Hot News
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Sponsored Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money
Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...
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Thai monks busted at Phuket temple for meth use
A Phuket temple has been rocked by scandal after three monks and two workers were caught using methamphetamine (meth) during a surprise drug raid. Cherng Talay Police, acting on a formal complaint, swooped on Wat Cherng Talay in Thalang at 2pm yesterday, August 7, in a joint operation with the Phuket Provincial Office of Buddhism, Thalang district officials, public health…
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Thai businessman and activist secures bail after arrest on firearms, drugs and assault
Police released a well-known Thai businessman and political activist on bail of 100,000 baht after his arrest yesterday, August 7, on charges of possessing firearms and drugs, and physically assaulting women. A Thai woman lodged a complaint with the Youth and Women Welfare Centre, alleging that the prominent businessman and activist, Tanat “Luk Nat” Thanakitamnuay, better known as “Hi-So Luk…
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Chinese man surrenders after armed standoff in Pattaya store
A dramatic two-hour standoff unfolded in Pattaya in the early hours of today when an armed Chinese man holed up inside a convenience store, before surrendering to police. Pattaya City Police received the report at 12.16am today, August 8, alerting them to a man with a gun inside a shop near the entrance to Soi Thepprasit 8. Deputy Superintendent of…
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Motorcycle rider killed on Phuket’s deadly Coconut Grove curve
A Phuket motorcyclist has died after a high-speed crash at a notorious curve on Thepkasattri Road in Mai Khao, sparking renewed concerns over road safety in the area. The accident occurred yesterday evening, August 7, near the Coconut Grove Curve—a stretch long feared by local riders. Police say the 41 year old victim, later identified as Mai Khao resident Samreong…
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Pattaya beach blitz on rogue boats and pushy vendors
Pattaya’s beaches are set for a major shake-up as city officials launch a fresh crackdown on rogue boat operators and pushy beach vendors. Yesterday, August 7, a high-level meeting at Pattaya City Hall brought together Deputy Mayor Wuthisak Rermkijakarn, senior city advisors, district officials, marine authorities, and police to hammer out new rules for sea-based activities and beach businesses. Pattaya’s…
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Bangkok toll booths go free for Mother’s Day travel
Drivers in Greater Bangkok can look forward to a free ride next Monday, as the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) scraps toll fees at 63 booths for the day in celebration of Mother’s Day. The toll waiver will run from 12.01am on Monday, August 11, to midnight on Tuesday, August 12, giving motorists a 24-hour break from charges on three…
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Cambodia delays Thailand’s call for landmine clearance and scam crackdown
Despite a ceasefire agreement aimed at bringing peace to the border between the two countries, Cambodia reportedly rejected proposals for landmine clearance and a crackdown on call centre scams, suggesting instead that the issues be postponed to the next discussions. Representatives from Thailand and Cambodia attended an extraordinary session of the General Border Committee (GBC) in Malaysia yesterday, August 7, to…
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Furious dad drags Chon Buri tattoo shop to cops
A furious father marched his teenage son into a Chon Buri police station this week to accuse a local tattoo parlour of illegally inking the 14 year old boy without parental consent. The drama unfolded yesterday, August 7, at Phlu Ta Luang Police Station, where Dr Thirawat Weerawat, better known as Attorney Ice Sai Lui, accompanied the boy’s parents to…
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Jet ski heroes drag tourist from Phuket rip current (video)
A dramatic jet ski rescue unfolded off Phuket’s Bang Tao-Surin Beach on Wednesday when two quick-thinking lifeguards hauled an unconscious foreign tourist from a deadly rip current. Footage of the daring save, posted by Facebook user Witsarut Saman yesterday evening, August 7, shows the moment the lifeguards tore through pounding surf on a jet ski to reach the struggling swimmer.…
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Thailand tempest: Heavy rain set to drench Bangkok
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a weather warning, predicting thunderstorms across 36 provinces, with Bangkok expected to be particularly affected, experiencing heavy rainfall in 60% of its area. Residents have been advised to exercise caution due to potential hazards from these conditions. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that thunderstorms will be prevalent throughout Thailand, driven…
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What to do in Bangkok this weekend (August 8 to 10)
The only annoying thing about the weekend in a city like Bangkok is deciding what to do. There’s too much happening, too many pop-ups to browse, exhibitions to catch before they’re gone, and film screenings you’ll kick yourself for missing. More often than not, you end up wishing you can be at several different places at once than actually making…
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Tough times hit Thai cinema as viewers cut back
Box office blues could be looming for Thai cinemas as cash-strapped moviegoers become pickier about what’s worth their ticket money. That’s the concern from top Thai studio GDH 559 Co Ltd Content Director Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn, who said the sluggish economy is making audiences more selective—possibly reducing their cinema visits from several times a month to just once. “Viewers may think…
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3 Chinese and 2 Laotian arrested for livestreaming sex from Pattaya pool villa
Police today, August 7, arrested three Chinese men and two Laotian women while they were livestreaming sexual activities on a Chinese-based social media platform from a pool villa in Pattaya. Officers from the Immigration Bureau received a tip-off about Chinese nationals broadcasting explicit videos on social media using a property in Thailand as the backdrop for the lewd content. Following…
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Busted: Korean-Chinese call centre gang raided in Chon Buri
A South Korean man’s report of assault led officers to uncover an alleged Korean-Chinese call centre operation in Chon Buri, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of electronic equipment. In a late-night operation yesterday, August 6 at 11.06pm, Thai Tourist Police, Chon Buri Immigration, and the South Korean Embassy launched a coordinated raid targeting a cross-border call centre scam…
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Thai taxi rider exposes passenger’s sexual advancements, gets harassed online
A Thai app-based motorcycle taxi rider exposed a male passenger for sexually assaulting him during a ride by sharing footage of the incident on his TikTok account. However, he was bombarded with harassing messages from some of his followers. The app-based rider uploaded the video on Tuesday, August 5, to his TikTok account, @naikarfi_w, with a caption that read, “This’s…
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Thailand and Cambodia strike border truce in Malaysia
Peace talks prevail, for now, as Thai and Cambodian military leaders strike a truce to cool tensions on their volatile border. At 1.30pm today, August 7, senior officials from Thailand and Cambodia met in Malaysia for an emergency session of the General Border Committee (GBC), where both sides agreed to implement a 13-point ceasefire agreement aimed at ending rising hostility…
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Thai submarine deal saga drags on as China swaps engines
Thailand’s long-running submarine drama just got another twist—with German engines scrapped, Chinese ones swapped in, and years added to the wait. On Tuesday, August 5, Acting Prime Minister and Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the Cabinet’s approval of major revisions to Thailand’s long-delayed submarine deal with China, but offered no further details, citing confidentiality. The updated contract for the Yuan…
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Malaysian man accuses Thai ex-girlfriend of 4 million baht fraud and assault
A Malaysian man accused his Thai ex-girlfriend of swindling 4 million baht from him and physically assaulting both him and his current partner in the Isaan province of Kalasin. The 27 year old Malaysian man, identified only as Yap, shared his story with the local news agency Kalasin News in an appeal for justice for himself and his current Thai girlfriend. Yap…
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Phuket police seize 10,000 meth pills, arrest drug suspects
Phuket officials have confirmed the arrest of two suspected drug traffickers and the seizure of 10,000 methamphetamine pills in an operation aimed at dismantling drug networks in Kathu. This initiative is part of the ongoing No Drugs, No Dealers campaign. The operation, involving the Phuket Provincial Administration and Thalang and Kathu district offices, is aligned with the Ministry of Interior’s…
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Chinese Tourist robbed after night with Pattaya bar girl
A Chinese tourist’s night out in Pattaya turned sour after he woke up alone in his hotel room to discover that 8,000 baht had vanished, along with the woman he had brought back from a local beer bar. At around 11.06pm yesterday, August 6, Jiang Peng, a 38 year old Chinese national, filed a complaint with Police Sub-Lieutenant Kittipong Thalaengkan…
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Thailand splashes billions on freight train mega-upgrade
Thailand’s freight trains are about to get a serious upgrade—to the tune of 2.46 billion baht. The Cabinet has approved a massive procurement plan for 946 brand-new container flatcars for the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), aimed at modernising the country’s outdated rail freight infrastructure and keeping pace with booming logistics demands. SRT Governor Veeris Ammarapala confirmed the project will…
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Loan shark conflict suspected after man found dead in Phatthalung plantation
A Thai man died in a fatal shooting in a palm plantation in the southern province of Phatthalung, with police suspecting a conflict within a loan shark gang as the motive for the murder. A letter addressed to his mother, discovered in his bag, is believed to provide a crucial clue. The body was discovered at around 4pm yesterday, August…
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Foreigner arrested in Phuket for illegal work at bike rental
In Kathu, Phuket, a foreigner has been apprehended for illegally working at a motorcycle rental business, amid an ongoing effort by the Tourist Police to address unauthorised employment of foreigners. The Phuket Tourist Police reported that officers from Investigation Division 2 of the Tourist Police Bureau 3, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Pittaya Thepmuang, carried out a raid at ONE…
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Cops bust Pattaya kratom shop in drug den raid
A Pattaya kratom shop turned out to be a front for a drug den—with methamphetamine (meth), ketamine, and ecstasy uncovered during a late-night raid. At around 10.30pm yesterday, August 6, Bang Lamung district officials and police launched a coordinated operation at a suspicious kratom shop in Soi Naklua, following repeated complaints from residents about dodgy gatherings and suspected drug activity.…
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Thai tyre factory closed for illegal hazardous waste transport
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand has ordered the closure of Prince Chengshan Tire (Thailand) Co., Ltd. due to repeated violations involving the illegal transport of hazardous waste from its factory without permission. This action follows previous incidents, including the seizure of tyres lacking Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) and tampered production dates. On July 31, the Industrial Estate Authority shut…
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Illegal cigarette trade in Songkhla cripples local businesses
The Thai Tobacco Trade Association has raised alarms over the rampant distribution of illicit cigarettes in Songkhla province, which has impacted over 4,000 legal tobacco retailers and forced the closure of about 200 small shops. Thanyasaran Sangthong, the association’s executive director, revealed that Songkhla ranks second in the country for illegal cigarette infiltration, severely affecting local tax revenue. The president…
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Phuket police go high-tech to slash road chaos
Phuket police are going digital in a bold new bid to tackle the island’s growing traffic nightmare—and reckless drivers are firmly in the crosshairs. The Safer Road Connect initiative, launched yesterday, August 6, promises to revolutionise traffic enforcement in the province, using integrated vehicle data and real-time monitoring of road violations. The high-tech pilot programme was unveiled at The Pago…
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Mystery surrounds death of woman in Samut Prakan apartment
In Samut Prakan, neighbours were shocked to discover the body of a 59 year old woman in her apartment after she failed to send her usual morning greetings for two consecutive days. Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage and awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death. Today, August 7, Police Lieutenant Colonel Phatthakorn Chainoi of Bang Phli Police…
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Coffee vendor caught after 10km highway chase in Thailand
A coffee vendor was apprehended after a 10 kilometre pursuit on a highway for allegedly shooting a loan shark to death. The incident occurred yesterday, August 6, when the suspect reportedly became enraged over insults to his parents. The Central Investigation Bureau, led by Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Phuridech, and the Highway Police Division, under the direction of Police Major…
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Scottish expat loses legs in Bangkok lorry crash
A British man living in Thailand had both legs amputated after a horror motorbike crash with a lorry in Bangkok. Willie Braid, a 54 year old expat from Scotland, was hit while riding his motorbike in the capital on July 27. The driver of the lorry is alleged to have fled the scene in what appears to be a hit-and-run…
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