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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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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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Cold weather and strong winds hit northern Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has reported colder weather with strong winds across northern Thailand, forecasting a temperature drop of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, a monsoon is causing thunderstorms and high waves of 2 to 3 metres in the Gulf of Thailand and the south, advising small boats to remain ashore. The weather forecast, announced today, January 28,…
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Foul play suspected in death of Thai intern in Japan
The family of a missing Thai student intern is calling for further investigation into his death, suspecting foul play after his body was discovered in a Thai restaurant in Japan. The student’s aunt, Nannaphat Tanming, urged Thai news agencies to report the death of her 25 year old nephew, Kornnaphat “Nat” Promsung, to attract the attention of the Ministry of…
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Dutchman offers help for Thai cat injured by harpoon in Buriram
A Dutch man expressed concern over a Thai cat in the Isaan province of Buriram that was severely injured with a harpoon. He also attempted to provide financial support to the animal and its owner. The female cat, Kuay Tiew, was shot with a harpoon last week. Her owner, 68 year old Narong Sookprasert, sought help from the Wang Kood…
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Thai Bolt driver fakes heroic tale for social media fame
A Thai Bolt driver issued an apology after faking and sharing a heartwarming story about himself and an imaginary intoxicated passenger on social media in a bid to gain attention and be seen as a hero. Last week, a Facebook user named Mook Kanokwan posted in a Facebook group called “Bolt Driver Thailand Motorcycle (Only)” to share a touching tale…
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Bangkok governor urged to enforce demolition of illegal condo
Rosana Tositrakul, a former senator, is urging the Bangkok governor to enforce a 10 year old court order for the demolition of the Aetas condominium in Pathumwan district due to a breach of the Building Control Act. Through a Facebook post yesterday, January 26, Rosana called on Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to act on the Supreme Administrative Court’s directive to dismantle…
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Thai Air Force chooses Swedish Gripen jets over US F-16s
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has opted for Swedish Gripen jets over the US-made F-16 aircraft, citing greater benefits to the government. This decision was announced by Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul amid ongoing discussions about the rationale behind this choice. The Gripen jets are set to replace the ageing F-16 jets currently stationed in Wing 1, located in…
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New Hotel Act targets 500 unlicensed Thai hotels
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is set to propose a new Hotel Act specifically for small and medium-sized hotels, with the aim of registering over 500 unlicensed accommodations that currently cannot participate in the existing system. Tourism Vice-Minister Jakkaphon Tangsutthitham reported that more than 90,000 small and medium-sized accommodations in Thailand do not qualify as hotel businesses under the current…
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4 Thai police and soldiers extort 2 million baht from 7 Chinese men
Four Thai police officers and a soldier extorted 2 million baht from seven Chinese men, leading to their arrests in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani on Saturday, January 25. A Chinese man residing in Laos contacted Thai police via the Facebook application to seek help for his seven friends. The man explained that his friends were detained by a…
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Man in Phuket arrested after attempted abduction of 14 year old girl
Police in Phuket arrested a man on January 24, after an attempted abduction of a 14 year old girl in Kamala. The incident unfolded early in the morning when the girl narrowly avoided harm with the intervention of a hotel security guard and nearby residents. The girl, referred to by the pseudonym Ploy, was waiting for her school bus near…
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South Korean man allegedly tricked into smuggling drugs from Phuket to France
A South Korean man narrowly avoided arrest after being tricked by a foreign man in Phuket into smuggling drugs from Thailand to France. He sought help from the Thai police just in time. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea contacted officers from Thalang Police Station to investigate the luggage of 65 year old South Korean man, Park Sukhee, at…
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Cement truck crash causes power outage in Cherng Talay
A cement truck en route to The Aqua project in Cherng Talay collided with a power pole early on January 25, causing a power and internet outage for residents. Cherng Talay Police responded to the incident near the Samnak Pathipatham Luang Pho Sompharong temple on Cherng Talay-Baan Don Road at approximately 6.15am. The driver, 31 year old Chanchai Daengphrom from…
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PM2.5 pollution targetted with urgent health measures
Thailand is grappling with severe PM2.5 air pollution, prompting the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to issue an urgent directive to local administrative organisations and Bangkok. The directive encourages the use of local health security funds to combat the pollution, including purchasing masks for vulnerable groups. Yesterday, January 26, Doctor Jadej Thammatacharee, Secretary-General of the NHSO, highlighted the worsening PM2.5…
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Teen tragically shot near Surat Thani health centre
An 18 year old man was shot near a health centre in Surat Thani province, shocking his mother, who had recently spoken with him. Friends reported that the assailant drove a car against traffic, calling out to the victim before shooting him. The incident occurred at 3.39am today, January 27, when Police Lieutenant Chariyawut Thanchoen from Donsak Police Station received…
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Thailand video news | British man arrested in Thailand for 2004 UK murder, Vietnam busts massive TikTok scam network
In today’s Thailand video news, Alex brings you the latest stories from Thailand and Southeast Asia. Highlights include the arrest of a British man in Thailand for a 2004 UK murder, six Britons detained in Phuket on drug charges, and a Swiss national sparking controversy by defying a dog ban on a Thai beach. Other stories cover a teacher’s…
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Bangkok taxi driver flees after attempted assault on passenger
A woman found herself in an unknown room after taking a taxi ride home, where the driver allegedly attempted to assault her. The incident occurred on January 26, when the woman, who had been drinking with friends in the Ratchaprasong area, took a Toyota taxi to return to her condominium. Waking up in an unfamiliar room with the driver, the…
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Thailand allocates 145.63 million baht for transgender hormone therapy
The Public Health Ministry has allocated 145.63 million baht to the National Health Security Office to supply hormone medication to 200,000 transgender citizens. According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukool Pruksanusak, the ministry’s support aligns with the government’s marriage equality policy, focusing on both physical and mental health for sexually diverse people. He noted the increasing acceptance of various gender identities…
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Thailand braces for 770,000 Chinese tourists this Lunar New Year
The Thai government anticipates 770,000 Chinese nationals to visit Thailand during Chinese New Year, from January 24 to February 2, marking a 22.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Sasikarn Watthanachan, deputy spokeswoman for the government, stated that various agencies, including the Department of Airports and Airports of Thailand (AoT), have been instructed to prepare for the influx…
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Bangkok fire leaves three injured, investigations underway
A fire broke out in a commercial building in Bang Khun Thian, Bangkok yesterday, January 26 at 2.15pm, resulting in three injuries. A 57 year old man sought refuge on the rooftop, using water from a tank to cool himself as firefighters battled the flames for over four hours. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sathorn Rabiabpho received a report of the incident…
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Fatal shooting in Samut Prakan after ex-partner confrontation
A confrontation between a former husband and his ex-wife’s new partner resulted in a fatal shooting incident in Samut Prakan yesterday, January 26. According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Wut Puttiphanon, the altercation occurred at 10.30pm in front of a house in Phraeksa Mai subdistrict, Mueang district, after the former husband attempted to shoot his ex-wife’s new partner but was shot…
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Thailand’s game industry act set for Cabinet review in February
The draft of the Game Industry Act is scheduled for Cabinet review next month following the conclusion of public hearings. The legislation is anticipated to be implemented by the end of 2025. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and Chief Executive of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), stated that the law aims to address the development of the computer game industry, valued…
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Lady of the hills: British man arrested for 20 year old death of Thai wife
Police arrested a British man in the central province of Kanchanaburi for allegedly killing his Thai wife 20 years ago. The case is known among people in the UK as the Lady of the Hills case. A group of tourists discovered the lifeless body of an Asian woman in a stream near Pen-y-ghent Mountain in the Yorkshire Dales National Park,…
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Teen arrested for opening fire in a motorcycle sale gone wrong
A teen was arrested for attempted murder and stealing a motorcycle after a sale gone wrong. The incident occurred on January 22 when the suspect, 19 year old Kittinan, and four accomplices orchestrated a motorcycle sale, which ended in violence. Yesterday, January 26, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and other senior officers ordered the arrest of Kittinan, wanted under a…
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Thai school director faces licence revocation over drug charges
The Secretary-General of the Teachers Council of Thailand has announced plans to revoke the professional licence of a school director arrested for drug trafficking. The arrest occurred in Nong Song Hong district, Khon Kaen province, where police seized 369 methamphetamine tablets. The incident has raised significant concerns about the safety of educational institutions. Asst. Prof. Doctor Amonwan Veerathammo, Secretary-General of…
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Tourist bus accident in Laos injures 25 foreigners, no Thais involved
Yesterday, January 26, a tourist bus accident in Salavan province, Laos, left 25 foreign tourists injured. The governor of Ubon Ratchathani assured that no Thai nationals were involved, and emergency services were dispatched to the Chong Mek border to assist the injured. Adisak Noisuwan, the governor of Ubon Ratchathani, along with more than 20 volunteers, donated blood at Sappasitthiprasong Hospital…
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Gender recognition bill considered for identity self-determination
The recently implemented Marriage Equality Bill is a significant step towards equal marriage rights for all, but many who registered their marriages last week are concerned that their gender title does not align with their gender identity, and are now advocating for a Gender Recognition Bill. The bill, if passed, would allow individuals to select their gender title and offer…
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Chon Buri teen saved by rescue team after distress incident
In Chon Buri, a tense situation unfolded when a 14 year old boy, distressed after being rebuked by his parents for being a troublemaker, was saved just in time by municipal disaster prevention and rescue personnel. The incident occurred yesterday, January 26, at a dormitory in Nong Mai Daeng subdistrict, Mueang district. The young boy was taken from the third…
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Bangkok braces for temperature drop as Chinese cold air mass hits
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts a new cold air mass from China will affect Bangkok and cause temperatures to drop by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius (°C). The dust and haze levels remain high but are expected to decrease. A high-pressure or cold air mass from China is spreading across northeastern Thailand and the upper South China Sea, resulting…
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Forest fire devastates over 2,000 rai on Phu Lam Yai Mountain
Aerial footage reveals extensive damage from a forest fire on Phu Lam Yai Mountain, with over 2,000 rai of land affected. The fire left trees charred across the region. Officials are clearing the area and monitoring to prevent any resurgence of the fire. Yesterday, January 26, Vichit Kitwirat, Deputy Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, who also serves as the commander of…
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Thai police arrest migrants en route to Malaysia in smuggling bust
In Songkhla, police in Chana district apprehended 10 illegal migrants from Myanmar and two Thai drivers as they attempted to travel to Malaysia in search of employment. The arrests were made yesterday evening, January 25, by a team comprising immigration and highway police, who intercepted a Honda sedan and a Mitsubishi Pajero on a local road in tambon Taling Chan.…
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Toxic ultrafine dust reaches hazardous levels in Thailand’s Central Plain
Unsafe concentrations of toxic ultrafine dust were identified in 58 out of 77 provinces across Thailand, with the most severe air pollution detected in the Central Plain this morning. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported at 10am that particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter (PM2.5) had reached hazardous-to-health levels in 20 provinces. Sing Buri…
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