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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Senate backs amnesty for impulsive youth in political offences
A Senate committee expressed support for an amnesty aimed at young people who may have committed political offences due to recklessness or impulsivity. The Senate Committee on Political Development, Public Participation, Human Rights, Liberties, and Consumer Protection convened on Tuesday, July 22, to assess four amnesty bills, three of which are also being reviewed by a House committee. On July…
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Floods in Nan force urgent patient relocation from hospital
Floodwaters have inundated the economic zone of Nan province, prompting an urgent relocation of critical patients from Nan Hospital to nearby facilities. Water levels have risen over 9 metres above the flood barrier due to prolonged heavy rains from Tropical Storm Vipa. As of July 24, the flooding crisis in Nan province has escalated after continuous heavy rainfall over 48…
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Nok Air rebounds with freebies and fresh routes
Budget airline Nok Air is soaring back into profitability and promises even bigger things on the horizon—including free flights for foreign tourists. The embattled carrier, once drowning in debt, now expects to complete its rehabilitation programme by mid-2028, with outstanding debt trimmed to under 400 million baht from a staggering 5.4 billion. The airline’s resurgence comes after two consecutive profitable…
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Thai woman and pet dog die in Bangkok house fire
A 72 year old Thai woman and her pet dog died in a fire at her Bangkok home, which is believed to have been caused by a mosquito coil. Officers from Bang Khun Non Police Station were called to investigate the fire at a house in Soi Charan Sanitwong 31, in the Bangkok Noi district, at around 6am yesterday, July 23.…
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Phuket police crackdown: 18 teens arrested, 14 bikes seized in raid
In the early hours of this morning, police in Phuket apprehended 18 underage people and confiscated 14 modified motorbikes during a crackdown on street racing and activities causing public disturbances in the Laem Dinso area of Wichit. The operation was carried out under the leadership of Wichit Police Station, directed by Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang, beginning at 1.30am, today, July…
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Pheu Thai power play to crown Bangkok’s first female council chief
Bangkok Metropolitan Council President Surachit Phongsinghvitaya is reportedly stepping down on July 29, paving the way for a political shake-up that could see the capital get its first-ever female council president. Insiders say Surachit’s resignation has been quietly orchestrated by senior figures within the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which is pushing to elevate Kanoknuch Klinsung, a councillor from Don Mueang…
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Buffalo bust as Yaba duo in Chon Buri caught in the act
A drug crackdown in rural Chon Buri left two suspected dealers out of luck, one of them nabbed hiding in a buffalo shed with a pocketful of Yaba. Police in Koh Chan district, Chon Buri, swooped on two alleged drug traffickers in a targeted operation yesterday, July 23, part of the Ministry of Interior’s hardline No Drugs – No Dealers…
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Thai troops defend against Cambodian gunfire near Ta Muean Thom
Cambodian soldiers initiated gunfire near the eastern side of the Thai base Moo Pa, approximately 200 metres from Ta Muean Thom Temple, prompting a defensive response from Thai troops. The clash took place today, July 24, following an order by Lieutenant General Boonsin Phadklang, commander of the Second Army Region, to close border crossings and local tourist attractions to safeguard…
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Thailand’s ageing F-16s, what’s the next move?
Thailand’s Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is facing an important challenge: how to replace its ageing fleet of F-16 fighter jets while keeping pace with regional security demands and budget realities. For decades, the F-16 has been the backbone of Thailand’s air defence. But with many of these jets approaching their retirement age, the RTAF has now shifted gears, looking…
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Thais get lucky with new retirement lottery scheme
The House of Representatives has given the green light to a game-changing amendment that could turn every lottery ticket into a retirement win. Yesterday, July 23, MPs voted overwhelmingly to approve changes to the National Savings Fund Act, introducing a brand-new weekly retirement lottery aimed at helping Thais build long-term savings while still enjoying their favourite national pastime. The new…
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Thailand plays its cards right with poker punt
Thailand has gambled on a bold new strategy, officially recognising poker as a sport in a move that’s sent shockwaves through the international sporting and gaming communities. Furthermore, American football was also handed official sport status. The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) made a game-changing call this week, confirming that poker is now an officially recognised sport, a decision expected…
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Illegal kratom juice factory dismantled in Nakhon Ratchasima
Police in Nakhon Ratchasima province have dismantled an illegal kratom juice factory that was mixing the juice with illicit cough syrup, posing a risk of acute kidney failure. A 39 year old man, Trakarn Chuankratok, who rented the premises, admitted to hiring workers to produce the concoction for the past two weeks. Yesterday, July 23, at Chokchai Police Station, Police…
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Punch-up with Pattaya ladyboy leaves foreigner with bloody head
A wild brawl in the heart of Pattaya left a foreign tourist with a bloody head wound after a drunken dispute with a ladyboy and some motorbike taxi drivers. The dramatic altercation was captured on video and is now under police scrutiny. The violent brawl broke out on Pattaya’s infamous Soi Buakhao at 4.06am yesterday, July 23, leaving the unnamed…
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Interior Minister denies interference in Khao Kradong land probe
Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai responded to accusations of meddling in a high-stakes investigation into the Department of Lands (DoL), insisting that he had no intention of influencing or intimidating officials. The probe centres on a 5,083-rai land plot in Khao Kradong, Buriram, which has long been mired in legal battles and political ties. The Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the land belongs…
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Phuket heartbreak as young Aussie tourist found dead in hotel
A 21 year old Australian man has been found dead in a Phuket hotel room, just five days after an accused rapist from Down Under was also discovered lifeless on the same Thai island. Police in Thalang, northern Phuket, are investigating the sudden death of a young Aussie traveller who was found dead in his hotel room yesterday, July 23,…
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3 dead, 23 injured in Kanchanaburi truck-pickup collision
A tragic accident in Kanchanaburi’s Sangkhla Buri district resulted in three fatalities and injuries to 23 others when a 10-wheel truck collided with five pickup trucks on a wet road. The incident occurred yesterday along Highway 323, near Nong Lu subdistrict. The crash happened on a steep section of the Thong Pha Phum-Sangkhla Buri route, about 8 kilometres from Sangkhla…
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Koh Pha Ngan drone thieves nabbed for targeting tourist homes
Tourist Police on Koh Pha Ngan arrested four Myanmar nationals accused of using drones to scope out rented homes of unsuspecting tourists before breaking in and stealing valuables. The men, aged between 25 and 30, were caught at around 5.30pm yesterday, July 22, at an unregistered rental property in Village 3, where they were reportedly laying low. The arrests came…
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Thai driver drags motorcyclist’s body into petrol station, denies collision
A pickup driver dragged the dead body of a motorcyclist into a petrol station in the central province of Kamphaeng Phet last night, but denied being involved in a collision with the victim. Petrol station attendants on Phahonyothin Road in Kamphaeng Phet were shocked to discover the bloodied body lodged beneath a grey Isuzu pickup, which arrived at around 9pm,…
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Phuket-bound Air India Express flight aborts after 16 minutes
Air India makes the headlines again as Air India Express is involved in the latest aviation mishap, where a tropical holiday turned into a mid-air nightmare after a Phuket-bound Air India Express flight was forced to return to Hyderabad just 16 minutes after take-off—leaving frustrated passengers fuming. Flight IX110, operated by a Boeing 737 Max 8, was scheduled to land…
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Fire erupts at abandoned Ratsada house after 20 years of silence
A long-forgotten home in Ratsada lit up the night sky as flames erupted from the derelict property—despite it being untouched for nearly 20 years. The blaze broke out around 11.20pm yesterday, July 22, at a single-storey house located on Thepprathan Road in Village 1, Ratsada. Though the fire was extinguished before firefighters could reach the scene, the aftermath was anything…
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2 foreign men arrested for riding stolen rental motorcycles from Krabi to Phuket
Police successfully recovered two rental motorcycles from a shop owner in Krabi after two foreign men failed to return the vehicles on time and were suspected of riding them to Phuket. The official Facebook page of Choeng Thale Police Station posted images of the two foreign men and urged the public to assist officers by reporting any sightings. Police stated…
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Thailand’s AI law stops 6 billion baht in online scam losses
Thailand’s cyber cops are going digital—fast. In just three months, a new cybercrime law powered by artificial intelliegence (AI) has stopped online scammers from stealing nearly 6 billion baht. Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong revealed today, July 23, that the latest royal decree targeting technology-based crime has prevented massive financial damage to the public since coming into force…
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Visitors flock to Prasat Ta Kwai for offerings and lucky numbers
Visitors are flocking to Prasat Ta Kwai in Panom Dong Rak district, Surin province, not only to offer gifts and support to soldiers stationed there but also to admire the beauty of the ancient site. Despite some visitors being elderly and facing physical challenges, the allure of the temple atop a high hill continues to draw many. The site attracts…
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Phumtham backs Paetongtarn to beat court case and return as PM
Thailand’s political soap opera just took another twist—with acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai backing suspended PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra to beat the rap and reclaim her throne. Speaking to reporters today, July 23, at the Interior Ministry, Phumtham declared he was “confident” that Paetongtarn would emerge from her Constitutional Court battle unscathed and resume leadership of the country. “The prime minister…
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Air Cambodia hits back at Thai Airways copycat claims
Air Cambodia is fighting back after being accused of copying Thai Airways’ signature look—insisting its purple-and-gold design is 100% Khmer. A social media storm erupted following the airline’s debut flight between Shenzhen, China and Siem Reap on July 18, with Thai netizens claiming that Air Cambodia’s aircraft livery and cabin crew uniforms looked suspiciously similar to those of Thai Airways.…
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Viking ride at Bangkok amusement park leaves schoolgirl unconscious
A Thai schoolgirl with a heart condition lost consciousness last night after riding the Viking ride at an amusement park in Bangkok Noi district of Bangkok. Officers from Bang Yi Khao Police Station were alerted to the incident at around 8pm, yesterday, July 22, and responded to the scene near Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge. Rescue workers from the Por Teck…
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Qantas passengers forced to surrender passports in Bangkok (video)
Aussie travellers were left fuming in Bangkok after their Qantas flight was cancelled at the last minute—forcing them to choose between handing over their passports or sleeping on the airport floor. The service from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Sydney was initially delayed for six hours before being officially cancelled late on Monday night, July 21, stranding dozens of passengers…
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Motorcycle crash in Pattaya due to unsecured gate leaves two injured
Strong winds caused a metal gate to swing open onto the road, leading to a motorcycle collision that injured two young people. The accident occurred in Soi Na Kluea 16, Pattaya, and while the injured have reported the incident, there has been no response from the landowner. The injured parties are identified as 20 year old Thanapon Thanathapsapanitch and 19…
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Man shot in Nakhon Si Thammarat brawl walks unfazed
A group of teenagers last night engaged in a violent altercation in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Amid the chaos, a 32 year old man named Saranyu, also known as Rak, was shot in the abdomen with a shotgun, sustaining approximately 20 wounds. Remarkably, he remained unfazed and continued walking as emergency services arrived at the scene. The incident, yesterday, July…
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Hot wheels: Fire destroys Mercedes-Benz on Bangkok expressway
A luxury Mercedes-Benz burst into flames on a Bangkok expressway, sending black smoke billowing into the night sky and leaving behind a charred wreck. The dramatic incident unfolded at around 8.30pm yesterday, July 22, when a grey Mercedes-Benz E200 caught fire on the Borommaratchachonnani elevated expressway parallel route in the Chimphli subdistrict of Taling Chan district. The Phan Fa Radio…
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