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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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Chinese toddler critical after brutal rottweiler attack: A call for responsible pet ownership
A two year old Chinese toddler in Chengdu, China, suffered severe injuries following an unprovoked attack by a rottweiler. Despite her mother’s best efforts to shield her from the dog, the young girl sustained a ruptured kidney, multiple fractured ribs and lacerations all over her body. The incident, which occurred yesterday, lasted a mere 40 seconds but resulted in the…
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Suphanburi thief arrested for stealing water meters to fund drug habit
A persistent thief In Suphanburi was apprehended for stealing water meters right under the nose of homeowners, simply to fund his drug habit. The arrest was made and charges were filed against him today. The crime was reported to be in progress at a resident’s home in Moo 6, Nong Makha Mong Subdistrict, Dan Chang District, Suphanburi. The homeowner was…
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Flash flood warnings issued for 33 Thai provinces due to heavy rain forecast
The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning for 33 provinces, predicting continuous heavy rain, particularly in southern Thailand, which is expected to experience heavy rain in 70% of its area. The accumulating rainfall could lead to sudden flash floods. The danger is particularly high in the southern region where people are urged to be cautious of heavy rainfall…
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Pattaya City takes legal action against businesses for Koh Lan forest encroachment
Legal action is being pursued by Pattaya City against businesses accused of encroaching on forest land on Koh Lan, confirms Deputy Mayor, Manote Nongyai. The city received information regarding the alleged encroachment near Sangwan Beach from a local non-profit organisation. After conducting a survey, city officials confirmed that the encroachment had taken place with approximately 10 rai of forest land…
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Python takes a ride in parked pickup truck in Chon Buri, causing local stir
In an unusual incident, a large python was discovered nestled within a parked pickup truck in Chon Buri, causing a stir among locals. The snake had taken up residence in the vehicle while its owner took a brief pause for a roadside toilet break. The snake was eventually captured and released back into the wild by the rescue unit of…
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Four die in Surat Thani as pickup truck crashes into ditch during heavy rainfall
A pickup truck crashed into a roadside ditch in Surat Thani province during a heavy downpour, resulting in four fatalities. The accident occurred on Route 401 linking Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat. The investigation was led by Thawatchai Jaihao, the head of the local police force, and Jatupol Duangchuay, also an officer. The officers were alerted to the crash…
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Bangkok police and FDA seize codeine-laced syrup worth 1 million baht
Police Major General Anan Nanasombat, who heads the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), and a team from the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sparked a meticulous search operation at six designated locations on Tuesday, October 17. The focus of this operation was to locate and seize syrup laced with Codeine and other drugs that had not been officially registered…
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Crocodile surprise: Malaysian family discovers predator in home sewer pipe
A Malaysian family were rocked by a crocodile shock at their residence after hearing unusual noises emanating from their sewer pipe. They decided to urgently inform the authorities, only to discover a large crocodile had made its way into their drainage system. The incident, a close call with a potential predator, could have ended disastrously. The peculiar event unfolded in…
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Pattaya elephant Nam Chok retires to Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand sanctuary
In a momentous event, Nam Chok, an elderly elephant who has given rides to tourists in Pattaya for decades, has been granted retirement. In her sixties, she was released by her owner into the care of the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), a sanctuary that offers a refuge for elephants. Nam Chok, who is partially sighted, is suspected to have…
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Taylor Swift’s bodyguard forgoes 18 million baht salary to fight for Israel against Hamas
A well-known bodyguard of global music sensation Taylor Swift reportedly abandoned his US$500,000 annual salary, equivalent to approximately 18 million baht, to return to his native Israel. He volunteered to fight against the Hamas group, stating that he could not stand idle while his homeland was being destroyed by Hamas forces. According to local media reports, the security officer gained…
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Raving undercover: Pattaya police raid nightlife gem in early morning swoop
The early hours of this morning were punctuated by a Pattaya police raid on an active nightlife spot known as Rave. Nestled in the heart of South Pattaya, this popular venue in the Banglamung district found itself under scrutiny following a tip-off from vigilant locals. The time of the Pattaya police raid, which took place at 2am today, October 18, found…
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Thailand invites Russian President Putin for official visit amidst global isolation
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin extended an invitation for an official visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the next year, during his recent visit to Beijing. This invitation emerges amidst Putin’s global isolation due to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine which kicked off in February last year. Furthermore, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against Putin over accusations…
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Thieving specter or cunning crook? Lopburi thefts stir mythical creature suspicions
A recent spate of thefts in the Lopburi province ignited fear amongst residents, who are attributing the incidents to the mythical creature Phi Kra Sue. However, local authorities have pacified public concerns, stating the culprit is merely a masked thief and not a supernatural mythical creature. The situation came to light when Yotsawin Bamrungwet, Lopburi’s provincial governor, and the province’s…
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Fruitful feast: Six friends juice things up with 111-bottle drinking marathon
Six friends in China’s Sichuan province shocked a popular buffet restaurant by consuming a staggering 111 bottles of fruit juice. The young men, known for their love of value-for-money meals, decided to forgo the typical meat dishes commonly associated with buffet dining, instead, they opted to maximise their investment by ordering mass amounts of sour plum juice. The incident took…
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Fraudulent gambling site operator arrested in Nonthaburi, victims lose 500,000 baht
A gambling site administrator was arrested yesterday after he deceived people into playing and then prevented them from withdrawing their winnings. He was in charge of managing the fraudulent website, posting enticing advertisements, and finding mule accounts to receive fraudulent transfers from the victims. His arrest, which took place in his residence in Nonthaburi province, was the result of a complaint…
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Seafood surprise: Family’s meal unearths Chiang Mai’s potential pearl gem
A family’s casual seafood meal led to an unexpected find of a pearl over 1 centimetre in size, set to be verified in Chiang Mai. The incident occurred today at 5/4 Buasali, Mae Lao, Chiang Rai, the residence of Sethapong Sivavong. Sethapong revealed that his wife and daughter had purchased clam from a reputed local market in downtown Chiang Rai…
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Starry night showtime: Catch the Orionids meteor shower this weekend
The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) invited the public to witness the Orionids meteor shower, a spectacle of dust from Halley’s Comet, from Saturday night, October 21, to early Sunday morning, October 22. The meteor shower, expected to reach its peak at around 10.30pm, is likely to display about 20 meteors per hour and can be observed across…
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Swift police action follows tragic suicide of student scammed by iPhone fraud gang in southern Thailand
The tragic suicide of a female grade 12 student from a school in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province has prompted a swift response from law enforcement agencies. The student chose to end her life in her bedroom on Sunday night, October 15. Police guess that she was under extreme stress after falling prey to a fraud gang that enticed her to…
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Sky-high surprise: 73 year old aerial snapshot of Bang Khen field sparks social media frenzy
An aerial photograph of Bang Khen field, taken 73 years ago, has caused a stir after it was shared on social media. The image, taken in 1950, depicts a wide-open landscape, dominated by the towering spire of Wat Phra Si Maha That Woramahawihan in Bangkok. Tiny buildings can be identified as the former district office of Bang Khen, established in…
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Motorcyclist killed in hit-and-run by lorry driver in central Thailand
A tragic road incident has claimed the life of a 43 year old motorcyclist in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan. An 18-wheel lorry collided with the victim’s motorcycle, resulting in fatal head injuries. The 39 year old driver, Wasan, refuted allegations of fleeing, claiming ignorance of the incident that killed the victim Phinyo. At approximately 9.20am today, Deputy Inspector Anan Thongleua of…
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Phantom frenzy: Lopburi locals hunt for notorious ghost causing sleepless nights (video)
Residents of Lopburi are on a hunt for a notorious ghost, causing sleepless nights due to its eerie presence in central Thailand. A 70 year old pig farmer, Wichien, today revealed he encountered this ghost twice. The hunt has sparked excitement and fear among residents who have taken to TikTok to document their thrilling ghost hunts. Wichien’s first encounter with…
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PM Srettha urges swift evacuation decision as death toll of Thai workers in Israel hits 30
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin urgently called upon Thai citizens residing in Israel to make a swift decision regarding their evacuation amidst escalating global concerns. The Thai death toll in Israel has distressingly reached 30. Addressing the public from Beijing on Wednesday, the prime minister expressed his concern. “For those who are still undecided, it’s crucial to decide promptly as…
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Chiang Mai property stirs online debate, selling dream or reality for 80,000 baht?
A plot of land, measuring just one square wah (equivalent to 4 square metres) and priced at 80,000 baht, has caused a stir on social media. The land, located in a village in Chiang Mai, comes complete with a groundwater system, a water tank, and a steel cage. The online Chiang Mai property post advertising the sale also included a…
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MAS to review Credit Suisse amid Singapore money laundering scandal
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced its intention to conduct an on-site review of Credit Suisse Group AG. The decision comes in the wake of a far-reaching financial scandal, in which at least one customer of the bank has been charged with money laundering. The review aims to assess the bank’s handling and monitoring of wealthy clients. The local…
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Elderly man accused of child sex abuse commits suicide in northern Thailand
A 72 year old man accused of child sex abuse committed suicide, escaping the legal consequences of his actions. The mother of the 11 year old girl victim revealed that she too had been molested by the same man when she was a child. The child sex abuse incident came to light when an 11 year old girl sent a…
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Stringing along trouble: Cambodian guitarist strikes wrong chord in Bangkok church heists
A Cambodian guitarist was arrested today after being accused of stealing musical instruments from Christian churches across Bangkok. The church theft arrest took place at an unnamed rental room in Suk Sawat Road, Phra Samut Chedi district, Samut Prakan. The suspect, Hek Sophol, was sought after an arrest warrant was issued by the Criminal Court of Southern Bangkok on October…
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival thrives with cultural rituals and street processions
The streets of Phuket town were buzzing with spiritual energy earlier today as the Phuket Vegetarian Festival entered its fourth day and the third day of street processions. Devotees and Mah song spirit mediums from the Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine in Samkong led the procession, showcasing a blend of Chinese culture and local traditions. The Samkong Shrine, one of…
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Sunny-side up: Thai exports set to crack 3.6% growth in 2023
Positive prospects are forecasted for Thai exports next year, with an anticipated growth rate of 3.6%. This rebound follows a projected 2% drop this year, according to a recent report by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC). UTCC’s president, Thanavath Phonvichai, attributes this optimistic projection to several factors including lower interest rates and easing inflation globally, which…
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Thai worker survives shooting in Israel, returns home thanks to fellow expat
A Thai worker who survived a shooting incident in Israel has returned home to Khon Kaen province thanks to the heroic efforts of a Thai woman from Nong Bua Lamphu. The Thai worker’s mother, Boonhom Butmo, expressed her deepest gratitude to 40 year old Jam for ensuring the safe return of her son, Ono. When reporters visited Ono’s parents at…
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Thai government committee plans referendum on constitutional amendments
Two sub-panels have been established by the government committee studying the proposed constitutional amendments in Thailand. Their mandate is to measure public sentiment on the proposed changes and devise a blueprint for a potential referendum. Phumtham Wechayachai, chair of the committee, has stated that while there is no set deadline for these sub-panels, it is anticipated that their tasks will…
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