Hot News
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Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Phone found at border reportedly proves Cambodia’s use of landmines
Thai soldiers discovered a Cambodian soldier’s mobile phone while clearing landmines in a forested border area, uncovering what they claim is substantial evidence of Cambodia’s use of the landmines. The Royal Thai Navy’s Humanitarian Mine Action Unit was carrying out landmine clearance in the Phu Makhuea area of Surin province on August 19 when they found the phone, allegedly belonging…
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British tourist faces 10 years over Pattaya death crash
A British tourist is staring at a decade behind bars after a Thai woman he allegedly struck while pulling a motorbike stunt in Pattaya died in hospital. The 22 year old British national, Brandon Mills, from Doncaster, was riding a rented scooter on one wheel when he ploughed into 49 year old Churairat Petchraksa outside a bar on Thursday, August…
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EEC Travel Mart puts Thailand’s tourism in the spotlight
Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) provinces have pulled out all the stops to turbocharge the country’s tourism industry, unveiling a high-powered showcase billed as a game-changer for the region. The EEC Travel Mart, staged yesterday, August 19, at the Nong Nooch Pattaya International Convention and Exhibition Centre, brought together hundreds of top names from the tourism sector. Business leaders, hoteliers,…
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Thai Michelin-starred chef Jay Fai fined for unclear crab omelette pricing
The Ministry of Commerce fined the renowned 1-star restaurant owner, Jay Fai, 2,000 baht following a complaint from a YouTuber over the unclear pricing of her signature dish, the crab omelette. The well-known Thai YouTuber based in the UK, Pitchaya “Peachii” Chaychana, posted on X on August 15 that she and her friends were charged 4,000 baht for the crab…
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Bangkok police arrest gang linked to call centre fraud
Bangkok’s metropolitan police have arrested a network involved in procuring mule accounts and managing cash withdrawals for a call centre gang in the Huai Khwang area. The suspects admitted to operating as an organised group, providing services to a Chinese leader. Yesterday, August 19, Police Major General Chotiwat Lueangwilai, commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Investigation Division, and other senior…
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Thai hotel group sues over 400 baht wage hike challenge
The Thai Hotels Association (THA) is planning to file a lawsuit against the tripartite wage committee in the Administrative Court, aiming to challenge the 400 baht minimum wage increase, which it argues burdens hotels in secondary tourism areas. THA president Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun stated that the association’s committee has already agreed to proceed with the legal action, pending a consensus from…
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Thai man arrested for 8 million baht gold robbery in Samut Prakan
Police yesterday, August 19, arrested a Thai man who stole over 8 million baht worth of gold accessories from a shop in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. Only about 4.5 million baht worth of gold was recovered. A male thief dressed in a delivery rider’s uniform robbed a gold shop in a shopping mall in the Bang Bo neighbourhood of…
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Phuket’s power shift: New governor steps in
Phuket is bracing for a major leadership change. From October 1, Saransak Srikruaneth will take the reins as governor, replacing Sophon Suwannarat, who bows out after a turbulent two-year term. The Cabinet confirmed Saransak’s appointment on Monday, August 18, following his transfer from the Ministry of Interior’s Inspector General’s office. For Sophon, whose retirement begins on September 30, the end…
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Temple robbery in Udon Thani: 6,500 baht stolen
A monk’s residence at Sri Khun Mueang Temple, Udon Thani, was broken into, resulting in the theft of money and electronics. The incident occurred early in the morning when the monk was attending a morning prayer session. Police Major Chakrapong Tongtam, an investigator at Mueang Udon Thani Police Station, along with the Pirun investigative team, responded to a report of…
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Phuket masseuse claims Egyptian employer forces daily oral sex
A Thai masseuse in Phuket accused her former Egyptian employer of forcing her and other female workers to perform oral sex on him daily. The 36 year old masseuse urged the Phuket Times Facebook page to share her story publicly as a warning to women considering relocating to work in Phuket as she once did. She stated that she now has…
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Thai hospitals probed over fake migrant health certificates
Private hospitals in Thailand are facing a scandal after allegations surfaced that they have been issuing fake health certificates to migrant workers without carrying out proper medical checks. Deputy Public Health Minister Chaichana Dechdecho announced yesterday, August 19, that two to three hospitals are under investigation, with early evidence suggesting doctors signed off on the fraudulent certificates without conducting blood…
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Paetongtarn skips Cabinet again as court date looms
Thailand’s suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing the fight of her political life—and she’s staying silent. For the second week running, Paetongtarn skipped yesterday’s weekly Cabinet meeting, fuelling speculation as she prepares to take the stand in an explosive ethics case linked to a leaked phone call. The 38 year old leader, who also holds the post of culture…
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Phuket restaurant accuses foreigners of stealing designer watch
A restaurant in Phuket is searching for a group of foreigners after one of them allegedly stole a watch from the premises on Friday, August 16. The restaurant owner shared brief details of the incident on the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, August 19, along with CCTV screenshots and a picture of the stolen watch. The owner stated… “A foreign…
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Ayutthaya vendor defends against teen robbers with fruit knife
In the early hours at Wang Noi Market, Ayutthaya, two teenagers attempted to rob a vendor at knifepoint, demanding 1,000 baht. The vendor, however, defended himself with a fruit knife, causing the assailants to flee. The incident, captured on CCTV and shared on social media, occurred at 4.43am yesterday, August 19, in Lam Sai subdistrict, Wang Noi district. The footage…
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Rogue app drivers face tough Pattaya clampdown
Chaos on Pattaya’s streets is finally facing a clampdown, after city police and transport chiefs joined forces to tackle rogue taxis, illegal ride-hailing apps, and traffic gridlock. On Monday, August 18 at 4.45pm, top brass gathered at Pattaya City Police Station’s Operations Centre for an urgent summit on transport reform. The meeting was co-chaired by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phanuphong Nimsuwan,…
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The Italian Table: A six-hands culinary collaboration
JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, the leading destination dining resort in Phang Nga, is proud to unveil The Italian Table on August 29 and 30, 2025, a two-night collaboration bringing together three of Thailand’s most visionary Italian chefs for one unforgettable dining experience. Hosted at Olive, the resort’s signature Italian kitchen, this special event is set to showcase the…
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Teen girl admits to arranging classmates’ prostitution for commission
A 16 year old girl, referred to as A, has confessed to facilitating prostitution among her classmates, starting from when they were in their first year of secondary school. She admitted taking a 1,000 baht commission per transaction. Officials are now investigating the elderly clientele involved. Yesterday, August 19, Police Colonel Chusit Lorsaeng, deputy commander of Buriram province police, along…
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Pattaya car scam swindles Indian owner, vehicle vanishes
A luxury rental car has vanished without a trace in Pattaya, leaving its owner—an Indian businessman—crying foul and calling it the work of professional scammers. Yesterday, August 19 at 11.30pm, 54 year old Prem Kumar walked into Pattaya City Police Station to file a complaint. He reported that a white-and-black Toyota, bearing licence plate JPH 9160 Chon Buri, had been…
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Shooting injures student in Trang romantic dispute
A 19 year old man and a 16 year old boy engaged in a physical confrontation over a romantic dispute, resulting in a school shooting that injured an 18 year old female student. The incident led to the swift arrest of two people and the recovery of the firearm used. The incident occurred on August 18 at 1am in Mueang…
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Business tycoon jailed for land forgery in Saraburi scandal
The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Region 1 sentenced Prachai Leophairat to eight years in prison over a land document forgery case in Saraburi. The veland forgeryrdict was delivered yesterday, August 19 at the mentioned court, with case numbers Aot98/2567 and Aot.84/2568. The prosecution was led by the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Corruption Suppression 1, Region 1,…
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Man accused of killing wife with concrete post in Nakhon Ratchasima
A 38 year old man, Worachat, is suspected of killing his 35 year old wife, Suwachanan, by striking her with a concrete post near Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Nakhon Ratchasima, yesterday, August 19. The incident occurred at 1.30pm and was reported to Police Lieutenant Wanchai Phayakpha by bystanders. The scene was located along a road adjacent to the university’s…
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Patong police stalled as ‘Arab’ tourist gang walks free
Patong Police are under mounting scrutiny as they continue to delay charges against six foreign tourists, described in official reports as “Arab,” who were allegedly involved in the brutal beating of a Thai motorbike rental operator. The attack, which took place on August 10, left the victim hospitalised with a broken jaw and broken ribs. The case only gained traction…
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Reduced rainfall forecast for Thailand, thunderstorms in 26 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts reduced rainfall for tomorrow, though 26 provinces may still experience thunderstorms. Coastal areas could see waves up to 2 metres high, prompting caution for seafarers. The TMD predicts a decrease in rain over Thailand due to weakened southwesterly monsoon winds covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand, along with a low-pressure…
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Thailand goes all in on AI—but can it be trusted?
Thais are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) like never before, with new research showing it’s become an “invisible” part of daily life—but concerns over fairness, bias, and safety are growing just as fast. A report launched in Bangkok yesterday, August 18, by telecoms giant Telenor Asia revealed that 91% of Internet users in Thailand now rely on AI, up from 77%…
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Police accused of embezzlement during gambling raid in Nakhon Si Thammarat
Gamblers in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat accused police officers of taking 50,000 baht in cash, which should have been presented as evidence in a criminal case. A member of the Thung Song District Office, Chanin Jaidee, shared details of the alleged corruption with Channel 8 in the hope of seeking justice for gamblers arrested on August 13.…
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Thailand taps Polish Airlines to lure big-spending tourists
Thailand is stepping up its campaign for European tourists with a bold new partnership with LOT Polish Airlines, spearheaded by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool. The deal targets high-spending Eastern Europeans, with Poland leading the charge, and aims to reinforce Bangkok’s ambition to become Southeast Asia’s aviation capital. The push comes as overall foreign arrivals…
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Thai man surrenders after fatally shooting alleged lover of friend’s girlfriend
A Thai man fatally shot an alleged lover of his friend’s girlfriend on the roadside in the southern province of Trang on Sunday, August 17, claiming he was taking revenge on behalf of his friend. The fatal attack occured as the victim was with her boyfriend, 24 year old Jiramate was along the Trang–Phatthalung Road in Mueang Trang district. She immediately called…
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Bangkok’s Banthat Thong to become global street food hub
Bangkok’s famous Banthat Thong Road could soon rival the world’s top foodie destinations after the Commerce Ministry unveiled bold plans to transform it into a global street food landmark. Once packed with up to 40,000 visitors a day, the bustling stretch has seen numbers dwindle amid rising rents, falling Thai spending power, and tougher competition. Business operators say survival has…
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Thailand’s tourist numbers slide as 2025 forecast cut again
Thailand’s tourism dreams have hit another bump after the Tourism and Sports Ministry revealed foreign arrivals plunged by more than 7% this year, forcing officials to scale back growth forecasts yet again. From January 1 to August 17, the country welcomed 20.81 million international visitors, down 7.04% compared to the same period last year. Despite the overall decline, China remains…
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Free shots of death: Brit blinded in Laos methanol horror (video)
A dream backpacking adventure in Laos turned into a nightmare when a 23 year old Brit was left permanently blind after drinking poisoned spirits at a hostel in Vang Vieng. The poisoning, which struck in November last year, claimed six foreign lives in total. Calum Macdonald, from the UK, was one of several travellers served free whisky and vodka shots…
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