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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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Thai health officials warn of high sodium consumption risk among youth, offer food advice
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (THPF) raised concerns about the high sodium consumption among Thais, especially young people who are at an increased risk of kidney disease. Assistant Manager, Dr Pairoj Saonuam, recommends four healthful food choices to reduce the risk. It has been found that most vegetarian food is sweet, fatty, and high in salt. The World Health Organization…
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Get lucky with TikTok-shared Chinese calendar numbers for upcoming lottery draw (video)
Lottery enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the draw today, with many turning to the Chinese calendar for good luck numbers. A TikTok user, nid8857, recently shared five numbers from the Chinese calendar, encouraging lottery fans to consider them when buying tickets. However, the final decision rests with the individual’s discretion. The Chinese calendar numbers have been a source of interest in…
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Phuket police crackdown on crime boosts safety for visa-free tourists
In a span of seven days, Phuket police apprehended 64 individuals in an effort to bolster the safety measures for tourists from China and Kazakhstan who are visiting under a visa-free arrangement. The Phuket Provincial Police’s campaign is primarily aimed at curbing crime rates, particularly drug-related offences, to uphold Phuket’s reputation as a safe tourist destination. According to a report…
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Entertainment venues: Bangkok governor paints the town ‘green’ with 4am nightlife nod
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittupunt has given green light approval to entertainment venues to extend their closing time to 4am, provided they implement appropriate safety measures and take into consideration the welfare of nearby residents and young people. He also insisted that clear and transparent operations are better than secretly operating past the legal hours. During a recent executive meeting at…
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Diarrhoea could be heart attack warning, doctors in Thailand discover
A sudden case of acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, presented in a 50 year old businessman with persistent diarrhoea, shocked the medical community. The individual, who had been suffering from diarrhoea for three consecutive days without seeing any improvement after medication, was diagnosed with the condition after a hospital visit for emergency treatment. Dr Xie Tunren,…
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FTI urges new regulatory body to curb cheap Chinese imports
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) urged the Industry Ministry to establish a novel regulatory body to supervise product standards. The move is intended to curb the influx of inexpensive Chinese imports, which the FTI claims are flooding the Thai market. The FTI did not clarify whether the proposed regulatory body would be governed by the state or the business…
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Phuket car detailing centre manager’s suspected suicide under investigation
Phuket police are currently probing the apparent suicide of a 43 year old man who managed a car detailing centre in Phuket Town. Supachai Panya’s lifeless body was discovered on Saturday night at around 8.10pm on Viraponghongyok Road, north of the Nimit Circle, also known as the Seahorse Circle, on the east side of Phuket Town. Upon receiving the distress…
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Thailand land tax act assessment: Fiscal policy office’s evaluation
The Thailand 2019 Land and Building Tax Act (LBTA) is receiving a thorough evaluation for its effectiveness and potential issues in enforcement, according to the Fiscal Policy Office director-general, Pornchai Thiraveja. The investigation is a collaboration between the Finance and Interior ministries and is aimed at understanding the effectiveness of the new land tax collection system, identifying any issues and…
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Fishy mix-up: Thai woman finds ‘salmon surprise’ in her salad, sparks online sensation
A woman was shocked to discover a four-legged creature, initially mistaken for fermented fish, in her ordered salmon salad. The incident shared on a Facebook group focused on consumers has since sparked widespread online concern. The woman purchased a salmon salad with a separate serving of fermented fish sauce. On pouring out the sauce, she found a creature that, at…
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Scrutinising October lottery trends: Top numbers and peculiar predictions unveiled
The lottery trends for today’s highly anticipated draw are under scrutiny as the top numbers and news highlights have been circulating. TikTok user nid8857, from Pattum Royal Technical Solar Salt, shared a video on their account revealing five lucky numbers from the Chinese calendar: 951, 4536, 3943, 942, 015. In other lottery news, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Settha Thavisin,…
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Thai worker abducted in Hamas raid on Israeli avocado farm
A Hmong woman from Chiang Rai made a desperate plea to the authorities, seeking assistance in the search for her husband who was taken captive during a Hamas raid in Israel. The 28 year old woman, Suntree Saelee, lost all communication with her 26 year old husband, Kong Saelao, amidst the chaos and violence which kicked off on October 7.…
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Thailand’s ‘fuelish’ plan: Expanding subsidy scheme to drive down costs for motorcycle taxi drivers
The Government of Thailand is envisaging the introduction of a further stage in the fuel cost subsidy scheme for motorcycle taxi drivers. This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce operational expenses in public transportation. Prasert Sinsukprasert, the permanent secretary for energy, stated yesterday that a proposal for the new instalment of the energy cost subsidy initiative has…
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Ubon Ratchathani residents face health risks as stagnant floodwaters turn toxic
The residents of Ubon Ratchathani continue to struggle with rising water levels as the Ubonrat and Lampao dams contribute to the increasing floodwaters in northeast Thailand. They are grappling with stagnant water that has begun to spoil, leading to requests for medication to treat water-borne diseases and fever, intensifying the impact of Ubon Ratchathani flooding. Banjong Wongvien, a resident of…
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Thai casualties rise in Israel-Hamas conflict: Urgent repatriation underway
The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has resulted in the death of four additional Thai nationals, escalating the total number of Thai fatalities to 28. Furthermore, 16 individuals are injured, and 17 are reportedly held captive, as declared by the prime minister. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin shared these details following the Rapid Response Centre (RRC) meeting at the Foreign Ministry. The rapidly…
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Clean getaway foiled: Man ‘purifies’ methamphetamine pills smuggling attempt into Thailand
Customs officials in Nong Khai apprehended a man who was smuggling nearly 60,000 methamphetamine pills into Thailand, cleverly hidden inside an air purifier. The suspect claimed to be unaware of the illicit contents, stating he was merely hired to transport the goods from Laos to Udon Thani province in Thailand. The arrest took place at the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge…
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Thai democracy forum echoes concerns over capitalism in politics
The struggle for democracy in Thailand remains a long and arduous one, as highlighted by a recent public forum. Held in memory of the brave students and pro-democracy protesters who perished during the military dictatorship five decades ago, the forum emphasised how little progress has been achieved since the historic October 14, 1973 uprising. The commemorative event, organised by the…
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Traveloka reports surge in Thailand travel bookings amid slow aviation recovery
Travel bookings to Thailand have seen a significant surge, according to online travel agent Traveloka. The company’s president, Caesar Indra, highlighted that despite the slow recovery of the aviation sector, Thais have predominantly utilised their platform for air ticket bookings, veering towards less frequented destinations. This trend has been mirrored across numerous Asian markets. Indra reported a fivefold increase in…
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Thai weather forecast predicts heavy rain and thunderstorms
A high-pressure system is presently sweeping across northern and eastern Thailand, resulting in rainfall across the country. Weather warnings have been issued for 38 provinces, with Bangkok experiencing a 30% drop in rainfall. Unpredictable winds and sea waves higher than 2 metres were reported today. The Thai weather forecast predicts that a monsoon trough is approaching the eastern and upper…
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Thailand’s digital economy ministry sparks ‘byte’-sized revolution for national growth
Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry, led by Prasert Chantararuangthong, is turning to digital technology in a bid to propel the nation’s development. As outlined in an interview with the Bangkok Post, Prasert revealed the DES Ministry has a policy to position digital technology as the fifth driver of the country’s growth. “I underlined ‘the Growth Engine of Thailand’…
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Late-night accident results in tragic death of elderly couple in Ratchaburi
A tragic accident claimed the lives of an elderly couple when a pickup truck collided with their sidecar motorcycle in Ratchaburi. The incident occurred today, around 2am, on Petchkasem Road, Ang Thong subdistrict in Ratchaburi province. The couple, who were returning home from a local market where they had been selling vegetables, collided with a black Isuzu pickup truck. The…
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Israeli-Hamas conflict sparks fears of disruptions in global oil prices
Price fluctuations in global crude oil have surged by 4% following the Israeli-Hamas conflict. This escalation in oil prices has sparked fears, especially among oil companies, as Montri Rawanchaikul, the Chief Executive of PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP), voiced worries that the conflict may lead to disruptions in petroleum production in the Middle East. Auttapol Rerkpiboon, CEO of PTT…
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Terrorism threat: Thai embassies in France and Morocco warn citizens
The potential threat of terrorism linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict has prompted Thai embassies in France and Morocco to issue stark warnings to Thai citizens residing or travelling in these regions. They have been instructed to steer clear of densely populated public areas and unnecessary excursions to tourist zones, which are perceived as susceptible to such attacks. The Royal Thai…
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Murder-suicide suspected as couple found dead in Thai rental home
A chilling murder-suicide discovery was made in the Phana district of Amnat Charoen when a foreign couple, found dead in their rented house, sparked a police investigation. The 47 year old Swiss man and 40 year old Moldovan woman were identified by Police Colonel Chotnarin Sathupawarat, the superintendent of Phana station. Found in their shared bedroom on Saturday, both individuals…
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Thai flooding: Chao Phraya overflows, floods 200 homes in Ayutthaya
Bang Ban district in Ayutthaya suffered an overflow from the Chao Phraya River, resulting in the Thai flooding of approximately 200 residences, plantations, and rice fields yesterday. The district chief of tambon Bang Luang, Montri Samathi, contradicted previous claims by the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) that the river’s water level would not cause flooding in Bang Ban this year. Montri…
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Cement truck ignores warning and crashes into canal after wooden bridge collapse
A cement truck plunged into a canal after its driver ignored warnings and drove onto a wooden bridge, causing it to collapse. The 55 year old driver, from Amnat Charoen, revealed that he thought the bridge was supported by concrete pillars, and thus decided to cross it. The incident occurred at 12.30pm today. The 10-wheel truck, registered in Samut Prakan,…
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Giant turtle brings luck to actor Champ Yasothon with promise of lottery win
Today, extraordinary events were reported by Nattawiroj Suwannaraj, known as Champ Yasothon, a 55 year old actor from Bang Fai Film, a well-known comedy production house. A female golden turtle was reported to have entered his house, seen as a sign of significant-good fortune. This series of events links back to a previous incident when a golden turtle was spotted at…
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Thai citizens repatriation from Israel accelerates after death toll rises to 28
The death toll of Thai citizens from the incidents in Israel has risen to 28, prompting an acceleration in the repatriation of Thai citizens. The process is set to speed up, and more people will be able to be repatriated. At 11am today, at the SC Park Hotel on Praditmanutham Road, Labour Minister Piphath Ratchakitprakarn explained, after welcoming a group…
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Flash flood destroys bridge in Phayao, disrupting districts and leaving locals missing
Last night’s severe rainfall in Phayao province resulted in a flash flood that destroyed a bridge, disrupting connectivity between the districts of Chiang Muan and Dok Khamtai. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, swept away two vehicles and left several individuals missing. Authorities are currently mobilising efforts to locate the missing persons from the Nong…
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Mythical Naga statue in Chon Buri temple draws crowds after lucky shadow sighting (video)
An intriguing video clip sparked a flood of visitors seeking good fortune from a statue of the mythical serpent Naga, affectionately known as Por Pu Naga, at the Woraprot Sangkawat temple in Bang Nang, Panthong, Chon Buri. The clip, shared on Facebook by a user named Rong, showed what appeared to be the shadowy outline of Naga within a simulated…
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The EU and ASEAN marked the start of Green Diplomacy Weeks 2023 through a fun run, walk, and cycling event in Jakarta
Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to ASEAN, H.E. Sujiro Seam, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community H.E. Ekkaphab Phanthavong and the Ambassador/Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN, H.E. Hjayceelyn Mancenido Quintana, officially launched the start of the EU-ASEAN Green Diplomacy Weeks 2023 today in Jakarta, Indonesia. Over 300 people, representing officials from ASEAN,…
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