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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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Thais get lucky with new retirement lottery scheme
The House of Representatives has given the green light to a game-changing amendment that could turn every lottery ticket into a retirement win. Yesterday, July 23, MPs voted overwhelmingly to approve changes to the National Savings Fund Act, introducing a brand-new weekly retirement lottery aimed at helping Thais build long-term savings while still enjoying their favourite national pastime. The new…
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Thailand plays its cards right with poker punt
Thailand has gambled on a bold new strategy, officially recognising poker as a sport in a move that’s sent shockwaves through the international sporting and gaming communities. Furthermore, American football was also handed official sport status. The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) made a game-changing call this week, confirming that poker is now an officially recognised sport, a decision expected…
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Illegal kratom juice factory dismantled in Nakhon Ratchasima
Police in Nakhon Ratchasima province have dismantled an illegal kratom juice factory that was mixing the juice with illicit cough syrup, posing a risk of acute kidney failure. A 39 year old man, Trakarn Chuankratok, who rented the premises, admitted to hiring workers to produce the concoction for the past two weeks. Yesterday, July 23, at Chokchai Police Station, Police…
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Another Thai soldier loses leg in fresh landmine blast on Thai-Cambodian border
Another Thai soldier lost his leg and four others sustained injuries after stepping on a landmine near the border between Thailand and Cambodia in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani. The incident occurred at approximately 4.55pm yesterday, July 23, while soldiers from the 14th Infantry Battalion were patrolling an area along the border known as Chong Anma, located in Nam Yuen…
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Interior Minister denies interference in Khao Kradong land probe
Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai responded to accusations of meddling in a high-stakes investigation into the Department of Lands (DoL), insisting that he had no intention of influencing or intimidating officials. The probe centres on a 5,083-rai land plot in Khao Kradong, Buriram, which has long been mired in legal battles and political ties. The Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the land belongs…
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Phuket heartbreak as young Aussie tourist found dead in hotel
A 23 year old Australian man has been found dead in a Phuket hotel room, just five days after an accused rapist from Down Under was also discovered lifeless on the same Thai island. Police in Thalang, northern Phuket, are investigating the sudden death of a young Aussie traveller who was found dead in his hotel room yesterday, July 23,…
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3 dead, 23 injured in Kanchanaburi truck-pickup collision
A tragic accident in Kanchanaburi’s Sangkhla Buri district resulted in three fatalities and injuries to 23 others when a 10-wheel truck collided with five pickup trucks on a wet road. The incident occurred yesterday along Highway 323, near Nong Lu subdistrict. The crash happened on a steep section of the Thong Pha Phum-Sangkhla Buri route, about 8 kilometres from Sangkhla…
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Thailand braces for severe weather as storm Whipa hits 19 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its 17th warning regarding tropical storm Whipa, which continues to bring heavy rainfall across four regions in Thailand, affecting 19 provinces. Residents have been advised to be vigilant against potential floods, flash floods, and forest runoffs as sea waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are expected to reach heights of…
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Thai driver drags motorcyclist’s body into petrol station, denies collision
A pickup driver dragged the dead body of a motorcyclist into a petrol station in the central province of Kamphaeng Phet last night, but denied being involved in a collision with the victim. Petrol station attendants on Phahonyothin Road in Kamphaeng Phet were shocked to discover the bloodied body lodged beneath a grey Isuzu pickup, which arrived at around 9pm,…
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Phuket-bound Air India Express flight aborts after 16 minutes
Air India makes the headlines again as Air India Express is involved in the latest aviation mishap, where a tropical holiday turned into a mid-air nightmare after a Phuket-bound Air India Express flight was forced to return to Hyderabad just 16 minutes after take-off—leaving frustrated passengers fuming. Flight IX110, operated by a Boeing 737 Max 8, was scheduled to land…
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Fire erupts at abandoned Ratsada house after 20 years of silence
A long-forgotten home in Ratsada lit up the night sky as flames erupted from the derelict property—despite it being untouched for nearly 20 years. The blaze broke out around 11.20pm yesterday, July 22, at a single-storey house located on Thepprathan Road in Village 1, Ratsada. Though the fire was extinguished before firefighters could reach the scene, the aftermath was anything…
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Car scam duo linked to southern Thailand bomb network
Two men arrested for selling used cars with fake licence plates and forged documents have been linked to a high-stakes crime ring supplying vehicles to car-bombers in Thailand’s Deep South, according to police. In a sweeping raid yesterday, July 22, more than 50 officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) stormed 14 locations across Nakhon Pathom and Bangkok in pursuit…
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Thailand’s AI law stops 6 billion baht in online scam losses
Thailand’s cyber cops are going digital—fast. In just three months, a new cybercrime law powered by artificial intelliegence (AI) has stopped online scammers from stealing nearly 6 billion baht. Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong revealed today, July 23, that the latest royal decree targeting technology-based crime has prevented massive financial damage to the public since coming into force…
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Visitors flock to Prasat Ta Kwai for offerings and lucky numbers
Visitors are flocking to Prasat Ta Kwai in Panom Dong Rak district, Surin province, not only to offer gifts and support to soldiers stationed there but also to admire the beauty of the ancient site. Despite some visitors being elderly and facing physical challenges, the allure of the temple atop a high hill continues to draw many. The site attracts…
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Phumtham backs Paetongtarn to beat court case and return as PM
Thailand’s political soap opera just took another twist—with acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai backing suspended PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra to beat the rap and reclaim her throne. Speaking to reporters today, July 23, at the Interior Ministry, Phumtham declared he was “confident” that Paetongtarn would emerge from her Constitutional Court battle unscathed and resume leadership of the country. “The prime minister…
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Inheritance dispute leads to fatal shooting in Surat Thani plantation
A dispute over inherited land led to a tragic shooting in a rubber plantation in Surat Thani’s Ban Na Derm district. Yesterday, July 22, at 6pm, Police Lieutenant Supatchai Sukkhaew from Ban Na Derm Police Station responded to a report of a fatal shooting at a rubber plantation in Baan Na subdistrict. Accompanied by investigative officers, forensic officials, and Kuson…
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Viking ride at Bangkok amusement park leaves schoolgirl unconscious
A Thai schoolgirl with a heart condition lost consciousness last night after riding the Viking ride at an amusement park in Bangkok Noi district of Bangkok. Officers from Bang Yi Khao Police Station were alerted to the incident at around 8pm, yesterday, July 22, and responded to the scene near Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge. Rescue workers from the Por Teck…
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Qantas passengers forced to surrender passports in Bangkok (video)
Aussie travellers were left fuming in Bangkok after their Qantas flight was cancelled at the last minute—forcing them to choose between handing over their passports or sleeping on the airport floor. The service from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Sydney was initially delayed for six hours before being officially cancelled late on Monday night, July 21, stranding dozens of passengers…
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Motorcycle crash in Pattaya due to unsecured gate leaves two injured
Strong winds caused a metal gate to swing open onto the road, leading to a motorcycle collision that injured two young people. The accident occurred in Soi Na Kluea 16, Pattaya, and while the injured have reported the incident, there has been no response from the landowner. The injured parties are identified as 20 year old Thanapon Thanathapsapanitch and 19…
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Buriram dad runs over baby daughter in tragic accident
A father’s morning routine turned into an unimaginable nightmare after he accidentally reversed over his baby daughter, killing her instantly. The heartbreaking incident unfolded yesterday, July 22, at a home in Phutthaisong district, Buriram province, as 37 year old air conditioning technician Yothin was leaving for work. What began as a normal day – loading his truck and preparing to…
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Hot wheels: Fire destroys Mercedes-Benz on Bangkok expressway
A luxury Mercedes-Benz burst into flames on a Bangkok expressway, sending black smoke billowing into the night sky and leaving behind a charred wreck. The dramatic incident unfolded at around 8.30pm yesterday, July 22, when a grey Mercedes-Benz E200 caught fire on the Borommaratchachonnani elevated expressway parallel route in the Chimphli subdistrict of Taling Chan district. The Phan Fa Radio…
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Major drug network dismantled in Kanchanaburi, assets seized
In Kanchanaburi province, police dismantled a major drug trafficking network led by 37 year old Suthat “Mui” Detchakum, who is accused of orchestrating the abduction and murder of DJ Tate in May. The operation resulted in the arrest of five people and the seizure of assets valued at 408 million baht. The announcement was made yesterday, July 22, at the…
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Flood chaos fears as Chiang Mai braces for storm Wipha
Chiang Mai is on high alert as storm Wipha barrels towards the northern province, prompting the setup of 24-hour emergency operations and shelters for tens of thousands of residents. Provincial Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn confirmed the launch of a round-the-clock Emergency Command Centre to manage the looming crisis. With weather forecasters warning of intense downpours, particularly in Chiang Mai’s upper districts,…
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Thai man secretly filmed while showering at Bang Saen Beach bathroom
A Thai man issued a warning to beachgoers after he was secretly filmed while showering in a public bathroom near Bang Saen Beach in Chon Buri on Sunday, July 20. The victim shared the details of the incident with the local Facebook page Chop Jung Bang Saen yesterday, July 22. He described the suspect as a short, chubby man with glasses.…
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Pattaya guard bashed with phone in hotel bust-up
A late-night lovers’ spat on Pattaya Beach took a violent turn when a hotel security guard trying to play peacemaker ended up bleeding from the head — allegedly attacked by an irate woman wielding a mobile phone. The drama unfolded in the early hours of Monday, July 21, at a hotel in central Pattaya, where 37 year old Wisuwat, a…
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Police officer fatally shot near home in Narathiwat
A shooting occurred last night resulting in the death of 32 year old Police Lieutenant Ruzdee Jedorlor from the Su-ngai Padi Police Station. The incident yesterday, July 22, took place near his residence in Paluru subdistrict, Su-ngai Padi district, Narathiwat province. The officer was preparing to attend a funeral when he was fatally shot. Investigations revealed that as Police Lieutenant…
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Thailand puts brakes on 300 baht tourist fee
Thailand’s ambitious plans to rake in trillions from tourism are hitting turbulence, with officials now backpedalling on a controversial landing fee amid falling visitor numbers. Tourism and Sports Minister Surawong Thienthong revealed that the government is sticking to its 2025 target of 38 million tourist arrivals and 3 trillion baht in revenue – the same goal as this year. But…
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Khon Kaen University faces drug trafficking scandal
Khon Kaen University announced that it is considering severe disciplinary actions in response to allegations involving a faculty member accused of drug trafficking. Yesterday, July 22, Khon Kaen University addressed the arrest by Mueang Khon Kaen Police of a university staff member. The arrest followed a drug suppression operation on July 21, resulting in charges of conspiring to sell a…
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Thai abbot accused of sexually assaulting adoptive son
A Thai man revealed to the media that an abbot in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani, who is also his adoptive father, sexually assaulted him. This alleged abuse led him to escape and live with his girlfriend. The abbot of Wat Pa Dan Hin Phong in Ubon Ratchathani, Anan, sought help from Channel 8, claiming his adoptive son, who…
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Miracle orange cat rises after Bangkok building collapse
An orange cat with a princess pout has clawed her way into hearts across Thailand after surviving a deadly building collapse — and now she’s not just famous, she’s fundraising too. The feline, named Satong, was pulled from the rubble of the Office of the Auditor General building in Bangkok following its dramatic collapse on March 28. Miraculously unharmed, the…
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