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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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Miracle cosmetics offering: Woman wins lottery after praying to legendary goddess
A significant number of tourists have been visiting Bosot Prawat Pho temple and the shrine of the goddess Monthatip in Thailand’s central Samut Songkhram province, to seek luck and prosperity in their lives and businesses. Among them, Wassana Baisamut, a 49 year old restaurant owner, attributes her fortunate lottery win and booming business to offerings made to Monthatip, drawing further…
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Animal fat jet fuel demand risks palm oil surge, worsening emissions
The use of animal fat as a greener alternative to traditional jet fuel is raising concerns about its impact on the environment. Animal fats, considered waste, are used to create aviation fuel with a lower carbon footprint. Demand for such fuel is expected to triple by 2030, driven by airlines. However, experts warn that scarcity in animal fat could lead…
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Nvidia valuation drops despite rally as earnings estimates outpace share price
Nvidia Corp’s impressive stock rally in recent days has seen the chip developer’s valuation decrease, as measured by the forward price/earnings (P/E) ratio. Over the last three sessions, the company’s stock has risen more than 31%, with a 3% gain reaching $401.11. Despite this, Nvidia’s P/E multiple has fallen due to Wall Street’s earnings expectations for the company rising even…
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Heavy rain warning across Thailand, strong winds raise flood risk
Heavy rain and flash floods are forecast across Thailand today with a 70% chance of Bangkok being affected. Compelling precautions, the Thai Meteorological Department has warned residents in at-risk areas. The Meteorological Department reports that for the next 24 hours, beginning from 6pm yesterday until 6pm today, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected across the northern, central, and eastern regions…
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Pittsburgh synagogue shooter’s malice and hatred described in court
A devastating attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018, which claimed the lives of 11 worshippers, has been described as an act of “malice and hatred” during the ongoing trial of the accused gunman, Robert Bowers. The 50-year-old is facing over 60 federal charges, including hate crimes resulting in death and obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death.…
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Phuket sees Covid-19 surge, lax prevention and booster shot issues
Thailand’s island province of Phuket has experienced a concerning surge in Covid-19 infections over the past month, according to the Provincial Public Health Office. Deputy Chief Dr Muanprae Boonlorm highlighted that Vachira Phuket Hospital has seen a rise in Covid-19 patients since the Songkran holiday in mid-April. The number of hospitalisations due to pneumonia and Covid-19 related fatalities have also…
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Tragic property dispute ends in fatal shooting: Former owner surrenders to police
The former owner of the repossessed house in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok surrendered to the police last night after he shot and killed its new owner. The new owner bought the property from the bank. The accused murderer alleged that the bank unjustly seized his house and resold it. At 3pm yesterday, the former owner of the house, 65…
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Elizabeth Holmes starts 11-year prison term for Theranos fraud
Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the now-defunct Theranos, reported to a federal prison in Texas to serve her 11-year sentence. The 39 year old was convicted of four counts of fraud related to her failed blood testing start-up early last year. Her request to remain free on bail while challenging the original conviction was denied in mid-May. The Federal Bureau…
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Urine Luck! Controversial video of drinking pee for the good of your health goes viral (video)
An old video featuring Sondhi Limthongkul delivering health advice on drinking your urine has resurfaced online. In the video, he promotes urine therapy as a method for maintaining one’s health and treating illnesses. Debates have ensued questioning the efficacy and safety of the practice. In the video, Sondhi Limthongkul, a prominent Thai personality, discussed maintaining one’s health with the controversial…
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Bullied Thai student fatally stabs 1 and injures 2 others at renowned school
A secondary school student fatally stabbed a fellow student after an argument at a reputable school in Sri Rattana district in Thailand‘s northeast Sisaket province. Two other 14 year olds sustained serious injuries, Khaosod reported this morning. The incident led the Sisaket Provincial Governor, Samruay Kasemsuk, to urgently visit and aid the deceased student’s family, providing financial assistance and moral…
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Cabinet approves extension for over 200,000 migrant workers amid government limbo
The Thai Cabinet approved an extension for over 200,000 migrant workers’ employment contracts, allowing them to retain their jobs until the new government assumes office, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam. The decision impacts workers from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, and comes after an initial rejection of the Labour Ministry’s request for an extension. The change of heart was…
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Rayong’s frog-tunate discovery: Residents hop on golden toad’s good luck
Residents in a Rayong village believe a golden yellow toad they discovered amid regular frogs during a heavy downpour will bring good luck. The woman who caught the toad refuses to sell it as she believes it would bring good luck and generate a lottery windfall someday. Reporters yesterday met with the woman who caught the toad, Vinijta Ruamwong, at…
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SET and SGX launch cross-border trading for Thai depositary receipts
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and the Singapore Exchange (SGX) announced a joint venture that enables the trading of three depositary receipts (DRs) of Thai-listed companies on the SGX. This innovative collaboration, launched yesterday, is the first of its kind under the Thailand-Singapore DR Linkage project and aims to boost the appeal of Thai-listed companies in the regional market by…
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Economist warns of panic as new Thai government risks fiscal sustainability
Concerns about fiscal sustainability have been raised by Kiatnakin Phatra Securities (KKP), as the new government‘s potential “addiction to budget deficits” may cause panic in the stock market. KKP’s chief economist, Pipat Luengnaruemitchai, expressed his apprehensions regarding the country’s fiscal outlook if excessive expenditure is allocated by politicians and the government without a clear financing plan. As Thailand prepares for…
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Skeletons of three infants found in 70 year old woman’s wardrobe
A 70 year old Japanese woman in Osaka alarmed police with a phone call stating she had just given birth. Upon arrival at her home, officers discovered the skeleton remains of three infants hidden in a wardrobe for around 40 years. The woman from Daito, Osaka, Japan, made a sudden call to the police on Thursday, May 25, vaguely claiming…
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Putin accuses Ukraine of drone attacks targeting Moscow civilians
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has accused Ukraine of attempting to intimidate Russian citizens following Tuesday’s drone attacks on Moscow, the capital city. He claimed that civilians were targeted, but the air defences managed to handle the threat effectively. The defence ministry reported that at least eight drones caused minor damage, but Kyiv denies any involvement. This marks the first…
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US punishes Kosovo for forcibly installing Albanian mayors, cancels Nato exercise
Tensions have escalated in northern Kosovo following the forced installation of ethnic Albanian mayors in majority-Serb areas, leading to the United States taking measures against the country. Clashes between police, NATO troops, and Serb protesters in Zvecan resulted in injuries to 30 peacekeepers and 52 demonstrators. In response, NATO plans to deploy an additional 700 troops to the region. The…
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Macau enforces new security law, widening punishments for opposition to Beijing
Macau has implemented a new national security law, increasing penalties for opposition to Beijing and placing a stronger focus on preventing foreign interference in the special administrative region. The legislation builds upon a law introduced in 2009, and the Macau government claims it aligns with legislation in Hong Kong, where Beijing has tightened control following political unrest. The initial national…
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AI extinction risk warning backed by OpenAI, DeepMind chiefs
The potential threat of artificial intelligence (AI) causing human extinction has been highlighted by numerous experts, including the leaders of OpenAI and Google DeepMind. They have endorsed a statement on the Centre for AI Safety’s website, which calls for mitigating the risk of extinction from AI, placing it alongside other global priorities such as pandemics and nuclear war. However, some…
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South Africa to alter law for power to arrest Putin amid ICC warrant
South Africa is planning to amend its law to give itself the authority to decide whether to arrest a leader wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to Obed Bapela, a deputy minister in the South African presidency. This comes amid growing speculation over South Africa’s stance on its invitation to Russia’s President Putin to visit in August. The…
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Woman rescued waist-deep in mud near West Kirby Marine Lake
A woman was rescued after being trapped waist-deep in thick mud while walking near West Kirby Marine Lake on Merseyside. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) deployed the Hoylake hovercraft Hurley Spirit to assist her at approximately 2:45pm on Monday. The woman had become stuck in a channel of shallow water and was unable to reach the shore. Following her…
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Prince’s Trust drops Phillip Schofield as ambassador over affair admission
The Prince’s Trust has decided to part ways with Phillip Schofield, 61 years old, as an ambassador after he confessed to having an affair with a young male colleague and lying to cover it up. The charity, established by the King, stated that continuing to work with the presenter was no longer suitable. Schofield announced his departure from ITV last…
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UK mortgage deals drop 10% as lenders reassess amid interest rate fears
In the wake of rising concerns over interest rates, nearly 10% of UK mortgage deals have been withdrawn from the market since the previous week. Financial data company Moneyfacts reported that close to 800 residential and buy-to-let deals have been removed as lenders reassess their offerings. Furthermore, average rates on two-year and five-year fixed deals have experienced an increase. This…
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Protest at Oxford Union over Kathleen Stock’s gender-critical talk
A large crowd assembled outside the Oxford Union to express their disapproval of a lecture delivered by Kathleen Stock, a gender-critical academic. Despite facing opposition from some students, Stock remained resolute in her decision to proceed with the talk, which has been labelled transphobic by critics. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak supported Stock’s right to speak, stating that universities should foster…
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Viral sensation: Vietnamese couple’s extravagant engagement ceremony leaves social media in awe
A Vietnamese couple’s lavish engagement ceremony, involving extravagant gifts of cash and gold necklaces, gained a lot of attention on social media. The bride received more than 50 gold necklaces and 7.3 million baht (US$201,000) in cash, causing online users to express amazement and envy. Local media reports state that the engagement ceremony took place on Saturday, May 27, involving…
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Songkhla Lake bridge project raises concerns for Thailand’s last Irrawaddy dolphins
Concerns have been raised over the potential impact of a proposed bridge across Songkhla Lake in Thailand on the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin population. Environmentalist Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat highlighted the importance of conservation efforts to protect the last 14 remaining Thai dolphins. Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, an expert in marine science and environmental issues, took to social media to express concerns…
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Petrol station scandal: Thai soldier accuses pervy transwomen of secret filming in public bathroom
A Thai soldier accused a group of perverted transwomen of filming him and his friend when they used a public bathroom at a petrol station in the Lee district of Lamphun province in northern Thailand. The incident gained attention after explicit images were shared on Twitter The soldier, 37 year old Arm, shared his story on a residents’ Facebook group…
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Indonesia probes potential leak of election system verdict
Indonesia‘s Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, has called for an investigation into a potential leak involving a Constitutional Court verdict that could alter the country’s parliamentary election system. This comes after former deputy justice minister, Denny Indrayana, claimed that the court had repealed the current “open-list proportional representation” system for Indonesia’s parliamentary elections. Indrayana stated…
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150 year old durian trees draw crowds to Trang, selling out daily
Residents and tourists are dashing to a 150-year-old durian orchard in Trang Province for its delicious, 50-baht-per-kilogram fruits. Demand has outpaced supply, with customers flocking to buy the durian varieties from this unique orchard of indigenous species. Sathit Rammana, a 52 year old orchard owner from Trang Province, tends to a 1,000 year old tree orchard called Ta Chan. Sathit’s…
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E-cigarette use linked to lung disease, concerns over misdiagnosis in Thailand
Concerns are rising among medical professionals in Thailand as e-cigarette-related pneumonia and bronchitis cases increase, particularly among those who use cannabis oil. Difficulties in diagnosis and a lack of awareness among doctors have contributed to under-reporting cases. Thai medical professionals have expressed their concerns over the increasing number of pneumonia and bronchitis cases connected to e-cigarette usage. Specifically, those using…
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