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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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Thailand slams Hun Sen and Hun Manet assassination plot claims
Thailand has fiercely denied claims from Cambodia that it plotted to assassinate two of the country’s most powerful leaders. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) hit back after Cambodia’s Minister of Information reportedly accused Thailand of conspiring to kill Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet, citing so-called foreign intelligence sources. The allegations surfaced on social media…
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Pattaya police launch ‘Clean Station’ blitz to impress tourists
Pattaya police are scrubbing up their image with a bold new Clean Station campaign, aiming to boost public trust and impress international tourists through spotless facilities and stricter hygiene standards. In a move to boost public confidence and impress tourists, Chief of Pattaya City Police Station Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyoo launched the Royal Thai Police (RTP)’s Clean Station campaign, a…
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Grab’s AI translator and big discounts woo Thailand’s expats
Grab Thailand is turning its attention to Thailand’s growing expat population — and it’s rolling out smart features and generous perks to win them over. With more than 5.3 million non-Thai residents now living in Thailand—an 8% jump since 2019—the company has seen delivery orders from expats skyrocket by over 50% in the past 12 months, signalling a major shift…
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Gruesome murder mystery unfolds in Trang forest
In the depths of a dense forest in Trang province, a deceased man was found in a gruesome state, with his mouth gagged and his hands and feet bound. Believed to have been dead for four days, the discovery was made yesterday, August 4. The police are now working to unravel the circumstances surrounding this murder. Police from the Rassada…
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Thai Air Force denies Cambodia’s MK-84 bomb purchase claims
The Royal Thai Air Force has refuted Cambodia’s claims of purchasing MK-84 bombs from Israel, suggesting that a neutral third party should verify the allegations. They emphasised that their operations comply with international laws and humanitarian principles, along with the right to self-defence. Today, August 5, Heng Ratana, director of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), alleged that the MK-84…
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Phuket man arrested for raping unconscious woman on video
A 40 year old man has been arrested in Phuket after he allegedly raped his girlfriend’s unconscious best friend and secretly filmed the assault. Police say the shocking incident occurred after a birthday party earlier this year. The suspect, Yotsaphan Wichetwarinwet, originally from Hat Yai, was apprehended by officers from Wichit Police Station while applying for a job at a…
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Abbot wounded in temple shooting, suspect flees in Loei
Two abbots were involved in a late-night altercation that escalated into a shooting at a well-known temple in Chiang Khan. A bullet struck one abbot near his left ear, and the gunman fled in a sedan. Police are currently investigating the incident and pursuing the suspect. Today, August 5, police from the Chiang Khan Police Station reported an incident yesterday,…
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Thailand video news | North Korea applauds Thai-Cambodian ceasefire, Phuket launches second phase of drug crackdown
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring you a mix of major developments and unusual moments from across the country. From North Korea praising the Thai-Cambodian ceasefire to Phuket’s intensified drug crackdown, the headlines also include new traffic ticket reforms, a drone ban in Pattaya, and a miraculous forest rescue in Phitsanulok. Meanwhile, Leicester City FC weighs in…
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Major illegal cigarette smuggling ring busted in Kanchanaburi
A significant illegal cigarette smuggling operation was thwarted by the Ladan Yao Task Force of the Surasi Forces, capturing a man transporting nearly 10 million baht worth of contraband cigarettes. The incident occurred today, August 5, at the 9th Infantry Division headquarters, where Commander Major General Atsadawut Panyarachun, leading the Surasi Forces, coordinated with Athit San Intra, the Governor of…
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Unidentified foreign woman’s body found on Kamala Beach, Phuket
The body of a foreign woman was found washed up on Kamala Beach, Phuket, on the evening of yesterday, August 4, prompting an investigation by local police and forensic officials. The identity of the woman has not yet been established. Kamala Police were informed of the incident at approximately 6.30pm. Police Lieutenant Colonel Thanapop Rattanaburi, a forensic doctor from Vachira…
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Thailand’s booze ad crackdown clears final Senate hurdle
Cheers are being silenced in Thailand — at least on your screens. The Thai Senate has passed controversial new amendments to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, tightening restrictions on how alcohol can be promoted, advertised, and even associated with public events. With 105 votes in favour, 2 against, 12 abstentions and 1 non-vote, the bill sailed through the second and…
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Phuket police arrest trio, seize over 6,000 meth pills
Thalang Police in Phuket have detained three people suspected of drug trafficking, confiscating more than 6,000 methamphetamine pills, known locally as ya bah, and over 300 grammes of crystal meth, referred to as ya ice, during a targeted operation against a local drug network. The apprehensions occurred yesterday, August 4, led by investigators from Thalang Police Station under Police Lieutenant…
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Thai Airways shares take off again after 5-year pause
After five years of being grounded, Thai Airways (THAI) shares are finally cleared for takeoff. Trading of the national carrier’s stock will resume on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) yesterday, August 4, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s dramatic recovery from one of the biggest corporate meltdowns in Thai history. The move follows THAI’s exit from court-supervised debt…
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Pattaya convenience store clash leaves one injured in love triangle row
In Pattaya’s Nongprue subdistrict, an altercation occurred outside a convenience store yesterday, August 4, resulting in injuries to one person. The incident was reported at 10.06pm, prompting a swift response from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Unit and Banglamung Police. Upon arrival at Moo 6 in Nongprue, police discovered a scene of disarray with damaged items scattered around. The injured…
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Phuket drug bust nets 6,000 pills and ‘Ice queen’ ringleader
Three suspected drug traffickers are behind bars after police seized more than 6,000 methamphetamine (meth) pills and over 300 grammes of crystal meth (Ice) in a major Phuket sting. Thalang Police moved in yesterday, August 4, targeting a known drug network operating in Thepkrasattri. Officers arrested 27 year old Bank, his 24 year old girlfriend Pop, and 29 year old…
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Swedish tourist arrested for flying drone over Pattaya Beach
In Pattaya, Thailand, on August 3, at 10pm, Pattaya Special Affairs officers apprehended a 28 year old Swedish tourist for operating a drone over Pattaya Beach without the necessary permission. The tourist, whose name has not been disclosed, was questioned with the help of an interpreter. He explained that he had just arrived in Pattaya and was attempting to capture…
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Cambodian beggars with babies flood Pattaya streets
Beggars clutching babies have returned to Pattaya’s bustling streets, as Cambodian women flood tourist zones in desperate bids for survival. On Sunday night, August 3, reporters uncovered scores of Cambodian beggars scattered throughout the city, particularly outside convenience stores and nightlife hotspots. Despite repeated crackdowns, the same faces reappear just weeks after being deported. This time, they’re back — and…
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Cambodian workers flock to border to return home
Around 500 Cambodian workers gathered at the Ban Khlong Luek permanent border crossing in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, seeking to return to Cambodia. Many were accompanied by children and carried numerous belongings, as they queued to cross the border. The primary reason provided for this mass return was phone calls from family members urging them to come home immediately.…
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Thai government lifts poker ban in shock legal U-turn
Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has signed an order to legalise poker gambling, paving the way for the game to be recognised as an international sport and potentially opening doors for future competitions on Thai soil. Speaking to the media yesterday, August 4, Phumtham confirmed he had signed a ministerial order legalising poker under specific conditions. “It’s a sensitive matter…
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Cambodian drones dominate border surveillance, Thai Defence Ministry confirms
Recent surveillance activities along the border have revealed that most drones originate from Cambodia, as confirmed by the Defence Ministry. Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit stated yesterday, August 4, that all incursions have been recorded, complete with photographic evidence and coordinates. Although the majority of drones observed along the border are from Cambodia, Nattaphon noted that the drone seen in…
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Truck driver charged after Phuket underpass carnage injures 3
A truck driver has been charged with reckless driving after a violent crash in Phuket’s Darasamut Underpass left three people injured and several vehicles smashed in a high-impact pile-up. The chaos unfolded last Friday, August 1, when the driver, behind the wheel of a palm oil truck, slammed into four vehicles while heading towards Chalong. Police say the trucker, who…
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Woman found dead at bus stop on Suwinthawong Road
A woman’s body was discovered under a roadside bus stop shelter along Suwinthawong Road, heading towards Chachoengsao province, on the evening of yesterday, August 4. Police Colonel Pakorn Chukhaw from Min Buri Police Station reported the incident at 7.40pm. Medical examiners from Police General Hospital and Poh Teck Tung Foundation officials were called to the scene. The location was a…
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Thailand braces for thunderstorms in 32 provinces amid heatwave
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts that over the next 24 hours, 32 provinces in Thailand will experience rain and thunderstorms. The Bangkok metropolitan area faces particularly high temperatures, reaching up to 37 degrees Celsius. The weakening southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand, combined with a low-pressure system over northern Vietnam, is contributing to…
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Missing French woman found dead near Angkor Wat in Cambodia
A French woman was found dead near the popular tourist attraction, Angkor Wat, in Cambodia after going missing during a morning jog on Saturday, August 2. A friend of the French woman, Lisa Girard, provided an update on the search at 12.55pm today, August 4, confirming that Girard’s body had been found earlier in the day. The friend also expressed…
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79 year old Thai woman rescued after 3 days lost in Phitsanulok forest
Officials and locals in the northern province of Phitsanulok rescued a 79 year old Thai woman after she went into the forest to search for bamboo shoots and disappeared for three days. The woman, Pim, entered the Khao Nam Dam mountain range in Don Thong sub-district, Mueang district, Phitsanulok province, at around 6am on Friday, August 1. Local administrative officials,…
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Thai man confesses to killing mother and hiding body in cement-filled bathtub
A Thai man surrendered himself to the police today, August 4, and confessed to killing his mother two weeks ago before hiding her body in a bathtub filled with cement. The 33 year old man, Tarn, visited Romklao Police Station in the Romklao, Lat Krabang district, Bangkok to confess to the crime. Officers rushed to his home in Soi Romklao…
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Thai boy fatally stabbed and stripped over friend’s romantic rivalry
A 16 year old Thai boy and four of his friends turned themselves in at Bang Si Mueang Police Station in Nonthaburi province after fatally stabbing a 15 year old boy and stripping the victim’s body in an apparent act of humiliation. Police officers and rescue workers were called to a road between Soi Bang Si Mueang 20 and 24…
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Thai man loses leg after disassembling live grenade at home
A Thai man lost his left leg after an M79 grenade exploded at his home in the central province of Lop Buri as he was attempting to disassemble the device to sell its copper components. Officers from Mueang Lop Buri Police Station and rescue workers responded to the incident at a house in Thasala district, Lop Buri, yesterday, August 3,…
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Phuket intensifies drug crackdown with new phase of national campaign
Phuket Provincial Police have initiated the second phase of the national No Drugs, No Dealers campaign, intensifying their efforts to dismantle drug networks and promote drug-free communities on the island. This campaign aligns with a directive from Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who is temporarily fulfilling the role of Prime Minister, to address the drug crisis as…
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Thai MECC rescues stranded fishermen after two days at sea
Three fishermen were rescued by the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai MECC 3) after being stranded at sea for two days due to an engine failure. The rescue operation took place yesterday, August 3. A distress call received at approximately midday through the department’s 1465 hotline prompted Thai MECC 3 to take action. Pratakorn, who made the…
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