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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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Phang Nga Deputy Governor found dead at a hotel in Phuket
The Deputy Governor of Phang Nga province in the southern part of Thailand died at a hotel in Phuket. The cause of his death is believed to be a heart attack. The governor’s chauffeur knocked on his hotel room door at 9.30am yesterday but the 51 year old Deputy Governor, Talengsak Nuchpraharn, did not respond. He thought his employer must…
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Violent altercation tragically claims life of Pathum Thani man
A 34 year old man was tragically killed in a violent altercation in a rented room in Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, central Thailand. The incident, which occurred yesterday, at 8pm, was reported to the police by Wirawat Niyom Thatsap, a Khlong Luang Police Station investigator. The victim’s father, 57 year old Narin, who was heavily inebriated and sporting facial wounds,…
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Boat capsize tragedy: Retail manager and friend drown in northeast Thailand reservoir
A prominent 35 year old retail store manager, along with a friend, tragically drowned after their boat capsized due to a leak in a reservoir in Nakhon Phanom province, northeast Thailand. The boat capsize incident, which occurred yesterday, was reported to the police department by a 29 year old woman, the deceased’s friend, who was present at the scene but…
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American TikToker and teacher arrested for sexually assaulting young Thai girl
Thai police arrested a renowned American TikToker and English language teacher in Bangkok for sexually assaulting a 16 year old Thai girl who is a student of his. A Thai woman complained at Khlongtan Police Station that her 16 year old daughter engaged in a sexual relationship with her American teacher, Luke Nathanael Rockwell, after meeting each other five months…
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Fatal shooting in Chachoengsao leaves one dead
A fatal shooting has taken place in Chachoengsao province, leaving a 43 year old man dead after a heated argument. The incident occurred at 10pm yesterday, in Tha Takiap district. Local authorities identified the deceased as Akkadet, who was shot multiple times and left near a red and black Honda Wave motorcycle. The suspect, Sarayut, also 43, was subsequently apprehended…
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Denture obstruction: Retired teacher narrowly escapes choking
A horrifying situation unfolded for a 67 year old retired teacher who nearly lost his life after his false teeth got lodged in his throat. Following a meal, the retired teacher noticed an unexpected denture obstruction in his throat while swallowing water to take his after-meal medication. Unaware initially that it was his decade-old lower denture that was causing the…
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Thonglor murder: Teen son arrested for suspected hammer killing of French father
A violent incident unfolded in a condominium in Thonglor, as police arrested a 19 year old half-Thai man suspected of killing his French father with a hammer. The Thonglor murder took place in Phra Khanong district yesterday. Deputy Investigation Officer, Sirichai Kaewprasit of Khlong Tan Police Station, acted on the report of the murder in a townhome on Soi Pridi…
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Thailand eyes growth in pink economy by attracting international LGBTQ+ retirees
Thailand’s potential to expand its pink economy through the attraction of international LGBTQ+ retirees was the highlight of a recent conference held in Bangkok. Dr Chaiwat Songsiriphan, who is the founder and medical director of the Safe Clinic, emphasised that Thailand’s high tolerance for gender diversity could make it an ideal retirement destination for the LGBTQ+ community. He further noted that…
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Mysterious dragon artefact spooks Heilongjiang farmers with nocturnal noises
In the autumn of 1965, farmers in Heilongjiang Province, China, stumbled upon a peculiar metal object while constructing a pigsty near their home. The artefact, resembling a dragon, became an enigma when it started emitting strange noises at night, leaving the residents in a state of confusion and fear. The mystery was later unravelled by experts from the Harbin Cultural…
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Secret camera captures landlord’s disturbing acts in Chinese woman’s rented room
A Chinese woman renting a single-occupancy house was shocked to discover her landlord secretly entering her room. She installed a secret camera that captured images of the landlord using her underwear to masturbate. The female tenant, known by the pseudonym Xiao Li, told Zhejiang TV that the landlord had divided the house into eight rental rooms. Xiao Li only installed…
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Panda stone discovery could fetch 490 million baht
A stroll along the beach led Lin, a resident of Shandong, China, to an unusual stone, which turned out to be a remarkable find worth over 490 million baht (£11.2 million). The intriguing panda stone had a peculiar shape and a distinct surface pattern. The resident said… “At first, I thought it was just an ordinary black stone, but on…
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Bangkok Governor Chadchart to attract growth from multinationals
In a bid to stimulate economic growth, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt intends to transform the city into a base for multinational corporations. This initiative, according to Chadchart, should dovetail with the government’s strategies as it would bolster the city’s economy and generate employment opportunities. “Urban centres are essentially labour markets. The reason people reside in such areas is the availability of…
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Severe drought in Uthai Thani prompts wildlife migration, risks for locals
Uthai Thani’s Huay Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary is grappling with a severe drought attributed to the El Nino phenomenon, prompting elephants and various other species to migrate into nearby regions in search of food, according to an official announcement. The sanctuary’s wildlife breeding station chief, Tonsak Nipanan, stated that wildlife has encroached upon the station’s area and beyond. The breeding…
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Phuket tuk tuk driver shooting sparks alarm in bustling tourist hub
A rivalry between two tuk tuk drivers escalated to violence today when one of the drivers was shot in the stomach and thigh near the entrance of Bangla Road in Phuket. The incident occurred in the vicinity of TaiPan Nightclub, situated on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, about 700 metres from Patong Police Station. Shortly after midnight, Patong Police were informed…
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Indonesia introduces golden visa scheme to attract foreign investors
Indonesia has launched an initiative to draw foreign individual and corporate investors with the introduction of a golden visa scheme, aimed at bolstering the nation’s economy, according to an announcement made by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. The director-general of Indonesia’s immigration Silmy Karim explained the new long-term, high-value visa plan. “The golden visa is granting a residence…
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Forest City’s future uncertain amid Chinese property giant’s financial struggles
Forest City, the Malaysian island megaproject backed by Chinese investment, is facing an uncertain future due to the financial struggles of Chinese property giant Country Garden. The US$100 billion artificial city, which has been built in the middle of palm oil trees, remains largely vacant despite being aimed at middle-class Chinese buyers. The project, which includes condos, roads and shops,…
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Visa overstay charge lands international visitor in trouble at Phuket Airport
An international visitor was apprehended at Phuket International Airport this week, facing charges of overstaying his visa, according to the Phuket Immigration Checkpoint’s Facebook page managed by the airport division of Phuket Immigration. The arrest occurred on August 30, with the individual now at risk of being blacklisted under the Good Guys In, Bad Guys Out regulation. The man, whose…
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Phuket Airport expansion to double capacity, costing 6 billion baht
Phuket International Airport is set to undergo a significant expansion, as approved by the Airports of Thailand (AoT). The project, which is currently in the design stage, is estimated to have a price of upwards of 6 billion baht. AoT’s President, Kerati Kijmanawat, highlighted the expansion as a primary agenda during Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s recent visit. The proposed airport…
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Thai PM’s new weapons procurement plan to boost national economy
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is moving forward with plans to overhaul Thailand’s armed forces, beginning with a significant shift in weapons procurement procedures, a military source has confirmed. The new leader had a meeting with the heads of the armed forces last week, where they discussed the new government’s intended course of action concerning military and security matters. During this…
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AEC meeting to discuss digital economy and sustainability for ASEAN
The ASEAN Economic Council (AEC) meeting, set to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia, will be attended by Thai representatives, the objective being the discussion of the Digital Economic Framework Agreement (DEFA) progress. The upcoming 43rd ASEAN Summit’s preparations will also be a focal point in the discussions. Director-General of the Department of Trade Negotiations, Auramon Supthaweethum, shared with the press…
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Chinese developer Country Garden secures bond repayment delay amid liquidity crisis
Chinese developer, Country Garden, has successfully secured creditor approval to postpone a critical bond repayment deadline, narrowly dodging a potential default. This agreement provides temporary relief amidst a liquidity crisis that has significantly impacted the nation’s financial markets. Country Garden gained enough support in a vote concluded yesterday to extend payments on the 3.9 billion yuan (18 billion baht) outstanding…
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Human trafficking victim rescued from Myanmar ring by Thai officials
Chiang Rai officials have successfully executed a rescue operation, saving a 29 year old Udon Thani woman, known as Nam, from a human trafficking ring in Myanmar. It was revealed that she had been coerced into providing sexual services to call centre employees in the Shan state by Chinese perpetrators. The incident was initially flagged by a citizen journalist from…
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JKN Global reassures investors after bond payment rescheduling
JKN Global Group Plc (JKN), the owner of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), reassured investors that its financial status is robust, despite a recent bond payment rescheduling caused by a liquidity mismatch. Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, the chief executive and managing director, said at a briefing that the company is set to meet its revenue target of over 3 billion baht this…
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15 years of escrow legislation: 867 billion baht in transactions
Data released by the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has shed light on the impact of escrow legislation over a 15-year span. According to an anonymous FPO source, escrow service transactions during this period totalled a hefty 867 billion baht, the majority of which were linked to capital market transactions. The Escrow Account Act came into effect in 2008, and from…
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Bangchak acquires Esso Thailand bolstering network and refining capacity
In a significant move in Thailand’s petroleum sector, Bangchak Corporation secured a resounding acquisition of Esso Thailand. ExxonMobil Asia Holdings’ relinquishing of a 65.99% majority stake to Bangchak marks the completion of this transaction. As a consequence of this development, around 700 Esso petrol stations throughout the country will commence operations under Bangchak’s brand, starting tomorrow. Chaiwat Kovavisarach, the Group…
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Blue Strike-2023: China and Thailand’s joint naval exercise
The Gulf of Thailand and the Sattahip district of Chon Buri will serve as the training grounds for the Blue Strike-2023 joint naval exercise, involving China and Thailand. Participation from Chinese warships and submarines has been confirmed for this annual drill. The exercise, which will extend from tomorrow to September 10, will take place in the upper reaches of the Gulf…
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Phuket Blood Bank and Thai Red Cross launch donation drive for rare blood type
The Phuket Regional Blood Bank (Phuket RBC) in partnership with the local chapter of the Thai Red Cross and 20 local businesses, have initiated a campaign in September to restock their depleting blood reserves. This campaign invites the local populace to provide their valuable donations at any of the 20 mobile blood donation stations scattered across Phuket, commencing from 2pm…
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Loei’s PEA moves transformers underground to boost Chiang Khan tourism
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) in Loei has embarked on a mission to relocate electric transformers underground in the tourist-heavy Chiang Khan district. The initiative aims to prevent fire hazards in the district, which is known for its century-old wooden houses. Komkrit Siriyutthaseanyakorn, who heads the local office of the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning, stated that…
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Chiang Mai University launches Builds platform to boost student entrepreneurship
Chiang Mai University (CMU), in collaboration with the Stock Exchange of Thailand, has unveiled an entrepreneurial platform named “Builds”. This initiative is designed to assist students in transforming their research projects into profitable enterprises. Pongruk Sribanditmongkol, a CMU rector, expressed the institution’s ambitions to become an entrepreneurial hub, aiming to bolster its economic contribution to 60 billion baht within the…
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Thai GPO’s Covid-19 vaccine set for 2023 launch, targets 10 million doses annually
Thailand’s National Vaccine Institute (NVI) is making significant strides with its first domestically produced Covid-19 vaccine, HXP-GPOVac. The vaccine, currently in its third stage of clinical trials, is on track to conclude this phase by the end of the month. This development represents a crucial step forward for Thailand’s efforts to continually combat the pandemic. The vaccine’s production is overseen…
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