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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 man arrested in 70 million baht heroin bust in Nong Khai
Police in Nong Khai apprehended a Chinese national involved in a transnational drug trafficking operation. The suspect allegedly concealed 120 kilogrammes of heroin within car batteries, claiming he was merely hired to manage logistics and inspect the parcels. Yesterday, December 18, Police officials, including Piratch Udompisutikun, Yutthana Ngamchat, Rattasart Chidchu, and Suchart Thonmanee, collaborated with various police and military units…
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Thai film ‘Grandma’ shortlisted for 97th Academy Awards
A significant milestone for Thai cinema unfolded yesterday, December 18 as Thai film studio GDH announced that How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has been shortlisted for the 97th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The film, directed by Pat Boonnitipat and penned by screenwriter Ped Thodsapon, stands out among 85 international submissions, marking a first…
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3 Thai girls fake forest blackout after resort stay with man
Three Thai girls, initially reported missing, confessed to going to a resort with a man they met on a dating app after lying to their parents that they fainted in an abandoned house in a deep forest for a night. Three families filed missing persons reports to Thamenchai Police Station officers in the Isaan province of Buriram after three girls,…
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Leopard sighting amazes tourists at Kaeng Krachan National Park
A rare sighting of a leopard calmly sitting on a road in Kaeng Krachan National Park left tourists in awe as the big cat appeared unbothered and at ease. The encounter, which occurred yesterday, December 19 at around 6.50am, was recounted by Mongkol Chaiphakdee, head of the national park located in Phetchaburi province. Kritsiphong Ngamjing, a tourist, was fortunate enough…
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Thailand video news | Thailand’s new E-Visa simplifies travel, U.S. repatriates Guantanamo detainees to Malaysia
In today’s Southeast Asia news roundup, Alex highlights major developments across the region. From Thailand’s groundbreaking E-Visa launch and its renewed focus on attracting foreign filmmakers to a British mother’s heartfelt warning about drug dangers, these stories reveal the country’s evolving travel, legal, and social landscape. Additional updates include Bangkok’s ambitious plans to host its first Formula One race, Gordon…
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Thai woman critically injured in Pattaya sidecar and car collision
A serious accident involving a motorcycle sidecar and a car near Pattaya left a 54 year old woman critically injured. The Sawaeng Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Center was alerted to an accident on Huay Yai Road yesterday, December 18 at 6.16am. Rescue workers, in coordination with Huay Yai police, quickly responded to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered a white Honda…
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Young man arrested after fatal knife attack in Samut Prakan
A 21 year old man was taken into custody following a fatal altercation with a 16 year old. The incident, which involved a knife attack, occurred after a confrontation over perceived hostility. The suspect expressed remorse and apologised to the victim’s family. The tragic event unfolded yesterday, December 18, at 9.46pm when police in Samut Prakan received a report of…
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Highway rescue worker killed in Prachuap Khiri Khan lorry collision
A tragic accident occurred when a car collided with a lorry in Prachuap Khiri Khan, resulting in the death of a 39 year old municipal worker from Thap Sakae. The crash, taking place at a U-turn on Phetkasem Road, raised questions about visibility issues due to the sun’s glare. The accident unfolded around 2pm yesterday, December 18. Supalak Wanwacha, a…
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2 foreigners caught pulling police-seized motorcycle in Phuket (video)
A viral video surfaced yesterday showing two foreigners ignoring a Thai police wheel clamp and legal consequences, as they pulled a police-seized motorcycle along a road in Phuket. The video, shared on Facebook by a Thai man named Somsak Lerchai, quickly gained attention. In his caption, Somsak sarcastically remarked, “Wheel lock doesn’t work with Grade A tourists. #OneDayButThousandsSituations.” In the…
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Police chase in Suphan Buri leads to migrant smuggling arrest
A dramatic police chase unfolded yesterday on Highway 340 in Suphan Buri, resulting in the arrest of a Thai driver smuggling eight illegal migrants from Myanmar into Bangkok. The incident began yesterday, December 18, when highway police, led by Somkid Yamthip, noticed a suspiciously slow-moving van. The van, a white Toyota with registration number 1นฉ 7681 กทม, initially appeared to…
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Khlong Toei residents unite to control fire in Bangkok village
A fire erupted in the Khlong Toei community in Bangkok, specifically in the 70 Rai Village, where residents joined forces to extinguish the flames. The fire was brought under control by 10.41pm yesterday, December 18 after a quick response from local firefighters. The Rama Radio Centre received a report via hotline 199 about a blaze affecting residential homes in the…
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12 year old girl freed from sexual assaults by uncle, grandfather
The non-profit organisation Be One rescued a 12 year old Thai girl in the central province of Kanchanaburi who had been a victim of sexual assaults by her uncle and grandfather. Her father claimed he was too embarrassed to take legal action. Be One President Wanna “Ton Or” Palamart and her team members visited a school in the Tha Mueang…
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Thailand faces pressure over trafficking in Myanmar
Thailand is at the centre of an international appeal for assistance, as two House committees engage in discussions prompted by 14 countries seeking help to rescue their citizens trafficked into Myanmar by scam centre gangs. Hundreds of foreigners find themselves ensnared by these online scamming and human trafficking networks, which operate just across the Moei River from Mae Sot in…
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Pickup truck fire in Chon Buri ends without injury as driver escapes
A dramatic fire engulfed a pickup truck at a busy intersection in Chon Buri, leaving only a metal frame behind. Fortunately, the driver managed to escape unscathed. The incident occurred yesterday, December 18, at the Ban Bueng Bypass intersection in Mu 6, Ban Suan subdistrict, Mueang district, Chon Buri province. Officers from the Chon Buri City Police Station quickly coordinated…
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Myanmar babies in Thai hospitals not eligible for free healthcare
Babies born to Myanmar parents in Thailand’s border hospitals are not eligible for free healthcare benefits like Thai nationals, despite receiving a 13-digit identification number. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) clarified this policy yesterday, December 18, highlighting that these ID cards specifically categorise the newborns as migrants born in Thailand, not as Thai citizens. Dr Jadej Thammatacharee, NHSO Secretary…
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Australian father mourns ‘perfect’ daughter lost to methanol tragedy
The devastated father of an Australian teenager who died from methanol poisoning last month in Laos has opened up about the heart-wrenching loss of his “perfect” daughter. Shaun Bowles, father of 19 year old Holly Bowles, confessed his shock when he realised she wouldn’t survive. Shaun described Holly as “everything you’d want your daughter to be.” The Aussie teenager was…
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Thailand prepares for chill, temperature drop and strong winds
Thailand braces for a cold snap as a mass of cool air spreads across the country, bringing a drop in temperatures and strong winds. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts a temperature decrease of 1 to 3 degrees Celsius, with frost expected in some mountainous areas. The latest weather forecast from the TMD reveals that a moderate high-pressure system from…
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Court dismisses claims of favouritism in Thaksin hospital stay
The Constitutional Court dismissed allegations yesterday that state officials facilitated former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s hospital stay during his prison sentence. The petition, brought forward by Kongdecha Chairat, accused key figures, including Justice Minister Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, the Department of Corrections (DoC) Director General, and the chief of Bangkok Remand Prison, of allowing Thaksin to serve his sentence at…
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CCTV footage leads to arrest of caretaker for abuse of old woman
Police arrested a Thai caretaker for brutally abusing an 85 year old bedridden woman during her employment at the victim’s home in Bangkok. The victim’s son sought help from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive after viewing the CCTV footage of the brutal abuse of his mother. He filed a complaint against the suspect, later identified as 49 year old Napasorn, with…
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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? Yes, you do get access to some healthcare for free only if you have a work permit and contribute to…
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Thailand goes high-tech: New E-Visa set to transform travel
Thailand is taking a leap into the digital age with the launch of its revolutionary Thai E-Visa system, simplifying life for globe-trotters everywhere. From January 1, 2025, international travellers can kiss goodbye to cumbersome paperwork and apply for their visas online with ease. This slick new development promises to make the visa process faster, safer, and more convenient, ensuring the…
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Call centre bust: 5 Japanese scammers nabbed in Thailand
Thai immigration police arrested five Japanese nationals accused of running a fraudulent call centre in Pattaya that conned elderly Japanese citizens out of a staggering 5 million baht daily. Police Major General Panumat Boonyalak, acting commissioner, revealed that the bust followed a tip-off from the Japanese embassy. The gang had allegedly duped victims with promises of refunds for past medical…
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Hair today, gone tomorrow: Bangkok cops snip illegal Myanmar barbers
Police in Bang Khun Thian district arrested four Myanmar nationals working as barbers, allegedly taking jobs from Thai citizens. This incident unfolded yesterday, December 17, at the ANGEL-20 hair salon located at the end of Nai Riang Market, Bang Bon, Bangkok. The arrest followed a tip-off received by Kittisak Bunsermsak, a police inspector at Bang Khun Thian Police Station. He…
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Thailand rolls out red carpet with bigger rebates for filmmakers
The Thail Cabinet approved an increase in the rebate offered to foreign film productions, raising it to a range of 15 to 30% to attract more international filmmakers to shoot in the country. This decision, announced by Jirayu Huangsap, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, is part of a revised strategy to bolster Thailand’s appeal as a filming destination. The…
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Teen girl murdered by drug-induced killer in Krabi
A tragic incident unfolded yesterday when a 15 year old girl was brutally murdered in the kitchen of a rented house in Krabi province. The police reported that Dolkanee, the 42 year old brother of the girl’s boyfriend, admitted to killing her. He confessed to having consumed two methamphetamine (meth) pills before committing the crime. Local police received a report…
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Former monk’s reckless driving leaves two girls critically injured
A shocking accident occurred when a former monk drove recklessly, resulting in a severe collision that left two young girls critically injured. The incident, captured on CCTV, sparked outrage on social media to locate the responsible driver. The accident took place recently on a road in Ban Dung, Udon Thani province. CCTV footage clearly shows a green Toyota Corona, driven…
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Thai man tricked in car sale scam with fake nurse in Nonthaburi
A man from Nonthaburi found himself entangled in a sophisticated scam involving a fake nurse and a fraudulent car sale, resulting in a loss of half a million baht. A 30 year old man, Thawatchai, filed a complaint with Tevagrit Maneerat, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at Bang Yai Police Station, Nonthaburi, after being deceived by a 41 year old woman…
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Thailand’s first F1 race planned for Bangkok’s Chatuchak by 2027
The Thai government is continuing the Formula One (F1) project initiated by former Prime Minister (PM) Srettha Thavisin, with plans to hold Thailand’s first F1 race in the Chatuchak neighbourhood of Bangkok. F1 enthusiasts were given hope after former PM Srettha discussed the project with the race organisers during his visit to France in March this year. The former PM…
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Entertainment worker assaulted at Surat Thani party
A night meant for work ended in distress for a young entertainment worker who attended a party to serve drinks, only to be assaulted by the host’s partner. The altercation left her with bruises and prompted her to file a police report. The incident took place on December 14 at a riverside establishment in Mueang, Surat Thani province, opposite Koh…
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AMLO freezes assets worth billions in major fraud crackdown
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has made remarkable strides in addressing fraud cases, including those involving notable figures and corporations, resulting in the seizure and freezing of assets valued at billions of baht. The development was shared by AMLO Secretary General Theppasu Bavornchotidara and Witthaya Neetitham, its spokesperson, following a meeting with the transaction committee. Twelve significant cases have seen…
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