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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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Singaporean duo’s slam dunk scandal: Basketball match fixing duo hits the court
A 30 year old Singaporean man found himself facing an eight-month jail term for his involvement in match fixing basketball matches in Thailand. The scandalous case, unravelling in the heart of the Singaporean sports scene, involves illicit bets, secret Facebook conversations, and a plot to rig matches in the Thailand Basketball League (TBL). Poh Wei Hao and Koa Wei Quan,…
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Unlock the secrets of Thailand’s museums after dark: Night at Museum 2023 unveiled
In a bid to ignite cultural fervour, the Thai government launched the eagerly awaited Night at Museum 2023 initiative. Running from December 15 to 24, the festival encourages the public to explore the nation’s 48 museums under the enchanting cloak of night. Karom Polpornklang, a deputy government spokesman, stated that the festival aims to boost cultural soft power, inviting everyone…
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Crocodile-shock: Chinese food blogger’s reptilian recipe riles up social media storm
A social media storm has erupted over a Chinese food blogger, who boasts more than 3.5 million followers on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok). A short video was posted showing food blogger, Xiehe, preparing a crocodile as part of a home-cooked meal. Although the clip achieved its aim of attracting viewers, it sparked massive backlash. A significant number of…
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Taiwanese idol Gan Lian Mei’s cheeky strip show goes viral after Chinese baseball victory (video)
In a scene that left spectators astounded, the sexy net idol Gan Lian Mei, living up to her promise, performed a strip show on the sidelines of a triumphant national baseball match. The act quickly became a viral video, amassing over 700,000 views and garnering more than 15,000 likes. Gan Lian Mei, a popular Taiwanese net idol, had pledged to…
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Thai students’ performance dips in PISA rankings, calls for educational reform
Fifteen year old Thai students faced a significant setback in their performance in maths, science, and reading, according to the recent rankings by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which conducted the assessment, revealed that these students scored 394 in maths, a sharp fall from 419 in the previous year. A similar…
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Tokyo taxi driver feathers his cap with arrest after fatal dove collision
A 50 year old Tokyo taxi driver has been arrested for striking a flock of doves and killing one in Shinjuku district last month. Authorities, who detained the driver, Atsushi Ozawa, under charges of violating wildlife protection laws and causing public alarm, initiated an investigation following a call from a concerned citizen who reported a taxi suddenly accelerating and hitting sparrows…
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Bus crash victims in Thailand can claim up to 500,000 baht
A devastating accident involving a public passenger bus travelling from Bangkok to Nathawi, operated by Srisiam Tour Company Limited, resulted in the tragic loss of 14 lives and left 35 injured. The incident occurred on Petchkasem Road, between kilometres 331 and 332, in Huay Yang, Thap Sakae, Prachuap Khiri Khan yesterday. The Consumer Organisation Council clarified the rights of those…
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Update: Brave Thai doctor’s final battle ends, Dr Krittai loses fight against cancer
The Thai medical sector is mourning the loss of Dr Krittai Tanasombatkul, a 29 year old doctor, known for his Facebook page, Fight for It, and who fought against terminal lung cancer. In a poignant announcement on his Fight For It web page last month, Dr Krittai revealed his grim diagnosis of stage four lung cancer. Despite his regular exercise…
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Lao woman’s harrowing experience with Thai taxi driver in Bangkok
Officers from Bang Kruai Police Station in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok arrested an illegal Thai taxi driver for sexually harassing and overcharging a Lao woman. The driver denied he sexually harassed the woman, stating that he was just teasing the passenger. The Lao victim, 19 year old Phouangmalay Keovilay, and her older brother filed a complaint against a Thai taxi…
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Northeast Thailand: Woman fatally stabbed during Ngiew celebration in Khon Kaen
A shocking incident unfolded at a festive event in the Phon District of Khon Kaen when a woman was fatally stabbed by an unknown assailant. The incident occurred in the early hours of today, December 6, during the Ngiew celebration, a traditional festive event. The fatally stabbed woman suffered from severe injuries, succumbing to the wounds later in the hospital.…
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Thai village in chaos as wild elephant wreaks havoc
A wild elephant, known as Rod Tang, wreaked havoc in a village in Buriram province, damaging a house and sending the inhabitants into a state of fear. The incident occurred yesterday in Nong Samet village, Non Din Daeng district, resulting in significant property damage and leading to pleas for assistance from relevant authorities. The house, a single-storey concrete property numbered…
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Prime minister’s grand almsgiving spectacle in honour of late king
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and a star-studded entourage gathered for a regal religious ceremony in Bangkok. The grand affair, coinciding with National Father’s Day, paid homage to the revered late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. As dawn broke, the 61 year old Thai PM, accompanied by his wife and an illustrious assembly of Cabinet ministers, Privy Council members, and military commanders, graced Sanam…
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Thai man brutally murdered over eucalyptus tree dispute
A 61 year old man met a brutal end as a result of a long-standing dispute over a eucalyptus tree, with a neighbour assaulting him with a hoe, causing fatal skull fractures. The 60 year old assailant surrendered himself to police today. The tragedy unfolded on a public road in the rural village of Kudchum, Yasothon Province. On arrival at…
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RTP safety play: Thai tourist police launch ‘i lert u’ app for foreign visitors
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has unveiled a new tool to ensure the safety and well-being of foreign visitors in Thailand. The Tourist Police Office has launched a new mobile application, dubbed Tourist Police i lert u. This innovation in public safety caters to tourists who find themselves in need of immediate assistance. Leveraging the power of the Global Positioning…
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High depreciation of EVs raises loan concerns says National Credit Bureau
The National Credit Bureau (NCB) raised concerns about the high depreciation rates of electric vehicles (EVs) and the associated loan risks. As the popularity of EVs, particularly Chinese brands, continues to rise, so does the volume of loans attributed to their purchase. However, EVs depreciate faster than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, which has heightened the risk for auto…
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Iranian boxer allegedly steals over 20 million baht assets from Burmese woman in Bangkok
A Burmese woman filed a complaint against an Iranian boxer accusing him of stealing more than 20 million baht from her condominium in Bangkok before fleeing Thailand. The victim’s brother accompanied his 25 year old younger sister, Nang Mwe Hlaing, to file the complaint at Phra Khanong Police Station yesterday, December 4. The brother revealed that the Iranian man, 21…
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Umphang Hospital appeals for unexpired medication donations amid supply shortage
A call for public assistance has been issued by Umphang Hospital, a state-run facility located in the border district of Tak’s northern province. As supplies dwindle, the hospital is appealing for donations of unexpired medication, previously prescribed for other illnesses. Dr Worawit Tantiwattanasap, the director of Umphang Hospital, shared the situation yesterday, December 5. According to him, the hospital is…
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Isaan illuminates: Thai govt sparks tourism surge in the northeast for economic radiance
The northeast region of Thailand, known as Isaan, is set to become a new focal point for tourism growth. It is part of the government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) initiative geared towards stimulating economic activity in secondary cities. The plan was unveiled last month during the China International Travel Mart 2023 where TAT promoted Isan to Chinese…
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Missing Thai man found dead, questions raised over link to unidentified woman
A Thai mother found the body of her missing son by a roadside forest along the Sattahip-Nakhon Ratchasima Road in Chon Buri province. The plot thickens, however, as queries have emerged regarding a potential connection to the body of an unidentified Thai woman discovered just 2 kilometres away from the dead man. On Sunday, December 3, officers from Huay Yai…
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Thailand’s revised GDP growth forecast met with caution due to global slowdown risks
Analysts expressed caution over the Bank of Thailand’s revised GDP growth forecast of 3.2 to 3.8% for the upcoming year, highlighting potential risks from an economic slowdown in China and the US. Doubts have also been raised about the efficacy of government stimulus to revive the economy. Nattaporn Triratanasirikul, the deputy managing director of Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research), deemed the…
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Thailand’s EV policies and tech partnerships attract foreign investors
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has projected that Thailand will become increasingly appealing to foreign investors, backed by distinct government policies encouraging investment. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently endorsed a policy designed to stimulate Electric Vehicle (EV) production and consumption between 2024 and 2027. This incentive package, known as EV 3.5, is expected to be a significant determinant in…
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Update: Thai woman offers free accommodation to bus crash victims
The devastating bus crash that claimed 14 lives in Thailand moved a local woman to offer free accommodation to the victims’ relatives. Thitinun Iamtua, also known as Nan, who hails from Huai Yang, was at the scene of the bus crash where she found a terrified young girl, Mali, who had been separated from her mother. Nan explained that when…
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Chaowalit Thongduang: Thailand asserts active extradition treaty with Indonesia
Thailand‘s Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) asserted yesterday, December 5, that the country has an active extradition treaty with Indonesia. This announcement arrived in light of an unverified report suggesting that notorious fugitive Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as Sia Paeng, might have escaped to the Southeast Asian country. Prayuth Phetkhun, the OAG spokesperson, clarified that the attorney-general possesses the authority…
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Thai teen caught smuggling knives into 4Kings (Part 2) movie screening
A cinema visit in the Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, took a grim turn when a Thai teenager was apprehended while attempting to smuggle a collection of knives into the screening of 4Kings (Part 2). This film is known for its depiction of violence among vocational school students in Thailand. The 17 year old man was intercepted at the Big…
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Chinese man in Thai police uniform sparks drama about VIP service
A video of a Chinese man wearing a Thai police uniform sparked debate about VIP service on social media. The police officer in the video insisted that no special service was provided, adding that he is just a service-minded person. The Facebook page Lui Jeen (ลุยจีน) shared the video from Weibo along with its translation yesterday, December 5. The footage…
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Cable car project causes concerns of potential overcrowding at Phu Kradueng
Concerns have been voiced by the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation over potential overcrowding at Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei, as a result of plans to revive a long-debated cable car project. The foundation, while assured that modern construction techniques can minimise environmental and wildlife disruption, is apprehensive about the park’s capacity to handle an influx of tourists. Ornyupa Sangkamarn, the…
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Fatal car accident ignites fire in Ratchaburi: Driver unidentified
A fatal incident claimed the life of a driver in Ratchaburi when his car collided with a bridge’s pier, igniting a fierce fire that could not be controlled in time. The horrifying event occurred around 2.40am today, on the Phetkasem inbound road in front of an industrial estate in Don Sai Subdistrict, Photharam District. The vehicle involved was an MG5…
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Thai prime minister: Army anti-drug efforts on Myanmar border
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed the army to intensify its efforts to curb illicit drug smuggling along the Myanmar frontier. The directive was issued yesterday, December 5, during a meeting with the army chief, General Songwit Noonpackdee. The prime minister specifically emphasised the importance of the military’s collaboration with the police in executing this task. PM Srettha also stressed the…
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Thailand commits to release of Thai captives held by Hamas
Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand, recently reaffirmed the government’s commitment to secure the release of all remaining Thai captives held hostage in Palestine. The 61 year old Thai PM dispelled circulating rumours concerning the government’s intention to abandon the remaining captives, asserting that their liberation would have to wait until the next ceasefire. Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara…
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Foreign man dies in tragic Pattaya road accident: Intentional act or mishap?
The bustling city of Pattaya witnessed a sorrowful scene on Sukhumvit Road in the early hours of yesterday when a foreign man lost his life in a traffic accident. The driver of the vehicle involved reported that the man had intentionally leapt in front of his car, thereby causing the fatal collision. Pattaya police were alerted to the incident at…
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