News
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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Patong Festival traffic warning: Road closures from 4pm to 8pm
Patong Municipality is urging motorists to steer clear of Prachanukroh Road and Patong Beach Road, also known as Thaweewong Road, from the Patong Hill Intersection to Soi Bangla this afternoon. These routes will be closed from 4pm to 8pm to accommodate the grand parade that heralds the start of the annual Patong Festival, a key event in Phuket’s calendar. The…
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Phuket residents oppose Nebu Resort over traffic and privacy concerns
Residents of the Pasak Soi 6 area in Cherng Talay, Phuket, have intensified their opposition to the proposed construction of the Nebu Resort Bangtao, a seven-storey hotel. The development has been met with significant criticism from locals who fear the influx of tourist traffic on roads too narrow for such high volumes, potentially disrupting their tranquil neighbourhood. Protests erupted at…
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Yala tackles flood crisis with dam plans and relief efforts
Yala city municipality is taking a proactive approach to combat its persistent flooding woes. The city’s mayor, Pongsak Yingchoncharoen, has put forward guidelines aimed at tackling the long-term flood issues and is revisiting plans for the construction of the Krong Pinang and Kuemeng dams as part of these efforts. Pongsak provided an update on the flood situation yesterday, December 7,…
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Pattaya scrap collector loses 2,000 baht in tricycle theft
A theft incident in Pattaya early yesterday morning has left a local scrap collector distressed. At 3am, a 42 year old woman, reported to the Pattaya City Police Station that 2,000 baht had been stolen from her tricycle while it was parked on Soi Beach Road 6. Kamonwan, who earns her living by collecting recyclables, recounted that she had left…
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Thai couple arrested for job scam, duping victims for 70,000 baht
Police have apprehended a couple accused of deceiving job seekers into paying them 70,000 baht each for overseas employment arrangements, ultimately providing nothing more than counterfeit documents. Anuwat and his wife Chantima were taken into custody by officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) at a residence in the Prasert Manukit area of Bangkok. The arrest took place yesterday,…
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Thai government delays 10,000-baht handout amid election concerns
The Thai government is gearing up for the second phase of its 10,000-baht cash handout, anticipated to be rolled out by the end of February, as confirmed by government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub. This initiative aims to provide financial support to the elderly, with the proposal already submitted to the Cabinet. However, a few concerns have led to a week’s delay…
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Thai police enlist Interpol in hunt for Moroccan murder suspect
Thai police are enlisting Interpol’s assistance to apprehend a Moroccan man suspected of murdering his girlfriend in Chiang Mai before fleeing the country. The tragic incident involves Thitikarn Dulikanon, a transgender woman and owner of a beauty clinic near the Mae Hia Market intersection in Mueang district, whose body was found on December 6. Police and forensic experts from Maharaj…
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Police seize 6.4 million meth pills in Pathum Thani drug raid
Five individuals were apprehended by police in Pathum Thani‘s Lam Luk Ka district, where a significant cache of 6.4 million methamphetamine pills was discovered, poised for distribution to southern regions. The arrest, which took place at approximately 4pm yesterday, December 7, involved four men and one woman. The operation was conducted by narcotics suppression officers at a residence within the…
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Teen killed in crash, 400 meth pills found in car
A collision between a car and a motorcycle resulted in the tragic death of a teenage girl, with police discovering 400 meth pills in the car involved. The car driver, 71 year old Chanyut, denies ownership of the drugs, questioning why would he wait for the police if they were his. Police Captain Prem Tiamtua of Udon Thani City Police…
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Thailand’s VAT hike: Restaurant and hotel sectors’ suggestions
A proposed increase in the value-added tax (VAT) rate from 7% to 15% has sparked significant concern among Thailand’s restaurant and hotel industries. Although the plans for the VAT hike are now reportedly scrapped, Sorathep Rojpotjanaruch, who leads the Thai Restaurant Business Association, expressed alarm over the potential consequences this tax hike could have on the already struggling restaurant sector.…
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Man found with 18 stab wounds in rice field, CCTV footage released
A chilling discovery has been made after the body of an elderly man was found with 18 stab wounds in a paddy field. CCTV footage revealed two suspects accompanying him on a motorcycle before his tragic death. The deceased, identified as 60 year old Udom, was found in a field in Khlong Khlung, Kamphaeng Phet province. He had been drinking…
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Fatal shooting at Udon Thani concert leaves community in shock
A tragic altercation at a Pu Pongsit concert in Udon Thani yesterday led to a shooting which ultimately led to the death of one attendee and severe injuries to another. The incident unfolded yesterday, December 6, at 1.30am, when 22 year old Suphawit and 18 year old Theeraphat attended the annual Thung Si Muang festival concert and encountered a rival…
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Chon Buri police officer dismissed for extortion of elderly woman
A police officer in Chon Buri has been dismissed following allegations of extorting 250,000 baht from a 70 year old woman in exchange for handling her online fraud case. The officer is now in custody, with bail opposed. The officer, a sergeant major, is affiliated with the Saensuk Police Station in Chon Buri. Following an investigation led by the provincial…
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Phuket unveils road safety centre for seven days of danger
Phuket is gearing up for a heightened focus on road and marine safety with the opening of a road safety operations centre on Christmas Day. This effort is in preparation for the upcoming Seven Days of Danger campaign, scheduled to run from December 27 to January 2, as confirmed by Sopon Thongsai, chief of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and…
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Thailand seeks return of fishing boat seized by Myanmar
Thailand is taking steps to reclaim a fishing boat seized by Myanmar after four Thai crew members were freed on December 5. This development was confirmed by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who highlighted ongoing efforts to secure the return of the boat. The vessel, named Sor Charoenchai 8, was captured along with 31 crew members, including four Thais and 27 Myanmar nationals.…
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Thai pilots oppose foreign pilots on domestic routes amid tourism surge
The Thai Pilots Association has taken a definitive stance against the recent Cabinet decision allowing foreign pilots to operate domestic routes through wet lease agreements. Yesterday, December 6, they formally petitioned the Labour and Transport ministries to reconsider the move, which was introduced to address a perceived shortage of commercial pilots amid a surge in tourism activity. The Cabinet’s decision,…
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Justice Ministry denies parole rule tailored for Yingluck Shinawatra
The Ministry of Justice firmly dismissed claims that a regulation permitting prisoners to be released on parole and confined to house arrest was crafted to benefit any specific individual, including former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. This denial emerged during an interview yesterday, December 6, with Somboon Muangklam, an adviser to Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, alongside officials from the Department of…
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Fire destroys five cars in Nonthaburi garage blaze
A devastating fire engulfed a car repair garage, reducing five vehicles to ashes after a series of loud explosions rocked the neighbourhood. The incident occurred in the early hours yesterday, December 6, prompting a swift response from local fire services and police in Nonthaburi. The blaze erupted at approximately 12.20am at a garage known as Chang Tao Garage, located within…
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Pheu Thai Party proposes bill to limit Thai military’s power
Pheu Thai Party has introduced a legislative proposal to curb the military’s influence in Thailand by amending the Defence Ministry Administration Act. This proposed amendment seeks to transfer the authority of appointing generals from the armed forces commanders to a committee appointed by the Cabinet, thereby promoting transparency and meritocracy in military promotions. The proposed change is designed to prevent the…
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Thailand braces for cold snap and coastal thunderstorms
Thailand is experiencing a noticeable drop in temperature, with the northern regions facing chilly to cold weather as temperatures plummet by four degrees Celsius (°C). The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued warnings for strong winds, thunderstorms and high seas in the south. The TMD’s forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that a high-pressure system or cold air mass…
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Taxing times: Thai PM backtracks on VAT hike after public outcry
In a dramatic U-turn, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pulled the plug on a proposal to crank up the value-added tax (VAT) following a storm of public outrage. The PM took to X (formerly Twitter) today, December 6, decisively posting: “No VAT adjustment to 15%.” This swift decision emerged from a huddle at Government House with Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira and…
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2 Thai women arrested for tricking young virgins into prostitution
Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested two Thai women for operating a child prostitution ring, tricking young virgin women into offering sex services to illegal Chinese nationals. CIB officers arrested the 21 year old Thai woman named Panida and a 22 year old woman named Nalatporn for their involvement in child prostitution. Panida was arrested at her condominium in the…
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Mile high sex: Swissair faces blowback over viral in-flight video
Swiss International Air Lines is in hot water after a woman performing oral sex on a passenger, filmed by airline staff, went viral, sparking a public uproar over privacy rights. The scandal unfolded when footage captured by Swissair CCTV emerged, showing a couple getting frisky in the first-class galley of a Bangkok to Zurich flight. Now, the airline is scrambling to…
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Bangkok faces alarming PM2.5 pollution spike, 32 districts affected
Bangkok is suffocating under a cloud of smog as PM2.5 pollution levels surge, forcing 32 districts to breach safety thresholds. Satellite data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) casts a spotlight on Nong Khaem, clocking the most dangerous levels at a staggering 61.3 microgrammes per cubic metre. Such pollution spells disaster for our lungs, with the respiratory…
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Gold rush goes bust: Prices nosedive as market loses glitter
A shockwave hit the gold market today as the Gold Traders Association (GTA) announced a startling drop in prices, sending buyers and sellers into a flurry. Gold jewellery is now going for a cool 42,950 baht per baht weight, marking a notable plunge of 350 baht from the closing figures yesterday, December 5. The early birds were the first to…
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2 year old Thai boy crashes motorcycle into glass door, injuring mum
A two year old Thai boy crashed his mother’s motorcycle into the glass door of a house in the Isaan province of Buriram on Wednesday. The boy was unharmed but his mother sustained injuries from broken glass. The Siam Ruamjai Pu-in Rescue Foundation responded to the incident at a house on Nang Rong-Lam Plai Mart Road in the Nang Rong district of…
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Bank loan growth to shrink despite Q4 rise in retail lending
Bank loan growth is anticipated to shrink this year despite a slight rise in the fourth quarter, as banks maintain their cautious lending practices into 2025 to 2026 due to sluggish GDP growth, analysts report. Analyst Weerapat Wonk-Urai from CGS International Securities (Thailand) highlighted a rising ratio of underperforming loans in retail lending, prompting banks to enforce stricter credit standards…
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Thailand’s EV market hits a speed bump in incentive race (video)
Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing a jolt as major manufacturers weigh the pros and cons of staying plugged into the nation’s incentive scheme amidst a slowdown. With the EV sector currently stuck in neutral, the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) hints that automakers might be on the verge of bypassing subsidies and revisiting their production game plans.…
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Chinese man blamed for fatal crash in Pattaya glued to phone
Police revealed the Chinese man at the centre of a tragic collision that killed one and injured several others was not under the influence of alcohol. Investigation officers, however, believe he was playing with his mobile phone prior to the horror smash. The accused, 39 year old Zhang Yigong, was at the wheel of a luxurious Toyota Alphard van when…
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Fishing for freedom: Thai crew released from Myanmar custody
Four Thai crew members are expected to be released today after being detained in Myanmar. The crew members belong to the Thai fishing vessel S. Charoenchai 8, which was intercepted by Myanmar’s navy. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) confirmed that all crew members, including the four Thai nationals, are safe and that diplomatic efforts are underway to secure their release.…
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