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 Where to travel in Thailand in July [2025]
This month, I want to invite you to wander through art spaces, misty hills, and garden paths, where the only thing on the itinerary is to linger. Let’s take a slower route, one for the dreamers, the journal keepers, and...
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Coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn announced
A three day long coronation ceremony for His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn is to be held from May 4-6. The announcement was made by Palace staff today, nearly two years and three months after the death of his father, the revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX. The announcement was made in a televised special from the Royal Household Bureau. It…
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Day Five Phuket – ‘seven days of danger’
PHOTO: Karon Police / Kritsada Mueanhawong According to statistics issued by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office, the island registered seven accidents and one death on Day Five (December 31) of the annual road safety campaign. Total of the five days of the campaign in Phuket is four deaths. A motorbike driver has died at the scene…
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Helping Koh Samui fight the garbage glut
Photos and story by Laurie Maitenaz An article by guest writer Laurie Maitenaz, a resident of Koh Samui, seeks to focus attention on the long-term garbage accumulation problems on the island. Most of his 11-point-plan to reduce garbage are things we can all action around the Kingdom. Let’s make 2019 the year of garbage reduction – think globally but act…
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The legalisation of cannabis for medical use – more questions than answers
by Laura Villadiego “Despite what looks to be the biggest step in decades towards legalisation of cannabis in Thailand… the use of cannabis in Thailand without a licence is still punishable with jail terms.” Unclear licensing rules have given rise to fears foreign firms might apply for patents and squeeze out local players There are concerns the public might think…
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Happy New Year Thailand!
PHOTO: The Nation The Amazing Thailand Countdown 2019 was held at the new riverside shopping hub Iconsiam last night as a “New Year present” for Thais and tourists. It was a joint venture between the capital’s newest luxury shopping mall and the TAT. Large countdown crowds and fireworks kicked off 2019 at dozens of venues around Thailand, and a bright…
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King Maha Vajiralongkorn wishes Thais well for a prosperous 2019
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn has offered New Year blessings by wishing everybody happiness, prosperity, good health and wisdom for the coming year. “When you have love, goodwill, wisdom and reason, as well as moderation, patience, perseverance and problem-solving skills, you will be happy and satisfied with yourself. “As a result, there will be happiness within your family, society and…
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CAAT probe crash of light-aircraft that killed South African pilot
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has inspected the wreckage of a private light aircraft that crashed in Chon Buri’s Sri Racha district yesterday. The crash precipitated a fire that killed the 60 year old pilot, Mike Romberg from South Africa. The turboprop light aircraft crashed to the ground when it was about to make a landing at Rajamangala…
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Round the world handicapped pilot crashes in Chon Buri
A video has captured the final moments of a light aircraft that crashed in Sri Racha, Chon Buri yesterday. Footage also shows the aftermath of the crash. The aircraft was piloted by Mike Lomberg, a South African who was flying through Thailand as part of a round the world flying adventure. The private light aircraft crash-landed yesterday, killing the pilot. The…
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National death toll rises to 236 – Day Four in the “seven dangerous days”
A total of 236 people have killed and 2,265 others injured in 2,194 road accidents after number were released for the first four days of the New Year holiday period’s “seven dangerous days”. The tally includes deaths and injuries from last Thursday up to Sunday night. Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima had the highest cumulative fatalities of 12 deaths each,…
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Man killed in Phuket road accident
A motorbike driver has died at the scene after colliding head on with a pickup truck in Rassada earlier this morning. The Phuket City Police were notified about the accident at Soi Paneang in Rassada at 01.05am. Police and emergency respondents arrived at a curve in the road to find the damaged motorbike. Nearby they found the body of a…
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Big whale sighted off Phuket – VIDEO
A large whale has been sighted between Koh Racha and Koh Hey, south west of Phuket, yesterday. Specialist believe it might be a Baleen Whale (Bryde’s Whale or Omura Whale). A video clip of the three large mammals has been shared in a LINE group ‘Coral Restoration’ which is an Andaman Sea Conservation network with a message reading “At Koh…
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Four minors and three men charged with gang rape of 13 year old Thai girl
PHOTO: Ban Kruat Hospital The parents of a 13 year old girl filed complaints that their daughter was gang raped by seven young men who lured her into a schools toilet in tambon Bung Charoen late Friday evening. The town is east of Bangkok near the Cambodian border. Out of the seven men, aged 14-22, four were minors and have been…
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New Year weather around Thailand
It might be the middle of the annual high season but the ‘high season’ weather isn’t co-operating. Although generally fine weather has been the trend in the past few days there are a few unseasonal fronts coming to different parts of the country, according to the Thai Meteorological Department. In the central/southern provinces, including around Hua Hun and Gulf islands…
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Tropical storm ‘Usman’ kills 22 in Philippines
Another tropical storm, this one called Usman has so far killed at least 22 people as it passed through several provinces. The storm has triggered floods and landslides forcing villagers to flee to safer areas. The death toll is expected to rise. More than 6,600 people have been stranded in various locations, while Cebu Air and national carrier Philippine Airlines…
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4.9 magnitude earthquake registered in Kanchanaburi
In the latest of a spate of earthquake reports for the region, principally in Indonesia and The Philippines, a report this morning from the Si Sawat district of Kanchanaburi with a tremor registering 4.9 on the Richter scale. No casualties or damage has been recorded. Seismologists report that the quake was two kilometres underground and was sensed in Kanchanaburi, Chai…
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30% rise in drink driving incidents
FILE PHOTO Despite all the hoopla, promises, checkpoints on all major roads and extensive media campaign, drink driving remains the leading cause of accidents over the first three days of the New Year holiday road safety period – aka. The Seven Days of Danger. Police report a 30% rise in drink-driving arrests up to last Saturday. 6,000 breathalysers and radar…
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One month old baby killed in Phuket road accident
PHOTOS: Thalang Police A one month old baby girl has died in a road accident in Thalang. The Thalang Police were notified about the incident in the early morning yesterday on Thepkrasattri Road southbound in Baan Naiklam, Srisoonthorn in Thalang. Police and emergency respondents arrived to find a trailer on the side of the road. The driver was 48 year…
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HRH Princess Sirindhorn offers New Year wishes
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has expressed her best wishes to the staff of the Thai Red Cross Society and members of the public after presiding over the offering of alms to 100 monks to mark the arrival of the 2019 New Year. Organised by the Thai Red Cross Society, the annual event was held in front of…
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The Bay and Beach Club – Welcome to The Bay!
With a coveted location on Phuket’s infamous Patong Beach, The Bay and Beach Club is an elegant new resort which features 26 brand new luxury rooms. The resort boasts a prime beachfront location – The Bay and Beach Club is set right on the sands of Patong Beach in an area lined with towering palm trees. If tropical luxury is what…
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Security stepped up following multiple attacks in Narathiwat
PHOTO: Thai PBS Security in 14 districts of the Narathiwat has been stepped up after suspected militants attacked a tambon defence volunteer’s base in Ra-ngae district and detonated several home-made bombs targeting power poles and bridges in four districts on Friday night. Narathiwat is the Kingdom’s southern-most province, bordering Malaysia. Four motorcyclists and pillion riders were injured by bomb shrapnel…
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Russian woman fined after graffiti on road in Nai Harn, Rawai
A Russian woman, who was caught red handed spray painting all across a road in Rawai yesterday, has been fined. She claimed she was looking for her lost boyfriend. A video is being shared on social media of the Russian-speaking woman caught spray painting on a road in Rawai, Phuket. Read more about her exploits HERE. The Rawai Municipality official filed…
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Two deaths in Phuket on Day Three of the ‘seven days of danger’
According to statistics issued by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office the island saw six accidents on Day Three (yesterday) of the campaign, resulting in 4 injuries and two deaths. Of the 2 deaths, one was a one month old baby girl and the other a 23 year old Thai man in a difference accident. The…
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Sporting events, meetings and Indian weddings spur Phuket tourism in 2018
PHOTO: WeddingSutra.com by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com Phuket’s surging MICE market is now valued at 10.9 billion baht, as meetings, incentives and exhibitions attracted over 800,000 visitors to resort island in the last year. The islands increasingly prolific MICE market nearly doubled in year-on-year growth in 2017. As revenue for the segment skyrocketed from 5.9 billion baht to a record-high 10.9…
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Anak Krakatoa loses 220 metres of height
A section of the Anak Krakatoa’s crater (Child of Krakatoa) collapsed after an eruption and slid into the ocean, generating the tsunami last Saturday night. An analysis by the local volcanology agency found the volcano has lost more than two-thirds of its height. Anak Krakatoa, which used to stand 338 metres has now been whittled down to 110 metres tall.…
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Day Two: Seven days of danger – National road toll
FILE PHOTO An update on the national toll following the second of the annual road campaign days. The death toll from road accidents in the first two days of the “Seven Dangerous Days” of the New Year holidays has risen to 98, while 1,024 others were injured nationwide, the transport minister said today. Transport Minister Akom Termpithayaphaisit told a press…
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Tsunami advisory in Philippines after 7.1 quake off Davao Oriental
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has made a public warning to Filipinos on Saturday to temporarily stay away from beaches and not go to the coast after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Davao Oriental. In its Tsunami Information No. 1, Phivolcs said, “Minor sea level disturbances such as strong currents and rapid rise and fall of seawater…
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UK honours given to British divers for Thai cave rescue
PHOTO: CNN, The Nation The seven British cave divers who took part in the extraordinary Tham Luang cave rescue operation have been awarded during Britain’s traditional New Year Honours announced Friday. Out of the seven, four received awards of exceptional bravery, three were made Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). The two divers who made…
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Foreigner woman caught on video spray painting road in Rawai
PHOTO: Patthama Bruno Facebook A video is being shared on social media of a Russian speaking woman caught red handed spray painting all across a road in Rawai, Phuket. Facebook user Patthama Bruno was out on her morning run when she saw something a little out of the ordinary and decided to share it online. In the video we see…
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Thai authorities visit airports following reports of thefts and food overpricing
PHOTO: King Power With over 3 million people expected to pass through Thailand’s airports during the new year, authorities are focused on ensuring safe and ‘fair’ travel conditions. A report by Channel 3 tv news says Thailand ombudsman, General Withawat Ratchatanan and airport authorities were seen inspecting Suvarnabhumi airport. The number of CCTV cameras at the airport has been increased…
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Top 10 party countdowns for new years eve in Phuket 2019
New years eve is just around the corner. Are you ready? There are lots of options for dinner around the island. But what are you doing after that on December 31?– when the kids go to bed and the adults can go out, where there is bubbly to be found and music to dance to. In case you’re not sure,…
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