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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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Two teens die in Bournemouth beach tragedy, man arrested for manslaughter
Two young individuals, a girl aged 12 and a boy aged 17, tragically lost their lives after being rescued from the sea near Bournemouth beach. Dorset Police stated that there was “no physical contact” between the victims and any vessel in the water at the time of the incident. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances that led to several swimmers…
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US-Taiwan trade deal signing escalates tensions with China
The United States and Taiwan are preparing to sign a new trade agreement on Thursday, amidst escalating tensions with China. This will be the inaugural deal under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade framework, which was established last year. The signing is scheduled ahead of a major global security summit in Singapore this weekend, where the strained relationship between…
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Trump admits keeping classified Iran memo after leaving White House
US prosecutors have reportedly obtained an audio recording in which Donald Trump acknowledges retaining a classified document after leaving the White House. The news was first reported by CNN, and sources later confirmed this to the BBC’s US partner, CBS. The justice department is currently investigating Trump’s handling of classified material, which he denies any wrongdoing in. The inquiry is…
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Myanmar migrant killed, 10 arrested after pickup truck overturns in Kanchanaburi
A tragic incident occurred in Kanchanaburi’s Sangkhla Buri district when a pickup truck smuggling illegal migrants from Myanmar overturned, resulting in one fatality and ten arrests. A police officer was also injured during the operation as he was struck by one of the three pickup trucks involved in the smuggling. Late Wednesday night, a joint team of soldiers, police, and…
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Thai rubber industry gets 2 billion baht boost to increase global competitiveness
The Thai Finance Ministry has joined forces with the Thai Chamber of Commerce, and the Rubber Authority of Thailand to launch the Capital Flow in Rubber Industrial Estate project, aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of businesses in the rubber supply chain on a global scale. The rubber and rubber product exports amount to over 680 billion baht annually, with more…
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Thailand’s PC market set for 7.9% growth amid business transformation demand
The personal computer (PC) market in Thailand is predicted to expand by 7.9% this year, driven by the increasing demand from businesses seeking digital transformation, according to IDC Thailand’s market analyst. The first quarter of 2023 saw the market contract by 20.3% year-on-year, but it experienced a 12.9% growth quarter-on-quarter due to consumer spending through the government’s “Shop Dee Mee…
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Heartbreaking secret: Chinese couple’s repeated miscarriages unravel wife’s hidden sacrifice
A Chinese couple’s repeated miscarriages raised concerns and worries until the husband discovered that his wife had been secretly taking abortion pills to protect the feelings of her 8 year old stepdaughter, who did not want a new brother or sister. The 30 year old man from Zhenjiang, Hefei, married a woman three years older than him. He faced emotional distress…
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Ownership nightmare: British buyer’s 15 million baht condo purchase in Koh Samui hits legal roadblock
A British man filed a complaint with the Thai authorities after he bought a 15 million baht condominium in Koh Samui from a real estate company in the southern province of Surat Thani but could not obtain legal ownership. Many foreigners fell victim to this company, resulting in estimated damages of 100 million baht. A representative of the Thailand Consumers Council,…
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Thailand targets 3 trillion baht tourism revenue in 2023 with sustainability focus
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is optimistic that the country’s tourism industry will achieve a revenue of 3 trillion baht in 2023, equal to the revenue generated in 2019. Tanes Petsuwan, TAT’s deputy governor for Asia and the South Pacific, revealed that the agency is developing new promotional strategies for the next fiscal year and anticipates finalising its proposal…
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Swansea triathlon swim tragedy: Family pays tribute to loving husband
The family of a man who passed away during the swim portion of the Swansea triathlon has expressed their grief and remembered him as a “loving husband, father and grandfather.” Activity Wales, the event organisers, confirmed that Andrew Ireland died during the event on Sunday. In a statement, Ireland’s family conveyed their heartbreak, but also expressed gratitude for the numerous…
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US-Taiwan trade deal signing set to escalate Beijing-Washington tensions
Taipei has announced that the United States and Taiwan are set to sign a trade agreement, a move that is expected to increase tensions between Beijing and Washington over the island. The Office of Trade Negotiations in Taipei stated that the first set of agreements under “The US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade” would be signed in Washington, without providing…
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Pattaya Festival 2023 aims to boost local economy and tourism
Pattaya is gearing up for an exciting event as the city prepares to host the Pattaya Festival 2023. Yesterday, Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngamphichet led a meeting to discuss the arrangements for the highly anticipated event. The festival is set to take place from June 23 to 24 at Pattaya Beach, The Pattaya News reported. The main goal of the Pattaya Festival is…
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Items seized in reservoir search linked to Madeleine McCann case
The search for Madeleine McCann, who went missing 16 years ago, has led to the recovery of several items from a reservoir in Portugal. The operation was conducted at the request of German investigators, who have been pursuing suspect Christian B in connection with the case. The Braunschweig Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that the search area had been thoroughly examined,…
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Noel Gallagher: Divorce-inspired album helps healing process
Noel Gallagher has revealed that creating his latest album played a significant role in helping him cope with his recent divorce. In January this year, Gallagher and Sara MacDonald announced their decision to divorce after 22 years of marriage. The renowned former Oasis guitarist explained that he often seizes upon personal life events that he can express, as they tend…
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Labour MP Geraint Davies suspended amid serious misconduct allegations
Labour MP Geraint Davies has been administratively suspended from the party as they investigate reports of “incredibly serious allegations of completely unacceptable behaviour.” Davies was first elected as an MP in 1997 but was not in parliament from 2005 to 2010. Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock urged women affected by the allegations to come forward with formal complaints to ensure…
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11 year old girl hospitalised after eating cannabis-laced cookies
An 11-year-old Malaysian girl was hospitalised after consuming homemade cookies containing cannabis. Perak‘s Police Chief, Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, reported that she was treated at Hospital Taiping in the state last week. The girl is the daughter of a 38 year old man who has been arrested and subsequently tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The father now faces charges…
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Elderly woman killed by speeding car while crossing road in South Thailand
An elderly woman was fatally struck by a speeding car while crossing the road in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in South Thailand. The force of the impact caused the 66 year old woman’s head to strike the ground, ultimately leading to her death. The incident occurred on Om Khai Road in the Pak Poon sub-district. The victim, identified as Sukon (surname undisclosed),…
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UK house prices suffer largest annual drop in 14 years, warns Nationwide
In May, UK house prices experienced their most significant annual decline in almost 14 years, according to Nationwide. The building society reported a 3.4% drop in prices for the year to May, the largest decrease since July 2009. Nationwide also cautioned that further increases in mortgage interest rates could impact the housing market. Mortgage rates have recently risen due to…
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Only 2-5% of UFO sightings truly unexplained, says Nasa panel
A panel of experts has analysed approximately 800 reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) gathered over several years by American authorities, revealing that only a small percentage remain truly unexplained. The panel was established by Nasa last year to study what it refers to as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), defined as sightings that cannot be identified as aircraft or known…
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Tragedy strikes as cement truck fatally runs over 2 year old boy near Bangkok
A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok, where a two year old boy lost his life after being run over by a cement truck. The driver of the truck blamed a broken brake system. The devastating event took place at the TPI Concrete Company in Pathum Thani. Officers from Mueang Pathum Thani Police Station swiftly arrived at…
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Van carrying migrants crashes and catches fire, leaving 4 dead
A van carrying migrant workers fled from police before crashing and catching fire in Thailand’s central Ayutthaya province, resulting in four deaths. Authorities are currently investigating the accident and searching for any additional injuries or casualties. The accident occurred at around 1am this morning on Highway 3543 near Chiang Rak Noi School in Bang Pa-in district. A van transporting migrant…
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UK house prices dip 3.4% YoY in May amid rising interest rate concerns
UK house prices experienced a 3.4% drop year-on-year in May, according to data from Nationwide, one of the country’s largest mortgage lenders. The average cost of a UK home now stands at £260,736, with a month-on-month decline of 0.1%. Nationwide had previously observed tentative signs of market recovery in April, with a 0.4% rise in monthly prices and an improvement…
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Teens arrested in Manchester murder case, increased police presence
Two teenagers have been taken into custody following the discovery of a 21-year-old man’s body at a residence in Manchester. The victim, who had sustained severe injuries, was found at a property on Kings Road, Old Trafford, after the police received a call around 7.45pm on Wednesday. Despite efforts to save him, the man was declared dead at the scene.…
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Asia’s factory demand eases amid China’s faltering recovery and global trade slump
Factories across Asia experienced a further decline in demand during May, as China‘s sluggish recovery impacted a region already grappling with a global trade downturn. Taiwan’s purchasing managers indexes (PMI) dropped to 44.3 from 47.1 in April, while Vietnam recorded its lowest reading since September 2021, according to S&P Global. South Korea’s factory gauge saw a slight increase in May,…
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Speeding car flips over after taxi cuts in front at Bangkok traffic light
A white Honda City car flipped over after speeding through a red light and colliding with a taxi on Local Road in Bangkok last night. The 40 year old driver was shaken but not seriously injured, as police and volunteers attended the scene to investigate. At the accident site on Local Road approaching Ngam Wong Wan Road, the white Honda…
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Cost of living crisis may fuel online child exploitation, charities warn
Children’s charities have expressed concern that the cost of living crisis may increase the risk of online exploitation for young people during the summer holidays. The NSPCC has urged that the crisis should not be allowed to “fuel another surge in abuse” as witnessed during the COVID pandemic. Barnardo’s has also warned that online interactions can escalate to real-life sexual…
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Undercover payments: Lottery vendors reveal ‘protection fees’ to local police in Kamphaeng Phet
A sticker coined “lottery protection fees” has emerged in Kamphaeng Phet province, with lottery vendors revealing they pay a monthly fee of 500 baht per booth to local police. The fee allegedly allows them to sell lottery tickets above the set prices within their territory only, but it doesn’t guarantee they won’t be fined. According to a lottery vendor in…
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Thai armed forces plan to halve generals, save billions by 2027
Thailand‘s Defence Council has recently given the green light to a reform plan that aims to reduce the number of generals in the armed forces by 50% by 2027, as stated yesterday by Deputy Defence Ministry Spokesperson, Colonel Jittanat Punnotok. Currently, there are approximately 1,200 generals in the military, a military source told Bangkok Post. Between 2017 and 2021, the…
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2 Vietnamese con men swindles 65,000 baht from phone shop in Thailand
Two Vietnamese men allegedly swindled 65,000 baht from a phone shop in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima by selling two counterfeit iPhones. The owner of the phone shop, 46 year old Ratchaphat Thoenmongkhon, filed a complaint at Mueng Nakhon Ratchasima Police Station on May 19 after learning that the two mobile phones she bought from the Vietnamese men were…
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House approves US debt ceiling raise, averting default threat
The US House of Representatives has given its approval for a deal permitting the nation to borrow more funds, mere days before the world’s largest economy is set to begin defaulting on its debt. The measure was passed in the chamber with a 314-117 vote, despite some members from both sides not supporting it. The US Senate must vote on…
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