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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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Chinese woman stages her own kidnapping to extort money from father
Thai police arrested four Chinese nationals in Samut Prakan after a Chinese woman staged her own kidnapping with her boyfriend and two other men to extort money from her father. The case came to light after the woman’s father filed a complaint with police in China, saying his daughter, identified only as Tong, was kidnapped in Cambodia. He was told…
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Japan pledges US$10 billion to tackle energy crisis in Asia
Japan pledged US$10 billion, or around 300 billion baht, to support Asian countries in addressing the energy crisis, citing the close links and interdependence created by supply chains. After a meeting with leaders from Asian countries, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae announced that the funding would be directed to countries in Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia, to help secure crude…
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ONE Championship launches lawsuit against Thai boxer over contract dispute
ONE Championship launched legal action against Thai boxer Rodtang Jitmueangnon over alleged breaches of contract. In a post published on its Facebook page, ONE Championship Thailand, the promotion said it had started legal proceedings in Thailand, Japan and Singapore against Rodtang, whose real name is 28 year old Tinnakorn Srisawat. ONE said the action followed multiple alleged contract breaches, including…
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4 Pattaya taxi riders and bar guards arrested for attacking 2 foreigners
Four Thai men, including motorcycle taxi riders and bar security guards, were arrested after a viral video showed them attacking two foreigners during Songkran celebrations in Pattaya. The video was shared by the SiamChon News Facebook page on April 13 with a caption claiming that Pattaya motorcycle taxi riders attacked a foreign tourist in Soi Pattaya 6 after he sprayed…
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Thailand video news | Songkran road toll climbs as return travel raises fresh safety concerns, Patong police detain tourists accused of targeting officers with water guns
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. The headlines include both the highs and lows of Songkran. ASEAN leaders also respond to rising tensions in the Middle East. Meanwhile, air pollution continues to worsen in northern Thailand. Songkran Road Toll Climbs as Return Travel Raises Fresh Safety Concerns Thailand recorded 191 deaths…
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Phichit man reports sexual assault by women and transwomen during Songkran
A man filed a police complaint after a group of women and transwomen sexually assaulted him during Songkran celebrations in Phichit province, leaving a hickey on his neck. The victim, identified only as Chitsanupong, shared photos of marks on his neck on Facebook yesterday, April 15. Based on the tagged location in the post, the sexual assault took place at…
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Cat bites owner, stops Thai train, gets blamed for seven-hour delay
A cat that attacked its owner and scratched fellow passengers on a southbound train has been blamed online for a seven-hour delay, though passengers say two successive engine failures were the real cause. Rapid Train No.169, travelling from Bangkok Aphiwat to Yala, arrived at Yala station at 6.15pm on Monday, 430 minutes behind schedule. A Facebook post by Kijja Pongpisan,…
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Phuket tourists arrested after soaking police at Songkran command post
Patong police have arrested a group of foreign tourists after video footage showed them directing high-pressure water guns at officers on duty during the Songkran festival in Patong, Phuket, on April 13. The incident occurred at a police command tent set up in Patong Municipality for the Patong Songkran Beach Festival 2026. Footage of the incident, which circulated on social…
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Phuket locals call for tougher action on foreigners with disruptive behaviour during Songkran
A group of foreigners in Phuket is facing public criticism after reports of aggressive behaviour during Songkran Festival, including blocking roads, harassing motorists and inappropriate conduct towards women. Officers from Patong Police Station arrested the group on April 14 after a viral video showed them forcing open a van door and throwing water at the driver and inside the vehicle.…
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Chiang Mai records highest drink driving cases during Songkran
Drunk driving accounted for 3,726 cases recorded during the 2026 Songkran Festival, with Chiang Mai reporting the highest number, according to Thailand’s Department of Probation. Director-General Piya Raksakun said the department instructed probation offices nationwide to enforce strict measures under campaigns promoting road safety, including “safe driving, reduce speed, reduce accidents,” and efforts to reduce road incidents during the holiday…
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Air quality in Thailand worsens as pollution levels rise in 42 provinces
Air quality across Thailand has deteriorated significantly, with PM2.5 levels breaching safety thresholds in 42 provinces spanning the north, northeast, and central regions, as forecasters warn of worsening pollution over the coming week. The Air Pollution Resolution Communication Centre reported on Tuesday, April 15, that readings taken at 7am showed unsafe PM2.5 concentrations across a broad swath of the country.…
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Patong tourists arrested for water-throwing chaos during Songkran
Seven foreign tourists were arrested in Patong after forcing open a vehicle door to spray water inside during Songkran celebrations, despite the driver’s clear objections. The group now faces charges of causing a public disturbance and obstructing traffic. Patong police addressed the situation on April 14, following a viral social media clip captioned “Patong chaos: foreign tourists force door open…
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Thailand’s Songkran campaign sees 154 deaths amid 755 road crashes
Thailand recorded 755 road accidents during the first four days of the Songkran “Seven Days of Danger” campaign, from April 10 to 13, leaving 705 people injured and 154 dead. Lampang led the country in total incidents with 33 accidents and 34 injuries, while Bangkok recorded the highest death toll at eight fatalities, underscoring the severity of the situation in…
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Thailand braces for summer storms with potential hail and lightning
Thailand’s Meteorological Department has issued its second storm warning of the season, alerting residents across upper Thailand to prepare for a spell of severe weather running from Thursday through Monday. The warning follows the arrival of a high-pressure system carrying cold air from China across the South China Sea, which is intensifying southerly and southeasterly winds across the lower Northeast…
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Chiang Rai Songkran festival boosts tourism despite heat
Chiang Rai’s Songkran festival draws crowds to the Mekong River, with tourists cooling off in water activities and celebrating the Thai New Year along the banks in Chiang Saen district. The “Maha Songkran Three Nations” festival officially kicked off on April 13, with visitors braving the northern Thailand heat to join in the festivities. The Chiang Rai Provincial Administrative Organisation,…
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Man high on meth arrested after attempted assault in Samut Prakan
A man allegedly high on methamphetamine broke into a young woman’s apartment in Samut Prakan during the Songkran holiday and attempted to assault her before being chased down and detained by locals. Police from Bang Phli station received a report of the attempted assault and coordinated with local patrol officers and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation to investigate the incident…
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Jet fuel costs force Korean budget airlines to cut Thai flights
South Korean budget airlines are cutting and suspending flights to Thailand as rising jet fuel costs, worsened by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, squeeze low-cost carriers on the route. T’way Air announced via Facebook that its daily service between Suvarnabhumi and Incheon airports will continue only until May 9, after which it will be reduced to twice weekly…
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Chinese man caught stealing on flight to Thailand
Thai tourist police arrested a Chinese national on Sunday, April 13, after he was caught stealing cash from a fellow passenger aboard a flight arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport from Laos. Officers from Tourist Police Division 3, under Tourist Police Bureau 1, detained the suspect, Zheng, upon landing. Police recovered 16,020 baht in cash linked to the theft, along with various…
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Four killed in tragic Songkran road accident in Pathum Thani
Four people were killed and several others injured on Sunday after a car returning from Songkran celebrations collided with a motorcycle on the Taling Chan-Suphan Buri Road in Pathum Thani province. A survivor said poor lighting at the scene contributed to the crash. The collision occurred at the entrance of the Na Mai Subdistrict Administration Office on the road heading…
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Thai woman surrenders after stabbing Polish man in dog-walking dispute
A 51 year old Thai woman surrendered to police in Bang Saray, Sattahip, Chon Buri, on the evening of April 10, after being accused of stabbing a 54 year old Polish man in the chest during an altercation over their dogs near Ban Khao Chi Chan School. The Polish national sustained serious chest injuries and received first aid from emergency…
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Foreigners cause chaos with fire extinguisher in Pattaya Songkran festivities
Two foreigners caused a disturbance on Walking Street in South Pattaya during Songkran celebrations early on Sunday after using a fire extinguisher to spray at bystanders and motorcycles, leaving a trail of chemical residue and damage. The incident happened at around 5am and was captured on video, which quickly spread across a popular local Facebook group. One post described the…
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Thai man caught smuggling petrol in watermelon truck to Myanmar
A 56 year old Thai man was arrested on April 12 while transporting nearly 400 litres of petrol hidden beneath a load of watermelons in a pickup truck, with plans to sell the fuel across the border into Myanmar at a significant markup. The arrest took place at a joint checkpoint in Nong Lu subdistrict, Sangkhlaburi district, Kanchanaburi province. Soldiers…
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Trat officials seize five boats in Cambodia smuggling bust
Officials intercepted a smuggling operation transporting consumer goods and animal products from Thailand to Cambodia along the coastal border in Hat Lek, Trat, on April 12, seizing multiple boats and arresting six suspects. The operation was carried out by the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai MECC) in Trat, working with the Royal Thai Marine Corps task force and border…
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Rak Chart Party submits UNESCO letter urging tighter review
Representatives of the Rak Chart Party travelled to Paris, France, to submit a letter to UNESCO headquarters today, April 12, expressing appreciation for its recognition of Thai cultural heritage while also calling for careful evaluation of world heritage registrations. The delegation, led by party director Chanin Pinthong and spokesperson Chaiporn Jirawinijnan, said the visit aimed to thank UNESCO for acknowledging…
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Fatal collision claims two lives during Phatthalung’s dangerous period
Two people died after a high-speed motorcycle collision on April 11 in Phatthalung, raising the province’s death toll during the annual Songkran seven-day dangerous period to two. The incident took place at 6.50pm on Phetkasem Road along the Phatthalung-Trang route, in Khok Chai Ngai subdistrict, Mueang district, Phatthalung province. A BMW S1000RR motorcycle with a Bangkok registration was found at…
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Bedridden Swiss man dies in Pattaya room fire
A 79 year old Swiss man died in a room fire at a rental property in Pong subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, yesterday, April 11, with police suspecting a cigarette butt may have caused the blaze. Police were alerted to the fire at 6.06am in Soi Huai Yai Muk, Moo 6, and responded with firefighters from Pong Municipality and…
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Phuket landfill fire contained but smoke continues
A fire broke out at a waste site in Saphan Hin, Mueang district, Phuket, yesterday, April 11, with officials containing the blaze but warning of ongoing smoke from the landfill blaze. The incident was reported at about 3.17pm at the Phuket City Municipality landfill site. Flames were found in landfill pits four and five, with the fire believed to have…
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Thailand to host Miss Tourism World 2026, boosting local tourism
Pattaya City is gearing up to host the Miss Tourism World 2026 pageant, with city officials meeting organisation representatives over the weekend to discuss preparations for the international event. Deputy Mayor Damrongkiat Pinijkan held talks with Benja Kalyawinai, the copyright holder of Miss Tourism World Asian, and her team at Pattaya City Hall. Discussions covered venue selection, competition format, special…
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18-wheeler crash in Lampang leaves two dead, eight injured
A fatal multi-vehicle collision involving an 18-wheeler in Lampang left two people dead and eight injured on the Tak–Lampang road in Thoen district yesterday, April 11. Police were alerted to the incident at 2.45pm on Phahonyothin Road, on the inbound lane opposite the entrance to Mae Wa National Park in Thoen district. Officers from Thoen Police Station attended the scene…
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Thai police report 2,617 drink-driving cases as Songkran begins
Thai police recorded 2,617 drink-driving cases on the first day of the Songkran festival holiday, as millions of Thais hit the road to travel home and visit tourist destinations. Police General Samran Nuanma, deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, and Police General Somprasong Yentuam, a special expert of the Royal Thai Police, gave details on the situation as the…
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