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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 New in July: Save 10% for life on family health plans in Thailand
Cigna has a special offer this July for families in Thailand. When you sign up three or more people on a family health plan, you will save 10% on your premiums for life. This deal helps you get affordable, high-quality...
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Banking on trouble: SCB scales back as storm brews in Thailand
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is battening down the hatches and scaling back its operations for the next 12 to 18 months, warning of tough times ahead as Thailand’s economy hits choppy waters. SCB Chief Executive Kris Chantanotoke painted a bleak picture of the months to come, blaming soaring household debt, sluggish growth, and the threat of US tariffs for the…
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Shock decision: Electricity bills stay high despite energy dip
Electricity bills in Thailand are set to stay stubbornly high for the rest of the year, despite falling fuel costs, lower demand and a stronger baht. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has chosen to freeze the power tariff at 3.98 baht per unit, brushing aside options for a cheaper rate, even as economic conditions hinted at a possible reduction. The…
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Heavy rainfall and strong winds sweep Thailand amidst storm
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across Thailand, with strong winds expected in the upper Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand in the coming week starting tomorrow. This announcement coincides with Tropical Storm Vipa intensifying. The alert, announced today, July 18, highlights that numerous areas of Thailand are expected…
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Failed escape: Korean, Chinese fugitives busted in Pattaya swoop
Thailand immigration police swooped on two foreign fugitives in a transnational crime crackdown in Pattaya, including a Chinese crook caught trying to escape over the roof and a Korean drug boss with a taste for crystal meth. Commissioner Panumas Boonyalak and his team swooped on suspects in separate raids across Pattaya this week as part of a major international sting.…
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Thai man missing after bamboo hunt in Khon Kaen forest
A Thai man went missing on a mountain in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen after foraging for bamboo shoots with his family members on July 11. His mother reportedly provided “unclear information” to officials. The 52 year old mother, Samorn, filed a missing persons report at Nong Ruea Police Station on July 11, stating that her 24 year old…
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South Korean influencer goes viral with ‘kappa haircut’ in Pattaya
A South Korean social media influencer went viral on Thai social media for his unique haircut and hilarious video content, with Pattaya serving as the backdrop. The owner of Sixteen Barbershop Pattaya shared pictures and a video of the quirky South Korean customer on his Facebook page, Barber King, on July 11. The footage showed the man receiving an unusual…
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Thailand pushes China to fast-track fruit and rice exports
Thailand is turning up the heat on China to help fast-track its tastiest exports—from sweet tamarinds to juicy pomelos—in a high-stakes trade push aimed at cracking the world’s biggest consumer market. The Ministry of Commerce is pulling out all the stops to promote Thailand’s prized Geographical Indication (GI) products in China, urging Beijing’s top trade agency to speed up the…
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Thailand boosts ornamental fish exports with new strategies and logistics
The Thailand is intensifying its initiatives to boost the ornamental fish industry, recognising it as a significant contributor to agricultural exports. The goal is to enhance Thailand’s global market presence and increase income for local farmers. Bancha Sukkaew, Director General of the Department of Fisheries, highlighted that the global ornamental fish market is projected to be valued at 10 billion…
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NBTC to revise mobile tariffs, cheaper packages under 240 baht
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is revising mobile phone tariffs, encouraging operators to introduce cheaper Blue Flag Packages from the current cap of 240 baht per month. Yesterday, July 16, acting Secretary-General of the NBTC Trairat Viriyasirikul announced that today’s NBTC meeting covered a total of 86 agenda items, with 25 items reviewed. These included business operation permits,…
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Pattaya investigates oil pollution in local water source
In response to community complaints regarding a significant water source, an investigation has been initiated by local officials. Pattaya officials have launched an investigation into oil and grease pollution discovered in drainage near a local restaurant Concerns were raised about a drainage pipe situated near a popular cycling spot opposite a well-frequented restaurant, close to the Hot Two Point intersection…
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Boom in the bin: Hua Hin rocked by live grenade and C4 find
Rubbish collectors got more than they bargained for when a pile of deadly military explosives was discovered beside a bin in Hua Hin, sparking a full-scale bomb squad operation and a police investigation that’s now gripping the quiet coastal town. At around 11.30am yesterday, July 16, police were alerted by a concerned resident who spotted a suspicious object dumped next…
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Phuket tourism revenue set to rise 10% amid European off-season surge
Phuket is experiencing a notable shift in tourism patterns as European visitors increasingly opt for off-season travel, with tourism revenue anticipated to grow by over 40 billion baht, or approximately 10%, this year, according to the Phuket Tourist Association. The association’s president, Thanet Tantipiriyakit, highlighted a growing interest among tourists from the UK, Germany, and France in visiting Phuket during…
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Thai firms face US tariffs amid trade war challenges
The Board of Investment (BoI) has introduced measures to support Thai entrepreneurs in coping with the repercussions of the US tariff policy and the ongoing trade war. These measures range from ceasing the promotion of solar panel manufacturing to encouraging the adoption of new technologies in factories. The decision regarding photovoltaic (PV) panel production is part of the BoI’s strategy…
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Phuket governor wins top honour for anti-drug crusade
Phuket’s top official just bagged a royal seal of approval—and a national spotlight—for leading the fight against drugs. Governor Sophon Suwannarat has been crowned with the coveted Outstanding Governor award for his role in championing the To be Number One campaign, a youth-focused anti-drug initiative that’s making waves across Thailand. The award was handed out during the star-studded To be Number…
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Thai transgender hairdresser asked for HIV test after client’s pimple bursts
A transgender hairdresser took to social media to share her shocking experience of a client and her mother fearing that she would spread HIV, even though she is HIV negative. The 35 year old hairdresser, Watchara “Emmy” U-phat, shared the story on Facebook on July 13, along with a photograph of her HIV test from Korat Medical Laboratory. The result…
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Thai drug traffickers arrested in Myanmar, bounty 2.5 million baht
Key drug traffickers who had fled arrest warrants with a combined bounty of over 2.5 million baht, were extradited from Myanmar to Thailand. The operation, yesterday, July 16, exemplifies enhanced cooperation between Thai and Myanmar drug enforcement agencies. The apprehension of the fugitives, Tachin Norawong and Chamung Kantawong, was facilitated by the collaboration between the Office of the Narcotics Control Board…
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Teenagers steal 600 baht from gas station in Chon Buri
Five teenagers riding motorbikes, locally referred to as dek waen, were captured on CCTV committing theft at a gas station along Highway 331 towards Chachoengsao, in Moo 4, in Chon Buri, Thailand. The incident took place at 2.18am on July 13, . The CCTV footage reveals the group arriving on two motorbikes after fleeing a police checkpoint and stopping at…
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Bang out of order! Teen tearaways caught with grenades in Phuket
Two teen tearaways have been nabbed by police, who discovered them with four homemade grenades, allegedly intended for a revenge attack on rivals in the Wichit area of Phuket. The dramatic arrest unfolded during a routine patrol led by Police Lieutenant Sunthon Phetsangk, Deputy Chief of Investigation at Wichit Police, last night, July 16. While conducting crime suppression duties on…
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Chai Nat woman wins big with 30 million baht lottery jackpot
A woman from Chai Nat is laughing all the way to the bank after scooping a jaw-dropping 30 million baht in the latest government lottery draw—thanks to five winning tickets that turned her into a multi-millionaire overnight. The lucky draw took place yesterday, July 16, revealing the first prize number as 245324, with the two-digit suffix 26. Among the nation’s…
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Husband’s violent assault on wife in Samut Sakhon sparks outrage
In Samut Sakhon, social activist Guntouch Pongpaiboonwet, also known as Gun Jompalang, accompanied 32 year old Bua to Krathum Baen Police Station yesterday, July 16. The visit aimed to provide further testimony regarding the severe violence inflicted upon her by her husband. The victim sustained multiple injuries, including facial burns from a hot iron, and endured beatings and physical restraint.…
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Thai man slits neighbour’s throat over mistaken phone theft
A Thai man slit his neighbour’s throat at a house in the northern province of Phetchabun in the early hours of this morning after wrongly suspecting her of stealing his mobile phone. Officers from Chondean Police Station received a report of the brutal attack at 12.30am today, July 17, and responded to the scene, a residence in Tha Kham subdistrict,…
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Hidden Buddha statues unearthed in Laos temple dig
A stunning historical discovery has shaken the district of Champasak in southern Laos, where 70 centuries-old Buddha images were unearthed beneath Vat Meuang Kang temple during restoration work. The sacred stash was found buried just 45 centimetres underground in a large jar, as workers dug the foundation for the temple’s manuscript repository on Monday, July 14. According to Lao National…
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Truck runs red light, fatally hits Thai traffic officer in Bangkok (video)
A six-wheel truck ran a red light, causing a fatal accident involving a distinguished traffic officer from the Khlong Tan Police Station in the Pattanakarn area of Bangkok. The driver claimed he had a green light. The Suan Luang Facebook page reported on the incident, stating that the accident occurred around 5.50am at the Thaworn Thawat intersection (Pattanakarn 25) and…
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UAE island fever: Phuket and Madagascar top wishlist
Island fever is sweeping the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with travellers trading city breaks for sun-soaked escapes like Phuket. Expedia’s 2025 Island Hot List reveals a 30% global spike in demand for tropical getaways, and UAE holidaymakers are leading the charge, craving culture-packed, nature-filled trips that go beyond beach loungers and cocktails. According to Expedia’s latest insights, UAE travellers are…
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Van hits cyclist at Bangkok crossing, elderly man injured (video)
A van ran a red light and collided with a bicycle on a pedestrian crossing, leaving an 84 year old man with a fractured sacrum. The incident occurred near the Bueng Nong Bon Park in Prawet district, Bangkok, on July 13. The Facebook page Drama-addict shared CCTV footage of the accident, which showed the van hitting the bicycle at the…
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Mute Thai man arrested for selling porn featuring young boys
Police arrested a mute Thai man in the southern province of Phattalung for tricking young boys into engaging in sexual activities with him and secretly recording explicit videos to sell on the Telegram app. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) received a tip-off from the International Protection Alliance (IPA) that a 34 year old Thai man, Phuwadon, shared multiple…
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AirAsia spreads its wings with new Bangkok–Hai Phong route
AirAsia has officially launched its brand-new direct route between Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport and the northern Vietnamese city of Hai Phong, offering four flights a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. To mark the inaugural journey, vibrant welcome events were held at both Don Mueang and Hai Phong International Airport, with excited passengers greeted by celebratory activities and…
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Honey trap! Love-struck Pakistani youths kidnapped in Thailand
In a shocking “honey trap” scandal, three young Pakistani men have fallen victim to a sly scheme set by Indian women in Thailand. Usman Amin, Muhammad Ahmed, and Tajammul Shehzad, hailing from Sahiwal, were swept off their feet by the women via phone conversations before jetting off on what was meant to be an exciting adventure. They departed on May…
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Landmine blast injures 3 soldiers near Thai-Cambodian border
A border patrol mission turned into a nightmare after three Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine blast in a former conflict zone near Hill 481 in the Chong Bok area in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province. Military sources say the men are lucky to be alive. At around 8pm yesterday, July 16, Lieutenant General Boonsin Phadklang, Commander of the…
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Thai tourist attacked and robbed in Paris, 10,000 baht and documents stolen
A Thai tourist issued a warning after he was attacked and robbed in Paris, France, yesterday, July 16. He lost 10,000 baht in cash along with all his belongings. The victim, Krissana “Fai” Baowlor, shared photos of his injuries on his Facebook account, along with a caption detailing the robbery. The incident occurred at a public park near the Westfield…
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