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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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Forex trading in 2025: trends and predictions
2025 is a big year for currency traders. With global markets shifting, inflation making headlines, and digital currencies rising fast, forex is no longer just for big banks and hedge funds. It’s become more accessible, more dynamic, and more exciting than ever before. If you’re curious about getting started with forex trading or want to stay ahead of the curve,…
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Half-price holidays: Thailand’s 1.75 billion baht tourism boost
Thailand is rolling out an exciting new campaign to encourage domestic tourism, with a generous budget of 1.75 billion baht set aside to fuel the Half-Half Thailand Travel initiative. Announced by Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong today, June 24, the programme is designed to stimulate travel during the low season, aiming to bolster the country’s tourism industry and help…
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Pattaya Beach gets a major cleanup as locals unite for safer shore
Pattaya Beach was alive with energy yesterday as over 500 enthusiastic participants, led by Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, gathered for a large-scale beach cleanup. The event, supported by city executives, municipal officials, local community networks, and tourism stakeholders, aimed to restore the iconic shoreline, ensuring it remains a safe and welcoming destination for tourists. The cleanup saw active involvement from Deputy…
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UN urges Thailand to tackle cross-border trafficking linked to scams
The United Nations issued a stark letter to the Thai government, demanding answers on its role in combating cross-border human trafficking connected to online scam operations across Southeast Asia. The communication, sent on March 10, calls for urgent clarification on 10 critical points, highlighting serious concerns over human trafficking and forced labour in scam centres, which are reportedly operating in…
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Tourism slump in Thailand as political instability sparks concerns
Thailand’s foreign tourism numbers have taken a hit, with arrivals from January 1 to June 22 falling by 4.24% compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Tourism and Sports Ministry. Some 16.04 million foreign visitors came to the country during this period, but the dip in numbers has raised concerns among tourism operators…
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Thai man turns himself in after unprovoked assault on 2 gay men
A Thai man surrendered to police after assaulting two gay men in the Isaan province of Sakon Nakhon on Saturday, June 21, despite having no prior conflict with the victims. The incident came to public attention after the Facebook page Jmoi V+ shared videos of the assault along with images of the suspect, identified only as Joe. The attack occurred…
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Cambodia blasts Thailand’s Buriram temple for copying Angkor Wat
A cultural storm is brewing between Thailand and Cambodia, with latter’s Minister of Culture and Fine Arts strongly condemning the construction of Wat Phu Man Fa in Buriram province, northeast Thailand. The Cambodian government accuses the temple of copying the design of Angkor Wat, a world-renowned UNESCO heritage site and a symbol of Khmer culture. The accusations are not new,…
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Thai scammer caught before monkhood escape attempt
Thai police apprehended 43 year old man in Wang Nam Khiao district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, and charged with fraud and providing false information to a computer system. The suspect, Patcharat, linked to a call centre gang in Poipet, was preparing to enter the monkhood to evade legal consequences. The arrest yesterday, June 23, followed an investigation triggered by a complaint…
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DSI appeals to Frenchman for unsolved 2007 murder of Japanese woman
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is seeking the cooperation of a foreign national, believed to be a Frenchman, who may hold key information in the unsolved murder case of a Japanese woman in Sukhothai, which occurred 18 years ago. The victim, 27 year old Tomoko Kawashita, was found dead at the historic Saphan Hin Temple in Sukhothai on November…
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Chulalongkorn University ranks among top 10 in ASEAN
Chulalongkorn University has solidified its position as one of Southeast Asia’s premier institutions, securing a spot in the top 10 universities in ASEAN according to the QS World University Rankings (WUR) 2026. Announced on June 19, this prestigious recognition highlights the university’s continued excellence in education, academic reputation, and employability outcomes. Not only does Chulalongkorn remain at the forefront of…
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Fire engulfs Chon Buri shop, owner leaps from second floor
A fire engulfed a fresh produce shop in Chon Buri‘s Bang Lamung district early today prompting the owner to leap from the second floor in panic. Residents helped extinguish the flames, fearing they might spread to a nearby stockpile of fireworks. The Nong Prue subdistrict’s municipal emergency radio centre received reports of the fire at 4.06am, today, June 24, with…
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2026 World Cup stripped from ‘Must-Have’ TV broadcast list
The Royal Gazette published a new announcement from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), removing the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup from the list of “Must-Have” sports for free TV broadcasting. The update signals a shift in television regulations that will impact how key events, including major international sports, are accessible to Thai viewers. The decision, detailed in the…
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Thai exports at risk as Strait of Hormuz closes
Thai National Shippers’ Council chairperson Tanakorn Kasetsuwan yesterday discussed potential impacts following Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz due to Middle Eastern tensions. Tanakorn yesterday, June 23, outlined six strategies to mitigate the effects on the oil, fertiliser, and agriculture sectors, urging the Thai government to ensure energy security and minimise long-term risks. The closure of the Strait…
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Bangkok man arrested for selling e-cigarettes via online store
Police in Phetkasem arrested a 32 year old man for using an online clothing store as a front to sell electronic cigarettes. The arrest took place yesterday, June 23, in front of a department store in Phetkasem, Bangkok, with police seizing some 166 items, including disposable electronic cigarette pods and refill liquids. Under the direction of Police Major General Pallop Aermla,…
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Pattaya’s crackdown: Vendors face fines as traffic chaos intensifies
Pattaya’s traffic police have launched a major crackdown on roadside vendors, especially the three-wheeled food and merchandise carts that frequently block busy streets, including the popular Pattaya Beach Road and various side alleys. Officers are stepping up enforcement efforts, aiming to reduce congestion and improve safety for both drivers and pedestrians. On Sunday, June 22 at 11.30pm, Police Lieutenant Colonel…
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Tragic drowning of man in Udon Thani pond
A 51 year old man has been found dead in a pond in Baan Khok Phatthana, Phon Ngam subdistrict, Nong Han district, Udon Thani province. The discovery was made yesterday, June 23, at approximately 4.50pm when a family member found his shoes by the pond’s edge. Despite attempts to rescue him, he had already succumbed to drowning due to a…
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Thai man kills sister-in-law for allegedly serving his mother omelettes
A Thai man fatally shot his sister-in-law at the weekend at a house in the northern province of Kamphaeng Phet, allegedly because she served inadequate food to his elderly mother. Officers from Khlong Lan Police Station arrested the 42 year old suspect, identified as Arsia, on Sunday, June 22, at the scene in the Pong Namron sub-district of Khlong Lan…
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Fishing vessel fire off Surat Thani coast claims one life
A fishing vessel caught fire and sank off the coast of Surat Thani, resulting in the death of one crew member. Yesterday, June 23, at 3pm, Vice Admiral Nares Wongtrakun, director of the 2nd Naval Area Command, ordered Captain Natthaphon Sinphunphon, deputy director of the Surat Thani Maritime Enforcement Command Centre, to dispatch a high-speed rescue vessel, Sornchon 4003, to…
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Israel’s attack on Iran threatens Thailand’s tourism recovery
Thailand’s tourism sector, already struggling from global uncertainties, is facing another blow as Israel’s unprovoked attack on Iran threatens key international markets. The United States, Europe, and the Middle East, which were once seen as “hope markets” for Thai tourism in 2023, may see a significant dip in tourist arrivals. According to Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, President of the Thai Hotels Association…
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Thai cavalry seizes six million meth tablets in Chiang Mai clash
A special forces cavalry unit named Chaiyanuphap engaged in a confrontation with approximately 30 drug traffickers during a patrol operation in Chiang Mai. The clash took place yesterday, June 23, in Mueang Na subdistrict, Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai province, resulting in the seizure of over six million methamphetamine tablets. While patrolling in Baan Arunothai, soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry…
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Thai axe man damages car with child inside in Chon Buri road rage
A Thai man threatened and damaged another man’s car with an axe after a road dispute in Chon Buri. The victim condemned the suspect, saying his wife and five year old son were in the car during the violent scene. The 31 year old victim, Withit, filed a complaint with Ban Bueng Police Station after the incident, which occurred at…
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High and dry: Health minister’s war on cannabis shops
The minister of public health declared a dramatic U-turn on cannabis policy but with thousands of shops raking in billions and a booming weed culture now woven into daily life, critics say his war on weed is destined to go up in smoke. Health chief Somsak Thepsuthin sent shockwaves through Thailand’s green economy today, June 24, by signing off on…
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Norwegian man charged with attempted murder in Surat Thani
Police in Mueang Surat Thani district apprehended a Norwegian national and charged him with attempted murder according to an arrest warrant issued by the Koh Samui Provincial Court. The Norwegian suspect, Elmer, was caught yesterday, June 23, at Surat Thani Bus Terminal while attempting to flee the area by van. The incident traces back to June 19 in Koh Samui…
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Bangkok’s Green Line future in doubt: Will 20-baht fare survive?
As the Green Line’s concession approaches its expiration in 2029, the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) is preparing to release a groundbreaking study to explore four potential operational models that could keep the popular 20-baht flat fare policy alive. This move comes after Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt proposed a transfer of the Green Line project to the Ministry of Transport, believing…
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Fishing boat capsizes off Phuket, one rescued, one missing
A local fishing boat capsized amid turbulent seas off the coast of Phuket, leading to one person being rescued while another remains missing. The incident occurred at approximately 4.10pm yesterday, June 23, when the Andaman Narenthorn Centre alerted the Third Naval Area Command of the event. The boat, which had two people onboard, capsized roughly 1 kilometre from the Thasak…
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80 year old Thai man fatally shoots drug-addicted grandson in Isaan
An 80 year old Thai man surrendered to the police after fatally shooting his drug-addicted grandson in a paddy field in the northeastern province of Nong Bua Lamphu. Officers from Na Klang Police Station investigated the death of 30 year old Mongkhon, who was found in the middle of a rice field in the Khao Kloi sub-district, Na Klang district,…
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Thailand Video News | Squid Game’s giant doll brings buzz to Bangkok, Cannabis shops raided for selling unapproved edibles
From protests in Thailand to a tourist rescue in Indonesia and political tensions in the Philippines, today’s stories span heated streets, courtroom clashes, and international headlines. 150,000 Protesters to Rally Against Thai PM at Victory Monument Over 150,000 people are expected to gather at Victory Monument on June 28 in a mass protest demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s resignation. Led…
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Phuket the bomb! Pair nicked in plot to deliver deadly cargo
Two men from Thailand’s insurgency-hit Deep South have been arrested in a chilling plot to smuggle homemade bombs into Phuket, with a suspicious timer device hidden in their boot sparking a dramatic early morning police sting. At around 3.30am, today, June 24, officers manning a checkpoint near Phang Nga Provincial Hall stopped a black saloon car with Surin plates after…
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Thai border opens for emergency medical aid for Cambodian man
Thai officials coordinated a special border opening at Ban Khlong Luek permanent crossing in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province, to facilitate urgent medical treatment for a Cambodian man experiencing a sudden heart condition. This occurred yesterday, June 23, at 6pm, just an hour before the First Army Area commander was to sign an order closing the border in the same…
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Thai hotels warn of layoffs amid 400 baht wage hike proposal
The Thai Hotels Association (THA) has raised concerns about potential large-scale layoffs in the hotel sector during the low season, should the government proceed with plans to increase the daily minimum wage to 400 baht next week. The THA has submitted a petition to the prime minister, urging the cancellation of this policy. La-iad Bungsrithong, an advisor to the THA…
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