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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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Bangkok ramps up safety checks ahead of Loy Krathong Festival
Bangkok’s governor has ordered safety checks at piers across the city ahead of Loy Krathong, urging residents to use eco-friendly floats for the festival. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has ordered safety inspections at all piers and floating platforms across the capital ahead of this year’s Loy Krathong Festival on November 5. The move is aimed at ensuring public safety and…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport officials accused of corruption after seized belonging sold online
A Thai woman accused officials at Suvarnabhumi International Airport of corruption after finding that her pocket knife, which was confiscated on August 25, was sold on Facebook. Chongpriang Tainangam took to her Facebook account, demanding clarification from Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Airports of Thailand (AOT) regarding the sale of her seized knife. She discovered the item being sold on the Leatherman…
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Pattaya drug dealer caught with gun, meth in hotel sting
A suspected drug dealer was arrested in Pattaya during a joint operation after police received a tip-off about narcotics being sold in the area. A coordinated operation between Bang Lamung district officials and local police has led to the arrest of an alleged drug dealer in Pattaya, who was caught red-handed with narcotics and a loaded firearm during a sting…
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Breath of life: Chiang Mai’s ‘frozen’ escalator revived after decades
Chiang Mai’s Warorot Market has brought its long-idle escalator back into operation, delighting locals and vendors after decades of remaining unused. The century-old market, better known as Kad Luang, has witnessed the revival of a long-dormant symbol of modernity: its only escalator, which moved last week for the first time in over 50 years. Once a futuristic addition to the…
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Kuwaiti man arrested in Phuket for crystal meth possession and overstay
Police arrested a Kuwaiti man for possession of crystal meth and overstaying his visa in Patong, Phuket, on Monday, October 20. Officers from Patong Police Station reported the arrest of the 36 year old Kuwaiti national, whose name has not been disclosed, via the Phuket Info Centre Facebook page yesterday, October 21. The arrest took place a day earlier at…
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival processions light up the streets
Devotees from local shrines took part in vibrant street processions across Phuket as part of a major annual festival aimed at promoting spiritual cleansing. Phuket erupted in colour, firecrackers and ritual yesterday, October 21, as the island launched the second day of its annual Vegetarian Festival with sacred street processions, despite rain. Devotees from 39 Chinese shrines are participating in…
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Deputy PM says no foreigners encroach Koh Pha Ngan forest
The deputy prime minister (PM) of Thailand confirmed that no foreigners encroached on forest land on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Some locals on Koh Pha Ngan voiced concerns that the island was taken over by foreigners, particularly Israeli nationals. They claimed that Israelis used Thai nominees to buy seaside land, encroached on…
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Russian car rental network dismantled in Koh Pha Ngan crackdown
Tourist police launched a joint operation on Koh Pha Ngan to crack down on an illegal car rental and hotel business run by foreign nationals, seizing hundreds of vehicles. The operation, carried out yesterday, October 21, was led by Police Major General Krits Warit, in line with the Tourist Police Bureau’s policy to suppress transnational crime. The joint task force…
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Soi Buakhao traffic revamp sees fresh signs and markings
Pattaya City has launched a traffic upgrade project on Soi Buakhao to improve safety and traffic flow, with over 40% of the work now complete. Yesterday, October 21, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet assigned Anuwat Thongkham, Director of the Sanitation Engineering Bureau, to lead a progress review meeting at Pattaya City Hall. The session included department heads, city officials, and representatives…
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Poolside tragedy: Worker electrocuted at Phuket hotel
A construction worker was fatally electrocuted while using a jackhammer near a hotel pool in Karon, Phuket, prompting an ongoing police investigation. The 46 year old victim, identified as Kwanchai Phonsari from Udon Thani province, was working on concrete removal around the pool area when the fatal incident occurred at approximately 10.45am on Sunday, October 19. Witnesses told police they…
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Gold factory sues 3 employees and 2 retailers for 400 million baht theft
A gold factory sued three employees and two retailers for stealing gold worth over 400 million baht between December last year and June this year. The factory’s representative, 41 year old Thittimon Watwanvorakul, spoke to the media yesterday, October 21, about the case. She revealed that the factory discovered more than 103 kilogrammes of stolen gold jewellery, valued at around…
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Chinese flying taxis take off in Thailand’s urban skies
A Chinese drone firm has launched Thailand’s first flying taxi trials in partnership with local regulators to test autonomous aircraft for urban transport. Aviation giant EHang has launched Thailand’s first Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Sandbox Initiative, marking a major milestone in the race to bring flying taxis to Southeast Asia. Unveiled in Bangkok, the initiative was created in partnership with…
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Bolt rider and passenger killed in motorcycle crash after phone distraction
A Thai Bolt rider crashed into an electricity pole on a road in Bang Na, Bangkok, yesterday, October 21, after focusing on a map on his mobile phone, leading to the deaths of himself and his passenger. Officers from Bang Na Police Station received a report of a fatal motorcycle accident near the entrance of Soi Bang Na-Trat 16 on…
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UHC CEO killer claims attack by Thai ladyboys before shooting
A man accused of killing a top US healthcare executive had earlier claimed he was assaulted by transgender women while travelling in Thailand, reports reveal. According to The New York Times, 27 year old Luigi Mangione sent WhatsApp messages to friends while backpacking across Asia, describing his raucous escapades. In one message, he claimed he had been “beaten up by…
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Man killed by exploding e-cigarette in shocking first for Thailand
A man in Thailand died in Northeast Thailand after his e-cigarette exploded while he was fishing, marking the country’s first confirmed fatality linked to a vape device. The 47 year old man was found lifeless near a spillway in Ban Kut Chim, Mueang district, Nong Bua Lamphu province on October 18, after going fishing. At first, police suspected foul play.…
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Bangkok taxi rider fights foreign passenger over drop-off spot dispute
A physical altercation broke out between a Thai motorcycle taxi rider and a foreign passenger outside a shopping mall in Bangkok, reportedly due to a dispute over a drop-off point. A TikTok user, @buti.39, shared a video of the fight on Monday, October 20, with the caption, “A motorcycle taxi rider at Siam Paragon who takes boxing as inspiration for…
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Thai House passes Clean Air Bill in sweeping 308–0 vote
Thailand’s House of Representatives has unanimously passed a new Clean Air Bill, aiming to crack down on pollution and protect public health nationwide. All 308 MPs present, from both coalition and opposition parties, voted in favour after three days of heated debate. The bill, which passed its third reading yesterday, October 21, will now move to the Senate for further…
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German man injured by faulty manhole cover in Pattaya
A German man sustained a leg injury after stepping on a faulty manhole cover in Pattaya earlier yesterday, October 21. Rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation in Pattaya were alerted to the accident, which occurred near Soi Pattaya 14 in Central Pattaya at around 4.30am. The injured man was later identified as a German national, 28 year old Christoph. According…
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Thai Airways boosts board, plots fresh flight to recovery
Thai Airways is expanding its board and fleet as part of a major governance overhaul aimed at boosting transparency and competitiveness post-rehabilitation. The airline’s chairman, Lavaron Sangsnit, confirmed the move as part of sweeping changes ahead of a key Annual General Meeting (AGM) in December. The expanded board will include a long-awaited risk management committee, aimed at strengthening oversight of…
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Curtain call: Paetongtarn quits Pheu Thai ahead of party shake-up
Former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is expected to formally resign as leader of the Pheu Thai Party this week, with senior figures set to meet at the party’s Bangkok headquarters this morning to confirm her departure. According to party sources, the meeting was scheduled to begin with a gathering of MPs at 8.30am today, October 22, followed by a session…
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Chilly weather: Thailand braces for deluge, winter season nears
Thailand is on high alert as a severe tropical storm brews offshore, while a high-pressure system from China brings cooler air and strong winds to the upper regions. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reports that a moderate high-pressure system is affecting northern and northeastern Thailand. Morning temperatures are cooler, with strong winds and a slight temperature drop expected. The weather…
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Thai construction giant denies links to call centre scam after MPs’ claims
One of Thailand’s leading construction companies, Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Public Company Limited (STECON), filed a complaint against two Members of Parliament (MPs) from the People’s Party, claiming both accused the company of involvement in a call centre scam network. The United States and United Kingdom recently accused the Prince Holding Group, owned by 32 year old Chinese-born Chen Zhi,…
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Lumpini Park gets royal revamp ahead of 100th birthday bash
Bangkok officials are fast-tracking renovations at Lumpini Park ahead of its centennial celebrations and a royal commemoration scheduled to take place soon. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is accelerating renovation efforts at Lumpini Park ahead of its centenary celebrations, which will coincide with the 100th anniversary of King Vajiravudh (King Rama VI), the park’s founder. The festivities, set to run…
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Northeast Thailand loan sharks steal rabbit in debt dispute
Two men were arrested in Northeast Thailand after allegedly damaging a woman’s home and stealing her pet rabbit over an unpaid loan of just 4,000 baht. Police say 24 year old Sitthikorn Kerdsiri and 22 year old Charoensak Piawwong were detained last night, October 20, in Mueang district after weeks on the run. Both were wanted on arrest warrants for…
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Former shooting athlete kills wife and daughter before turning gun on himself
A former shooting athlete killed his wife and their daughter at a house in Bangkok today, October 21, before taking his own life. A mental issue after the death of his father was suspected to be the motive for the murder-suicide. Bangkok Noi Police Station officers were alerted to three deaths at 9.10am today and visited the incident scene, a…
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Hackers hijack Phuket ride-hailing apps in taxi scam chaos
Phuket officials vowed to crack down after hackers scammed ride-hailing drivers by hijacking app accounts and demanding ransom for registration unlocks. Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra has vowed a sweeping crackdown after dozens of ride-hailing drivers reported falling victim to a sophisticated hacking scam. The revelation came during a crisis meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, where Governor Saransak and local MP…
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MV actress and friend killed in Udon Thani motorbike crash
A young music video actress and her friend were killed when their motorbike crashed into a pole in Udon Thani, leaving one man seriously injured. The fatal accident occurred at around 5.20am yesterday, October 20, in Soi Kamnan, Mueang Udon Thani district. Emergency responders from the Udon Sawang Methadharm Foundation were alerted to a motorcycle crash involving a collision with…
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Thai woman escapes rapist who tries to run her down in Chachoengsao
Police rescued a Thai woman in time after a rapist attempted to run her down in the central province of Chachoengsao yesterday, October 20. The 26 year old Thai woman sought help from officers at Bang Pakong Police Station at around 3.30am yesterday after she was tricked and sexually assaulted inside an isolated house in the Bang Pakong district of Chachoengsao province.…
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Police pickup crashes into 6 year old boy during high-speed chase
A police officer in Nakhon Phanom province crashed a patrol pickup into a six year old Thai boy during a high-speed chase with drug suspects on Sunday, October 19. The young boy was rushed to Nakhon Phanom Hospital at around 3pm after the crash on a community road in Tha Kho sub-district. He suffered a fractured right collarbone and facial…
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Too much porn can wreck your sex life, warns Thai doctor (video)
A prominent Thai forensic medicine expert has sounded the alarm over the dangers of excessive porn consumption, warning that it may lead to erectile dysfunction and serious relationship issues, especially among younger men. Associate Professor Dr Weerasak Charuschaisri, a medical lecturer at Srinakharinwirot University, took to Facebook to share a video clip titled Watching too much pornography can lead to…
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