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 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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Thai rice exports drop 30% as Vietnam overtakes in global market
Thai rice exports have seen a significant 30% decline in the first quarter, raising concerns as Vietnam overtakes Thailand to become the world’s second-largest rice exporter. Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, reported that during the first quarter this year, Thailand exported 2.1 million tonnes of milled rice, a drop from the same period last year.…
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Drunk foreign man ends Phuket beach party with graveyard nap
Locals in the Bang Tao area of Phuket rescued a drunk foreign man who was found sleeping in a graveyard after attending a beach party. The Phuket Times shared photos of the man lying on a grassy area yesterday, April 21, with the caption: “5.20pm. A foreigner was found lying unconscious in the Bang Tao kubur (kubur means burial ground…
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Phuket probes construction site over erosion concerns
Phuket officials have launched a major investigation into a hillside construction project in Karon after public concerns over potential illegal development and environmental damage. The inspection, conducted yesterday, April 21, was led by Surasak Anusorn, Director of the Phuket Natural Resources and Environment Office, and accompanied by officers from the Phuket Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office.…
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Bangkok bungler! Ex-con caught robbing shop with a toy gun
Police last night apprehended a 29 year old man for armed robbery at a well-known convenience store in Bangkok’s Bang Bon district. The suspect, Surat, also known as M, had recently completed a sentence for theft and was unemployed before just starting a job as a security guard. The arrest occurred at approximately 10pm yesterday, April 21. Police Major General…
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3 Thai universities deny offering student visas to illegal Chinese workers
Three universities in northern Thailand denied allegations that they illegally issued student visas to Chinese nationals who were secretly working on construction sites across the country. The Facebook news page, รู้ทันจีน (Roo Than Jeen, meaning “Know China”), claimed yesterday, April 21, that several universities in Thailand provided student visas to Chinese nationals who were not enrolled as students, thereby enabling…
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Man arrested in stolen car with fake plates bought for 40,000 baht
Police apprehended a 49 year old man driving a luxury car adorned with red commemorative plates from a graduation event. The vehicle was found to be stolen, with the suspect, Patrawut, admitting to buying it from the black market for 40,000 baht. Yesterday, April 21, Police Major General Kongkrit Lertsitthikul, along with Police Colonel Apichat Renshana and other officers, arrested Patrawut…
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Teen monk killed in drive-by attack on police escort in Songkhla
In a shocking attack, gunmen opened fire on a police vehicle escorting monks during their morning alms round in Songkhla province. The incident, which took place today, April 22, in the Saba Yoi district, resulted in the death of a 16 year old novice monk and left another injured. Police forces are now on a manhunt for the assailants, but…
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Solar flare-up! US tariffs scorch Thai imports in fiery trade row
A blistering tariff bombshell from Washington has lit a fire under Southeast Asia’s solar imports, with Thailand among the hardest hit, as the United States slaps sky-high duties of up to 3,521% on imports, claiming unfair competition from Asian suppliers. The US has launched a full-scale trade crackdown on solar imports from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, slapping colossal new…
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Krabi under the table! Bribery storm rocks paradise parks
Tourism bosses in Krabi are demanding answers after bombshell bribery claims surfaced against park officials accused of pocketing cash from dodgy tour operators, sparking fears the scandal could tarnish Thailand’s tropical crown jewel. Krabi Tourism Association called for a full-blown investigation into explosive allegations that national park officials have been taking bribes from tour companies, claims that have gone viral…
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Australian caught with loaded gun on Patong’s Bangla Road
An Australian man has been arrested in Patong after being caught with an illegal, loaded firearm in the early hours of yesterday morning. Lachlan James McGahey, 31, was detained by police during a routine patrol on Bangla Road at around 3.40am, yesterday, April 21. Officers discovered that McGahey was carrying a Thai-made .38-calibre handgun, which was loaded with eight rounds…
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Robbery attempt at Yasothon gold shop thwarted by brave owner
A gold shop in Yasothon province was the target of a robbery attempt yesterday, April 21. The suspect, armed with an unloaded gun, demanded gold but was thwarted by the alert shop owner and her nephew. The suspect fled the scene, and police are currently pursuing him. Police Lieutenant Colonel Worawut Thanmook, Deputy Superintendent of Mueang Yasothon Police Station, received…
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17 year old Thai girl fatally shot after glance exchange at restaurant
Police are searching for a gunman who fatally shot a 17 year old girl on Sunday, April 20, while she was riding a motorcycle. The incident allegedly stemmed from an exchange of glances at a barbecue restaurant in the central province of Pathum Thani. Medical staff at Rangsit Hospital alerted officers from Khu Khot Police Station after the victim, known…
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Monk-y business! Thugs bash holy man over debt in Nonthaburi
A violent debt collection incident occurred involving a monk residing at a temple in Mueang district, Nonthaburi. Two men attacked the monk, Phra Phromphong, in his living quarters yesterday, April 21, causing severe injuries, before leaving him by the roadside in the Pak Kret area. A 26 year old woman, Jutatip, and Boontipat Charoenliha, a 48 year old representative of…
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Thai royals to enhance ties with Bhutan in April state visit
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana will embark on a state visit to Bhutan from April 25 to 28, as announced by the Royal Household Bureau. The journey follows an invitation from King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and aims to enhance the friendship and cooperation between Thailand and Bhutan, which are rooted in shared cultural…
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Taiwanese man attacked by Pattaya homeless with no prior conflict
A Taiwanese man issued a warning to others after he was attacked with a wooden stick by a homeless man outside a restaurant in southern Pattaya last weekend. A reward is being offered for anyone with useful information leading to the arrest of the attacker. The Taiwanese victim and his Thai girlfriend reported the incident to the public yesterday, April 21.…
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Thailand introduces new cybercrime law to tackle data misuse
A new cybercrime law aims to tackle cybercrime at its roots by preventing the misuse of personal data, as stated by the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC). PDPC Secretary General, Police Colonel Surapong Plengkham, announced yesterday, April 21, that the Royal Decree on Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Cybercrime 2025 has been officially published in the Royal Gazette.…
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Thailand video news | Thailand faces hot weather and storms as 28 provinces warned, South Korea finds companies labelled products ‘Made in Korea’ to dodge Trump-Era US tariffs
In today’s Thailand video news, Jay brings viewers the latest headlines from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. From scorching temperatures and summer storms affecting 28 provinces, to a growing online debate over the use of the word “farang,” the region is facing intense social and environmental shifts. Meanwhile, controversy surrounds Thai police after a fatal shooting at a checkpoint, an…
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Thailand’s sarus cranes arrive in Vietnam for conservation
In a monumental step for wildlife conservation, six sarus cranes have arrived in Vietnam as part of an ambitious project to save the endangered species. The cranes, flown in from Thailand, were welcomed at Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap province, Vietnam, on Sunday, April 20, marking the beginning of a significant reintroduction programme aimed at restoring the species…
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9 month old baby boy survives accident that kills family in Thailand
A nine month old baby boy was the sole survivor of a deadly car accident on Phetchakasem Road in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan, which claimed the lives of his parents and grandmother. A Thai doctor shared the tragic story of the infant on his clinic’s Facebook page, Yingyos Orthopaedic Clinic, yesterday, April 21. He explained that he…
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Phuket beach bonk shock! Randy tourists caught in sandy scandal
A frisky foreign couple sparked outrage in Phuket after being caught having sex on Patong Beach in broad daylight. Social media in Thailand erupted after explicit footage emerged of a tourist couple engaging in a public sex act on Phuket’s famous Patong Beach, leaving locals and fellow holidaymakers stunned and disgusted. The couple, described as a man and woman of…
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Pregnant woman fatally attacks mistress at Bangkok love hotel
An eight-month pregnant woman yesterday fatally attacked her husband’s mistress at a love hotel in the Min Buri district of Bangkok. The man later confessed that he was scared of his wife and did not dare to intervene during the assault. Officers from Min Buri Police Station launched an investigation at the resort and interviewed staff who witnessed the incident. The…
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Single mother and children flee harassment by tenant in Nonthaburi
A single mother and her three children faced threats, harassment, and assault from a tenant in their Nonthaburi home, prompting them to flee and relocate for their safety. The incident, shared on social media, occurred on April 18 at 10.24pm near the dormitory in Soi Liang Mueang Nonthaburi 10, Bang Kraso, Mueang Nonthaburi district. The victim, 34 year old Khwanchanok,…
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Red Bull heir at centre of corruption case as verdict nears
A major corruption case involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya reaches its climax today, April 22. The court will deliver a verdict on allegations of evidence tampering in the 2012 hit-and-run that killed a police officer. The case, number 131/2024, sees former Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, Police General Somyot Pumpanmuang, and Net Naksuk, the former Deputy Public…
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Pattaya cop scales new heights to daring rescue helpless child
A courageous Pattaya cop yesterday pulled off a daring rescue mission straight out of an action film, scaling a fourth-floor balcony to save a terrified seven year old girl trapped alone in a locked flat. The brave police officer has been showered with praise after risking life and limb to rescue the young girl stranded in a condo unit in…
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Nude photos at Hat Yai Buddha statue spark outrage
A shocking nude photo scandal has emerged in Hat Yai, with a group of men posting explicit outdoor shots at sacred sites. The photos, which were shared on the popular social media platform X, have caused outrage among locals. The group, known as OutdoorHDY, staged their daring photoshoots in public spaces across Hat Yai Municipality, Songkhla province. One of the…
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Thailand braces for extreme heat and thunderstorms
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) predicts exceptionally hot weather throughout Thailand, with thunderstorms anticipated in 34 provinces today, April 22. Northern regions may see temperatures reaching up to 40°C. Residents across the country are advised to take precautions against the intense heat and potential storms. The TMD highlights that low pressure due to heat is affecting the upper part of…
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Van-dalism! Biker goes berserk in Pattaya road rage rampage
A crazed biker turned a peaceful temple road into a warzone after smashing up a passenger van in broad daylight. The shocking moment was caught on camera. The terrifying road rage attack unfolded yesterday, April 21, outside Nong Yai Temple in Pattaya, leaving a white Chon Buri-to-Rayong passenger van with its windows shattered and its shaken driver vowing legal action.…
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Russian teacher urges Thais to drop ‘Farang’ if ‘Ni Hao’ is deemed racist
A Russian language teacher urged Thai people to stop using the word “farang” to refer to foreigners if they view the term “Ni Hao” as racist. The controversy surrounding the phrase “Ni Hao” erupted on Thai social media after a former Thai-Scottish park ranger, Siranudh “Sai” Scott, shared a video about the issue last week. In the video, Sai explained that…
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Summer storm wreaks havoc in Ubon Ratchathani districts
A summer storm battered Ubon Ratchathani yesterday, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and hail to five districts, with Warin Chamrap and Mueang Ubon Ratchathani suffering significant damage. Over 20 homes and riverside food rafts were damaged. Yesterday, April 20, around 4.05pm, the storm struck Warin Chamrap and Mueang Ubon Ratchathani, causing hailstones the size of small coins to fall during…
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Executives sought in Thailand building collapse probe
Three executives from China Railway No.10 (Thailand) Co. are being sought by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in connection with the collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok during an earthquake on Friday, March 28, which resulted in the deaths of numerous workers. The DSI revealed the search following the arrest of Zhang Chuanling, a Chinese executive…
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