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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 New in July: Save 10% for life on family health plans in Thailand
Cigna has a special offer this July for families in Thailand. When you sign up three or more people on a family health plan, you will save 10% on your premiums for life. This deal helps you get affordable, high-quality...
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Thai CSD captures kidnapping gang demanding 600,000 baht ransom in major sweep
In a major operation yesterday, led by the Crime Suppression Division’s (CSD) special weapons and tactics unit, four suspected gang members involved in kidnap cases were taken into custody across southern and northeastern Thailand. Beginning at 6am, a significant deployment of 80 members from the Hanuman taskforce initiated raids on eight distinct locations. These included three in Yala, four in…
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Monk-inspired amulets fly off the shelves as locals hope for lottery success
Over 2,500 followers and fortune-seekers yesterday thronged Phatthanathammaram temple, also known as Ban Dan Chong Jom temple, in Gab Cheing district, Surin, to get their hands on monk-inspired commemorative amulets. These amulets were being distributed to raise funds for the construction of the largest statue ever made in the likeness of Luang Poo Heng, a famous monk who is deeply…
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From lotto bliss to gambler’s abyss: Heartbroken winner’s TikTok confessions go viral
A former lottery winner poured out her heart in a rather daunting video on TikTok after she lost it all to gambling. Once the lucky recipient of a colossal 12 million baht lottery windfall, she then blew it all in a ruinous cyclone of online gambling. Her fortunes fluctuated so severely that she not only lost her cash, she consequently…
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Severe weather alert: Heavy rainfall predicted across Thailand due to monsoon impact
In the forecast for the next 24 hours, weather conditions across Thailand are expected to turn severe with heavy rains predicted in the northern, and northeastern regions, and a significant 60% of Bangkok areas facing heavy downpours. These conditions are following the impact of a monsoon trough passing over the northern region and upper Laos, which is leading into a…
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Korat City’s cherished paramedic ‘Doctor Toon’ bids a tearful adieu
A pall of grief swept across Korat city as it mourns the tragic death of its leading paramedic, known locally as “Doctor Toon.” The tragedy left the 38 year old emergency medical personnel’s life abruptly cut short following a shocking road accident. Police in Korat City in Nakhon Ratchasima province yesterday received a distress call at 12.10am about an accident…
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Three former rangers arrested in high-profile 500,000 baht Thai kidnapping incident
Today witnessed a significant operation by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD)’s special weapons and tactics unit, resulting in the arrest of three suspected culprits of a kidnapping gang. Spanning two regions in southern Thailand and one in the northeast, the operation began at 6am, with the CSD’s Hanuman unit targeting eight specific locations. Three of these target sites were identified…
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Shower shock: Taiwanese woman’s viral exposé unveils boyfriend’s steamy secrets
A Taiwanese woman’s revelation that her boyfriend peed and masturbated in the shower while they were bathing together has gone viral in the online community. She took to social media to announce that her boyfriend inappropriately relieved himself while they showered leading to intense debate about personal boundaries within relationships. The issue was brought to light by a woman who…
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Foreign motorcyclist struck by hit-and-run baht bus driver in Pattaya
A bizarre incident unfolded in the early hours of this morning as a foreign motorcyclist was struck by a vehicle, believed to be a baht bus, which subsequently fled from the incident scene. The collision occurred at 3.30am, in the vicinity of Hard Rock Hotel. Emergency healthcare workers from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation were alerted and quickly reached the scene,…
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Thailand No.1 in ASEAN according to UN’s 2023 Sustainable Development ranking
Thailand‘s recent economic, social, and green development has been reflected in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Report for 2023. In a statement relayed by Trisulee Trisoranakul, the Deputy Government spokesperson, it is reported that Thailand’s Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense, Prayut Chan-o-cha, is pleased. Thailand has now improved its standing to the 43rd position among 166 countries from…
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Two Thais arrested for defrauding Bangkok monk of 500,000 baht in online scam
Thai cyber police yesterday apprehended two key members of a fraudulent call centre operation which orchestrated an elaborate financial scam, defrauding a monk out of almost half a million baht. Named Thitiwatch, aged 38, and 52 year old Ekapetch were arrested in Phaya Thai and Pleonchit districts of Bangkok under arrest warrants 407,408/2023 from Samut Prakan provincial court. The investigation…
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Selfie with unconscious victim sparks outrage across social media
In a chilling incident, a female tourist sparked outrage when she took a smiling selfie with an unconscious person in China. The incident which occurred at Chunshenjian, a public park at Xihuyuan in Uxie City, Jiangsu province, China, sparked widespread criticism online as the woman blatantly disrespected the person’s distressing situation. The woman was casually walking through the park when she…
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Bangkok freezes fire drills after fatal school mishap, calls for rigorous reform
The Governor of Bangkok, Chadchart Sittipunt, appealed for extensive reform of disaster prevention and mitigation systems in the wake of a lethal explosion that occurred during a fire drill at a local school. Fire evacuation exercises throughout the city will remain suspended while safety checks on fire-fighting apparatus are carried out. This update in policy comes in the aftermath of…
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Police arrest woman over Japanese job recruitment scam
Udon Thani law enforcement agencies arrested a woman believed to have duped people into seeking work in Japan in a crackdown on fraudulent recruitment agencies. Identified as Sukanya Buasri, alias Ruen, she was apprehended amidst a flurry of complaints concerning her activities. Homing in on alleged unscrupulousness, Bang Dung and Thungfon police jointly detained Buasri. She was subsequently transported to…
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Fatal tragedy strikes as young biker crashes into tree near national research office
A fatal accident occurred in the early hours of this morning, with a young man crashing his motorbike into a tree near the National Research Office. The victim, 25 year old Kamphol, was said to be en route to meet a friend in the Bang Khen area for an outing at Khao San Road. At approximately 3am today, police officer…
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Chinese tour group apologised after causing harm to Thai marine life
The serene waters of Ao La on Koh Racha Yai, situated south of Phuket, were recently embroiled in controversy when tourists from a Chinese tour company, Jinyang Holiday Group, engaged in activities harmful to marine life and environment. They posed for photos with seemingly innocent starfish in hand and ventured onto delicate coral reefs, drawing the ire of local marine…
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Kasikornbank branches out into Vietnam aiming at top 20 by 2027
Breaking new ground in its expansion strategy, Kasikorn Business-Technology Group (KBTG), a subsidiary of Thailand’s Kasikornbank, has laid the foundation stone for KBTG Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City. With an aim to serve the surging regional digital expansion of its parent conglomerate and to attain a spot amongst the top 20 banks in Vietnam by 2027, this development is…
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Phuket authorities clamp down on illegal taxi practices, impose hefty fines
Over the past five months, the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) has conducted an operation targeting individuals involved in illegal taxi practices. Their recent crackdown at Phuket International Airport resulted in the apprehension of two additional drivers. Led by Kornpitak Assuwan, head of the academic group at PLTO, also referred to as the policy division, officers initiated another phase of…
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Illegal Cape Shark Villas shut down on Koh Tao Island”
A villa constructed without permission in Cape Shark Villas has been instructed to cease operations by local authorities on Koh Tao Island. An investigation is underway to check if other villas within the resort have conformed to obligatory construction permits. The villa under investigation is strategically perched on a rocky ledge, providing direct access to the clear waters of the…
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RTN investigates alleged corruption in 440 million baht armoured vehicle deal
A thorough investigation has been initiated by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) after a social media page reported some alleged discrepancies in a recent purchase of armoured vehicles totalling over 440 million baht (US$12,480,000). The public announcement about the investigation came yesterday when Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin, the RTN spokesman, stated that the navy commander, Choengchai Chomchoengpaet, had ordered a probe…
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Healing the rumor mill: Bangkok hospital denies ‘rejuvenating DNA’ trials with a dose of truth
King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, alongside Chulalongkorn University (CU), yesterday refuted allegations of conducting “rejuvenating DNA” trials on human subjects following a claim by someone to have undergone such treatment at their facilities. In a joint statement, both institutions clarified that the pioneering rejuvenating DNA, developed by CU’s Faculty of Medicine specialist team under the RED-GEMs (REjuvenating DNA by GEnomic Stability…
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Shattered dreams: Disabled man in Bangkok takes his own life
A dismal image of life pressures came to light recently when a disabled man, feeling the weight of his predicament, tragically ended his life. The man, once a car mechanic able to fend for his wife, sadly viewed himself as a burden on her. Found beneath their rented house, his death underscores the stark realities of life pressures and hardship…
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Daughter’s divorce celebration with cake and fireworks in China
In an unusual event that sparked widespread interest, a family in China held a divorce celebration for their daughter with fireworks and a cake cutting, signalling a departure from traditional norms surrounding marriage breakdowns. The changing attitudes of the modern era have lessened the stigma attached to divorce, making it now less of a daunting prospect than in the past.…
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Triumph over adversity: Teenage Thai girl peddles to provide for family
A 15 year old Thai girl found herself as the breadwinner of a family of three following a family accident. The girl, her grandmother, and her 8 year old sister, who is suffering from anaemia, are now living in a makeshift home on some temple premises, where the structure is on the verge of collapsing and the family is obliged…
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Teenage intern injured in mysterious fall from six-storey building leaves questions unanswered
A 19 year old intern yesterday was found injured in a car park, having mysteriously fallen from a six-storey building. The young man was undressed and bore injuries across his body. Rescuers from the Thamma Ratsamee Maneerat Foundation and a medical team from Chon Buri Hospital found the teenager lying on the bonnet of a damaged Toyota Yaris. His fall…
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TikTok user documents drunk monk disrupting bus journey
Engaging content emerged on TikTok yesterday capturing a drunk monk disrupting a bus. The TikTok user, @nawapornice, said the monk’s behaviour was inconveniencing other passengers, he stunk of alcohol and displayed a persistent argumentative attitude towards the bus staff. The captured footage highlighted the monk seated near the exit, disrupting the bus staff with loud arguments due to his being seated in…
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Facebook group leader arrested for counterfeit amulet scam in southern Thailand
An influential figure within the Facebook group พระใต้ สายตรง was recently apprehended for fraudulent activities involving the sale of counterfeit amulets in southern Thailand. Despite his defence, stating his lack of knowledge about the authenticity of these objects as they were procured from third parties, the charges still stand. The 53 year old suspect, Pharadon Wongwaiwit, claims he is incapable of…
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Blade of betrayal: Estranged husband’s chilling knife attack rattles kanchanaburi
An estranged husband yesterday turned into a knife-wielding psychopath in an attempt to murder his wife in Kanchanaburi, West Thailand. The 44 year old assailant, Sukrit Jaifuey, remains at large following the chilling assault on his estranged wife, known as ‘A,’ which occurred at her place of work. The shocking scene took place within the bustling bus station where A…
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Trans-forming blackmail: Thai transwoman’s explicit image scam lands her behind bars
Officers from Investigation Division Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMB) arrested a Thai transwoman who lured men into sharing explicit images of their penis and blackmailed them for money. According to the IDMB, the arrest was made on the back of another transwoman’s arrest in the central province of Nakhon Pathom in 2021. The initial case involved Piyachat, who enticed men through provocative…
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Love’s fatal crossfire: Jealousy ignites tragic showdown in eastern Thailand
A tragic incident gripped the community of Prajantakam, Prachinburi, in eastern Thailand after an ex-husband confronted his former wife and her new partner. His jealousy led to a violent encounter and ended in a fatal shooting. Witnesses yesterday recalled a heated spat in a rented room along Vorodom Road behind Wat Sri Prajantakam temple. The situation escalated, resulting in gunshots that…
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Wave of disapproval: Krabi residents make waves as foreign men scale tsunami tower in unruly act
Residents in the southern province of Krabi condemned two foreign men for their unruly behaviour after they put their lives in danger to climb a 16-metre tsunami warning tower on Ao Nang Beach. Witnesses speculated that the duo was under the influence of alcohol. A 25 year old Thai woman shared a video of the two foreigners with the Thai news…
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