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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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    Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained

    Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...

  • Man arrested in Chanthaburi for indecent public assault

    Man arrested in Chanthaburi for indecent public assault

    On June 7, police apprehended 58 year old Paitoon (surname withheld) in Chanthaburi province for indecent assault using force in public. The arrest was made under a warrant issued by the Chanthaburi Provincial Court dated May 13 last year. The incident took place in 2024 when Paitoon lived in Chanthaburi and had become acquainted with a 40 year old neighbour,…

  • Brutal attack in Pattani leaves financial officer dead

    Brutal attack in Pattani leaves financial officer dead

    A brutal attack took place at a grocery store in Mueang district, Pattani province, resulting in the death of a 45 year old financial officer, Mariya (surname withheld). The incident occurred at approximately 10.05pm yesterday, June 7, as confirmed by Police Colonel Torlap Lengha, head of Mayo Police Station. The victim was shot multiple times and succumbed to her injuries…

  • Woman found dead in Songkhla, husband and son wanted

    Woman found dead in Songkhla, husband and son wanted

    A tragic incident occurred in Songkhla province’s Saba Yoi district on the morning of today, June 8, where a 52 year old woman was found dead at the base of a rubber tree. The police have issued arrest warrants for the woman’s new husband and his son, who were seen fleeing the scene on a motorcycle. Police from the Saba Yoi…

  • Construction worker dies in landslide on Rama 2 Road

    Construction worker dies in landslide on Rama 2 Road

    A tragic incident occurred on Rama 2 Road when a construction worker was fatally trapped under a concrete slab in a 3-metre-deep pit after a landslide. The accident happened around 2am today, June 8. Police from Bang Mot Police Station responded promptly to the scene, along with officials from Chom Thong Fire Station and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation. Upon…

  • Drug smuggler killed, 4.2 million meth pills seized in Chiang Rai shootout

    Drug smuggler killed, 4.2 million meth pills seized in Chiang Rai shootout

    In Chiang Rai‘s Mae Fah Luang district, a drug smuggler was killed and 4.2 million methamphetamine pills were seized following a 10-minute exchange of gunfire between armed traffickers and an army patrol early on June 6. Soldiers from the Phra Chao Taksin special units of the Pha Muang task force encountered a group of 15 to 20 men carrying rucksacks…

  • Body of Thai hostage retrieved in Gaza by Israeli military

    Body of Thai hostage retrieved in Gaza by Israeli military

    The body of a Thai hostage held in Gaza since the October 7 last year, attack by Hamas on Israel, has been retrieved by the Israeli military. Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the recovery yesterday, June 7. Nattapong Pinta’s body was held by the Mujahedeen Brigades and retrieved from Rafah in southern Gaza. The family of the agricultural worker, located…

  • Heavy rainfall warning issued for 38 provinces in Thailand

    Heavy rainfall warning issued for 38 provinces in Thailand

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for heavy rainfall in 38 provinces, with 60% of Bangkok’s area expected to be affected. Residents are advised to be cautious of flash floods and forest runoffs on June 8. An increase in rainfall is anticipated across Thailand, with some regions experiencing significant downpours, particularly in eastern and southwest areas.…

  • Vietjet slashed 66% off 66,666 tickets in mega sale

    Vietjet slashed 66% off 66,666 tickets in mega sale

    Vietjet threw a flash sale that’s pure madness — 66,666 tickets slashed by a whopping 66% for just one day. Vietjet has launched a jaw-dropping one-day flash sale, slashing 66% off a massive 66,666 tickets across its entire domestic and international network. The promotion was live for just 23 hours yesterday, June 6, running from midnight to 11pm (GMT+7). To…

  • Phuket cops team up with school to fight drugs and helmet rebels

    Phuket cops team up with school to fight drugs and helmet rebels

    Wichit Police have joined forces with Darasamut School in Phuket in a bold new campaign to tackle teen drug use, vaping, and traffic law violations, all while promoting safer, smarter behaviour among students. The initiative, held under the direction of Wichit Police Chief Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang, was led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Wutthawat Liangbunchinda, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation. He…

  • 2 teenage girls rescued from Chon Buri karaoke bar prostitution

    2 teenage girls rescued from Chon Buri karaoke bar prostitution

    Police in Chon Buri raided a karaoke venue yesterday as part of a human trafficking investigation. The 59 year old owner is accused of exploiting underage girls for prostitution and operating without a licence. Police Major General Songkrot Krakritaya, commander of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD), directed the operation in collaboration with local police in Mueang Chon Buri district.…

  • 5th Thai-Laos bridge to boost trade to over 28 billion baht

    5th Thai-Laos bridge to boost trade to over 28 billion baht

    The fifth Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge is set to open by the end of the year, boosting cross-border trade to over 28 billion baht. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, alongside Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, attended the concrete pouring ceremony for the bridge connecting Bueng Kan in Thailand and Bolikhamxai in Laos. This development aims to enhance…

  • Motorcycle repairman dies in Bangkok collision with pickup truck

    Motorcycle repairman dies in Bangkok collision with pickup truck

    A tragic accident occurred last night when a collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck resulted in the death of a 34 year old motorcycle repairman. The incident took place at the entrance of Wat Thung Khru, located on Pracha Uthit Road in Bangkok’s Thung Khru district. Police Colonel Aphiwat Phuakinsang, Deputy Investigator of Thung Khru Police Station, responded…

  • Knife-wielding man removed from Phuket streets

    Knife-wielding man removed from Phuket streets

    A mentally ill man accused of causing repeated panic in Phuket’s Soi Palai area has finally been removed from the community after over a year of complaints. The man, identified as Thiranai Chanphong, was taken into custody and transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital for psychiatric treatment on Thursday, June 5. The breakthrough came after frustrated landlady Pranee Boonsawang, 51, took…

  • ‘Arabian racers’ return: Daylight street chaos rocks Pattaya again

    ‘Arabian racers’ return: Daylight street chaos rocks Pattaya again

    Street racing is once again plaguing Pattaya, with groups of Middle Eastern tourists — often referred to by locals as “Arabian racers” — taking over Sukhumvit Road in broad daylight. A viral dashcam clip circulating online shows three helmetless riders blasting off at a red light near Na Jomtien, treating the road like a racetrack while ignoring all traffic laws.…

  • Bangkok serial thief busted with loot in Dusit district

    Bangkok serial thief busted with loot in Dusit district

    A serial thief targeting Bangkok’s elite — including a judge and a government minister — was finally collared after a police bust in the capital’s Dusit district. Bangkok police have arrested 40 year old Tasanarat following a string of high-profile burglaries, including thefts from the homes of a former judge, a minister, and a former parliamentary chairman. The arrest, carried…

  • Chon Buri oil spill sparks swift cleanup effort

    Chon Buri oil spill sparks swift cleanup effort

    An oil spill off Chon Buri’s coast triggered an urgent response, but officials say there’s no danger to Pattaya or Bang Saen. Thai authorities have sprung into action following a minor oil spill involving approximately 8,000 litres of Murban crude oil from the MT Phoenix Jamnagar, a massive 160,000-tonne VLCC tanker. The leak occurred around 1am yesterday, June 6, at…

  • Princess Sirindhorn opens National Rice and Farmers Day event

    Princess Sirindhorn opens National Rice and Farmers Day event

    Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening of the 2025 National Rice and Farmers Day yesterday, June 6. The event, themed Advanced Agricultural Technology: Promoting New Age Farming and Sustaining Thai Farmers, saw the princess presenting certificates of honour to the central committee of national community rice centres and four outstanding farmers and agricultural institutions. The…

  • Monster rains, surging seas and storm warnings slam Thailand

    Monster rains, surging seas and storm warnings slam Thailand

    Thailand is bracing for more rain and isolated heavy downpours, with the lower central region — including Bangkok — along with the east and south facing the highest risk, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD)’s latest warning. The weather office said a moderate monsoon trough is moving south across the north, northeast, and upper central regions into a low-pressure…

  • Thailand’s long-delayed airport high-speed rail finally back on track

    Thailand’s long-delayed airport high-speed rail finally back on track

    Thailand is gearing up to sign a long-awaited contract for its high-speed rail project connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports – a transport game-changer that has faced over five years of delays. The 224 billion baht mega-project, overseen by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), was severely derailed by the Covid pandemic, which impacted infrastructure investments nationwide. A key…

  • Thai woman finds 12 million baht in plastic box at condo rubbish area

    Thai woman finds 12 million baht in plastic box at condo rubbish area

    A Thai woman discovered a plastic box containing 12 million baht in cash in the waste disposal area of her condominium in Nonthaburi province yesterday, June 5. The female condo resident, Usa, alerted officers from Pak Kret Police Station at around 8.30pm. The cash-filled plastic box was left in the rubbish area on the fourth floor of the condominium, located…

  • 4 suspects questioned after murder of gay Thai man in Surin

    4 suspects questioned after murder of gay Thai man in Surin

    Police questioned four suspects after a gay Thai man was found dead in his home in the Isaan province of Surin on Wednesday, June 4, and his gold accessories, worth over 1 million baht, were reported missing. The 63 year old victim, Pratheep Kongthawee, was discovered lifeless near a sofa inside his home in Surin’s Mueang district. He sustained a…

  • Phuket marine life in crisis as biologists save species

    Phuket marine life in crisis as biologists save species

    Marine biologists in Phuket are working tirelessly to protect the island’s marine life, with two sea turtle rescues and an investigation into the mysterious death of a dolphin. Yesterday, June 5, the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) and the Rare Marine Animal Rescue Network sprang into action after receiving reports of two critically endangered species in distress. The first rescue…

  • Thai woman left to raise daughters and repay debt after husband comes out

    Thai woman left to raise daughters and repay debt after husband comes out

    A Thai woman is seeking justice, claiming her gay ex-husband abandoned her with the responsibility of raising their two daughters and repaying a debt of over one million baht after coming out. The single mother, Som (alias), appeared on the Channel 3 talk show Hone Krasae yesterday, June 5, to share her family troubles and to seek advice. She urged…

  • Car flips on Pattaya highway; driver, passengers escape injuries

    Car flips on Pattaya highway; driver, passengers escape injuries

    A car crash on Highway 36 in Pattaya left several people injured after a sedan overturned late yesterday. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation’s rescue centre received a call at 8.10pm yesterday, June 5, reporting the accident, and rescue teams rushed to the scene. The incident occurred near the intersection with Highway 331, heading towards Sattahip, in the Pong subdistrict. When…

  • Thailand secures 12 Saab Gripen jets in 60 billion baht deal

    Thailand secures 12 Saab Gripen jets in 60 billion baht deal

    The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has confirmed its plan to acquire 12 Saab Gripen E and F fighter jets from Sweden, in a deal valued at 60 billion baht. The initial delivery is expected by 2029. Commander of the RTAF, Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul, announced yesterday, June 5, that the acquisition aims to replace Thailand’s ageing fleet of…

  • Thailand launches free alcohol quality tests in 3 provinces

    Thailand launches free alcohol quality tests in 3 provinces

    Thailand’s Excise Department is stepping up its efforts to improve the quality and safety of locally produced alcohol by launching a groundbreaking initiative aimed at ensuring community-made liquor meets safety standards. The Community Liquor Lab on Wheels programme, announced yesterday, June 5, by Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul, will deploy mobile laboratories to Lampang, Sakon Nakhon, and Songkhla—three provinces with…

  • Loan officer arrested for embezzling nearly 700,000 baht from client

    Loan officer arrested for embezzling nearly 700,000 baht from client

    Police arrested a loan officer for embezzling nearly 700,000 baht from a client in the Isaan province of Buriram by deceiving the victim into applying for a loan. Over ten additional victims came forward after the initial complaint. A 32 year old Thai woman, Phatchara, filed a complaint against the loan officer, Weerayut, at Mueang Buriram Police Station on September…

  • Thai healthcare scheme stable with 46 billion baht in reserves

    Thai healthcare scheme stable with 46 billion baht in reserves

    Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has assured the public that the 30-baht “gold card” Universal Healthcare Coverage scheme remains financially stable, with hospitals holding reserve funds of 46 billion baht after liabilities. During a meeting of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) board, Somsak addressed concerns regarding hospital budget deficits, which some attribute to the scheme’s compensation mechanism. Critics argue…

  • Tensions rise: Thai-Cambodian border dispute intensifies

    Tensions rise: Thai-Cambodian border dispute intensifies

    Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are reaching new heights, with the border dispute now a hot topic among the top military brass. Military leaders, including General Songwit Noonpakdee (Chief of Defence Forces) and General Phana Klaewplodthuk (Army Chief), remain on high alert despite believing the conflict is driven by motives other than actual combat. Both countries have deployed fully armed…

  • Thai man found dead in hammock after suspected accidental strangulation

    Thai man found dead in hammock after suspected accidental strangulation

    A Thai man tragically lost his life while sleeping on a hammock outside his relative’s home in the northeastern province of Si Saket. A 64 year old Thai woman, Wilai Sribunruang, reported the death of her 42 year old relative, Phantawut “Keng” Pongsatja, to officers at Uthumphon Phisai Police Station at approximately 5am on Wednesday, June 5. His body was discovered…