News
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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Teen dies after playground incident at West Lothian school
A 14-year-old student has died following an incident between two pupils at St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, West Lothian. Emergency services were called to the school on Tuesday afternoon, and the teenager was taken to the hospital but passed away shortly after. Detectives convened with education authorities on Wednesday morning to discuss the tragic event, while fellow students receive emotional…
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Harry alleges phone hacking in Mirror lawsuit, claims injustice if denied
In the High Court, Prince Harry has addressed questions about a prank voicemail left by his brother William, a visit to a strip club, and his break-up with Chelsy Davy, during his second day of giving evidence. He was also asked if he would be “disappointed” should the court not find in his favour and decide details about his private…
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Chinese employee sacked for excessive loo breaks causes online debate
A Chinese employee was dismissed from his job due to spending up to six hours a day in the restroom, leading to a widely discussed court case. Despite citing chronic health issues as the reason for his frequent bathroom visits, a Chinese court ruled the dismissal as valid and the employee was not reinstated. The case dates back to 2015…
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Thai investor confidence sinks as government formation uncertainty looms
Investor confidence in the nation’s stock market has dropped to an eight-month low due to uncertainty over the formation of a new government, according to the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations (Fetco). The overall investor confidence index has dipped to 77.70 from 110.09 in May, entering the “bearish zone” for the first time in eight months. Foreign investor confidence…
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Frustrated man welds car park entrance after dispute with stubborn driver
A Chinese man, frustrated by a stranger repeatedly parking in his rented parking space, resorted to welding an iron barrier around the vehicle, demanding an apology before allowing it to be moved. The incident took place in Chaosheng in China’s Chaozhou province when the man, known as “Zasu”, found his space obstructed. Despite numerous requests to relocate the car, the…
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Thai tourism campaign targets secondary cities for foreign visitors boost
Thailand‘s Tourism Authority (TAT) has revealed a significant increase in international travellers visiting the country in the first five months of 2023, with a total of 10,568,485 visitors. In collaboration with Central Pattana Plc., TAT aims to promote local and alternative tourism destinations, targeting a shift in the proportion of travellers from major to secondary cities. During the first five…
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Woman boards Hong Kong Uber in towel, changes while driver watches
A video of a female passenger in a Hong Kong Uber car has gone viral, sparking debate on whether the incident is staged. The woman, seen initially wearing only a towel, changes her clothes in the car and seemingly irritates the driver, resulting in several exchanges of words. The clip’s duration is approximately five minutes and 52 seconds, showing the…
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Thai mother suspected in mysterious canal death of 2 month old son
Police suspect a Thai woman is responsible for the murder of her two month old son after the baby mysteriously drowned in a canal. The dead body was found floating in a canal nearby the family’s house. During the initial investigation, officers also uncovered traces of blood on the baby’s bed, adding to the complexity of the case. Yesterday at…
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Phuket bar raided for illegal operation, underage drinking and restricted hours
A crackdown on illegal entertainment venues in Phuket Town continued as a bar was raided by authorities in the early hours of yesterday. Muang Phuket District Chief Pairote Srilamoon led a team of officers from the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) in the raid on the ‘At Five’ bar at 1.30am. They were joined by Danai Jaikaeng, Deputy District Chief from…
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India’s new parliament map angers neighbours, Bangladesh demands explanation
Tensions have risen among South Asian nations, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, after the unveiling of a map in India’s new parliament building. The Akhand Bharat, or Undivided India, map includes parts of Afghanistan, as well as the entirety of Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. Bangladesh’s foreign ministry has sought clarification from New Delhi on the matter. Shahriar…
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Canadian politicians’ China witch-hunt threatens democracy more than Beijing
In recent months, Canada’s capital has been gripped by a manufactured scandal involving alleged Chinese interference, leading to a wave of hysteria that has paralysed the city. The situation has been exacerbated by sensationalist reporting and hyperbolic politicians, who have claimed that Chinese agents are covertly undermining Canada’s democratic institutions. Amidst this panic, some have turned to Canada’s law-abiding spy…
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Sunak to discuss Biden’s green investment and subsidy concerns in US visit
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak anticipates discussing President Joe Biden’s flagship green investment package during his visit to the United States. En route to Washington DC, Sunak remarked that “subsidy races” are not the solution to achieving climate goals. Some UK ministers have criticised Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which includes US$370bn (£297bn) for green technology advancement in the US, as…
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Pope Francis to undergo abdominal surgery at Rome hospital
Pope Francis is set to undergo abdominal surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday afternoon. The Vatican stated that the 86-year-old pontiff will remain in the hospital for several days to recover from the hernia operation. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni noted that the hernia has been causing “recurrent, painful and worsening” symptoms for the Pope. “In the early afternoon he…
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Air India flight diverted to Russia due to engine issue, passengers stranded
An Air India flight en route from New Delhi to San Francisco was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Russia’s Far East port town of Magadan due to engine issues. The airline has stated that a reserve plane will be dispatched from Mumbai to transport the affected passengers. The Boeing 777 aircraft, carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew members,…
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Acclaimed painter Francoise Gilot dies at 101, leaving vibrant legacy
Acclaimed painter Francoise Gilot, who was known for her turbulent relationship with Pablo Picasso, has passed away at the age of 101. Her daughter, Aurelia Engel, confirmed that Gilot died in a New York hospital, where she had been residing for many years. Engel praised her mother’s artistic talent, stating, “She was an extremely talented artist, and we will be…
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Drought hits Singburi: Turbo-charged pump aids fish, supports local agriculture
As drought continues in Thailand’s central Singburi province the a temple’s fish pond is experiencing a severe reduction in water levels, causing a shortage of oxygen for the fish. Consequently, the Pak Than Sub-district Administration Organisation (SAO) has urgently installed a turbo-charged pump to transfer water from a nearby canal into the pond, simultaneously supporting the aquatic life and allowing locals…
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Sam Altman dismisses public listing, discusses AI’s future and regulation
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated that the company, backed by Microsoft and known for its ChatGPT technology, has no intentions of going public in the near future. Speaking at a conference in Abu Dhabi, Altman expressed concerns about potential conflicts with investors’ expectations and the need for a unique structure to maintain OpenAI’s capped-profit model. OpenAI has raised US$10…
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Election Commission to recommend vote recounts amid integrity concerns
In a new development on the Thai election, the Election Commission (EC) of Thailand is taking necessary measures to ensure the fairness of the recent general election. The EC plans to recommend vote recounts in certain party list constituencies after finding unused distributed voting cards. Furthermore, the EC is working to resolve over 280 disputes that question the validity of…
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Police Division 8 enhances gun training amid growing criminal confrontations
Thailand’s Police Division 8 enforces gun practice training for officers to effectively control situations involving criminals, as confrontations between police and criminals have seen a spike. The goal is to improve officers’ competence in handling weapons and their preparedness to face real-life scenarios. In recent times, conflicts between investigators and criminals have seen a sharp increase, which has caused concern…
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Alcoholic sets fire to his bedridden wife resulting in her death
In a horrifying incident that has left a community in shock, a Thai man set fire to his bedridden wife, resulting in her tragic demise. The disturbing crime unfolded in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. At 8am today, Banyat and Phatcharapha Ritthanusorn were startled by an argument they overheard. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, they promptly reported it…
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Teen dies in isolated incident at West Lothian’s St Kentigern’s Academy
A tragic event unfolded at St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, West Lothian, when a 14-year-old boy lost his life following an isolated incident on Tuesday afternoon. Police arrived at the scene around 1.20pm, and the young student was rushed to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Police Scotland is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death.…
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MFP leader vows to tackle Bangkok’s traffic, flooding, and air pollution
In a meeting yesterday with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, Move Forward Party (MFP) leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat pledged to address 21 major issues plaguing the capital city. These problems include traffic congestion, flooding, and PM 2.5 air pollution. The meeting was also attended by several MFP MPs-elect for Bangkok and Bangkok councillors, signalling a strong collaboration between…
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School addresses behavioural improvement camp after viral social media post
A reputable school in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province has clarified its position after being accused on the ‘Bad Student’ Facebook page of sending students with low behavioural scores to a military camp for training. The school insisted that close supervision during the program ensured no violence occurred, and the activity aimed to improve students’ discipline. According to the director of Benchamarachuthit…
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Jackpot seekers get a ‘lotto’ think about: Ten-year analysis reveals Thai lottery trends for June 16 draw
Lottery enthusiasts looking for tips for this month’s lottery may want to ponder over a ten-year retrospective analysis of Thai jackpot results for the upcoming June 16 draw, including the most common winning numbers. Looking back at the lottery results for June 16 from the Government Lottery Office in the past ten years, a pattern of frequently occurring numbers has been…
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Motorbike taxi driver helps nab gold thief in Pattaya
In Pattaya, a courageous motorbike taxi driver, known as a Win, assisted in apprehending an 18 year old gold thief yesterday. The young offender claimed that the high cost of living in the city drove him to commit the crime. The incident occurred at 3pm at the Yaowarat Gold Shop on South Pattaya Road, situated in the Nong Prue sub-district…
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Thailand among 13 countries eligible for Canada eTA, bypassing visa requirements
Canada now allows Thai tourists to enter without a visa, provided they have previously had a Canadian visa or hold a valid US visa. The Canadian government announced this change yesterday, extending its Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) programme to 13 countries, including Thailand. The Canadian government has revised its relocation and services programme to ensure greater efficiency and equality for…
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Lottery winner fulfills vow by sucking nipples of giant statue in Rayong
A Thai lottery winner fulfilled a vow he had made with a giant statue in the eastern province of Rayong by sucking its nipples. Residents in the area protested believing the man’s behaviour angered the spirit of the Phisuea Samut statue and five people died as a consequence. A resident in the Mueang district of Rayong province, 64 year old…
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Thailand’s Big Data Institute to shape policies and boost economy
In a bid to harness the power of big data for social and economic progress, the Thai government has announced the creation of the Big Data Institute (BDI). This new public agency will focus on managing the vast amounts of data generated by the public and state agencies, and will be operational within 180 days. The BDI will replace the…
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OpenAI CEO dismisses public listing, discusses AI’s future and regulation
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated that the company, backed by Microsoft and known for its ChatGPT technology, has no intentions of going public in the near future. Speaking at a conference in Abu Dhabi, Altman expressed concerns about potential conflicts with investors’ expectations and the need for a unique structure to maintain OpenAI’s capped-profit model. OpenAI has received US$10…
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Customs Chief orders probe into high-ranking official clearing illegal fuel truck
The Director of Thailand’s Excise Department ordered an urgent investigation into allegations of a high-ranking official calling to clear an illegal fuel transport operation. If found guilty, the official will be suspended or dismissed from service immediately. The operation led by a provincial excise officer resulted in the arrest of a 47 year old man accused of illegally possessing untaxed…
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