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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What is a refining margin, and why is it soaring during the Iran war?
Drivers are currently sweating over high gas station prices. A major cause is the conflict in Iran. Economic news often highlights rising refinery margins. The normal margin is two baht, but it recently exceeded 17 baht. Understanding the refinery margin is straightforward. A merchant buys oranges at a certain price to squeeze and sell bottled juice at a higher price.…
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Phuket van driver confesses to raping Ukrainian woman
Phuket police officers arrested a Thai van driver over the rape of a 20 year old Ukrainian woman yesterday, April 6. The Ukrainian woman filed a complaint with Patong Police Station at about 5.30am, saying a Thai man forced her into a van and raped her in Phuket town. Police later tracked down the suspect, identified only as 43 year old…
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Hot weather, haze and gusty storms forecast across Thailand
Thailand will see hot to very hot weather today, April 7, with temperatures reaching 42°C (degrees Celcius) in the North, Northeast and Central regions, as a heat low-pressure cell brings haze across upper Thailand and isolated thundershowers in some areas. The Thai Meteorological Department said a heat low-pressure cell remains over upper Thailand, bringing hot daytime conditions across much of…
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Thailand travel insurance plan targets unpaid tourist bills
Thailand is moving to require international tourists to obtain travel insurance before entering the country, as rising unpaid medical bills and accident risks place increasing pressure on public healthcare. The impact is already being felt in major tourism areas. At Vachira Phuket Hospital, which serves 400,000 registered residents and more than one million visitors, director Dr Weerasak Lorthongkham said the…
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Thai kindergartners as young as 5 are buying toy-like vapes from classmates
An academic warns that students are selling fruit-flavored e-cigarettes to peers. Educational campaigns and a new safety curriculum aim to teach refusal skills nationwide. Dr. Anyamanee Boonsue revealed alarming data on Monday regarding e-cigarette use among young students. The independent academic and former Chulalongkorn University lecturer told the Ejan news outlet that kindergarteners as young as five years old are…
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Phuket speedboat explosion kills Thai tour guide, injures 5 others
A Thai tour guide died, and five other crew members were injured in a Phuket speedboat explosion at about 11am yesterday, March 6, at Coco Pier in Vichit subdistrict, Mueang district, Phuket. The explosion was reported on the speedboat called Tequila while it was moored at the pier. Volunteer firefighters and rescue workers rushed to the scene after the blast…
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Security guard killed in Pattaya crash with Japanese driver
A security guard died after his motorcycle crashed into an SUV driven by a Japanese restaurant owner who was turning onto a main road in Pattaya early today, April 5. Police, rescue workers and a medical team were called to Phatthanakan Road in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri at 3.49am after reports of a serious motorcycle crash.…
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Vendor splashed with hot oil by another worker in Krabi mall
A drink vendor was injured yesterday, April 4, after another worker threw hot cooking oil at her in a shopping mall in Mueang district, Krabi, with police detaining the suspect at the scene. Rescue workers were alerted by mall staff and coordinated with police before arriving at the food court on the first floor, where they found the victim, 19…
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Trailer truck ploughs into traffic, injures 16 in Chachoengsao
A 22-wheel trailer truck crashed into several vehicles on the Burapha Withi expressway in Bang Samak subdistrict, Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao, at 4.30pm yesterday, April 4, leaving 16 people injured and blocking all lanes. Police, rescue workers and emergency responders went to kilometre marker 37 on the Chon Buri-bound side of the expressway, where they found the white trailer truck…
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Australian climbs Pattaya balcony after dispute with Thai partner
An Australian man was rescued after hanging from a third-floor hotel balcony in Pattaya, yesterday, April 4, after a domestic dispute led to what police described as another apparent bid for attention. Police and tourist officers responded to reports that a foreign man was threatening to jump from a hotel in Soi Buakhao. They found the 59 year old Australian…
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Gang poses as officers to steal motorcycle in Pattaya raid
Seven individuals allegedly impersonating narcotics officers stormed a home in Pattaya late on April 4, threatening a couple at gunpoint and knife-point before making off with a motorcycle. The incident took place at 10.46pm in the Nong Prue subdistrict of Pattaya. The group of seven claimed to be officers from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) as they…
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Trat farm worker killed by wild elephant in musth
A 63 year old Mon farm worker was trampled by a wild elephant in Trat today, April 5, after trying to chase it away. Officials said a strong musth scent was detected at the scene. The incident happened in Bo Phloi subdistrict, Bo Rai district. Rescue workers and local officials went to the scene, where the body was found in…
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Songkhla orders probe after 100,000 litres of diesel found
Officials in Songkhla found 100,000 litres of diesel stored at a company’s international truck yard in Sadao district yesterday, April 4, after no documents were produced to back earlier claims that the site had a valid fuel storage permit. The case emerged after social media posts alleged that a Malaysian transport operator with a trailer yard for cross-border runs between…
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Thai government enforces price control on essential goods amid conflict
Thailand’s government has placed bottled drinking water, seasoning sauces, and plastic pellets under price control to curb potential price hikes due to cost pressures linked to the Middle East conflict. The measure will be enforced for one year, as stated in an announcement from the Central Committee on the Prices of Goods and Services. The announcement, signed by Commerce Minister…
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CAAT warns of flight adjustments after Songkran
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) said on April 3 that it is monitoring the impact of Middle East tensions, with airlines expected to adjust flight operations after Songkran due to rising fuel costs and shifting travel demand. CAAT reported that airlines in the Middle East are gradually resuming services, with operations now at more than half of normal levels. Airlines…
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Foreign national dies in fall from Bangkok hotel
A foreign national died after falling from the 25th floor of a hotel in central Bangkok on April 4. Police Lieutenant Panurut Limsangkad from Thonglor Police Station responded to reports of the incident at a hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 24, Khlong Tan subdistrict, Khlong Toei district. Officers discovered the body of 38 year old Hotesh Cham Dodani at the building’s…
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65-year-old British man dies in Pattaya motorcycle crash
A 65 year old British national died after losing control of his motorcycle and colliding with a utility pole on Na Mueang Road in Pattaya late on Friday. Rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya unit responded to the incident at around 8pm. On arrival, they found the man lying unconscious beside his motorcycle, suffering from severe head injuries.…
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Myanmar woman arrested for murder of daughter in Bangkok
A 34 year old Myanmar woman has been arrested for allegedly strangling her seven year old daughter to death in Bangkok’s Min Buri district on April 1, after fleeing to Koh Larn instead of taking her own life as she had planned. Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriya Kunjakon, along with Police Lieutenant Colonel Prabda Suksuntree and a team of officers from…
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American critically injured in Pattaya car accident
An American man was left in critical condition after being struck by a car while crossing Sukhumvit Road near the Pattaya Central underpass in the early hours of Wednesday, April 2. The incident occurred at around 1.46am on the Bangkok-bound side of the road. Rescue volunteers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya Rescue Centre, working alongside Pattaya City Police, responded…
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Thai PM vows crackdown on oil hoarding amid energy crisis
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Friday the discovery of extensive oil hoarding and market manipulation, committing to legal action and ordering a comprehensive investigation to identify those involved. Following a high-level meeting with energy and security agencies, Anutin stated that multiple tactics had been employed to exploit consumers during the ongoing global energy crisis. These included intentional delays in…
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Phuket tuk tuk driver accuses Russian man of refusing to pay for service
A Phuket tuk tuk driver accused a foreign passenger of refusing to pay and then claiming the driver overcharged him at 3,000 baht. The driver, who operates in Patong in Kathu district, shared a video on social media showing him confronting the passenger in a hotel lobby. He said he may start collecting fares in advance to prevent passengers from…
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Thai Airways allows two power banks, bans onboard use
Thai Airways International issued a security notice today, April 3, outlining new power bank rules that allow each passenger to carry up to two devices on board, but prohibit their use and charging during flights. The airline said in a social media post that the restriction has been in effect since March 27, in line with safety regulations announced by…
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Buriram man accuses high school teacher of sexually assaulting and manipulating him
A male teacher in Buriram province was accused of physically abusing and sexually grooming a schoolboy for more than four years. The victim’s sister, 35 year old Pitchaman, accompanied her brother, identified only as M, to Buriram Provincial Police Office to follow up on the complaint filed with Mueang Buriram Police Station six months ago. The siblings later shared details…
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MP pushes back against Clean Air Bill as Thais are ‘breathing dust to death’
Thai netizens, today, April 3, slammed objections to the Clean Air Bill, which were raised in Parliament, as people in North Thailand continued to face severe PM2.5 pollution. The issue stemmed from remarks made by Bhumjaithai Party list MP Supachai Jaisamut during a House of Representatives meeting on April 1, when he raised concerns about the draft Clean Air Bill,…
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3 foreigners caught using toy banknotes at Phuket entertainment venue
Police arrested three foreigners on April 1 after they attempted to settle a bill at an entertainment venue on Bangla Road in Phuket with toy banknotes. A staff member at the venue contacted police after detecting suspicious banknotes used by the group of foreign men, whose nationalities were not disclosed. The suspects reportedly handed over three US$100 notes to pay…
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Man caught cooking dog meat at Udon Thani home
Police in Udon Thani arrested a man in Chiang Yuen subdistrict yesterday, April 2, after a Facebook post led police to his home, where officers found him cooking dog meat. Officers from Huai Luang Subdistrict Police Station went to investigate the property at 11am. Upon arrival, they found the suspect, identified as 49 year old Gok, cooking meat in a…
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Thai woman hires friend to kill her ex-boyfriend before taking her life
A Thai woman and her friend, who was in unrequited love with her, allegedly arranged the murder of her ex-boyfriend on the M6 motorway in Nakhon Ratchasima on March 28. The woman took her own life while escaping from police. The victim, 30 year old Suppakorn “Golf” Traiphopklang, was found dead on the motorway with multiple gunshot wounds to his…
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Thailand News | Diesel hike hits drivers again as Thai subsidy support shrinks, Music video credit row deepens as rapper points to ChatGPT chat
Today we’ll be talking about how Thai diesel subsidies are shrinking, costing drivers more at the pumps, in ASEAN news the Philippines has secured passage of energy deliveries through the strait of Hormuz, plus, police in Pattaya have launched a sweep of walking street to round up ladyboys who have been ‘harassing tourists,’ then there’s been a raid on a…
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Phuket to raise boat fares to Koh Phi Phi and tour package prices from April 5
Phuket ferry and speedboat fares for routes to Koh Phi Phi, along with boat tour prices, are set to increase from April 5 after operators received approval to raise charges in response to higher fuel costs. Phuket Provincial Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn met officials from the Phuket Provincial Marine Department and local operators at about 1.30pm yesterday, April 2, to discuss…
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Homeless man held after stone attack on bar owners in Pattaya
Two beer bar owners were injured after a homeless man threw stones at their motorbike in Pattaya yesterday, April 2, while they were riding home on Khao Phra Tamnak Road in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. Police from Pattaya City Police Station said they were called to the scene, where rescue volunteers from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya were…
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