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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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Fake police kidnap and extort Chinese tourist in Pattaya
Four Thai men posed as police officers and extorted 200,000 baht from a Chinese tourist in Pattaya by falsely accusing the victim of involvement in a call centre scam gang. The 52 year old Chinese victim, Lin, filed a complaint against the four imposters following the extortion incident on July 10. He lost two mobile phones, valued at over 100,000…
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Shark ‘n’ awe as blacktip reef sharks swarm Maya Bay in Krabi (video)
Tourists got more than just postcard views in Thailand’s paradise bay this month, as researchers spotted a jaw-dropping 158 blacktip reef sharks cruising the shallows in one fin-tastic return to form. Maya Bay, the once-trampled beauty spot made famous by The Beach, is making waves again, this time for all the right reasons. Thai marine boffins say they’ve recorded the…
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Thailand deluge: TMD warns of heavy rainfall and flash floods
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, predicting heavy rainfall in 41 provinces across Thailand, with some areas experiencing intense downpours covering 70% of the region. Eight provinces have been specifically cautioned to be on alert for flash floods and rapid water flow due to accumulated rainfall. These provinces include Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae,…
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Call of duty: Pedestrian on phone mowed down in pattaya pile-up
A pedestrian glued to his mobile phone was left fighting for life after stepping into traffic and being flattened by a truck, just one of three horror crashes to rock Pattaya this week. The man is in critical condition after being hit by a truck while distracted by a phone call on a busy Chon Buri highway. The smash happened…
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Man arrested after temple shooting in Thonburi leaves two dead
A 35 year old man was arrested following a shooting at a well-known temple in Thonburi, where two people were killed. The suspect claimed the act resulted from a dream. Police discovered an arsenal of weapons at his home. At 6am today, July 10, Police Lieutenant Withoon Saengchompoo, Deputy Inspector of Phasi Charoen Police Station, received a report of a…
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Phuket to host Kebaya Festival celebrating Peranakan heritage in 2025
Phuket will take centre stage in the global cultural arena with the upcoming Kebaya Festival, which is a celebration of Peranakan heritage as part of the Phuket Creative City Festival 2025. Scheduled for August 9 to August 10, the event will be held in Phuket Old Town and Suan Luang (King’s Park), featuring a comprehensive programme of cultural exhibitions, performances,…
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Cambodians detained for illegal entry into Thailand amid job crisis
A group of Cambodian nationals were apprehended for illegally entering Thailand due to economic hardships and lack of employment opportunities in their home country. Yesterday, July 9, at 9pm, police detained nine people walking from Baan Dong Ngu in Pa Rai subdistrict. The group, who previously worked repairing second-hand shoes at Rong Kluea Market, returned to Cambodia following recent border…
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Bangkok police bust illegal cannabis shop, arrest 28 year old man
A significant operation led by the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau resulted in the arrest of a 28 year old man, Worapong, at a cannabis shop in Din Daeng, Bangkok. The raid, which took place yesterday, July 9, uncovered illicit substances including psychedelic mushrooms, cannabis-infused electronic cigarettes, and edibles. The police operation was spearheaded by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, along…
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Koh Phangan police arrest two for drugs and firearms offences
Yesterday, July 9, police forces on Koh Phangan, in collaboration with local administrative officials, conducted a crime sweep resulting in the arrest of two people for drug and firearms offences. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jaroenchai Boonklieng, along with the special operations unit from the Surat Thani Provincial Police, executed the operation from their base in Baan Sri Thanu, Koh Phangan district,…
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Udon Thani crash claims life of young student
Two female students from Udon Thani Technical College were involved in a tragic accident at Nong Samrong intersection in Mueang district, Udon Thani, yesterday, July 9 at 6pm. One died and another was seriously injured after their motorcycle collided with a car. Police Lieutenant Chakrapong Tomtam from Mueang Udon Thani Police Station received the accident report and coordinated with Udon…
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Kuwaiti youths’ noisy motorcycle races disrupt Pattaya’s Soi Yensabai
Residents on Soi Yensabai in Pattaya City, Thailand, were disturbed in the early hours of today, July 10, by a group of predominantly Kuwaiti youths racing motorcycles through the streets. This marked the second consecutive night of such disruptions, leaving locals unable to get a peaceful night’s sleep. In response, Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Dusadee, who leads the patrol unit…
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Russian trio steal 2kg cannabis worth 160,000 baht from Thai clinic
In Chon Buri, Thailand, three Russian nationals are alleged to have stolen 2 kilogrammes of premium organic cannabis, valued at 160,000 baht, from a cannabis clinic in Banglamung district. The theft took place on the evening of July 4, around 9pm. The suspects fled the scene in a blue Ford sedan, leaving the clinic owner with significant financial losses. A…
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Pattaya police raid targets noisy teens, seizes modified motorcycles
Around 12.30am today, July 10, Pattaya City Police, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchat Dusadee, along with patrol officers and Pattaya volunteer forces, carried out a raid at Phratamnak Hill in Pattaya. This action was in response to reports of a group of teenagers causing disturbances by riding motorcycles and creating loud noises that disrupted residents nearby. At the location,…
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Phuket tourism boom: 223 billion baht from Russian, Chinese visitors
Phuket has emerged as a popular destination for Russian, Chinese, and Indian tourists in the first five months of this year, contributing approximately 223 billion baht in revenue, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Kamolphan Chalermsakulrat, deputy director of TAT Phuket, reported yesterday, July 9, that the island province received 5.85 million visitors between January and May, reflecting…
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Cyber police detain six over Thai baht fraud scheme
Cyber police have detained six people linked to an international fraud scheme that deceived a prominent Japanese corporation into transferring over 228 million baht to a Thai bank account using fake email invoices. Police successfully froze 215 million baht (US$6.58 million) before it could be laundered and are collaborating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States…
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Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms hit 43 Thai provinces
Weather conditions across 43 provinces in Thailand are expected to deteriorate as heavy rainfall affects Bangkok and surrounding areas, with 70% of these regions experiencing thunderstorms. The northeastern and eastern provinces are also anticipated to face thunderstorms and heavy rain in several areas. According to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD)’s 24-hour weather forecast, heavy rainfall in some areas of Thailand…
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Elderly poacher busted in West Thailand national park raid
Khao Laem National Park rangers collared an elderly poaching suspect armed to the teeth in a hidden forest hideout, highlighting Thailand’s ongoing battle against illegal wildlife hunting. Around 11am yesterday, July 8, rangers patrolling a remote area of the park stumbled upon a longtail boat tied up along a forest stream. With no one in sight, they grew suspicious and…
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New regulations for ride-hailing services in Thailand announced
The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) announced new regulations for ride-hailing service providers. Drivers using such platforms must register their vehicles as public transport and possess a public transport driving licence. These new rules will be enforced 90 days following the announcement today, July 9. The Royal Gazette has published the ETDA’s announcement, specifying that digital platform services for public…
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Casino clash: Paetongtarn blasts Anutin for twisting Xi’s words
Thailand’s suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra fired back at Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, accusing him of distorting Chinese President Xi Jinping’s views on Thailand’s controversial casino policy. Speaking in her capacity as culture minister, Paetongtarn took aim at Anutin’s claim that President Xi had voiced strong objections to Thailand’s plans for entertainment complexes that include casinos. “Xi offered various…
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Weed crackdown: Thailand to force cannabis shops to hire doctors
Thailand’s cannabis boom is about to get a massive reality check. Starting later this year, thousands of cannabis retailers will be legally transformed into healthcare facilities—and required to have a doctor on-site to dispense weed. At a packed press conference yesterday, July 8, Thanakrit Jit-areerat, Secretary to the Minister of Public Health, announced that the Department of Thai Traditional and…
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Student scammed: Fake landlord steals rent in Thai Facebook con
An engineering student’s quest for affordable housing ended in heartbreak after he was duped into paying rent on a property he wasn’t allowed to enter. Siwakorn turned up at Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station this week clutching evidence of a slick rental scam that cost him every baht he had saved for accommodation. “I just wanted to save money on rent,”…
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Stranded chihuahuas reunite with owner after 3-month hotel stay
An online community helped reunite seven chihuahuas with their owner after the dogs were left at a dog hotel in Pattaya for over three months. The couple who run the dog hotel decided to make the story public after they could no longer afford to care for the animals. One of the owners, 38 year old Buncha Phimonrat, revealed that…
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Meth-fuelled mayhem: Thai cops nab drugged driver on Patong Hill
Patong police swooped late last night to arrest a Thai man who was not only high behind the wheel but also carrying methamphetamine on Phuket’s notorious Patong Hill. The dramatic arrest unfolded at around 1.30am today, July 9, at the Patong Hill intersection on Phra Metta Road, a busy route popular with late-night revellers. Under orders from Police Colonel Chalermchai…
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Bangkok taxi driver arrested with methamphetamine pills
Officers, including Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and Police Major General Pallop Aeremla, arrested 46 year old man in front of a petrol station on Charoen Rat Road, Bang Kho Laem district, Bangkok. He was found with nine methamphetamine pills and drug paraphernalia in his possession while sitting in a red taxi with registration number ทห1579 Bangkok. Police were patrolling…
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Thai exports face threat from proposed 36% US tariff
The Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai) expressed concerns over the proposed 36% tariff on US imports of Thai products, highlighting potential challenges for the manufacturing sector and its workforce. Set to be implemented on August 1, the proposed tariff surpasses those on imports from other Southeast Asian nations, with Vietnam facing a 20% tariff, Malaysia 25%, and…
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Wave of caution: Patong stages tsunami drill to save lives
Patong is set to go into full emergency mode this month, as officials prepare to evacuate the town in a massive tsunami drill that could one day mean the difference between life and death. Patong Mayor Lalita Maneesri announced the ambitious exercise yesterday, July 8, during a high-level meeting at the Patong Municipality Office. “The safety of everyone in Patong—residents,…
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Man throws stones at cars in Bangkok, subdued by locals (video)
A dramatic incident unfolded on Srinakarin Road, near Soi 27, in Bangkok, when a man was seen carrying a metal rod and throwing stones at passing vehicles. The situation was captured in a TikTok video posted by user @ion_x_noi, yesterday, July 8, showcasing the tense moments as several brave locals intervened to subdue the man. The video depicted the man,…
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Sweet crisis: Thailand races to rescue record longan harvest
Thailand’s mountains of sweet, golden longans are about to become a blessing and a headache all at once. Agriculture Minister Atthakorn Sirilattayakorn has ordered an all-hands-on-deck operation to tackle a record-breaking longan crop that’s expected to flood markets and risk crashing prices in the coming months. Speaking after chairing the first Policy Committee on Quality Longan Production Management meeting of…
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Major drug network dismantled in Thonburi by police operation
The Metropolitan Police Division 8 conducted a successful operation to arrest a major drug network operator and her associates in the Thonburi area. Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, along with senior officers, yesterday, July 8, ordered the arrest of 49 year old Phakhamon, also know as Joy, 45 year old drug transporter Pathomporn, known…
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Fermented fury: Barefoot pensioner splashes Hun Sen portrait
Bangkok commuters were treated to a bizarre spectacle on Monday, July 7, when a barefoot pensioner splashed fermented fish sauce over a portrait of Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, earning himself a small fine and a lot of attention. Retired tennis coach 69 year old Thewa Sritawan set out from his home in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi province, before dawn, carrying…
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