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Thailand News | Bolt faces licence renewal consideration after driver screening dispute, Thai TikToker turns dead mosquitoes into viral keychain business
In the news today, Bolt gets zapped! Officials have decided NOT to renew the ride-sharing apps license, then, did police in Phuket refuse to arrest streaking tourists because they were enjoying the show? Also, Thailand’s foreign minister voices his frustration over the costs of America’s war effort on the Thai economy, speaking of which there are new efforts to reduce…
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Chiang Mai woman seeks help after Chinese scammers force access to her bank
Two Chinese nationals and a Thai woman were arrested in Chiang Mai yesterday, April 29, after forcing a housemaid to provide her bank account for a mule account by holding her two children. Police identified the suspects as 31 year old Chinese nationals Ji and Penhyu, along with Ji’s Thai girlfriend Apinya. The arrests followed a report from the victim, who…
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Thaksin to return home under probation after parole set for May 11
Former Prime Minister (PM) Thaksin Shinawatra is set to be released on parole on May 11, with authorities requiring him to complete a four-month probation period before his full release in September. The 23rd PM of Thailand, Thaksin, entered Khlong Prem Central Prison on September 9 last year to serve a one-year sentence linked to his stay at Police General…
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Taxi driver refuses elderly passengers, gets fined on the spot
A taxi driver near Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok was issued traffic fines after an officer caught him refusing passengers and violating traffic rules in a viral video posted on April 26. The clip was posted on Facebook by Bangkok traffic police officer Jaa Auan Bolikhamsai, an online personality with more than 390,000 followers who regularly shares videos from…
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Taiwanese woman caught with 30 tortoises on body at airport
A 19 year old Taiwanese woman was arrested yesterday, April 29, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for wildlife smuggling after officers found 30 Indian star tortoises hidden on her body before a flight to Taipei. Wildlife officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport worked with customs officers and police from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division to arrest the woman at the…
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Thai couple allegedly kills man after swindling his money using AI generated profile
A Thai couple allegedly operated a romance scam using artificial intelligence (AI) to create a social media profile, and murdered a victim in Surat Thani after their criminal action was caught. The victim, 61 year old Wichit Chompong, was found with more than 10 gunshot wounds in a roadside plantation in Son Sak district. His mobile phone was damaged and…
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Thai TikToker goes viral for turning dead mosquitoes into keychains
A Thai TikTok user gained attention online after sharing that she earns more than 10,000 baht per month by creating and selling keychains made from dead mosquitoes. The creator, identified only as Lee, posted about her business on her TikTok account @leesaeslip last week. In the video caption, Lee wrote, “My name is Lee. I earn ten thousand baht from…
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Transport Ministry tightens airfare controls as airlines eye price hikes
Thailand’s Ministry of Transport yesterday, April 28, ordered airlines to keep planned airfare increases under the legal airfare price cap after rising fuel costs pushed up operating expenses across the aviation sector. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the issue does not affect only Thai Airways, but all airlines, as fuel prices continue to rise. “The impact…
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Lop Buri locals question authenticity of Yaba advertising sign on road
A sign advertising Yaba for sale at a road intersection in Lop Buri province circulated on Thai social media, prompting calls for police to investigate. The sign, reportedly placed on a traffic island near Ananda Mahidol Hospital, included a contact name and phone number, raising concerns among residents. Images shared by Facebook users showed a white board attached to a…
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Thailand could face severe drought in 2027, agencies warn
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) and the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) warned yesterday, April 28, that El Niño could bring prolonged drought to Thailand for at least two to three years, with conditions expected to worsen in 2027. The ONWR said El Niño, a periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean that disrupts global weather…
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Thai man steals from coin-operated washing machines and allegedly fakes disabilities
A disabled bakery vendor known on social media was arrested for stealing coins from coin-operated washing machines in Bangkok on April 21. He was also accused of faking his disabilities to increase the sales. The owner of the machines, 23 year old Thanatchai, filed a complaint with Phetkasem Police Station after two suspects were seen in a CCTV footage taking…
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Protected slow loris seized from Phuket tourist photo tout
A man was arrested in Phuket on April 27 for allegedly carrying a slow loris, a protected wild animal, and offering tourists paid photo opportunities in Karon. Officers from the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-Hunting Area, Karon Police Station, local officials, and Phuket MP Chalermpong Sangdee inspected the area after receiving complaints that protected wildlife was being used for tourist photos.…
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Thai woman, three Nigerians arrested over Pattaya romance scam
Police arrested a Thai woman and three Nigerian men yesterday, April 28, over alleged links to a Pattaya romance scam operation using mule bank accounts to receive money from victims. The suspects were arrested at a hotel in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Tourist police investigators in Pattaya and regional investigators from Provincial Police Region 2 seized 12 mobile…
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How sports entertainment is changing in Asia – 2026 update
Asia’s sports entertainment landscape looks nothing like it did five years ago. The region now generates more than half of all global esports revenue, while Southeast Asia’s digital economy crossed $300 billion in gross merchandise value during 2025. The way fans engage with sport has shifted dramatically. Streaming platforms, interactive prediction markets, and digital experiences from platforms like BETVIBE India…
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Thai FM expresses frustration with US over war fallout
Thailand’s foreign minister has voiced frustration with the US, saying Washington offered no direct help to its long-standing treaty ally as rising fuel, fertiliser, and shipping costs from the US-Israel war against Iran continue to plague Thailand. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told The Washington Post that the Trump administration appeared aware of the damage but…
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Police face backlash for letting 2 foreigners walk naked on Phuket road
Two foreign tourists were seen walking naked along a road in the Kata-Laemsai area of Phuket yesterday, April 28, prompting criticism of local police and officials over their response to the incident. Images of the naked tourists in Phuket were shared by the Phuket Times Facebook page, showing the pair without clothing while standing roadside with a group of friends.…
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Fujiseiki showcases TSDH shari ball machine at THAIFEX-HOREC ASIA 2026
Japanese food-production equipment manufacturer Fujiseiki Co., Ltd. said it is advancing automation-focused production systems as demand grows for efficient operations that maintain consistent quality, hygiene and safety standards in food manufacturing. Published by Global Kigyo, the report said Fujiseiki has built an international reputation for developing machines that produce artisan Japanese foods such as sushi and onigiri to match the…
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14 year old boy caught sexually assaulting 8 year old girl in Pathum Thani
An eight year old girl was sexually assaulted by a teenage boy in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani, on April 26. The suspect was released from a juvenile detention centre only four days earlier. The girl’s mother, 42 year old Noi, filed a complaint with Pratunam Chulalongkorn Police Station and said she would pursue legal action against the suspect, identified as…
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Khon Kaen girl dies in parked car after waiting for promised trip
A four year old girl died in a car yesterday, April 28, after entering the vehicle and waiting inside when her mother promised to take her on a trip. Officers from Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station were alerted at around 2.30pm to the death at a house in Thepharak 5 Community. Police attended the scene with rescuers from Sawang Khon Kaen…
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Australian child sex offender on the run caught in Khon Kaen
An Australian sex offender wanted by Queensland police was arrested at a luxury house in Khon Kaen yesterday, April 28, after Thai Immigration and Australian police traced him to northeast Thailand. The man, identified as Richard, is listed on Australia’s child sex offender register. Sources said his criminal record includes sexual assault and indecent acts against children, possession of child…
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40,000-litre tanker overturns in Nan, spills 5,000 litres of oil
A 40,000-litre oil tanker overturned on a curve in Nan yesterday, April 27, spilling around 5,000 litres of fuel onto the road before officials contained the leak and resumed traffic. The Nan Provincial Public Relations Facebook page said the Provincial Energy Office was alerted to the crash at around 10.30am on the Thung Chang to Chaloem Phra Kiat road in…
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Cambodia pushes back against ‘Scambodia’ label in US media
Cambodia protested against the use of the term “Scambodia” in a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article published on April 19, demanding its removal, which WSJ refused. The article, titled “How Cybercrime became a leading industry in ‘Scambodia’,” stated that Cambodia is a major global hub for scam operations, with compounds described as being the size of small towns. It also claimed…
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Condom-covered eggplant, sexual items found on Pathum Thani bridge
Community leaders inspected a pedestrian bridge in Pathum Thani today, April 28, after complaints that it was being used for sexual activity, filming adult content, and other illegal activites. Chukiat Phochan, village chief of Moo 4, visited the bridge in Chiang Rak Yai, Sam Khok district, on the Udon Ratthaya Expressway road with assistant village chiefs and reporters after receiving…
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Thai man abandons girl after alleged sex abuse, leaving her clinging to his pickup
A 17 year old girl was rescued after clinging to a moving pickup truck and falling onto a road in Pattaya on Sunday, April 26, following an alleged sexual abuse by the driver. The incident occurred at around 8.45pm on a road along Mab Prachan Reservoir in Bang Lamung district. A 23 year old motorcyclist, identified only as Mix, witnessed…
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Thai, Chinese workers brawl at Rayong construction site
Police and district officials are investigating a brawl between Chinese and Thai construction workers in Map Kha, Nikhom Phatthana district, Rayong, which left several people with minor injuries on April 26. The incident involved several of workers at a construction site, where a verbal dispute reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation. Video footage showed workers wearing reflective vests and safety…
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Unlicensed BMW driver kills Phuket transwoman while retrieving dropped phone
A BMW driver crashed into and killed a Thai transwoman on April 25 while the victim was retrieving a dropped mobile phone on a road in Phuket. The incident occurred at around 2.30am on Pathak Road outside an entertainment venue in Chalong subdistrict, according to Khao Phuket. The victim, Auttachai Deeprom, sustained serious injuries and later died in hospital. CCTV…
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Youth Olympic Games 2030 bid brings IOC team to Thailand
In a pivotal opportunity to boost its sports industry, Thailand is preparing to present Bangkok and Chon Buri as proposed host areas for the Youth Olympic Games 2030 during an official International Olympic Committee (IOC) assessment visit from April 28 to 30. IOC member Danka Hrbékova, who chairs the Youth Olympic Games 2030 working group, arrived in Bangkok yesterday, April 27,…
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Foreign man steals from Krabi cannabis shop while staff sleeps
A foreign man was caught on CCTV stealing cannabis products from a shop in Krabi, yesterday, April 27, while a staff member was asleep. The incident occurred at a cannabis shop in Ao Nang subdistrict. The shop owner shared footage of the theft with media and warned other local businesses. The suspect’s face was captured on the shop’s security camera.…
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Sri Lankan monks’ Thailand trip goes up in smoke after cannabis bust
Twenty-two Sri Lankan Buddhist monks who had just returned from Thailand were arrested on April 25 at an airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after customs officers allegedly found cannabis hidden in their luggage. BBC reported yesterday, April 27, that the monks were detained after officers found 110 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in secret compartments inside their suitcases. Sri Lankan customs…
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Foreign tourists take turn showing their private parts on Phuket tuk tuk
A group of foreign tourists were criticised after exposing themselves to motorists while travelling in a tuk tuk in Patong, Phuket. Images posted by the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, April 27, showed several foreigners standing in the vehicle, turning towards traffic behind them and pulling down their trousers. The page stated in the caption… “Bottoms show in Patong. Foreign…
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