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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 Why long-term expats in Thailand say insurance is worth every baht
Thailand’s warm weather, low cost of living, and good healthcare attract many long-term expats, including retirees and remote workers. Life here feels easy and affordable, but medical costs can be high if something goes wrong. Private hospitals are popular because...
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Thai navy warns of demolishing illegal structures near Phuket Airport
The Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, Vice Admiral Arpakorn Yookongkaew, has given a stern warning to individuals occupying land illegally in the Bang Khanun Forest near Phuket International Airport, stating that their structures will be demolished. The Royal Thai Navy intends to develop facilities in the protected area, including the 22nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion, the 2nd Anti-Aircraft…
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Young woman murdered by gambling-addicted ex-boyfriend, father shares harrowing ordeal
Another perspective on the tragic murder case of a young woman, 23 years old, shot dead by her enraged ex-boyfriend, has emerged. The victim’s father revealed details of how the family desperately sought help and tried to rescue their daughter before her untimely demise. The attacker, Channarong, 35 years old, is now in police custody. The incident took place in…
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Myanmar earthquake felt in Bangkok: No damage or casualties reported (video)
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded today, originating just 10 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface in the southern coastal region of Myanmar, roughly 289 kilometres southwest of Phop Phra district in Thailand’s Tak province, as reported by the Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department. The seismic event was perceptible in both Nonthaburi and Bangkok, with individuals in high-rise…
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Sukhothai residents report mysterious encounters at ancient Pu Wang Plarn shrine, winning lottery numbers revealed
Locals of Sukhothai are reportedly awed by the wonders of an ancient shrine of Pu Wang Plarn, after witnessing mysterious events involving a spectral long-haired woman and giant golden snake. The shrine, which has historical reverence, has also recently bestowed good fortune on several villagers by revealing winning lottery numbers. Today, the local residents, including Charan, 67 years old, and…
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Ecuadorian woman dies again after recovering during own funeral
Bella Montoya, the 76 year old Ecuadorian woman who famously revived during her own funeral, passed away again on June 16 after receiving seven days of intensive care at Babahoyo Hospital. Her demise has been confirmed by Ecuador’s Ministry of Health, attributing her death to an ischemic stroke, BBC reported. Bella Montoya’s son Gilbert Barbeira spoke to the press, stating that…
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Facebook fraud: Lavish lifestyle of Thai duo results in arrest for 20 million baht scam
A fraud scheme operated through Facebook has led to the arrest of a Thai couple in Phuket. The couple, a 37 year old man and a 34 year old woman, allegedly attracted victims to their deception by posting images of piles of cash and flaunting a luxurious lifestyle on their Facebook page. The couple cleverly executed a Facebook fraud scheme,…
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Blackpink’s Lisa creates stir with Nong Pho Milk clip, Thai news anchor receives online harassment
News anchor, Sorayuth Suthassanachinda recently expressed his anger over the online harassment he received after posting about Lisa of the Korean girl group Blackpink, who was seen drinking Nong Pho milk in a clip. Sorayuth clarified that the milk is a royal project initiative and called those who attack him for sharing the post misguided. In a Facebook post, Sorayuth…
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Bangkok adopts AI-assisted traffic cameras to curb violations, enhance safety
Bangkok authorities are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) technology to crack down on traffic violations by installing AI-assisted traffic cameras at over 200 intersections across the city. Wisanu Subsompon, Deputy Governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), announced that these cameras will first be installed at 20 major intersections this month as part of a pilot project. Arun Amarin and…
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Virtual banking: SCB X and KakaoBank join forces for Thai licence bid
A consortium led by financial technology conglomerate SCB X is partnering with South Korea’s KakaoBank to apply for a virtual banking licence from the Bank of Thailand. SCB X, a holding company of Siam Commercial Bank, signed the agreement with KakaoBank, with the aim of bringing additional partners on board to improve competitiveness. Arthid Nanthawithaya, chief executive of SCB X,…
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Doctor’s cryptic handwriting decoded by TikTok, eases worried patients (video)
Patients are baffled by the medical results, which doctor’s handwriting, deciphered by social media A significant number of patients are baffled by the seemingly unclear and cryptic handwriting that their doctors have left on their medical records. A recent video uploaded to TikTok by useri1cmekf8bo with the intention of clarifying the situation has received more than one million views and…
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Thai woman lures men into buying motorcycles and steals them
Police arrested a Thai woman who lured more than 20 victims, especially men, into making down payments for motorcycles for her and vanished with the stolen motorcycles. A 32 year old Thai man named Thawee filed a complaint with the officers from Pluak Daeng Police Station in the eastern province of Rayong that his girlfriend, Tippawan Homduang, stole his motorcycle.…
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Tourists beware of cannabis scam at Phuket’s Freedom Beach as couple falls victim
A couple visiting Freedom Beach in Phuket, Thailand, fell for a cannabis scam while enjoying their holiday. The scammers manipulated them into trying cannabis, causing them to lose control and become disorientated – they were rescued by a good samaritan before any harm was done. According to today’s report by Khaosod, the incident occurred when the Thai couple was visiting…
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Victims lost nearly 1 million baht at hotel, secret doors found in rooms
Thai victims lost nearly one million baht in cash and assets to a thief at a hotel in the central province of Kanchanaburi. The secret and suspicious doors were discovered inside the room. The hotel owner claimed that the doors were an escape route for mistresses. The victims were two families who checked in and stayed at the hotel on…
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Mae Sot officials probed for 30m baht bribes in migrant ID scandal
In Mae Sot district, Tak province, three Registration Department officials have come under scrutiny for allegedly accepting 30 million baht in bribes to issue identification cards to 700 Myanmar migrants over the last three months. Mae Sot’s mayor, Prasert Puanglakorn, has signed an order temporarily reassigning the implicated officials to non-active posts in other departments while the municipality conducts an…
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Thai recycled clothing fashion to reach 1.3 billion baht by 2032
As environmental concerns rise globally, consumer demand for clothing made from recycled materials continues to grow. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) director-general, highlighted the environmental impacts of the textile industry, which consumes 93 billion cubic metres of water annually, releases 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, and accounts for 20% of worldwide wastewater discharge. Major fashion…
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Denied education despite paid fees, Thai teen ignites debate on school system reform
In a determined effort to continue her education, 15 year old Yok Thanalop made her fourth visit to Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn School. Despite paying the term fees and having the support of the Committee for the Rights of the Child, the school refused to accept her as a student, sparking intense debates on both sides. At 7am today, Yok…
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Household debt in Thailand soars to 86.9% of GDP, dampening consumer spending
Thailand’s mounting household debt is raising concerns, as it continues to hinder consumer spending, affecting various industries and impeding economic growth. The latest data from the National Economic and Social Development Council shows debt in the nation reached 15.1 trillion baht in the fourth quarter of 2022, a 3.5% increase year on year, and accounting for 86.9% of GDP. Debt…
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Phuket vies for hosting Specialised Expo 2028, promising sustainability and harmony
The world awaits the anticipated announcement on Wednesday (June 21), revealing which country has been chosen to host the prestigious Specialised Expo 2028. Among the five finalists is Phuket, Thailand, fuelling great expectations for the nation in this international competition. The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) oversees the selection process for the honour of organising the Specialised Expo 2028. The…
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Thai school aids 11 year old’s return amid pandemic-driven dropout crisis
An 11-year-old Thai boy, Anirut Thongdech, also known as Saming, has been given the opportunity to return to school after being forced to leave when his family could no longer afford his education. Saming’s family struggled financially due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused his parents to become unemployed and resort to collecting recyclables for a living. Wat Trangkhapum Putthawat…
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Chiang Mai temple abbot investigated for 200 million baht mismanagement and illegal shrine construction
A high-profile Chiang Mai temple abbot is under investigation after allegations of mismanagement of 200 million baht (US$ 5,762,028) worth of donations and unauthorised construction of a shrine, following a recent incident in which he caused damage to multiple vehicles. The Chiang Mai Ecclesiastical Office is now examining the financial and land issues related to Phra Phutthabat Si Roi temple,…
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Man’s costly error sees pick-up truck and jet ski plunge into Mae Klong River
A 41 year old man experienced a costly mistake when he parked his pick-up truck without properly engaging the handbrake, causing the vehicle and a jet ski worth nearly a million baht to plunge into the Mae Klong River. The accident occurred as he was unloading the watercraft near Wat Bang Phrom in Samut Songkhram province. Onlookers eagerly lent their…
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Ayutthaya teens assault security guard in mistaken identity, face legal proceedings
A group of 11 teens was arrested by Ayutthaya‘s Bang Pahan police for assaulting a 31 year old security guard, Chat Chai (surname withheld), in a case of mistaken identity. The assailants believed the victim to have previously harmed them but later discovered they had targeted the wrong person. The security guard sustained injuries in the altercation, and the accused…
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Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms persist in Thailand: Caution advised for monsoon-affected areas
Heavy rain and thunderstorms continue to affect parts of Thailand, with the Thai Meteorological Department warning of further downpours. Most areas exposed to the southwesterly monsoon are advised to be cautious due to potential danger from the heavy rainfall. Today’s Thai weather forecast includes a 24-hour warning for Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand. This is due to the southwesterly…
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Prof. Thasnai defies odds to become university lecturer after overcoming challenges and prejudice
A former non-formal education student, who faced numerous challenges during his academic journey, has become a university lecturer. Thasnai Sethaseree, now a media arts and design instructor at Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, shared his harrowing past experiences on Facebook, revealing that he was frequently insulted by authority figures and forced out of multiple schools during his childhood…
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Chinese woman reunited with ‘dead’ son after 15 years following arrest
A Chinese woman received a startling call from the police about her son, who had allegedly died 15 years ago. The police were holding a man arrested for drunk driving, claiming to be her son and providing accurate family details. In August 2019, a woman living in Henan Province, China, received a phone call from Jiangsu police informing her that…
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Funeral attendees win cows, receive rice gifts in unique 200,000 baht Thai almsgiving
In Buriram province, a funeral for a 92 year old woman, Wun Chongchaingam, has drawn a large crowd due to the unusual almsgiving of 1.5 tonnes of rice and a raffle for five cows, worth a total of 200,000 baht (US$ 5,758), for needy villagers and attendees. The event took place at Wat Pa Non-Somboon temple. Many villagers attended the…
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Railway worker’s death in booth causes train delay in Udon Thani
A railway employee, Suthitham (surname withheld), 58 years old, unexpectedly passed away in a railway crossing booth causing a train delay in Udon Thani Province. The incident occurred around 7am today, as the train was unable to proceed due to the crossing barrier remaining up for over an hour, requiring another employee to come and assist. During the early hours…
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Turkish tourist falls victim to 25,000 baht gold necklace theft in Pattaya
In Pattaya beach, an unfortunate incident unfolded as a Turkish tourist encountered a pickpocket while strolling alone in the early hours. Despite being vigilant about such crimes, he lost a 25,000 baht (US$ 723) gold necklace to the skilled hands of the alleged transgender thief. Found waiting to give his testimony to the Pattaya Police on Beach Road, the victim,…
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Southwest monsoon brings heavy rain, high waves to 42 Thai provinces; caution advised
A southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea and Thailand has led to heavy rain and high waves in 42 provinces, while Bangkok‘s rainy season is expected to bring downpours in some areas. The Thai Meteorological Department warns this weather pattern is expected to continue, with flash floods and high waves occurring, particularly in the east. “The southern westerly wind is…
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Bangkok group urges MRTA to protect historic shophouses in station plan
A Bangkok civil group has urged the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) to move the proposed entry point for the Phan Fa Purple Line station in a bid to protect historic shophouses located on Phra Sumen Road. Rosana Tositrakul, an ex-senator of Bangkok and president of the Rattanakosin Heritage Conservation Group (RHCG), expressed concern that the century-old shophouses could be…
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