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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 New in July: Save 10% for life on family health plans in Thailand
Cigna has a special offer this July for families in Thailand. When you sign up three or more people on a family health plan, you will save 10% on your premiums for life. This deal helps you get affordable, high-quality...
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Bark and spite: Drunk Thai man kicks autistic boy after row with dog
A drunk Thai man was arrested after kicking a seven-year-old special needs boy and his aunt outside a Chiang Mai shopping mall, claiming a barking dog sent him over the edge. The shocking incident unfolded in the Bo Sang area of San Kamphaeng district at 4am on July 13, and the autistic child’s devastated family filed a complaint the following…
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Myanmar earthquake shakes multiple districts in Chiang Rai
An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale rocked large parts of Chiang Rai, with tremors strong enough to jolt desks, rattle ceiling tiles and set computer screens quivering. Natthawut Dandee, Deputy Director General of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), confirmed the quake struck at 3.06pm yesterday, July 14, originating 10 kilometres underground in neighbouring Myanmar. The epicentre was located…
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2 Chinese men arrested in murder of fellow countryman in Chiang Mai
Police yesterday, July 14, arrested two Chinese men in connection with the murder of a fellow countryman in Chiang Mai province. Two other suspects remain at large. A Chinese woman filed a complaint at Chiang Saen Police Station on July 8, stating that her younger brother, Yang, had been kidnapped for ransom. The criminal gang demanded 3 million baht from her,…
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Locals seek lottery luck from ancient tree in Uthai Thani
Residents flocked to a temple in Uthai Thani province ahead of the lottery draw, seeking lucky numbers from a 200 year old takian tree unearthed in a canal. The wife of the excavator operator reported seeing a beautiful woman in traditional Thai attire on the boat. The vibrant scene unfolded at Wat Pakha in Pradu Yuen subdistrict, Lan Sak district,…
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Highway: Foreign tourist tries to pay Pattaya taxi fare with marijuana
A foreign tourist tried to pay his 2,000-baht taxi fare from Bangkok to Pattaya with a giant bag of marijuana, leaving the stunned cabbie out of pocket and steaming mad. The bizarre incident unfolded in the early hours of today, July 15, when 54 year old veteran driver Prachuap, picked up the man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for a trip…
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Cambodian mother suspects school bullying in daughter’s suicide
A Cambodian mother believed her daughter committed suicide at a school in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, yesterday, July 14, after allegedly being bullied due to ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. A Thai man, Wanlop Yimdee, was the first person to discover the body of the 15 year old Cambodian girl, Jittinan Suksawat. She was found lying lifeless on a…
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Transgender Thais win free hormone therapy in gold card revolution
Thailand’s Board of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has approved a sweeping plan to make hormone therapy for gender affirmation an official health benefit under the country’s Universal Health Coverage, known as the Gold Card system. The move, green-lit with a budget exceeding 145 million baht for fiscal year 2025, aims to promote equality and improve the well-being of…
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Jilted ex drives to Phuket with pistol to settle grudge with wife
A jilted ex with a grudge and a gun was busted trying to drive into Phuket, allegedly on a mission to confront his ex-wife over a bitter money dispute. Checkpoint police got more than they bargained for on July 13 when they stopped a vehicle at the Tha Chatchai road entry and discovered a loaded 9mm pistol along with 35…
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Helmet-wielding lunatic causes chaos in Pattaya fast food joint
A helmet-wielding lunatic sparked panic on a busy Pattaya street after attacking innocent bystanders in a bizarre bid to make headlines, so his estranged wife would notice him. Police scrambled to Soi Nern Plab Wan at 11.06pm, yesterday, July 14 after reports of a deranged man lashing out with a safety helmet outside a fast-food joint. The scene was already…
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Thai hard: Pompey mad fan builds shrine to blues, from Thailand
A Portsmouth-mad football fan from deep in southern Thailand has built an astonishing collection of Pompey memorabilia, despite never having stepped foot in the UK. Kai Sichomphu, a music video director from Yala province, has followed Pompey religiously since 2004. Over the past two decades, the 32 year old has amassed a jaw-dropping haul of 90 match shirts, 60 scarves…
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CCTV captures foreign men taking Thai man’s cat in Phuket
A Thai man urged two foreign men to return his pet cat after they were caught on CCTV taking the animal from outside his restaurant in Phuket. The cat’s owner, Win Mungkon, took to social media yesterday, July 13, to search for his missing pet, whose name was not revealed. He asked Newshawk Phuket to help publicise the incident in…
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Youth clashes in Buriram spark fear with explosive disturbances
Youths wielding weapons clashed in a mass brawl in Buriram’s Mueang district, causing alarm among locals due to explosive noises over three consecutive nights. The incident reportedly involved nearly 50 people, some armed with long knives. A viral Facebook video captured the chaos where one group was heard shouting, “Don’t talk to me about the law; it can’t do anything.”…
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Boot and run: Thug kicks young Thai woman in Pattaya bar assault
A 21 year old woman was left traumatised and housebound after being viciously kicked in the head by a stranger during a shocking unprovoked attack at a Pattaya bar, all because someone allegedly thought she was “staring.” The victim, known only as Piano, had been enjoying a night out with two friends in the Nong Prue area of the resort…
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Wat Arun added to UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage list
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced that UNESCO has added the Phra Prang of Wat Arun to its Tentative List for World Heritage status. This initial listing marks a significant step towards achieving full World Heritage status in the future. The currently suspended prime minister, and minister of culture, shared the news on her Ing Shinawatra page, highlighting the inclusion of…
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Baht’s life: Monsoon gloom rains on Phuket’s holiday parade
Phuket raked in nearly 3 billion baht during the four-day religious holiday but tourist numbers have taken a worrying dip, with Chinese arrivals more than halved and Middle Eastern travellers staying away. The Khao Phansa Buddhist holiday on July 10–11 gave locals a golden excuse for a long weekend, sending thousands of Thai tourists flocking to the island. Foreigners, meanwhile,…
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Naked American man in Bangkok sewer refuses help and bites rescuers
A naked American man, trapped in a Bangkok sewer, refused assistance from a rescue team and bit one of the rescuers on her wrist. Officers from Bang Khun Thian Police Station today, July 14, responded to an incident outside a condominium on Kanlapaphruek Road in the Chom Thong district of Bangkok after the condo manager reported seeing a naked foreign…
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Two women arrested for stealing phone from elderly monk
Two women were arrested for allegedly stealing a mobile phone from an 80 year old monk at his residence. The police apprehended the suspects in a rented room following their confession and are proceeding with legal action. On July 11, Manun, the 29 year old nephew of a monk, Thong Suk, at Bang Mod Sothonaram Temple, sought media assistance to…
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Pier pressure: Man found hanged in Phuket mangroves
A man has been found dead, hanging from a tree in dense mangroves near Bang Duk Pier in Mai Khao, Phuket, sparking a police probe into whether the tragedy was suicide or something more sinister. The grim discovery was made around 10am on Saturday, July 13, by a shocked passerby, who spotted something dangling in the trees while walking near…
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Truck crash in Lop Buri kills woman at fruit stall
A six-wheel truck with a trailer lost control and crashed into a roadside fruit stall, leading to the death of a woman yesterday, July 13. Her husband narrowly escaped the incident, which occurred in Lop Buri province, while the driver is suspected to have fallen asleep at the wheel. Police Lieutenant Colonel Natthapong Wongwang from the Tha Hin Police Station…
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Eight year old in Pattani diagnosed with tetanus after incomplete vaccinations
An eight year old boy in Pattani was diagnosed with tetanus after experiencing jaw pain, difficulty swallowing, and stiffness for four days. Examination revealed an incomplete vaccination history. Health professionals recommend ensuring children receive all scheduled vaccinations to prevent such serious illnesses. The case was shared by Sulkiflee Saei on Facebook, highlighting a rare incident encountered at Pattani Hospital’s children’s…
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Bangkok shop raid uncovers kratom juice and dangerous drugs
Police raided a shop called TOM GUN KUP near a university in Bangkok, seizing a large quantity of kratom juice and dangerous drugs. The operation yesterday, July 13, led to the arrest of 26 year old Jirakit and 23 year old sales employee, Nanthanat. Police Colonel Santi Kornkasem, along with his team, including Deputy Superintendent Voraprat Wuttarak and Police Captain…
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3 Thai boys hailed heroes for rescuing woman from drowning
Three Thai boys rescued a woman from drowning at a canal in the central province of Pathum Thani. Officers from Khlong Luang Police Station and rescuers from the Thakhlong Municipality Office rushed to the pier yesterday, July 13, along the Khlong Song Canal, near Soi Erawan 1 in Khlong Luang district, following a report of an unconscious woman. The woman,…
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GI dough! Retired American blows a fuse in Pattaya bar brawl
A retired American soldier turned English teacher went berserk at a South Pattaya bar last night, frightening staff and sending security into full alert. But, his fury ended up in handcuffs after a full-blown meltdown on Soi 5. The former American GI, James, thought to be around 60, is accused of spitting at bar girls, smashing a pot of incense,…
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Woman admits false motorcycle theft claim in Bangkok after dispute
A 34 year old woman reported her motorcycle stolen by her boyfriend, prompting police action in Taling Chan district, Bangkok. The woman later admitted the theft claim was false, driven by anger over alleged domestic abuse. Officers at Taling Chan Police Station were informed of the theft yesterday, July 13. The woman, identified as Kanda, alleged that her motorcycle, registered…
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Thai monk denies affair with foreign man’s wife in Phuket
A Thai monk in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat denied having an affair with a foreign man’s wife in Phuket, following an accusation made by the woman’s neighbour. A Thai man living in Phuket, Satsawat, accused his neighbour of allegedly engaging in an affair with a monk identified as Apichart Damjam, from Cha-uat district in Nakhon Si Thammarat.…
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US author issues grim warning for dream-chasers in Thailand
A retired American expat who swapped Wall Street for Sukhumvit issued a stark warning to farangs chasing a dream retirement in Thailand in his latest book: “Come unprepared, and Thailand will chew you up and spit you out.” The blunt advice comes from a former finance and cider mogul who cashed out young and moved to Thailand in his forties,…
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Worker dies after machinery accident in Samut Prakan
A maintenance worker succumbed to injuries after a machine fell on his head in Samut Prakan province. Despite attempts by colleagues to rush him to the hospital on a motorbike, he died en route. Yesterday, July 13, at 8.30pm, the Prakarn Rescue Centre was informed of the incident where a worker was crushed by machinery. The worker was being transported…
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Pae’s the limit: New poll reveals most Thais want PM to quit
Pressure is piling on currently suspended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, with a new poll showing most of the public want her to quit or call fresh elections, just weeks after a leaked audio tape threw her government into crisis. The latest survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA poll), titled “What path should Thai politics take?” found…
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Ex-monk arrested for stealing 18,000 baht from donation box
A former monk, recently defrocked for 10 days, has been apprehended for stealing 18,000 baht from a donation box. He claims he was drunk and heard voices instructing him to commit the theft. Yesterday, July 13, Police Colonel Wisit Buasongwong assigned Police Lieutenant Colonel Patipat Nuekhoomueang, Police Lieutenant Colonel Suwit Phumprakhon, and Police Sub-Lieutenant Nueng Chaiyamongkol to arrest 54 year…
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Snack thief armed with scissors caught after convenience store heist
Police arrested a Thai man in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen after he threatened a convenience store employee with a pair of scissors and fled with stolen snacks. The incident was reported to Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station at 2.36am yesterday, July 13, after the suspect escaped on a motorcycle. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. According to the employee,…
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