an illicit dairy operation in Nakhon Pathom, uncovering a shocking lack of hygiene standards where workers bottled products with bare hands, a practice that has been ongoing for five years. The raid exposed several products, including the popular Mae Kim Lai’s floating candied palm seed drink, produced without the necessary Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…
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Volunteer firefighter attacked by Asian black bear in Lampang
An Asian black bear attacked a volunteer firefighter while putting out a forest fire at Chae Son National Park in the northern province of Lampang on April 21. The victim is currently in a stable condition. The volunteer firefighter, 56 year old Sarm Mungtrong, sustained injuries to his head and arm after being attacked by the Asian black bear during…
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Foetus found behind durian stall sparks police hunt in Chanthaburi
The gruesome discovery of a five month old male foetus buried in a makeshift grave behind an unnamed durian stall in the Tha Mai district of Chanthaburi province has sent shockwaves through the local community. The incident was reported to police at 7.30am today, April 24, by a villager who stumbled upon the scene while gathering vegetables. Upon arrival, Deputy…
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Buriram teen brutally attacked, family seeks justice
A Buriram teen was brutally attacked by a group of teenagers, including one army conscript, during the Songkran festival on April 14. After nearly collapsing from injuries and receiving threats online, the family of the victim is seeking justice, while the case remains unresolved as of today. The joy of Thailand’s traditional Songkran celebrations turned into a nightmare for a…
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Phuket gets new Australian Consul-General
Following an announcement made by Penny Wong, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kirsten Fletcher was named the new Australian Consul-General for Phuket and its nearby provinces. Fletcher’s appointment was confirmed yesterday. Fletcher, known for her active involvement in sustainability and tourism, was recently seen at an event in Phuket last month, where locals shared ideas on reducing plastic waste. Angela…
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