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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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Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Thai Paralympic table tennis team hailed after 9-medal haul in Paris
Thailand’s national Paralympic table tennis team met with the Chair of the Police Commission after securing four gold and five bronze medals. Yesterday, September 18, at the Royal Thai Police headquarters, Naradet Thiprak, Deputy Commander of Provincial Police Region 1 and Chair of the Police Table Tennis Committee, alongside Suriya Puangsombat, Deputy Superintendent of the Immigration Division 1, led the…
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Hit-and-run: Pattaya traffic cop left with no compensation
A Pattaya traffic cop is desperately calling out for justice after a hit-and-run driver left him with a broken foot—and a pile of unpaid medical bills. Special Affairs Traffic Officer Anirut Buachum was directing traffic near the Soi Chaiyapornvithi intersection in North Pattaya on August 5 when disaster struck. A white Chevrolet sedan, speeding and failing to signal, suddenly turned…
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Passenger dies as grab car crashes into oil tanker in Rayong
A tragic accident involving a popular app-based car occurred when it crashed into the back of an oil tanker truck, resulting in the death of one passenger and serious injury to another. The driver miraculously escaped unharmed, attributing his survival to a protective amulet. At 6.30am today, September 19, Anupong Puangpee, a duty officer at Klaeng Police Station in Rayong,…
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SRT tasked to complete Sino-Thai railway by next year
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has been tasked with completing the high-speed Sino-Thai railway project by the first quarter of next year, according to the directive given to its new director, Veeris Ammarapala. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that Veeris will outline his policies to the SRT by early next month, following the Cabinet’s approval of his appointment. Veeris’s…
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Cannabis chaos: Thailand’s weed rules you can’t afford to break
Thailand’s cannabis scene is about to get a whole lot more official but there are big consequences for those who don’t play by the rules. From January 1, 2025, consumers will still have access to the country’s wide variety of dry flowers but breaking key regulations could land you in hot water. The rules are simple: no smoking in public,…
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Transgender monk’s meth meltdown and fall from grace in Pattaya
A monk in Pattaya, who identified as a transgender woman, experienced a drug-induced episode, leading to his removal from the monkhood after testing positive for methamphetamine. Police in Pattaya received a report of a monk behaving erratically within the grounds of Boonyakanjanaram Temple in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. Responding to the call, Police Lieutenant Pansan Klongsit and…
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Phuket: Lifeguards rush to save turtle washed ashore in Thalang
Lifeguards at Bang Tao Beach in Thalang district, Phuket, faced an unexpected rescue mission this morning when a 30-kilogramme sea turtle, too weak to swim, was found washed ashore. The beach patrol team, led by Wirun Chuea-saman, head of the Surin-Bang Tao Beach lifeguards, quickly sprang into action. “We spotted the turtle during our routine patrol. It wasn’t injured but…
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Lampang residents warned of rising water levels due to heavy rain
Residents of Lampang are urged to prepare for rising water levels in the Wang River, expected to increase by 1.5 to 2 metres due to continuous heavy rainfall. Local officials urge residents to stay updated on the situation via the Facebook page of the Office of Irrigation No. 2, Lampang province. The Wang River’s water level is projected to rise…
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Thai soldier arrested for vending machine thefts in Lopburi
A soldier from a military unit in Lopburi has been apprehended for breaking into vending machines at laundrettes to steal money, claiming he needed funds to buy milk for his pregnant wife and to purchase methamphetamine (meth). Police Colonel Anusorn Wannapin, Superintendent of Sai Mun Police Station in Yasothon, along with Police Captain Suphee Siladha, and a team of investigators,…
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Mother refuses to claim son’s body after police shooting
A mother refused to claim her son’s body after police fatally shot him during a violent rampage. The man, armed with a knife, attempted to rape his sister and threatened to burn down their house before being subdued by the police. Police Colonel Chakaj Tiamwong, Deputy Commander of Udon Thani Provincial Police, inspected the scene at Ban Non Phak Hom…
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Thailand video news | Tourists Caught in Intimate Acts on Phuket Tuk Tuk, Supercars Parade at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat Stuns Tourists
In Thailand video news, Alex covers stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia countries. The stories include two foreign couples caught engaging in intimate acts on a Phuket tuk tuk during a rain-induced traffic jam sparked outrage after a viral video exposed their disregard for public decency. Meanwhile, Pattaya Beach saw a similar controversy as male tourists were filmed urinating…
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Thai woman killed in head-on collision with taxi in Phuket
A tragic accident occurred in Cherng Talay subdistrict, Thalang district, Phuket early today when a 33 year old woman lost her life after her motorbike was struck head-on by a green plate taxi on the wrong side of the road. Police responded to the incident on Srisoonthorn Road, near the Party Party Store, approximately 230 metres north of Soi Bang…
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Thai teens attacked by armed youths in Pattaya park, two injured
A violent confrontation erupted in a Pattaya park, where a group of Thai teenagers were assaulted by armed youths, resulting in two injuries. Shortly after midnight, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre received a distress call about the incident at Ban Thung Klom Tan Man Park. The rescue team, along with Nong Prue police and reporters, quickly arrived at the scene.…
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Police seize heroin worth 198 million baht in Nong Khai
Police in Nong Khai seized 19 kilogrammes of heroin concealed in facial foam tubes, destined for Australia, with the successful delivery potentially worth up to 198 million baht. Five suspects, four Thai nationals and one Laotian, were apprehended. At 2pm yesterday, September 18, in a press conference held at the Nong Khai Immigration Office, Major General Piya-anant Tosakulwong, along with…
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Royal Thai Navy rescues 143 tourists stranded on island off Phuket
Sailors from the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Third Area Command successfully rescued 143 tourists stranded on Racha Yai Island due to severe weather conditions and returned them safely to Phuket. Heavy rain and strong winds had created waves up to 4 metres high, making it impossible for tourist boats to reach the island, according to the Third Area Command based…
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Mother mourns son’s tragic tool theft gone wrong in Thailand
A mother was left devastated after discovering her 23 year old son dead in a garden, electrocuted while allegedly attempting to steal construction tools. The tragic incident occurred yesterday in a village in Chon Daen, Phetchabun province. Police Lieutenant Sukit Chankaew from Chon Daen Police Station received a report of the incident and coordinated with Chon Daen Hospital’s medical team…
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Fallen tree kills one, injures another in Rayong rainstorm
A violent rainstorm caused a tree to fall onto a pickup truck, resulting in one fatality and one severe injury. Yesterday, September 18, police in Klaeng, Rayong province, were alerted to an incident involving a fallen tree that crushed a pickup truck on Route 344 near kilometre marker 89, heading towards Chon Buri province. Police, along with medical personnel from…
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Prawit to sue TV host and ex-spokesman over wiretapping claims
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Prawit Wongsuwon plans to take legal action against TV host Danai Ekmahasawat and former Pheu Thai Party spokesperson Prompong Nopparit. They are accused of releasing voice recordings that allegedly incriminate him. Party secretary-general Paiboon Nititawan announced yesterday, September 18, that complaints would be filed with Hua Mak police, accusing Danai and Prompong of wiretapping or disseminating…
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Severe storm sinks seven fishing boats in Koh Libong
A severe storm hit Koh Libong, resulting in seven local fishing boats sinking and significant damage to resorts and homes. The residents are currently self-reliant due to impassable sea conditions, with waves reaching 2 to 3 metres high. Yesterday, September 18, reports emerged of intense rainfall and strong winds striking Koh Libong, Moo 5, Ban Lang Khao, Koh Libong subdistrict,…
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Heavy rain, high waves to hit Thailand due to monsoon and storm
Heavy rain and high waves are anticipated across Thailand from today, September 19 to Monday, September 23, driven by the annual monsoon and an emerging tropical storm set to impact Vietnam tomorrow. Kornrawee Sitthichivapak, Director-General of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), announced yesterday that the north, northeast, and central plain, including Greater Bangkok, the east, and south regions will experience…
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Singaporean drug smuggler arrested in Samut Prakan
A Singaporean drug smuggler arrested this week in Samut Prakan faces deportation back to his home country, where he is likely to receive the death penalty. Benny Kee Soon Chuan orchestrated a smuggling operation involving crystal meth, ketamine, and ecstasy, shipping these substances from Thailand to Australia and Singapore, according to Police Lieutenant General Panurat Lakboonto, secretary-general of the Office…
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Landslides and floods in Thailand claim 19 lives
A severe landslide and flood disaster has affected nine provinces in Thailand, resulting in 19 fatalities and numerous injuries. The Ministry of Public Health is mobilising medical supplies and healthcare personnel to assist the affected populations. The disaster, which occurred between September 8 and yesterday, September 18, has created a critical situation requiring a coordinated response from multiple government agencies.…
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People’s Party bets on transparency in casino concerns
The People’s Party raised concerns about the Thailand government’s casino project, citing fears that recent revisions to the plan could lead to questionable business practices. Nont Pisarnlimjaroenkit, a People’s Party MP for Nonthaburi, addressed Parliament, stating that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s administration aims to generate new revenue by integrating underground businesses into the tax system. This proposal includes an entertainment…
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MP urges central bank governor to resign over call centre scams
People’s Party list MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn launched a blistering attack on the governor of the Bank of Thailand, urging him to resign if he can’t protect the public from the alarming rise in call centre scams. He slammed the central bank for reaching a “lowest point,” with scammers boldly impersonating officials to trick unsuspecting Thais into transferring their cash. Wiroj…
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Barking mad: Dog row turns deadly as woman guns down neighbour
A neighbourhood dispute over a dog’s incessant barking in Chon Buri escalated dramatically, resulting in a woman firing a gun and injuring a man. Police officers responded to the incident, which occurred in Soi Wat Boonsampan 17, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri yesterday, September 17, at around 7pm. The 42 year old man, Niwit, was found with a gunshot…
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Thai police shut down 21 villas on Koh Samui, foreigners evicted
Police on the picturesque island of Koh Samui swooped and shut down 21 luxury villas that were built illegally on the pristine Khao Ma Ngaen mountain, leaving foreign tenants scrambling to pack their bags. Municipal, military, and ombudsman officials yesterday, September 17, slapped closure notices on the villas, which were among 46 properties constructed without permits. These villas had brazenly…
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Waste not, want not: Thailand tightens reins on dirty paper imports
Thailand’s Foreign Trade Department is cracking down on dirty deals—literally. Stricter import controls on waste paper are in the works to safeguard public health and protect the environment. Ronnarong Phoolpipat, Foreign Trade Department Director-General, dropped the bombshell. The Commerce Ministry has been inundated with reports all year from concerned entrepreneurs. These tip-offs revealed that imported waste paper is ending up…
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Man dies on Hong Kong-bound Cathay Pacific plane from Dhaka
A 47 year old Bangladeshi man died after collapsing aboard a Cathay Pacific flight from Dhaka to Hong Kong. The man reportedly fainted during the flight and was later declared dead, despite immediate efforts to revive him. The incident unfolded on flight CX662, which had taken off from the Bangladeshi capital at 2am local time and touched down in Hong…
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Pattaya mayor’s surprise delivery transforms elderly woman’s life
The life of an elderly woman with limited mobility in Na Kluea, Bang Lamung district, Pattaya was dramatically changed when Mayor Poramet Ngampichet personally arrived at her doorstep with life-altering support. For 75 year old Wanram Singupatham, life had become a daily battle. Trapped in her modest Na Kluea home near Soi Bo Bae, her limited mobility and low income…
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Cigarette rites spark fiery debate among netizens in Thailand
A Thai man’s online query about the unusual practice of lighting cigarettes instead of incense sticks at funerals ignited a spirited discussion among netizens. On Monday, September 16, an anonymous user on the Facebook page Knowledge Around posed the question: “What does lighting cigarettes instead of incense at a funeral signify?” The post quickly went viral, attracting a flurry of…
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