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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Top 10 reasons for expats to get a comprehensive health insurance in Thailand
Moving to Thailand offers a prospect full of excitement and adventure, but in the same vein, if any injuries were to occur (and god forbid it does), the local healthcare system can be confusing at first glance for many expats...
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Abbot wounded in temple shooting, suspect flees in Loei
Two abbots were involved in a late-night altercation that escalated into a shooting at a well-known temple in Chiang Khan. A bullet struck one abbot near his left ear, and the gunman fled in a sedan. Police are currently investigating the incident and pursuing the suspect. Today, August 5, police from the Chiang Khan Police Station reported an incident yesterday,…
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Thailand video news | North Korea applauds Thai-Cambodian ceasefire, Phuket launches second phase of drug crackdown
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring you a mix of major developments and unusual moments from across the country. From North Korea praising the Thai-Cambodian ceasefire to Phuket’s intensified drug crackdown, the headlines also include new traffic ticket reforms, a drone ban in Pattaya, and a miraculous forest rescue in Phitsanulok. Meanwhile, Leicester City FC weighs in…
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Vietjet offers Bangkok flights from less than 1 baht
Vietjet Thailand is pulling out all the stops with two brand-new direct routes from India to Bangkok — and headline-grabbing base fares starting from just 1 Indian rupee (0.50 baht). The airline will launch direct flights from Kolkata and Ahmedabad to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, making them its third and fourth connections between the two countries, as it continues to grow…
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Major illegal cigarette smuggling ring busted in Kanchanaburi
A significant illegal cigarette smuggling operation was thwarted by the Ladan Yao Task Force of the Surasi Forces, capturing a man transporting nearly 10 million baht worth of contraband cigarettes. The incident occurred today, August 5, at the 9th Infantry Division headquarters, where Commander Major General Atsadawut Panyarachun, leading the Surasi Forces, coordinated with Athit San Intra, the Governor of…
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Thailand’s booze ad crackdown clears final Senate hurdle
Cheers are being silenced in Thailand — at least on your screens. The Thai Senate has passed controversial new amendments to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, tightening restrictions on how alcohol can be promoted, advertised, and even associated with public events. With 105 votes in favour, 2 against, 12 abstentions and 1 non-vote, the bill sailed through the second and…
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Phuket police arrest trio, seize over 6,000 meth pills
Thalang Police in Phuket have detained three people suspected of drug trafficking, confiscating more than 6,000 methamphetamine pills, known locally as ya bah, and over 300 grammes of crystal meth, referred to as ya ice, during a targeted operation against a local drug network. The apprehensions occurred yesterday, August 4, led by investigators from Thalang Police Station under Police Lieutenant…
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Song Phi Nong drug test leads to dismissal of 5 officials
Yesterday, August 4, at the district office of Song Phi Nong, a surprise drug test was conducted on 202 government officials, ranging from executives to employees, without prior notice. This action was part of the government’s No Drugs No Dealers policy. The test revealed that five municipal employees tested positive for drugs, resulting in their immediate dismissal. ดูโพสต์นี้บน Instagram…
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Thai Airways shares take off again after 5-year pause
After five years of being grounded, Thai Airways (THAI) shares are finally cleared for takeoff. Trading of the national carrier’s stock will resume on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) yesterday, August 4, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s dramatic recovery from one of the biggest corporate meltdowns in Thai history. The move follows THAI’s exit from court-supervised debt…
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Phuket drug bust nets 6,000 pills and ‘Ice queen’ ringleader
Three suspected drug traffickers are behind bars after police seized more than 6,000 methamphetamine (meth) pills and over 300 grammes of crystal meth (Ice) in a major Phuket sting. Thalang Police moved in yesterday, August 4, targeting a known drug network operating in Thepkrasattri. Officers arrested 27 year old Bank, his 24 year old girlfriend Pop, and 29 year old…
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Swedish tourist arrested for flying drone over Pattaya Beach
In Pattaya, Thailand, on August 3, at 10pm, Pattaya Special Affairs officers apprehended a 28 year old Swedish tourist for operating a drone over Pattaya Beach without the necessary permission. The tourist, whose name has not been disclosed, was questioned with the help of an interpreter. He explained that he had just arrived in Pattaya and was attempting to capture…
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Kuwaiti youths’ noisy bikes disrupt South Pattaya neighbourhood
Residents in South Pattaya’s Soi Yensabai have expressed their frustration over a group of Kuwaiti youths causing disturbances by riding loud motorcycles through the area, often revving their engines late at night. Early yesterday, August 4, at 4am, locals reported that the continuous noise from the modified exhausts kept them awake, prompting them to call Pattaya City Police. The police…
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Cambodian beggars with babies flood Pattaya streets
Beggars clutching babies have returned to Pattaya’s bustling streets, as Cambodian women flood tourist zones in desperate bids for survival. On Sunday night, August 3, reporters uncovered scores of Cambodian beggars scattered throughout the city, particularly outside convenience stores and nightlife hotspots. Despite repeated crackdowns, the same faces reappear just weeks after being deported. This time, they’re back — and…
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Thai government lifts poker ban in shock legal U-turn
Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has signed an order to legalise poker gambling, paving the way for the game to be recognised as an international sport and potentially opening doors for future competitions on Thai soil. Speaking to the media yesterday, August 4, Phumtham confirmed he had signed a ministerial order legalising poker under specific conditions. “It’s a sensitive matter…
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Cambodian drones dominate border surveillance, Thai Defence Ministry confirms
Recent surveillance activities along the border have revealed that most drones originate from Cambodia, as confirmed by the Defence Ministry. Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit stated yesterday, August 4, that all incursions have been recorded, complete with photographic evidence and coordinates. Although the majority of drones observed along the border are from Cambodia, Nattaphon noted that the drone seen in…
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Missing girls found safe near Chiang Mai school
The Mirror Foundation has clarified that the disappearance of three young girls from their school dormitory in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province, was not a case of kidnapping or abduction. Yesterday, August 4, police from Mae Ai Police Station, investigators, border patrol troops, local police, and teachers from Rajaprajanugroh 30 School held a meeting to coordinate efforts to locate…
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Truck driver charged after Phuket underpass carnage injures 3
A truck driver has been charged with reckless driving after a violent crash in Phuket’s Darasamut Underpass left three people injured and several vehicles smashed in a high-impact pile-up. The chaos unfolded last Friday, August 1, when the driver, behind the wheel of a palm oil truck, slammed into four vehicles while heading towards Chalong. Police say the trucker, who…
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Thailand braces for thunderstorms in 32 provinces amid heatwave
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts that over the next 24 hours, 32 provinces in Thailand will experience rain and thunderstorms. The Bangkok metropolitan area faces particularly high temperatures, reaching up to 37 degrees Celsius. The weakening southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand, combined with a low-pressure system over northern Vietnam, is contributing to…
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Missing French woman found dead near Angkor Wat in Cambodia
A French woman was found dead near the popular tourist attraction, Angkor Wat, in Cambodia after going missing during a morning jog on Saturday, August 2. A friend of the French woman, Lisa Girard, provided an update on the search at 12.55pm today, August 4, confirming that Girard’s body had been found earlier in the day. The friend also expressed…
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3 Thai girls missing after late-night escape from Chiang Mai school
Three Thai girls, aged between seven and nine, went missing after leaving their school in the northern province of Chiang Mai yesterday, August 3. Officers from Mae Ai Police Station urged residents of Chiang Mai and nearby provinces to report any information that may assist in locating the three girls, who disappeared from Rajaprajanugroh 30 School in the Tha Ton…
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79 year old Thai woman rescued after 3 days lost in Phitsanulok forest
Officials and locals in the northern province of Phitsanulok rescued a 79 year old Thai woman after she went into the forest to search for bamboo shoots and disappeared for three days. The woman, Pim, entered the Khao Nam Dam mountain range in Don Thong sub-district, Mueang district, Phitsanulok province, at around 6am on Friday, August 1. Local administrative officials,…
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Thai boy fatally stabbed and stripped over friend’s romantic rivalry
A 16 year old Thai boy and four of his friends turned themselves in at Bang Si Mueang Police Station in Nonthaburi province after fatally stabbing a 15 year old boy and stripping the victim’s body in an apparent act of humiliation. Police officers and rescue workers were called to a road between Soi Bang Si Mueang 20 and 24…
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Thai man loses leg after disassembling live grenade at home
A Thai man lost his left leg after an M79 grenade exploded at his home in the central province of Lop Buri as he was attempting to disassemble the device to sell its copper components. Officers from Mueang Lop Buri Police Station and rescue workers responded to the incident at a house in Thasala district, Lop Buri, yesterday, August 3,…
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Three children injured in motorcycle crash with car in Thanyaburi
A 14 year old girl, driving a motorcycle with two younger siblings on board, collided with a car, resulting in the motorcycle becoming lodged underneath the vehicle. Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene, with witnesses recounting the rapid approach of the motorcycle. Today, August 4, the Ruamkatanyu Foundation received a report of a motorcycle accident involving a collision with…
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Phuket intensifies drug crackdown with new phase of national campaign
Phuket Provincial Police have initiated the second phase of the national No Drugs, No Dealers campaign, intensifying their efforts to dismantle drug networks and promote drug-free communities on the island. This campaign aligns with a directive from Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who is temporarily fulfilling the role of Prime Minister, to address the drug crisis as…
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Body of tourist found decomposed in Doi Suthep forest, Chiang Mai
The body, thought to be a foreign tourist, was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition in the forest of Doi Suthep, located in the Mueang district of Chiang Mai. The discovery was made yesterday, August 3. A resident, while collecting forest products, found the body approximately 2 kilometres from the main road in tambon Suthep and reported it to…
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Thai man commits suicide in police custody after shooting wife and daughter
A Thai man committed suicide in police custody after shooting his wife and daughter at a house in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, leaving both in serious condition. The 56 year old man, Somboon, was arrested on Saturday, August 2, after he shot his wife, 52 year old Suphanee, and their daughter, 30 year old Phatcharin, at a…
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Thailand boosts bird flu control after Cambodia outbreak
The Thai government has heightened bird flu control measures after an outbreak in Cambodia raised concerns of potential spread. The Department of Disease Control (DDC) is intensifying surveillance efforts, while the Department of Livestock Development urges farmers to closely monitor animal health. At the Royal Government House today, August 4, Anukul Pruksanusak, deputy government spokesperson, discussed the continued transmission of…
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Car theft leaves Thai saleswoman devastated, losses over 50,000 baht
A 40 year old saleswoman was left devastated when her only car was stolen from a hotel in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. In just 11 minutes, the thief took the vehicle, along with running shoes and valuables worth 50,000 baht, on August 2. Naphisara Monyao, a resident of Ang Thong, shared her ordeal on Facebook, mentioning that her black five-door Toyota…
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Cambodian attack leaves Surin hospital with 45 million baht damage
Today, August 4, the Ministry of Public Health reported that the Panom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin province sustained significant damage, estimated at over 45 million baht, following an attack by Cambodian military forces. The inspection, conducted by the Surin Provincial Public Health Office on August 2, revealed extensive damage to the hospital’s infrastructure, suggesting that four buildings might need…
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Thai netizens slam foreign couple for sexual act on Pattaya baht bus
Thai netizens condemned a foreign couple for engaging in a sexual act on a baht bus in Pattaya on Saturday, August 2. The Facebook page Sai Khao Pattaya shared a picture of the couple that same evening, captioned, “Foreign couple is so in love. #Pattaya No chill.” In the photo, the foreign woman is seen sitting on her boyfriend’s lap.…
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