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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 Bangtao, Phuket: The neighbourhood expats and investors are eyeing in 2025
Bangtao didn't become Phuket’s most talked-about neighbourhood overnight. For a long time, it was a quiet place on the island’s west coast where locals walked their dogs at sunrise and tourists flocked to sunbathe along its eight-kilometre stretch of beach....
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PDMO to sell 100 billion baht savings bonds for budget deficit funding
The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) announced plans to sell 100 billion baht (US$2.78 billion) worth of savings bonds within the fiscal year to finance the budget deficit. The initial issue, valued at 40 billion baht (US$1.1 billion), will be offered next month, according to the director-general of the PDMO, Patchara Anuntasilpa. The first tranche of savings bonds for the…
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SET proposes market cap rise for short selling, higher fines for violations
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) proposed a rise in the stock market capitalisation requirement for securities eligible for short selling, along with a threefold increase in fines for rule violations. This move forms part of the SET’s strategy to enhance market supervision and bolster investor confidence. These changes, which are subject to a public hearing, propose to raise the…
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Ex-MP’s nephew dies in Nakhon Phanom motorcycle crash
A tragic motorcycle crash claimed the life of a former six-term MP’s nephew in Nakhon Phanom Province, as he collided with a pickup truck on his motorcycle. The accident occurred yesterday (February 22), when the man was on his way to pick up his wife. Despite prompt medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The accident took…
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Thai export competitiveness declines with focus on rice market
The Bank of Thailand reports a significant decline in Thai export competitiveness, particularly in global rice markets. Over the last 20 years, the market share of rice shipments has dropped by over 50%. This reduction is a result of persistent structural issues in the export and manufacturing sectors, affecting the Thai economy at large. The bank’s recent report reveals that…
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Phuket’s Kamala Beach faces murky waters as main canal turns black
Kamala Beach in Phuket found itself in a murky situation, the main canal has turned black and is producing an unpleasant smell. Visitors to the beach, some international tourists, watched in dismay as the polluted water flowed freely into the sea. The sight of the blackened water has led to numerous headshakes and raised eyebrows. A particularly concerned tourist even questioned…
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Vientiane hotel faces backlash for degrading game
A Chinese-owned hotel in Vientiane, Laos, faces a furious backlash after a controversial game involving young women sparked outrage. In a bid to win wine and beer, Chinese men partook in a demeaning ring-toss game at the capital’s hotel, prompting swift condemnation from locals and authorities alike. According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), the hotel took swift action after a…
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Thai mother exposes school bullying and seeks justice for her son
A Thai mother took to social media to share a bullying incident at a school in the Sriracha district of Chon Buri province and seek justice for her son, who has been a victim of his classmates for years. The mother posted the story of her son on Facebook two days ago, February 20. She revealed to the public that…
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Free drive on Bangkok expressways this Saturday
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) announces toll-free passage along three key Bangkok expressways on Saturday. This Saturday, February 24 marks the Buddhist holiday, Makha Bucha Day. It is observed on the full moon of the third lunar month in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar (on the full moon of Tabaung), ranks second only to Vesak in importance. It…
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Vietnam’s rice exports soar towards 178 billion baht milestone
Vietnam’s rice sector is projected for a remarkable milestone of US$5 billion (approximately 178 billion baht) in turnover. Anticipating a rollercoaster ride in the global rice market, experts emphasise the pivotal role of innovation and adaptable export strategies in propelling Vietnam towards its ambitious growth targets. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development underscores the industry’s resilience despite a shrinking…
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Bangkok Digital Loy Krathong Festival wins best eco-friendly festival
The 2023 Bangkok Digital Loy Krathong Festival at the Ong Ang Canal near Bangkok’s Chinatown scooped an Asia Pinnacle Award for the Best Eco-Friendly Festival category. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) official Facebook page yesterday, February 21, invited its followers to join in celebrating the latest award, Best Eco-Friendly Festival, from Asia’s Pinnacle Awards. The BMA added that the representative would attend…
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American expat escapes Thai jail time for scathing hotel review
An American expat living in Thailand faced a nightmare scenario when his negative TripAdvisor review landed him in hot water with the law. Wesley Barnes found himself in a legal tussle after leaving a less-than-flattering review of Sea View Resort on Koh Chang. Barnes’ brush with the law began after he described the hotel’s staff as unfriendly and likened their…
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Landmark verdict in Kanchanaburi: 18 sentenced to death, 1 gets life in prison brawl case
Eighteen individuals today received the death penalty with one sentenced to life imprisonment in a landmark ruling at the Thong Pha Phum Provincial Court in Kanchanaburi province. The court acquitted four others in a case stemming from a deadly brawl between inmate groups from Ban Mueang Kan and Ban Bo Phloi against those from Ban Tha Maka. The incident, which…
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Thailand police fine parents in illegal racing crackdown
Police officials launched a strict crackdown on illegal street racing, specifically targeting the parents of minors involved in such activities. Following a recent incident in the Prasamutchedi district of Samut Prakan Province, police investigations led to legal actions against numerous individuals. The National Police Office’s Assistant Commissioner-General, Saram Nualma, announced that 22 people had been prosecuted following illegal road racing…
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Bare truth: Thai man’s crystal meth nap leads to roadside arrest
Police arrested a Thai man this afternoon for lying naked on the roadside in the eastern province of Trat. The man confessed that the crystal meth he had taken made him feel sleepy and hot. Motorists in the Wang Krajae sub-district of Trat spotted the Thai man, later identified as 39 year old Amphon, lying naked on the side of…
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Phuket Tourist Police target unregistered airport taxis
On the bustling island of Phuket, the Tourist Police have recalibrated their focus, zeroing in on unregistered taxi services that operate at Phuket International Airport. This renewed drive to combat illegal cabs was unveiled during a campaign launch and officers’ gathering at the airport. The campaign was spearheaded by Police Colonel Phisit Sawatthaworn, Commander of Tourist Police Division 2, flanked…
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Air Japan cancels Bangkok-Tokyo flights, stranding passengers
Passengers were left disappointed and frustrated when their Air Japan flight to Tokyo was abruptly cancelled due to technical issues. The fledgling airline, a low-cost carrier within the ANA group, found itself at the centre of controversy after it revealed that it operates with a single aircraft, which brought about a series of cancellations affecting travellers from both Thailand and…
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Thai man arrested for selling rare macaques on Facebook
A Thai man was apprehended in the Na Yong district of Trang yesterday for allegedly peddling macaques on Facebook. The operation, led by officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division, uncovered a live macaque stashed inside 26 year old Wutthichai Tunrat’s pickup truck. Wutthichai faces serious charges including trading protected wildlife without permission and illegal possession of wild…
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Thai doctor crashes sedan into 3 cars in Lampang hospital car park
A Thai doctor attributed a brake system failure as the cause of his sedan crashing into three cars in a car park at Lampang Hospital in northern Thailand. Fortunately, rescuers managed to avert a potentially hazardous situation by preventing an SUV from plummeting off the sixth floor of the parking structure. The sound of the collision and the sight of…
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Uyghur terror suspects win judge’s approval for Halal food
A judge ruled yesterday that Thailand’s corrections system must provide two Uyghur terrorism suspects with the Halal food they have been requesting for years. Adem Karadag and Yusufu Mieraili, accused in the 2015 Erawan Shrine bombing, appeared visibly emaciated and in wheelchairs, pleading for their religious rights. The duo shared their harrowing ordeal, revealing they had significantly deteriorated in health,…
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PM Srettha unveils economic vision focusing on tourism and booze
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin unveiled his comprehensive vision for Thailand’s economic boom, focusing on tourism enhancement and the liberalisation of alcohol consumption at internationally renowned concerts. Speaking at the Thailand Vision gathering at Government House, PM Srettha’s address, which was broadcast live on NBT television, presented his ambitious strategies to foster economic growth. Tourism is at the core of his economic…
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Danish man in handbag theft case makes tearful plea in Thai court
A Danish national made a tearful plea at the Samut Prakan Provincial Court, denying accusations of theft involving a high-end Celine handbag and five other items. The crime which unfolded three months after the Danish man, Jesper Jensen’s arrest at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, took a surprising turn during his first formal hearing on Monday, February 19. Jensen, appearing in court…
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Teen motorcyclist dies in Nonthaburi accident en route to school
Tragedy struck early this morning when a high school student was killed in a road accident on his way to school. The 18 year old boy lost control of his motorcycle and was subsequently run over by a passing van, leading to his immediate death. The incident occurred on the busy four-lane Ban Kluai-Sai Noi Road in the Bang Bua…
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Thai abbot loses amulets worth over 50 million baht to scammers
A Thai abbot at Pak Khlong Temple in the western province of Phetchaburi lost valuable amulets worth 50 million baht to two scammers. The 84 year old abbot, Sophiwacharachote, filed a theft report at Ban Laem Police Station on February 19 after two Thai men stole 15 Buddhist amulets, 2,500 baht in cash, and important documents from him. The stolen…
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Elderly driver’s lane switch on Bangna-Trad Road triggers multi-car crash
A three-vehicle collision on Bangna-Trad Road in Samut Prakan province injured three people, including two students, when a car driven by a 73 year old woman veered across lanes, causing a chain reaction crash. The serious traffic incident occurred today, February 22, on Bangna-Trad Road, Samut Prakan province, when a sedan driven by a 73 year old woman cut in…
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Move Forward Party set to announce PPAO presidential candidate
Pita Limjaroenrat, a key figure in Thai politics, is poised to make an important announcement in Phuket this weekend. The Move Forward Party (MFP), under his leadership on Saturday, February 24, will be introducing its presidential candidate for the upcoming Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) election. Pita’s arrival in Phuket was confirmed via a Facebook post by Chalermpong Saengdee, a…
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Desperate father pleads for Thai worker’s release from Hamas
A Thai father is urging the government to intervene in the release of his son, who has been detained by Hamas militants in Israel for an excruciating five months. Wilas Tanna hailing from tambon Ban Khu in Na Pho district, voiced his anguish yesterday, February 21, expressing grave concerns for the safety of his 36 year old son Pongsak following…
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Khon Kaen police bust major motorcycle theft ring
Law enforcement in Khon Kaen province, Thailand, successfully dismantled a motorcycle theft ring operated by a husband and wife team. The pair, along with their accomplices, have been stealing motorcycles and smuggling them across the Mekong River for sale in neighbouring countries, causing severe distress to locals who have lost more than 30 vehicles. Police Major General Montree Teskan, the…
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Unexpected jellyfish invasion hits Patong Beach in Phuket
The sandy stretches of Patong Beach in Phuket have recently become the unlikely landing spot for a multitude of jellyfish. Since yesterday, February 21, these jellyfish have been making waves amongst beachgoers, washing up on the shore in an unexpected turn of events. The lifeguards stationed at Patong Beach quickly took note of this unusual occurrence. They promptly issued a…
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Phuket police sting operation leads to major drug bust
A recent police sting operation in Phuket, Thailand, resulted in the arrest of a 26 year old woman, originally from Ao Luek in Krabi. The woman, Wichuda “Su” Aollueknoi, was apprehended in her rented room on Soi Patchanee-Bangchee Liao in Ratsada on Tuesday, with law enforcement officers seizing a haul of 700 methamphetamine pills, commonly known as Yabah. The raid…
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Thailand’s future electric vehicles industry workforce
Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) is gearing up to sculpt a formidable workforce of over 150,000 individuals poised to dominate the electric vehicle (EV) industry within the next five years. This electrifying initiative forms the nucleus of the ministry’s holistic strategy aimed at supercharging Thailand’s EV ecosystem. The ministry’s blueprint, announced with much fanfare, is…
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