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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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SCB cuts branches and staff as AI reshapes Thai banking
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is restructuring its retail operations in response to rising household debt and the growing dominance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial sector. Since May, SCB has reorganised its retail segment into a new consumer banking division, covering branches, retail services, and employees. Chief Executive Kris Chantanotoke said the shift reflects customer preferences and the steady…
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Thai Airways axes first class in bold premium revamp
Thai Airways has confirmed that it will retire its first class cabins, a product once hailed as the pinnacle of luxury but now confined to just three Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The decision closes a chapter in the airline’s history, with first class having once graced its flagship Airbus A380s, Boeing 747s and Airbus A340s. These exclusive cabins, occasionally used for…
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Pattaya officials warn after elephant seen strolling outside mall
An elephant was spotted outside a Pattaya shopping mall with its mahout, drawing crowds and prompting city officials to step in over safety concerns. Shoppers at Terminal 21 Pattaya witnessed a highly unusual scene this week when an elephant, guided by its mahout, was seen wandering near the mall selling sugarcane to tourists. The sight drew crowds of curious onlookers…
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Thai-China rail delays pile up as minister faces tough test
Thailand’s high-speed rail project is facing fresh delays as the new transport minister takes charge of stalled contracts and unresolved heritage concerns. Thailand’s long-awaited China-backed high-speed rail project is once again facing delays, forcing the new Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn to step in as pressure mounts to push the scheme forward. The project, first launched with a groundbreaking ceremony at…
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Housing row settled after Nong Prue home cleared as legal
Officials in Nong Prue inspected a housing project after residents complained a property may have breached building laws, confirming it complied with regulations. At around 2pm yesterday, September 12, deputy mayor Wanchai Saenngam led a team of municipal engineering officers to inspect a property in the Rattanakorn 15 project following anonymous reports that a house was being built taller than…
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Decomposed body of elderly woman found in Chiang Mai river
Locals in Chiang Mai discovered the body of an elderly woman floating in the Ping River, prompting police to launch an investigation into her death. Police in Chiang Mai’s Doi Tao district are investigating the discovery of a decomposed body, believed to be that of an elderly woman, found floating in the Ping River. The grim discovery was made yesterday,…
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Quake jolts Sumatra as tremors reach into northern Thailand
Thailand’s Earthquake Observation Division reported a 3.6-magnitude earthquake in northern Sumatra this morning, with light tremors also detected in parts of northern Thailand. Fortunately, no damage or injuries have been reported. The quake struck at 4.27am local time today, September 13, centred in Indonesia’s northern Sumatra region at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located about 367 kilometres…
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Man caught filming up skirt plunges from Nonthaburi mall
A man was seriously injured after jumping from a mall’s fourth floor in Nonthaburi while trying to escape security who caught him filming under a woman’s skirt. Chaos erupted at Central Westgate mall in Bang Yai district, Nonthaburi, yesterday evening, September 12, after a man accused of secretly filming under a woman’s skirt leapt from the fourth floor to escape…
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Thai Democrat Party leader quits over health and party loyalty row
Democrat Party leader Chalermchai Sri-on has stepped down from his position, citing health concerns that he says have affected his ability to lead effectively. In an official letter submitted to the Election Commission (EC)’s political party registrar yesterday, September 12, the 60 year old politician stated that he could no longer carry out his duties at full capacity and feared…
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Indian tourists flee after Pattaya crash leaves 2 women hurt
Two Thai women were left injured in Pattaya after a late-night crash involving a motorcycle and a pair of careless tourists who allegedly fled the scene. A late-night motorcycle collision in Pattaya has left two Thai women hospitalised, after what witnesses claim was a reckless encounter with two foreign tourists. The incident occurred around 3am yesterday, September 12, in front…
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Phuket’s long-awaited boat taxi project finally sets sail
Phuket is moving ahead with plans for a boat taxi service along its west coast, as key officials signed an agreement to improve coastal transport options. Phuket is one step closer to launching its long-discussed boat taxi service along the island’s popular west coast, as key officials gathered to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday, September 12. Atthaphon Charoenchansa,…
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Heavy downpours batter 35 Thai provinces, Bangkok on alert
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, forecasting thunderstorms and heavy rain across 35 provinces, including Bangkok and its surrounding areas. Residents are advised to be cautious due to the risk of heavy and accumulated rainfall. The current weather conditions are influenced by a monsoon trough passing over the lower northern, central, eastern, and northeastern…
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Thai pilots take flight over foreign hires on local routes
Thailand’s Administrative Court is reviewing a legal bid by a pilots’ group to block a government move allowing foreign pilots on domestic flight routes. The Thai Administrative Court is reviewing a request from the Thai Pilots Association to block the Ministry of Labour from allowing foreign pilots to operate domestic flights, according to the Bangkok Post. The petition seeks a…
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Thai motorcyclist dies after dodging sudden lane change by another rider
A Thai woman died in a motorcycle crash in Nonthaburi province yesterday, September 11, after swerving to avoid a sudden lane change by another rider. Officers from Bang Srimueang Police Station were alerted to the accident at around 7.30am outside a petrol station on Ratchaphruek–Nonthaburi Road. At the scene, police and rescue workers found a 20 year old woman, later…
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Thailand urged to tighten rules on cosy inmate detentions
Thailand’s anti-graft body is urging the new Cabinet to review prison detention rules over concerns they could allow inmates to serve sentences at home. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is urging the new Cabinet to instruct the Department of Corrections (DoC) to review its rules on off-site detention, following concerns that current regulations could allow prisoners to serve their sentences…
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5-million-baht fireworks boost to supercharge Pattaya festival
Chon Buri officials approved extra funding to support a major fireworks festival in Pattaya, aiming to boost tourism and attract international visitors. The Pattaya International Fireworks Festival 2025 will dazzle visitors with its most spectacular show yet, thanks to a 5 million baht boost from the Chon Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO). Scheduled for November 28 to 29 along Pattaya…
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Thailand’s casino bill could be revived in 2026 – success hinges on political coalition
The casino legalisation debate is again going on in Thailand. It is stated that, based on an analysis of a recent legal expert, the stuck in the rut Entertainment Complex Bill can be reintroduced already in 2026. The outstanding consideration is whether the ruling Pheu Thai Party is able to end political instability and form a stable coalition government. This…
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British expat reveals retirement costs in Thailand, sparking relocation dreams
A British expat broke down the cost of living for his retirement in Thailand on TikTok, prompting many of his followers to consider relocating to the country. The man, Simon Thatcher, shared the video on his account, @skyhighthaisi, detailing his monthly expenses to show whether living in Thailand is still affordable in 2025. Thatcher explained that he lives under a…
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Man found dead in Phuket dorm after family argument
A man was found dead in a Phuket dormitory bathroom after a family dispute, prompting police and medical teams to investigate the cause of death. Police in Kathu, Phuket, were alerted to the incident at 8.40am yesterday, September 11. Officers from Kathu Police Station, accompanied by a forensic doctor from Vachira Phuket Hospital and Phuket Kusontham Foundation responders, arrived promptly…
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Bangkok police seize 5.45m meth pills worth 200 million baht
Bangkok police have confiscated more than 5.45 million meth pills, valued at approximately 200 million baht, and detained a drug courier at the Lat Krabang Airport Rail Link station parking area. Yesterday, September 11, Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, alongside senior narcotics officers, announced the arrest of 27 year old Adisorn Boonyanusanti. The operation also resulted…
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Thalang cracks down on illegal claw machines in malls
Dozens of claw machines have been shut down across Phuket’s Thalang district in a major crackdown on unlicensed gambling-style games at public venues. Officials from the Thalang District Office inspected shopping malls, convenience stores, and other locations between September 6 and 9. Around 50 unlicensed machines were found and immediately deactivated, including several at the popular Robinson Lifestyle Thalang mall.…
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Hero shopper takes down thief at Bangkok Big C (video)
A quick-thinking Bangkok man has become a local hero after using martial arts to tackle a suspected thief who tried to snatch shopping baskets from two tourists. The incident unfolded on the night of September 1 at a Big C supermarket in Bangkok. As two Chinese women were shopping, a man reportedly grabbed their basket, containing handbags and valuables, and…
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British YouTuber and netizens blast BBC’s Thailand dark side documentary
A British YouTuber and netizens criticised the BBC documentary Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise for allegedly distorting facts and presenting misleading information to viewers. Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise was first aired on BBC iPlayer on September 8. The series aimed to expose the darker aspects of several tourist destinations in Thailand, focusing particularly on Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya.…
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Lottery fever: Tarantula picks lucky number for upcoming draw
A crowd gathered at a temple in central Thailand for a ritual where a tarantula selected lottery numbers, sparking fresh excitement among players. Dozens of hopeful locals gathered today, September 12, behind Wat Bot Rat Sattha in Bang Rakam subdistrict, Pho Thong district, Ang Thong province, for a traditional ritual centred around the legendary Paya Bung, a revered, burrow-dwelling tarantula…
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Thai businesswoman swindled out of 159 million baht in stock trading scam
A Thai businesswoman lost 159 million baht in an investment scam. She admitted that greed and a desire for higher profits led her to transfer the sum to a scam gang within just three weeks. The victim, identified only as A, urged the non-profit organisation Saimai Survive to follow up on her case after she lodged a complaint with the…
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British man slashed in Pattaya condo by trans escort gang
A British man was injured after being attacked in his Pattaya condo by a group of transgender persons following a dispute over payment for services. Police in Pattaya are on the hunt for a gang of four transgender women accused of slashing a 65 year old British man in his South Pattaya apartment after a dispute over money turned violent.…
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Thailand video news Inside Klong Prem: What Awaits Thaksin Behind Bars, Karon Beach Lifeguards Save Tourist Who Ignored Red Flags
Thailand saw a turbulent week spanning politics, public safety, and lifestyle changes — from Thaksin Shinawatra’s stark new reality inside Klong Prem Prison and Paetongtarn’s push to steady Pheu Thai, to a citywide rabies alert in Bangkok, high-profile tourist incidents in Phuket, and even viral mishaps like a “green curry smoothie.” Meanwhile, Nepal unrest halted a British vlogger’s epic…
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Drunk Thai man beats neighbour’s puppy to death in Bangkok
A drunk Thai man beat his neighbour’s puppy to death at a rental accommodation in Bangkok. The motive for his actions remains unknown and is currently under investigation. The owner of the puppy, Sumo, sought help from the non-profit organisation Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) to bring the attacker to justice. The foundation handed the case over to Don Mueang Police…
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Thai Lion Air eyes new routes despite tourism slowdown
Thai Lion Air is expanding its fleet and launching new routes as it targets high-demand destinations, despite a drop in international tourist arrivals. The budget carrier plans to add at least two Boeing 737 jets to its fleet this year, focusing on high-demand routes such as China and Japan, despite revising its earlier goal of operating 40 aircraft. The adjustment…
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Thai woman on trial in Taiwan for flushing hamsters down toilet
A Thai woman flushed ten hamsters down the toilet and posted a video of her cruel actions on social media after breaking up with her Taiwanese boyfriend. The 27 year old Thai woman, identified only as Sunny, is now facing court proceedings in Taiwan following her viral Instagram video showing the act of animal cruelty. The shocking videos were shared…
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