Thailand News
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Thai soft power push marks 170 years of Thailand-France ties
Thailand is looking to France for lessons in turning culture into global influence, as Culture Minister Sabeeda Thaised led talks on May 22 to mark 170 years of Thailand-France diplomatic ties and push Thai soft power through five areas of cooperation. At 5.30pm local time, Sabeeda and senior Ministry of Culture executives met French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard during an…
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Viral Facebook sex livestream scandal spreads across Thai social media
Thai cyber police are investigating Facebook sex livestreams showing uncensored sexual intercourse after the broadcasts circulated widely last night, May 23, prompting responses from users and public pages, including the Department of Disease Control (DDC). Several anonymous Facebook pages reportedly shared sexually explicit livestreams at around the same time, leading many users to click into the broadcasts out of curiosity.…
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Chiang Mai karaoke bar raided, 12 illegal workers detained
Chiang Mai police raided a covert karaoke bar in the city centre on May 23 after residents complained about noise, detaining 12 Myanmar nationals found working without properly registered employers. The operation was led by Police Major General Olan Iampraphat of Tourist Police Division 2 and Police Colonel Phisanu Triamdee, with Police Lieutenant Colonel Avirut Sookyaem conducting the inspection alongside…
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Turkish man found dead after swallowing drug capsules to avoid detection
A Turkish man was found dead in a hotel room in Samut Prakan yesterday, May 23, after allegedly swallowing more than 50 capsules suspected to contain illegal drugs to avoid detection. Police and Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers were called to the hotel in Racha Thewa subdistrict, Bang Phli district, after receiving reports of a foreign man found dead inside a room.…
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Udon Thani monk defrocked after drunk bar run
A monk caused a public disturbance in Udon Thani on May 23 after being found heavily intoxicated and trying to enter a sukiyaki restaurant, then a bar, before being stripped of his robes that evening. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sata Porn Sawatdee of the Mueang Udon Thani Police Station received a report of a monk behaving disruptively near a buffet restaurant…
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Chiang Mai police arrest 19 year old illegal loan tout for fourth time
Chiang Mai police have arrested a 19 year old man linked to the ‘Instant Cash’ illegal loan network for the fourth time in a year, after residents complained about loan flyers flooding their neighbourhood. The suspect, Pakin, was apprehended on May 23 on a road in the Chomphu village area of Saraphi district, Chiang Mai. The operation was led by…
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Gun videos lead police to Indian man with drugs on Koh Pha Ngan
Police arrested an Indian man on Koh Pha Ngan yesterday, May 23, after videos showed a foreigner posing with guns and practising shooting, with officers later finding drugs and drug price lists on his phone. The suspect, identified as 33 year old Shabeelkunnon Valappil, was arrested at a residence in Koh Pha Ngan district, Surat Thani. Police charged him with…
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School van driver fined 2000 baht for railway crossing violation
A school van driver handed himself over to Lop Buri police after footage emerged showing his vehicle crossing railway tracks as a train approached. The driver, 55 year old Sangwan, said it was his first day on the route and he was unfamiliar with the area. The incident occurred on May 23, when the school van, coming from Phrachai Junction…
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Ancient Khmer fortune teller arrested for 1.7 million baht ritual scam
A 65 year old ancient Khmer fortune teller has been arrested in Na Jomtien for allegedly defrauding a woman out of more than 1.7 million baht through ritual services, with additional allegations of sexual assault. The incidents reportedly took place between January and April. Police Colonel Pisit Tangsirisatien, accompanied by deputy investigation chief Pol. Lt. Col. Adisorn Kongkoi and an investigative…
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Chinese suspect Mingchen linked to 815 million baht crime losses
Police have expanded their investigation into Chinese weapon suspect Sun Mingchen after finding alleged links to a Cambodia-based crime network and more than 815 million baht in losses. Royal Thai Police spokesperson Trairong Phiwpan said yesterday, May 21, that the case had been divided into seven areas, covering weapons, explosives, immigration offences, customs offences, transnational crime, and money laundering through…
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Phuket and Pattaya back 30-day visa-free stays to boost tourism
Tourism businesses in Phuket and Pattaya have backed the government’s decision to reinstate 30-day visa-free stays, saying the move will deter illegal operations and budget long-stay tourists. The Department of Consular Affairs, under the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said the policy shift is part of a broader restructuring of Thailand’s visa system to cut confusion, tighten immigration controls, and align stays…
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‘Oreo Gang’ member denies drunk driving after crash injures Bangkok cop
A 20 year old student has admitted to being a member of the ‘Oreo Gang’ after a white Mitsubishi Xpander struck a police officer at an alcohol checkpoint in Bangkok. He denies consuming alcohol before the crash on May 22. The incident took place at around 1.30am on Bang Na-Trat Road, where 59 year old Police Lieutenant Colonel Taran Piromjitjaroen…
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Thai weather warning: heavy rain and flash floods in 36 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a weather warning for 36 provinces today, cautioning residents of heavy rainfall affecting 60% of areas, including Bangkok and its vicinity. Flash floods and forest runoff are the main concerns. The warnings are driven by a moderate southwest monsoon covering the upper Andaman Sea and Thailand, combined with southern and southeastern winds drawing moisture…
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Russian tour guide arrested for working without licence
Tourist police in Phang Nga arrested a Russian national yesterday, May 21, for working illegally as a tour guide while accompanying a group of foreign tourists. The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was arrested at the car park of the Phang Nga Wildlife Breeding Station after officials earlier observed him guiding tourists at Suwan Kuha Temple. According to…
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Phuket locals demand investigation into foreign woman in police uniform
Residents in Phuket are calling for an investigation after a foreign woman shared photos and videos online showing herself wearing clothing resembling a Thai police uniform. The Phuket Times Facebook page posted images of the woman yesterday, May 21. In the photos, she appeared wearing a black vest featuring a Thai flag and a Royal Thai Police patch. She was…
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Medical emergency officer killed in Uttaradit ambulance accident
An ambulance accident in Uttaradit has killed a medical emergency officer after the vehicle veered off the road while responding to a car accident yesterday, May 21. The officer was identified as June, an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEM) from Nam Pat Hospital in Uttaradit, who was working with the Nam Pat Rescue Association during the emergency response. Nam Pat…
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AirAsia CEO warns airport fee hike could be ‘disaster’ for Thai tourism
AirAsia founder and CEO Tony Fernandes has opposed Airports of Thailand’s (AOT) proposed increase to the international passenger service charge (PSC), warning that higher airport fees could damage Thailand’s tourism industry during a difficult period for global aviation. Fernandes, chief executive officer of Capital A, said the timing was inappropriate as airlines worldwide continue to face pressure from rising fuel…
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Ex-politician linked to gambling den in Samut Prakan abandoned hotel
Authorities raided an illegal gambling operation inside an abandoned hotel in Samut Prakan last night, May 21, and discovered more than 43 million baht circulating through the bank account of the alleged owner, a former local politician. Officers from the Department of Provincial Administration and the Territorial Defence Volunteers Administration Bureau conducted the raid at about 8pm on the fourth floor of the Chalermwong…
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Thailand halts new Volvo EV registrations after battery defect
New registrations of the Volvo EX30 in Thailand have been suspended after the Department of Land Transport found that a recent fire involving the electric vehicle was linked to a defect in its high-voltage battery cells. The order was issued after Siripong Angkasakulkiat, deputy transport minister, instructed the Department of Land Transport to investigate the case. Thitiphat Thaijongrak, director of…
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Thai police criticised for seeking help from children during arrest
Two high-school students in Nakhon Si Thammarat helped police restrain a suspect on a public road, prompting a debate online about the safety and appropriateness of civilian involvement in police operations. Footage of the incident was shared by TikTok user @jxjxens before being reposted by several news outlets and Facebook pages. It showed two police officers struggling with a man…
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Thailand News | Pattaya hotel fire leaves guests trapped as rescue teams respond, Mentally unwell British tourist accidentally sets himself on fire while playing a children’s game
Today we’ll be talking about a hotel fire in Pattaya that left guests trapped as rescue teams responded, also, there’s been a royal update on the health condition of Princess Bajrakitiyabha, then we’ have our badly behaving foreigners in the form of Chinese brothel operators, British reckless drivers, and nightmare Swiss tenants, in ASEAN News, Philippines authorities have vowed to…
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Another police officer involved in Chinese extortion case in Sa Kaeo surrenders
Another police officer surrendered in connection with the extortion case involving five Chinese nationals after four officers and a civilian were arrested last week. Immigration officers from Sa Kaeo Provincial Immigration Office and Wang Somboon Police Station raided a house in the province on May 16 after receiving complaints from Chinese nationals claiming they were being detained and extorted. The…
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May 22 weather forecast warns of heavy rain despite weaker monsoon
Thailand will see less rain over the next 24 hours, but heavy rain is still expected in some areas today, May 22, mainly in the west and the east, according to the weather forecast from the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). The department said the southwest monsoon covering the upper Andaman Sea and Thailand has weakened, while a low-pressure cell remains…
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Questions raised over public viewing of Suvarnabhumi Airport checkpoint cameras
Concerns over passenger privacy emerged online after social media users questioned the public accessibility of CCTV footage at immigration checkpoints in Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The issue gained attention after a Thai X user criticised Airports of Thailand (AOT) when footage of a popular actor at the immigration checkpoint was circulated online. The user questioned whether sharing footage from security cameras violated…
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Hua Hin landlord issues warning after property vandalism by Swiss man
A woman warned other property owners and local women after a Swiss tenant severely damaged her rental house in Hua Hin and continuing to invite women to the property after his contract ended. The homeowner shared photographs and details of the incident in a Facebook group for Hua Hin residents, where the post quickly gained attention online. According to the…
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Bangkok train crash exposes negligence, says minister
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat admitted that a train driver was negligent during the Bangkok train-bus crash at the Asok-Din Daeng intersection, which killed eight people, as he addressed new drug testing measures for public transport staff. The issue was raised in Parliament at 10.30am today, May 21, during a House of Representatives meeting chaired by House Speaker Sophon Saram.…
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3 Thai men arrested in Ecuador with 12 rare Galápagos iguanas
Three Thai nationals were arrested at an airport in Ecuador for wildlife smuggling after 12 rare marine iguanas were discovered hidden in their luggage. Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment and Energy said the animals were found during baggage inspections at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil on Tuesday, May 19. Officials said specially trained K9 dogs used for wildlife…
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Australian tourist found dead with white powder nearby in Phuket condo
An Australian tourist was found dead inside a condominium in Phuket at around 7.30pm yesterday, May 20, with police finding white powder on a plate near his body. Officers at Karon Police Station received a report of a death at the condominium and went to inspect the scene. Inside, police found the body of a foreign man on the floor. He…
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Princess Bajrakitiyabha health update reports worsening condition
Thailand’s Bureau of the Royal Household today, May 21, issued its seventh statement on Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s health, reporting that her condition has worsened after a severe infection linked to abdominal and intestinal inflammation. Princess Bajrakitiyabha has been receiving treatment at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, since December 15, 2022. The bureau previously stated that she lost consciousness…
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Austrian man deported for blocking road and demanding money in Phuket
Phuket immigration police revoked the visa of an Austrian tourist and prepared to deport him after he caused public disturbances in Rawai by blocking roads and demanding money from residents and tourists. Videos showing the man’s behaviour circulated on Thai social media on Tuesday, May 19. The suspect was later identified as 39 year old Austrian national, Raphael. In the…
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