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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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Phuket soaked and stranded as downpours drench tourist zones
Phuket was left waterlogged today as torrential rain battered the island, turning major roads into canals and sparking travel chaos across popular tourist zones. From the early hours of this morning, May 14, relentless downpours lashed the districts of Mueang and Kathu, triggering flash floods in seaside subdistricts including Patong, Chalong and Rawai, three of the island’s busiest areas for…
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Chiang Mai lottery sales dip despite cultural event interest
In Chiang Mai, lottery ticket sales are seeing mixed results as the significance of key dates such as Visakha Bucha, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, and Coronation Day fuels interest. Despite this, vendors report a dip in sales due to the school term’s start. Today, May 14, it was observed that people are gradually purchasing lucky numbers at major markets around…
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True grit: New boss vows comeback cash in 100-day dash
True Corporation chief Sigve Brekke has hit the ground running, setting out a bold 100-day plan packed with promises of profit, digital dominance, and even a long-overdue payout to shareholders. Brekke, who took the reins as group chief executive in March, is banking on data, discipline and dividends to spark a revival at the telecom titan, following its blockbuster merger…
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New law expands venues selling alcohol despite Buddhist fest bans
The government is set to widen the scope of venues permitted to sell alcoholic beverages daily, following the enactment of a new law last week. This legislation allows five categories of venues to sell alcohol. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong stated that the new law, announced in the Royal Gazette on May 9 and effective from May 10, continues…
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Car catches fire after recent service, insurance confusion resolved
A 49 year old woman was left puzzled when her car, recently serviced at a centre less than a week ago, caught fire. The incident, yesterday, May 13, occurred on Theparat Road in the inbound express lane near the Highway Police Service Centre in Bang Chalong, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province. The local fire department, alongside the Poh Teck…
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Baht out of luck: Thai currency slips as greenback flexes muscle
The Thai baht is wobbling once again, with currency watchers bracing for a further slide this week as the mighty US dollar gathers steam following a temporary pause in the US-China tariff war. Analysts say the baht could weaken to as low as 33.80 per dollar in the coming days, as uncertainty lingers despite a fleeting boost in global market…
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Similan and Surin islands go off-grid: The strategy to restore Thailand’s marine paradise
Each year, at the start of the monsoon season, officials press pause on tourism at the Similan and Surin Islands. From May 16 to October 15, the national parks are officially closed to all visitors. This isn’t a random decision but an ongoing annual measure to maintain the balance of the marine ecosystem, reduce the impact of tourism, and allow…
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Man arrested for father’s murder, body found in septic tank
A man was arrested for allegedly killing his father and hiding the dismembered body in a septic tank, in Mueang Suea subdistrict, Phayakkhaphum Phisai district, Maha Sarakham province. On Monday, May 12, police were notified by Thongsai of the discovery of the body of his 84 year old father, Boonram, in the tank. Thongsai suspected his half-brother as the perpetrator,…
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Five test positive for meth in Phuket migrant worker camp inspection
In Phuket, an inspection of migrant worker camps in Thalang District resulted in five people testing positive for methamphetamine, according to officials in Thalang. The operation, conducted from 5pm to 7pm yesterday, May 13, involved a team comprising the Thalang District Office Special Operations Unit, Phuket Immigration Police, Phuket Provincial Employment Office, Sakhu Police, public health officers, and local community…
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Kratom and disorderly: Pattaya bar raided over illegal jungle juice
A Pattaya bar has landed in hot water after being caught red-handed selling kratom-laced cocktails and operating without a licence during a late-night sting by police and district officials. At around 9pm, yesterday, May 13, a special operations team from Pattaya City Police, alongside Bang Lamung district officers, swooped on a buzzing beer bar in Nong Prue, Chon Buri. The…
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Desperate Thai mother offers to sell organs to keep son alive
A Thai mother took to social media in a desperate attempt to sell her organs to raise funds to care for her one year old son and to seek a better home for the young boy. The 33 year old woman from the Isaan province of Sisaket initially shared photos of her son on Facebook to find an adoptive family.…
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Man apprehended in Bangkok over indecent filming charges
A 34 year old man was apprehended at a condominium in Bang Sue, Bangkok, following an investigation into allegations of indecent acts. Pirapong was charged under a Nakhon Si Thammarat court warrant for inappropriate behaviour towards people over 15 years old, using force in a public setting, which caused distress and humiliation. The incident occurred in 2023 when a 30 year…
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Chon Buri transgender MP seeks expulsion from People’s Party
A Member of Parliament (MP) from Chon Buri urged the People’s Party (PP) leader to expel him so he can join a new party, citing a lack of support for his work and experiences of sexism. Krit Chevathamanon, a transgender MP from the PP, held a press conference at the Parliament building yesterday, May 13, to announce his desire to…
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Homemade rocket explosion causes panic at Thai festival (video)
A homemade rocket exploded at the weekend at its launch base in Yasothon province, just as it was about to soar into the sky. This incident, which took place on Saturday, May 10, caused locals to flee for safety. The homemade rocket festival, known as Bun Bang Fai, is a tradition in northeastern Thailand, celebrated to ask for rain from…
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Foreign beggar gang busted for using kids as cash bait in Pattaya
A foreign beggar gang using children and the disabled to pull in cash from tourists has been busted in a dramatic sting operation by immigration police in Pattaya. Undercover officers, posing as holidaymakers, swooped on a group of Cambodians spotted hustling money from passersby at popular tourist spots around the city. Some of the suspects were seen carrying two or…
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Military colonel linked to online gambling escapes arrest
A military colonel is facing an arrest warrant for allegedly running an online gambling network and hiding luxury vehicles in a military camp. Police seized assets worth 10 million baht and arrested six administrators. Yesterday, May 13, the Provincial Police Region 7 in Nakhon Pathom, led by Police Major General Pongpan Wongmaneethej, conducted operations at three locations linked to the…
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Brake point: Biker gang batters Pattaya mechanic over 100 baht
A Pattaya mechanic was left bloodied and bruised after a gang of angry teens stormed his workshop and beat him senseless, all over a 100-baht parking fee. The shocking attack happened yesterday, May 13, at 1pm, when police were called to a motorcycle repair shop on Soi Khao Noi, near the railway in Chon Buri province. Responding officers found 27…
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Cha-am theft ring busted, stolen goods used to buy methamphetamine
A group involved in numerous thefts across Cha-am, Phetchaburi, targeting electrical wires and appliances, was apprehended. The suspects, who used the stolen proceeds to purchase methamphetamine, were involved in nearly 10 cases. Victims can inspect the recovered items at Cha-am Police Station. Police Lieutenant General Naiwat Phadermchit led the operation yesterday, May 13, at 2.30pm. The suspects, identified as 47…
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Thai man murders 2 year old stepdaughter for interrupting sex
A Thai stepfather murdered his two year old disabled stepdaughter for interrupting him while he was having sex. The child’s body was later found in a river in the northern province of Chiang Rai, . Police apprehended the stepfather yesterday, May 13, after the girl’s family reported her missing on May 10. They stated to officers at Mae Fah Luang…
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Toyota Fortuner accident in Phetchabun claims life, injures another (video)
A Toyota Fortuner yesterday veered off course and crashed into two people waiting for a bus under a tree by a dual carriageway. The accident, yesterday, May 13, occurred near an intersection in Na Chaliang, Mueang Phetchabun district, resulting in one death and one injury. The incident was captured on CCTV and shared on the Facebook page ข่าวคนรักบ่อไทย (Khao Khon…
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Swedish man denies sexually harassing his Thai-Swedish daughter
A Swedish man denied sexually harassing his half-Thai, half-Swedish biological daughter at a hotel in the Isaan province of Udon Thani and accused his Thai ex-wife of fabricating the crime for financial gain. The 29 year old Thai woman, Suay, lodged a sexual harassment complaint with Muang Udon Thani Police Station and urged officers to rescue her 16 year old…
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Chiang Rai massage parlour busted for illegal activities
Police in Chiang Rai arrested a massage parlour operating as a front for prostitution, utilising undercover agents to confirm illegal activities. The establishment charged between 1,000 and 3,000 baht per hour, depending on the employee’s age and appearance. Yesterday, May 13, Chiang Rai Governor Charin Thongsuk, alongside Police Major General Manop Senakul, the Chiang Rai Provincial Police chief, and Police…
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Phuket red mist: Daft foreign tourist climbs traffic light to go green
A hapless foreign tourist in Phuket sparked outrage after climbing a traffic light pole in the middle of the night, in a bizarre bid to turn it green. The impatient biker, riding through the Samkong intersection at 1.20am, today, May 14, decided he’d had enough of waiting at a red light. So, in a moment of madness, he ditched his…
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Escaped Thai prisoner recaptured after 50,000 baht reward offered
A prisoner convicted of drug-related charges has been apprehended after escaping from Na Thawi district prison. This followed the offering of a 50,000 baht reward for information leading to his capture. Today, May 14, the Na Thawi district prison’s Facebook page, under the Department of Corrections and Ministry of Justice, announced the escape of a male prisoner convicted under the…
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Bomb attack injures two officers in Pattani’s Yaring district
An explosive attack on a military truck belonging to the 44th Ranger Regiment Task Force in Pattani has left two officers injured. The attack took place at 1pm yesterday, May 13, when unidentified assailants planted a bomb in Yaring district. The explosive device, weighing approximately 15 kilogrammes, was hidden in the median of Highway 41. The blast injured two officers…
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Thai girl denied by police father gets support from TV host
A 16 year old Thai girl received educational support from a well-known news host after her mother was diagnosed with brain tumours, and her high-ranking police officer father refused to care for her. A female massage shop owner, Piao, went to an online community to seek help for her employee, Rung, and Rung’s teenage daughter, Noo Dee. The two wanted to…
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Brace yourself: It’s a ‘rai-ny’ day forecast for 46 Thai provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today issued a weather warning, predicting thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across 46 provinces in Thailand, including significant downpours in Bangkok, affecting 70% of the area. Residents are cautioned against possible flash floods and sudden flooding, particularly in hilly regions and areas near water flow paths. In the next 24 hours, the southern and upper regions…
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Audit and buried: Bangkok earthquake horror sparks 17 arrest bids
Bangkok cops are gunning for 17 suspects over the deadly collapse of a 30-storey government tower during the March 28 earthquake, with a damning probe pointing fingers at engineers, site managers and bosses from the firms behind the doomed build. Those facing arrest include execs from Italian-Thai Development and China Railway No.10 Engineering Group, whose joint venture was constructing the…
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Strong wind topples tree onto motorcyclist in Chon Buri
A 21 year old woman suffered a broken arm when a tree fell on her motorcycle during a strong wind, causing significant damage to the vehicle. The accident occurred at 11pm, yesterday, on May 12 on the Phanat Nikhom-Nong Samet road in Mueang district, Chon Buri province. Emergency services were called to the scene by the Sawang Het Ban Thung…
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Knife fever: Brit suspect flees after Frenchman knifed in Phuket
A Frenchman is fighting for his life after being savagely stabbed outside a Phuket nightclub, with one British suspect fleeing the country and another still on the run. What began as a wild night out in Cherngtalay turned into a horror scene in the early hours of Sunday, May 11, when 29 year old French tourist, Nubel, was knifed three…
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