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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 hotels see surge in bookings as government agencies rush to spend budget
Thai hotels are seeing a bookings surge as government agencies rush to exhaust their fiscal 2023 budget ahead of the September cut-off. This comes following a period of stagnation in the booking of meetings due to the country’s political uncertainty. Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, the Thai Hotels Association (THA) president, reported a 10-20% increase in both government and private sector meetings…
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Ex-Pattaya mayor faces arrest over decade-old condo scandal
The former Pattaya mayor and culture minister faces an arrest warrant after failing to appear for his arraignment over charges from a decade-old condo development scandal in Pattaya. Itthiphol Kunplome’s current location remains undisclosed. Neither his house nor his political faction’s office in the Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri saw any sign of him yesterday. The properties were markedly…
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Pang Cha apologises for copyright infringement over logo design
Pang Cha, a popular Thai tea brand, has publicly apologized for allegedly infringing on copyrighted material used as inspiration for their logo. The controversy began when Peeramon Chomdhavat, an expert in traditional Thai clothing, compared the logo of Pang Cha to an image of a Thai woman on a Regency calendar on his Facebook page, questioning the originality of the…
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Bangkok warehouse fire causes chaos in the Vibhavadi area
A four-storey warehouse, adjacent to a luxury car showroom in Vibhavadi area was engulfed in a rapid fire yesterday. The incident, which led to minor injuries for two fire-fighters, reportedly started with sounds of explosions before the fire spread quickly. The warehouse, located in Soi Vibhavadi 22 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Jompol, Chatuchak District, Bangkok, stores various types of goods, including electric…
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Chinese woman dupes 16 companies simultaneously, amasses 240 million baht
A Chinese woman managed to hold positions in 16 different companies simultaneously, deceiving her employers for three years before detection. This elaborate scam allowed her to amass considerable wealth, enough to purchase a luxurious house in Shanghai in cash. Guan Yue, the Chinese woman in question, was aided by her husband Chen Qiang, who is knowledgeable in legal matters and regulations.…
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Fuel tank trouble: Mysterious skyfall damages three cars in Turkey
A puzzling incident occurred in Turkey, when a large fuel tank mysteriously fell from the sky, damaging three parked cars. Initial reports suspect that the tank originated from a military aircraft. The alarming incident took place in Turkey on Monday, September 4, when a fuel tank seemingly broke away from an aircraft in flight and landed in a parking area…
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Fire fury: Inferno engulfs townhouse, burns 2 million baht hole
A townhouse fire erupted in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi, causing damage estimated at over 2 million baht. The inferno broke out at 8am today and quickly spread to two adjacent properties. Ten water trucks were deployed to control the blaze, preventing further spread to neighbouring houses. The fire originated in a two-storey townhouse, rapidly engulfing the lower floor before spreading…
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Royally ripped off: Victims seek justice against police officer’s wife impersonating banker
Thommanant Taengtim, known as Ja Kings Saphan Mai, today led a group of more than 10 victims to the Central Investigation Bureau to file a complaint against the wife of a high-ranking police officer from Phahonyothin Police Station, who pretended to be a bank officer. The wife, named Noi, allegedly promised to help them get loans and even allocate lottery…
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Love con job: Thai romance scammer busted for netting 2.6 million baht
The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) arrested a Thai man operating a romance scam using a fake social media profile of a woman to dupe nearly 2.6 million baht from a victim. The arrest was made following a complaint filed by a victim last year. The victim revealed that the scammer used the profile of an attractive woman to approach…
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Delta flight forced to turn back due to biohazard diarrhoea incident
A Delta flight originating from Atlanta and bound for Barcelona faced an unexpected turn of events as it was forced to return to its departure airport due to what the pilot described as a “biohazard issue” caused by a passenger who suffered from diarrhoea on board. The incident unfolded on Friday evening, approximately two hours into the flight. In an…
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Thai shippers’ council forecasts export decline amid sluggish global demand
The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) predicts a 1% decline in exports for the current year, down from their previous estimate of a contraction between 0.5% and a 1% increase. This revision is due to ongoing sluggish global demand. TNSC Chairman Chaichan Chareonsuk stated that Thailand’s export sector is expected to decline by -1% or more this year due to…
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Brighton College Bangkok presents an exciting October Camp experience
Brighton College Bangkok is excited to announce its upcoming October Camp, which will take place from October 16 to October 20. The camp will offer a variety of engaging activities for children aged 4 to 16 years old. The camp is not exclusive to Brighton College Bangkok pupils. Children from other schools are also welcome to join in the fun…
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Thai women trafficked into Indian brothel seek legal action
Two Thai women were escorted to a police station after being deceived by a fellow Thai into working in India where they were trafficked to a brothel. The victims are seeking assistance from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, to pursue legal action against the exploiter. Kan Jompalang brought the two Thai women to complain about being…
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Principled leadership: MFP chief Pita stresses substance over style for new Thai Cabinet
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party, shared his views on the newly formed Thai Cabinet, asserting that his judgment of individuals will be based on principles rather than appearances. He extended his well wishes to the new Cabinet, expressing hope that they would successfully fulfil the promises made during the election campaign. Pita noted that during the…
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Thai sticky rice steamers turned sun hats by tourists spark online laughter
We’ve all been there – when the summer weather just gets so hot that you’ll use whatever means necessary to cool down and get out of the sun. Using cardboard as a fan, standing in front of the coolers at 7-Eleven, dunking your head in the fountain in the park, anything to beat the heat. Two foreigners went viral yesterday on…
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Singer files complaint against man for unwanted kiss at Pattaya bar
A Thai singer recently filed a formal complaint against a man who reportedly sexually harassed her at an entertainment venue in Pattaya. The victim, Toey, shared a video of the incident from a security camera on Facebook to seek justice and expose the unacceptable behaviour of the alleged perpetrator. The singer revealed in the caption… “I did not slap him…
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Cash con-tractor: Bangkok engineer arrested for alleged extortion
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested a senior engineer at Lat Krabang District Office in Bangkok on a corruption accusation. The official was reportedly accused of extorting 50,000 baht from a construction contractor. The Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) received a complaint about corruption from a construction contractor. According to the complainant, the senior engineer in question,…
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Man shoots brother with homemade gun over household dispute, faces murder charge
A 35 year old man has been taken into custody, accused of fatally shooting his older sibling in a household dispute. He was apprehended for using a homemade Thai gun to shoot his 41 year old brother, resulting in his death in their home in Huay Chiang, Kan Chong, Wat Bot, Phitsanulok province that night. After the incident, he hid the gun…
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Russian the stakes: Phuket locals furious over illegal job grabs and shady businesses
Residents and business owners in Phuket are furious over the increasing number of Russians who have settled on the island, taking jobs, operating businesses illegally, and introducing prostitution exclusively for Eurasians. The surge in Russian arrivals, estimated at around 400,000 between January and July of this year, has stirred resentment among the Thai community, leading to calls for action against…
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Thailand’s EGCO anticipates major returns from US clean energy investment
Electricity Generating (EGCO), a subsidiary of the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, anticipates significant revenue from its investment in Apex Clean Energy Holdings LLC. The company’s president, Thepparat Theppitak, expressed optimism about the potential benefits generated by Apex in the coming years, especially since the United States, where Apex runs its projects, is one of the world’s largest markets…
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Online loan scam drags young Thai woman into 2.6 million baht debt
A 26 year old vendor found herself entangled in an online loan scam after losing her job and seeking funds for investment. Bee, from Nakhon Phanom’s Pla Pak district, expressed her ordeal through media outlets, warning society about the risks of falling prey to online loan scams. She initially borrowed 30,000 baht via an online application but was left with…
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Former Pattaya mayor faces arrest, 10 years in jail for illegal building permit
An arrest warrant was issued yesterday for Itthipol Khunpluem, a former Culture Minister and ex-mayor of Pattaya, by the Corruption and Misconduct Case Court (Region 2) in Rayong. Itthipol is accused of misconduct related to granting a building permit to a company on September 10, 2008, for the Waterfront project near the hill of the royal palace in Pattaya, Chon…
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Pedophile abbot accused of comitting indecent, sadistic acts against young girl
A 70 year old abbot of a temple in the Isaan province of Udon Thani fled the place of worship after being accused of committing indecent, sadistic acts against an 11 year old girl. The young victim’s mother revealed to Channel 3 that her daughter had met the alleged pedophile abbot through his granddaughter. The victim’s friends told her that…
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Oil spill disrupts Sri Racha coast, Thai Oil Company responds swiftly
The waters off Sri Racha coast in Chon Buri were tainted by an oil spill on Sunday night, September 3. The Thai Oil Public Company Limited’s refinery, located in the Sri Racha district, reported the leakage during an oil discharge from a tanker at the Single Buoy Mooring Buoy (SBM-2). Approximately 45,000 litres of crude oil seeped into the sea,…
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Witness the sun rise through Phanom Rung Temple’s gates this September for good fortune
The natural phenomenon of the sun rising directly through the 15 gates of Phanom Rung Temple in Buriram will be viewable for the second time this year between September 8 to 10. The event, which is believed to bring good fortune, occurs four times a year. The invitation to witness this spectacle is extended to both Thais and foreigners by…
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Bridge of sorrow: Fatal collision claims life in Bangkok
A fatal collision involving a car and a motorbike occurred on the Phra Ruang Bridge on Sukhaphiban 5 Road, Sai Mai, Bangkok, in the early hours of this morning. The accident resulted in one fatality and another person severely injured. Upon arrival at the scene, officers from Kannayao Police Station found a severely damaged Toyota Vios with a registration number of…
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1200 baht flea market porcelain bowl fetches 25 million baht at Sotheby’s auction
A man’s US$35 (1240 baht) flea market find turned out to be a treasure worth a staggering 20,600 times more. A small porcelain bowl signifying Chinese art purchased for a modest price in New Haven, Connecticut in 2020 was recently auctioned off by Sotheby’s, fetching an exponentially higher value. As per Sotheby’s, the man, whose identity remains undisclosed, acquired the…
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Pouring woe: Thailand braces for heavy rain and rising tides
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today issued a heavy to very heavy rain warning for most parts of Thailand. The announcement identified areas likely to be affected by sudden floods and flash floods. The southern region faces high sea waves, and citizens are urged to stay vigilant. The weather front, identified as a trough of low pressure, is moving north…
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K9 heroes: Police dogs rescue missing toddler in Chiang Mai
Two K9 dogs successfully located and rescued a two year old boy who had gone missing from his distraught family’s residence in the northern province of Chiang Mai. The family of the child, named Copter, sought help from the Mae Fak Polie Station yesterday, September 5, at 1.30pm, after he disappeared from the family house. The house is located on…
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Villa vandal: American tourist in Bangkok faces arrest
An American found himself under arrest in Bangkok following allegations of damaging a rental villa in Karon, Mueang Phuket. This information came to light on Monday, September 4, when the Royal Thai Immigration Bureau relayed the information to TPN media. The case against the 41 year old American named John began when the owner of the damaged villa lodged a report…
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