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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 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’s tourism tango: TAT’s mixed bag predicts foreign tourist influx but warns of a 400 billion baht revenue remix
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) released a mixed bag of updates, hinting at a potential foreign tourist surge but cautioning about a colossal revenue shortfall of 400 billion baht. TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool revealed that Thailand hosted 25.8 million foreign tourists from January to November this year, inching close to the 27 million target. However, with the high season…
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Thai police dismantle illegal cosmetics factory in shocking raid
An illegal lotion and shower cream operation was dismantled by Thai police today. The clandestine factory, operating from a residential house, was found to be mixing products in appalling conditions, shockingly different from the sanitised images shared on social media. The authorities arrested the 63 year old owner, Thitiwat, for selling unregistered cosmetics and products without Thai-language labels, violating the…
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Spanish woman swallows toothbrush in dramatic choking incident
A 21 year old Spanish woman from Galdakao in the Basque region, narrowly averted a choking to death. It occurred while consuming a chicken wing at home, resulting in a piece of meat lodged in her throat. She was at home with her wheelchair-bound father, who was incapacitated due to an old injury, leaving her to fend for herself during…
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Country singer Bew Kalayanee’s brother found dead in Tapee River
The lifeless body of Chitkorn Jiamsakul, a 45 year old car driver and elder brother to the renowned country singer Kalayanee Jiamsakul, known as Bew Kalayanee, was found near a dock. The discovery took place about 2 kilometres from the initial incident site where Chitkorn was last observed jumping from Sri Surat Bridge and vanishing into the Tapee River on…
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Rising waves and heavy rain batter Thailand’s south east coast
Torrential rains have battered the southern eastern coast of Thailand, particularly in the Pattani Narathiwat region. The inclement weather has resulted in high waves in the Gulf of Thailand, rising to 3 metres. Fishermen have been warned to exercise extreme caution. Reporters from Songkhla province noted that the sky has been heavily overcast with sporadic thunderstorms. Heavy rain persisted throughout…
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Drug addicted Thai woman beats mother to death with broom
A drug addicted Thai woman beat her mother to death with a broom in their home in the central province of Ang Thong. On December 6, Kanita Thongdee, a 49 year old woman, made a distressing discovery when she observed that her 72 year old mother, Pinthong Thongdee, had not completed her usual daily chores. Concerned, Kanita went to check…
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Slovenian national found dead in Pattaya condo, suspected suicide
The lifeless body of a 47 year old man from Slovenia was discovered in a Pattaya condominium yesterday. The preliminary investigations suggest that the cause of death was likely suicide. The scene was inspected by a team led by Pattaya police chief investigator, Police Lieutenant Colonel Thananon Athipansee, alongside medics from Bang Lamung Hospital and rescue workers. The team was…
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Chai Nat: Thai police chief orders arrest of loan shark at somtum restaurant
The National Police Chief ordered the arrest of two people linked to a debt collection gang, who vandalised a somtum restaurant in Chai Nat province. The owner of the establishment had registered to resolve her informal debts, leading to repercussions from the loan sharks. This event has led to wider investigations targeting loan sharks and other offenders involved in informal…
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Swiss man accidentally falls from 3rd floor of Pattaya condo while smoking
A Swiss man suffered head and leg injuries after he accidentally fell from the third floor of a condominium in Pattaya while smoking at 5am today. The accident was reported to the Sawang Borriboon Dhammasatan Rescue Team at 5am today, December 7, where rescuers rushed to the scene in the Jomtien neighbourhood of Pattaya. At the scene, the rescuers found…
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Fuel shortage causes chaos in Yangon: Is Myanmar’s economy running on empty?
As Myanmar‘s metropolis Yangon grapples with a fuel shortage, the city saw chaos with motorists queuing at dawn, hoping to secure petrol. The fuel crisis has been exacerbated by economic turmoil and geopolitical tensions. Yangon’s fuel shortage, as reported by the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, kicked off on Tuesday. The cryptic explanation attributed the crisis to delays in…
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Thailand’s interior minister unveils strategies to combat air pollution
The Secretary to Thailand’s Minister of the Interior, Traisulee Traisanakul, unveiled strategies to counteract forest fires, smog, and PM 2.5 smoke yesterday, December 6. These policies came as an initiative from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Anutin Charnvirakul and were addressed to provincial governors. Every year, during the cold and drought season, Thailand grapples with air pollution…
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Survivor of fatal bus accident recounts harrowing experience
Mattikan, a recent graduate also known as King, narrowly escaped a fatal bus accident that claimed 14 lives in Huay Yang, Thap Sakae, Prachuap Khiri Khan. She was travelling home from Bangkok to Thung Song, Nakhon Si Thammarat, intending to give her graduation gown to her father as a National Father’s Day gift. At the time of the accident, she…
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Surge in gold prices today as announced by Gold Traders Association
The Gold Traders Association (GTA) announced a surge in gold prices today, after a significant drop. As of today, December 7, the gold bullion was sold for 34,300 baht per baht, showing a 100 baht increase compared to the closing price yesterday. According to the GTA’s website, as of 9.04am local time, the selling rate for 96.5% gold bar was…
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Drunk Thai man stabs 7-Eleven worker for refusing to sell alcohol after hours
Police used a stun gun to subdue a drunk Thai man after he stabbed a 7-Eleven convenience store worker with a pair of scissors in the central province of Lop Buri because the victim refused to sell him alcohol. The incident occurred at a 7-Eleven store next to the Lop Buri Provincial Police Office on Phra Piya Road in the…
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Thailand probes incident of Chinese tourist wearing Thai police uniform for fun
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin verified yesterday that the Royal Thai Police (RTP) is probing a social media incident involving a Chinese tourist seen donning the Thai police uniform, complete with a nameplate, rank insignia, and decorations. The uniform was worn for amusement, an act which the Thai PM condemned. PM Srettha expressed his disapproval. “That isn’t right, and [the…
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Lorry crash in Pathum Thani injures 15 Burmese workers
A lorry carrying 15 Burmese workers collided with a container truck in Pathum Thani province, injuring all the passengers. The incident occurred around 6am today. The Isuzu pickup truck, driven by an unidentified man, lost control and crashed into the container truck, leading to multiple casualties. According to the initial investigation by Warut Poomsak, a duty officer at the Khlong…
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Thai industry calls for retention of current power tariff amid hike fears
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) is urging the Thai government to retain the current power tariff of 3.99 baht per kilowatt-hour. The request comes amid concerns that a proposed hike to 4.68 baht could escalate operational costs for manufacturers, leading to a 5 to 10% increase in product prices. The Energy Regulatory Commission previously suggested…
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NBTC plans to boost Internet connectivity for impoverished Bangkok communities
In a bid to bridge the digital divide, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has announced plans to increase Internet connectivity for impoverished communities in Bangkok. The initiative also includes the provision of WiFi service for districts nationwide. This move forms part of the NBTC’s fourth universal service obligation (USO) plan. In line with the draft USO 4.0 scheme,…
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Thai executives warn against fiscal burden increase: SET survey
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has published a survey in which top executives from Thai listed firms have urged the government to avoid amplifying the nation’s fiscal burden and distorting markets. The executives also proposed more involvement from the private sector in policymaking. The survey, titled Economic Outlook 2023 to 2024, was the work of the SET’s research department…
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Thailand’s clean air bill targets PM2.5 dust menace
Thailand’s Cabinet has given preliminary approval to the Clean Air Bill, a bold initiative designed to combat the annual scourge of PM2.5 ultra-fine dust. This is a major move that gives authorities the necessary tools to manage sources of air pollutants effectively, particularly the minuscule dust particles that become a significant issue in the country each cool season. The Clean…
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Thailand’s tourism revenue falls short of annual target
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) projected a shortfall in its annual tourism revenue target, with this year’s earnings expected to reach 2.07 trillion baht (US$58,773,427,200) instead of the projected 2.38 trillion baht. TAT Governor, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, attributes this shortfall to the sluggish performance of international tourism receipts, which were significantly lower than the state’s target of 1.6 trillion baht.…
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Phuket extends pub and bar hours to boost tourism and employment
Phuket is set to extend the operating hours of its pubs and bars till 4am, with the new timing being tentatively scheduled to start on December 15. This decision was reached following a public hearing conducted by the Phuket Provincial Administration Office. The new operating hours are to be implemented in six zones on Bangla Road in the Patong area…
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The unique charm of Thai literature
The rich history of Thai literature traces back to the Sukhothai period (1238-1438). However, in the modern age, Thai literature takes on a different form. Distinct features separate modern Thai literature, written in the 20th and 21st centuries, from its historical counterparts. In this article, we delve into the unique characteristics that define modern Thai literature. What is the Golden…
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Thai provincial governors gain CEO-like powers under new decentralisation policy
Thai provincial governors have been granted the authority akin to a company’s CEO, following a Cabinet agreement. This move forms part of the government’s decentralisation policy. However, the main opposition party, the Move Forward Party (MFP), and various critics question if this action truly aligns with accepted international standards of decentralisation. The Cabinet-approved proposal, submitted by the National Economic and…
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Blossoms beyond Earth: Pathum Thani sunflower spectacle transforms into a galactic experience
In a floral frenzy, globetrotters are thronging to a sunflower field in Thailand that’s not just a feast for the eyes but also a rendezvous with interstellar blossoms. Travellers are making a beeline for the 5-rai sunflower field in Pathum Thani province, nestled within the colossal CPRAM headquarters—a jewel in the crown of the Thai conglomerate CP Group. This dazzling…
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Amata abrupt: Rayong company sends new employees packing with a one-day notice
A prominent company situated in Amata City Industrial Estate, Rayong, dismissed its newly recruited employees, providing only a single day’s notice. But the regular employees have not been spared either – they’ve been ordered to take a long leave of up to three months, receiving only 75% of their normal pay. This incident came to light today, December 6, when…
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Taiwanese man arrested for animal smuggling at Bangkok airport
Officers from Suvarnabhumi Animal Quarantine at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok arrested a Taiwanese man for animal smuggling yesterday, December 5. Suvarnabhumi Animal Quarantine chief Phakkapong Phathong said officers received a report of a suspicious Taiwanese man at 9.05am that day. Officers suspected that the 22 year old Taiwanese man was concealing live animals in his clothing when he passed…
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Phuket: 16 year old boy found dead in Thalang pond
A 16 year old boy who vanished while enjoying a swim was found dead in Baan Maruan Pond. Warut Butleb, a bright third-year high school student at Rajaprajanugroh School 36 in Kamala, yesterday, December 5, disappeared while swimming with his friend Ngae, a 10 year old from Myanmar. A seven-hour search for the teenage boy ended in a devastating discovery. The…
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Altitude alert: Flight attendant spills beans on why plane coffee gets a turbulent reaction (video)
A flight attendant sparked a heated discussion on social media by revealing why passengers should avoid drinking coffee served on planes. The video clip was posted on the TikTok account @ichbinvin, responding to a query initially raised on the website Reddit about the dirty little secrets of working on an aircraft. The flight attendant, Kevin, agreed with another netizen’s comment,…
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Slumber or blunder? Underwear-clad party entertainer crashes and kills motorcycle rider
A female party entertainer from Thailand claimed she was sleepy, not drunk, after crashing her car into a motorcycle rider and killing him on Phetchakasem Road in Cha-am district in the southern province of Phetchaburi. Officers from Cha-am Police Station were notified of the car accident at an ice factory on Phetchakasem Road at 7am today, December 6, and rushed…
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