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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 The hidden costs of ignoring pre-existing conditions in Thailand
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Thai army finds anti-tank mine in Sa Kaeo border area
An anti-tank mine of unidentified type was discovered in a border area of Khok Sung district, Sa Kaeo province, yesterday afternoon. The Thai army’s explosive ordnance disposal team, utilising an armoured bulldozer, found the mine at Ban Nong Ya Kaeo around 2pm. It appeared recently placed, with suspicions it might have been planted by individuals from across the Cambodian border.…
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Closest legal casinos to Thailand: where to go if you want to play offline
If you’ve found yourself in the middle of your vacation in Thailand with a bit of extra cash and a lot of free time, you might want to blow off some steam in a local casino. Well, that’s gonna be a bit tricky. Although Thailand is globally considered a free-for-all for many things, gambling, both online and in-person, is just…
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New RTAF chief to train female pilots and boost drones
Thailand’s new air force commander announced plans to train female fighter pilots and enhance drone capabilities as part of a modernisation strategy. Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sakesan Kantha outlined his 2026 strategy at the Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Thai Air Force Academy in Muak Lek district, Saraburi. His speech came amid rising border tensions with Cambodia and set the tone for…
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New bus link connects Thailand to Vientiane in just 4 hours
Thailand and Laos launched a new international bus route connecting Khon Kaen and Vientiane to enhance tourism, trade, and cross-border transport links. The service, launched yesterday, October 10, was unveiled in a ceremony at Khon Kaen Bus Terminal 3, presided over by Phanthep Saokosol, Deputy Governor of Khon Kaen province. The new route marks the fifth international bus connection between…
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Israeli tourist boom sparks tension on Koh Pha Ngan
Following an incident last week where a Koh Samui restaurant denied claims it removed Israeli diners amid online backlash, officials on Koh Pha Ngan held a meeting to address rising tensions involving Israeli tourists and foreign-run businesses. Surat Thani Governor Teeruth Supawiboonpol chaired a high-level meeting with provincial agencies this week to address the concerns, which echo similar unrest seen…
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Phuket cracks down on vapes with schoolyard smoking ban
Phuket officials launched a campaign in local schools to ban smoking and vaping, aiming to protect students’ health and raise community awareness. The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) has launched a new campaign to make local schools entirely smoke-free and e-cigarette-free, starting with five pilot institutions. The initiative was officially rolled out at Baan Mai Riab PPAO School (Tantikowit Bamrung),…
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Bangkok shopper says staff ignored her after fall broke bone (video)
A shopper in Bangkok claimed she broke a bone after slipping on a wet car park floor and accused staff of refusing to help despite being asked directly. A social media user has accused staff at a popular department store in Bangkok’s Chidlom area of ignoring her pleas for help after she slipped and fell in a waterlogged car park,…
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Thai Airways revamp board with zero-tolerance corruption vow
The Ministry of Finance has confirmed that all 17 nominees for Thai Airways International’s board of directors are seasoned professionals, as the airline prepares for a major leadership shake-up following its return to the stock market. Lavaron Sangsnit, the ministry’s permanent secretary and chairman of the Thai Airways board, assured the public yesterday, October 10, that the selection process is…
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Thai minister claims 40 million baht bribe tied to scam crackdown
A Thai minister submitted evidence to a House committee alleging a multimillion-baht bribe was offered to halt action against online scams and gambling. Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob has reportedly submitted evidence to a parliamentary committee to back his claim of a 40-million-baht bribery attempt aimed at derailing efforts to dismantle call centre gangs and online gambling networks.…
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Fire erupts in Bangkok hotel room, guests evacuated safely (video)
A fire broke out in a hotel room on the 11th floor of a high-rise in Bangkok’s Phra Khanong district, prompting a swift emergency response and evacuation. The incident occurred at around 3pm yesterday, October 10, when smoke was spotted billowing from a window on one of the middle floors of the 29-storey hotel. Khlong Toei fire crews arrived promptly…
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Pattaya eyes extreme sports fame to woo global thrill-seekers
Pattaya officials held a meeting with extreme sports leaders to discuss hosting international events aimed at boosting tourism and economic growth. In a recent high-level meeting, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, City Secretary Phumpipat Kamolnath, and Acting Director of the Tourism and Sports Bureau Wipawadee Wongsuwan met with Apichat Rutnin, President of the Asian Extreme Sports Federation, and Pascal Filippi, Managing…
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Foreigner escapes blazing car inferno on Phuket roadside
A foreign man was hospitalised after his car caught fire on a roadside in Phuket, prompting a late-night emergency response from local firefighters. The incident unfolded around 10.50pm on Thursday, October 9, on Wiset Road in Rawai, when residents spotted a Ford sedan engulfed in flames along the roadside and quickly alerted emergency services. Rawai Municipality firefighters dispatched two water…
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Delivery truck flips on wet Sri Racha road, driver injured
A delivery truck overturned in wet conditions on Sukhumvit Road near the Sri Racha Harbour overpass in Chon Buri province yesterday, injuring the driver and sparking a swift emergency response. The incident occurred around 5pm yesterday, October 10, as heavy rain had just begun to subside. The four-wheeled box truck was travelling through Village 4 in Sri Racha when it…
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Thunderstorms loom as monsoon lashes central Thailand
Heavy rain and storms are forecast across central and southern Thailand as the monsoon intensifies, prompting warnings for residents and travellers nationwide. The monsoon trough continues to stretch across the lower central region, the upper South, and the East of Thailand, while the southwest monsoon maintains its grip over the Andaman Sea, the southern region, and the Gulf of Thailand.…
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Baby turtles make a break for it on Koh Thalu Beach
Over 100 endangered hawksbill sea turtles hatched on a beach at Koh Thalu Beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Bang Saphan Noi district, marking a significant win for marine conservation efforts. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) confirmed that 101 hatchlings were born, following 65 days of careful monitoring by rangers and marine conservation teams. The eggs…
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Drunk driver kills boy, 13, in wrong-way crash in Sattahip
A fatal collision occurred when a drunk driver travelling the wrong way on a main road crashed into a motorbike ridden by a teenage boy, killing him instantly. A 13 year old schoolboy lost his life in a devastating crash on Sukhumvit Road in Sattahip after a drunk driver sped the wrong way into oncoming traffic. The accident occurred at…
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Phuket expressway moves ahead with 2030 completion target
Officials in Phuket held a high-level meeting to discuss the next phase of an expressway project that will connect key areas and ease long-standing traffic woes. Plans for the second phase of Phuket’s expressway are gaining momentum, as provincial officials and key stakeholders gathered this week to refine the proposal before it heads to the Cabinet for approval. If all…
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Teen gunmen shoot 13-year-old in back in Hat Yai revenge raid
A teenage gang attacked a rival’s home in Hat Yai, shooting a 13 year old boy in the back when they failed to find their intended target during the raid. Police from Thung Lung Police Station were alerted at 11.20pm yesterday, October 9, and rushed to the scene near a railroad crossing on Kanchanawanit Road in the Ban Phru subdistrict.…
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Chinese factory in Chon Buri defies court order, told to halt work
Officials in Chon Buri held a high-level meeting to address a dispute over a Chinese-backed factory allegedly built without permits and in defiance of a court order. The tense situation unfolded during a multi-agency meeting on Wednesday, October 8, at the Bo Kwang Thong Subdistrict Municipality Office in Bo Thong District. The meeting aimed to resolve the growing conflict over the…
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Thailand’s biggest book fair hits the right note in Bangkok (video)
Thailand’s biggest book expo has opened in Bangkok, inviting readers of all ages to explore literature, music, and creativity through free daily events. Book lovers across Thailand are invited to immerse themselves in a world of literature, music, and creativity at the 30th Book Expo Thailand, now open daily from 10am to 9pm until October 19. The event is being…
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Phuket man shoots wife in drunken rage at family home
A man was arrested in Phuket after allegedly shooting his wife during a drunken argument at their home, prompting a late-night police and rescue response. Phuket City Police were alerted to the incident at 11.40pm yesterday, October 9, by the 191 Emergency Call Centre, reporting that a woman had been shot at a residence on Sri Suthat Road. Police Lieutenant…
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American tourist knocked out in late-night Pattaya clash
An American tourist was assaulted by a motorcyclist while walking with family near a popular nightlife area in Pattaya, prompting a police investigation. The attack took place on the evening of Wednesday, October 8, while 50 year old Quincy Nguyen Tran was walking back to his accommodation with family after dining along Pattaya South Beach Road. As they passed Soi…
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Phuket seaplane plan aims to jet-set luxury tourism sky-high
Officials and private stakeholders met in Phuket to discuss a proposed seaplane project aimed at boosting luxury tourism and improving regional connectivity. A bold proposal by Thai Seaplane Co Ltd aims to introduce seaplane operations in Phuket Bay to boost the island’s luxury tourism sector while meeting strict environmental standards. The public forum, held yesterday, October 9, at a multipurpose…
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Bangkok cracks down on smoking to clear the air for all
Bangkok officials announced stricter enforcement of public smoking laws to protect residents and tourists from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Health advocate Dr Prakit Vathesatogkit, a member of the National Tobacco Products Control Committee, revealed that he and Chayanan Sithibusaya, Director of the Tobacco Products Control Office, met with Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt to discuss urgent measures to address indoor…
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Thailand video news Thailand Braces for Heavy Rain as Monsoon Pushes South, Thai Man Loses Fingers After Neighbour Plants Bomb on His Motorcycle
Thailand saw a turbulent week marked by extreme weather warnings, violent crime, and safety concerns. The monsoon shifted southward, bringing heavy rains, floods, and storm alerts across several regions, while in Bangkok, a man lost three fingers after a neighbor planted a homemade bomb on his motorcycle. In Ayutthaya, CCTV captured a transwoman stealing from a sleeping drunk man, and…
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PM Anutin blasts NHSO as hospitals buckle under Gold Card debt
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has confirmed that hospitals nationwide are owed large sums under the Gold Card scheme, prompting urgent talks on government action. His comments came after Mongkutwattana Hospital in Bangkok announced the suspension of outpatient services for Gold Card patients due to unpaid medical bills exceeding 110 million baht. “The NHSO owes nearly every hospital in the country.…
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Thaksin stays upbeat in jail as political heat builds outside
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra remains in good spirits after completing the first month of his prison sentence, as family visits and legal scrutiny continue. Thaksin’s daughter, Pintongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong, visited the 76 year old veteran politician along with her husband, Nuttaphong Kunakornwong and Pidok Sooksawas, husband of former PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The family spent over an hour with Thaksin,…
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Phuket police race donated eyes to airport for transplant
Traffic police in Phuket escorted donated eyes from a local hospital to the airport for an emergency transplant operation in Bangkok, ensuring timely delivery. Phuket City Traffic Police carried out a high-speed medical escort yesterday, October 9, to ensure the safe and urgent delivery of donated eyes from Vachira Phuket Hospital to Phuket International Airport. The life-changing operation was part…
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Blaze traps residents in 38-storey Bangkok condo inferno (video)
A fire broke out in a high-rise condominium in Bangkok, trapping residents on multiple floors as rescue teams rushed to the scene to bring the situation under control. The blaze broke out inside a 38-storey condominium on Somdet Phra Pin Klao Road in Bangkok Noi district yesterday afternoon, October 9, forcing a tense evacuation as thick smoke engulfed multiple floors.…
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American tourist jumps off Pattaya boat, dodges rescue attempts
A tourist shocked fellow passengers when he suddenly jumped off a moving boat near Pattaya, swimming away as rescue teams struggled to bring him back. A 36 year old American tourist caused alarm among passengers when he suddenly jumped off a moving boat and swam away, waving “goodbye” to those on board. The incident unfolded yesterday morning, October 9, as…
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