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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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Thailand’s ageing F-16s, what’s the next move?
Thailand’s Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is facing an important challenge: how to replace its ageing fleet of F-16 fighter jets while keeping pace with regional security demands and budget realities. For decades, the F-16 has been the backbone of Thailand’s air defence. But with many of these jets approaching their retirement age, the RTAF has now shifted gears, looking…
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Thais get lucky with new retirement lottery scheme
The House of Representatives has given the green light to a game-changing amendment that could turn every lottery ticket into a retirement win. Yesterday, July 23, MPs voted overwhelmingly to approve changes to the National Savings Fund Act, introducing a brand-new weekly retirement lottery aimed at helping Thais build long-term savings while still enjoying their favourite national pastime. The new…
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Thailand plays its cards right with poker punt
Thailand has gambled on a bold new strategy, officially recognising poker as a sport in a move that’s sent shockwaves through the international sporting and gaming communities. Furthermore, American football was also handed official sport status. The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) made a game-changing call this week, confirming that poker is now an officially recognised sport, a decision expected…
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Illegal kratom juice factory dismantled in Nakhon Ratchasima
Police in Nakhon Ratchasima province have dismantled an illegal kratom juice factory that was mixing the juice with illicit cough syrup, posing a risk of acute kidney failure. A 39 year old man, Trakarn Chuankratok, who rented the premises, admitted to hiring workers to produce the concoction for the past two weeks. Yesterday, July 23, at Chokchai Police Station, Police…
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Punch-up with Pattaya ladyboy leaves foreigner with bloody head
A wild brawl in the heart of Pattaya left a foreign tourist with a bloody head wound after a drunken dispute with a ladyboy and some motorbike taxi drivers. The dramatic altercation was captured on video and is now under police scrutiny. The violent brawl broke out on Pattaya’s infamous Soi Buakhao at 4.06am yesterday, July 23, leaving the unnamed…
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Interior Minister denies interference in Khao Kradong land probe
Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai responded to accusations of meddling in a high-stakes investigation into the Department of Lands (DoL), insisting that he had no intention of influencing or intimidating officials. The probe centres on a 5,083-rai land plot in Khao Kradong, Buriram, which has long been mired in legal battles and political ties. The Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the land belongs…
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Phuket heartbreak as young Aussie tourist found dead in hotel
A 21 year old Australian man has been found dead in a Phuket hotel room, just five days after an accused rapist from Down Under was also discovered lifeless on the same Thai island. Police in Thalang, northern Phuket, are investigating the sudden death of a young Aussie traveller who was found dead in his hotel room yesterday, July 23,…
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3 dead, 23 injured in Kanchanaburi truck-pickup collision
A tragic accident in Kanchanaburi’s Sangkhla Buri district resulted in three fatalities and injuries to 23 others when a 10-wheel truck collided with five pickup trucks on a wet road. The incident occurred yesterday along Highway 323, near Nong Lu subdistrict. The crash happened on a steep section of the Thong Pha Phum-Sangkhla Buri route, about 8 kilometres from Sangkhla…
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Koh Pha Ngan drone thieves nabbed for targeting tourist homes
Tourist Police on Koh Pha Ngan arrested four Myanmar nationals accused of using drones to scope out rented homes of unsuspecting tourists before breaking in and stealing valuables. The men, aged between 25 and 30, were caught at around 5.30pm yesterday, July 22, at an unregistered rental property in Village 3, where they were reportedly laying low. The arrests came…
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Thai driver drags motorcyclist’s body into petrol station, denies collision
A pickup driver dragged the dead body of a motorcyclist into a petrol station in the central province of Kamphaeng Phet last night, but denied being involved in a collision with the victim. Petrol station attendants on Phahonyothin Road in Kamphaeng Phet were shocked to discover the bloodied body lodged beneath a grey Isuzu pickup, which arrived at around 9pm,…
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Phuket-bound Air India Express flight aborts after 16 minutes
Air India makes the headlines again as Air India Express is involved in the latest aviation mishap, where a tropical holiday turned into a mid-air nightmare after a Phuket-bound Air India Express flight was forced to return to Hyderabad just 16 minutes after take-off—leaving frustrated passengers fuming. Flight IX110, operated by a Boeing 737 Max 8, was scheduled to land…
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Fire erupts at abandoned Ratsada house after 20 years of silence
A long-forgotten home in Ratsada lit up the night sky as flames erupted from the derelict property—despite it being untouched for nearly 20 years. The blaze broke out around 11.20pm yesterday, July 22, at a single-storey house located on Thepprathan Road in Village 1, Ratsada. Though the fire was extinguished before firefighters could reach the scene, the aftermath was anything…
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2 foreign men arrested for riding stolen rental motorcycles from Krabi to Phuket
Police successfully recovered two rental motorcycles from a shop owner in Krabi after two foreign men failed to return the vehicles on time and were suspected of riding them to Phuket. The official Facebook page of Choeng Thale Police Station posted images of the two foreign men and urged the public to assist officers by reporting any sightings. Police stated…
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Thailand’s AI law stops 6 billion baht in online scam losses
Thailand’s cyber cops are going digital—fast. In just three months, a new cybercrime law powered by artificial intelliegence (AI) has stopped online scammers from stealing nearly 6 billion baht. Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong revealed today, July 23, that the latest royal decree targeting technology-based crime has prevented massive financial damage to the public since coming into force…
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Visitors flock to Prasat Ta Kwai for offerings and lucky numbers
Visitors are flocking to Prasat Ta Kwai in Panom Dong Rak district, Surin province, not only to offer gifts and support to soldiers stationed there but also to admire the beauty of the ancient site. Despite some visitors being elderly and facing physical challenges, the allure of the temple atop a high hill continues to draw many. The site attracts…
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Phumtham backs Paetongtarn to beat court case and return as PM
Thailand’s political soap opera just took another twist—with acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai backing suspended PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra to beat the rap and reclaim her throne. Speaking to reporters today, July 23, at the Interior Ministry, Phumtham declared he was “confident” that Paetongtarn would emerge from her Constitutional Court battle unscathed and resume leadership of the country. “The prime minister…
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Air Cambodia hits back at Thai Airways copycat claims
Air Cambodia is fighting back after being accused of copying Thai Airways’ signature look—insisting its purple-and-gold design is 100% Khmer. A social media storm erupted following the airline’s debut flight between Shenzhen, China and Siem Reap on July 18, with Thai netizens claiming that Air Cambodia’s aircraft livery and cabin crew uniforms looked suspiciously similar to those of Thai Airways.…
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Viking ride at Bangkok amusement park leaves schoolgirl unconscious
A Thai schoolgirl with a heart condition lost consciousness last night after riding the Viking ride at an amusement park in Bangkok Noi district of Bangkok. Officers from Bang Yi Khao Police Station were alerted to the incident at around 8pm, yesterday, July 22, and responded to the scene near Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge. Rescue workers from the Por Teck…
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Qantas passengers forced to surrender passports in Bangkok (video)
Aussie travellers were left fuming in Bangkok after their Qantas flight was cancelled at the last minute—forcing them to choose between handing over their passports or sleeping on the airport floor. The service from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Sydney was initially delayed for six hours before being officially cancelled late on Monday night, July 21, stranding dozens of passengers…
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Motorcycle crash in Pattaya due to unsecured gate leaves two injured
Strong winds caused a metal gate to swing open onto the road, leading to a motorcycle collision that injured two young people. The accident occurred in Soi Na Kluea 16, Pattaya, and while the injured have reported the incident, there has been no response from the landowner. The injured parties are identified as 20 year old Thanapon Thanathapsapanitch and 19…
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Man shot in Nakhon Si Thammarat brawl walks unfazed
A group of teenagers last night engaged in a violent altercation in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Amid the chaos, a 32 year old man named Saranyu, also known as Rak, was shot in the abdomen with a shotgun, sustaining approximately 20 wounds. Remarkably, he remained unfazed and continued walking as emergency services arrived at the scene. The incident, yesterday, July…
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Hot wheels: Fire destroys Mercedes-Benz on Bangkok expressway
A luxury Mercedes-Benz burst into flames on a Bangkok expressway, sending black smoke billowing into the night sky and leaving behind a charred wreck. The dramatic incident unfolded at around 8.30pm yesterday, July 22, when a grey Mercedes-Benz E200 caught fire on the Borommaratchachonnani elevated expressway parallel route in the Chimphli subdistrict of Taling Chan district. The Phan Fa Radio…
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Major drug network dismantled in Kanchanaburi, assets seized
In Kanchanaburi province, police dismantled a major drug trafficking network led by 37 year old Suthat “Mui” Detchakum, who is accused of orchestrating the abduction and murder of DJ Tate in May. The operation resulted in the arrest of five people and the seizure of assets valued at 408 million baht. The announcement was made yesterday, July 22, at the…
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Flood chaos fears as Chiang Mai braces for storm Wipha
Chiang Mai is on high alert as storm Wipha barrels towards the northern province, prompting the setup of 24-hour emergency operations and shelters for tens of thousands of residents. Provincial Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn confirmed the launch of a round-the-clock Emergency Command Centre to manage the looming crisis. With weather forecasters warning of intense downpours, particularly in Chiang Mai’s upper districts,…
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Cambodian tourist accused of insulting Thai soldiers in Surin
Phanom Dong Rak Police Station received a complaint against Cambodian tourist Norodom Pan Monica for allegedly insulting Thai soldiers at the Ta Muen Thom temple in Surin province. The incident, which took place on July 15, was widely shared on social media, sparking significant public interest. The complaint accuses her of causing public disorder, insulting an officer on duty, and…
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Pattaya guard bashed with phone in hotel bust-up
A late-night lovers’ spat on Pattaya Beach took a violent turn when a hotel security guard trying to play peacemaker ended up bleeding from the head — allegedly attacked by an irate woman wielding a mobile phone. The drama unfolded in the early hours of Monday, July 21, at a hotel in central Pattaya, where 37 year old Wisuwat, a…
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Police officer fatally shot near home in Narathiwat
A shooting occurred last night resulting in the death of 32 year old Police Lieutenant Ruzdee Jedorlor from the Su-ngai Padi Police Station. The incident yesterday, July 22, took place near his residence in Paluru subdistrict, Su-ngai Padi district, Narathiwat province. The officer was preparing to attend a funeral when he was fatally shot. Investigations revealed that as Police Lieutenant…
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Thailand puts brakes on 300 baht tourist fee
Thailand’s ambitious plans to rake in trillions from tourism are hitting turbulence, with officials now backpedalling on a controversial landing fee amid falling visitor numbers. Tourism and Sports Minister Surawong Thienthong revealed that the government is sticking to its 2025 target of 38 million tourist arrivals and 3 trillion baht in revenue – the same goal as this year. But…
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Sting operation gone wrong: Bees attack kids in Udon Thani class
In a scene that resembled a horror movie, a swarm of bees swooped and attacked primary school children while in class in Udon Thani, injuring several children. The incident, which occurred yesterday, July 22, at Ban Pa Khao School in Phaktop subdistrict, Nong Han district, saw emergency services, including Police Senior Sergeant Major Charern Chantrak, respond promptly to the scene at…
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Thai abbot accused of sexually assaulting adoptive son
A Thai man revealed to the media that an abbot in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani, who is also his adoptive father, sexually assaulted him. This alleged abuse led him to escape and live with his girlfriend. The abbot of Wat Pa Dan Hin Phong in Ubon Ratchathani, Anan, sought help from Channel 8, claiming his adoptive son, who…
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