News
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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Patong Beach gets bomb squad and sniffer dogs for tourist safety
Phuket officials are ramping up security in one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations after a safety inspection at Patong Beach, aimed at reassuring tourists and locals. Yesterday, June 25, a bomb scare was averted thanks to the swift action of local police, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units, and specially trained sniffer dogs. At 12.30pm, Police Colonel Akanit Danpitaksan, Deputy…
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Thai woman kills teen boy over mistaken identity
A 69 year old woman killed a 14 year old boy after mistakenly believing he had assaulted her grandson. Yesterday, June 25, Police Lieutenant Colonel Manop Marotarakul reported the incident after Police Lieutenant Phatrawit Kittisirivuwan, deputy inspector of Khiri Ratthanikhom Police Station, received a report of a stabbing outside a house in Village 11, Tha Khanon subdistrict, Khiri Ratthanikhom district…
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Detour de force: Drivers dodge Rama II death trap to reach Hua Hin
A weekend getaway to Hua Hin should be a breeze but, thanks to the notorious Rama II Road, it’s more of a gamble than a getaway. The highway, which links Bangkok to southern destinations, has earned itself a grim reputation as one of Thailand’s deadliest routes. Endless construction, heavy traffic, and a staggering accident rate have made it a route…
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Pattaya deputy mayor leads cleanup of sunken docking buoys
In a move aimed at restoring order to Pattaya’s troubled boating sector, the deputy mayor has led a team to collect sunken buoys from a failed docking project, a cleanup effort long overdue since tropical storm Vamco wreaked havoc on the area 10 years ago. Yesterday, June 25, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya City Manoch Nongyai and officials from the Pattaya…
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Earthquake swarm rattles Andaman amid tsunami rumblings
A flurry of undersea earthquakes off Thailand’s southern coast has put experts on high alert and locals are being urged to brush up on their evacuation plans, just in case. A popular Thai science page has warned that over 15 moderate tremors have rocked the Andaman Sea in the past few days, sparking fears of an underwater volcanic eruption —…
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Grab Thailand rolls out 0% fees, AI tools to save restaurants
As Thailand’s economy stumbles and food businesses tighten their belts, Grab Thailand is stepping in with a bold new lifeline. The food delivery giant has launched a series of targeted initiatives aimed at helping small restaurant operators and solo entrepreneurs survive the current financial crunch, complete with zero commission deals, AI tools and micro-loans. Chantsuda Thananitayaudom, country head of Grab…
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Thai official accused of attempted abduction in Pathum Thani
A woman from the provincial administrative organisation in northern Thailand yesterday reported a distrurbing incident to Ko Kret police in Pathum Thani. The 38 year old, identified as A (a pseudonym), accused a male colleague of attempting to lure her into a motel against her will. The incident reportedly took place on Thursday, June 19 at 11.30pm, following a party at…
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Thai officials dismantle wildlife trafficking network at Jam Pong
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, in collaboration with several agencies, dismantled a wildlife carcass trafficking network at Jam Pong checkpoint, arresting two Laotians with over 100 kilogrammes of rare wildlife carcasses intended for sale. Investigations are ongoing to expand the case and proceed with legal action. Yesterday, June 25, the operation was led by Chaincharn Sriyong,…
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Husband hides in pineapple field after Sri Racha knife rampage
A newlywed’s flat turned into a house of horror after a blazing row between a young couple ended in bloodshed, with the husband fleeing into a pineapple field to dodge arrest in Sri Racha. Police were called to a rented room in Moo 5, Khao Khansong, Sri Racha, just after 7pm, Monday, June 23 where they found 21 year old…
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Bangkok protest shuts hospital clinics, triggers traffic meltdown
Bangkok is bracing for chaos this Saturday as a major political protest near Victory Monument forces a leading hospital to shut its doors and the police to warn of severe traffic disruption across the Ratchathewi district. Ramathibodi Hospital announced the suspension of services at its special and premium clinics on Saturday, June 28, from 3pm onwards, citing safety concerns over…
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Cambodian vendors leave Chong Chom market amid border tensions
Cambodian vendors at Chong Chom border market in Dan subdistrict, Kap Choeng district, Surin province, are closing their shops and heading back to Cambodia. This follows a request for cooperation from officials to return home until the border situation normalises. Many vendors are organising significant sales, offering discounts of 40 to 50% on items like shoes, mattresses, and underwear, to…
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Swinging street: Catfight erupts near Pattaya Walking Street (video)
Pattaya’s party scene took a wild turn yesterday when a vicious catfight between two Thai women, captured in a now-viral 79-second clip, exploded just steps from the city’s infamous Walking Street, all while bars blared music like it was still midnight. The bust-up broke out behind the Marine Hotel in South Pattaya as a rowdy crowd of Thai and foreign…
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Explosive motorcycle at Phuket Airport safely destroyed
The director of Phuket International Airport reported that a suspicious motorcycle found at the airport had been destroyed after being confirmed as containing explosives. This did not affect flight operations, and flights continued as usual. Monchai Tahanod, director of Phuket Airport, stated that at 3.40pm yesterday, June 25, Phuket Provincial Police coordinated the arrest of a suspect with a plot…
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People’s Party wavers on Bhumjaithai’s shock no-confidence move
The People’s Party (PP) seems hesitant to join the Bhumjaithai Party’s initiative to call for a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra once Parliament reconvenes on July 3. Parit Wacharasindhu, a PP list MP and party spokesperson, indicated that Bhumjaithai needs to consult with other parties to justify the necessity of a no-confidence motion. Observers suggest that without broader…
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Legless British tourist sprawls sparks mile-long jam in Pattaya
A legless British tourist brought central Pattaya to a standstill after collapsing in the middle of a busy road and refusing to move, triggering a tailback nearly a kilometre long. The bizarre booze-fuelled blockade unfolded at 5pm on June 23, when stunned drivers reported a foreign man lying across the entrance to Soi 11, just off Pattaya Central Road. Senior…
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73 year old woman falls to death from Bangkok condominium
A 73 year old woman tragically fell to her death from the 21st floor of a condominium in the Charansanitwong area, Bangkok. According to rescue workers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, the woman fell from the 17th floor, with her body landing in two parts: one half on the fifth floor, near a fitness room, and the other at ground level.…
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Paetongtarn visits Sa Kaeo for border security and crime talks
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is scheduled to visit Sa Kaeo province today to provide support to frontline personnel amid increased border security measures and rising concerns over cross-border crime. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub announced yesterday, June 25, that the visit will start at 10am and will be attended by key Cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham…
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Bangkok cops arrest major drug dealer, seizing drugs worth millions
Police in Bangkok apprehended 45 year old man, believed to be a major drug distributor in the Thonburi area. During the operation, police seized 600,000 methamphetamine pills, 4 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, and 56 kilogrammes of ketamine. The arrest of the man, Vasupol, also known as Boy, took place yesterday, June 25, at around 5pm. Under the direction of Police…
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Burning questions: Inferno brews above famed Pattaya beer bar
Staff, holidaymakers and residents fled in panic after an inferno tore through a room above a popular Pattaya beer bar, sending flames and thick smoke pouring into the street. The fire broke out at 5.06pm, yesterday, June 25, in a four-storey building housing The Chalawan Beer Bar on the ground floor, with residential rooms above. It sparked a full-scale emergency…
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Thailand urged to act on gender law after marriage bill
Advocates are calling on the government to speed up the enactment of a gender recognition law following Thailand’s historic legalisation of same-sex marriage. People’s Party MP Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Children, Youth, Women, Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Ethnic Groups and LGBTI+, stated, “Gender recognition is our next mission.” Tunyawaj addressed this during the Law Out…
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Motorcycle crash leaves trio bloodied in late-night Pattaya smash
A late-night motorcycle crash left three people sprawled across the tarmac in a tangled mess of twisted metal and bloodied limbs after two black Honda PCX scooters collided head-on in Soi Khao Noi, Pattaya. The smash happened just after midnight, today, June 26, prompting a rapid response from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan rescue team. At the scene, medics found both…
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Market row turns ugly as perfume punks brawl in Pattaya
A brawl broke out in a Pattaya night market after a petty squabble over loud music escalated into a punch-up, with one stallholder ending up in hospital. Emergency crews raced to the Threpprasit Soi Market just before midnight yesterday, June 25, after reports of a violent bust-up between rival vendors. They arrived to find a bloodied clothing seller nursing bruises…
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2 rescued from ravine after motorbike crash near Patong
A dramatic rescue unfolded early this morning as two people were safely retrieved from a deep ravine after their motorbike crashed along the road to Tri Trang Beach, south of Patong. The Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation received an emergency call at 3.05am today, June 25, alerting them to the accident in which a motorbike had plunged into the ravine, leaving the…
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Chiang Rai café caught serving kratom tea to schoolkids
A café in Chiang Rai has been raided by local officials for illegally selling kratom leaf tea to teenage students. The operation, led by Chiang Rai Governor Charin Thongsuk, uncovered a disturbing trend of youths consuming the stimulant-laced tea during school hours and late into the night. Officers found 19 students, some still in school uniform, at the café on…
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MP Rangsiman wins defamation case against ex-senator Upakit
In a major legal victory for opposition MP Rangsiman Rome, the Criminal Court has acquitted him of defamation charges brought by former senator Upakit Pachariyangkun. The court ruled that Rangsiman’s remarks were made in good faith, as part of his duty as a Member of Parliament, and did not constitute defamation. The case stemmed from comments Rangsiman made on April…
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Swedish fraudster arrested in Pattaya in transnational crime bust
A major fraud case has led to the arrest of a Swedish national in Pattaya as immigration police continue their crackdown on transnational crime. The 39 year old suspect, identified as Ludde, was apprehended in a condominium in the bustling tourist district, following a red notice warrant issued by European authorities. The suspect, wanted by Stockholm courts and European law…
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Thailand’s cannabis crackdown: New rules could kill the green rush
Thailand promised to introduce tough new rules to regulate the sale and use of cannabis products in the country. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin signed a new regulation yesterday, June 24, which aims to crack down on widespread cannabis sales, restricting usage and access even further. Under the new rules, all cannabis purchases will now require a medical prescription. Consumers…
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Finnish murder suspect arrested in Thailand by undercover police
Immigration Division 3 investigators disguised themselves as fitness trainers to apprehend an international criminal hiding in Thailand. Finnish national Daniel Reijo Karvonen, wanted for murder and drug-related crimes, was arrested yesterday, June 24, after being under investigation for some time. At 1.30pm, Police Major General Chairit Anurit, head of Immigration Division 3, ordered a team to conduct a raid on…
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Thai businessman loses 22 million baht to mistress, posing as royalty
A Thai businessman lost about 22 million baht to a romance scammer who also posed as royalty to gain his trust. The victim, Thian, and his family appeared on the news programme Hone Krasae to share their story with the public in the hope of finding a solution. Thian explained that he and his wife, Joei, operated a window-cleaning business, but…
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Phuket deputy mayor jailed for corruption, 4 others appeal verdict
A corruption scandal in Phuket continues to unfold as Deputy Mayor Thaworn Chirapattanasophon faces a four-year jail sentence for his alleged involvement in a botched construction project. The case, which has caught the attention of both local and national authorities, centres around the Bang Yai Canal construction project that was never completed according to the contract. Despite this, an extension…
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