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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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Monk-led scam network dupes victims of 2 million baht posing as tax officials
A man part of a scam network passing off as a tax official was today apprehended by cyber police forces at a renowned temple in Kamphaeng Phet province. The 46 year old suspect allegedly defrauded victims of over 2 million baht (US$57,414) through a deceptive application. Major General Worawut Watnakornbancha, head of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) apprehended the…
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Phuket forest reserve dwellers demand removal of RTN fence
In a recent event in Phuket, over 100 residents who have illegally occupied land within the Bang Khanun protected national forest handed over their formal request for the removal of a barbed-wire fence that the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has installed. The appeal yesterday was addressed to Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew and received by Vice Governor Anupap Rodkwan Yodrambam at…
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Tick-tock shock: Thai Customs admits time’s up for fake luxury watches in auction
In a startling revelation, the Thai Customs Department acknowledged they sold fake luxury watches in one of their auctions. Consequently, the authorities took swift action by cancelling the auction and promising to refund the money to all affected buyers. Three victims approached the media seeking assistance after they discovered they had unknowingly acquired counterfeit designer brand watches from the Thai…
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Tragic tail: Family finds elderly woman’s dead body and 30 starving dogs in northern Thailand
Family members yesterday discovered the dead body of a 70-year-old woman in a house in the northern province of Lampang, northern Thailand. The woman had passed away at least three days prior to her discovery, leaving behind 30 starving dogs. Growing increasingly concerned after receiving no response to their phone calls for several days, the family decided to travel from…
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Thai hill tribe locals rope in ‘human counterweights’ for trucks on steep roads
Social media users have been left puzzled and amused by a unique sight on the roads of Phu Tab Berk, Phetchabun. They observed a woman perched on the bonnet of a pickup truck fully loaded with vegetables as it navigated steep slopes. The reports emerged on today through a TikTok user, who posted a video of the rather unusual scene.…
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PTT Plc amplifies renewable energy drive with hydrogen fuel advancement
National energy titan PTT Plc is bolstering initiatives to harness additional renewable power sources and progress its hydrogen fuel enterprise, as part of a strategy for sustainable company growth. Cherdchai Boonchoochauy, Senior Executive Vice President for Innovation and New Ventures, specified that PTT’s existing blueprint is to create 12 gigawatts of renewable electricity and restrict power generated from non-renewable fuels…
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Thai Court holds PM and NEB accountable for escalating Chiang Mai pollution
The Administrative Court yesterday decreed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the National Environmental Board (NEB) were guilty of neglecting their duties in addressing the escalating toxic air pollution in the province of Chiang Mai. This denunciation originated from a case initiated by a local man named Wasuchart Pichai. Wasuchart argued that he has been adversely impacted by the haze…
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Security guard’s drowning sparks supernatural theories in Udon Thani
In a series of mystifying events yesterday, a 61 year old sewage treatment plant (STP) security guard disappeared in a public swamp in Nong Boo village located in Udon Thani province. He had been picking lotus pods following his shift completion. His 58 year old wife had to sadly watch him disappear into the water. After a frantic search spanning…
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Bangkok woman and two dogs found dead in burnt-out car after losing her house keys
A disturbing incident has left a community in shock as a 55 year old woman and her two dogs perished beside her burning vehicle at her own home. The woman, known to be reclusive, had reportedly been living in her parked car for several days because she misplaced the keys to her home. Pol. Cap. Thanaphum Rimfai of Bang Khen…
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Thailand braces for 150,000 dengue fever cases
Health authorities in Thailand issued a warning about a potentially significant outbreak of dengue fever in the country. Predicted figures from the Department of Disease Control (DDC) suggest that up to 150,000 instances of infection may occur by year-end. Opas Karnkawinpong, the permanent secretary for public health, yesterday confirmed that this year has already seen a significant rise in dengue cases,…
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Missing German businessman’s chopped remains found in Pattaya rental property freezer
In a shocking new development, the remains of missing German businessman Hans Peter Mack were discovered in a rented property early this morning at around 12.30am. The property is located within the Chokchai Garden Home 1 Village in Pattaya. The discovery of the 62 year old was confirmed this morning by Bang Lamung officials. The mystery trail leading to Mack’s whereabouts found…
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DES ministry set to combat cybercrime with new AI registry
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) in Thailand is gearing up to introduce the Central Fraud Registry, a technological solution designed to combat scams and tackle illegal transactions. This innovation stems from the National Interbank Transaction Management and Exchange, a collaboration between the Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA) and the Bank of Thailand. As stated by notable DES figures,…
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Expect heavy rain in 42 provinces including Bangkok
The Thai Department of Meteorology alerted residents in 42 provinces to expect heavy rain, including the capital, Bangkok, with 70% of the southern region particularly affected. Citizens are cautioned to take necessary precautions to avoid potential hazards. This 24-hour forecast, valid from 6 am today to 6am tomorrow, is due to a southwest monsoon prevailing across the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and…
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Thai rice exports poised to hit 9 million tonnes amid climate anxieties
Thailand stands on the cusp of a hugely promising year in terms of rice exportation, which, forecasts suggest, could reach up to 9 million tonnes. Making the most of a climate-induced market fervour, the Thai industry gleefully anticipates shipping masses of what is an integral commodity to many. The increase in demand is believed to be rooted in anxieties about…
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Thai elephant Sak Surin’s recovery promising despite tumour diagnosis
The health of a 30 year old male Thai elephant appears promising despite a recent diagnosis of five separate tumours. The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre based in Lampang noted Sak Surin’s surprisingly resilient recovery. After spending 22 years on non-native grounds in Sri Lanka, Sak Surin was returned home and admitted to the Centre’s Elephant Hospital for care on July 2.…
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Bangkok launches initiative to improve homeless facilities
Striving to enhance the overall aesthetics of Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is preparing to consolidate facilities for the homeless residing in the area. This move follows a recent report from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, which conveys a significant improvement in the homeless situation, predicting a drop in numbers from 1,600 to about 1,400…
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Ex-wife crashes wedding demanding overdue child maintenance
In an unusual twist to a wedding ceremony yesterday, a woman accompanied by a young child crashed her ex-husband’s nuptials. The woman had no intention of creating a scene but merely sought acknowledgement from her former spouse for co-parenting responsibilities. The incident took place in the town of Bang Phu in Anhui province, China. The wedding arranged on a grand scale…
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Thai landlord’s electricity bill skyrockets as Chinese tenants remodel property
In a shocking occurrence, a Thai landlord experienced an unexpected surge in electricity bills after his property was rented by a group of Chinese occupants. His rented-out townhouse, featuring three air conditioning units running non-stop with windows firmly shut to prevent daylight from entering, eventually led to a drastic transformation of the rental property. It all started when Vorravit Kaveewat,…
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Harsh rubdown: Girlfriend of alleged victim speaks out on transwoman’s inappropriate touches
The girlfriend of the Thai man allegedly sexually harassed by a transwoman said the masseuse was warned twice for her inappropriate behaviour towards her boyfriend before he took action at a massage parlour in Chiang Mai. The accused transwoman insisted on her innocence and complained that the man physically attacked her without a reason. The Thai man’s girlfriend offered a…
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Naked Bangkok man sparks outrage for masturbating on condo balcony
A naked Bangkok man masturbating on his condominium balcony in the Pracha Uthit area has drawn heavy outrage calling out his inappropriate behaviour. The scandalous incident reportedly occurred this morning between 7am and 7.30am. A Facebook post by a user who managed to capture the man masturbating on video (too explicit to post in this article) sparked further attention. The…
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2 underage girls rescued after their mother forced them into prostitution
Non-profit organisation the Saimai Survive with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security successfully swooped and rescued two girls aged 11 and 16 after their mother forced them into prostitution to feed her expensive drugs habit. The woman’s 19 year old daughter, A, reached out to Saimai Survive for assistance. The teenager reported that her two younger sisters had…
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40 years of opulence: Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers celebrates with prizes worth 2 million baht
Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers is thrilled to announce its 40th-anniversary celebrations. As part of the Ruby Jubilee campaign, the hotel is giving guests a chance to walk away with prizes totalling 2 million baht. From 1st July to 30th August 2023, every expenditure of THB 10,000 at the hotel will entitle patrons to one lucky draw ticket. Embark…
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Turkish boy discovers 11 maggots after troubling eye irritation
In a recent shocking discovery in Turkey, a 10 year old boy was found to have no less than 11 live maggots residing under his left eyelid. The disturbing incident occurred after the boy made known his irritation and itching in his eye, Newsweek reported. The incident began with the boy’s parents seeking medical advice on July 5, after their…
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Chiang Mai massage parlour filing defamation over ‘distorted’ molestation claim
An escalating spat over alleged sexual molestation at a massage parlour in Chiang Mai‘s Wualai district has taken a new twist. The accused masseuse, along with the owner of the establishment, retaliated, filing a police complaint against the young male client and the creator of the Facebook post that spurred the initial allegation. They claim the online account was a…
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Abandoned motorcycle causes collision: Netizens berate owner and high-beam driver
A late-night drive turned into a shocking spectacle for one Vietnamese motorist when an abandoned motorcycle was found mid-lane, resulting in a collision with alarming force. The owner of the motorcycle, who left it in such a precarious position due to a brief blunder of dropping a possession, came under severe online criticism for his thoughtlessness, as did another driver…
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Steamed and seized: Bangkok sauna raid busts suspected sex and trafficking ring
Police raided a sauna and fitness spa in the Thon Buri district of Bangkok and apprehended 36 people suspected of engaging in illegal sexual activities and human trafficking. It was later concluded no money for sex passed hands and there was no evidence of human trafficking. Officers from the Children and Women Protection Sub-Division raided Phoenix Sauna on the Ratchada-Tha Phra…
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Motorcycle merchant falls victim to scam, waits 3 years for 600,000 baht refund
Accompanied by an attorney, a Thai woman set out to report an incidence of fraud. The victim, ‘A’ alleged that the culprit, known as Tae Teppabud Linliamthong, had duped her into buying a high-performance motorcycle and held back on the delivery of the bike since 2020. At around 10.30am today, attorney Ronnarong Kaewphet and A visited the Royal Thai Police…
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2 killed and 1 injured in horrific lorry-pickup collision in Pathum Thani
A distressing traffic accident resulting in two fatalities, significantly damaged vehicles, and an injured local vendor, occurred on a road in Pathum Thani province. The incident prompted swift action from law enforcement and medical personnel who quickly arrived at the scene. The road tragedy unfolded this morning on the Thanyaburi-Wang Noi road, within the Klong Seven district of Pathum Thani.…
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Phuket man arrested for gunshots in rubbish dispute, drunk driving
Late last night in Phuket, a 45 year old man was apprehended by police after he fired a rifle into the air near his neighbours due to a dispute over noise and waste disposal. He was also charged with drunk driving. According to Thalang Police Deputy Chief Pol. Lt. Col. Patiwat Yodkwan, officers were alerted of the incident at 10.18pm.…
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New York’s flash flood emergency sees 1 fatality
A state of emergency has been declared in several areas of New York following torrential rains, according to the US National Weather Service (NWS). Areas particularly affected include Orange, Putnam, and Rockland counties. The public is advised to avoid dangerous zones. The severe storms brought over 300 millimetres of rain, causing widespread damage. The NWS has issued an emergency flood…
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