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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Sponsored How much travel insurance should cost you in Thailand (By trip length)
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Bomb attack injures four rangers in Yala’s Bannang Sata district
A group of unidentified perpetrators orchestrated a bomb attack on a unit of rangers from the 3306 Task Force in Bannang Sata district, Yala province. The attack, which took place around 1.20pm, yesterday, July 15, left four rangers injured while on patrol in Moo 2, Ban Kue Da village. They were promptly transported to Bannang Sata hospital for urgent medical…
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Uzbek man arrested for abusing, stealing from girlfriend in Phuket
Phuket police officers yesterday arrested an Uzbek man on suspicion of physically abusing his girlfriend and stealing her belongings. The victim, whose nationality was not reported, filed a complaint with Wichit Police Station on Sunday, July 13, alleging that her Uzbek boyfriend, later identified as 41 year old Artur Amirbekov, had attacked her at her condominium in the Wichit sub-district…
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Bangkok launches waste separation campaign with fee discounts
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has launched a new waste-separation campaign named This House Doesn’t Mix Waste. This initiative encourages city residents to sort their waste correctly in exchange for discounts on trash collection fees. Registration for the campaign starts on August 1, with the official rollout scheduled for October. The programme involves collaboration with the private sector and offers…
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Baht out of hell: British man in wheelchair fleeced by Pattaya babes
A disabled British tourist was left humiliated and penniless after three Pattaya Beach babes robbed him blind while he was in the shower, then vanished into the night. The victim, Chris John Glennon, who is speech-impaired and uses a wheelchair, told police he had invited two Thai women and a transgender woman back to his hotel after meeting them on Pattaya…
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Mother seeks justice after 9 year old daughter alleges sexual abuse by abbot
A Thai mother is seeking justice for her nine year old daughter, accusing an abbot in the central province of Pathum Thani of sexually abusing the girl in a temple bathroom. The 39 year old mother, May, reported the alleged sexual abuse via the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women‘s hotline number 1134 on July 1. May revealed in the…
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Off her bag: Pattaya bar girl dumped as dodgy duo do a runner
A boozy night ended in mystery and mayhem after a dazed Pattaya bar girl was found dumped by the roadside, mumbling and confused, as two unscrupulous men rifled through her handbag. In the early hours of yesterday, July 15, rescue workers and police were called to the scene near Mae Wilai Market after reports of a woman in distress. The…
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Thai ministers deny US bid for Phang Nga navy base (video)
Top Thai ministers have slammed swirling rumours that the United States tried to swap tariff perks for military access to a strategic naval base on the Andaman coast, calling the claims baseless and speculative. Three senior Cabinet ministers today firmly denied a report suggesting the US had demanded use of Thailand’s Phang Nga naval base during recent tariff negotiations. Deputy…
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Thailand calls Cambodia to Bangkok for border talks
Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa confirmed today that Thailand will send an official invitation to Cambodia for the long-awaited seventh Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting. The summit is scheduled for September 15 in the Thai capital, with hopes of injecting momentum into stalled negotiations over contested stretches of their shared frontier. Speaking at Government House, Maris admitted the border situation has…
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Bangkok sinking: City could be underwater by 2030
Bangkok, already notorious for choking traffic and fierce floods, is now staring down an even grimmer fate—sinking beneath the sea within the next decade if climate change and unchecked development continue unabated. Recent studies have singled out Bangkok alongside Jakarta as two of Southeast Asia’s fastest-sinking cities. According to The Guardian, Bangkok is subsiding by over one centimetre a year…
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Thailand commits 1,200 scholarships to boost educational equity
Deputy Education Minister Rinthipond Varinvatchararoj has reinforced the government’s dedication to the Outstanding Development Opportunity Scholarship (ODOS) by announcing the allocation of 1,200 scholarships in the programme’s third phase. At a briefing focused on school registration for ODOS, Rinthipond underscored the ongoing emphasis on educational investment under the leadership of suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. She stressed the significance of…
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Thailand shelves tourist tax plan over fears of deterring visitors
Thailand’s controversial 300-baht entry fee for foreign tourists has been kicked down the road yet again, with officials admitting that sluggish demand and global uncertainty make this the wrong moment to squeeze travellers’ wallets. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has announced that the long-discussed Travel Fee—dubbed the Kha Yeap Pan Din, meaning “stepping onto Thai soil”—will not be enforced…
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Thai delivery rider sued for sharing client’s image leading to cyberbullying
A Thai woman is taking legal action against a parcel delivery rider after he secretly took her photograph and shared it on social media, leading to cyberbullying and body shaming. The victim, known as Mint, is seeking justice after receiving offensive comments from strangers, despite having no prior conflict with them. She shared the incident on her Facebook account, writing……
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Cambodia accused of claiming Thailand’s royal literary treasures
A storm is brewing between Thailand and Cambodia after claims emerged online that 22 classic Thai literary works have been quietly registered as Cambodian cultural heritage with UNESCO, sparking outrage over what critics are calling a brazen cultural grab. Social media erupted this week when reports circulated alleging that Cambodia had listed dozens of Thai literary masterpieces—many composed by Thai…
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Thai-Cambodian border closure disrupts trade, boosts Vietnamese imports
The closure of permanent border checkpoints at Ban Hat Lek and temporary border points in Trat province and other areas along the Thai-Cambodian border has led to significant disruptions for traders. Both in the Koh Kong province of Cambodia and at the Ban Hat Lek border market, businesses have been affected. As a result, Cambodian traders are increasingly sourcing goods…
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Butts out: Beach smoke ban sparks flaming row in Pattaya
A fresh crackdown on smoking at Pattaya’s beaches sparked a fiery debate among expats and long-term tourists, who say the ban is little more than a cosmetic fix masking deeper problems. Pattaya’s new smoking ban, which threatens offenders with a 5,000 baht fine for lighting up on the sand or nearby footpaths, was billed as a bold step to clean…
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Mother seeks justice after toddler injured under friend’s care
An 18 year old woman filed a complaint with Lak Song Police Station after her two year and 10 month old son sustained severe injuries while being cared for by a close friend. The incident, which occurred yesterday, July 14, at Mit Pracha Hospital, has left the child with bruises and swollen eyes. The boy’s mother, A, explained that she…
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Thai nationals caught entering illegally at Rong Kluea Market
Three Thai nationals were apprehended after climbing over a wall behind Rong Kluea Market to enter Thailand illegally. Two of the people confessed to working at an online gambling site in Poipet, while the third operated a restaurant. Colonel Chainarong Kasi, commander of the Special Task Force Aranyaprathet under the Burapha Forces, today, July 15, directed Ranger Company 1201 to…
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Sticker shock: Thai food prices soar 106% as wages lag behind
Eating out in Bangkok is becoming a luxury few can afford, with research revealing Thai food prices have more than doubled in just over a decade, while wages have barely kept pace. A new study by the Agency for Real Estate Affairs (AREA) has revealed that the cost of food in Thailand has skyrocketed by 106.5% over the past 13…
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Thai temples ordered to limit cash holdings amid monk scandal
Following a romantic scandal involving monks, the Sangha Supreme Council issued a regulation requiring every temple across Thailand to hold no more than 100,000 baht in cash. The regulation is expected to come into effect on October 1. The scandal, which involves a Thai woman named Golf and several respected monks, captured widespread public attention. In addition to focusing on…
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Ant-agonising: Korea Michelin eatery in a stew over Thai insects
It was hailed as a fine-dining thrill, but a two-star Michelin restaurant in Seoul is now in hot water after its trendy sorbet—topped with ants imported from Thailand and the United States—triggered a food safety scandal. South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has referred the owner of the high-end restaurant in Gangnam district to prosecutors for allegedly violating…
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Nakhon Ratchasima temple’s ‘miracle Buddha’ sparks lottery frenzy
A centuries-old Buddha statue in Nakhon Ratchasima is fuelling a frenzy among lottery devotees, who swear its blessings have turned them into instant millionaires—seven draws in a row. Wat Muen Wai, an ancient temple tucked away in Muen Wai subdistrict, Mueang district, has become a magnet for hopeful devotees and lottery fans alike. The star attraction is Luang Pho Thong,…
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Japanese tourist faces legal action for train vandalism in Bangkok
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has taken legal action against a Japanese tourist accused of spray-painting a train and its carriages near a railway bridge on Kanchanaphisek Road, Bangkok. The incident occurred on Sunday, July 13, and resulted in property damage and train delays. According to Weeras Amrapal, the SRT Governor, the foreign tourist used spray paint on the…
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Patong Tunnel project advances with 16.76 billion baht budget
The Kathu-Patong expressway project, commonly referred to as the Patong Tunnel project, is advancing with a budget of 16.76 billion baht. Land expropriation has been completed and the Patong Municipality, appointed by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), has started land clearing, expected to be completed by September 7. Weerawit Kreuasombat, President of the Patong Municipality Council, confirmed that all…
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Tweetment needed: Woman hurt as birds smash window, roof caves in
The roof of a rented house in the central province of Suphan Buri collapsed after two birds struck a second-floor window, injuring a Thai woman. The 40 year old woman, Duangkamon, sustained injuries to her left leg, knee, shoulder, and back. She showed a long laceration on her back to Channel 3, explaining that a falling roof tile caused the…
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6-time Thai lottery winner from Loei seeks luck in Ayutthaya
The hermitage of Rishi Naen That Phutthakun in Pho Taeng subdistrict, Bang Sai district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, teemed with worshippers and lottery enthusiasts yesterday, eager to boost their luck ahead of tomorrow’s draw. Hundreds of visitors flocked to pay respects and ask for blessings from revered figures believed to hold supernatural power. Among the most popular were the…
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Gother’s travel takeover: Thai platform rockets 300% in 7 months
Thailand’s newest travel sensation is taking off at lightning speed. In just seven months, Gother has exploded with 300% business growth, setting its sights on becoming the country’s ultimate travel booking powerhouse. Gother, the rising star of Thailand’s travel tech scene, is making waves with astonishing momentum since its launch in early 2024. Operated by Search Engine Optimisation Co., Ltd.,…
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Rare wildlife captured in Kaeng Krachan National Park
Kaeng Krachan National Park shared captivating images and videos of rare and endangered wildlife captured by strategically placed cameras and park staff surveys. The visuals, yesterday, July 14, highlight the park’s biodiversity, showcasing various wildlife, including some on the brink of extinction. Among the endangered species spotted were the clouded leopard mother and cub, seen foraging at night, and the…
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Cambodian beggars in Thailand caught gambling online
Two Cambodian beggars in Thailand, one of whom was caught gambling online, were apprehended by Thai police. Despite previous arrests, the serial beggars repeatedly re-entered the country illegally. The first beggar has five children and earns 1,000 baht (US$30) daily, sending 6,000 baht (US$185) monthly back to Cambodia. This person had been apprehended five times but continued to return due…
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Grid-lock and loaded: Phuket officials vow fix for ‘Kaew’ chaos
Phuket officials have finally drawn up a game plan to tackle the chronic congestion plaguing the Koh Kaew Intersection, a notorious choke point that’s long tested the patience of school-run parents and frazzled commuters. The bold new measures were hammered out at a meeting yesterday, July 14 at Phuket City Police Station, chaired by Police Colonel Chatree Chueakaew, chief of…
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Punters spin web of hope at Ang Thong temple tarantula tip-off
Villagers and lottery enthusiasts flocked to Bot Ratsattha temple in Bang Rakam, Pho Thong district, Ang Thong province yesterday evening, hoping to glean a lucky tip from the temple’s resident tarantula. Armed with flower trays, incense sticks, candles, and three sets of numbered papers marked from one to 10, dozens gathered behind the temple to conduct a ritual steeped in…
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