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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 Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you
Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...
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Hua Hin Airport upgrade to attract tourists and boost Thai economy
In a move poised to encourage tourism, Hua Hin Airport, operated by the Department of Airports (DoA), is set for a vast upgrade that will escalate it to international status, as confirmed by acting director Rattapol Charoenphon recently. The Hua Hin Airport has already made significant strides towards this goal, extending its runway to reach a length of 2.1 kilometres…
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Food safety fears triggered in China’s Shaanxi region as rat found in noodle bowl
A mystifying episode at a restaurant in the Shaanxi region of China sparked concerns over food safety. A customer shockingly discovered an entire rat carcass nestled in their bowl of noodles, leading to the temporary closure of the establishment for reassessment. Formally reported on August 3, the customer had ordered a large bowl of noodles at a local Shaanxi restaurant, only…
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Transgender identity revelation: Social worker’s love for accident victim unravels a journey of self discovery
A 40 year old man met with an accident, left helpless in a hospital before he was fortunately cared for by a 63 year old woman. Their affection escalated leading to a marriage, only then he discovered she wasn’t a woman, leading to an unexpected transgender identity revelation. The story of 63 year old Kalin, a dedicated social worker frequently…
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Public misconduct: Elderly woman removed from Chinese train for occupying three seats
Drama unfolded on a Chinese train when an elderly woman refused to give up occupying three seats, signifying public misconduct. Despite other passengers’ concerns and the attempts of the train staff, the woman clung to her self-imposed entitlement, ultimately leading to her removal from the train. In the province of Liaoning, China, an elderly woman was found sprawled out, claiming…
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UPDATE: Kayak found as Spanish chef admits disposing body of lover off coast
In an update in the ongoing murder investigation, a kayak, speculated to be used by a Spanish chef to dispose of his former Colombian surgeon lover’s dismembered body parts, was discovered on Saturday off the coast of Koh Pha Ngan, stated the police. The chef, 29 year old Daniel Sancho Bronchalo is the descendant of several prominent Spanish actors, is…
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Thai Mother’s Day long holiday weekend brings TikTok FoodFest to Pattaya
If it feels like Thai banks and government services are closing all the time, the upcoming long holiday weekend will feel like deja vu following almost directly on the heels of the just-concluded super-long holiday weekend. Thai Mother’s Day, coinciding with the 91st birthday of the Queen Mother, will be highly celebrated on August 12, saturating the city in hues…
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Manchester United, Buriram United top football favourites in Thai pre-season survey
As the fervent anticipation for the 2023-24 football season begins to resonate amongst fans in Thailand, a recent survey divulges that Manchester United from the English Premier League, and Buriram United from Thai League 1, are the crowd favourites. This comes from a research study conducted by the renowned National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). The study, which ran between…
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Oil slicks threatens Phuket beaches, authorities seek culprits
In the Thalang district of Phuket island, the beautiful scenery was marred by the unexpected appearance of oil slicks and tar balls along four beaches. These are being carefully removed from the coastline of the Sirinat National Park by a mix of residents and authorities. The cleanup started on Friday after an alert was raised by the Layan Beach station…
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Spanish chef brutally murders Colombian partner in Thai island horror
On the island of Koh Pha Ngan, located in the southern province of Surat Thani, a horrifying crime unwrapped as a Spanish chef confessed to the brutal murder and dismemberment of his Colombian partner. The crime was alleged to have taken place before the culprit dumped the body fragments in trash bags discovered in a local landfill and into the…
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Car bomb shock in Narathiwat: No casualties as police close district (video)
In Narathiwat, a car bomb detonation led to the temporary closure of a region surrounding the location of a police base situated in Sungai Kolok district. The blast last night fortunately did not result in any injuries or deaths. The incident took place close to Orakan intersection, in proximity to both a rail route and the ad hoc police stronghold…
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Pheu Thai Party confides challenges in forming new Thai coalition government
In an evolving political landscape where the constitution, power structures and group conflicts have become major challenges, the Pheu Thai Party acknowledged that manoeuvring the formation of a new coalition government is far from simple. According to Pheu Thai’s Deputy Leader, Phumtham Wechayachai, the party has to remain committed and steadfast in its approach to lead the nation out of…
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Thai health ministry plans dental hospital in each province to boost care access
In a bid to tackle the absence of adequate oral health facilities, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has unveiled a plan to establish a dental hospital in each of the country’s 77 provinces. Dr Opas Kankawinpong, the ministry’s permanent secretary, underscored the urgent need for increased dental care coverage during a seminar, highlighting that with the current number of dentists,…
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Thaksin Shinawatra delays Thailand return sourcing health check as deciding factor
Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister of Thailand, announced yesterday that he would be delaying his return to his homeland from his current location of self-exile. Shinawatra, whose background lies in telecommunications, took to the popular social media platform Twitter to inform followers of his upcoming health checkup, which resulted in the need for him to reschedule his original plan to…
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Thai fireworks depot owners surrender following fatal explosion investigation
The owners of a recently annihilated fireworks depo in Narathiwat yesterday handed themselves over to the police. This revelation was announced by an on-scene informant who wished to remain unnamed. The owners, Sompong Napol and Piyanuch Puengwirawat, both 42, made their way back into Thai territory through the Sadao checkpoint connecting Thailand and Malaysia. This development came on the heels of…
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Phuket drownings prompt safety measures and Australian aid
Five people lost their lives in drowning incidents in Phuket just over the past week. The unfortunate victims included four international tourists and a Thai national. This troubling streak has provoked local authorities into a state of high alert, with Thai authorities even recruiting help from Australia. The drownings occurred in Phuket between July 28 and today. In the current…
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Oil spill on Phuket beaches met with quick cleanup response
Late yesterday afternoon marked the start of a clean-up operation on the northwest shores of Phuket. Beachgoers were met with harrowing sight of oil and tar balls, accompanied by traces of oil slick that had made their unpleasant appearance on the beaches. The beaches targeted by the operation included locations at Nai Yang, Mai Khao, Nai Thon, and Layan. The…
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Whistleblower calls for inquiry into Ashton Asoke permit scandal
Srisuwan Janya, a prominent whistleblower, recently addressed a letter to the governor of Bangkok, seeking a comprehensive inquiry into the officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) who were entangled in the sanctioning of permits for the troubled Ashton Asoke condominium project. In his detailed communication, he shed light upon the issuance of four permits by the BMA in the…
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CIB arrest Phuket man for online scam they’ve tracked since 2022
Thai police have taken into custody a local man in connection with a number of online scams, the Royal Thai Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) shared in a media update. The arrest took place on Freedom Beach in Phuket, as the CIB disclosed through a post on its official Facebook page. Although the detailed report refrained from stating the family…
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A young boy’s plea to King for rooftop repairs gets heartwarming response
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, a young boy from a destitute family has successfully received aid to restore the dilapidated rooftop of his home after his plea to His Majesty the King was met with a positive response. Nine-year-old, Thirat Thongphet lives in a modest village within Khuntalay, a section of the Lan Saka district. The youngster penned a plea on…
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Pattaya beach businesses blighted by proliferating food cart vendors
In Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach area, numerous businesses are expressing displeasure over what they describe as a monopolisation of the beach area by an excessive number of food cart vendors. The number of street stalls has swollen to over one hundred food carts that set themselves up and heavily populate the roadway. Lamphueng Hamilton, known locally as Lisa, who presides over…
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Former Sansiri president ensnared in tax-minimising controversy
A tax-minimising strategy, alleged by Chuvit Kamolvisit to involve Srettha Thavisin, the former President of Sansiri, a development firm listed on the SET, appears to be a common practice amongst landlords seeking to reduce tax liabilities on land sales. Property DNA’s Managing Director, Surachet Kongcheep, observed that it is typical for landowners to aim to lessen tax payments attached to…
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Chuvit Kamolvisit continues crusade despite liver cancer
Chuvit Kamolvisit has publicly disclosed the severity of his ongoing battle against stage 3 liver cancer. Despite the prognosis, he pledged to utilise his time remaining to illuminate wide-ranging societal quandaries courageously. Chuvit, a former magnate in the massage parlour industry, unveiled his grave health condition ahead of a press conference he hosted on Thursday. The conference was organised to…
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Pattaya retains travelers’ top spot during Mother’s Day holiday
Pattaya‘s status as a hotspot for families is once again confirmed as online booking firm Agoda discloses that the resort city holds its charm for domestic travellers anticipating their extended Mother’s Day holiday. According to data derived from Agoda, Pattaya emanates an irresistible allure to Thai vacationers planning their holiday from August 12th to the 14th in observance of National…
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Bangkok freehold land in Lang Suan invites global investor bids
A prestigious piece of freehold land nestled in Bangkok‘s highly-prized region, Lang Suan, has notably emerged on the bidding block. Managed by Colliers Thailand, the real estate and professional services heavyweight, offers are being invited for a prominent development plot on the distinguished Lang Suan Road in Bangkok. Investors around the world have turned a keen eye towards this proposition,…
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Hit-and-run on Pattaya beach leaves young woman dead
A tragic occurrence marred the night in Pattaya Beach on Thursday, where an unidentified pickup truck caused the untimely demise of a woman lighting up the serene beach-side city. The bustling city was taken aback when the life of 23 years old Songkran Phadunglom was cut short after being caught in a hit-and-run incident that happened in the pure sight…
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Mountain B nightclub fire: anniversary of Thai tragedy remembered
Sattahip, a picturesque coastal town in Thailand, became etched in the mind of the nation on August 5th last year when flames engulfed the lively Mountain B nightclub, metamorphosing the hub of entertainment into a scene of tragedy. The eruption of the inferno, around 1am which swiftly transformed the nightlife hot spot into a furnace, was a catastrophe that remains…
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Prime minister fast-tracks aid for firework warehouse blast victims
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, along with Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, toured the site of a devastating fireworks warehouse explosion in Narathiwat yesterday. The visit aimed to expedite the rehabilitation process for victims and address housing issues caused by the unfortunate incident. Chan-o-cha journeyed to Muno, a village in Sungai Kolok district, to evaluate first-hand the circumstances of those affected by…
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German man rescued after 8-hour ordeal at Pattaya condo
An incident in Pattaya culminated in the successful rescue of a 61 years old German man, after an intense 8 hours operation. It involved the coordinated efforts of the Sawang Boriboon rescue team as well as the local police force on a fateful Thursday morning. The man, whose identity remains anonymous due to privacy reasons, was found on the outer…
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Student abandons newborn after giving birth in petrol station during field trip
A seventh grade student from Narathiwat gave birth in a petrol station toilet during a school outing in the southern province of Pattalung and abandoned her newborn baby girl. Officials were alerted to the case at around 9.30am today. Investigation of CCTV footage from the station led to the student being identified and located. The incident took place at a…
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Debate over treatment of revered monk’s remains in Thai temple
Should a revered monk’s remains be accessible to their disciples, even allowing them to physically touch the relics? Following an unsettling incident at a prominent temple in Nakhon Pathom province, online public debate has sparked regarding the appropriateness. The controversial event happened while followers were changing the cloth covering a mummified monk, who had left his physical form 18 years…
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