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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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Chilling confession: Sadistic child killer reveals horror tale behind children’s murders
Sadistic child killer Songsak Songsaeng revealed to police officers the harrowing details of his children’s murders. He claimed that he killed only three of them and that two others died of illness. KhaoSod reported today that Songsak shifted blame for his violent acts onto his wives and children. He further claimed that his mental health issues had made it difficult…
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Double rainbow dazzles northeastern Thailand with hopes of good fortune
An unusual spectacle of two rainbows at once stirred excitement among the residents of Sisaket, in northeastern Thailand who believe it to be a sign of forthcoming good fortune. The rare phenomenon occurred following a day of continuous heavy rainfall, which had cast a gloomy atmosphere over the area. As the rain ceased and sunlight pierced through the cloud cover,…
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Phuket’s vice: Island faces rising tide in drug woes
Phuket’s Vice Governor acknowledged there is an escalating drug crisis on the island, with surging narcotics use and a growing number of dealer arrests. The revelation was made during the Phuket Provincial Narcotics Prevention and Suppression Center Committee meeting at the Provincial Hall. The meeting was attended by Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander, Police Colonel Kitipong Klaikaew, Thongchai Somkiatkul from…
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Roof ruckus: Thai roofing contractor shot dead by condo owner over wrong roof design
A Thai condominium owner shot dead a roofing contractor because he didn’t like the design of the roof he constructed in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. Bang Sao Thong Police Station officers rushed to the scene of the shooting at a pool hall on Soi Thai Prakan 2/1 in Bang Sao Thong district, Samut Prakarn province. Officers found one man…
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Former Thai PM Thaksin’s parole could be as early as February
Former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to be granted parole as early as the latter part of February next year, following a reduction of his original eight-year prison term to a single year. This update was provided by a high-ranking official from the Department of Corrections. The 74 year old former prime minister made his way back to Thailand…
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Police officer fatally shot by colleague at Thai ops base
A terrifying incident unfolded when a police officer from a special operations unit was brutally gunned down by a fellow officer at their operations base in Rangae district, Narathiwat, southern Thailand. The victim was on guard duty when his colleague unleashed a hail of bullets from an M16 rifle, instantly killing him. National Police Chief Police General Damrongsak Kittiprapas promptly…
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Thai woman sexually harassed on public bus by masturbating pervert in Nakhon Nayok
A Thai woman shared a video of a pervert masturbating and sexually harassing her on a public bus travelling from Bangkok to Nakhon Nayok province to denounce the deviant and warn others. The victim, 23 year old Boat, shared a video of being sexually harassed on the public bus on Facebook on Monday, September 18. In the video, the man…
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Phuket’s taxi turf war: App-hailing shakes up local cooperatives
The rise in popularity of taxi apps and cheaper fares threatens the long-standing dominance of local taxi cooperatives at key tourist locations in Phuket. Officials convened with representatives of these groups yesterday to address the emerging issues. The discussion took place at the Phuket Provincial Ombudsman’s Office and was led by Phuket Vice Governor Anupap Rodkhwan Yodrambam. One contentious issue…
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Solar sparks fly: SPCG revs up to electrify Eastern Economic Corridor
After nearly two years of delay, SPCG, a leading solar farm developer in Thailand, is set to start construction of solar farms within the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). SPCG anticipates generating a combined power capacity of 500 megawatts. The delay was due to the need to identify suitable areas for the project and awaiting the license approval from the new…
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Lucky gecko’s double tail: The house’s ticket to lottery fortune in Thailand
Residents of a house believe a distinctive two-tailed gecko they spotted clinging to a wall in Phayao province, Thailand is a lucky lottery omen. The homeowner, holding a belief in the superstition that geckos are harbingers of good luck, decided to take a chance with the lottery by using the house number. These particular geckos, remarkably plump and measuring approximately…
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13 year old girl hides truth about giving birth to baby after being raped
A 13 year old Thai girl lied to her family and the police after giving birth because she was ashamed of being raped. Fearing that her family would not accept the truth, the girl lied that she found a newborn baby abandoned in a market in the Pathum Thani province, near Bangkok. The young girl told her teacher on September…
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Shaky start: Chiang Rai rumbles with four earthquakes, but no harm done
Chiang Rai, a northern province in Thailand, experienced four minor earthquakes this morning, the most powerful registering a magnitude of 3.6. According to the Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department, no damage or casualties have been reported. The initial tremor, with a magnitude of 3.6, was detected at 12.45am under tambon Dong Mada in the Mae Lao district.…
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Former FFP MP, Pannika Wanich, banned for life for disrespecting Thai monarchy
The Supreme Court issued an official notice, permanently banning former Future Forward Party (FFP) MP Pannika “Chor” Wanich from participating in elections and holding political positions for life, following her display of disrespect towards the monarchy. This action stems from a 2019 Facebook post by Chor, which prompted the secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution,…
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Weixin Pay rolls out red carpet for tourists in Thailand with new payment perks
Tencent’s Weixin Pay, commonly known as WeChat Pay, a Chinese payment service provider, has introduced innovative features aimed at simplifying payments for foreign tourists in China and cross-border transactions in Thailand. These features allow visitors to conveniently make payments by scanning QR codes, streamlining the payment process. Starting in July, Tencent has been collaborating closely with major global credit card…
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Lottery luck runs out for bag-grabbing Thai employee
A private Thai company employee was arrested by Nakhon Sawan police for theft after CCTV footage showed him picking up an unattended bag left at a hospital. The bag, belonging to a local cattle trader contained 105,000 baht and 20 government lottery tickets. Instead of returning the bag, he used the money for personal indulgences, including buying drugs, a motorbike,…
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Thailand biz shields up: Low cyberattacks, high cybersecurity worries in ASEAN
In the past year, Thai corporations experienced the lowest number of disruptive cyberattacks among ASEAN nations, with only 22% reporting an increase in incidents by 50% or more, according to a recent survey by global cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks. However, cybersecurity remains a significant concern for Thai businesses as they grapple with increasingly complex threats. The survey, which examined…
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1 killed and 1 injured in sign collapse at petrol station in Chon Buri
Tragedy struck in Sri Racha district, Chon Buri province, after thunder and lightning struck an enormous advertising sign at a PTT petrol station, causing it to collapse and kill a pickup driver. Officers at Sri Racha police station were notified of the sign collapse at around 4.30pm yesterday, September 20. Upon arrival, officers discovered that the advertising sign lay over…
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Thai economy to be driven by private consumption, tourism in 2023
Stimulating private consumption is a reasonable strategy for the government to maintain economic growth amidst global uncertainties, according to Tim Leelahaphan, an economist at Standard Chartered Bank Thailand. The first half of 2023 saw a 7% year-on-year increase in the country’s private consumption. Expectations are high for private consumption and tourism to be the main drivers of economic growth in…
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Thai woman issues warning after naked woman breaks into her house in Krabi to watch TV (video)
A Thai woman issued a warning to residents of Ao Luek district in the southern province of Krabi after a naked woman broke into her house to watch television. The homeowner, a 47 year old woman named Romla Saiwaree, shared a video of the naked woman with Channel 7 yesterday. In the video, Romla and another man are seen entering…
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Thai Smile Bus electrifies its fleet with a shocking 1,083 EVs
Thai Smile Bus, a leading public transportation company utilising clean energy, plans to introduce an additional 1,083 electric buses (EV) to its fleet by next year, according to the company’s CEO, Kulapatsorn Wongmajarabhin. This initiative is part of the company’s ongoing commitment over the past two years to develop environmentally friendly public transportation and reduce PM2.5 dust pollution in urban…
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Intense rainfall warning for 49 Thai provinces: Bangkok to face severe impact
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning for intense rainfall, impacting 49 provinces, with 70% of these regions likely to be severely affected. Bangkok is anticipated to bear the full brunt of the storms. Residents are cautioned against potential dangers, including flash floods and rapid forest water flow. This forecast is valid from 6am today until 6am tomorrow. Eastern…
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Foreign income tax proposal raises eyebrows among retail investors
A call has been issued to the government to reconsider the proposed foreign income tax, which could significantly impact retail investors with overseas investments, according to Jitta Wealth Asset Management. Trawut Luangsomboon, Jitta’s chief executive, voiced his concerns about the Revenue Department’s plan to include assessed income from abroad in the personal income tax calculations. He pointed out that the…
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BlackRock eyes Thai clean energy and sustainability bonds for investment
Global asset management giant, BlackRock Inc, with a staggering total of US$9.43 trillion worth of assets under its belt, has set its sights on expanding its business horizons in Thailand. The company is particularly interested in investing in the Thai government’s Sustainability Linked Bonds and the country’s clean energy sector, according to a statement by government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke. The…
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Thai influencer Bew detained in South Korea sparking immigration scrutiny debate
Popular influencer and Bondi Jelly CEO, Waraphon Piyathansomsin, known as Bew, has been detained overnight in South Korea’s immigration detention centre, drawing extensive online attention. Bew, who has over 700,000 followers, was travelling to South Korea for vacation and wedding dress fitting with her fiancé, who was allowed to pass through immigration. However, Bew was held back, leading to an…
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Debt debate: Thailand’s teachers face scrutiny over financial discipline
The financial discipline of Thailand’s teachers has come under scrutiny, with calls for strict regulations to curb inappropriate debt. Narin Chamanadou, Director of Kanchanaphisek School and President of the Association of Secondary School Administrators in Thailand revealed that the country’s teachers collectively owe over 1.4 trillion baht. The majority of this debt, approximately 64%, is owed to the Teacher’s Savings…
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Fatal slip at Indian restaurant prompts safety warning after 18 year old worker’s death
A tragic accident unfolded at a restaurant in Madhya Pradesh, India where an 18 year old employee tragically lost his life when he slipped and suffered a fatal head injury while rearranging tables after the restaurant had closed. This shocking incident occurred on September 9. The heartbreaking incident unfolded in the presence of the chef and several other staff members…
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Government Savings Bank unveils 100,000 baht loan scheme for struggling self-employed workers in Thailand
The Government Savings Bank (GSB) is launching a loan scheme targeting small-scale self-employed individuals, such as taxi drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers, riders, and online sellers. The bank is offering loans of up to 100,000 baht, repayable over eight years, to support these workers who have been adversely affected by the rising cost of living, resulting in reduced income and financial…
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Sadistic Thai father confesses to killing five children in chilling case
Police officers further questioned the sadistic Thai father who brutally murdered his two year old daughter and confessed to the abuse and killing of four more of his five children from another marriage. Officers from Bang Khen Police Station disclosed disturbing details surrounding the tragic demise of two year old Natekwansuda “Model” Songsaeng to the media. The police confirmed that…
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Thai dating coach scores own goal after using famous German footballer photos to swindle clients
Several Thai women accused a Thai dating coach of using pictures of renowned German footballers to swindle money from them. The accused, Coach P’Lek, admitted using the pictures of former German footballers Michael Ballack and Philipp Lahm but denied deceiving the victims, saying it was just her marketing strategy. The victims’ representative, 43 year old Or, came forward to share…
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Four Thailand hotels make a ‘suite’ entrance in world’s 50 best awards
Four celebrated Thai hotels proved life is “suite” at the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels grand awards ceremony held at London’s Guildhall. The prestigious event, held yesterday, September 19, marked the first-ever global gathering of the hotel industry, celebrating the crème de la crème of hospitality experiences worldwide. Drawing from a diverse array of hotels spanning 35 destinations across six…
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