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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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Post office denies responsibility after giving 49,800 gold to thief
A Thai woman demanded a post office in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok to take responsibility for the loss of her gold bars worth 49,800 baht after they were handed over to a thief. The 30 year old woman, Rattanakorn Songserm, visited Bang Bua Thong Police Station on November 8 to follow up on the development of the investigation into her…
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Four arrested for possession of 140,000 amphetamine pills in northern Thailand
A drug bust operation in Phon Thong, Roi Et, led by Police Lieutenant General Sarayut Sa-nguanphokai, the Commander-in-Chief, resulted in the arrest of four suspects on November 8. The suspects, 34 year old Suthat (surname withheld), 55 year old Thanattha, 46 year old Wisava, and 41 year old Prapanich, were apprehended with over 140,000 amphetamine pills. The operation was the…
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Notorious motorbike thief’s joyrides hit the brakes in Thailand
A notorious thief, who swiftly stole motorbikes in under 15 seconds and sold them at cheap prices online, was arrested in his latest act as police slammed the brakes on his illegal business. The suspect, Phongsathon, was involved in over 40 such thefts and used the proceeds for gambling and drug abuse. The arrest took place today, by the police…
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Vape escape: Thai ATP’s contraband crackdown sparks cloud of justice in Ayutthaya
The bustling province of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya was the scene of a significant crackdown on illegal goods on November 8. Thai Anti Trafficking In Persons (ATP) officers swooped in on a private distribution centre in Bang Pa-in, seizing a massive haul of E-cigarettes, E-liquids, and associated equipment. This operation led to the confiscation of 60,500 units of contraband, with…
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Sex trade crackdown: Thai woman leaps from hotel window in Malaysia
A 27 year old Thai woman sparked a frenzy as she leapt from the third floor of a budget hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia while attempting to evade the authorities. Suspected of being involved in the sex trade, she was ultimately apprehended by immigration officers. The incident occurred when immigration officers stormed the hotel on a sex trade crackdown mission…
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Chiang Mai MP refutes accusations of falsifying documents for party funds
Chiang Mai’s Move Forward Party (MFP) MP, Phattarapong Leelaphat, refuted accusations of falsifying documents to garner financial support from his party yesterday. This controversy was brought to light by the Democrat Party’s Tankhun Jittitsara on Wednesday, November 8. In response to the allegations, Phattarapong took to Facebook, dismissing the claims as baseless. The politician explained that most of the funds…
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Ghostly deserted village in Bangkok goes viral on TikTok (video)
A viral video, viewed over six million times, has surfaced online, posted by an electricity meter reader, showing what appears to be a ghostly, deserted village in the Pracha Uthit district of Bangkok. The TikTok user, @jrlouis0, posted the footage while reading electricity meters in the area which resembles an abandoned village. The video, captioned: Give this village the number…
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First coalition party dinner signals unity and relaxed political discourse
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin reported a warm atmosphere at the first coalition party dinner held on November 8, with no bargaining for political gains witnessed among the government parties. The dinner, hosted by the leading Pheu Thai Party, was attended by leaders of coalition parties and was deemed successful enough to warrant monthly repeats, as reported by Deputy Prime Minister…
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Thai government to reveal details of contested 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme
The Thai government is set to disclose the specifics of its contentious 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme distribution today. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, in response to critics who argue the initiative could inflict more economic damage than benefit, will conduct a news conference at 2pm today to elucidate all aspects of the policy. The 61 year old Thai prime minister has…
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13 year old girl confesses to fabricating minibus driver rape story
The 13 year old girl who reportedly accused a minibus driver of drugging and sexually assaulting her, later confessed that she had fabricated the rape story. However, a medical examination revealed signs of sexual assault and her relatives are suspected. The grandmother of the victim revealed to the public that her 13 year old granddaughter lost control of herself and…
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Thailand military upgrade: Defense Ministry responds to emerging threats
Thailand’s Defence Ministry is gearing up to bolster the country’s armed forces, aiming for a technologically superior edge to counter emerging security threats. Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang highlighted the Thailand military upgrade commitment during his address to the incoming batch of the National Defence Course at the National Defence College yesterday. Sutin conceded his previous misunderstanding regarding military expenditure, stressing…
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Prominent Thai officials arrested over alleged 2.3 million baht bribe
Samut Prakan‘s Bang Phli district saw the arrest of prominent figures within the Bang Pla subdistrict administrative organisation (TAO), including the chairman, 61 year old Chanin Ruenroeng, and his 44 year old personal secretary, Pornmanee (surname withheld). These arrests were initiated by the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) who acted on a complaint from a local firm alleging that the officials demanded…
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Content creator economy thrives in Thailand with Meta’s support
Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, is cultivating a thriving content creator economy in Thailand, offering local creative talent numerous avenues to monetise their output. This initiative allows creators to offer unique content and experiences to their subscribers, thereby establishing a new stream of revenue. According to Meta, these revenue-earning opportunities encompass branded content, partnership ads, and Instagram subscriptions.…
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Thais in Myanmar issued emergency documents for repatriation
Emergency travel documents are being issued to the majority of Thais awaiting repatriation in Myanmar, as most of them are without passports, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) yesterday. The MFA revealed that these individuals had their passports taken away by their employers. The information was disclosed by Ruj Thammamomgkol, director-general of the MFA Consular…
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Bangkok cracks down on corruption after road collapse incident
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin called for a thorough crackdown on corruption following an incident where a section of road in Bangkok collapsed under the weight of an overloaded lorry. The lorry is suspected to have been allowed to operate due to illicit payments to officials. This incident caused two traffic accidents earlier this week on the busy Sukhumvit Road. The…
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Handsome teacher sparks classroom shuffle in China
Despite the common understanding that students attend school to acquire knowledge, teachers can also play an integral role in making learning more enjoyable. A teacher’s vibrant personality can be an asset in winning over students. However, an excessively handsome teacher can sometimes create issues for themselves. Take, for instance, the recent situation involving a young male teacher from Guangdong province,…
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Cyberattacks plague Thailand: Over 10 annual incidents cause significant losses
A recent survey reveals that more than half of Thai organisations have experienced over 10 cyberattack incidents in the past year, leading to significant financial losses. The report, released by US-based cloud connectivity firm Cloudflare Inc., highlights the urgent need for Thai businesses to strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure. According to a data breach report commissioned by IBM, the global average cost…
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Phuket tourism operators push for international convention centre
In a bid to elevate Phuket’s status as an exhibition hub, local tourism operators are urging for the rapid implementation of a long-stalled project for an international convention centre and a freeport city initiative. The urgency has arisen due to the impending enforcement of new environmental laws which may necessitate a redesign of the project. The Health Ministry recently abandoned…
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Sweet setback: Thailand’s sugar exports face sticky situation with government controls
Thailand’s sugar exports, which sit second globally behind Brazil, are threatened with potential delays in the coming year. This comes after the Thai government implemented new controls to guard the domestic supply and curb smuggling. The newly instated regulations require official approval for the export of any quantity exceeding one tonne, a move that some traders have voiced concerns could…
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Cupid’s Arrow: Factory worker’s romantic gesture misses target, woman rejects overtures, sparks viral sympathy
A viral story from China has caught the attention of netizens after Cupid’s Arrow apparently missed its target. A factory worker’s bold declaration of love to a female colleague, complete with a bouquet, was met with rejection and disdain. The woman’s reason for the dismissal was simple – they didn’t know each other well enough for such a declaration of…
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Two men arrested in major drug bust by MPB worth millions of baht
A recent crackdown by the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) led to a drug bust and the arrest of two 25 year old men. The duo, identified as Ton from Chiang Rai province, and Narongkiet from Suphanburi province, were apprehended today at their rental residence in Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom province, with an assortment of illegal drugs worth millions of baht. The…
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Pattaya Jazz Festival hits the right notes: Kenny G takes the stage to blow minds tomorrow
The eagerly anticipated Pattaya Jazz Festival 2023 blows its trumpet tomorrow, featuring the world-class talents of renowned jazz musician Kenny G. Set against the bustling backdrop of Pattaya Beach, the event is conveniently situated in proximity to the Central Klang intersection, neighbouring Central Mall. The festival promises an array of captivating performances from world-class artists, all offered without charge, making…
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Phuket’s fungicide frenzy: Patong crackdown on magic mushrooms keeps the tourist hub trippin’ free
The bustling tourist hub of Patong, Phuket, is witnessing a relentless crackdown by local law enforcement against the illicit trade of hallucinogenic fungi, commonly known as magic mushrooms. This campaign was further intensified with the recent apprehension of two individuals on the vibrant Bangla Road. The duo was detained in the wee hours of November 8 at the popular “Puff…
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South Korean factory worker fatally injured by robot misidentification
Tragedy struck in South Korea as a robot misidentified a factory worker for a box of vegetables, causing fatal injuries. The incident, which took place on November 7, involved a 40 year old man who was inspecting the sensors of a machine at an agricultural distribution centre in South Korea’s Gyeongsang Province. The robot seemingly confused the man for a…
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Woman discovers husband’s cruel bet to be the first to take her virginity was the reason for marrying her
A woman was left heartbroken upon discovering that her husband had married her as part of a cruel bet to be the first man to take her virginity. The shocking truth was revealed to her during a party by a former coworker. She first met her husband while working at the age of 20. Coming from a religious family with…
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Phuket’s new high-flier: Sattha thongkham lands as vice governor, family in tow
Sattha Thongkham, accompanied by his wife and daughter, arrived in Phuket yesterday, ready to assume his new role as the Vice Governor of Phuket. The family made their debut in the city by paying tribute to the statue of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) at the historic former Phuket Provincial Hall, situated on Narisorn Road in Phuket town. The venerable structure…
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Heatwave history: European scientists declare 2023 hottest year in 125,000 years
European scientists confirmed that this year is the hottest in 125,000 years. This follows data released last month indicating that global temperatures have reached record-breaking highs. The European Union’s climate change watchdog, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), revealed that the temperature in October surpassed the previous record set in 2019 by 0.4 degrees Celsius. The weather anomalies observed in October…
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Manhole lorry accident: BMA orders review of 371 construction sites
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered a review of 371 construction sites after a lorry incident revealed overloading up to 61 tonnes. The BMA is considering the use of a Bridge Weight Motion system to measure vehicle weight, with results expected within two months. Yesterday at the Bangkok City Hall, the Governor of Bangkok, Chadchart Sittipunt, and Deputy Governor…
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Tiny trumpeter: Lost wild Thai elephant calf finds a voice and milk refuge
A one-month-old wild Thai elephant calf discovered alone and in a weakened state has begun making some noise and consuming milk regularly. Despite the absence of a wild elephant herd in the nearby vicinity, Thap Lan National Park and its veterinary team have been assisting the lost calf. The calf was found wandering near a cassava farm belonging to villagers in Talingshan…
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Malaysian bride’s feast fiasco: Uninvited ‘wedding crashers’ sneak in for a bite-sized sequel
A Malaysian bride was left angered by uninvited guests who snuck into her wedding reception for a free meal in what sounds like a sequel to the Hollywood blockbuster the Wedding Crashers. Despite careful planning for each table, the couple received complaints from guests that there were no seats available. Upon investigation, they discovered that unfamiliar faces had infiltrated the…
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