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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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Police seize illegal e-cigarettes and ketamine in Bangkok raid
On July 29, police apprehended a Chinese national named Ham at a condominium in the Rama 3 area. The arrest followed the seizure of over 20,000 pieces of electronic cigarette components, including more than 1,000 ready-to-sell vape pods, 10 gallons of e-cigarette liquid, and 2.8 grammes of ketamine. The operation stemmed from an earlier arrest involving a Thai national selling…
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Pattaya motorbike gang traps delivery driver in midnight road rage (video)
A 26 year old delivery rider was left shaken after he claimed he was surrounded, threatened, and assaulted by a group of furious motorcycle taxi drivers in the early hours of Tuesday. The drama began around 11pm on Tuesday, July 29, when Narongchay Boonsom was pulling out from a parking spot on Second Road, near the Marine Plaza Hotel in…
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Thailand opens first cancer drug manufacturing facility
The Chulabhorn Royal Academy has inaugurated Thailand’s first cancer medication manufacturing facility, certified by the internationally recognised GMDP PIC/s. Located at the Phimanmas Residence in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, the facility is a significant milestone for the country, ensuring the highest production standards. This initiative was driven by the vision of Professor Doctor Chulabhorn Walailak, a member of the…
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Former laundry owner arrested for Buriram coin machine thefts
A former owner of a coin-operated laundry business has been arrested for breaking into coin-operated washing machines. The business was initially successful but collapsed due to the impact of Covid-19, allegedly leading him to seek funds for online gambling and drug use. Police Colonel Chamrat Siriliang, along with an investigative team from Mueang Buriram Police Station, apprehended 34 year old…
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Phuket drowning in rubbish: Mayor vows not to quit
Mayor Suphot La-ongphet of Phuket City is standing firm as the island faces a mounting waste management crisis, with garbage piling up faster than it can be processed. On Tuesday, July 29, at 5.30pm, the mayor visited the Phuket Central Waste Disposal Centre to assess the worsening situation. He was joined by Director of the Engineering Office Yutthana Kanchanaphak to…
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Trang police raid drug gang after murder linked to 33 year old
Trang police, alongside Region 9 officers, conducted raids at nine locations across Trang and Phatthalung provinces, targeting a drug gang linked to the murder of 33 year old Taweechai. The case involves his wife, who reportedly received significant funds in her bank account. The incident began with the discovery of Taweechai’s body, buried in a wooded area behind Hua Khao…
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Cambodia ‘catches’ Thai spy pigeon, Thais in stitches
Cambodia has become the butt of online jokes after claiming it caught a Thai “spy pigeon” fitted with GPS tracking. The bizarre claim emerged when the Facebook page Battambang Post posted a photo of the captured bird. The pigeon was found wearing ankle bands marked with the word “THAILAND”, sparking wild claims it was part of a Thai military surveillance…
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Lottery enthusiasts brave rain for lucky numbers in Ang Thong
Yesterday, July 30, lottery enthusiasts gathered behind Wat Bot Ratchasathat in Bang Rakam subdistrict, Pho Thong district, Ang Thong province, to seek lucky numbers from the revered Phaya Bung, a spider. Despite the persistent rain, they remained undeterred, performing a ritual involving incense sticks and flowers to request numbers, hoping to use them for the August 1 lottery. Participants in…
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Man dies in Kanchanaburi car crash after fleeing police checkpoint
A 25 year old man died after his car crashed into a utility pole in Mueang Kanchanaburi district. The incident occurred at 10.45pm on July 30, with the impact splitting the vehicle in two, revealing firearms and kratom water bottles inside. CCTV footage from a local restaurant captured the moment the car lost control and collided with a roadside pole…
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Mysterious body found at Bang Saen Beach, police seek identity
Residents and tourists at Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri were startled by the discovery of a mysterious body, believed to have been deceased for over three days. The police are urging anyone who may recognise the person to contact them immediately. At 2.30am today, July 31, police from Saen Suk Police Station were informed about a body washed ashore…
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Thailand braces for heavy rain across 36 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for 36 provinces in Thailand to prepare for heavy rainfall, particularly in parts of the north and upper northeastern regions. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates a decrease in rain across the country, though heavy rain remains in some areas. Residents are advised to stay alert for potential…
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Pet paradise unleashed at Bangkok’s epic expo
Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre is set to transform into a wonderland of whiskers, wagging tails and wild surprises as the Pet Expo Championship 2025 kicks off with the theme The Magical Land of Friendship. Running daily starting tomorrow, July 31, from 10am to 8pm until Sunday, August 3, the event promises non-stop fun, furry festivities and some serious…
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Thaksin hospital scandal: Supreme Court sets verdict date
The Supreme Court has set September 9 as the day it will deliver its verdict in a highly watched case probing whether former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was unlawfully spared prison time by bunking down in the Police General Hospital (PGH) instead of a jail cell. The court concluded its seventh and final hearing in the self-initiated inquiry this week,…
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Holy water hype: Revered Thai monk’s bowl sparks lotto frenzy (video)
Superstitious Thais are going wild again over a “miraculous” holy water bowl in the run-up to the August 1 lottery draw, convinced it’s brimming with lucky numbers. With the Government Lottery draw looming on Friday, August 1, hopeful punters across Thailand are once again placing their faith in sacred rituals, and this time, all eyes are on the holy water…
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Next US ambassador to Thailand says border clashes do nothing to strengthen alliance
Thai netizens criticised the next US ambassador to Thailand, Sean Kotaro O’Neill, after he commented on the recent clashes at the Thai-Cambodian border. O’Neill, the former US Consul General in Chiang Mai, was recently nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the next ambassador to Thailand. Following his nomination, O’Neill was asked to share his views on the ongoing…
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Paetongtarn gets final lifeline in leaked tape scandal
Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been granted a last-minute reprieve by the Constitutional Court, which voted 5–4 in favour of extending her deadline to submit a defence in the now-infamous leaked audio scandal involving Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. The decision, announced yesterday, July 29, allows Paetongtarn until August 4 to respond, a final extension under Section 31 of…
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Indonesia reconsiders SEA Games participation amid Thailand-Cambodia tentions
Indonesia expressed hesitation in participating in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), citing concerns that tensions between Thailand and Cambodia could affect the safety of athletes during the event. The Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports, Ario Bimo Nandito, commonly known as Dito Ariotedjo, told reporters in Jakarta that his ministry, together with the National Olympic Committee (NOC), is…
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Armed gang brawl erupts at Phuket’s Saphan Hin fest
A fiery clash between rival youth gangs turned Phuket’s Parn Hin festival into a crime scene late last night, with weapons seized and three suspects in custody after a confrontation involving firecrackers, knives, and even a homemade gun. The incident erupted around 10.30pm yesterday, July 29, near the central stage at the Saphan Hin fairground, where witnesses reported two groups…
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Knives and walkie-talkies found in Bangkok school sweep
Bangkok police uncovered a stash of weapons hidden across two prominent educational institutions during a sweeping raid ahead of a major school celebration. Yesterday, July 29, more than 100 officers mobilised in Pathum Wan district for a coordinated crackdown targeting the Pathumwan Institute of Technology and Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok. The operation aimed to prevent clashes and violence during…
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Thai man shot while riding motorcycle on Samut Prakan road
Police are searching for a gunman who shot a Thai man while he was riding a motorcycle on Bangna-Trat Road in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok, this morning, July 30. The Facebook page Mueang Prakan V2 reported that the shooting occurred at around 7.40am on Bangna-Trat Road, opposite the Bangna Tower office building. The victim was a 25 year old…
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Lucky pink slips: Thai top lotto picks revealed
Thailand’s favourite fortune teller is back in the spotlight as the countdown to the August 1 Government Lottery draw heats up, and Mae Jamnian’s pink slips are flying off the shelves. Renowned for her uncanny accuracy, Mae Jamnian’s lottery number predictions have once again created a nationwide buzz. Her top 10 best-selling numbers for this round are all rooted in…
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Studio7 Phuket staff fired over photo privacy scandal
An Apple retailer in Phuket has landed in hot water after a shocking breach of customer privacy ended with a private photo appearing on Tinder. Studio7, an official Apple distributor in Thailand, issued a public apology and confirmed it has fired six employees and launched legal proceedings after one of them allegedly stole a customer’s intimate photo from their phone…
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9 victims killed in Suphan Buri firecracker factory explosion
An explosion at a small firecracker factory in the central province of Suphan Buri today, July 30, killed nine people. The total number of victims is still under investigation. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers are examining two houses in Ban Pho sub-district, Mueang district, Suphan Buri province, following a report of the explosion at around 11am. The two houses was…
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Thailand considers tax breaks to boost off-peak tourism
The Revenue Department is contemplating tax incentives to boost tourism during the off-peak season, potentially enabling people to deduct travel expenses of up to 15,000 baht from their taxable income. Pinsai Suraswadi, director-general of the department, stated that discussions with the Tourism and Sports Ministry are underway to decide which provinces should be covered by these tax measures. The scope…
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US tariffs on Thailand expected to change in August
US tariffs on Thailand are anticipated to be announced on August 1 or August 2, with the rate expected to change from the current 36%, according to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. After achieving an unconditional ceasefire agreement along the Thai-Cambodian border, Pichai stated that negotiations with the US are progressing, with most issues resolved and only a few remaining. He…
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Late-night raids in Kamala and Patong net drug suspects
Phuket’s nightlife came under fire this week as authorities launched surprise raids in Kamala and Patong, arresting suspected drug users and pushing deeper into local trafficking networks. As part of the national No Drugs, No Dealers campaign, officials from the Kathu District Office carried out surprise inspections at nightlife venues in Village 3, Kamala, near Soi Pa Jak, on Monday,…
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100 million baht in compensation offered to provinces affected in border clashes
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance approved 100 million baht in compensation for residents in each province affected by the ongoing border clashes. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Phichai Chunhavajira, reported that approximately 160,000 residents in the border provinces had to evacuate to emergency shelters and were forced to stop working due to the continued violence in the area. Locals…
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Thailand enforces no-fly zones for drones in military areas
Fourteen areas across Thailand have been declared no-fly zones for drones, particularly in military regions. The Thai military is equipped with anti-drone systems along the Thai border, ready to intercept any unauthorised aerial devices. Today, July 30, Jirayu Huangsub, Government spokesperson, announced that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has prohibited drone flights in areas that could impact national…
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Pattaya fights back with bold new city health charter
Pattaya is rewriting the rules as it prepares to launch a bold new health charter aimed at cleaning up the city’s image and improving the quality of life for its residents. At the heart of the plan is the use of constitutional authority to drive sweeping reforms across three key sectors: tattoo safety, nighttime worker welfare, and protecting children from…
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Activist urges dissolution of 7 Thai parties over Thaksin influence
A complaint was filed with the Election Commission (EC) by a political activist yesterday, July 29, seeking the dissolution of seven political parties. The activist alleged that these parties permitted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to interfere in their internal operations, potentially breaching the organic law on political parties. Nopparuj Vorachitwutthikun, previously involved with the Phirap Khao (White Dove) 2006…
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