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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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DSI probes 20 firms over suspected collusion in Thai state construction bids
A probe by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has led to questioning representatives from 20 firms involved in bidding for state construction projects. These projects were eventually won by businesses owned by Praween Chanklai, also known as Nok. The investigation focuses on the construction of two sections of Highway 375, the first linking Don Toom and Lam Luk Bua in…
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Chiang Mai tourism recovery slower than expected despite visa-free policy
Despite the gradual revival of tourism, a significant number of rooms in Chiang Mai‘s hotels and the international airport remain unoccupied, with the return of travellers seemingly slower than anticipated post-pandemic. Adding to the concerns is the anticipated PM2.5 dust during the peak season. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin undertook an inspection of the airport in light of…
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Brake failure leads to crane lorry crash into Nakhon Sawan shops
A terrifying escape from death unfolded in Nakhon Sawan province when a crane lorry’s brakes failed, causing the vehicle to veer off, hitting a roadside shop, and causing severe damage. The incident, which took place yesterday, reportedly resulted in a noodle shop owner being scalded by boiling water. The driver insisted that he hadn’t consumed alcohol prior to the incident.…
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Thai government plans further electricity tariff cut to 3.99 baht per unit
The Thai Energy Ministry has laid out plans to further reduce electricity tariffs by an additional 11 satang per unit, announced government spokesperson Chai Watcharong yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga disclosed the plan during the meeting, stating that the current rate of 4.10 baht per unit is set to drop to 3.99 baht. Just last month,…
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Thailand reviews taxes and launches digital wallet to tackle income disparity
The Finance Ministry of Thailand is set to review the new land and building tax and the inheritance tax and launch the digital wallet following an order from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The move aims to mitigate income disparity in the nation. PM Srettha, who also holds the Finance Minister post, gave the directive subsequent to the appointment of a new…
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Ancient ice cream tempts tourists to Thai heritage park Si Thep
A unique idea of ancient ice cream moulded from artefacts found in the historic Si Thep Park has attracted a swarm of tourists. The Si Thep (SI THEP Towards World Heritage) Facebook page yesterday posted images of the ice cream, designed with various patterns matching those in the ancient site in Si Thep, Phetchabun. “Ancient ice cream of the ancient…
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Thai PM’s ‘spice of life’ plan: Srettha Thavisin to boost Thai-Indian tourism in Modi meet
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced his impending visit to India, scheduled for later this year, with an agenda to discuss boosting Indian tourism in Thailand with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders aim to resolve ongoing issues with visa application procedures and achieve approval for a visa-free policy for Indian tourists. Srettha told the media yesterday that he…
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12-year quest ends in car collision: Parents find missing son on road to fate
In an extraordinary twist of fate, a 15 year old boy who had been missing for 12 years from his family was fortuitously found by his parents after a minor car collision in the city of Foshan, Guangdong Province, China. The boy, who had been living as a beggar, was instantly recognised by his parents, who were driving the vehicle…
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Food delivery rider’s spooky encounter sparks social media stir in Thailand
A food delivery rider’s eerie experience at a customer’s location sparked a heated debate on Thai social media. The encounter, shared by a Facebook user named Suwat Radomboon, unfolded in the early hours of today when he arrived at a customer’s pin drop location, only to find a seemingly abandoned, dark building. Suwat, a food delivery rider, was left puzzled…
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Chiang Mai Airport’s 24 hours upgrade takes off to meet ‘soaring’ Chinese demand
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) is preparing to take flight as Chiang Mai International Airport gears up for 24/7 operations starting November 1, all in response to the soaring demand from Chinese visitors. The Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson, Chai Watcharong, said today that the PM and Finance Minister, Srrettha Thavisin, wants to extend Chiang Mai Airport’s operating hours, from the…
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Krungsri Bank anticipates Thai baht fluctuation amid global market developments
The Global Markets team at Krungsri Bank predicts a movement in the Thai baht this week within the range of 35.40 to 36.00 baht per US dollar. Last week, the baht closed weaker at 35.79 baht per US dollar after trading in the range of 35.43 to 35.82 baht per US dollar. The dollar strengthened against the euro but held…
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Homecoming horror: TikTok user returns to burglar-stripped abode
A shocking discovery was made by a TikTok user after a year away from home – his house had been burgled and stripped bare. Upon his return, the user, known as @thishol, found his house burgled and in a state of disarray, stripped bare by burglars. The entire place was littered with debris, with every item that had any potential…
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Party probe: AMLO speeds up investigation into fatal Nok housewarming bash
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) is fast-tracking an investigation into police officers who attended the housewarming party of village headman Praween Chanklai, also known as Nok, which led to the death of two police officers. The victims of the fatal shooting were Police Major Siwakorn Saibua, a 32 year old highway police inspector who ultimately succumbed to multiple bullet injuries, and…
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Rubber to riches: Thai farmer’s organic vegtable transformation yields green profits
A 58 year old entrepreneurial farmer in Trang has transformed his four-acre rubber plantation into a thriving organic vegetable garden. Previously, he was earning only 100 baht for 3 kilograms of rubber. Now, his organic vegetable farming generates an income of over 50,000 baht per month from his new endeavour. The farmer, San Chanchia, residing at House No. 17, Village…
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Bangkok vendor pays tribute to revered monk after selling land for 2 million baht
A Bangkok-based vendor sold her land for over 2 million baht and used the money to pay tribute to a revered monk at a well-known temple in Nakhon Pathom. The event occurred today, at the central temple of Bang Phra in Nakhon Chai Si district, Nakhon Pathom province. The vendor, 55 year old Sunan, was previously burdened by a large…
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Thai women’s pursuit of love leads to legal battle against Facebook dating service scam
Seven Thai women seeking rich, high-profile foreign husbands reached out to a renowned Thai lawyer, Deacha Kittiwittayanan, after falling victim to a dating service scam on Facebook. A 43 year old woman named Or is representing the victims. Or revealed that she is a single mother who had to take care of her child and her mother. She earns 55,000…
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Khon Kaen concert altercation ends in fatal shooting incident, suspect claims self-defence
Khon Kaen police charged a man following a fatal shooting incident that occurred after a concert. The suspect, Anucha Sidaput, also known as 22 year old Kung, defended his actions, claiming self-defence against a group he feared posed a threat to him. The incident took place today. According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Rungsak Jongklarat, Director of Weluwan Police Station in…
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Life coach Sean Buranahiran’s wildfire of legal troubles: Self-help guru in hot seat
In a recent turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the self-help community, renowned life coach Sean Buranahiran finds himself embroiled in a legal quagmire. He is facing serious allegations of duping the public and misappropriating funds intended for wildfire relief efforts. The prosecutor’s office in Nonthaburi formally issued summonses, calling upon the victims to provide their testimonies on…
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Tesla turmoil: Chinese owner’s Model Y faces four-month meltdown
A Tesla Model Y owned by a Chinese woman faced multiple mishaps within just four months of purchase, culminating in a wall collapse that completely wrecked the car. The unfortunate series of events began shortly after the car was bought on May 7, as reported by Mirror Media. In a string of unfortunate events, Xiaowei Xi’s newly acquired Tesla car…
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Snot on: Chinese woman’s nose-picking habit blossoms from sinusitis into fungus fiasco
A woman from Sichuan Province, China, who had been suffering from sinusitis for seven years due to her habit of picking her nose, was shocked to discover she had more than 10 pieces of fungus growing in her sinuses. The situation, which may seem like a typical health risk, took an unexpected turn, highlighting the dangers of a seemingly harmless…
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Swift death of 13 year old Thai schoolgirl after PE exam highlights urgency of medical attention
A sudden tragedy unfolded when a 13 year old Thai schoolgirl mysteriously died shortly after a physical education (PE) examination at school. The Thai girl’s heartbroken mother shared the shocking sequence of events on a social media group for parents, emphasizing the swiftness of the unfortunate incident. On June 22, the young Thai girl had a normal day at school,…
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79 year old Thai man arrested for kidnapping mentally disabled girl
Police arrested a 79 year old Thai man on charges of kidnapping an 11 year old mentally disabled girl from Chaiyaphum, a province in Isaan, and transporting her to the northern province of Tak. The suspect is said to have a high sexual appetite and a history of physical abuse against others. Mirror Foundation Director Ekkarak Lumchumkae received a complaint…
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Chinese netizens debate over risqué gifts to employee ignites discourse on workplace ethics
A photograph of a young woman receiving risqué gifts from her superiors sparked a heated debate among Chinese netizens. The woman posted the images on Weibo, sharing her tale of receiving presents from those she referred to as Deputy Director Gao, Boss Jing and other superiors. The controversy escalated due to the nature of the gifts, which were suggestive items…
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Thai economy faces scrutiny amid recession fears and slow pandemic recovery
The Thai economy is in the spotlight as concerns over a looming recession persist due to the nation’s weak export outlook and slow recovery from the pandemic. Last week, the government faced heavy criticism from opposition parties and business leaders during a Thai economy policy debate, with the latter expressing concerns over the lack of detail in the 43-page policy…
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Unexpected generosity: Penny-pinching Vietnamese mother-in-law treats grandchildren to caviar
A young Vietnamese woman recently misjudged her mother-in-law‘s penny-pinching habits, only to be stunned by the unexpected generosity shown towards her grandchildren by treating them to some caviar. The woman, baffled by the sight of her children enjoying what she mistook for bitter gourd seeds, discovered they were actually eating caviar, one of the world’s most luxurious foods. The woman…
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Broken taxi meter mended: Thai good samaritan’s TikKok gesture goes viral
A kindhearted Thai woman shared a video on TikTok of the moment she helped a struggling taxi driver. She paid the driver an extra 2,350 baht to replace his broken meter. The video was posted on the TikTok account, @worldmj on Tuesday, September 12. The video caption read… “Travelling for several kilometres, but the meter does not count it. What…
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Nakhon Ratchasima villagers protest against monastery for ignoring ancient site encroachment order
Villagers from Luang Ta Kien and Ta Kien Thong, Huai Thalaeng district, Nakhon Ratchasima, staged a protest today against an unidentified monastery that has encroached on an ancient site. Despite an order by the Department of Fine Arts nearly a year ago to dismantle the structure, no action has been taken. The villagers, who have filed multiple cases against the…
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Undercover scandal: Child prostitution and curfew violations uncovered in northern province
The Department of Provincial Administration last night uncovered underage drinking, curfew violations and child prostitution at two entertainment venues in the northern province of Phayao. As a consequence of this discovery, five officers from Meuang Phayao Police Station have been transferred. Acting on a tip-off from the anti-trafficking Immanuel Foundation, authorities from the Department of Provincial Administration, Phayao Provincial Office…
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Thai business department investigates 439 firms for potential nomination violations
In a move to suppress the ‘grey’ market in the fiscal year 2023, the Business Development Department (BDD) investigated 439 companies, suspecting them of acting as nominees for foreign corporations. Interestingly, legal entities potentially involved in nominee activities were discovered in Chiang Mai and Chon Buri provinces. The BDD Deputy Director-General, Jitakorn Wongkhatekorn, revealed that the agency inspected three targeted…
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Thai gold prices hold steady: 33,000 baht for ornaments and 32,500 baht for bars
The Gold Traders Association announced that Thai gold prices remain steady today, compared to yesterday’s final prices. The association revealed that the selling price of gold ornaments stands at 33,000 baht per baht weight. This information was obtained from the Gold Traders Association’s website at 9.22am today. The domestic buying price for gold bars is set at 32,400 baht per…
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