News
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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Heroic officer sells fermented fish online after losing legs
A 36 year old explosives ordnance disposal officer from Narathiwat has been selling fermented fish online to support his family following a tragic bombing incident that resulted in the loss of both his legs. Despite the change in his physical condition, Sergeant Worawit Naratna remains undeterred in his efforts to earn a living. On May 20 last year, Worawit, known…
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Thai man with depression falls to his death near Chatuchak Market
A Thai man suffering from depression yesterday fell to his death from the car park of a shopping mall near Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok. The 47 year old man, Wanna, fell from the fourth floor of the car park, yesterday, March 2. He sustained a deep cut on his right hand, a broken left arm, and severe internal injuries…
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Thailand video news | Phuket tightens immigration controls amid crime wave, Cambodia deports 119 Thai call centre workers
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring updates on key developments across Thailand and Southeast Asia. In Pattaya, a Danish tourist declined hospital treatment after a stabbing incident, hindering police investigations. Meanwhile, Phuket tightens immigration controls amid a rise in crime, and Thailand faces global backlash over the controversial deportation of Uyghur detainees. Other headlines include the arrest…
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Thai casino entry rule demands 50 million baht deposit for citizens
Thai nationals wishing to enter the proposed casino-entertainment complex must have held at least 50 million baht in a fixed deposit account for a minimum of six months, according to a government source. This stipulation is part of Section 65 of the Entertainment Complex Bill, which has been examined by the Council of State and will be reviewed by the…
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Phuket monkey steals French tourist’s phone, takes selfie (video)
A French tourist shared a hilarious TikTok video of a monkey in Phuket snatching her mobile phone and taking a selfie video. Fortunately, some Thai locals successfully helped them retrieve the phone. The French TikTok user @justinefortemps shared the video on Friday, February 28, with the caption “Monkey Hill Attack.” The footage showed a monkey, believed to be a young…
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Thailand sees record 1.13 trillion baht foreign investment boost
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed optimism about Thailand’s economic prospects, highlighting significant foreign investment, which reached over 1.13 trillion baht last year, the highest in a decade. In a monthly Empowering Thais TV segment aired by the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, the premier shares her optimism in regards to economic trajectory, despite last year’s 2.5% growth. “We will work…
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Teen injured in Phatthalung pickup truck shooting incident
A 16 year old was injured when a pickup truck pulled alongside his sedan and opened fire, with a bullet piercing his cheek. Police were alerted to this incident today, March 3, at 2.20am and rushed to the scene in Mueang district, Phatthalung province, along with the investigative team. Upon arrival, officers found an MG sedan parked along the roadside,…
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Bangkok buses now accepts QR code and e-wallet payments
Thai Smile Bus, operating primarily in Bangkok, has expanded its payment options, now allowing passengers to pay using QR codes via PromptPay across all routes. Additionally, the service will also support Digital E-Wallet payments, such as True Money Wallet, which came into effect on March 1. Kulpornphat Wongmacharapinya, Chief Executive Officer of Thai Smile Bus Company Limited, announced the expansion…
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2 foreign couples exposed for dine and dash at Phuket restaurants
Two Thai restaurant owners took to social media to expose two foreign couples for committing dine and dash offences at their establishments in Phuket last week. A female Thai restaurant owner, Narissara O OOp, shared a post on her Facebook account on February 28 condemning two foreigners for their fraudulent act and warning other restaurants to be cautious of the…
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China defends Uyghur deportation amid international criticism
The Chinese embassy in Thailand stated that the recent deportation of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand is a standard procedure of Sino-Thai cooperation on addressing illegal immigration. The move has been met with criticism from certain countries, which the embassy accuses of applying a double standard. In response to international criticism regarding the treatment of this ethnic minority, the embassy clarified…
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Nigerian dealer arrested on Koh Pha Ngan with 240,000 baht of cocaine
Police arrested a Nigerian drug dealer on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, at the weekend, and seized 240,000 baht worth of cocaine. Pha Ngan Tourist Police officers received a tip-off that a Nigerian man on the island was offering drugs to other foreign tourists in the area. He personally delivered the drugs to…
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Baht-ing the bullet: Thailand to cash in on tourists with fee
Thailand is gearing up to introduce a 300 baht tourism fee for all foreign visitors starting in 2025, just in time for the bustling peak travel season. The news comes courtesy of Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong, who shared that the levy is designed to ease the financial burden currently shouldered by the government to assist tourists in emergencies…
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Khao Kheow Zoo calls on public to name newest zebra star
Pattaya’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo is creating quite the buzz by inviting the public to name its latest black-and-white bundle of joy: a newborn zebra foal. Khao Kheow Open Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi proudly announced the debut of a charming female zebra foal, born on November 6 last year to her 6 year old mum and 8 year old dad.…
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Japanese man arrested with ecstasy in Bangkok shopping centre
A 31 year old Japanese national was apprehended by Thonglor police yesterday while allegedly preparing to use ecstasy in a Bangkok shopping centre. Officers discovered four ecstasy tablets in his possession during the arrest. The arrest occurred around 2am, yesterday, March 1, near the fourth-floor restroom of a building in Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana district. The Thonglor police received a…
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Swedish man in tears after girlfriend’s tragic suicide in Pattaya
A Swedish man was found in tears beside his dead girlfriend in a South Pattaya condominium, Chon Buri, on March 2. Police Major Suthiraphan Tapasri from Mueang Pattaya Police Station was alerted at 4.06am about a suicide incident. The 26 year old woman, Sureetip, reportedly took her life using a pair of trousers. Her boyfriend discovered her body and brought…
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Kata landslide inquiry faces delays, further interviews planned for March
The inquiry into the landslide in Kata that resulted in 13 fatalities and numerous injuries in August last year has encountered delays. Karon police require further interviews with victims and witnesses due to the significant damage. Officers have arranged additional questioning for March 5, with witnesses also expected to provide more statements. Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekkasak Kwanwan, Senior Inspector (Investigation)…
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Thailand cracks down on illegal foreign makeup teachers
The Department of Employment intensified its crackdown on employers and foreign workers found engaging in reserved professions, specifically targeting unauthorised makeup teacher roles. Recently, two people have been prosecuted, reinforcing the protection of Thai citizens’ right to work. Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director General of the Department of Employment, stated that labour minister Pipat Ratkitprakarn has instructed officials to rigorously inspect, prevent,…
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North Thailand resident wins 18 million baht in Lottery Plus
A new millionaire from north Thailand has emerged after winning 18 million baht through Lottery Plus. The fortunate person bought three tickets, all of which turned out to be winners. They are now awaiting Not Phanthawat to personally deliver the prize money to their home. Yesterday, March 1, the Government Lottery Office announced the results for the draw dated March…
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Angler’s shocking catch in Pathum Thani: a body, not a fish
A 36 year old man fishing in Pathum Thani’s Rangsit Phra Yurasak Canal was surprised to discover a body, mistaking it for a fish initially. Yesterday, March 1, at 10pm, Police Lieutenant Pornchet Prommool from Pratunam Chulalongkorn Police Station was informed about a body found floating in the canal near Pier 2, close to Kaew Bridge, on the way to…
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Phuket tightens immigration checks amid illegal work, drug concerns
Phuket, in collaboration with international consulates, is intensifying its immigration checks and efforts to combat illegal activities due to a rise in drug-related offences and the presence of foreigners working without proper documentation on the island. Last year, 194 foreigners had their visas revoked, and 998 faced deportation in Phuket for activities primarily linked to drugs and working without valid…
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Bangkok police seize illegal e-cigarettes worth 30 million baht
Bangkok Metropolitan police, in collaboration with officers from Phetkasem Police Station, yesterday conducted a raid on an illegal e-cigarette warehouse in Bang Khae district, Bangkok, confiscating contraband valued at over 30 million baht. Acting on a search warrant issued by the Thonburi Criminal Court, the police targeted a four-story commercial building after receiving information indicating the storage of illegal items…
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Danish tourist stabbed in Pattaya, refuses hospital treatment
A 22 year old Danish national sustained multiple stab wounds in Pattaya on the night of February 28. The incident, which occurred at 10.36pm on Chalerm Phrakiet Road in Nongprue, Bang Lamung, remains shrouded in mystery as the victim refused to provide details, press charges, or seek hospital treatment. Emergency responders discovered the injured man, identified only as Daniel, with…
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Police raid in Pattaya nets eight arrests in drug den bust
Anti-narcotics officers conducted a significant raid on an alleged drug den in Soi Jomtien 3, Pattaya, at 2.06pm on February 28. The operation resulted in the arrest of eight people, including one dealer and seven users, following complaints from locals about ongoing drug activities despite continuous efforts to eliminate them. The raid was carefully planned through a sting operation involving…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport tightens checks amid Congo fever outbreak
Heightened disease control measures have been implemented at Suvarnabhumi Airport to screen travellers arriving from high-risk countries after reports of a mysterious fever outbreak in Congo. Doctor Panumas Yanwetsakul, Director General of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), addressed reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding an outbreak of an unknown illness in Congo. As of February 19, the…
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119 Thai nationals deported from Cambodia over scam centre involvement
Some 119 Thai nationals were among 230 foreigners released from a scam call centre in Poipet, Cambodia, as law enforcement continues its battle against cybercrime. Yesterday, March 1, Cambodia’s immigration department reported the deportation of 119 Thais, comprising 61 men and 58 women, who had unlawfully entered and resided in the country. The deportation took place via the Poipet border…
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Chiang Rai police arrest 9 in crypto scam targeting US, Canada
Police in Chiang Rai have arrested nine Chinese nationals involved in a significant hybrid scam operation, impersonating individuals with appealing profiles to target victims in the United States and Canada, persuading them to invest in cryptocurrency. The operation was carried out yesterday, February 28, with oversight from Police Lieutenant General Kritthaphon Yeesakorn and several other senior officers from region 5…
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Chanthaburi school sues ex-employee over missing 3m baht milk
A former marketing employee of the Chanthaburi Dairy Cooperative is facing a lawsuit demanding nearly 3 million baht in damages. The case involves the disappearance of approximately 270,000 cartons of school milk, worth almost the same amount. Yananan, who previously worked as a housekeeper for the cooperative from October to November 2018 before being promoted to a marketing position in June…
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Pattaya businessman attacked in broad daylight
A prominent Pattaya businessman was brutally assaulted in broad daylight, sparking concerns over his safety and a possible real estate dispute. Thanakrit Chokmongkhonthanakul, former president of the Pattaya Taksin Lions Club and an executive of the LT Group, is demanding justice after two attackers ambushed him outside his real estate project in Nong Prue. Despite the violent nature of the…
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Police seize 2.3 million meth pills on Mittraphap Road
Police in Region 3 seized 2.3 million methamphetamine tablets (meth pills) on Mittraphap Road, intended for distribution to a central investor group. The suspects confessed to being paid between 30,000 and 50,000 baht per vehicle. The operation was conducted yesterday, February 28 at the Region 3 Investigation Bureau. Police Major General Rutthaphon Naowarat, Deputy Commander of Region 3, Pol. Maj.…
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Tourists flock to Kham Chanod Island for lottery blessings
Hundreds of hopeful tourists swarmed Kham Chanod Island in Udon Thani yesterday, February 28, seeking divine blessings and lucky lottery numbers ahead of the draw today, March 1. The sacred site, believed to be the mythical home of the Naga King, continues to attract fortune-seekers eager to honour deities Sri Sutho and Sri Pathumma in hopes of securing a windfall.…
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