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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 Top digital marketing and SEO agency: Why brands choose Convert Cake
A strong digital presence is a must for any business chasing market share and growth in this day and age. But turning that ambition into tangible results? That takes the right partner. And if you’ve been looking for a top...
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Thailand targets 2.8 trillion baht tourism revenue in 2026
Thailand is chasing a high-stakes travel comeback — and it’s banking on quality over quantity to get there. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled its bold vision for 2026: raking in a staggering 2.8 trillion baht in tourism revenue and breaking into the world’s top 10 countries for tourism income. It’s an ambitious leap — a 5% boost from…
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Education Minister’s jeans stir controversy over teacher dress code
Education Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat ignited an online debate after wearing jeans during an official school visit in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The incident raised questions about why female teachers are not permitted to wear jeans to school, despite the minister’s casual attire. Narumon and other officials from the Ministry of Education visited schools in Nakhon Si Thammarat…
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Man arrested after targeting coin-operated car washes in Bangkok
Metropolitan police apprehended a 41 year old man after he allegedly broke into coin-operated car wash machines twice. Facing unemployment and financial difficulties, the suspect, Pongpan admitted to committing these crimes. The arrest took place on July 18 at a rented room in Din Daeng district, Bangkok. On July 2, around 5pm, the victim received a report from a relative that…
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Hippo-critically trained! Zoo drills escape with porky starlet Moo Deng (video)
A runaway hippo, a hospital dash, and a frantic chase, all part of a wild drill at one of Thailand’s top zoos that starred none other than the country’s most beloved chunky celeb, Moo Deng. At exactly 1.35pm yesterday, July 21, Khao Kheow Open Zoo went into mock lockdown as part of a high-stakes animal escape drill, with Moo Deng,…
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Stranded boat captain rescued after 4 hours in Krabi sea
A Thai boat captain escaped with his life after his delivery boat capsized during a thunderstorm and he floated in the sea for four hours near Koh Mai Phai and Koh Phi Phi in the southern province of Krabi. The Krabi Provincial Port Security Control Centre was alerted on the afternoon of Sunday, July 20, that a hotel on Koh…
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Thailand Video News | Wipha wallop: landslide fears as storm lashes Thailand, Japanese man, 62, busted for street dancing in bikini cosplay
Thailand faces severe weather warnings from Tropical Storm Wipha while tackling social and legal challenges—from child protection efforts and a major building collapse investigation to viral local stories and fast-track immigration services. Meanwhile, a clever cashier dog in Ang Thong is brightening spirits amid serious news across the country. Paws and pay: Pooch turns cashier in Ang Thong diner A…
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Thai restaurants on the brink as costs soar and diners vanish
Thailand’s once-vibrant restaurant scene is in hot water — and not just in the kitchen. A toxic mix of soaring costs, shrinking foot traffic, and underwhelming tourism has left the Thai food industry on the verge of collapse. Many eateries are bleeding cash, with daily revenue dropping by more than 50%, according to the Thai Restaurant Association. “Restaurant owners are…
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Comedian involved in car and motorcycle crash in Ayutthaya
In the early hours of this morning, a collision occurred involving a car and a motorcycle on U Thong Road near the Health Intersection in Horattanachai subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district. The 19 year old motorcyclist, named Phutthiphon, sustained severe injuries, including a broken jaw and a deformed leg, at 12.40am today, July 22. The driver of the car,…
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Bangkok delivery rider caught with Trump-themed ecstasy pills
Police in Chok Chai apprehended a 35 year old delivery rider at a checkpoint on Lat Phrao Road, Bangkok, on July 21. He was found in possession of 59 ecstasy pills, which bore the likeness of former US President Donald Trump. The arrest of the suspect, Ekarin, also known as Diao, was part of a routine traffic and crime suppression…
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Thai transwoman brutally assaulted and raped by obsessed attacker
A Thai transwoman in Chiang Mai is seeking justice after being brutally assaulted and raped by a man with whom she had previously had a one-night stand and rejected his romantic advances. The transgender victim, Bell, sought help from the Emmy Volunteer Team after being unable to escape her attacker. Bell told the team she nearly lost her life during…
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Ex-Thai beauty queen accuses MP of shady 120k baht transfer
A beauty queen-turned-entrepreneur has sparked political fireworks by accusing a ruling party MP of pocketing a dodgy cash transfer, and she’s brought receipts. Netdao Watchainanwong, better known as Madame Cher, filed a formal complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), claiming that Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) MP Sutham Jaritngam unlawfully accepted 120,000 baht from her bank account. Netdao, a former…
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Zoom and gloom as woman biker slams van at red light in Pattaya
Thailand’s roads turned deadly again as a young woman was left fighting for her life after ploughing her motorbike into the back of a stationary van in Pattaya in the early hours of yesterday morning. The horror smash happened at 3.30am yesterday, July 21 on Sukhumvit Road near Soi Siam Country Club, when 24 year old Chanaphon Huadsi crashed her…
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Gale warning! Phuket reels as freak storm rocks island (video)
Phuket was left battered and on edge after a violent tropical storm tore across the island, killing one and injuring another, with officials warning the danger isn’t over yet. Governor Sophon Suwannarat urged residents, tourists and boat operators to stay on high alert after the Sunday downpour unleashed chaos across all three districts, Mueang, Thalang and Kathu, smashing into 17…
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Indian man arrested for trying to smuggle cannabis from Thailand to Cambodia
Police yesterday, July 21, arrested an Indian national in the central province of Chanthaburi for the illegal possession and attempted smuggling of nearly 20 kilogrammes of cannabis flowers. Officials from Chanthaburi Immigration, along with police officers, were patrolling Ban Laem Market in Pong Nam Ron district when they noticed a suspicious-looking Indian man. He reportedly behaved nervously upon encountering the…
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Myanmar national caught smuggling cigarettes worth 2 million baht
A 20 year old Myanmar national was apprehended for smuggling illicit cigarettes, valued at over 2 million baht, via natural routes along the Sangkhla Buri border. The shipment was destined for the Ban Phra Chedi Sam Ong Market. Yesterday, July 21, Police Major General Atsadawut Panyaraoon, commander of the 9th Infantry Division and head of the Surasi Task Force, along…
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Bangkok blitz: Over 1.3 million fake goods seized in massive raid
In a sweeping six-month crackdown, the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has seized over 1.3 million counterfeit items in raids across Bangkok and beyond. The campaign has already triggered 139 legal cases, signalling a renewed push to clean up the country’s notorious counterfeit trade. “This is a serious issue,” said DIP Director General Nusara Kanjanakul. “It impacts not only consumer…
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Fire erupts on 6th floor of Bangkok building, cause under investigation
A fire broke out in a building on Sukhumvit 71 Road in Bangkok early this morning, July 22. Fortunately, no fatalities or injuries were reported. Officers from Khlong Ton Police Station were alerted to the fire at 4.59am and rushed to the scene with a team of firefighters. The blaze erupted on the sixth floor of a building named Yang…
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Senator faces 10 years jail for using false professor title
A Thai senator could be booted from Parliament and jailed for up to 10 years after being caught falsely claiming the title of Professor during her campaign. The Election Commission (EC) has ruled that 45 year old Keskamol Pleansamai, a physician-turned-politician, wrongfully used the academic title in her Senate election application last year, a violation that could land her in…
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Phuket drug dealer caught with his pills down
A suspected drug dealer was arrested in his boxers during a pre-dawn police raid in Phuket, with officers uncovering a massive stash of more than 3,500 meth pills tucked away in his house. The bust happened in the early hours of yesterday morning, July 21, in Thepkrasattri, Thalang district, as part of a targeted crackdown under the island’s tough new anti-drugs…
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Storm Wipha brings heavy rain and strong winds to Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall across Thailand over the next 24 hours, with strong winds and potential flash floods in some areas. Tropical storm Wipha is expected to make landfall in northern Vietnam today. In the north of Thailand, thunderstorms are expected to cover 80% of the area with strong winds and heavy…
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The rise of fintech in Thailand: technology vs traditional banking
Thailand’s financial landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. At the heart of this evolution is the meteoric rise of financial technology (fintech), a sector that disrupts the traditional banking model. And also reshapes consumer behaviour and the competitive landscape. Mobile-first platforms, e-wallets, and digital lending services have become mainstream. And the battle between fintech and traditional banks intensifies. And it…
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Paws and pay: Pooch turns cashier in Ang Thong diner (video)
A five year old dog in the central province of Ang Thong has become an Internet sensation for his unexpected skills as a cashier, helping his owner, who runs a restaurant, collect payments from customers. The male dog, Cocoa, is beloved by locals who dine at the restaurant in Sam Ko district, Ang Thong. Cocoa always stands beside diners, waiting…
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Wheezy does it: RSV sparks alarm for Thailand tots and wrinklies
Parents are being urged to keep a close eye on sickly youngsters after a spike in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases during Thailand’s rainy season, with over 1,600 already struck down by the virus this year. Doctors say the RSV, a common yet potentially dangerous infection, is spreading fast among children and the elderly, with more outbreaks expected in the…
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Two men injured as motorbike crashes into Thailand canal
Two young men in Thailand were injured after their motorbike veered off an unlit, narrow road and fell into a canal in Wichit late on the Saturday night, July 19. Emergency services from the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation responded to the incident in Soi Thida at approximately 11.45pm. Upon arrival, they found the two men in a canal about 4 metres…
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Elderly CEO donates over 100 million baht to Ang Thong Hospital
Thai netizens praised an elderly CEO who donated more than 108 million baht to a hospital in the central province of Ang Thong. The official Facebook page of Ang Thong Hospital expressed gratitude to the elderly Thai man, Somnuk Suksrikan, on Friday, July 18. The hospital reported that Somnuk donated 10 kidney dialysis machines, valued at approximately 5 million baht,…
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Free trade or free fall? Thailand struggles to keep up with Vietnam in US talks
Thailand is falling behind Vietnam in trade talks with the United States and could be forced to make tough choices if it wants to stay in the economic game, a top economist has warned. According to international trade expert Somjai Phagaphasvivat, Thailand’s lack of wide-ranging free trade agreements (FTAs) is putting it at a disadvantage compared to Vietnam, which has…
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Chon Buri police arrest suspect with drugs and outstanding warrants
An operation led by Bang Lamung Police Station in Chon Buri, under the guidance of Police Colonel Sarawut Nuchanart, successfully targeted drug-related offences, leading to the arrest of a suspect involved in two drug cases. The operation today, July 21, was spearheaded by Police Lieutenant Colonel Kornphong Sukwisit, Deputy Superintendent of Investigations, along with Police Major Wuttipong Kasa, Investigation Inspector,…
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Class acts: Chinese scammers pose as students in pensioner con
Crooks running a slick online scam from a swanky Chiang Mai villa posed as students while fleecing elderly Chinese pensioners out of millions, in yet another twist to Thailand’s growing cybercrime crisis. Three suspected ringleaders have been nicked and 17 others detained after Thai police swooped on a luxury pool villa in Hang Dong, uncovering a Chinese-led operation that preyed…
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Chon Buri burglary: Elderly woman’s home looted, gold and amulets stolen
A burglary in Chon Buri on July 19 left a 70 year old woman in distress after a thief looted her home, stealing gold jewellery, over 100 Buddhist amulets, and thousands of baht in coins. The incident took place at a residence in Tambon Khao Mai Kaew. The victim, Phanthong Khampongjai, discovered the theft after returning home from chatting with…
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Quake mistake: Tycoon named in deadly Bangkok building collapse probe
Bangkok police have wrapped up their investigation into the deadly collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building, with 23 big names, including a top tycoon, now facing possible criminal charges over the catastrophic disaster. The SAO tower, a 30-storey structure still under construction, came crashing down on March 28 after a 4.5-magnitude earthquake rattled the capital, leaving at least…
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